He initially agreed to bake the birthday cake, pink with blue frosting, but then reneged when the customer said she intended to also celebrate her transition from male to female.

“We conclude that creating a pink cake with blue frosting is not inherently expressive and any message or symbolism it provides to an observer would not be attributed to the baker,” said the court, which also rejected procedural arguments from Phillips.

“They just object to the idea of Ms. Scardina wanting a birthday cake that reflects her status as a transgender woman because they object to the existence of transgender people,” he said of Phillips and his shop.

Click to expand...

The Colorado Human Rights Commission has not joined the lawsuit.

Documents that have surfaced over the past two years include correspondence describing the inner workings of a partisan review of the 2020 election by the Cyber Ninjas, as well as emails by Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, urging lawmakers to overturn President Donald Trump’s narrow defeat in the state.

The new rules will greatly limit the public release of lawmakers’ communications. State senators will not have to disclose any text messages sent on personal devices, even when dealing with state business. For lawmakers in both the Senate and the House, emails and other documents will be destroyed after 90 days — in many cases, well before members of the public know to ask for them.

“I think there’s no denying that the whole Cyber Ninjas case and the other aspects of how Arizona officials handled election issues are of great public interest, so it’s hard to imagine that they’re doing anything but trying to avoid that from coming up again,” said Gregg Leslie, a law professor and the executive director of the First Amendment Clinic at Arizona State University.

“It is one of the things that sets us apart from autocracies, that we require our public officials to be accountable to the people they serve,” [Heather Sawyer, American Oversight’s executive director] said.

To clarify, this is just a theory. I do not want to incite anyone to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

How credible is the theory that, for example, radical Islamists are carrying out a false flag operation against Israel by destroying the Al-Aqsa mosque?

If this plan goes well and Israel is portrayed as the perpetrator, it would certainly lead to the final escalation of the already tense situation. Muslims would be united and start a holy war against Israel.

The stance among Gap Theorists is that the word create (bara) means a new thing from God. (I would expand this to a new design from God) and make (asah) meaning anything God works on he has made, so making 'create' a subset of 'made'

Genesis 1 uses the phrase 'it was so' 6 times and perhaps 7 with the modified 'it was so; to 'was' in Gen 1:3
I suggest the ‘it was so’ has a plain text and obvious meaning. I suggest it is a confirmation of Gap Theory as it is referring to life or the cosmos in the previous creation. ‘It used to be that way’ (in the first creation). Note the way ‘it was so’ is never used when the word created (‘bara’) is used. ‘Bara’ is used for man and whales and birds, all of which are not in the original creation in Gap Theory as I present it-more later. They cannot be subject to ‘it was so’ as they were not there.
This is consistent with ‘bara’ meaning a new creation from God. And explains the omission of ‘it was so ‘ from some days or from some day 6 statements. (Gen 1:20-23) (Gen 1:26-27) (Gen 1:28).
Genesi 1:29-30 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so
Note how animals are vegetarians and have an added ’it was so’ whereas. man also is described as a vegetarian but he does not get the ‘it was so’ added. Why?
In effect any reference to man or a new creation (bara) bars the use of 'it was so' as they are not in the original creation.

'It was so what' you say? Well, there is a double narrative running right through Genesis 1 and 2 that, IMO, confirms Gap Theory beyond any doubt, every word in every verse, The double narrative first identified by Paul the Apostle in 2 Cor 4;6 but being extendable to both chapters and the whole only works with Gap theory and I believe with all my heart I can prove it.

“On the one hand, the Biden administration is advocating for a clean-energy transition and claims it is fixing the supply chain crisis,” McGinnis said. “On the other, it is cutting off access to domestic supplies of the raw materials needed to make that transition happen and leaving us more dependent on China for these critical minerals.”

The stance among Gap Theorists is that the word create (bara) means a new thing from God. (I would expand this to a new design from God) and make (asah) meaning anything God works on he has made, so making 'create' a subset of 'made'

Genesis 1 uses the phrase 'it was so' 6 times and perhaps 7 with the modified 'it was so; to 'was' in Gen 1:3
I suggest the ‘it was so’ has a plain text and obvious meaning. I suggest it is a confirmation of Gap Theory as it is referring to life or the cosmos in the previous creation. ‘It used to be that way’ (in the first creation). Note the way ‘it was so’ is never used when the word created (‘bara’) is used. ‘Bara’ is used for man and whales and birds, all of which are not in the original creation in Gap Theory as I present it-more later. They cannot be subject to ‘it was so’ as they were not there.
This is consistent with ‘bara’ meaning a new creation from God. And explains the omission of ‘it was so ‘ from some days or from some day 6 statements. (Gen 1:20-23) (Gen 1:26-27) (Gen 1:28).
Genesi 1:29-30 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so
Note how animals are vegetarians and have an added ’it was so’ whereas. man also is described as a vegetarian but he does not get the ‘it was so’ added. Why?
In effect any reference to man or a new creation (bara) bars the use of 'it was so' as they are not in the original creation.

'It was so what' you say? Well, there is a double narrative running right through Genesis 1 and 2 that, IMO, confirms Gap Theory beyond any doubt, every word in every verse, The double narrative first identified by Paul the Apostle in 2 Cor 4;6 but being extendable to both chapters and the whole only works with Gap theory and I believe with all my heart I can prove it.

I'm resistant to news like this because there is a lot of lies and misinformation everywhere, but this seems legit!, and google and youtube shadowbanned this video already. This is the biggest news since forever and people are not getting it, it could be possible is somehow false but i don't think it is.
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Please pray for everyone in NZ right now dealing with this serious rain event that has impacted the Auckland region badly. Pray that the rain stops and no further lives are lost. Lord we lift up everyone in the NZ region to you right now that you would be with them during this time and keep them protected from the rain. Please help those out rescuing and providing support to the displaced to have the endurance and strength to keep going. Please dear Lord let the bad weather ease up. In Jesus mighty name amen.

Please pray for Jerry. He has had heart problems and is having a test tomorrow to find out if anything else is wrong.

1 John 1:5-10 ESV


If We Say

If we pay attention closely to what we read in the Scriptures, in the New Testament, we will begin to see many “if” clauses. This word “if” usually is used to introduce a conditional clause, such as “if you do such and such, then this will be the result.” And we have many such “if” clauses in this passage of Scripture, too, showing that the things which are being said here are conditional on certain other things being true and taking place.

So, the first thing we learn here is that God is light (righteous, truthful, holy, word of God, the gospel of Christ) and in him is no darkness (wickedness, evil, absence of light). So IF we say (claim) that we have fellowship (a contributory relationship, communion, participation, partnership) with him while we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle, in practice) in darkness (wickedness, sin), then we lie and do not practice the truth. Why?

Because the Scriptures are very clear on this subject, which we will see if we pay close attention. Woven all throughout the New Testament we read that we must deny self and die daily to sin and follow Jesus in obedience and no longer walk in sin, making sin our practice. For if we continue to make sin our practice, and righteousness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, then we will not inherit eternal life with God but we will die in our sins. Heaven will not be our eternal destiny.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

If We Walk

Now we are being introduced to an “if” clause that expresses a condition opposite of the previous one. Here we are not walking in sin while claiming that we have fellowship with God. But here we are walking (in conduct, in practice) in the light (Jesus Christ, the Word of God, truth, righteousness, the gospel truth). So we are walking in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, and we are not walking in sin.

So, the result of this first of all, which is understood, is that we are now in true fellowship with Jesus Christ, which is why we are able to have genuine Christian fellowship with others who are also in genuine fellowship with the Lord. And the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. So this involves daily dying to sin and to self and following Jesus in obedience, and there is a daily cleansing of sin which then takes place (Luke 9:23-26).

And we need to understand this concept here for many have the idea that if they believe in Jesus (usually not defined) once that all their sins are forgiven (past, present, and future) and that heaven is now guaranteed them. That is not what the Scriptures teach. They teach daily denial of self and dying to sin and walking in obedience to the Lord Jesus and continuing in that walk of faith steadfast to the very end or we don’t have salvation. And this is walking by the faith God gifted to us, in his power and strength.

Now, we do not lose our salvation every time we sin (1 John 2:1-2). Let me make that clear. But our salvation ultimately is determined on how we live, how we walk. If sin is what we practice, and righteousness, holiness, godliness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God. For Jesus said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).

If We Confess

Now this word “confess” does not mean merely to just admit sin or to even verbalize that one has sinned. It means to speak the same as God about our sin, to come to the same conclusion as God about our sin, in full agreement with God, in alignment with what his word teaches about sin. So, this isn’t just about admitting sin, but this is about turning away from your sin, to no longer live in slavery to sin, and to now walk (in practice) according to the Spirit in walks of holiness and obedience to your Lord in all your conduct.

For not only is that what the Greek word for confess means, but we must read this verse in the context of verse 7 and really the whole of the book of 1st John. For it is not enough to just acknowledge that you have sinned, which you must do, too, but you must turn from your sin and then walk in obedience to the Lord in doing the things he says we must do.

So many people are going through a sin cycle of “sin, confess, sin, confess” but nothing changes in their lives. They just verbally admit their sin (many don’t) and then they go right back to it like a pig returning to his vomit. The words don’t mean anything. They are just words they say hoping they can get someone to believe that this time they really mean it. But those in this sin cycle rarely ever mean it, for they are driven to continue in their sin and not to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ.

So, if you want to be forgiven of your sin, repent, don’t just say words that usually don’t mean anything. Stop sinning! And now obey the Lord. Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the sinful cravings of the flesh. Say “No!” to sin, and “Yes!” to God. Don’t play with sin. Don’t give the devil a foothold in your life. Don’t leave doors wide open for you to keep going back through. Decide once and for all who you are going to serve – yourself? or God?

Seek the Lord

An Original Work / July 20, 2012
Based off Isaiah 55

“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to waters.
Listen to Me, and eat what’s good today,
And your soul will delight in richest of fare.
Give ear to Me, and you will live.
I have made an eternal covenant with you.
Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him.
Let the wicked forsake his way, in truth.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will receive mercy.
Freely, God pardons him.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord, our God.

“My word that goes out of My mouth is truthful.
It will not return to Me unfulfilled.
My word will accomplish all that I desire,
And achieve the goal I intend.
You will go in joy and be led forth in peace.
The mountains will burst into song… before you,
And all of the trees clap their hands.”

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The Catholic Church teaches that the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, should be kept holy as a day of rest and worship. This belief is based on the account in the Book of Genesis that states that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world (Genesis 2:2-3). The Ten Commandments also state that the Sabbath is to be kept holy (Exodus 20:8-11).

The Catholic Church also teaches that the Sabbath is a foreshadowing of the eternal rest that believers will enjoy in heaven (Hebrews 4:9-11). Additionally, Jesus himself and his followers are recorded as observing the Sabbath in the gospels (Luke 4:16, Mark 2:27, Luke 6:6-11).

However, the Catholic Church also teaches that the Sabbath laws were fulfilled by Jesus and that Christians are not bound by the strict observance of the Sabbath as it was understood in the Old Testament. Instead, Sunday, the day of the Lord's resurrection, is observed as the Christian Sabbath. This is based on scriptural passages such as Colossians 2:16-17, which state that Christ's death and resurrection fulfilled the requirements of the Sabbath and other Jewish holidays.

In summary, the Catholic Church teaches that the Sabbath is a day to be kept holy, but that the Sabbath laws have been fulfilled by Jesus and Sunday is observed as the Christian Sabbath.

Video Talk

Jeremiah 17:13,15-17,19-20 ESV


If we were to translate this into New Testament times, this would be like talking about those who give lip service only to the Lord, but whose hearts are from him. Although they have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, it has not altered how they live, or even if it did, they did not endure. They turned away from the Lord to go their own way, instead.

Now some or many of those who have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, but who have since turned away from the Lord, or who never, in truth, turned to him in the first place, but only in form, are going to be among those who decide to mock, derail, reject, falsely accuse, attack, hound, and persecute those of us who are teaching the true gospel.

But we are not to let such treatments dishearten or discourage us in any way. And we should never run away from sharing the gospel out of fear of what other people are saying about us or to us. But we are to persevere in sharing with others that by faith in Jesus Christ they must die with him to sin and now they must walk in obedience to his commands (Luke 9:23-26).

We must stand strong in our faith and in the teachings of the Scriptures (in context), and we must go forward with the gospel and keep telling people the truth. For Jesus said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

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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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Sometimes the forces of evil know no bounds. I could really use a mention in your prayers tonight if you do happen to pray.

...

The cumulative historical evidence provides a compelling case for the Catholic claim of Peter’s presence and eventual martyrdom in Rome.

Tertullian wrote circa 200 regarding Rome: “How happy is its church, on which Apostles poured forth all their doctrine along with their blood! Where Peter endures a passion like his Lord’s!”

That St. Peter taught and died and Rome is a tradition of the Catholic Church, yet some have disputed the historicity of this claim. However, even outside of comments by Church Fathers, there is Scriptural evidence that also strongly attests to this tradition.

Tim Gray makes a strong case that the typology of Jonah finds fulfillment in Peter. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines typology as “a person, a thing, or an action, having its own independent and absolute existence, but at the same time intended by God to prefigure a future person, thing, or action.” Christians are familiar with Jesus’ comparison to Jonah, prophesying that he will rise from the dead after three days, but Peter also is a type of Jonah.

We know from the Gospel of John that Peter’s father was named John. Yet, when Jesus declares he will build his Church on Peter in the Gospel of Matthew, he refers to Peter as “Simon Bar-Jona,” meaning “Simon, son of Jona.” Some have suggested the Jona here is simply a contraction of John, but just earlier in the same chapter of Matthew speaks of “the sign of Jonah,” which refers to the resurrection after three days, just as Jonah’s body was in the fish for three days. It is unlikely to be coincidental that Peter’s father is referred to as “Jona” shortly after Jesus speaks of the sign of Jonah. Just as Jesus is titled the son of David, signifying he will be a type of David by sitting on the throne of David, so too Peter, as the son of Jonah, will be a type of Jonah in some manner.

There are plenty of similarities between the two:

Jonah left with a boat from Joppa, while Peter preached in Joppa;
Jonah fled from God’s presence after being given a command to go to Nineveh, while Peter fled from Christ at the trial of the Sanhedrin;

Jonah is in the belly of the fish for three days in Sheol, while Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, an action that caused loss of salvation;

Jonah becomes faithful to the God after disobeying his command, while Peter also returns to the faith after denying Christ;
and so on.

Most significant for whether Peter was in Rome is God’s sending Jonah to Nineveh. As Gray notes in his book Peter: Keys to Following Jesus, Nineveh was the “was the archenemy of Israel.” He writes:

Continued below.

Without a rapture, if you can never lose your salvation, what happens to a believer who takes the mark of the beast? Lose salvation?

Pleass pray for me to be a better Christian.

My wife, Linda, is having chest pain. I have taken her to urgent care. Please pray.

Adam Jeremy Lewis, an eighth grade teacher at Pelham Park Middle School and an assistant coach for the school’s wrestling team, was charged with possessing child pornography.

Lewis was also youth director at Rock Mountain Lakes Baptist Church in McCalla.

“This is a devastating moment for our church family, but I know God is working,” the church said in a message to parishioners on its Facebook page.

Good news for Trump fans!



Why not?

So, I've been watching "McLeod's Daughters" with Momma for about the last month or so. (For those of you who don't know, it's an Australian TV series about two young women who inherit a cattle ranch from their deceased father, and decide to run it themselves, along with their female cook and two teenaged girls. It's pretty much a "chick flick", but it has its moments, and it's entertaining.)

Anyway, I had problems the first few episodes trying to adjust my ear to the Down Under accents, but I eventually got used to them. My wife didn't have any problem with the accents, but the slang, she was totally unfamiliar with; I knew a lot of the expressions through reading, though, so I'd have to translate for her. In one episode, a character is invited to "sit down and have some brekkie." She said, "What's that?", and I said, "Have some breakfast." Another common term is "yewtee"; I had to explain to her that it was short for "utility truck", or what we would call a pickup truck.

Practically every episode was like that---I knew the words and would have to translate for her: "gone crook" means gotten sick; "off to kip" means going to bed; a "tyke" is a dog; "skippy" is slang for a kangaroo; a "bludger" is a freeloader; "chooks" are chickens; "gear" means clothing; "wallopers" are police officers; "mozzies" are mosquitoes; a "jumpbuck" is a sheep; a "concession" is a discount sale; "arvo" and "evo" are afternoon and evening, and a "two-pot screamer" is a guy who can't handle his liquor.

She eventually caught on to most of it, although now and again she'll ask me what something means. And I'll admit that every so often, I'll have to look one up for myself. The other night somebody mentioned a "bickie", which I knew meant "biscuit", or what we would call a cookie---but the context wasn't right; I didn't know that it was also slang for an Australian one-dollar bill until I looked it up.

Anyway, my question is, if you watch American TV shows, do you have problems with the accents or deciphering our slang at all? I'm just curious.

This is for those who believe that Jesus went to the land or realm of the dead before his rising from the grave, its not a discussion about whether it happened . So if you do believe that Jesus went and preached to the dead and he lead the captives free , do you think he emptied one side or both ? Let me know what you think and why,

One of the most devastating natural disasters in European history took place in the city of Lisbon in 1755. Early in the morning the city was surprised by an earthquake, followed by a tsunami and finally by a major fire. The city was almost completely destroyed. About 12,000 to 100,000 died.

The earthquake raised anew for philosophers and theologians the old theodicy problem: How could an omnipotent and benevolent God allow such a tremendous calamity as the Lisbon earthquake? Why had the quake hit the capital of a strictly Catholic country, which was working for the spread of (Catholic) Christianity in the world? And why, moreover, on the feast day of All Saints? And why had numerous churches fallen victim to the quake, but Lisbon's red-light district, the Alfama, of all places, been spared? Scholars such as Voltaire, Kant and Lessing discussed these questions.

What gripped me most of all was that this catastrophe took place on All Saints' Day. One could think that God was mocking. Obviously, God has a tendency to bring disasters upon certain people on certain days. For the destruction of the second Temple also took place on a festival, a Jewish festival, a festival of mourning, on Tisha B'Av.

What does this teach us? It teaches us this: Fear God. Obey His word. Stay away from idols. Otherwise, He will bring calamity upon you and He will have no mercy on you or on your children.

Isaiah 45:7
I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create disaster; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Pope Benedict XVI has had a book of essays published posthumously in which he defends the unique character of the Mass and the Catholic priesthood and attacks rising intolerance in the increasingly atheistic West.

In the book, which is called What Christianity Is, the German pope, who died aged 95 on New Year’s Eve, warned Catholics in particular of the danger of a “radical manipulation of human beings” and “the distortion of the sexes by gender ideology”.

He wrote that although the intolerance of modernity towards the Christian faith “has not yet turned into open persecution … it manifests itself in an increasingly authoritarian way with the aim of achieving, by appropriate legislation, the eradication of what is essentially Christian”.

There are 16 essays in the book, four of which are previously unpublished. Benedict dated a preface May 1, 2022, and told Elio Guerriero, an assistant who helped him to compile the essays, that he did not wish the book to be published until his death.

“I do not want to publish anything else in my life,” Guerriero said Benedict told him, according to news reports. “The fury of the circles opposed to me in Germany is so strong that the appearance of any word from me immediately provokes a murderous clamour on their part. I want to spare myself and Christendom this.”

Continued below.