She should have to reimburse the government for all the money we have spent on her.

concretecamper said:

See post #4

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See post #5

Receive, O Lord, we beseech You, the sacrifice which we offer to You
for the final phase of our life: and grant
that by it all our sins may be cleansed away,
in order that we who, by Your provision, are stricken by scourges in this life,
may obtain eternal rest in the life to come.

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To walk the path of holiness is to respond wholeheartedly to the call, “We are called to be saints.” The saints who have gone before us blazed a trail marked by virtues—habits of heart and will that conform us more perfectly to Christ. The Church’s wisdom gives us the classical Seven Virtues: the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues. Together, they form the foundation for growth in sanctity.

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The past needs to be present to us because it is present to God; it shines forth His presence in time. The future cannot be present to us in the same way as it is present to God, but we know that He is present in the ages to come as He is present in the ages that have been. In the words of the well-known Gospel song, we know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

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The Morning Offering

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) readings & commentary

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time readings & commentary

The Instructions to Heaven Written on Our Hearts: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time readings & commentary

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Sunday, February 15, 2026

Sunday Reflections, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, 15 February 2026

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A) Bible study

A Slide Show of Sanctity – A Homily for the 6th Sunday of the Year

The New Law, Nourishment of the Heart

Daily Gospel

Saints of the Day

Thoughts for an Extraordinary Lent

RandyPNW said:

Yes, there's a lot of truth in that from my perspective. But I would say it this way. God set up an ideal system of faith for the nation with OT Israel. But being a typical nation, some would align with God, and some would rebel against God.

I do think, then, that God was displaying the prototypical nation with fathers of the nation who at least initially wished to enter their nation into covenant with God. And God certainly knew it would result in a mixed bag, and ultimately, in failure.

It doesn't mean the system was wrong. It just means that if a nation wishes to follow God by faith there will be a progression, or regression, as such. As the nation loses out to external pagan influences, God's People are reduced to a smaller minority who must not impose their way on the majority but must nevertheless set an example and hope to continue influencing the nation along more godly lines.

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I think its similar to an individual who may follow God or choose to follow other ways. Individuals can be examples of Gods way and a group of individuals forming a family or nation can example Gods way as well.

I am reminded of Dr Kings "Beloved community". His idea that a community of Christlike individuals coming together as the example of a loving community that seen beyond race.

RandyPNW said:

But yes, it all boils down to free choice. Some will lean towards following the Spirit of God, as it touches our heart through the vehicle of His word. This is called "Faith."

And some will choose to follow the example of human lust and covetousness that surrounds us by those who do not know or wish to ignore the voice of their conscience. This becomes a temptation that does damage even to those who wish to exercise Faith.

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And it is hard to follow Gods spirit to the world, to the flesh. It requires sacrifice of self. It requires lowering self and submitting to something greater. This is the fundemental battle that started in the garden.

Its interesting that 'Pride' is now celebrated rather than it use to be one of the 7 deadly sins. In fact the first one that preceeded all the others.

Note that the return was to visit and not, apparently, a complete return. I think some news outlets are making more of it than what it is. And that's another case of a well-known figure doing something that's really none of my business, so I don't keep up with it.

FireDragon76 said:

Having mishaps and not being toilet trained aren't necessarily the same thing. For a variety of reasons, it's hard for most children to have control of their bodies and fit their restroom usage into school schedules.

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Schools take the latter into account, to the point of having specific restrooms with both smaller fixtures and a door opening directly into the classroom. This has been the case for decades.

What I observed when ours were toddlers is that the pull-up disposable diapers delayed the motivation to use the facilities. The tip-off was when one of them said "Hold on" and interrupted their conversation in order to relieve themselves in the pull-ups. That indicated that they knew what the urge was and could hold it, but found it inconvenient to do so. Even then they were potty trained before school age.

Morning Prayers

Divinum Officium

Our Morning Offering – 15 February – Grant Us This Day, O Lord By St Thomas Aquinas

Quinquagesima Sunday propers & commentary

Quinquagesima Sunday propers & commentary (Gueranger)

Quinquagesima Sunday propers & commentary

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's instruction on Quinquagesima Sunday

Daily Gospel

Colligite Fragmenta: Quinquagesima Sunday

In Illo Tempore: Quinquagesima Sunday

The Shrovish Collect of Quinquagesima Sunday

Our Lord’s Death and Charity: sermon on Quinquagesima Sunday

Thoughts for an Extraordinary Lent

Saints Faustinus and Jovita Martyrs

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - Quinquagesima Sunday 2/15/26

Audio version of Gueranger
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Christsfreeservant said:

John 8:30-36 NASB1995: As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Do you see what Jesus was saying here? Do you understand the gospel message he was teaching here? He did not teach that we could believe in him and therefore we are now saved from all sins and heaven is now secured for us when we die. He let those who believed in him know that if they CONTINUED in his word (in his teachings), then they were truly his disciples (followers). And he let them know that everyone who commits (practices) sin is a slave to sin, and the slaves will not have eternal life.

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At the time Jesus spoke these words to those Jews who believed, the law was still in existence, Jesus had not died on the cross to bring in the new covenant- and the Holy Spirit had not been given yet - to seal the believer to secure the believers salvation.

So, what Jesus said to those Jews was based on the Mosaic law that existed then. But, after Jesus death, we learn there is a wrestling with the flesh - once the believer receives the Holy Spirit, the Bible tells us the flesh lustest against the Spirit, and the Spirit lustest against the flesh, and we can’t do the things we want to do. That is, we desire to do right, but there is a greater battle with sin. So, it might look as though someone is committing sin when in fact they are struggling with the flesh. To overcome this, the believer must be led by the Spirit. Thus takes time, and growth - a believer must grow in the word of God from the milk stage to the meat stage to where we can put off the old man, which doesn’t happen right away.

If preachers were to explained to believers that we must wait for God’s power, through the Holy Spirit, to strengthen us, (instead of putting people through guilt trips, causing them to feel condemned because of their initial failures), and that the requirement to develop patience, faith, and trust takes time, then there would be less confusion, less heartache, and there would be a willingness to spend more time in the word and praying, and learning to exercise the faith needed to grow in Christ.

chilehed said:

I'm late to the party, don't visit CF much any more but I have a professional interest in 2nd Law discussions.


Have you at least done a 2nd Law analysis of the system? Your description sounds like it involves a change in total entropy that's less than zero. Show us the math.


That's an important clue.

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It doesn't work!! Sorry for wasting everyone's time!

Sadly, it appears that in our day and time on the earth that not many people are adhering to what this says, but they readily accept whatever sounds good to their ears and whatever is quick and easy and does not require much time or thought or consideration of words spoken to see whether or not what is being taught as truth is actually the truth being taught in the Scriptures. And the evidence of this is seen in how many are buying into a false diluted gospel which makes no requirements for death to sin and walks of obedience to God’s commands, but which coddles people in their sins.

But read this one verse in the context of the whole of 1 John, and not just in the immediate context (see vs. 2-3) which is easy to misinterpret because of the English translation. For the word “confess” is not a verbal acknowledgement of something only. The word means to speak to the same conclusion, in full agreement, to align with, in this case to be in full agreement with God about all that he teaches, and to align ourselves with his teachings via conforming our lives to be obedient to his commands, to walk in his ways, in truth, and to no longer live in captivity to sin.

So, in 1 John 1 we learn that if we say (profess, confess) that we are in fellowship with God (with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit) but while we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle, in practice) in the darkness (sin, wickedness, immorality), we are lying and we do not practice the truth. But if we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle) in the Light (in Jesus Christ, in truth, in righteousness, in obedience to our Lord and his commands), the blood of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, cleanses (frees us, delivers) us from all sin, and then we have fellowship with God and with others of faith in our Lord.

And in 1 John 2 we learn that we know that we have come to know God (Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) if we keep (obey, adhere to) his commandments (New Covenant) which teach that by faith in Jesus Christ we must deny self, die to sin daily, and follow our Lord in surrender to his will in walks of obedience to his commands. And this doesn’t mean we will never fail (1 John 2:1-2), but if we do not obey our Lord, in practice, we are lying and the truth is not in us. But if, by the grace of God, in the power of God, obedience to God is what we practice, then we are truly in Christ Jesus.

And 1 John 3:7-10 says, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (see also: Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23)

Yet so many people today who profess faith in Jesus Christ are ignoring teachings such as these while they embrace multiple Scriptures being taught outside of their appropriate biblical context which are being made to say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And so they have the impression that they are saved and on their way to heaven even if they ignore God and his commands, and even if they deliberately and habitually continue to make sin their practice, and not obedience to God. But they are believing lies which will send them to hell on the promise of heaven. So be those who test the spirits and who believe God and his word.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

No Less

An Original Work / March 19, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I can do no less than praise You,
Lord, for all You’ve done for me.
You died for my sins to save me,
So I would be set free.
I adore You! Lord, I praise You!
Jesus, Savior, King of kings!
You provided my redemption.
Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You.
Lord, Your witness I would be,
Telling others of Your love,
And why You died on that tree.
Tell of how You gave of Your life,
So from sin we’d be set free,
So we could worship You forever,
And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,
Lord, for You have first loved me.
You gave of Your life so willing,
Because You cared for me.
Turn from my sin! Obey freely!
Live for You each passing day.
Read Your word, and follow Your lead,
Lord, as I humbly pray.

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Do Not Believe Everyone
An Original Work / February 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

essentialsaltes said:

I think that will be sprung as a surprise.

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Nice to see “columns“, classy design, it’ll look swell.
I trust Trump’s real-estate sense, he’s brilliant here. It’ll be big and ostentatious and fitting for the new world order coming up. The Nineteenth Century Politics II, “Let’s us fight!”.
Welcoming heroes back from the front in this magnificent structure will just be grand on the streaming services, which will have to provide it, (for a small ‘fee’).

Not every thing he does is “wrong”, he’s okay on this one for me.

Here's another short story with another different protagonist.
This one's inspired by a standup joke told by Daniel Tosh.



It was the year 2015. Cody pulled his Dodge Ram 1500 into the west parking lot at Sequoyah Park, where he and his wife, Faida, were planning to picnic for lunch. Cody had cooked 4 ground Italian sausage burgers. He had also made 2 blueberry muffins for Faida, as she was eating for both herself and their upcoming son, Henry. Cody had filled 2 thermal cups with lemonlimeade (a mixture of lemonade and limeade).

Cody was 28 years old. He was average male height. He was muscular and athletic. His hair was short and dark brown. He was completely white. Cody was dressed in a white t-shirt and blue jeans. On his feet, he wore white socks and brown cowboy boots tucked under his pant legs.

Faida was 27 years old. At this point, she was 7 months pregnant. She was firm-figured and moderately athletic. Her hair was long, straight, and very dark brown. Like her husband, she was completely white. Faida was dressed in a pale pink t-shirt and a gray sleeveless button-front maternity jumpsuit. On her feet, she wore white socks and white athletic shoes.

Cody made sure the women's restroom was available to Faida in case she needed it. He then laid out a sheet, and then sat with Faida on it. Cody got the food and drinks out of the container. He and Faida joined hands in prayer.
Faida prayed, "Lord, we thank You for the meal we're about to recieve for the nourishing of our bodies. Bless this meal, bless the hands that prepared this meal, bless the marital relationship between me and Cody. We thank You for our son growing in me. We beseech You to make him healthy in every way. We thank You for the gift of salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ. We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name we pray, amen."
"Amen," said Cody.

Cody and Faida enjoyed their meal together while talking about many different things. After they were done, Cody helped Faida to her feet, and put everything back in the truck. Cody opened the front passenger door for Faida, and let her in. Seeing that Faida was safely inside, Cody shut the door. He then went around, to the driver's side, and got in. He started the truck. Seeing that the engine was still warm, he drove out of the parking lot, and turned right, onto Cherokee Boulevard. Cody was driving at a steady 34 miles per hour, even though the speed limit was 30 miles per hour. Suddenly, a black Koenigsegg Agera RS sped up quickly behind Cody's truck, skidded to Cody's speed, and was now tailgating very dangerously close. Cody had seen it all in his rear view mirror. Faida saw it too, in the outside mirror on her side.
"What in the world?!" said Cody.
"Speeder," Faida guessed, "Now, a tailgater."
"That's a Koenigsegg Agera RS," said Cody, "Those things are expensive and fast."
"I know," said Faida.
Cody and Faida then heard the sound of a car horn honking behind them repeatedly.
"Now, what?!" said Faida, turning her head, and looking out the back window.
The driver of the Koenigsegg was honking his horn repeatedly, wanting Cody to get out of the way.
"What's his problem?" said Cody.
"I don't know," said Faida, "Let's see. The driver is a blonde white guy who appears to be in his 20s. He's got 2 women with him, in the only passenger seat, one on the other one's lap, and they look around his age."
Faida saw the Koenigsegg's driver make an obscene gesture with his left hand.
Faida's mouth dropped open. "He made the obscene gesture at us," she said.
"Maybe, he feels he's entitled, because he can afford that car," said Cody, "Or because his parents can."
"Could be," said Faida, "Jesus warned about how much easier it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, and look at that guy back there; driving that car, acting all rude, and cursing at us with his hand. Now, about those 2 women with him, it seems at least one of them would tell him to stop acting the way he's acting. And, I'm also thinking he might be in a relationship with both of them."
"I hate that kind of relationship," said Cody, "I like it to be 1 man and 1 woman, just like us."
"Me too," said Faida, "Jesus said that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman, and that's what we're doing."
"Totally," said Cody, "And I love it."
"Me too," said Faida.
The Koenigsegg's driver was still tailgating and honking his horn.
"Alright, that's it!" said Cody, "There's no one behind him, so I'm going to lollygag in front of him. If he thinks I'm going too slow now, I'll show him what too slow looks like."
Cody slowed his truck down to 20 miles per hour. The Koenigsegg's driver honked his horn in a long flatline.
"Oh! 'Sounds like I'm really ticking him off," said Cody.
Faida looked back, and saw a clearly enraged look on the Koenigsegg's driver's face. "I think so," she said.

Cody continued his slow drive with the impatient Koenigsegg driver tailgating, honking, and making his obscene gesture at him and Faida. As they approached the east end of the road, where it intersects with Kingston Pike, Cody and Faida noticed a dirty and unkempt homeless man standing in the median with a cardboard sign that said "Homeless. Need money for food."
"Aw! A homeless guy!" said Faida in a sympathetic tone.
Giggling mischieviously, Cody got his wallet out, removed a 20 dollar bill from it, put the wallet back in his pocket, and rolled his window down.
"We don't give panhandlers handouts," said Faida.
"This ain't a handout," said Cody, "I'm hiring him. Grab that handle, and hold on tight."
Faida tightly held the emergency handle on the ceiling with her right hand and her baby bump with her left hand. Cody held the money out the window, and the homeless man approached him.
"Here's 20 bucks," said Cody, giving the homeless man the money, "Now, as soon as the light turns green, I want you to go crazy on the car behind me."
The homeless man nodded in agreement and backed away from the truck. Soon after, the light turned green. Without even the slightest hesitation, the homeless man ran over to the Koenigsegg, placed his hands on the frunk, and cocked his head around with his tongue hanging out. Cody immediately stomped the gas to the floor, shooting through the intersection in a left turn onto Kingston Pike. He and Faida laughed the rest of the way home.

Mercy Shown said:

There are behaviors in your life that seem to testify against you? Things like:


The little white lies I tell—and then hate myself for telling.
The temper that flares, followed by regret.
The overeating.
The selfish impulses that cling to me like rotting flesh.


What do I do with these?

Scripture does not pretend this struggle isn’t real. Paul himself describes it as “a body of death”—something heavy, stubborn, and humiliating to carry. The Bible never treats this as shocking news. What is dangerous, though, is how we interpret it.

These behaviors are not courtroom witnesses lined up to condemn me. If God is not prosecuting me, then my sins are not evidence against my salvation—they are symptoms of my need. “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

There is a crucial difference between hating sin and hating myself. Godly sorrow says, This does not belong to who I am in Christ. Worldly sorrow says, This proves who I really am. The first leads to repentance without regret. The second quietly kills hope.

Confession, then, is not self-punishment. It is agreement with the truth—plain, honest, and done without theatrics. Scripture doesn’t call me to agonize, only to confess. Forgiveness is not unlocked by emotional intensity but by trust in Christ’s faithfulness.

When I spiral into self-accusation, I forget something essential: Scripture already names an accuser—and it isn’t me. Christ, by contrast, is my advocate. Self-loathing doesn’t make me holy; it simply assumes the cross was insufficient.

And many of these repeated sins, when examined honestly, are not moral scandals so much as formation problems. White lies often grow from fear. Anger from wounded pride or exhaustion. Overeating from comfort-seeking. These are misdirected survival strategies—not proof that grace has failed.

Sanctification is slower than sincerity. God is not surprised by how long it takes. He who began a good work will finish it. My role is not conquest, but cooperation.

Here’s a quiet reassurance I keep returning to:
The dead do not grieve their corruption. Living flesh does.
Rotting flesh doesn’t ache—but living flesh feels pain.

When I fail, I am learning to do four simple things:

1. Name the sin plainly—without drama.
2. Thank Christ immediately for forgiveness already given.
3. Ask honestly what I was trying to get or protect.
4. Move on without self-punishment.

No vows. No spirals. No self-disgust.

I am not dragging sin into God’s presence—I am dragging it into the light. And Scripture promises that “if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.”

Not because I finally fixed myself,
but because I refused to hide.

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I’ll add that Philippians passage saying … one thing I do, forgetting what is behind, I press on.

I prefer tame parakeets. We don't have to like every person's pets, but I don't like bullying at alL.
My allergist told me I'm allergic to dogs and cats.

Lukaris said:

I cited sources like the leftist Nation periodical attesting to what they claim that USAID has been more about political control than genuine assistance throughout its history. They conveniently agree with leftist propagandists of this thread though that aid cuts somehow create a humanitarian disaster yet somehow seem to perpetuate it when the money is spent.

The statistic models being used for how many people are supposed to have been saved by former USAID spending & suspect figures of deaths & projected deaths have been thankfully analyzed & challenged by New York University statistician Aaron Brown.

NYU professor challenges ‘patently absurd’ claim USAID cuts will kill 14 million | The College Fix

NYU Professor Aaron Brown criticized a UCLA study claiming that cuts to USAID could lead to 14 million additional deaths by 2030, calling the assertion ‘patently absurd.’…

www.thecollegefix.com

Did USAID really save 90 million lives? Not unless it raised the dead.

A Lancet study’s inflated numbers are being used to push a partisan narrative, not inform public policy.

reason.com

An attempted audit of USAID for fiscal year 2025 was unsuccessful.

Audit of USAID’s Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2025 | Office of Inspector General

oig.usaid.gov

What We Found​

• Williams Adley concluded that they were unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion due to USAID’s failure to maintain adequate processes, controls, and records in support of financial transaction and account balances

Then there is the role of USAID in the dangerous gain of function research at your friendly neighborhood Wuhan labs.

State Department, USAID endorsed novel virus project with China despite national security risks

The State Dept. and USAID backed a controversial research project with China into novel viruses in 2019 even though it created new biosecurity risks.

usrtk.org

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One can almost hear the sneer in “leftist”; well done.

quietbloke said:

In the Bible we are instructed to 'be filled with the Spirit' continually. 'Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit' (Ephesians 5:18) Would you like to share on this experience?

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Amen and Amen! " Be

quietbloke said:

In the Bible we are instructed to 'be filled with the Spirit' continually. 'Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit' (Ephesians 5:18) Would you like to share on this experience?

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Amen and Amen! "Be baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire"
Brothers and Sisters, In Christ, May God Mightily Bless you and your loved ones, In Jesus's Name!

RainySunflower said:

View attachment 376478

Screenshoot speaks for itself, comments aren't needed.

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It is come and gone, NOTICE: there is no declared winner. The same nations mentioned (by way of ancestry) are the nations that came against Israel from 1948 on, all the way to 1973 when Israel won the Golan Heights, they were now pretty safe, so much so that Egypt entered into a peace agreement with them.

But you can name the skirmishes from 1948, to 1957 Suez, to 1967 and 1973, they all wanted to wipe Israel out. Sadat made peace, sure there were still some terrorist activities funded by Iran, bit not the nations mentioned in the 83rd Psalms in full, some by proxy, but in like 2010ish, because of Iran's threat, those same nations like Egypt, Jordan, Saudis, Lebanon etc. all wanted to have peace with Israel because the feared Iran more. Thus Trump brought in the Abraham Accords, its being refined as we speak and Iran is being dealt with as per its Nuke Program.

The part that confuses most people is about Israel living in a City without Walls. Of course they are going to have walls, these single terrorist types mandate that, but God used it in a metaphorical way to say those nations that came against you in the Psalm 83 wars, will not join in with the Gog & Magog coalition. That can only mean they have made peace. That is God saying Israel will be AT PEACE with all of her surrounding nations, and will Israel be AT PEACE? Yes of course they are, they have Terrorist Acts, but so so the USA see 9/11 and the Boston Bombing etc. But for the first time in over 2500 years. since Babylon conquered Israel, they have no one BUT THEMSELVES ruling over them, not Babylon, not Assyria, not Persia, not Greece nor Rome !! So, they are at peace, no one tells them who to worship, to pay taxes to foreigners, where to walk, how to act etc. etc.

Psalm 83 has past, we now await Gog & Magog. Russia, Iran and Turkey MUST HAVE 5/6 of their Armies destroyed that will make the Anti-Christs (E.U. President) paths straight. Then when the USA/North America gets hit with the Rev. 8 Asteroid, the AC will be able to Conquer Israel at his whim and pleasure.

Vambram said:

The federal budget is put together and voted into law by Congress.
Every time tax rates are cut, the federal revenue increases. We don't have a revenue problem, but we do have a spending problem.

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That's not how tax cuts work. Less taxes = less revenue. With no changes in spending that results in deficits go up.

Jimmy Lai’s rise from an illiterate 12‑year‑old refugee to a globally recognized entrepreneur is one of the most striking parts of his story. He didn’t go to school in Hong Kong — he educated himself. Today, he can speak English fluently.

Self‑Education: Building Knowledge from Nothing​

Lai had no formal schooling in Hong Kong, but he refused to let illiteracy define him. He built his knowledge through sheer will.

Teaching Himself English​

• He read English newspapers every day, even when he understood almost nothing.
• He watched English‑language films repeatedly to absorb vocabulary.
• He copied sentences by hand to learn grammar.
• He asked co-workers to explain words and phrases.

Reading Obsessively​

Lai devoured books on:

• business and management
• biographies of entrepreneurs
• Western philosophy
• Catholic writers (after his conversion in 1997)

He often carried books to the factory floor, reading during breaks.

Learning by Doing​

His real education came from work:

• He observed how managers negotiated and solved problems.
• He learned accounting, logistics, and production by watching and experimenting.
• He asked questions constantly, absorbing knowledge from anyone willing to teach him.

This “factory‑floor MBA” became the foundation of his business instincts.

A Life Shaped by Hardship and Conviction​

The struggles of Lai’s youth did more than build his business instincts. They shaped his worldview. His escape from oppression, his years of poverty, and his self‑education forged a deep belief in freedom, dignity, and moral courage.

In 1997, the year of Hong Kong’s handover, Lai converted to Catholicism, influenced by figures like Cardinal Joseph Zen. His faith became a moral anchor, guiding his later decisions as a media founder and pro‑democracy advocate.

mincemeat pie