Tony and Gez had seen it all — and lost it all — in their individual journeys of addiction, recovery and conversion.

After four years of prayer, study and discernment, they were at last found worthy. On Nov. 15, at St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold, New Jersey, the Diocese of Trenton raised nine men to the sacred order of the permanent diaconate.

Celebrating the Mass and conferring the Sacrament of Holy Orders was Bishop David O’Connell. “We come here today for a holy purpose,” proclaimed Bishop O’Connell, “to ordain these nine men who are your husbands, fathers, relatives and friends to the order of deacon.”

Beaming in the corner of the packed church was a particular dad in his clerics, Tony Ford. The 80-year-old deacon from St. Mary’s Parish in Middlewich, Cheshire, England, sat with his wife of nearly 60 years, Mary. Together with their children and grandchildren, they’d made the trip to the United States for the ordination of their 59-year-old son, Gerard “Gez” Ford, a pastoral associate at St. David the King Parish in West Windsor, New Jersey.

Tony and Gez had seen it all — and lost it all — in their individual journeys of addiction, recovery and conversion. For a time, they’d lost each other. In the Lord’s perfect knowledge of the hearts of fathers and sons, God healed them on separate paths, turning their hearts back to him.

No one was more surprised at the God of surprises than Tony. “The Lord is so good, so clever and so wonderful,” said Tony. “Gez is the same age I was when I was ordained.” In astonishment, he added, “My family had fallen apart. It was lost. It was rubbish. Look what God can do with rubbish.”

He Makes All Things New​

Continued below.

A Father and Son’s Journey from Addiction to the Altar

Tony and Gez had seen it all — and lost it all — in their individual journeys of addiction, recovery and conversion.

www.ncregister.com

Put some books under the Christmas tree. There are plenty of solid Catholic choices—from saints’ biographies to the enduring charm of Narnia. But don’t imagine that simply handing a child a book finishes your job. Read to them. Then read with them.

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“Our chaplains are chaplains, not emotional support officers, and we’re going to treat them as such,” Hegseth said in a video statement to the force on Wednesday.

He took special aim at the Army, saying its current spiritual fitness guide is pushing secular humanism, and he ordered the service to cease using the program immediately. “It mentions God one time. That’s it,” Hegseth said. “It mentions feelings 11 times. It even mentions playfulness, whatever that is, nine times. … In short, it’s unacceptable and unserious. So we’re tossing it.”

Hegseth said the Pentagon is working on a new program, which could curtail what qualifies as a faith or belief recognized in the military.

In 2017, the Defense Department updated what qualifies as a recognized religious denomination or belief system, with a list of 221 groups that ranged from the mainstream to obscure Christian sects, Wiccans and atheists. Hegseth blamed such changes on “political correctness” and an “ongoing war on warriors.” The department will create a new list of religious affiliation codes, he said without specifying what religions or belief systems are in and which ones are out

To understand how comparison steals from us, we first need to understand what it steals. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is like a warm breeze – it comes and goes and shifts with circumstances. A good meal, a compliment, and a sunny day can bring happiness, but the happiness does not last.

Joy, however, is deeper and lasting. Joy is the quiet, steady flame in the hearth of the soul. Circumstances may swirl like winter winds outside, but joy burns steadily.

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DaisyDay said:

And there is the third reason - genuine curiosity. Not everyone manipulates with questions.

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If one already knows the answer, and that answer is in no doubt, then asking the question is to find out if the other person is prepared to answer. An example?

'Where does the fentanyl come from that finds its way into the US?'

Try that in the relevant thread with people who think that blowing up boats from Venezuela is solving the fentanyl problem. See what you response you get.

Now...back to the tariff dividends.

Later, in a press conference after the ceremony, Mendoza said that his Catholic faith "is a huge component" to his life and is "maybe the sole reason why I got here."

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It’s Official: Pope Leo XIV Picks Fellow Chicagoan with ‘Missionary Spirit’ as New York’s Next Archbishop

China accuses US of 'bullying' Venezuela as Trump orders blockade​

In a phone call on Wednesday, China's foreign minister Wang Yi told his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, that Beijing supported Caracas in defending its sovereignty. [emphasis added]

The message of support came as the US president declared late on Tuesday that he had ordered the "blockade" on oil tankers into and out of the South American country.

He said the US military would remain in place until Venezuela returns "all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us".

essentialsaltes said:

Fulton County investigators have another recording of a Trump phone call pressuring a Georgia official​

Fulton County investigators have an audio recording of a phone call that former President Donald Trumpmade to the Georgia House speaker to push for a special session to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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New audio emerges of Trump directing Republicans on how to overturn election results​

Audio clips obtained by the New York Times show President Donald Trump giving explicit instructions to Republicans in Georgia on how to flip the result of the 2020 election, in which Trump lost Georgia to then-President-elect Joe Biden.

In one 12- minute phone call, Trump is heard talking to the late former Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R) — who died in 2023 — about calling a special legislative session to address supposed "fraud" in the 2020 election.

"Who’s gonna stop you for that?" Trump is heard saying.

"A federal judge, possibly," Ralston replied with a laugh.

NYT article

Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), considered one of the leading seminaries in the U.S., has launched its first series of Arabic-language curriculum.

Starting this fall semester, the 101-year-old seminary expanded its ministry reach with online courses taught in Arabic for students pursuing either a Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies (GCCS) or the Master of Biblical and Theological Studies (MBTS), DTS announced on Dec. 5.

Under the program, the initial cohort of 10 students based in both the U.S. and the Middle East, are taking courses in a pre-recorded, online format with reading materials and resources in Arabic. Their first course is a biblical study of the theological concept of Trinitarianism, according to a seminary spokesperson.

Led by Milad F. Dagher, director of DTS-Arabic and associate professor of Old Testament studies, DTS’ Arabic-language program was launched following two years of discussions among DTS leadership about preparing students for ministry in Arabic. Then-DTS President Mark Bailey and current President Mark Yarbrough — who was also Dagher’s seminary classmate — were involved in forming specifics about Arabic-language instruction. In January 2024, Dagher began working remotely as a part-time adviser at DTS.

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# 1 WHAT ,/// TIS , is in. the NMINATIVE CASE in. the SINGULAR in. the NEUTER

#2. THEN ? ///. OUN. is a CONJNCATION

#3. ISRAEL , ///. PROPER NOUN

# 4 HATH , /// EPITYGHANO. is in. the AORIST TENSE in. the ACTIVE VOICE. in. the INDICATIVE MOOD. in. the SINGULAR

#5 NOT ,/// is a DISJUNCATION PARTICLE NEGATIVE

#6 OBTAINED. , ///. EVITYGCHANO. in vv the GENITIVE CASE in. the NEUTER

#7 THAT , /// FOUTOU. in the GENITIVE CASE in the NEUTER in. the SINGULAR

#8 WHICH , /// is a RELATIVE. PRONOUN. in the ACCUSATIVE CASE in the SINGULAR. in. the NEUTER

#9 HE SEEKETH FOR. ///. EPIZCETOO. , inc the PRESENT TENSE. in the ACTIVE VOICE in the INDICATIVE MOOD. , means you better

believe it , in v the SINGULAR

#10. BUT , /// DE iss a CONJUNCATION

#11 THE // HO is a DEFINITE ARTICLE. in. the NOMINATIVE CASE in. the SINGULAR

#12. ELECTION. /// EKLOGE. in the NOMINATIVE CASE in. the SINGULAR

#13 HATH. OBTAINETH. IT. /// EPITYCHANO. in vv the AORIST TENSE in. the ACTIVE VOICE. , means Christ is INVOLVED. in the

INDICATIVE MOOD. , means you better BELIEVE IT. in v. the SINGULUAR

#14 AND. ///. DE is a CONJUNCATION

#15 THE /// HO. is a DEFINITE ARTICLE in v the NOMINATIVE CASE in. the SINGULAR

#16 ELECTION. /// EKLOGO. invite NOMINATIVE CASE. in. the SINGULAR

#17. HATH OBTAINED. IT. /// EPITYGCHANO is in. the AORIST TENSE. in. the ACTIVE VOICE , means CHRIST is doing. the action

invite INDICATIVE MOOD , means Christ is doing . the action in the SINGULAR

#18. AND /// DE , is a CONJUNCATION

#19 THE ///. HO is a DEFINITE ARTICLE. in. the NOMINATIVE CASE in. the PLURAL

#20 REST ///. LOLPOS. in v the NOMINATIVE CASE. in. the PLURAL

# 21 REST /// LOLPOS. in. the NOMINATIVE CASE inv v the PLURAL

#22 WERE BLINDED /// in. the AORIST TENSE and it means ISRAEL were BLINDED THOUSAND. of years AGO. !!

# A AND many today refuse n not believe that ALL of Israel are a skeleton off. what they were ONCE !!

# B And many said that Israel and Judah. will again be ONE NATION AGAIN !!

# C. Justbbbread EZE 36 and EZE 37. !!

# D. And do not forget ISRAEL HAS been ELECTED and will. write it also !!

dan p

Several Christians were among a group of prisoners recently released in Eritrea, though seven senior church leaders remain in detention after two decades without charge or trial, a watchdog group has announced.

The Christian persecution advocacy organization Open Doors reported this week that the release appeared to include believers, businesspeople and politicians. The names of those freed have not been made public, and the group confirmed that none of the seven church leaders it has advocated for over the years were among them.

The leaders — Rev. Dr. Tekleab Menghisteab, Rev. Million Gebreselassie, Rev. Kidane Weldou, Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis, Dr. Kuflu Gebremeskel, Dr. Futsum Gebrenegus and Rev. Haile Naizge — have each been detained for more than 20 years without legal proceedings.

Open Doors said they have not been permitted to see family members, access a lawyer or appear before a court.

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Having solved the nation's problems, Speaker Johnson cancels Friday's House session.

Mike Johnson Sends Entire House Home Ahead of Epstein Files Deadline​

The House speaker doesn’t want Republicans to be around when the deadline comes.​

Project includes plans for 3-story school, funeral home, 500-parking space shopping center

Officials in a Dallas suburb have rejected a proposal by a mosque to build a large Islamic development across from a local church that would include a three-story school, a retail shopping center and a funeral home.

The city of Carrollton, located about 15 miles north of Dallas, held a meeting on Dec. 4 to hear several proposals from the community, including a proposal to consider an ordinance that would rezone a nearly 9-acre tract owned by Madinah Masjid, also known as the Islamic Center of Carrollton.

According to documents filed with the city’s planning and zoning commission, the proposal would amend the zoning on the tract at the corner of Old Denton and West Jackson Roads to allow for an event center as well as revised “conceptual plans.”

Commissioners voted unanimously against the proposal and gave the mosque 10 days to appeal to the city council.

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BCP1928 said:

I hope the people at NOAA have their resumes up to date,

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I expect they do. I gather NCAR is filed under NSF rather than NOAA, but...

Scientists Denounce Trump’s Plan to Kill Crucial Atmospheric Science Center​

The U.S. government is dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research, jettisoning key climate science projects in the process

The Trump administration is dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), long considered the crown jewel in the U.S.’s earth science infrastructure. Scientists who study climate, weather and other earth sciences have decried the move, first reported by USA Today, as “taking a sledgehammer” to an “iconic” center dedicated to studying our planet.

The center, based in Boulder, Colo., has become a target because of what Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, described as “climate alarmism” in a statement to USA Today.

The work to dismantle NCAR, founded in 1960, will begin immediately, USA Today reported, and will involve fully closing the center’s iconic Mesa Laboratory.

rjs330 said:

I do think think that government should ban all those things. But not becauae they are sin. Because we don't ban every sin. We are all sinners.

There arw legitimate reasons to ban theae things outside of a religious context. We cannot ban people into heaven. Banning sinful acts will not save people.

There are other reasons to ban these things that have nothing to do with sin.

Preaching the gospel is the way to bring people to Christ. People will not come to Christ because we banned a certain sin.

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WOW!

You are among the few Republican evangelicals who genuinely maintain a distinct separation between these issues ( biblical principle) and government involvement. While I may not agree with many of your positions, I do appreciate and understand your perspective.

Valletta said:

Voters Give Democrats In Congress A Record Low Job Approval But Still Might Vote For Them In 2026, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Majority Think Trump's Use Of Presidential Power Goes Too Far | Quinnipiac University Poll

"A family squabble spills over into the holidays. Democratic voters want their party to hold the reins of the House but are not the least bit happy about what they are doing at the moment," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

poll.qu.edu

… Trump too is widely disapproved of.

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People hold the wrong opinion?

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is celebrating that a Virginia elementary school has removed a Bible verse that was painted on an inside wall of the school.

FFRF announced that Honaker Elementary School students “can now enjoy a school building [free] from inappropriate proselytization.”

The Bible verse that was displayed was Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

FFRF is a non-profit organization that seeks “to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.”

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.

SabbathBlessings said:

The New Moons in Colossians is connected to feast days in the Greek. The New Moon in Isa66:23 means month in Greek because there are no more animal sacrifices and will be none in the New Heaven and New Earth, where God’s Sabbath continues according to the Lord.

Col2:16 for new moon
†νουμηνία noumēnía, noo-may-nee'-ah; feminine of a compound of G3501 and G3376(as noun by implication, of G2250); the festival of new moon:—new moon.

Isa66:23 meaning for new moon
חֹדֶשׁ chôdesh, kho'-desh; from H2318; the new moon; by implication, a month:—month(-ly), new moon.

Nothing to do with festivals or animal sacrifices because its not the same, just as the weekly Sabbath has nothing to do with animal sacrifices and festivals or food or drink offerings but only those connected to the annual sabbaths feast days that do, it is not the Sabbath of the Lord and the holy day of the Lord. Isa 58:18 Exo20:10

Isa66:23 does not say we will be coming before the Lord to worship Him everyday, God knows the difference between the Sabbath, every seventh day Exo20:10 and everyday a word that was not used. The saints will be working in heaven according to Scripture, building houses, tending to vineyards, not being in front of Jesus 24/7 according to our Lord’s own Words, the Sabbath will continue and the word here means every Sabbath, not every day.

שַׁבָּת shabbâth, shab-bawth'; intensive from H7673; intermission, i.e (specifically) the Sabbath:—(+ every) sabbath.

What God made at Creation Exo20:11 Mark2:27 for man is not against man, it’s not the God I know. No man can take away God's blessings and sanctification God connected with the seventh day Sabbath Gen2:3 Exo20:11 Eze20:12 because no man is above God. Paul is misunderstood and many use out of context as we are told 2Peter3:16 and he is not God. Making the servant greater than the master is not something Paul said he was. Rom1:1

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Where is the passage that says we will work in heaven or on the new earth?

Edit: ok Isaiah 65 we will build houses and plant vineyards and other crops but how often do you build a house and work in a garden? Thats not an everyday task.

The Republican president said he had received a deluge of phone calls supporting the move and its potential to help patients. “We have people begging for me to do this. People that are in great pain,” he said.

Similarly, the Justice Department under Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, proposed reclassifying marijuana to a Schedule III substance. Unlike Biden, Trump did not have open encouragement from across his party for the move. Some Republicans have spoken out in opposition to any changes and urged Trump to maintain current standards.

wing2000 said:

I'm sure his 18 minute grievance-laden speech last night - blaming Americans for not recognizing his great economy - will bring the poll numbers up.

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It was like a "fetivus for the rest of us" scene straight out of Seinfeld.

We

Deegie said:

Is air conditioning not common in your churches?

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we’ve got air conditioning.