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Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
Former 'Queen of Porn' Jenna Jameson gets baptized, wants to use platform to help others 'find Jesus'
- By Michie
World Famous Porn Star Jenna Jameson Finds Jesus, Gets Baptized, Continues Relationship With Girlfriend
The world's most famous adult entertainment performer, Jenna Jameson, 51, shared on Sunday (Nov. 9) that she has found Jesus and is getting baptized.
churchleaders.com
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50-year mortgages a 'great idea'? Maybe, Pastor Mark Driscoll says
- By Richard T
- General Politics
- 3 Replies
I think it is a terrible idea both biblically and practically. The borrower is slave to the lender. So a 50 year mortgage institutionalizes this even further. Longer duration mortgages command HIGHER interest rates. A 15 year mortgage is cheaper than a 30 years by a half percent. By extending the mortgage to 50 years, it will qualify more buyers at current prices. However, sellers will raise prices. so they will likely pay more for the house.
Currently a 30 year mortgage is running around 6.3 percent. So after the fees and the likely rise in the 50 year spread, you would need 7% on your investment to break even . That is possible to beat over 50 years but it would take discipline and it is not guaranteed.
I think too that 50 year mortgages are going to require even more government backing. Why? because banks don't trust the federal government to hold inflation and interest rates down. that is why even now many mortgages are run through Fannie Mae, USDA, and HUD. So more government intervention in the market is a bad idea as well.
Though I do not always agree with Dave Ramsey a Christian financial profession, (not a Pastor with a degree in communications) I checked his sentiments and they mirror mine though he goes into even more detail.
What Is a 50-Year Mortgage?
What is a 50-year mortgage? Why are people taking them out and what are the pros and cons?
www.ramseysolutions.com
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Mytho-History
- Creation & Theistic Evolution
- 19 Replies
That makes some sense. The literary structure of Genesis 1-3 is polemic. It's an overt rejection of a bits-and-pieces creation by various deities, instead acknowledging one Creator.
The opening chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, is one of the most debated and cherished texts in the Judeo-Christian tradition. For centuries, it has been read as a straightforward account of God creating the universe in six literal days. However, modern biblical scholarship, informed by ancient Near Eastern (ANE) literature and cultural context, suggests a richer, more complex interpretation. Genesis 1 is best understood as a theological polemic against the cosmologies of surrounding nations, a depiction of the cosmos as God’s temple, and a functional rather than material creation account. This interpretation not only aligns with the historical and literary context of the text but also reveals its profound theological purpose: to proclaim the sovereignty of the one true God over creation and to orient humanity toward worship and stewardship.
This article explores these three interpretive lenses—polemic, cosmic temple, and functional creation—while addressing why a literal, material creation reading may miss the text’s deeper intent. By examining the ANE context, the literary structure of Genesis 1, and its theological implications, we will uncover how Genesis 1 communicates timeless truths about God, creation, and humanity’s role in the world.
Genesis 1: A Polemic, Cosmic Temple, and Functional Creation
The opening chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, is one of the most debated and cherished texts in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
kameronmazurek.substack.com
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Italian ‘mystic’ faces fraud trial over claim Virgin Mary statue wept blood
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
Gisella Cardia allegedly made €365,000 in donations from pilgrims to shrine in lakeside town near Rome
A self-styled mystic who drew hundreds of pilgrims to a town near Rome by claiming a statue of the Virgin Mary wept tears of blood has been sent to trial for alleged fraud.
Gisella Cardia, who also claimed the statue was transmitting messages to her, will be tried along with her husband, Gianni Cardia, in April next year.
They are accused of staging fake apparitionsof the Virgin Mary and making false predictions of catastrophes to attract donations from their Catholic followers.
Cardia drew hundreds of people each month to Trevignano Romano, a lakeside town near Rome, to pray before the statue, which had been placed in a makeshift shrine on a hill. Over several years, the alleged scam generated €365,000 (£322,000) in donations from the pilgrims, who believed their money would go towards setting up a centre for sick children.
Continued below.
www.theguardian.com
A self-styled mystic who drew hundreds of pilgrims to a town near Rome by claiming a statue of the Virgin Mary wept tears of blood has been sent to trial for alleged fraud.
Gisella Cardia, who also claimed the statue was transmitting messages to her, will be tried along with her husband, Gianni Cardia, in April next year.
They are accused of staging fake apparitionsof the Virgin Mary and making false predictions of catastrophes to attract donations from their Catholic followers.
Cardia drew hundreds of people each month to Trevignano Romano, a lakeside town near Rome, to pray before the statue, which had been placed in a makeshift shrine on a hill. Over several years, the alleged scam generated €365,000 (£322,000) in donations from the pilgrims, who believed their money would go towards setting up a centre for sick children.
Continued below.
Italian ‘mystic’ faces fraud trial over claim Virgin Mary statue wept blood
Gisella Cardia allegedly made €365,000 in donations from pilgrims to shrine in lakeside town near Rome
Georgetown Rises Over 100 Spots in Free Speech Rankings, Maintains ‘F’ Grade
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
Georgetown University ranked 129th out of 257 colleges and universities in an annual ranking of freedom of speech and expression on college and university campuses.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a controversial nonprofit dedicated to defending the freedom of speech and expression, released the sixth annual edition of its College Free Speech rankings. The 2026 report ranked Georgetown 111 spots higher than its 240th ranking in 2025 with a 57.3 overall score, over double the 2025 score.
A university spokesperson said Georgetown remains committed to protecting community members’ right to free expression and speech on campus.
Continued below.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a controversial nonprofit dedicated to defending the freedom of speech and expression, released the sixth annual edition of its College Free Speech rankings. The 2026 report ranked Georgetown 111 spots higher than its 240th ranking in 2025 with a 57.3 overall score, over double the 2025 score.
A university spokesperson said Georgetown remains committed to protecting community members’ right to free expression and speech on campus.
Continued below.
Georgetown Rises Over 100 Spots in Free Speech Rankings, Maintains ‘F’ Grade
Georgetown University ranked 129th out of 257 colleges and universities in an annual ranking of freedom of speech and expression on college and university campuses. The Foundation for Individual…
thehoya.com
Which states are most and least charitable? New study answers
Well - getting into red vs blue didn't take long.
Who woulda thunk it?!?
Here are the top 10 as identified by the study with a column added for red, blue or purple state.
Results are...... *drumroll*
In the top 10 the top 2 states are red, 3 are purple, the remaining 5 are blue.
One thing that did strike me when looking at the full results. The south has a reputation for being hospitable, but it doesn't appear to translate into being charitable.
Who woulda thunk it?!?
Here are the top 10 as identified by the study with a column added for red, blue or purple state.
Results are...... *drumroll*
In the top 10 the top 2 states are red, 3 are purple, the remaining 5 are blue.
One thing that did strike me when looking at the full results. The south has a reputation for being hospitable, but it doesn't appear to translate into being charitable.
| # | State | Total Score | Volunteering Rank | Giving Rank | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 69.49 | 2 | 6 | Red |
| 2 | Utah | 68.59 | 1 | 19 | Red |
| 3 | Maryland | 65.16 | 20 | 3 | Blue |
| 4 | Minnesota | 64.72 | 5 | 15 | Blue |
| 5 | Virginia | 63.42 | 28 | 1 | Purple (leans blue) |
| 6 | Colorado | 63.17 | 11 | 8 | Blue (was purple, now solid blue since 2016) |
| 7 | Delaware | 62.38 | 8 | 18 | Blue |
| 8 | Maine | 61.20 | 6 | 31 | Purple (split electoral votes, mixed statewide behavior) |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 61.07 | 12 | 12 | Purple (true swing state) |
| 10 | Oregon | 60.68 | 7 | 35 | Blue |
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Dems cave after gaining nothing for weeks-long shutdown
- By Michie
- General Politics
- 0 Replies
Who was responsible for the longest government shutdown in history? Look no further than those enraged at the news that it may soon end. “The Democratic base is seething,” reports Politico. Liberal social media is on fire Monday, with activists, pressure groups, and wannabe Democratic senators and presidents falling over one another to condemn the deal in ever-louder terms.
On Monday night, the Senate passed legislation by a 60-40 vote that would fund the government through January 30. The House then passed the bill 222-209, and President Trump signed the government funding package late Wednesday night.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and House Progressive Caucus leader Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) both promised to vote against the bill in the House, and even Democratic senators are slamming their eight colleagues who voted to reopen the government.
Their basic contention is that their Democratic colleagues effectively caved by flipping their votes for nothing more than a promised future vote on extending Obamacare subsidies — a Santa’s pack full of leftist sweets. Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to schedule a vote on an Obamacare bill prepared by Democrats sometime in mid-December.
But progressives are furious at failing to obtain their objective in the shutdown, which was to force the Republican majority to vote for the $1.5 trillion in new health care spending, which Republicans have never voted on before. If the Democrats’ gambit had succeeded, it “would have been the first time a minority party, Democrat or Republican, successfully extracted policy concessions by shutting down the government. That’s never happened before, and it ain’t happening now,” said Quena González, senior director of Government Affairs at Family Research Council, in comments provided to The Washington Stand.
Continued below.
washingtonstand.com
On Monday night, the Senate passed legislation by a 60-40 vote that would fund the government through January 30. The House then passed the bill 222-209, and President Trump signed the government funding package late Wednesday night.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and House Progressive Caucus leader Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) both promised to vote against the bill in the House, and even Democratic senators are slamming their eight colleagues who voted to reopen the government.
Their basic contention is that their Democratic colleagues effectively caved by flipping their votes for nothing more than a promised future vote on extending Obamacare subsidies — a Santa’s pack full of leftist sweets. Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to schedule a vote on an Obamacare bill prepared by Democrats sometime in mid-December.
But progressives are furious at failing to obtain their objective in the shutdown, which was to force the Republican majority to vote for the $1.5 trillion in new health care spending, which Republicans have never voted on before. If the Democrats’ gambit had succeeded, it “would have been the first time a minority party, Democrat or Republican, successfully extracted policy concessions by shutting down the government. That’s never happened before, and it ain’t happening now,” said Quena González, senior director of Government Affairs at Family Research Council, in comments provided to The Washington Stand.
Continued below.
Dems Cave after Gaining Nothing for Weeks-Long Shutdown
Who was responsible for the longest government shutdown in history? Look no further than those enraged at the news that it may soon end. "The Democratic base is
‘The Carpenter’s Son’ director defends Nicholas Cage Jesus film, spiritually impacted by it: ‘Not for everyone’
- By Michie
Writer-director Lotfy Nathan wants viewers to see “The Carpenter’s Son” as a bold artistic experiment; a “supernatural thriller” exploring the unrecorded years of Jesus’ youth.
But for most Christian audiences, the film is likely to register less as daring and more as deeply disturbing.
The film, starring Nicolas Cage as Joseph (“The Carpenter”), FKA Twigs as Mary (“Mother”) and Noah Jupe as a teenage Jesus (“The Boy”), reimagines Christ’s adolescence as a psychological and supernatural struggle between good and evil.
The film opens with Herod’s soldiers hurling infants into fires in Bethlehem in a frenzied attempt to eliminate the newborn Christ. The Holy Family subsequently flees into exile, ducking Roman patrols and sheltering The Boy from forces seen and unseen. Eventually, they settle in a remote Egyptian village, but the danger never subsides.
Drawing from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal text rejected by the Church centuries ago, Nathan invents scenes in which Jesus kills a child, resurrects insects and leers at a naked woman showering before being tempted by “The Stranger” (Isla Johnston), a devil incarnated as a teenage girl.
Shot in Greece and styled as a gritty period piece during Jesus’ “lost years,” critics have praised its atmospheric cinematography and Cage’s tortured performance, but for Christians who hold Jesus’ sinlessness as central to the faith, the film’s premise will feel blasphemous.
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Nathan, a British-American writer-director, acknowledged the controversy surrounding the project, noting that everyone has “seemed curious” about his motivation.
“They ask, ‘Is there some kind of agenda?’ But with those who have seen the film, there’s a more nuanced conversation,” he said.
Nathan said the idea came from discovering the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, a noncanonical text that imagines the boy Jesus performing miracles and committing acts of violence.
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
But for most Christian audiences, the film is likely to register less as daring and more as deeply disturbing.
The film, starring Nicolas Cage as Joseph (“The Carpenter”), FKA Twigs as Mary (“Mother”) and Noah Jupe as a teenage Jesus (“The Boy”), reimagines Christ’s adolescence as a psychological and supernatural struggle between good and evil.
The film opens with Herod’s soldiers hurling infants into fires in Bethlehem in a frenzied attempt to eliminate the newborn Christ. The Holy Family subsequently flees into exile, ducking Roman patrols and sheltering The Boy from forces seen and unseen. Eventually, they settle in a remote Egyptian village, but the danger never subsides.
Drawing from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal text rejected by the Church centuries ago, Nathan invents scenes in which Jesus kills a child, resurrects insects and leers at a naked woman showering before being tempted by “The Stranger” (Isla Johnston), a devil incarnated as a teenage girl.
Shot in Greece and styled as a gritty period piece during Jesus’ “lost years,” critics have praised its atmospheric cinematography and Cage’s tortured performance, but for Christians who hold Jesus’ sinlessness as central to the faith, the film’s premise will feel blasphemous.
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Nathan, a British-American writer-director, acknowledged the controversy surrounding the project, noting that everyone has “seemed curious” about his motivation.
“They ask, ‘Is there some kind of agenda?’ But with those who have seen the film, there’s a more nuanced conversation,” he said.
Nathan said the idea came from discovering the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, a noncanonical text that imagines the boy Jesus performing miracles and committing acts of violence.
Continued below.
‘The Carpenter’s Son’ director defends Nicholas Cage Jesus film, spiritually impacted by it: ‘Not for everyone’
Lotfy Nathan wants viewers to see The Carpenter s Son as a bold artistic experiment; a supernatural thriller exploring the unrecorded years of Jesus youth But for most Christian audiences, the film
www.christianpost.com
