I know someone who was adopted from China and she's female. Actually, I know at least two young women who were born in China.

I hope all these babies get adopted by loving parents.

Our Lady of China, pray for us.

Michie said:

Oh that show was creepy but I did like it when I watched it.

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I thought it was creepy, too.

Cats are usually more subtle about their nine lives.

RileyG said:

They are rather conservative and like to poke fun at liberals.

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I agree with this. I think their writers just don't have a good ear for writing humor, for finding that exact twist that makes something funny.

Andrew Hollenhorst, chief US economist at Citi, explains why job layoffs should be a reason for concern for the US economy.

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Gregory Thompson said:

Toronto, Canada and Global Breaking News – CP24

Most recent News News business news stories and video from CP24

www.cp24.com

US Gun rights = Guns on Canadian Streets. Discuss.

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Same in Mexico, the drug wars are being fought with American guns.

Hammster said:

It looks as if you are saying that it’s the Republicans’ fault that Harris’ numbers were so bad prior to July.

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Just in part. There are multiple reasons.

All Praise, Glory, Honor, Victory & Thanks to Jesus Christ for ensuring Princess Catherine completed her cancer treatment successfully, & pray that she may be cancer-free, and live a long earthly life well into her 100s:

RileyG said:

Do you think he will deport his Slovenian born wife too? Lol

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Nah. She's a legal citizen now.

What you're suggesting is untrue. The Handmaid's Tale is an American dystopian television series that debuted in 2017 and it's still on. They have numerous accolades.

* The first season won eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 13 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.

* It is the first show produced by Hulu to win a major award and the first series on a streaming service to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series.

* It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Drama.

* Elisabeth Moss was also awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series.

In light of their success it isn't surprising a similar storyline might experience the same. They've tested the concept and proven the audience likes it. I watched the series and read the books in the past. It was well done. They deserved the awards and if Shogun is equally good it should be recognized.

~bella

Courtney Vucekovich via SWNS

A bear might have thought this hammock behind a mountain home would be a good place to take a nap—but he’d have to mount it first.

Courtney Vucekovich was in her kitchen when she noticed the “massive” animal lumbering into her backyard.

The determined bear spent about five minutes trying to balance itself on the hammock—and, luckily she captured it all on video.

Continued below.

Labradors Eric and Flo assist the staff at 900-year-old Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, England – SWNS

Meet Eric and Florence who became official staff members at an historic English abbey—even though they are dogs.

The black Labradors belong to the lay minister who assists with every aspect of the Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire—and they became regulars due to a sudden scheduling conflict.

As the head “verger” of the church, Chris Skepper was left in a quandary last year when his wife and daughter went away from home for an extended period of time leaving him alone with the two dogs.

He decided to seek permission to bring Eric and ‘Flo’ to work with him, so they would not be left on their own for long stretches.

Continued below.

probinson said:

Isn't the platform voted on at the DNC? That was long after Biden was forced out.

Are they not planning on updating it so that at the very least, the candidate's name is correct?

As of this morning, another week has passed where the official link on the Democrat's website still references their 2020 platform.

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My understanding is that the specific contents of the platform were voted on/compiled/whatever earlier and that the vote during the DNC was, essentially, them ratifying the whole thing.


I don't know what it takes to update the platform. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a lot of red tape to jump through that wasn't worth the effort.

I'm not going to defend the lack of updates on the web site. That's inexcusable.

Also, as of this posting, the Democrat's official website STILL links to their 2020 platform.

These men and women made their mark on the world and graduated from life summa cum laude.
Sts. John Paul II, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Frances Cabrini (photo: Courtesy of Katie Bogner / Courtesy of Katie Bogner)

During my back-to-school prep this year, I found myself digging through my hope chest for a stack of high-school yearbooks. I hadn’t flipped through their pages in many years, but I was on a quest to find content for an opening activity to use in my classroom with my new students. The high-school “Hall of Fame” revealed dated photos and lists of “most likely to” attributes. With a few snapshots, my students learned that their teacher had been voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” “Top Student,” and one-half of the “Best Friends Duo.”

After a little glimpse into their teacher’s history, my students then looked to their own futures. I asked them to draw a picture of themselves and consider what they would like to be voted “most likely to” be and the words of wisdom they would record. I learned a little more about my students, and they were able to consider their goals for this school year and beyond.

Continued below.

Welcome to CF. I know a Messianic in Taiwan , his name is Rock Jean.

Welcome to reach and teach devotions.

This devotion is gleaned from my own devotional time with the Lord and study of God's word. I am no bible teacher, just an ordinary believer who loves God, God's word and God's people. God still speaks through his word, as Ezra says Open the book, God speaks through his word.

Below the devotion is a resource centre which have many links that you can listen to and pray for.

You will also find a link to my previous devotions on the Bottom line website, and you can access thousands of other English devotions.

My devotion is not copyrighted and therefore you are free to share it with as many people as you wish, especially on social media platforms.

If you are a pastor, you can use it for a sermon or sermon outline.




CHAPTER 1

2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

FAITH BEING PROBED AND PRODUCING

James doesn't waste time getting to the point, does he?

Faith is a key word in this book, he outlines this further in Chapter 2 and throughout the book. You say that you have faith, well, where's the evidence.

In the great chapter of faith in Hebrews 11, the people there had their faith tested, Abraham in Genesis 22, Moses by the children of Israel and many others.

All trials and tests we go through are to make our faith real, they are not meant to destroy it, they are meant to strengthen it, that is why James can tell us to count it all joy, in modern terms, to count, every trial as a blessing.

God knows every trial we go through, he is sovereign over every trial and is in control of every situation, he is with us, indeed one of the reasons, we can count it all joy, is because our Lord is with us through that trial.

The more trials we go through, the stronger we become, the first ones hurt, we wonder why, but as we stand against these, we are able to move on and to become steadfast and strong, it is like exercising a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.

Trials and tests are God's training ground, they are God's proving ground for his children, we go through them, because we are his sons and daughters and not bastards. Hebrews 12 and Romans 8.

Remember, we can count it all joy, because they are true evidences of our faith, they mature and grow us and because finally, they prove that we are His.

God bless you

KK


THE BOTTOM LINE

TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries


SERMON CENTRE

JOHN KNOX INSTITUTE

REGENERATION

John Knox Institute of Higher Education


REPENTANCE

John Knox Institute of Higher Education


SAVING
FAITH

John Knox Institute of Higher Education


JOHN LENNOX GREAT MAN OF FAITH

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SONG CENTRE

WAYFARING STRANGER

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MY REDEEEMER IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE

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BECAUSE HE LIVES

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GRACE

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David Lamb said:

Yes, I have heard good reports of Nick Needham's work. It's available on special offer at the moment at this site: 2000 Years of Christ's Power - 5 Volume Pack (Pack) by Nick Needham It's in 5 volumes and should cost £99.95 but is on offer at £64.97

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That is nice. I have to tell you a secret: Nick Needham was available in PDF format, and I fed it into an artificial intelligence, cos I wanted to make the AI on my computer smarter about the church, so I can partake in theology discussions on this forum (plus, I will tell you guys when the AI is being quoted). Now, if I have any questions about church history, I ask the locally run artificial intelligence software, and it uses the book as a source. £65 is pretty affordable though. If the book has minimal bias, I could buy it for my dad. My parents and I are newer Catholics, but from the AI responses, the book does a good job at explaining the history of the Catholic and Protestant churches.

Lost4words said:

Nothing is perfect. Only God.

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1 Corinthians 2: 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:”

Only in Christ

Hebrews 13: 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

If you're dead, then nothing else matters. Keeping Americans alive should always be the number one priority. Instead, it's #20 on the lists of priorities. Hence, we get open borders, rotting nuclear forces and rotting military.

Dulcie said:

About 34 km or half hour drive by car, 1.5 hours by public transport.

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that’s not too bad by car. if you can’t drive there maybe contact the priest and see if someone can pick you up or something.

Trials will come,
You can be sure.
Testing is part of life.
Need to endure.

Troubles increase.
Need for release.
Put your faith in your Lord.
You will find peace.

Sorrows you face.
Tears, they will fall.
You will find comfort when
On God you call.

Tempter lays snare.
Do not be fooled.
Hypocrites playing you.
Give them no pull.

God is aware.
He knows your plight.
Don’t let your enemy win,
Stand and fight.

Vict’ry is yours.
Battle you’ll win,
When you stand strong in faith,
Do not give in.

Patiently wait.
God will not fail
To fulfill all that he promised,
For sure.

Trust in His love.
He’ll not dessert
Those who trust Him with their lives.
Rest secure.

An Original Work / November 21, 2019

The writer of the book of Hebrews, believed by many to be the apostle Paul, was writing to those who professed faith in Jesus Christ in a time period when Jewish followers of Christ were transitioning from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant which the Lord now had with his people Israel (now both Jew and Gentile who put their faith in Christ Jesus). So he was explaining to them how the New Covenant was not like the Old Covenant, but how God’s moral laws and his requirements for eternal life with God have not changed.

And so, while he was explaining the New Covenant versus the Old Covenant, he was also reinforcing the truth of the gospel which is that by faith in Jesus Christ we must be crucified with Christ in death to sin and now follow our Lord Jesus in obedience to his commands in holy living. And he gave all sorts of strong encouragements and warnings against falling away and drifting and wandering from the truth of the gospel at the risk of losing the salvation that they believed that they had attained by faith in Jesus Christ.

For he explained to them that genuine faith in the Lord Jesus results in obedience to our Lord in holy living but that disobedience to and rebellion against the Lord will result in facing the wrath of God, instead. And he used the example of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness and who disobeyed the Lord and who walked in sin and in idolatry and in rebellion against the Lord, and how they were killed and how they did not enter into God’s eternal rest. For faith = obedience, and disobedience = unbelief.

But the Christian life has its ups and downs, and no matter how faithful to our Lord we may be, we are still human beings. And we will not be made perfect (complete) until Jesus returns and he takes his faithful bride to be with him for eternity. For only then will our salvation be complete and will we inherit eternal life with God, but only if we remain faithful to our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands and in holy living and not in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord. But we are a work in progress.

And so Paul is speaking still to all of us today who profess faith in Jesus Christ that we be careful that we don’t drift away from our pure devotion to the Lord and that we don’t rebel, like many of the Israelites did in the wilderness, and that we don’t fall back into sinful lifestyles and forget that we were bought back for God (redeemed) out of our lives of slavery to sin by the blood of Christ shed on that cross. And this is so that we will now follow our Lord in obedience, and so that we will honor him with how we live our lives.

But because we are humans, and we still live in flesh bodies, and because if we are genuine followers of Christ we will be hated and persecuted and cast aside as unwanted, and so we may get discouraged, we are being encouraged here to not lose heart, and to not lose faith just because life got so much harder. We must keep persevering. We must keep on keeping on in our walks of faith and in obedience to our Lord, and we must guard against falling back into our old ways of the flesh.

So, just because life has gotten much harder, and perhaps we are facing many obstacles in our way, or many persecutions, or many sufferings and trials and tribulations, we are not to lose heart, and we must not give up the fight. And we should not let other people nor our circumstances dictate for us how we are going to live. For Jesus never promised us that the Christian life would be easy and free from trials and tribulations and persecutions. In fact, he promised us the opposite of that if we follow him in obedience.

Therefore, we need to have God’s perspective on life, and we need to accept that the trials and tribulations that we face in this life are ultimately for our good, to teach us perseverance and endurance, and to strengthen us in our walks of faith and in obedience to our Lord. And they are given to us to test the genuineness of our faith, for if our faith is weak or not genuine at all, we will not survive the onslaughts of the enemy against us, but we will most likely fail, and perhaps give up altogether, for we will conclude it is too hard.

So, don’t let your circumstances or how other people treat you determine who you will become and dictate for you how you should live your life. Surrender your all to Jesus Christ, deny self, die daily to sin, and follow the Lord Jesus in obedience to his commands, regardless of how you are treated in return, and regardless of the trials and tribulations which will come to test you. For great will be your reward in heaven. But if you shrink back, and you choose your sin over obedience to Christ, you will face the wrath of God.

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

Reach Out to Jesus

By Ralph Carmichael

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?
Does the road you travel harbor danger yet unknown?
Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all?
Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?
Does the future press you with its worry and its care?
Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way?
Jesus will help you, just come to Him today.

He is always there, hearing every prayer, faithful and true,
Walking by our side, in His love we hide all the day thru.
When you get discouraged, just remember what to do.
Reach out to Jesus, He's reaching out to you.

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What are sins? It is anything that keeps us from inner freedom. Our habits are deeply rooted in our bodies, minds, and souls. Usually, our compulsions, obsessions, and addictions promise us some release from pain and suffering. This release is short-lived and makes our ‘sins’ more deeply rooted, and suffering greater. Sin is about choice, at least in the beginning. Yet, when it gets full control over us, freedom goes out the window. So, the first step toward freedom is letting go of the fear of pain and struggle. It can be a lifelong process. This process is called ‘Spiritual Warfare’.

As we mature in our walk with the Lord we begin to comprehend our need for God’s grace and mercy. As we grow in trust and self-love we can more readily admit when we fail and begin again. That is how most of us grow, just get up, and rust in God’s love. It is not as easy as it sounds.

When we stop hiding from ourselves, we will begin to experience new life. We become less self-centered and start to seek and consider others. We are free to interact with those around us without the need to change or control them. This can lessen pressure in our relationships.

A deep prayer life and the prayerful reading of scripture are necessary for Christians to grow in their faith.-Br.MD

Always learning, never able
To come to the truth.
Always wand’ring, never stable,
‘Cause you’re so uncouth.

Ever reaching for the fable,
Truth you do not tell.
Heaven’s gates to you not open.
You’ll go straight to hell.

Daily doing sins you’re brewing.
You not blink an eye.
Pride your necklace, born a rebel,
Care not that you’ll die.

Day by day you serve your idols,
Never miss a trick.
Go through motions of religion,
Through thin and through thick.

Hidden secrets, unseen places,
Think no one can see.
Cherished mistress, lust advances,
You will not be free.

Word of God speaks out against it,
You not take to heart.
Believe not a faithful witness,
From God you depart.

An Original Work / May 19, 2022

Sadly, this describes many people professing faith in Jesus Christ today who think that their salvation is free license to continue living in wickedness.