Father Thomas Oyode, the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi who was abducted Oct. 27, has regained his freedom.

A statement issued Thursday by Father Peter Egielewa, director of communications for the diocese, provided details of Oyode’s release, relaying the gratitude of Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia of Auchi.

“The Catholic Diocese of Auchi wishes to announce the release of Rev. Father Thomas Oyode from the hands of his abductors,” Egielewa said, adding that the kidnapped priest was set free at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6.


Continued below.

Moving this report to the Supervisor Help Desk.

Reginald Taylor Jr said:

Ezekiel 43:13-21

A God of worship and prayer that brings us near to God. A meaningful contact with God. A God of renewal and restoration. Jesus Christ is God atoning blood on the cross making a way for us of purity of priests evident token in bloodline as of Levites .

I thank God to have meaningful contact with God having faith.

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I agree fully that Jesus Christ is fully God. I'm just wondering why the post is in the "Spirit-filled/Charismatic" section.

When we believe in Jesus Christ with God-given faith, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Romans 6:1-23; Ephesians 4:17-24). Our old self is crucified with Christ in death to sin in order that sin might be brought to nothing so that we will no longer be enslaved to sin but to God and to his righteousness.

So, because of what Jesus Christ did for us on that cross in taking upon himself the sins of the world, and in putting our sins to death with him so that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness (1 Peter 2:24), we are to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices to him, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship of God. So, sin is to no longer be what we practice, but righteousness is to be our practice.

Now, sacrificing our lives to Jesus Christ to be his possession is what should have taken place when we believed in him to be Lord and Savior of our lives. But this is an ongoing process in our lives of dying to sin and living to God and to his righteousness, in walks of obedience to our Lord (Luke 9:23-26). It is not something we do once, and now we are good to go. And this is why we are encouraged continuously in the New Testament to put sin to death.

Now, some people are teaching that if we have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ that our Lord is now pleased with us no matter what we do. That is not biblical. Many Scriptures teach us what we must do in order to please God and in order to be acceptable to him, and they teach us that if we do not do those things, but that we do the opposite, that we are not acceptable to God, and so we are not in relationship with God/Christ.

Now, when we give our lives to the Lord as living sacrifices to him, to be his possession, and to do what he says to do, this is our spiritual worship of him. Thus, going through the motions of worship, like in singing praise and worship songs, may or may not be accompanied by true worship of God. For if we are living to please the flesh, in sinful practices, and if we are not walking in holiness and righteousness, in obedience to our Lord, in practice, then we are not truly worshiping our Lord Jesus (God).

And, as followers of Christ, we are not to be conformed to the teachings, philosophies, attitudes, thinking, speaking, and behaving of the ungodly of this world. We are not to act like, think like, and speak just like the world to where it is barely distinguishable between the church and the world. But we are to be different because we are being conformed to the likeness of Christ, because now we are discerning “what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

[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]

Holy and Acceptable to God
Video Talk

February 28, 2023

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Wordless Book Song

Child Evangelism Fellowship

My heart was dark with sin
until the Savior came in.
His precious blood I know
has washed me white as snow.
And in God's Word I'm told
I'll walk the street of gold.
To grow in Christ every day,
I read my Bible and pray.

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Here we are, it’s life on earth
Ever since God gave us birth.
Born in sin in Adam’s look,
Satan had us on his hook.

Did we as we wanted to –
Told the lies, blamed others, too,
Cheated on our tests in school,
Did not like to follow rules.

Then one day we learned about
God’s salvation. Did not doubt.
Humbled ourselves, bent the knee,
From our sins He set us free!

New lives gave us, born in Him,
Set free from slav’ry to sin.
Walk with him in fellowship,
New lives in Christ, got a grip.

Follow Him where’er He leads,
Read His word, on truth do feed,
Talk with him throughout the day,
Listen to Him as we pray.

Obey Him, what He commands,
Do not balk at his demands.
Love to please Him every way,
Not just once, but day to day.

An Original Work / July 13, 2022

She would have won if it had not been for the voters. Dang voters.

Fantine said:

It is called a Human Life Amendment. Your idea won't work.
Say life begins at conception. See if you can get 38 states to ratify it. I think you need like 2/3 ofCongress, too.
And I will give you some sage advice. You show us that human life is sacred by honoring The Living. When child hunger, healthcare, education are shortchanged; when families earn substandard wages and can't support their children; and then you say preborn life is sacred it reeks of hypocrisy.
You have to show human life is sacred with the living.
Now that should keep the new administration busy catching up.for decades of neglect.
Best wishes.

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When you look at real data, it becomes obvious that your leftist education is wrong. In 1959, there were 5 states with more than 60% of the population below poverty level. In 2010, there were only 2 states with the worst poverty level in the US that was 21-24% of the population in that range. Things are getting better for people, not as you depict here. It is in an environment of prosperity and affluence that abortion has increased by leaps and bounds. And it is free market economy that brings prosperity to the nation, not socialism. This is attested by historical facts.

Further, no amendment is needed. All it would take is for the S.C. to take a case where they have to vote on the science of when a person becomes a human being who should be protected by law, and to declare that a fetus in the womb is such a person. It's time for the judges of the nation to stop letting trick lawyers circumvent the constitution by their claiming that a "fetus" is not a legal citizen, and therefore not protected. I believe the framers of the constitution would be appalled at the apathy in the nation for pre-born children.

Trump is likely going to drop most if not all the charges of the criminals who stormed the capital on Jan. 6. What do you all think about that?

Well, if they don't comply, the policy will be going away in a few months anyway.

All Becomes New said:

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Celebrating His mercies. What a great way to spend the day.

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Praise the Lord God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ. He does indeed turn graves into gardens!!!!!

Yttrium said:

Well, that's not going to last very long.

Sounds kinda pointless, considering.

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They want to make it as hard as possible for the new administration. If all they can do is delay they will delay.

I'm pleased that the American people saw through the lawfare, lies, and twists that the media tried to stain Trump with.
50 years ago, 1/10th of what they did to him would have sunk any candidate (remember Gary Hart?).
At this point, the media has lost all credibility, and they have only themselves to blame.

RDKirk said:

Trump has said that if he wins the election, he will give Netanyahu until January 6 to end the war one way or another.

I gotta give Trump credit for one thing: More than most politicians, he does try to do what he promises. That's very scary considering the things he's said he intends to do, but he's rather dependable in that way.

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Secure borders, ending wars, making America energy independent and improving the economy don't sound like bad things

hislegacy said:

Do you believe receiving criminals and mental deficients is helping us?

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MotoToTheMax said:

Good to see this


was nonsense then.

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I didn't think you would actually answer the question - thanks for proving my point.

dogs4thewin said:

Congregational Forums
United Church of Christ, Deeper Fellowship Pray that the Deeper Fellowship forum will bring people together for fellowship and for a meaningful discussion

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Yes, I pray this

O Lord, hear our prayer
Through Jesus Christ ✝

Quite the interesting discussion here. We studied Husserl intensively back when I was studying psychology in college, even had some of us read excerpts from some of his important pieces in the original German which we translated and discussed in lively seminars.

One of the topics came up, it was about how the religious experience and worship itself is shaped in so many ways by the phenomenological growth that occurs cumulatively as we see connections between daily experiences and obstacles we may have once dismissed, with the lessons of the Scriptures and previous thinkers and pastors. It's a way of more personally connecting us, with the chain of knowledge and experience of our faith that's progressed through the generations.

Then I had a little burst of exciting thoughts when we heard our pastor mention Husserl in a sermon, bringing up many of the things in that seminar including the apparent contradictions with sin and how it can sometimes be a teacher in unexpected ways. Helping to explain why Jesus and the early Christian Fathers and successors were so intent on welcoming sinners into their hearts, helping them to heal. Partially, because of

zippy2006 said:

But does the alcoholic or the non-alcoholic better understand the sin of alcoholism? I would say that, at the very least, the reformed alcoholic understands it best.

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Agreed. I can't speak well to the ideas of Augustine and Aquinas on this, and undoubted a part of being an exemplary individual of faith, is to live and practice in ways that minimize sin. Yet sin is also a part of the world around us and the people around us including those we love, and sometimes it itself can be a teacher in it's own way and help reform other sinners. As you say it here.

​

Entire Village Changed by God's Word​

[13] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Musa.

As Musa was serving as an imam in his village in East Africa, he kept hearing about his son, Saad, preaching the gospel throughout the village. Saad's bold witness angered other local Muslim leaders, who warned Musa to stop Saad from evangelizing. Though Musa didn't find any fault with his son's evangelistic activities, he decided to confront Saad about them. But when Musa went to Saad, something surprising happened. Saad was studying the Bible with his pastor, and Musa watched and listened as Saad and the pastor discussed different verses. "He was so impressed at what he was hearing," a front-line worker said. Read More.

China​

Freed Pastor Still Under Pressure​

[6] prayers in [1] nation have been posted for Pastor John.

Pastor John Cao served as a missionary in Myanmar's Wa State, transforming lives by building schools and working to fight poverty and drug addiction. On March 5, 2017, Chinese authorities intercepted Cao, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. He was released on March 4, 2024. Cao continues to face restrictions on his freedom and movement by Chinese authorities, including video monitoring, forced "re-education," and refusal to issue him an ID card, which prevents him from medical care, even when he suffered a life-threatening bout of coronavirus. Read More.

Pakistan​

Oppressive Blasphemy Law Used to Arrest More Christians​

[6] prayers in [1] nation have been posted for Pakastani Christians.

Pakistan's blasphemy laws continue to be a tool for persecution of our Pakistan Christian family members. "Every week we have at least one case of Christians being wrongly accused," a front-line worker said. Two 18-year-old boys, Tabish and Kalu, were accused of cutting up parts of the Quran and using the fragments as confetti during a festival in August. The boys are now in hiding. A pastor's son was also accused of participating and was arrested, but police released him after realizing he wasn't at the event. Two Christian sisters, Sonia and Samia, were also charged with blasphemy in August for allegedly throwing parts of the Quran into the trash. Read More.

Fantine said:

Well it seems like she has experience dealing with difficult, opinionated, egotistical people.
I imagine trying to organize a very elderly man will be a challenge.
I wish her well.

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She is not working for Biden...

ISAIAH 54:1-55:5

The Children of Yisrael are compared to the “sands of the sea” the “dust of the earth” and the “Stars of heaven” The prophet Yeshayahu in these verses is comforting Israel that they will be blessed, with descendants, even though at the time they might be going through some rough times, always, when people go away from the LORD and follow other gods, then judgment will follow, and suffering will follow, however, YHVH will never reject his people…and…He will increase their numbers.

Despite HaSatan trying to wipe the Jewish people from existence through the Holocaust, pogroms, etc. The people will continue to exist. Why is Israel compared to the “sands of the sea?” because who can count every grain of sand? Why is Israel compared to the “dust of the earth?” One walks on the dust and Israel has been trampled on, like dust, but dust is enduring. Leave a car outside in the desert, in the dust, for perhaps one hundred years. In the end, the car will no longer exist, it will have been wasted away, yet the dust will continue to exist, forever.

Why “the stars of heaven?” because Israel will “shine” like the stars, because, the Mashiach came from Israel, and He shines, as everlasting light. Israel will be a light to the nations and will teach the nations of ONE GOD “Echad”

MATTHEW 3:1-4:25; 1 PETER 3:18-22

Yochanan the Baptizer is in Jordan, baptizing the people, getting them ready to meet their Messiah, his cousin, his LORD. We need to get our hearts and minds right. A need to change is necessary to leave the lost world behind and embrace the things of the LORD.

Yeshua is baptized, goes into the wilderness, fasts for 40 days, getting ready for his ministry and teaching, healing, and finally, dying for our sins. 40 is the number for testing and judgment. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of Adonai”. Yes, physical food is necessary, and it feeds the physical body, yet the WORD of God feeds our spirit man/woman. There needs to be a balance between the two. Adonai gave us good, healthy, kosher food, and HIS WORD, which is the living manna.

Yeshua visited Capernaum. I have been there, and the synagogue that Yeshua visited is still there. Although it was torn down and rebuilt a few times, the floor is the same. It was an honor to physically “walk” where Yeshua walked and taught Torah. The remains of Peter’s house are also there. Let’s walk the way Yeshua walked, let’s keep on preparing our hearts, minds, and our lives. The Kingdom of Heaven IS here, it IS at hand. The “Kingdom of God” is HIS activity here on earth.

1 PETER 3:18-22;

Peter writes about Messiah, giving up his life for us all, to bring us to Elohim. But since Messiah Yeshua is part of Elohim, did “Elohim die for Elohim?” In a way, we can say yes. He left His glory on high to come to earth and live as a man, to die as a man, to suffer as a man, a man who is still G-d. Yeshua called upon his “Father” who is Elohim, and Yeshua is known as “The Son” “Yeshua Ben Elohim” who was also known as “Yeshua Ben Yosef” as he was raised and known legally as “The Son of Yosef” yet He was and IS, still very God.

Kefa the Talmid continues to state that Yeshua descended into the heart of the earth, and he preached to the “spirits” in Sheol. But who are these “spirits?” We could include all who perished during the time of the flood, who were disobedient, and thus perished, their bodies being consumed by the floodwaters and probably by sharks. I imagine there were many Megalodons (giant sharks) in the waters of the flood just awaiting “MANwiches!”

It was too late for these souls to be saved, yet Yeshua also preached to the spirits in “Paradise” the region of Sheol where the righteous awaited Mashiach, from righteous Abel to the thief on the cross (and all in between) He came to set “captives free” even though paradise was a pleasant waiting place (I imagine) it could not compare to the New Jerusalem, where they all are now.

“8 were saved through water” Those were Noah, his wife (Na ’amah, daughter of Enoch) his three sons and their wives. They all had a “new beginning” (8) and we also are saved through the “Living Water” who is Yeshua.

When we are saved, we go through water baptism, which identifies us with Yeshua, “death and rebirth” yet as Kefa says, it does not get rid of the filth of the flesh, but of a newness of spirit. Our flesh will always be sinful, and will, at times, be attracted to sin. That is why “flesh” can not inherit heaven. Our bodies of flesh will wear out and cease to function after “x” number of years, yet we will receive new bodies, and our souls and spirit will be with the LORD!

Our flesh is and always will be sinful flesh, yet we will have a “good conscience toward Elohim” Let us be content with a good conscience, and try to bring the flesh under control.

Squirrel takes to Kamala's stage as she prepares to say farewell.


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The life of Peanut:

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Armed Authoritarians arrested Peanut:

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Peanut was served the death penalty:

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JosephZ said:

According to the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll released yesterday, VP Harris has better numbers than President Biden had in 2020 among Black voters, including Black men.

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https://www.langerresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/1238a2TheClosingDays.pdf

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Yet Biden won.

Off topic but I mentioned Hildegard of Bingen in my post #3 above. She was an unusual lady with enormous talent and who kept herself very busy.


Amongst other things she was a music composer. Quoting the summary for the following YouTube link, this is one example of her medieval songs.

St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium is among the best European choirs led by charismatic conductor Helena Fojkar Zupančič.

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Back in the Dark Ages of course.