New Posts

Akita Suggagaki · Jun 1, 2024

Stabat Mater dolorosa said:
The Church ultimately benefits greatly from having Our faith/ Our truth tried within the boundries of all three arenas, the secular society, the university and the church itself as understood by the great mind of theologian David Tracy.

It warms my heart to see reference to David Tracy. He is a theological giant who is still alive. I misplaced Blessed Rage for Order and it is driving me nuts. So I am considering something a little more recent. On naming the present: Reflections on God, hermeneutics, and Church

Grip Docility · Jun 1, 2024

1 John 2:27
Romans 8:9,10,11,12,13
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Matthew 23:10

Do not let yourselves be called leaders orteachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher), the Christ.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

627. apologia -
a speech in defense
Usage: a verbal defense (particularly in a law court).

Acts 22:1 Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

HARK! · Jun 1, 2024

MOD HAT ON

MOD HAT OFF

Christsfreeservant · Jun 1, 2024

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-20 NIV’84)

Sadly, not everyone is who he says he is or who he appears to be. We have many “wolves in sheep’s clothing” among us who serve in the positions of pastors, elders, and deacons (and like positions) within the gatherings of what are called “churches,” and as politicians and government heads within our national and localized governments, and as news anchors on TV stations. Many famous actors and businessmen (and women) and sports heroes are also those who pretend one thing while they live another. But not just them!

But this subject is focusing in on those in positions of power, rule, authority, and/or influence who have the capability to deceive a massive amount of people and to lead them astray to follow after false gods and false beliefs and false gospels created in the minds of human beings, and which are not of God, and not in agreement with the Scriptures, if taught in their appropriate context. And so this is a warning to us that we are to watch out for such people, and so this involves us testing to see if they are of God.

Now, when this says here that they come to us in “sheep’s clothing,” it means that they are pretending to be followers of Jesus Christ in order to get us to trust them so that they can deceive us. So, just because someone claims to be a Christian, it does not mean that person is really a Christian. For Jesus said that not everyone saying to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven. So, it is not what we profess that matters, but it is what we do.

And not only do they put on an outward appearance of being Christians, but inwardly they are “ferocious wolves” out to destroy us and to lead us to destruction and not to eternal life with God. And one of the biggest ways in which they deceive is by teaching the Scriptures outside of their appropriate context and thus twisting them to make them say what they do not say if taught within the right context. So this is why I try to always emphasize the importance of context, so that we don’t end up being deceived by lies.

Now it says here that by their fruit we will know them, but this is not speaking of literal edible fruit. This is referring to how we live – our lifestyles, our practices, our words, our deeds, our attitudes, our behaviors.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV’84)

Now, this is not to say that any of us will do all of this perfectly all of the time, but if we are following Jesus Christ with our lives, in truth, these qualities should be reflected in our lives, but understood according to their biblical meanings. For patience is not tolerance of deliberate and habitual sin in the lives of other professing Christians. And kindness is not withholding the truth from people they need to hear, and/or speaking lies to people in order to make them feel good so that they will like us and not reject us.

Peace, as well, is not compromise of truth and righteousness and moral purity just so we don’t offend people with the righteousness of God and with his requirements that we, as his followers, live holy lives, pleasing to God, in walks of obedience to his commands, and no longer in sin, if we want to have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. And gentleness is not soft on sin, but it is meekness and reserved strength. And Jesus was meek, but he was not weak. He spoke the truth boldly, and they hated him.

For you see what it says after this list of qualities (fruit)? Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. So this fruit mentioned here has to agree with that statement, in practice. Every quality of that fruit has to agree with the instructions given in the Scriptures regarding how we are to live, as followers of Christ. So this means we live by the Spirit and in step with the Spirit, so our lives are under Holy Spirit control and not under the control of the flesh. We are not worldly.

I believe the biggest thing we need to be watching out for is consistency in words and in practice, and that those who profess to be of God and to be ministers of the Lord in sharing his messages should be people of integrity and who speak truth and not lies. So this is why the Scriptures encourage us to be those who make it our practice to test what we hear said in the name of God/Christ to make certain it really is of God. But we have to read Scriptures in context if we want to get to the truth and not receive the lies.

[Matt 7:15-23; Matt 24:11-24; Lu 6:26; John 10:1-15; Rom 2:13; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Eph 4:17-24; 2 Co 1:12; 2 Co 11:13-15; Php 1:11; Php 3:2; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 1 Tim 6:3-11; 2 Tim 2:22; 2 Tim 3:12-13; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Pet 2:5; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:3-23]

Open My Heart

An Original Work / July 2, 2013

“Be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil” (Rm. 16:19b).

Open my heart. Let Your truth in.
Make of me a servant, pure within;
Sing of Your praise all of my days.
Let Your Spirit transform all my ways.
Jesus Christ died on a cross to
Save me from my sin.
“Repent of sin. Be cleansed within.
Obey all of His commands today.”

“Why do you doubt? Why do you fear?
Jesus Christ will wipe away your tears.
He cares for you. He feels your pain.
Die to sin, and life with Him you’ll gain.
Follow Him where’er He leads you.
Talk with Him each day.
Then you will know what He has planned
For your life before your world began.”

“Come unto Me, weary in heart.
Let My love and grace to you impart.
Believe in Me. Trust in My care.
Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer.
He will meet all of your needs,
And give you peace within.
Rejoice in Him! Tell of His love.
He will give you comfort from above.”

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Michie · Jun 1, 2024

Beautiful and multitalented, Betty Hutton rocketed to stardom. But she also had a precipitous fall and discovered that she needed Jesus.

Betty Hutton, best known as the star of Annie Get Your Gun(1950), took Hollywood by storm when she arrived in the film capital of the world in 1941. Paramount Studios legend A.C. Lyles told me Betty’s moving story just three months after her death.

As a newly-minted junior press agent, it fell to Lyles, who was only 22, to introduce Betty around the studio lot. Organizers of a show at the Shrine Auditorium soon came calling, looking for talent. “It doesn’t have to be a star name, just someone to open the show that has a lot of energy and can get people awake.”

“Naturally that was Betty,” said A.C. “And, when they arrived “the lady said, ‘It’s nice of you to do this because we know that you’re not known here but we hope they will give you a good reception.’ And, Betty said, ‘I might not be known, but they will [know me] after I’m finished.’ She just brought the house down,” said A.C.

Her rapid rise to stardom

Continued below.

Hollywood star Betty Hutton discovered "Christ is my heart"

Beautiful and multitalented, Betty Hutton rocketed to stardom. But she also had a precipitous fall and discovered that she needed Jesus.

aleteia.org

Christsfreeservant · Jun 1, 2024

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV’84)

This word “narrow” means, “restricted, limited, confined, controlled.” It is the opposite of “broad” or “wide” which mean, “wide-ranging, eclectic, assorted, diverse, all-encompassing, varied, inclusive, off the mark.”

In a spiritual sense this is speaking of the way to God and to salvation and to eternal life with God in heaven. Some people are entering via the way that is restricted, limited, and controlled. And this is the way of holiness, righteousness, godliness, moral purity, uprightness, honesty, faithfulness and obedience to our Lord, which are all by-products of genuine God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, but is only by the grace of God and as gifted to us by God.

And this is the narrow way because it is the way of the cross via us dying with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and us walking in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in practice. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. He died that we might live for him and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now become slaves of God and of his righteousness, and honor God with our bodies.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

But the majority of people are on the broad road which leads to destruction, and many of them are people who also profess faith in Jesus Christ but who are not walking the narrow road which is restricted and controlled by God with regard to what we are allowed to do and not allowed to do. For they prefer the broad road because it does not restrict them with regard to how they ought to live, and it does not warn them of divine judgment if they continue on that path which is “off the mark.”

The problem here is that so many people today are flip-flopping these two roads (ways of life) and so they have turned the broad road into the road to heaven and they have turned the narrow road into a lie, essentially. For they are teaching a salvation message absent of the cross of Christ in our lives, for it does not require death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord. All they require is an undefined “faith” that is of the flesh of man and not of God, for it does not submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives.

And so many people, thus, are getting this impression that they can make that profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and now all their sins are forgiven, and they are on their way to heaven, but regardless of how they live. But Jesus said if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. So if we keep on in walking in sin and not in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord, then we will not inherit eternal life with God, but hell will be our destiny.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; 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 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31]

Full Release

An Original Work / April 15, 2012

Walking daily with my Savior
brings me joy.
Loving Father; precious Jesus;
He’s my Savior and my Lord.
Gently leads me; follow Him.
I’ve invited Him within.
Now abiding in His presence,
oh, what peace.
From my self-life
He has brought me,
By His mercy, full release.

Hope and comfort,
peace and safety Jesus brings
When I daily bow before Him;
Obey freely; do His will.
Follow Him where’er He leads.
Listen to Him; His words heed.
Now obeying his words fully,
oh, what love
That He gives me
through salvation,
By His Spirit, from above.

Loving Father; precious Jesus,
He’s my friend.
With my Savior, by His Spirit,
I will endure to the end.
Share the gospel, tell what’s true.
Witness daily; His will do.
Tell the world of how their Savior
bled and died.
On a cruel cross He suffered
So that we might be alive.

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Michie · Jun 1, 2024

The procession in Zahle, Lebanon, for the feast of Corpus Christi, May 30, 2024. | Credit: Marwan Semaan

Thousands of Christians flocked to Zahle, Lebanon, on Thursday, May 30, a city nicknamed "The City of 52 Churches," to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi.

This year's celebration held special significance, marking the 199th anniversary of a miraculous event credited with saving Zahle from a bubonic plague outbreak.

Preparations for the feast began a week prior, culminating in a moving candlelit procession on the eve of Corpus Christi. The procession weaved through the streets of Zahle, starting from St. Elias Al-Touak Monastery and concluding at the Melkite Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance. The faithful walked and prayed in unison, led by the stirring sounds of trumpets. The procession culminated in a blessing bestowed by the Melkite Patriarch Youssef al-Absi and Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim.

Continued below.

Feast of Corpus Christi: Lebanon celebrates 199 years of miraculous Eucharistic event

Thousands of Christians flocked to Zahle, Lebanon, on Thursday, May 30, a city nicknamed "The City of 52 Churches," to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

CoreyD · Jun 1, 2024

Diamond7 said:
Seven churches in seven cities. A lot of the original churches are still there today.

It is possible to trace history, and learn something about the early Church during the period of 60-100 AD.
For example, there are bishops mentioned... Papias, being one, who is said to have lived from 60 – 130 AD.
He is refered to as Bishop of Hierapolis.
The diocese of Hierapolis, was a Christian bishopric in Phrygia (modern central Turkey).
Through the influence of the Christian apostle Paul, a church was founded at Hierapolis while he was at Ephesus. The Christian apostle Philip spent the last years of his life here. The town's martyrium was alleged to have been built upon the spot where Philip was crucified in AD 80. His daughters were also said to have acted as prophetesses in the region.

There is no mention of Hierapolis by John.
I'm thinking, there were many other congregations which were formed, and would have been existing, which had many bishops, during that period.
I figure that would be a few hours of research, so I would prefer to do that another time.

I wouldn't take the number 7 as literal there, for that reason.
Seven congregations after AD 70, sounds like almost a wipeout of the early Christians. Was that the case? I don't know.

The first, localized Neronian persecution occurred under Emperor Nero (r. 54–68) in Rome. A more general persecution occurred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180).

Persecution of the early church occurred sporadically and in localized areas from the start. The first persecution of Christians organized by the Roman government was under the emperor Nero in AD 64 after the Great Fire of Rome and took place entirely within the city of Rome. The Edict of Serdica, issued in 311 by the Roman emperor Galerius, officially ended the Diocletianic persecution of Christianity in the East. With the publication in AD 313 of the Edict of Milan, persecution of Christians by the Roman state ceased. The total number of Christians who lost their lives because of these persecutions is unknown. The early church historian Eusebius, whose works are the only source for many of these events, speaks of "countless numbers" or "myriads" having perished. Walter Bauer criticized Eusebius for this, but Robert Grant says readers were used to this kind of exaggeration as it was common in Josephus and other historians of the time.

I can't argue dogmatically against you, on this, since the evidence is scant, and Revelation does refer to the seven heads of the wild beast, as literally seven kings (kingdoms) Revelation 17:9, 10.
At the same time, the same book speaks of "the seven spirits of God that are before the throne", and which Jesus has. Revelation 1:4; Revelation 3:1
Revelation 4:5 reads, "... And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."

Then Revelation 5:1 introduces "the seven seals".
Revelation 5:6 speaks of a lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes, and explains that these seven eyes mean the seven spirits of God which have been sent out into the entire earth.
Don't you just love Revelation? The explanations are just fascinating!
So the seven spirits before the throne actually represents Jesus ability to completely see everything. Fascinating!

Then we have Revelation 8:2 speaking of the seven angels with seven trumpets.
Then Revelation 10:3 - seven thunders that spoke.
Then Revelation 15:1 - seven angels with seven plagues.

The number seven (7) in Revelation seems to have significant symbolic representation.
However, as I said before, I'm not going to be dogmatic about its use with the seven congregations.
Those whom God anointed with holy spirit, know how the number is being used there. They are guided by spirit concerning the deep things of God. Not me, the average reader.

This is not my opinion. It's actually scripture.
1 Corinthians 2:6-13
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

So, if you aren't willing to be taught by those persons, you won't know accurately.
Matthew 13:10, 11
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

The blind man walking through the desert, is no better off if he is led by a blind man.
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Diamond7 said:
The problem for me is that it is easy to see any church fits the discription for one of those seven. The problem is some churches seem to fit the description for two of those churches. Perhaps at some point in the past they blended two churches together. This is the case with the United Church of Christ. The church we have been associated with for is a Pilgrim Church. They are a part of the United Church of Christ. Which people consider to be a dead church but my experience with them is that they are not a dead church at all and take things very serious.

It sounds like you have a lot of guesswork going on there.

Michie · Jun 1, 2024

A law meant to offer accommodations for pregnant workers has been “twisted” to “undermine human dignity” thanks to a new regulation mandating paid abortion leave, according to the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Timothy Broglio.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to accommodate women for workplace limitations that arise from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, had the full support of the USCCB when lawmakers considered the bill in 2022.

However, regulations issued by President Joe Biden’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this year have interpreted the related medical conditions covered in the law to include abortion.

In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Broglio denounced the EEOC for its new regulations. His op-ed comes less than one week after the USCCB filed a lawsuit, which asks a court to strike down the abortion accommodation rule.

Continued below

Catholic bishop: Biden admin ‘subverted’ pro-family policy by mandating abortion leave

In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, denounced the EEOC for its new regulations.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Gary O' · Jun 1, 2024

I love this text of Paul's

Romans 7:19-25

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

LoricaLady · Jun 1, 2024

Afghanistan

Give thanks for ‘Adam’ who heads up a Release International partner ministry seeking to see vibrant communities of Jesus followers among the people of Afghanistan.
Number of Prayers 20
YES - I WILL PRAY

Ethiopia

Pray for the underground churches that our partner planted last year. Pray particularly for the Muslim-background leaders who are being trained in Bible teaching and evangelism.
Number of Prayers 29
YES - I WILL PRAY

Ethiopia

Pray for those who have come to Christ recently and face open hostility from family and community. Pray that they will stand strong and grow in their new-found faith.
Number of Prayers 37
YES - I WILL PRAY

Ethiopia

Praise God for a new partnership we have established with an Ethiopian organisation that is sharing the gospel in strategic locations. Pray for protection for its workers who make Jesus known among un-reached communities in Ethiopia and beyond.
Number of Prayers 44
YES - I WILL PRAY

Somalia

Pray for the gospel work through the media and particularly radio ministry to reach Somalis. Pray for the right content and for the resources that are necessary to reach a wide audience.
Number of Prayers 31
YES - I WILL PRAY

Somalia

Pray for the Somali diaspora in other parts of Africa where there are more opportunities to hear the gospel. Pray that the Lord would use these opportunities to speak to their hearts and draw them close to Him.
Number of Prayers 44
YES - I WILL PRAY

Somalia

Pray for an opportunity that is opening up to offer eyecare as a form of meeting need among Somalis as well as providing a small income for those involved. Pray for God’s blessing on the training which will take place during the coming months.
Number of Prayers 42
YES - I WILL PRAY

David Hunter · Jun 1, 2024

Lots going on making me thinking how fast time is going and how we need to be sharing the Gospel of Jesus with urgency! Decided to film today's devotional in Marblehead (I said Catawba in the video) to give some beautiful background scenery and also went out afterwards to fish for people and after sharing a Gospel tract with a man he caught a big fish!
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LoricaLady · Jun 1, 2024

20Burkina Faso

Thanks to ongoing political instability, the impact of Islamic militant groups has remained steady over the last several years. There were two military coups in 2022, which contributed to civilian deaths, but the number of faith-related violent incidents decreased in 2023 – though the danger has not truly subsided.
The country has one of the world’s most severe displacement crises – with many Christians among the displaced – and the military government has faced accusations of war crimes. With this backdrop, Christians attempting to follow Jesus in Burkina Faso must try to do so without any sense of security or safety, even in places where Islamic militants were previously unable to reach.
Burkina Faso used to be the epitome of religious cohesion, but Islamic militant influence has managed to erode much of the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. Now, in addition to facing violence and threats from Islamic extremists, Christian converts from Islam face increasing pressure and sometimes even threats from their families and communities.

Meet Habiba

“At prayer time, [the militants who kidnapped me] would gather everyone to pray. We couldn’t refuse or even hide. We were constantly surrounded by guns. They would kill you if you didn’t perform the Muslim prayers.”
Habiba (name changed), a Christian who was abducted by Islamic militants in Burkina Faso.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Open Doors works through local partners to strengthen Christians in Burkina Faso by providing persecution survival training, relief aid, and spiritual and trauma care.

Please pray

Ask God to heal the hearts and souls of those affected by abductions, sexual violence and death.
Pray that God would bind up the wounds of Christians displaced by Islamic militant violence.
Pray for wisdom for Open Doors local partners as they try to navigate a changing political reality and humanitarian crises.

tonychanyt · Jun 1, 2024

G3307 μερίζω (merízō): to apportion, to divide, to disunite

G3308 μέριμνα (mérimna) from 3307: the state of being concerned and preoccupied, through the idea of distraction

G3309 μεριμνάω (merimnáō) from 3308: worry, concern, preoccupy

G3309 appears 19 times in the NT.

NIV Matthew 6:

25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry [G3309] about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

The same Greek word is translated as "anxious" in English Standard Version:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Luke 10:

41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried [G3309] and upset about many things"

But then, the same Greek lexeme appears in 1 Corinthians 7:

32 I would like you to be free from concern [G3309]. An unmarried man is **concerned ** [G3309] about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord.

It is not a sin to concern G3309 about pleasing God.

33 But a married man is concerned <3309> about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned [G3309] about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned [G3309] about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

The English concept of worrying is not a good thing. The Greek original concept of G3309 is ambiguous. It could mean worry or concern, or it could be a good thing.

Is worrying or anxiety a sin?

That depends on whether you are worrying negatively or are concerned positively about something.

How to deal with negative anxiety?

Practice peace as a way of life. Philippians 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious [G3309] about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Look to Jesus. Focus on the Paraclete who dwells in you. He is your peace. Instead of dealing with anxiety on a case-by-case basis, practice the general solution of growing your faith daily. The more you grow spiritually, the less you will experience negative anxiety.

David Lamb · Jun 1, 2024

I find the NKJV translation of Mark 7:3 helpful in this matter of handwashing:

“For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash [their] hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.” (Mr 7:3 NKJV)

David Lamb · Jun 1, 2024

returntosender said:
They didn't have to let us in. Gentiles we are. Wasn't Paul the one that accepted us?

The Jews didn't "let gentiles in". Remember how God gave the apostle Peter a dream (about ceremonially clean and unclean animals) to show him that the gospel, the good news about Jesus, is for all, not just for the Jews.

Bob Crowley · Jun 1, 2024

One of these days I'm going to roll up to mass and up on the stage will be R2D2 in priest's robes.

Paulus59 · Jun 1, 2024

Vambram said:
Hero Cop Murdered in Minnesota Ambush: ‘His Name Will Forever Be Remembered’

An officer was slain Thursday evening after a short but bright career in law enforcement, leaving behind a heartbroken family.

www.westernjournal.com

Police officers put their lives on the line daily, going out on patrol to ensure their community is safe. Unfortunately, some bad actors, bolstered by the establishment media have decided to paint all cops as evil, based on the actions of a few, and have encouraged others to harm the people who are protecting us. That’s exactly what happened in Minneapolis when police officer Jamal Mitchell was ambushed and killed Thursday evening.

Mitchell, 36, was an accomplished cop, earning an award just last year for running into a burning building to save an elderly couple just days after taking up the job, according to KMSP-TV.
He remained extremely humble when interviewed after the incident and restated his commitment to his job.

It is sickening to hear this. There is some evil people out there. He sounds like a very good man. May God be with his family at this time and may Minneapolis find healing from this.

Diamond72 · Jun 1, 2024

Kylism said:
So HOW OLD IS the universe

Not my job to figure that out. I leave that sort of stuff to people with the PhD's. It always amazes me how high school drop outs claim to know more than PhD's. Science books are very scrutinized by parents and PTA associations all over the country. They are very careful about the claims they make because they know they are going to be challenged. They constantly update those books to keep them current. I have bought biiology books high school and college for $5 because one of the chapters in the book has been revised.

My brother wrote a text book for Medical Students. After a while he got tired of the updates and revisions so he let someone else do it. You have to do a lot of research and you have to know your stuff. Actually he makes $500 an hour to be a expert witness in the court. They try to tear apart his testimony anyway they can, but they fail to do that.

You can read the NASA article on this if you want to know how they determine that age of the universe.

Imagine the Universe!

This site is intended for students age 14 and up, and for anyone interested in learning about our universe.

imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov

Diamond72 · Jun 1, 2024

tonychanyt said:
Jephthah didn't think his own daughter would greet him first.

Really, he did not think his daughter would be happy to see her father? Seems like that is the first person he would expect.

Diamond72 · Jun 1, 2024

Kylism said:
Perhaps 'you' could do something about the cost and donate some money to someone.

I paid for my wife visa. Although back then it did not cost as much as it does now. It was hundreds then and thousands now.

Pastor Lee · Jun 1, 2024

Mythriilesque said:
Hello everyone, this my first post. I came specifically here for healing and to not only lay bare my personal struggles concerning this but also to help encourage others to not give up fighting the temptation to do what is out of bounds in God’s kingdom.

I am 36, happily married since I turned 19, of which I stepped in for my oldest children whom are adults now. Had two children together not long after, for all of this I am incredibly grateful. It is true that I am unequally yoked with my wife, myself taking the matters of The Lord more seriously, but I am doing my best to help unify the family under Christ.

The teachers in of The Word that I have learned from and still am learning from are Alistair Begg, Chuck Swindoll, Tony Evans, and John Barnett. They have been crucial in my walk, my fight, and the renewal of my spirit. I am also seeking a new church home.

I am a work of progress in The Lord and still stumble in the area of pornography addiction privately that I wrongfully attributed to this desire to this day. Even if they are only digital paintings and renderings without nudity, not even images of real women, it is still extra-marital. I am not seeking universalistic rationality as to why I should embrace this part of my life, if it works against The Lord’s marriage bed, it is sin unto me. I have rationalized much in the past about this only to find myself distant from the Lord in shame.

Fetishes, unfulfilled sexual desires, and paraphilias such as this one are a serious topic of spiritual stress for many people who choose to follow Christ. These things can begin to form benignly very early into childhood often with little explanation as to why (in my case), only to manifest more vividly in adolesence. They can fuel deep-seated pornography addictions and can lead to isolation/hopelessness if left unaddressed without Christ’s truth for guidance.

This will be a long post as my story is fairly complicated. In contrast, however, the solution will always be clear and simple as hard as it may seem:

If it is not in the plan for the marriage bed, pray to the Lord for forgiveness when you stumble, pray to the Lord to guide you as you resist temptation. As much as it grievously STRAINS against your heart and will to not feed your fleshly desires, don’t give in, He will grant you self-control if you truly want to do good works through Him.

To those who have suffered similarly as I have, remember, you are not a freak or a failure. God loves you, and if you have called upon Him to be saved, with faith and patience He will heal your spiritual wounds.

I will do my best to organize my thoughts on this, this will be very long, I'm sorry to say:

- - -

What is Macrophilia?

It is a sexual attraction to a exaggerated size-difference between oneself and the person one desires. This could be satisfied physically with a noticeably taller or shorter partner, or perhaps an equally taller than average partner. This is not exclusive to physical compatibility, as this works with partners who are eager to use their imagination, detailing out scenarios of eachother being proportionally larger or smaller in any range of fantastical ratios. This is typically a male fantasy, but women do also exist that also have this attribute

Question: With with spouse whom is open or also seeking this, is this within the grounds of what is God's marital design? I have asked myself this. If both husband and wife share this in willing agreement in their union only, would it not fit the guidelines laid out? From what I understand that would suffice as a spice to romance, but I could be proven mistaken. I never had the opportunity to engage in this fashion, as this has been unavailable in my marriage.

In Addition: This often presents with an additional attraction (but not always) to a certain area of the body. In my case, that would be a woman’s feet, which is something I have an equally potent passion for.

—-

How Did This Start?

I really do not know. A possibility is that the trauma of my mother leaving my father and I on my 6th birthday had done something psychological to me. Although, I did not bear that grief for a long period of time, as it was that my grandmother had raised me like a mother in her place. What I do know, as long as I can remember anything media depicting a woman appearing larger than her surroundings or another person was especially interesting for reasons unknown when I was a young boy. I always paid awe and respect to my female teachers, and despite being tall for my age, found the rare girl classmate taller than myself to be a crush of mine. Not until I became a teenager did any of this present itself as sexual.

— - -

The Problem Of Adolesence:

Up to this point I have always been outgoing and sociable, but underneath had low-self esteem, I never liked entertaining my ego. Even to this day I struggle to accept compliments, as I don’t believe in myself as I should. Even though my grandparents raised me, I did not have a very structured childhood and therefore never knew The Lord. No church, no sports. Lots of knowledge seeking in books, anime, and video games however. Having ad-hd made me an awful student.

So I was a pretty tall and reasonably good looking guy as a teenager but had no idea how to talk to or appeal to girls. It was also then I was old enough to live with my father, who worked most of the time. A great dad to me, but was pretty tied up most of the time.

This allowed me to have unlimited access to the internet. A truly regretful thing, as a questing mind like mine inevitably hit the landmine of adult fetish-based websites and forums. What was once a peculiar fascination as a boy turned into a non-stop dopamine rush of size-change content. To the outside world, most of this wasn’t even nudity or sex, but the size-based or barefoot nature the stories and images of it had an effect on me as though it was. This ended up consuming my online life to the point I even distanced myself from my normal online friends.

In highschool, one wouldn’t be able to tell that I was addled by the scratching need for another fix on the internet, but I was. I hung out with metal-heads and the goth girls. I liked some of the goth girls, but made no attempt to ask them out. THAT, in hindsight was what robbed me most, because my already lack of confidence in having a REAL relationship with a girl I found attractive was so low it was then impossible because of my new bad internet habits. If only I knew then what I know now, I could have had a healthy relationship with the smart Christian girl I had a crush on that I shared a lot of normal interests with. I was an anti-theist like Dawkins back then and I used to argue with her as sort of a tease, it was her conviction that truly made her special to me. Quite short compared to the taller girls I always had in mind, but had a dominant personality that could have been a positive change in my life.

Maybe in another timeline, she could have taught me sooner to live for Christ. Maybe I could have married her and perhaps she could have brought peace to my unique attraction. Such speculation is folly, of course, but I have had such thoughts in my darkest hours of remorse.

If only I had control and had a more mature outlook on life like she did, and was most open and honest with myself… It really was my thoughts of what she tried to convince me about Jesus after I quit highschool that convinced me to get saved while watching tele-evangelists while depressed. My grandmother had died from cancer a few months before, my dad moved out of his house, and I volunteered to watch my grandparent’s home while my grandfather was dying. That time really changed my life.

—-

Meeting My Wife and Going to Baptist Church

I was saved, as I genuinely called out for The Lord to save me in prayer, but I was ignorant of how to live a Godly life early on. It was then I was already working at Wal-Mart and not long after I met my now wife. I was more confident in talking to women in this time and found we had common interests. After a year, we became good friends and I learned more about her awful life as a single mother, having her first two children as a teenager.

My wife is 6 years older than me, had a similar metal/goth background, and I liked that she was more mature than most girls my age and seemed genuinly interested in me. At this point I was 19 and moved out of my room-mates apartment because his girlfriend approached me for her to cheat on him. As attractive and rocker-style she was, I couldn’t bear the idea of betraying my friend.

Being effectively homeless, I offered to date my wife and I started coming to her apartment more often. I found that her mother had been truly cruel to her and thought to myself that she needed a man to get her and the kids away from this situation.

So, I stayed there to support her and the kids, despite her mom being evil towards her. In the same time-frame I was taking our oldest daughter to the bus ministry of the baptist church in the town over. It was there I was baptised and started to listen to Moody Bible Radio. My wife, however, did not like going because this particular church had a dress-only dress code and the women were notorious gossips.

Not once had I had sex with my wife until we got married a year later. As attractive as she was I did not marry her to specifically satisfy my unique fulfillments I loved and cared for her. She simply wasn’t into my unique desires it turned out. Not her fault. Her feet were permanently scarred and cracked from being neglected by her mother to walk on burning asphalt without shoes as a little girl. This also did not turn me away from my commitment, even as it pained me as much it pained her. I married her because it was to me the greatest good thing I could do for her and the kids. After saving money, we rented a house to get her and the kids away from her mom.

—-

Raising A Family, Yet Unfulfilled, But Learning To Do What Is Right

We have stayed at this rental for years, had our second youngest. My secret addiction to mature size-change content had remained mostly a constant and my wife’s social anxiety made it difficult to remain going to church in a serious fashion. It had been discouraging that I had no way to channel these desires in a way that was not sin in the marriage bed, even as my wife had already told me that it does not bother her that I pursue these things. Part of me rationalized that her liberal way of looking at this subject should be liberating, while the other condemned my behavior and I am too sick to even pray to god for what I am doing.

This had continued on and on for years and years. Yes having a happy life for the most part, but a shadow of sin and judgement cast over me. Shame being Satan’s favored weapon to separate me from The Lord. I had spent many nights with tears in my eyes begging God to take this affliction of no value to Him away. Wondering why I of all people would continously desire something unrequited and therefore sin to me, with seemingly no way to channel it to something productive.

Something about 2016 and the birth of my daughter changed these bad habits over time. I wanted to protect my daughter’s innocence from this world and also recover mine. I began listening to bible study again, met my best friend in Christ, encouraging me to stand strong. I began indulging my addiction less often, wanting to be awake and aware of what I am doing for my family, to not greive the spirit of The Lord. I learned not to listen to the accuser and pray more often. It started as being a trickle of prayers a year to being more frequent. This trend has continued to the point of which I am here now.

It is my week off and my friend suggested Pastor John Barnett’s Book of Revelations series on Youtube, which has inspired me to be all-in in my walk and have challenged myself to abstain from my fleshly desires for week at a time and beyond.

It is difficult, as it is mentally stressful to hold back something that has such a deep spiritual wound in my life. As one could imagine, because of my foot fetish, summertime is a nightmare. There are multiple visual triggers out and about that causes the macrophilia to act up too. The strain of it still brings tears to my eyes not to indulge, but I know it is worth the effort. To not fall to shame, to not break momentum in The Spirit. I may stumble in some way, but I intend to keep it infrequent and rare. Prayer in the morning, prayer when tempted, prayer when still and all alone with no electronic devices. I understand now that part of what has been haunting me is selfish, holding on to something that had potential to work in a different circumstance before all this happened, but refusing to let go. The opportunity to for me to use these desires lawfully had passed a long time ago it seems. Sort of like still longing for and fantasizing about an ex or a crush, its best just to say goodbye to some things so it doesn’t drag you down. Perhaps with time, God will help me take this unfulfilled desire and help me realize how to use it effectively in my marriage one day.

I really do, however, likely need a Christian psychologist to really work this out properly.

If anyone has advice, I would love to hear it.

Any advice on this man. I struggle at this Dailey. And I need some help. How did it turn out for you?

Pommer · Jun 1, 2024

AlexB23 said:
Trump has said many times that he wants to dismantle the Constitution. If this isn't corruption of the highest degree, I do not know what is. Both Trump and Justice lack character in my opinion. In July 2023, Jim Justice said he would support Trump (a convicted felon since May 30, 2024). Goes to show how this Justice guy running for senate does not care for keeping our country together.

Trump wants to delete parts of Constitution: https://thehill.com/homenews/campai...ination-of-parts-of-constitution-in-december/
Justice supports Trump: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4116532-jim-justice-endorses-trump/

I’m not going to read that tonight but I could find myself in agreement with President Trump on this particular issue.
We need a 250 year “inspection” of the Constitution, soon, so like, do we really need the Third Amendment anymore, as weak as it is)?

Bob Crowley · Jun 1, 2024

The OPAL plant sounds like an upgraded version of the original nuclear power plant in Lucas Heights. It was opened way back in1958.

I don't think the US & USA trusted us with more potent plants which could produce weaponry.

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Her rapid rise to stardom

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Meet Habiba

What does Open Doors do to help?

Please pray