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Gibbons Decline & Fall & Christianity

A difference of religion is always pernicious, and often fatal, to the harmony of the prince and people: the Gothic conqueror had been educated in the profession of Arianism, and Italy was devoutly attached to the Nicene faith. But the persuasion of Theodoric was not infected by zeal; and he piously adhered to the heresy of his fathers, without condescending to balance the subtile arguments of theological metaphysics. Satisfied with the private toleration of his Arian sectaries, he justly conceived himself to be the guardian of the public worship, and his external reverence for a superstition which he despised, may have nourished in his mind the salutary indifference of a statesman or philosopher. The Catholics of his dominions acknowledged, perhaps with reluctance, the peace of the church; their clergy, according to the degrees of rank or merit, were honorably entertained in the palace of Theodoric; he esteemed the living sanctity of Cæsarius and Epiphanius, the orthodox bishops of Arles and Pavia; and presented a decent offering on the tomb of St. Peter, without any scrupulous inquiry into the creed of the apostle.. His favorite Goths, and even his mother, were permitted to retain or embrace the Athanasian faith, and his long reign could not afford the example of an Italian Catholic, who, either from choice or compulsion, had deviated into the religion of the conqueror. The people, and the Barbarians themselves, were edified by the pomp and order of religious worship; the magistrates were instructed to defend the just immunities of ecclesiastical persons and possessions; the bishops held their synods, the metropolitans exercised their jurisdiction, and the privileges of sanctuary were maintained or moderated according to the spirit of the Roman jurisprudence. With the protection, Theodoric assumed the legal supremacy, of the church; and his firm administration restored or extended some useful prerogatives which had been neglected by the feeble emperors of the West. He was not ignorant of the dignity and importance of the Roman pontiff, to whom the venerable name of Pope was now appropriated. The peace or the revolt of Italy might depend on the character of a wealthy and popular bishop, who claimed such ample dominion both in heaven and earth; who had been declared in a numerous synod to be pure from all sin, and exempt from all judgment. When the chair of St. Peter was disputed by Symmachus and Laurence, they appeared at his summons before the tribunal of an Arian monarch, and he confirmed the election of the most worthy or the most obsequious candidate. At the end of his life, in a moment of jealousy and resentment, he prevented the choice of the Romans, by nominating a pope in the palace of Ravenna. The danger and furious contests of a schism were mildly restrained, and the last decree of the senate was enacted to extinguish, if it were possible, the scandalous venality of the papal elections.

I have descanted with pleasure on the fortunate condition of Italy; but our fancy must not hastily conceive that the golden age of the poets, a race of men without vice or misery, was realized under the Gothic conquest. The fair prospect was sometimes overcast with clouds; the wisdom of Theodoric might be deceived, his power might be resisted and the declining age of the monarch was sullied with popular hatred and patrician blood. In the first insolence of victory, he had been tempted to deprive the whole party of Odoacer of the civil and even the natural rights of society; a tax unseasonably imposed after the calamities of war, would have crushed the rising agriculture of Liguria; a rigid preemption of corn, which was intended for the public relief, must have aggravated the distress of Campania. These dangerous projects were defeated by the virtue and eloquence of Epiphanius and Boethius, who, in the presence of Theodoric himself, successfully pleaded the cause of the people: but if the royal ear was open to the voice of truth, a saint and a philosopher are not always to be found at the ear of kings. The privileges of rank, or office, or favor, were too frequently abused by Italian fraud and Gothic violence, and the avarice of the king’s nephew was publicly exposed, at first by the usurpation, and afterwards by the restitution of the estates which he had unjustly extorted from his Tuscan neighbors. Two hundred thousand Barbarians, formidable even to their master, were seated in the heart of Italy; they indignantly supported the restraints of peace and discipline; the disorders of their march were always felt and sometimes compensated; and where it was dangerous to punish, it might be prudent to dissemble, the sallies of their native fierceness. When the indulgence of Theodoric had remitted two thirds of the Ligurian tribute, he condescended to explain the difficulties of his situation, and to lament the heavy though inevitable burdens which he imposed on his subjects for their own defence. These ungrateful subjects could never be cordially reconciled to the origin, the religion, or even the virtues of the Gothic conqueror; past calamities were forgotten, and the sense or suspicion of injuries was rendered still more exquisite by the present felicity of the times.

Even the religious toleration which Theodoric had the glory of introducing into the Christian world, was painful and offensive to the orthodox zeal of the Italians. They respected the armed heresy of the Goths; but their pious rage was safely pointed against the rich and defenceless Jews, who had formed their establishments at Naples, Rome, Ravenna, Milan, and Genoa, for the benefit of trade, and under the sanction of the laws. Their persons were insulted, their effects were pillaged, and their synagogues were burned by the mad populace of Ravenna and Rome, inflamed, as it should seem, by the most frivolous or extravagant pretences. The government which could neglect, would have deserved such an outrage. A legal inquiry was instantly directed; and as the authors of the tumult had escaped in the crowd, the whole community was condemned to repair the damage; and the obstinate bigots, who refused their contributions, were whipped through the streets by the hand of the executioner. This simple act of justice exasperated the discontent of the Catholics, who applauded the merit and patience of these holy confessors. Three hundred pulpits deplored the persecution of the church; and if the chapel of St. Stephen at Verona was demolished by the command of Theodoric, it is probable that some miracle hostile to his name and dignity had been performed on that sacred theatre. At the close of a glorious life, the king of Italy discovered that he had excited the hatred of a people whose happiness he had so assiduously labored to promote; and his mind was soured by indignation, jealousy, and the bitterness of unrequited love. The Gothic conqueror condescended to disarm the unwarlike natives of Italy, interdicting all weapons of offence, and excepting only a small knife for domestic use. The deliverer of Rome was accused of conspiring with the vilest informers against the lives of senators whom he suspected of a secret and treasonable correspondence with the Byzantine court. After the death of Anastasius, the diadem had been placed on the head of a feeble old man; but the powers of government were assumed by his nephew Justinian, who already meditated the extirpation of heresy, and the conquest of Italy and Africa. A rigorous law, which was published at Constantinople, to reduce the Arians by the dread of punishment within the pale of the church, awakened the just resentment of Theodoric, who claimed for his distressed brethren of the East the same indulgence which he had so long granted to the Catholics of his dominions. At his stern command, the Roman pontiff, with four illustrious senators, embarked on an embassy, of which he must have alike dreaded the failure or the success. The singular veneration shown to the first pope who had visited Constantinople was punished as a crime by his jealous monarch; the artful or peremptory refusal of the Byzantine court might excuse an equal, and would provoke a larger, measure of retaliation; and a mandate was prepared in Italy, to prohibit, after a stated day, the exercise of the Catholic worship. By the bigotry of his subjects and enemies, the most tolerant of princes was driven to the brink of persecution; and the life of Theodoric was too long, since he lived to condemn the virtue of Boethius and Symmachus. (The History of the decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 4, Chap. 39, pgs. 153 - 158 of the Everyman's Library edition)

Converted Barbarians more tolerant than apostate political Christianity. Ever struggling and bickering among and with the kings and politics of this world for dominion, rather than preaching the gospel of God’s Kingdom through Christ Jesus our Lord unto salvation. Calling the faithful out of the unending strife, war, and bloodshed of this world concerning who will be in power to effectively abuse and live off and upon the backs of the masses, rather than joining in with all of the same. Thereby becoming the persecutors rather than the persecuted our Lord prophesied His true followers would have to endure.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Jhn 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
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Prominent Northern Ireland cleric calls for King Charles to abdicate after prayer with pope

I would quote the article, but instead I shall just warn those who are Roman Catholic that some of it is rather one-sided and scathing...

Protestant group fires off complaint to King Charles III over papal prayer service -
Protestant group fires off complaint to King Charles III over papal prayer service
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The epiphany....the manifestation of Jesus....

Peace in Christ.

We are to come out from among “them”….the man-based churches…and be separate

We are to no longer be attached to the unclean body of the man-based churches.

They will not believe in the Word of Truth when they will hear it. What in common will we have with the unbelievers of the man-based churches? We are not to be unequally yoked TOGETHER with the UNBELIEVERS of the man-based churches.

2Co 6:14-18 KJV
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We are to leave them for His sake and the gospel’s…..the truth of the gospel of our mortal salvation of which we will hear and believe in while they will not. They will persecute us for leaving them for His sake and the gospel’s.

A man’s foes shall be they of his own “household”….that is, of their own “church” family.

Mat 10:36-39 KJV
(36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

We are to hear Him and come forth from the man-based churches….being completely separate from them. He that will love his church family more than Him is not worthy of Him. Even though they might hear and believe, those who will love their own church family more will stay put in their churches rather than leave them for His sake. They will show that they are not worthy of Him and will not receive the promise of His presence....to shine His glory light to the people of the outside world.

(37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

He that does not take his cross and follow after Him is not worthy of Him. When we leave the man-based church family, they will persecute us for doing so. We are to be faithful to the His death on the cross and not return evil for their evil. We are to die to sin.

(38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Do not be afraid of their persecutions. Our souls shall be troubled by them…let us not shrink back to them in fear.

Do not seek to save your troubled soul by going back to their churches so that their persecution will stop. He that will try to save his soul (in order to stop their persecutions from troubling their souls) will lose it. Let us not "shrink back" to them out of fear of their persecutions.

(39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

We are to REJOICE instead when they revile and persecute us for His sake:

Mat 5:11-12 KJV
(11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

(12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Again, we must follow Him out of the man-based churches….and when we do, we shall receive now in this time all (100 fold) that we leave behind but also WITH PERSECUTIONS. The church “family”....the household... we leave behind will persecute you for leaving them for His sake and the gospel's.

Mar 10:28-31 KJV
(28) Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

(29) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

We shall receive all that we leave behind (and more so.) and in this age, THE COMING age-lasting life. In this age we are living in, we are to lay hold of the age-lasting life that is coming now to be had. It is set before us in this age to lay hold of. The coming age-lasting life is set before us to be had now in this age. The Lord comes so that we might have life NOW (the age-lasting life) and have it MORE ABUNDANTLY (receiving hundredfold now in this time.)

(30) But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world (AGE)to come (THE COMING) eternal life (AGE-LASTING life).

(31) But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

The age-lasting life is set before us. We are called to having it now. We must “lay hold” on that coming age-lasting life that is to be obtained NOW in this age. John 10:10 .

1Ti 6:11-12 KJV
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

(12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

If we suffer with Him (as the unbelievers of the man-based churches will persecute us), then we shall also be glorified together with Him.

We are to be glorified with His presence…and the rest of the people of the outside world (those who will see and believe) will see His glory shining through us to them. They…the believers among them… will come to that light. They will come to us and be saved. We shall manifest Christ to their seeing eyes.

Rom 8:17-19 KJV
(17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The sufferings of this present time (the persecutions of the unbelieving man-based churches) are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.
(18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

The rest of the creation is awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God. They will see His glory shine through us to them and will be saved.

(19) For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us. We shall be persecuted by the unbelieving man-based churches for His sake and the gospel’s.

1Pe 4:12-14 KJV
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

We are to take the cross with us…dying to sin by not returning evil for their evil.

In doing so, we are made partakers of Christ’s sufferings so that whenever His glory shall be revealed (to the people of the outside world), we shall be glad with exceeding joy of which no man can then take away.

(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

The man-based churches will trouble us on every side. They will persecute us and cast us down.

2Co 4:8-11 KJV
(8) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

(9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

But we are to be faithful unto His death on the cross by not returning evil for their evil, nor reviling for their reviling, nor threatening in return for their threats.

We are to always bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that His life shall be made manifest/shine in our body…our mortal flesh.

(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

We are “arise” and shine. We are to arise and depart from the dead man-based churches so that Christ shall give us His light.

Eph 5:14 KJV
(14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from (OUT OF) the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

The glory of the LORD shall arise upon us….and the people of the outside world who are in deep spiritual darkness shall see His glory upon us and come to our light.

Isa 60:1-3 KJV
(1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

(2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Kings shall come to the brightness of our rising.

(3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

The rich and the powerful of the outside world will also come to His light shining in us….and we are to charge them (the believers among them) that they be not high-minded nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God….

1Ti 6:17-19
(17) Charge them that are rich in this world (AGE), that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(18) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

For they themselves are to lay hold on an age-lasting life now in this time to come. They are going to also receive an age-lasting life.

(19) Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

We are to manifest the Lord Jesus Christ to them (to the rich in this age). They will see Him through us.

It will be the “epiphany”….the manifestation of Him …and we are instrumental in His manifestation of Him to their seeing eyes. We are to flee things (such as love of money) and pursue righteousness as far as the EPIPHANY of our Lord Jesus Christ goes. We are to manifest His presence to the people of the outside world….and God chooses those among them to “see” Him through us. He chooses the “times” to show Him to the believers among those in the outside world.

1Ti 6:14-15 KJV
(14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing (Greek: epiphaneia- manifestation) of our Lord Jesus Christ:

In His times/occasions, He is shown to them (the believing kings and lords of this age) and they will see Him who is the only Ruler (the only Potentate),King of kings and Lord of lords, through us.

(15) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Kings shall shut their mouth at Him. They will see His “visage”….His view…by looking at us as we shall shine His glory light to them. They will see what they had not been told and will consider what they had not heard.

Isa 52:13-15 KJV
(13) Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
(14) As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

(15) So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Whenever Christ, who is our life, shall appear/shine, then we shall also appear with Him in glory towards the believers of people of the outside world who are sitting in deep darkness. God choose the “times” or occasions to show Him to those people who are chosen by Him to see Him through us.

In His times/occasions ( to the people chosen by Him to see Him and believe) , the people of the outside world shall see and believe through us.

Col 3:4
(4) When( WHENEVER) Christ, who is our life, shall appear/SHINE, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

All shall "see" Him....but all shall not see and BELIEVE.

Joh 6:36 KJV
(36) But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

In that "night"....in the people who are sitting in deep darkness...one shall see and believe and be received unto Him while the other will see and not be believe and shall be left.

Luk 17:34-37 KJV
(34) I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
(35) Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
(36) Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.


Wherever the living body of Christ is, there the eagles be gathered together. The eagles are those of the outside world who will see and believe and gather to Him/us.

(37) And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Multiple immigration sweeps reported across Los Angeles, with a tense standoff/protest downtown; SEIU union leader arrested

DHS ‘erroneously’ told watchdog group it had no Noem text messages

American Oversight said the admission raises questions about whether officials are following their obligation to manually save their messages and that they have yet to receive the public records it requested.

The disclosure came in a public records lawsuit brought by the group to obtain text messages sent by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Court documents also show the National Archives asked the DHS to investigate the potential destruction of records and report back by Nov. 3. However, by Oct. 30, a National Archives official said they had not yet received a response from the DHS.

“After misleading us for months, DHS wants us to trust that the law is being followed. But the agency has not turned over the records we requested nor has it provided details about whether senior officials’ text messages have been preserved in accordance with the law. It’s time for transparency — not more empty assurances.”
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Do you believe a Christian can no longer be a believer?

So you understand and agree with the point I originally made about 1 Corinthians 10:13 (coppied below for convenience)?

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Co 10:12–13)​

Do you see in 1 Co 10:13 that every time a person succumbs to temptation that it reprepresents a failure to take the way of escape that God provided?​
He does provide a way of escape ... but often people don't take it ... this is true.
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ICE arrests illegal immigrant in Massachusetts accused of stabbing coworker with scissors, trash bin attack


DHS says the crowd shouted obscenities at the ICE agents, saying that they were "going to kill you and your kids."

Witnesses at the scene painted a different picture

...Fitchburg police officers remained positioned between the agents and the crowds, repeatedly telling concerned neighbors that they could not interfere in the arrest.

...Ojeda-Montoya was taken into custody around 9 a.m. and transported to Cumberland County Jail in Scarborough, Maine, according to a DHS spokesperson. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings

"The role of the Fitchburg Police Department in this type of situation is to keep the peace. Keeping the peace includes making sure both the public as a whole as well as the federal law enforcement agents are safe," police said. "The Fitchburg Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws, nor do we interfere with the lawful actions of other law enforcement agencies."

Fitchburg's mayor, Sam Squailia, released a lengthy statement on Friday, saying in part:

"As outlined in the Fitchburg Police Department’s press release, our officers were called after the stop had already escalated. These unannounced federal actions place our local officers in an impossible situation. When federal agents report they are 'in danger,' our officers are obligated to respond. Our officers do not participate in federal immigration enforcement, they respond to keep the peace, to prevent escalation, and to protect the safety of everyone on scene. Our officers’ have a limited role: scene safety, de-escalation, traffic control, and people’s rights protection. "

Ojeda-Montoya was arrested back in August of this year. She has not been tried or convicted.

Kudos to the Fitchburg police.
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end the filibuster?

The 60 vote supermajority is our only hope of getting the parties to work together now and in the future.
We've seen the crazed ideologues planted in the courts by the Federalist Society, which has rewritten the meaning of the Constitution to match its oligarchial goals. This would never have happened in the past, although a few snuck through (Thomas, Alito.)
Although I'd be thrilled to see no filibuster when Democrats are in power, the potential for damage is overwhelming at the current time.
The failed experiment of ending the filibuster for judicial appointments will make our country suffer for generations.
same could apply if democrats are in power there is a reason for the 60 votes and that goes for BOTH parties. I am sure that at some point in the 200+ years of this country for at least two years one party has had 60 votes ( or whatever the number was at the time before there were 50 states. It is not like it is 90 votes or anything.
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Palisades Fire live updates: Wildfires spread in Los Angeles, prompting mandatory evacuations, as Santa Ana winds expected to intensify

The Los Angeles Conservancy said Friday afternoon that 32 properties it considered historic because of their architectural or cultural significance were claimed by the fires, which have destroyed or damaged more than 9,000 structures.

Some of the historic buildings, including ... [Will] Rogers’ Western-style Palisades home, had formal landmark status on the National Register of Historic Places

Will Rogers State Historic Park to reopen after being ravaged in Palisades fire

  • The fire destroyed Rogers’ historic 31-room ranch house and roughly 300 trees planted by the cowboy-humorist, though staff saved some artifacts.
Will Rogers State Historic Park, which has been closed since the Palisades fire ripped through it 10 months ago, will reopen to the public on Saturday, providing a sprawling green oasis in the devastated community.
About half of the park’s nine miles of hiking and equestrian hiking trails will open, as will the 99-year-old polo field, lawns and picnic spaces, according to California State Parks.

The Palisades fire incinerated Rogers’ century-old wooden ranch house — a place filled with Navajo rugs; custom, Western-style Monterey couches and chairs; and a vast book collection that included signed first editions by Helen Keller, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Houdini. Flames also tore through Rogers’ white-and-green horse stable, which had an elegant central rotunda.

[During the fire] Maintenance and restoration staffers started sprinklers atop the buildings and on hillsides, she said, and workers spent about two and a half hours stuffing State Parks pickup trucks and personal vehicle with historic treasures.

They saved paintings, pottery, sculptures, Native American rugs, and the typewriter that Rogers used to compose his newspaper columns. But a tour favorite — a stuffed roping calf given by a friend, artist Ed Borein, who had grown tired of Rogers lassoing him — burned. So did the furniture, book collection, and a newly restored hand-crank barrel piano.

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Underground Chinese bishop who said his life ‘consists of speaking about Jesus’ dies at 90

An underground Chinese Catholic bishop from the Diocese of Zhengding has died at 90 years old.

Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, a Catholic bishop in China renowned for his unwavering adherence to the Church despite decades of persecution at the hands of the Chinese government, passed away on Oct. 29.

A member of the underground Church, unsanctioned by the Chinese government, Zhiguo was bishop of the Zhengnding Diocese in the Hebei Province. He was known for having a missionary spirit, promoting priestly training, caring for children with disabilities, and maintaining communion with Rome.

Born on May 1, 1935, in Wuqiu Village, Jinzhou City, Zhiguo was ordained a priest in 1980 by Bishop Fan Xueyan of Baoding, who later consecrated him as bishop, according to Vatican News’ Chinese-language site.

Continued below.
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Maybe you'd never guess...

Trump is trying to assist Latin American governments as stable trading partners instead of China filling the vacuum.



Much more work needs to be done for US farmers but a start has been made with soybean sales resuming with China.


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‘This is our faith in action:’ Catholic groups expand food aid amid SNAP cuts

As federal food benefits have been frozen during the government shutdown, Catholic dioceses and charities around the country are holding emergency food drives and launching fundraising efforts.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will resume once the government passes a bill to fund the federal government — but, more than a month into the shutdown, there is no set end date in sight.

Two federal district judges at the end of October moved to compel the Trump administration to pay for SNAP benefits, but because Congress has not yet authorized funding for federal government operations, the Trump administration asked an appeals court on Friday to block the orders and continue with partial SNAP payments.

The pause in SNAP benefits is estimatedto affect about 42 million Americans.

Continued below.

Amid clown protesters, Boston men’s march for life remains ‘prayerful’

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news:

Amid clown protesters, Boston men’s march for life remains ‘prayerful’​

Hundreds gathered in Boston last Saturday for a men’s march for life, which drew a rambunctious crowd of protesters dressed as clowns and inflatable dinosaurs.

The fourth annual National Men’s March to Abolish Abortion and Rally for Personhood began at Boston Planned Parenthood and concluded about three miles away at Boston Common.

While counterprotesters — some dressed as clowns or wearing inflatable dinosaur costumes — played instruments and yelled on the sidelines, marchers carried on in a “prayerful and well-composed” manner, said march co-founder and president Jim Havens, who called the event “outstanding.”

At the rallying point at Boston Common, an estimated 50 Antifa members also showed up. Another counterprotester wore a pony costume and carried a megaphone.

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Will MAGA condemn Texan gerrymandering and sign a petition for all States and Feds to have independent Commissions handling redistributions?

I would fully support such legislation....but, if gerrymandering is perfectly legal, and Texas is going to do it to favor the GOP, I see no problem with California or any other state doing the same thing. What's good for the goose and all that.

-- A2SG, how dare democrats do what republicans are already doing!!
Precisely. Republicans are angry and indignant that the democrats are leveling the playing field. I suspect that if all blue state were to do this, we'd finally see some progress in eliminating corruption in redistricting.
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Republican congressman introduces resolution condemning Christian persecution in Nigeria: ‘America cannot be silent’

Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., has introduced a resolution condemning the violent persecution of Christians in Nigeria and calling for decisive U.S. action to hold perpetrators accountable. The move follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

The resolution, supported by at least 20 House Republicans, demands that the U.S. government pressure Nigerian authorities to protect Christians and end impunity for attacks by armed groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and Fulani militants, according to a press release from Moore’s office.

Moore’s measure urges the repeal of Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, the release of prisoners jailed for religious offenses and the safe return of displaced Christians to their homes. It also calls for direct humanitarian aid to victims through faith-based and nongovernmental organizations.

“The United States must make it clear that we will not tolerate the slaughter of Christians or the persecution of anyone for their belief in Jesus Christ,” Moore said in the statement. “I want to thank President Trump for his bold and unwavering leadership in defense of Christians in Nigeria.”

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Can unbelievers lose their damnation?

A theological question that gets debated regularly is whether or not believers can lose their salvation. But what about unbelievers? Can they lose their damnation?

Believers are able to enjoy the assurance of salvation as they trust Jesus to be forgiven of their sins and earnestly seek to say "no" to temptation. Unbelievers, on the other hand, are on the path to damnation, rather than salvation.

The worst possible outcome for an individual is to end up in Hell. Jesus often spoke about this horrific place. When the Lord described those who lose their soul, He was essentially speaking about people who refuse to lose their damnation (see Mark 8:36).

I am very glad that "Christ died for sins once for all," (1 Peter 3:18) and that "God wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).

I am also thankful that unbelievers can "lose" their damnation by gaining Heaven and "losing" Hell.

Comedian Bill Maher has claimed for years that the concept of Hell is used by religious groups to scare and control people. Sadly, Bill completely misses the point. Jesus spoke regularly about Hell in order to warn people about its existence, while explaining how to stay out of it.

Bill Maher will turn 70 in a couple of months. Time is running out for him, just like it eventually does for each one of us. But some Christians continue to pray for Maher's conversion. Unbelievers lose their damnation by repenting of their sins and believing in Jesus as Savior.

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George Santos claims to understand grace after prison release: 'No one is beyond redemption'

Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., penned an op-ed this week explaining that his recent prison sentence humbled him and helped him to understand the nature of grace.

"When I entered prison in July, I thought I knew what to expect. I thought humility would come gently. Instead, it came like a storm," Santos wrote in a Wednesday piece for The Spectator titled "George Santos's prison diary."

Santos, who became the sixth member of Congress and first Republican to be expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 311–114 in December 2023, was sentenced in April to 87 months — more than seven years — in federal prison after pleading guilty in August 2024 to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

On Oct. 17, President Donald Trump commuted Santos' sentence, characterizing it as excessive and noting Santos had been "horribly mistreated" by prison authorities, who subjected him to 41 days of solitary confinement because of an alleged death threat against him.

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