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Christsfreeservant · Saturday at 2:28 AM

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NASB1995)

The above passage of Scripture is the “Verse Of The Day” on Bible Gateway, which is the Bible source I use for writing on the internet. My first thought was, “I just taught on the subject of ‘love’ recently,” so I began to look at the other verses to see if I should write on something else. And, as I was contemplating this in my mind, I looked over to my left, to a little sign made for me by one of my grandsons which says, “A Little Sign to Say I Love You.” But partly covering the word “say” was a red lady bug with dark spots.

And here’s the thing. When Jesus lived on the earth he often spoke to the people in parables. So, parables are not anti-biblical as long as they agree with and support the teachings of the Scriptures. I like this definition:

“A biblical parable is a short, realistic story or analogy using everyday scenarios—such as farming, fishing, or household tasks—to teach profound spiritual truths or moral principles. Primarily used by Jesus in the Gospels to describe the Kingdom of God, these narratives function as ‘earthly stories with heavenly meanings’.” (Source: Google AI)

So, when I see something like this bug, and the Holy Spirit prompts me, I know to look at the meanings of the words in the image. So, what is a bug? It can be many things, but what stands out to me is that it is an infection, a poison, an impurity of some kind. And “spot” (in this case multiple dark spots) is also a blemish or a moral flaw (sin), which are multiplied. And dark is used consistently throughout the Scriptures to symbolize the opposite of light, such as lies, deceptions, immorality, wickedness, i.e. sinful behaviors.

Okay, so this “bug” is positioned on the word “say,” which has to do with expressing thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and/or information, either in verbal or in written form. So this would seem to indicate that there is an impurity, a lie, a deception in the words spoken, “I love you.” (This has nothing to do with who gave me this sign. This is a parable only!) And “a little sign” could be a slight (an insult) and/or an insignificant indication of actual love being present in the words spoken. So, “I Love You” is a lie, and thus an insult.

Now in the USA today, February 14th is traditionally referred to as “Valentines Day.” This celebration has pagan roots to it, and the “love” being spoken of is typically of romantic love, not the kind of love being referred to in this passage of Scripture. But it is also used in the context of friendship love, too. And the color “red” is the color associated with the holiday, which interestingly enough was both the color of the little sign and of the lady bug. Like, “though your sins be as scarlet,” so symbolic of sin (Isaiah 1:18).

So, when Jesus gave the commandment to love one another as he loved (loves) us, he was not speaking of romantic love, and he was not speaking of fake artificial love (the sign was made of plastic) spoken falsely in words only but with little to no evidence of actual love being put into practice. For how did Jesus demonstrate his love for us? He sacrificed his life for us on a cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, we will now die to sin and live to God in walks of surrender to him in obeying our Lord.

And this word “love” is agape, which has to do with preferring what God prefers, i.e. all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord and to his commands. For the believer in Christ, it involves us denying self, dying to sin daily, and walking in obedience to his commands, in practice, by the Spirit. So, when we say that we love God, or that we love other humans, it should be this kind of love which is honest, faithful, and pure, and not fake, impure, and deceptive.

So, if you claim to love God, and to be in fellowship with him, but while you walk in darkness (in sin), and while you do not obey his commands, in practice, the Bible says that you are telling a lie. And if you say to your spouse, “I love you,” while you deliberately and habitually sin against them via addiction to sexual sin and adultery, don’t call it love. Don’t lie. Don’t give your spouse a valentines card and a hug and a kiss if you are secretly looking at sexually explicit images and committing adultery in your minds.

Don’t call it love if it is hate in disguise. For adultery against your spouse is hate, not love. And refusal to obey our Lord’s commandments and to walk in love and in moral purity is also hate, not love. For biblical love is not based in emotions and in lies to cover up sin. And a valentines day card is not proof of love. If cheating is what is taking place in the background, it is an insult. Be honest. Be sincere. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Repent of sins of adultery and idolatry, and now love purely as God, as Christ loves us and sacrificed for us.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

In Harmony

Based off Romans 12:9-21; 1 Peter 3:8-17
An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Login to view embedded media
Don’t Call It Love If
An Original Work / February 14, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

RileyG · Saturday at 1:04 AM

Known about this for years.

There are many “unfaithful departed” who i continue to pray for.

I trust God will use my prayers as he sees fit.

Regardless, it’s an important and informative letter!

JPPT1974 · Saturday at 12:33 AM

JPPT1974's Thurs Thoughts 2/19/2026:
Our world sadly lacks compassion
But that Jesus never does as His
Love and mercy along with compassion are
Unconditional and unlimited when we are
Dealing with tragedy with either personal or
Public like 9/11, race riots, school shootings, poverty
Just to name a few as that is why
He is there for you and me so that He can pick
Us up when we fall as we may be down but not out!

GodAndChocolateVanilla · Saturday at 12:20 AM

I am listening to "SO BE IT" by Elevation Worship!! ^w^ I love songs about God!!!!

JPPT1974 · Saturday at 12:12 AM

JPPT1974's Thurs Thoughts 2/19/2026:
And that along with corruption and
For in sinning like with Jimmy Swaggart over in
Adultery just an example over in
Denominations and praying that people
Can agree to disagree but knowing one
Day when we go to eternity there will be
No such thing as denominations as in eternity we will be
United in Christ and only denomination sort to speak
Is that we are all in the Body of Christ!

JPPT1974 · Saturday at 12:01 AM

JPPT1974's Thurs Thoughts 2/19/2026:
Zeroing in on our health and
How you and I need to be the
Kind of help that we need to
Get and in the receiving on it
Quietly but effectively how the
Lord calls for us to rest and find
Ways to rest like a nap or getting
Something to eat and drink and unwind.

tall73 · Feb 13, 2026

SabbathBlessings said:
Interesting you left out verse 8

Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

I was quoting the portion we had been discussing. I did not quote the whole book. But if you want to discuss broader context, this also makes the point.

Paul's is writing to encourage a church that he did not plant and had only heard about from the one who did plant it. He says he had not seen their face in the flesh (Colossians 2:1)

Colossians 1:3-8

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. (NKJV)

Epaphras brought the gospel to them. Paul is writing to give them more instruction. And part of that instruction is to remain complete in Jesus, not to focus on other things that could distract. In that context we see:

Colossians 2:1-10

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

All treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him.

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (NKJV)

They need not look to philosophy or other sources of wisdom. This was a reality in their day, as we see for instance in Acts 17 with Paul's interactions with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. They looked to human wisdom and schools of thought. He says you don't need that, you have Christ.

He then goes on to say they don't need to focus on circumcision, on appointed times, etc. as we already looked at. They are complete in Christ.

Then he warns about worship of angels, and asceticism:

Colossians 2:18-23

18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. (NKJV)

They need not be distracted by any of these influences, because they are complete in Christ.

Michie · Feb 13, 2026

Long before he became a cancer survivor and marriage mentor, Montell Jordan shot to fame in 1995 with his chart-topping hit “This Is How We Do It,” a song that helped define an era and launched a career marked by fame, fortune and global tours.

But according to the 57-year-old California native, the version of success he chased in his early years proved fleeting.

“Earlier in my life, success was dictated by the world’s definition: houses, cars, accolades, fame,” he told The Christian Post. “When I finally recognized that success is counterfeit, that was the turning point for my life. I decided I would rather be significant than successful.”

That shift in perspective was tested anew over the past two years, as Jordan faced prostate cancer, a journey he and his wife, Kristin, say ultimately strengthened their marriage, deepened their faith and reshaped their purpose.

Jordan announced over Christmas that he is cancer-free, news that arrived at a moment he described as nothing short of miraculous.

Continued below.

‘This is How We Do It’ singer Montell Jordan on beating prostate cancer, redefining success: ‘God is healing’

Ahead of National Marriage Week, This is How We Do It singer Montell Jordan and his wife, Kristin, opened up about health, faith, marriage and family

www.christianpost.com

peter2 · Feb 13, 2026

St_Worm2 said:
Hello Pierre, granted, the command that the Lord Jesus gives to the rich, young ruler (in v22) is a radical one to be sure, so why did He give it in this case? Do you think that Jesus' command in this verse was still part of His answer to the ruler's original question, "what must I do to inherit eternal life", and if so, how, or do you think that it served a different purpose of some kind, and if so, what was that purpose?

Good question !! I think : yes, this requirement is part of the bundle for eternal life ; and,
any response i could make would be subjective.
Here's mine :
i think through these pieces of Scripture, Jesus is teaching men to switch the center of their concerns : From materialisticly serving their own selves first, they have to learn to serve the poor first. But the loss of materialistic goods is rewarded with spiritual ones the poor are rich with

St_Worm2 said:
Another point worth mentioning is that this passage in not only used by those who wish to deny the deity of the Lord Jesus (and the Trinitarian nature of the Godhead), it's also used as a "proof text" by those who insist that "works" (meaning the works that 'we' do) are necessary for salvation .. e.g. Luke 18:20. This is something that is taught widely, as I'm guessing that you are already aware, not only by various "Christian" cults, but also by several of our churches too

I had already heard about it, without really knowing what to think.
But a long time ago, I had thought about the monopolistic turn that the value of “work” was taking in the official market. It seemed to me at the time that in this official market, it was the most efficient who came out on top and found work. My criticism at the time was that the least efficient among us (who may sometimes be just as willing) found themselves without the resource of employment. It was as if the servant with five mines had been given the mines of the one who had only two.
It still seems to me that, in our Western organization of work, where the master in the parable distributes to each worker according to his competence, our society invests 8 minas in the one (the most efficient) to whom the parable assigns five, and zero, respectively, in those (the least efficient) to whom the parable assigns two and one.
But I hope that in writing this, I am not making the parable say what it does not say. For in fact, the relationship between the one who received five minas and the one who received two is not addressed at all by Jesus. I hope I am not extrapolating too much.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

St_Worm2 said:
So, there is even more to discuss about this very interesting but (admittedly) difficult passage, yes? It certainly makes it easy to see how important the command that is given to us in 2 Timothy 2:15 is!

Thank you for reminding me of the vigilance to which Saint Paul invites us at the end of 2 Timothy 2. In my case, it is certainly not superfluous.

God bless
Pierre

Michie · Feb 13, 2026

Puerto Rico passed a new law amending its penal code on murder to include the killing of unborn babies.

Puerto Rican Gov. Jenniffer González-Colon, a Republican, signed the amended Senate Bill 923 on Thursday, also known as the Keishla Madlane Law, which recognizes unborn babies as human beings.

The legislation was named after Keishla Madlane Rodríguez Ortiz, who, along with her unborn child, was murdered in 2021 by her lover, former Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo-Sánchez.

González said in a statement on Thursday that “the legislation has the purpose of maintaining coherence between civil and criminal provisions by recognizing the unborn child as a human being.”

Continued below.

Puerto Rico gives legal protection to unborn babies; pro-lifers praise 'historic moment'

Puerto Rico passed a new law amending its penal code on murder to include the killing of unborn babies

www.christianpost.com

Pommer · Feb 13, 2026

RDKirk said:
Judge blocks Hegseth, Pentagon bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video

I've been going around with this for a while--for instance, my copy of the Manual for Courts-Martial is right here at my right elbow. I got ChatGPT to format it for me and do some legwork, but this is what I knew weeks ago, just waiting for a judge to bear it out.

This roadmap summarizes why every plausible path to punish Senator Mark Kelly — whether via court-martial or administrative action — was legally blocked. Citations to U.S. Code, DoD regulations, and case law are included for reference.

A. Court-Martial Route
Steps Attempted / Hypothetical:

Recall to Active Duty

Needed because retired officers are generally outside court-martial jurisdiction unless recalled.

Roadblock: Kelly is a sitting U.S. Senator → involuntary recall would violate Separation of Powers (Article I protections).

Court-Martial Charges / Military Trial

Charges would be based on participation in a politically controversial video.

Roadblock: First Amendment protects political speech by retired officers and elected officials.

Conviction

Roadblock: Grand jury already refused to indict; likelihood of conviction extremely low.

Outcome: Court-martial path blocked.
Citations:

10 U.S.C. § 1402–1413 – Jurisdiction over retired officers

U.S. Const. Art. I – Separation of powers

B. Administrative Punishment Route
Steps Attempted / Hypothetical:

Reduce Retired Rank / Pension

Attempt to use administrative corrections to “punish” speech.

Roadblock: 10 U.S.C. § 1552 allows corrections only for errors or injustices, not punishment.

Administrative Censure / Reprimand

Roadblock: DoD Instruction 1332.14 and DoD Directive 1320.04 prohibit using administrative mechanisms to punish.

Enforce Penalty

Roadblock: Federal courts can enjoin improper administrative actions; Judge Richard Leon blocked Pentagon enforcement (Feb. 12, 2026).

Outcome: Administrative path blocked.
Citations:

10 U.S.C. § 1552 – Correction of military records

DoD Instruction 1332.14 – Administrative correction authority

DoD Directive 1320.04 – Limitations on administrative punishment

Bickley v. United States, D.C. Cir. 1986 – Administrative corrections cannot serve punitive purposes

C. Hybrid / Creative Approaches

Any combination of administrative threats plus coercion (e.g., recall threats) is blocked by:

Separation of powers

First Amendment protections

Judicial review

Outcome: No feasible hybrid path exists.

D. Summary

Court-martial: blocked by recall requirement, constitutional protections, and grand jury refusal.

Administrative: blocked by statutory/regulatory limits and judicial review; cannot punish for speech.

Overall Conclusion: The Pentagon had no legal path to discipline Senator Kelly without violating statutory, regulatory, and constitutional law.

Bottom Line:

Of course, Kelly's own lawyers would have worked out these likelihoods before the Group of Six even made their video.

Overreach by the Administration.

AceWestfall08 · Feb 13, 2026

AceWestfall08 said:
So the first experience/vision.....I visited my father one weekend from college. While staying at his house overnight, I get up to use the bathroom. When i finish and pass my dad in the living room. (He slept on the couch), he was awake and told me to sit next to him. He then explained to me he wasn't my father, but he was really Gabriel. He placed his hand on my forehead. Immediately air rushed into my lungs and i sneezed with my mouth. At the same time, I felt the sensation of warm water being poured over me. I was then pulled out of my body into a separate "realm" that was above. This realm was pure black. Out of the blackness a Silvery/Blue face appears, and says "Thomas, I swear by my great name you are mine". He then asks me several times what I want, and I keep changing my answer. First it was to "live lives", then it was "for my mothers healing", then it was "just to be happy", then it was "to get out of the military", then finally I answered "I wanted to marry Rachel". I was sent off to bed, and as I laid in bed I heard a voice say to me, "My dad was going to die".....so I pleaded with the voice and said "Give my dad, mercy" (meaning his soul). [side note, 14 years later. he is still alive (but his life collapsed around him and changed majorly and he is doing really good now)] I fell asleep and forgot about this vision until my 2nd experience happened. I place this vision happening just before the Holiday Season 2011. I interpret this as a baptism of water and spirit.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Fast forward to Summer break. Rachel and I had broken up at the end of the school year, and i wasn't dealing with my emotions properly. I buried them, refusing to think about the pain and heartbreak. I started a job as a flagger for the oil and gas industry and we had plenty of downtime. Enough downtime where I had hours and hours to just sit and think. During this time my thoughts began to wander towards God, and missing not having a girlfriend. So I decide to pick up the Bible and read it at work. I read the Bible from cover to cover in 3 months for the first time on my own. During the timeframe I was power-reading the bible for the first time. I was sitting with a group of friends hanging out one day. When all of a sudden, i have the thought that God himself is going to smite me dead on the spot. This feelings of utter terror washes over me, and I am paralyzed with fear. The only thing I can do, is start crying loudly in front of everybody (seemingly random to everybody) and start praying in Glossolalia. (something I learned to do by only hearing my Dad do it once, Apostolics do it). While crying and praying in tongues in front of my friends, I felt the feeling and emotion of terror wash away from me, to be replaced with the feeling of Peace and Comfort and Reassurance. As I felt this way, my mind took control of itself. Thoughts were planted into my brain forcefully, and at the same time I heard a voice accompany them. This voice wasn't a whisper. It was loud and audible to me. The thoughts and the voice said "Thomas, You are the lonely sparrow, but I have given you wings, oh what mighty wings they are, spread them and fly." The feeling and voice disappeared and my mind relaxed, and I was left with my friends staring at me wondering what just happened.

Today, I equate this experience with Solomon's verse "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". …9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.…

About another 4-5 months after the "Fear of the Lord Experience". I am reskimming the New Testament. I come across this verse where Jesus commands the Rich man to give away all his possessions and follow him. I took this seriously. Seriously enough to get a hold of a local church and give all my possessions away. ALL MY CLOTHES. I gave away all my electronics. EVERYTHING, but my vehicle, which was owned by my dad. I even called my boss and quit my easy flagging job. I literally owned nothing but my Dad's vehicle, my bed, my pillow, my blanket, the clothes on my back, and the socks and shoes on my feet. I still had a little bit of money in my bank account, not much. Less than a few hundred dollars, but if I had thought about it at the time, I probably would've emptied my bank account too, but that thought didn't cross my mind. At the time, I believed I was taking a leap of faith that God would provide for me. …

20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.…

My Dad catching wind of this, takes me to the hospital. I am diagnosed with Schizoaffective-Bipolar Type 2. Schizophrenia runs on my mothers side of the family. My grandmother had it, and my mother had it so bad, my parents were forced to divorce when i was age 3 for my safety concerns as a child. I interpret this moment of my life as "denying myself, and taking up my cross (schizophrenia).

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Lets take a look at my own personal testimony.
My first vision i was baptized by water and spirit. I had certainly heard of the gospel before my baptism, and i believed, but my faith wasnt a "saving" faith. It was barebones, believing faith, with no actual heart behind it.
That probably why i forgot about my baptism when it happened.
But the spirit (i believe) , led me to break up with rachel to give me time seek god on my own to free me from distractions.
The spirit gave me the desire to power read the bible for 3 months, giving me my 2nd expierence (fear of the lord expierence), which unlocked the memory of my baptism.
Was i 'saved" the moment of my Baptism of water and spirit.....well thats hard to say yes or no. At that time i recieved the spirit, but forgot about it and was unaware of it. But that didnt change the fact i was baptized by spirit and water. Because of this fact, the spirit led me as a baby to god, until i "grew up" a little bit, and unlocked the memory of my baptism.

Valletta · Feb 13, 2026

Michie said:
The United States will send 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military to combat Islamist terrorists. The new deployment follows recent U.S. airstrikes and President Donald Trump’s warnings over the Nigerian government’s handling of attacks against Christians.

The troops are expected to arrive in phases over the next few weeks and will be based at multiple locations across Nigeria to support training and coordination, a military official told The Wall Street Journal.

Nigerian authorities said the troops will not engage in direct combat but will provide technical guidance for operations, including air and infantry coordination.

Continued below.

US to send 200 troops to train Nigerian forces to fight Islamic terrorists

The United States will send 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country s military to combat Islamist terrorists The new deployment follows recent U S airstrikes and President Donald Trump s warnings

www.christianpost.com

I am glad our country is taking action. About half of Africa is now Christian and the attacks against Christians are increasing.

Valletta · Feb 13, 2026

U.S Consumer Prices Rise By Less Than Expected As Prices Fall for Gas, Electricity, and Medicine

Core inflation at its slowest annual pace since March 2021. | Economy

www.breitbart.com

So many people just didn't understand the effective use of tariffs or how much Biden regulations hurt the economy. Look for a government shutdown to damage our economy.

Jan001 · Feb 13, 2026

Michie said:
One of the most dangerous things that we can get wrong in Catholic theology is what the Church means by invincible ignorance. The Catechism reaffirms the traditional teaching that “outside the Church there is no salvation” and then explains that “this affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church,” quoting the Second Vatican Council (Lumen Gentium 16) that “those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation” (847). This ignorance—“through no fault of their own”—is what the Catechism means by invincible ignorance.

Understood properly, this is what Catholics have always believed, and what Scripture plainly teaches. But it’s possible to misunderstand the teaching in two serious (and dangerous) ways.

First, let’s consider what this teaching doesmean. In short, it means that we’ll be judged based on what we knew (or should have known), not for what we didn’t have the power to know. Jesus gives the standard that “every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48). God gives some people more helps than others, but he also expects more of those people. In the parable of the talents, the Master (clearly representing God) “called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability” (Matt. 25:14-15).

In his commentary on the parable, the Lutheran scholar Arland Hultgren points outthat “the sums distributed to the three slaves are enormous,” since a single talent was worth 6,000 denarii (a denarius being the standard daily wage for a laborer), or about sixteen years’ worth of salary. In other words, there is no one whom the Master leaves empty-handed or ill equipped. There are only those to whom “much is given” and those who to whom even more is given. When it comes to divine assistance, no one is poor: there are only the rich and the super-rich. Everyone has at least natural law and conscience, as St. Paul points out (Rom. 2:13-16):

Continued below.

The Truth About Invincible Ignorance

One of the most dangerous things that we can get wrong in Catholic theology is what the Church means by 'invincible ignorance.'

www.catholic.com

Also, it is true that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. John 14:6

Every person who has ever lived is judged by Jesus Christ when he dies. Jesus Christ is the only gateway into heaven and access to his Father.
Whether a person is Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Buddhist, Muslim, etc., he will be judged to be either worthy or unworthy for heaven by Jesus Christ alone. John 5:22

Jan001 · Feb 13, 2026

Michie said:
I don’t get it.

From a newpaper in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

New Archbishop hopes to blend Indigenous and Catholic spirituality

In his native tongue of Tamil, Susai Jesu’s name literally translates to Joseph Jesus.

Catholicism runs deep in the Indian-born priest who was recently appointed archbishop of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, which covers northern regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

As a young boy, his mother would take him to church regularly at 4:30 in the morning and again in the evening.

“That’s how I strengthened my faith – directly from my Mom who gave me the seed for the religious vocation.”

During his time as a catechist, leading prayer service, as choir master, and alter boy, he noticed something that didn’t sit well with him. The priest would offer mass, but leave right away.

“There were lots of elderly women and men waiting to meet and receive blessings from the priest, but that wasn’t the case,” said Jesu. “I decided myself, if I ever became a priest, I would be available, at service, any time. So, availability is key for my becoming a priest.”

Continued below.

I don’t know what to make of this. | Fr. Z's Blog

wdtprs.com

Smudging is ridiculous.
We have true incense from the Middle East.. Exodus 30:7, Luke 1:9-11, Revelation 8:4

[The incense used in Catholic churches is primarily made from natural resins and aromatic ingredients, with frankincense and myrrh being the most common components. These resins are derived from trees in the Middle East—frankincense from Boswellia species and myrrh from Commiphora species. The traditional blend often includes benzoin, styrax, opoponax, and sometimes essential oils or herbs like rosemary or juniper to enhance the fragrance.

Frankincense provides a sweet, citrusy, and slightly piney aroma.
Myrrh adds a smoky, earthy, and slightly bitter undertone.
Some churches use a blend of frankincense and myrrh, while others may incorporate copal resin or other local ingredients. ....................Brave AI]

There is a residential school called St. Joseph's Indian School in South Dakota serving Lakota (Sioux) children and families. It is run by the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. In their solicitation mailings, they sent out the dream catchers that the students made. It's a common belief among many tribes that the iconic hoop-and-web form is meant to protect sleepers from bad dreams by "catching" them while letting good dreams pass through.

[Some Christian and Catholic communities view dream catchers as spiritually problematic, arguing they are linked to pagan or occult practices. They caution that such items may serve as "beacons" for demonic influence or represent a form of idolatry, especially when used as talismans or amulets. This concern is based on the belief that any object tied to non-Christian spiritual systems could compromise one’s faith.......Brave AI]

I contacted them years ago about these problematic dream catchers, but they were not concerned. SIGH!

BrotherJJ · Feb 13, 2026

keras said:
At Pentecost, we Christian peoples were admitted into the Holy people of God.

Copied from the OP:

Gentiles were outside the Mosaic covenant. (See Eph 2:12).

Jesus Himself affirms this covenant divide when He calls the Canaanite woman a dog (Matt 15:26). Not an insult, a covenant reality.

Jesus' Ministry Still Israel‑First, Israel‑Only. Jesus sends the Twelve: Do not go to the Gentiles, go only to the lost sheep of Israel. (Matt 10:5–6)

Jesus affirms: Salvation is of the Jews. (Jn 4:22)

Pentecost, under Mosaic law every Jewish male 20 years & older was required to travel to Jerusalem & attend the festival. Jewish males from every nation (Acts 2:5) were there. The fulfillment of Joel's prophecy to Israel unfolds. The launch of the New Covenant begins with, Jews only.

Peter's audience: Men of Judea, All who dwell in Jerusalem, Men of Israel. No Gentiles. Not one.

Acts 2:38 is spoken to Israel, under Jewish covenant categories, at a Jewish feast, in a Jewish city, fulfilling a Jewish prophecy.

You cannot broad‑brush Gentiles into John's baptism or Peter's Acts 2 sermon. They simply don't belong there.

Even after the resurrection & Pentecost: Peter says it is unlawful to enter a Gentile home (Acts 10:28).

Jewish believers contend/dispute with Peter for eating with Gentiles (Acts 11:2–3).

Scattered believers preach ""to Jews only"" (Acts 11:19).

Jews try to kill Paul for allegedly bringing a Gentile into the Temple (Acts 21:28–36).

Jews wouldn't enter the Roman judgment hall "lest they be defiled/deemed unclean (Acts 18:28). The Mosaic covenant wall is still fully intact.

Many years after Acts 2 Pentecost:
The Holy Spirit fell on them as on us at the beginning. (Acts 11:15).

Then I remembered, You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16).

God GAVE THEM the SAME GIFT as He GAVE US (11:17).

God purified their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9).

God made no distinction" (Acts 15:9).

This is the moment God collapses the old Mosaic covenant wall.

These 2 verses along makes it clear:

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If gentiles were included at the Acts 2 Pentecost Holy Spirit outpouring.

Why is Peter & the Jews with him ASTONISHED that Jesus just baptized them with the Holy Spirit? A DECADE LATER!

Cornelius House are the 1st gentile Christians (Christ-In-Us). The moment that Christ' Holy Spirit FOREVER (Jn 14:16) indwells them.

Hans Blaster · Feb 13, 2026

Pommer said:
Not yet, (AFAIK), but the Washington Post is close to post mortum.

The Onion's goal is to have more print subscribers than the Post. Their getting close.

From a recent "RFK" article about cow fluids:

"At press time, Kennedy had reportedly been placed on an intravenous drip of bovine cerebrospinal fluid after unwittingly drinking from a cow that had been vaccinated."

Akita Suggagaki · Feb 13, 2026

When we let demons influence our behavior we feed them. We easily do that when we sow discord, when we speak through our vice rather than our virtue. We see it on this forum. I myself am guilty. Let’s starve our demons.

The Barbarian · Feb 13, 2026

Warden_of_the_Storm said:
What is terrible is the thinking that we have any current ballistic missiles, nuclear or not, capable of destroying an asteroid of that size, especially since we don't fully know it's exact size and composition, all of which are necessary to know if it even can be destroyed with conventional warheads.

And no one could predict where the pieces would go. It would greatly increase the likelihood of a huge chunk hitting the Earth.

The Liturgist · Feb 13, 2026

Clare73 said:
One is not "better" than the other.

They were created for different roles, where likewise, one role is not better than the other, for it takes both, neither can do without the other.

Precisely, and vive la difference.

Indeed for me the most chilling thing about the LGBTQ+ movement is the attempt to normalize and fetishize androgyny, as if to say those with the misfortune of being born neither definitely male nor female, and usually infertile as a result (I’ve also never heard of a hermaphrodite who was fertile with respect to both anatomical points of reference), should now be regarded as an aspirational standard of beauty (see the recent Jaguar commercial).

Its almost as if they’ve realized that (a) legalizing homosexuality has not slowed the birthrate fast enough (b) trumpeting black homosexuality when it happens, where due to social conservativism it is less common, also hasn’t worked so (c) they’re creating a scenario wherein teachers in public schools are now, in states like California, absolutely in a position to suggest to minor children that they are suffering from “gender dysphoria” on the basis of what might be any casual question a child might ask as they seek to understand reproduction, or none at all, the solution to which is hormone treatments and eventually surgery which will cause them to resemble the other gender, while also rendering them sterile.

In the past, women who were deemed mentally inadequate or otherwise undesirable were routinely sterilized thanks to the Eugenics movement; since that’s no longer lawful (fortunately, because many of the women in question were quite competent and would have made loving mothers, but this was denied to them against their will) the same tyrannical left wing mind that drove eugenics but which has since rebranded (and tried to associate eugenics and other past left wing mistakes with conservative ideology, a classic move, one might call it projection were it not so transparently intentional), they now target children, in whom they can plant the idea that losing one‘s fertility in a bid to cure a mental illness which is being implanted by way of gaslighting and suggestion (since it is possible to attack the stability of the human mind, and has been historically done, in military and espionage and even commercial circles for various reasons), is desirable, and even luxurious, a fashion statement and a way of sticking it to the Man.

When in this case the Man is basically the orchestrator of the entire left wing pyscho-sexual drive behind this.

I am not a sexist; I believe women should have the right to vote, to own and operate vehicles, to wear the clothing they desired, and all added privileges traditionally afforded under the Christian idea of chivalry; women are not only entitled to basic human rights but to some degree of special treatment on account of the difference between themselves and men, for example, the privilege of having doors opened for them, and of having seats yielded to them on public transport, and of having larger restrooms, and so on. This is right and proper and natural. The horror is men using the idea of sexual liberation and the LGBTQ+ movement to deprive women of their proper rights, and to invade, with the approval of the political elite, in a perverse manner, the sacred spaces we have carved for women, by competing with women in women’s sports, using female-designated public restrooms, and so on, and this, combined with the aforementioned idealization of those who are born eunuchs, of androgyny, is entirely horrific.

There is a difference and the difference is sacred, because it is the difference between men and women that literally enables life itself, which I believe is the target, since I think what is really driving this is the concern of certain ancient men like Warren Buffet and George Soros and the money that will follow their lead beyond the grave, through the work of those slightly younger men like Bill Gates who operate in their thrall, about the issue of overpopulation, which in turn was imprinted upon them in their youth by the Eugenics movement and its popularity in mass media at the time, which was so widespead and so common, if one looks at literary science fiction for example, I can think of only one science fiction story written before 1970 which expressed concern about the idea of overpopulation itself being dangerous, that being the Marching Morons, by CM Kornbluth, which depicted a futre dystopia resulting from the intelligentsia having adopted birth control (which itself was based on a very Eugenics idea, the concept that intelligence is purely hereditary and is something that would instantly disappear under such conditions, actually if that were the case, the state depicted in The Marching Morons and what I suspect was an uncredited adaptation of it, Idiocracy, would already exist now since the elite of society have been permitting themselves to be outbred since the 1950s and the only affect that has been has been a demographic change in the ownership of pharmacies, but now even the first generation of Asian pharmacists has been retired for some time, and actually finding a good independent pharmacy has become impossible in some parts of the US sadly, forcing people to contend with the likes of CVS and Walgreens, and even Walgreens has been doing poorly; everyone admired the CEO in the 1990s for shedding the restaurant and other service businesses to focus purely on the pharmacy chain owned by the Walgreen family but that now appears to have been a mistake).

bèlla · Feb 13, 2026

You have a lot of mixture and you're permitting disenfranchisement and loneliness to influence your actions. How does a messianic attend a jewish synagogue realistically? You can't share your beliefs and its a quagmire unless that was your starting point and I've been in that position. While many are drawn with good intentions the lack of christian sentiments can be challenging.

When we went to the synagogue we weren't believers or certain of God's existence. We found the truth in that setting and eventually attended a church. But the foundation remains and many of our practices and general approach on the subject are more jewish than not although we believe in Christ.

You can't allow curiosity to blind you to the truth. There's a reason occultists use kabbalah as do others who walk a similar path. More importantly, you're forgetting the talmud's role in respect to judaism. Many place it above the bible and give equal credence to commentaries too. Just because it's prevalent in certain sects doesn't make it right.

Since you mentioned Ai I asked Gemini about it and have the pro version of the service. But I think the simple answer is best.

In mainstream Judaism, Kabbalah is primarily considered mystical philosophy rather than sorcery. However, the answer depends on which branch of Kabbalah you are referring to:

Theoretical Kabbalah: This is the study of the nature of the Divine, the soul, and the spiritual worlds. It is widely accepted as an integral, "inner" part of the Torah.
Practical Kabbalah (Kabbalah Ma'asit): This involves rituals, amulets, and incantations intended to alter physical or spiritual reality. While some historical practitioners viewed it as "permitted" white magic because it uses holy names, it has often been shunned or prohibited by leading rabbis to avoid overstepping biblical bans on sorcery.

Why the confusion exists:

Bible Prohibitions: The Torah explicitly forbids "sorcery" (kishuf) and divination as abominations. Kabbalists distinguish their work from sorcery by claiming their power comes from holy sources (God) rather than "impure" ones.
Occult Appropriation: Many non-Jewish occultists (like Aleister Crowley) adopted Kabbalistic symbols for "magick," leading to a popular but inaccurate association between Kabbalah and witchcraft.
Spiritual Danger: Because the concepts are so deep, traditional Judaism often restricts study to mature scholars to prevent misinterpretation or the misuse of spiritual tools.

There are things we may explore in our spiritual walk that aren't prohibited but we must be mindful of our reasons and condition. Spiritual and otherwise. All doors have consequences and when you're not in a good place mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually things usually don't unfold as we'd hope. You seem a little rudderless now with limited support and connections. You're looking here and there and trying to cope with your environment.

That isn't a season for beginnings. You ground yourself in what works and amplify it to recenter. Prayer, fasting, meditation, worship and spiritual disciplines. If you implemented them each you'd be in a better place internally. The foundation must be sure before you add things on and you can't use it to fill a void.

When we began exploring times and seasons and the biblical calendar things were stable and peaceful which allowed us to explore at a comfortable pace. I wasn't looking for the truth or relying on anything per se. My background is fairly extensive and diverse on spiritual matters and I'm very conversant in the word.

This isn't a question you should be posing for a subject like this. You're supposed to have enough spiritual knowledge and maturity to find the answer without relying on others. That's the difference between curiosity and elevation. If God was leading you in this direction you'd know why and be able to satisfy your concerns and reservations.

It seems like you're filling a void and I don't know where you are in those areas. But if you were practicing them as well you'd be in different place and peace would be plentiful. You don't need to explore mysticism to have a deeper understanding of God. That's birthed in relationship and prayer. If you spend more time communing He'll fill in the blanks beyond a system. That's my experience.

~bella

DragonFox91 · Feb 13, 2026

Pardon my lack of not understanding how it works in countries hostile to the Gospel, but wouldn't that church have got there by evangelizing there to some extent?

I am sorry you are having tough time there seeking the Lord. It sounds like you are a brave person.

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