Proverbs 21:8,16,21,25,26 NASB1995


The Scriptures, both in the Old Testament and in the New, make a clear distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous, and between the saved and the unsaved. And it isn’t that one person made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and the other did not. It is that one person, by God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ died with Christ to sin, and is now walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord’s commands, by the Spirit, and the other has continued in habitual sin, and not in obeying God.

But this doesn’t make us perfect. It does not mean that we will never sin, or that we will never fail to be who God wants us to be, but that sin should no longer be our practice (addiction), and obedience to God should be what we practice, by his grace. For Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross to put our sins to death with him so that by faith in him we will now die to sin and follow him in obedience to his commands, so that we will now serve him with our lives and no longer our flesh – all in the power of God within us.

So, we often find these comparisons between the righteous and the unrighteous, and the saved and the unsaved, in the Scriptures. And we need to pay close attention to what they teach us. For many people today are buying into the lies of the enemy, and they are being convinced that if they make a verbal profession of faith in Jesus Christ that now all their sins are forgiven and heaven is guaranteed them when they die, but regardless of how they live. But the Scriptures teach the opposite of that. Please know!

So, one who is a genuine follower of Jesus Christ should be one who is pure and upright in conduct, who lives to please the Lord and not the sinful flesh. They should be those who are walking in fellowship with the Lord, eager to do what is pleasing to the Lord, and not looking for loopholes to excuse away what they know is sinful behavior. They should be those who pursue righteousness and what is godly, and who are loyal to the Lord and to his word. Obedience to God should not be a drudgery, but their heart’s desire.

Yet we have many people today who give lip service to the Lord who are still deliberately and habitually walking in the ways of their sinful flesh. Their hearts never changed. Their desires never changed. They said the “magic words” to “get saved,” but their actions did not follow suit. They are those who deliberately wander from the right way in order to feed the sinful desires of their flesh, some of whom then give lip service to God to give an impression of all goodness, while they lie and cheat, and do their evil.

But Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

[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]

So, please know and live the truth. For your eternity depends on it.

The Heart of Man

Based off Matt. 15:1-20; Mk. 7:1-23
An Original Work / April 4, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Listen to me ev’ryone and
Understand this teaching of Christ:
Why do you break the commands
Of God for the sake of tradition?
When you follow the ways of man,
And don’t obey the words of Christ,
You nullify the words of God,
And you hold to the ways of man.

What comes out of a man’s mouth is
What makes him unclean and dirty.
The things that come out of the mouth
Come from the heart, from within him.
The heart of man is so sinful;
From his nature, out comes evil:
Lying, cursing, greed and malice,
Lust and lewdness, deceit, slander.

Jesus calls us to obey him;
Turn from our sins; follow His ways.
Yet, his people honor him with their lips,
but their hearts not with Him.
Their worship of God is in vain.
Their teachings are rules taught by man.
Jesus calls us; gently leads us
To return and follow His truth.

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The Desire of The Sluggard
An Original Work / February 6, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

God bless America!

@POTUS,

Thank you for this re-dedication of the United States to One Nation Under God!

Larniavc said:

Is protest in America illegal?

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Unless it’s against abortion it’s questionable at best.

Stopped_lurking said:

Who is Rockey? Wasn't it Lincoln and Lee?

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Rocky is a fictional character played by Sylvester Stallone, so totally not relevant.

Well, that's not good!

A recent study by Healthy Florida First has discovered that some fan-favorite candies have unsafe arsenic levels. The study tested 48 popular candies and found that 28 of them contained what authors described as toxic levels of arsenic.


As it turns out, arsenic isn’t necessarily uncommon in food. According to the FDA, the heavy metal may be found in food because of where it was grown, raised, or processed. That said, long-term exposure to arsenic can cause some pretty serious health issues, such as certain types of cancer, skin disorders, heart disease, and neurological effects on fetuses in pregnant people, per the CDC.


The amount of arsenic consumed matters most, and the study from Healthy Florida First sought to determine the safest annual consumption levels. The safe servings designated were broken down by age, either child or adult. Consumption limits were based on grams.

In the study, several notable sweet faves were impacted by unsafe levels of arsenic including Kit Kat, Snickers, Original Skittles, Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, Tootsie Roll, and more. Ugh.


The National Confectioners Association (NCA), however, disputed the study's findings and called Florida's conclusions "misguided."

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Michie said:

On one YouTube video, Prigmore allegedly wrote that he is "prepping physically and mentally to kill federal agents." On another, he allegedly posted, "Buy guns. Kill ICE."

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They think this is what the second amendment means. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

A parish in Germany is facing opposition over plans for a Harry Potter-themed ecumenical service inside a consecrated church, with critics warning of desecration and occult imagery.

A Catholic parish in western Germany is facing criticism after advertising what it calls a “Harry Potter ecumenical service” to be held inside a church later this month, drawing criticism from Catholics who say the event trivializes sacred space and introduces occult imagery into worship.

The service is scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Herne, within the Archdiocese of Paderborn. Promotional materials invite “fans and Hogwarts newcomers” to gather for an evening “among candles, light and darkness,” using imagery drawn from the popular fantasy book series.

Attendees are encouraged to wear themed costumes, though “Muggle clothing is also permitted,” and the church is described as the “Great Hall” for the event.

The plans have prompted a public campaign by Christkönigtum, a conservative Catholic organization, which argues that incorporating “magical and occult motifs” into a church constitutes a desecration of a space reserved for divine worship.

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Baroness Rosa Monckton says a proposed UK amendment would remove criminal penalties for women who end their own pregnancies at any stage, raising concerns about late-term, unsupervised abortions at home.

LONDON — A UK Catholic peer has warned that proposed legislation, currently passing through the British Parliament to decriminalize abortion up to birth, is a “terrifying proposition” and a “barbaric step” that would effectively encourage mothers to use abortion pills at home, even in later stages of pregnancy.

In an opinion piece in the Daily Mailpublished Wednesday, Baroness Rosa Monckton said Clause 191, an amendment to a Crime and Policing Bill, would remove “all remaining legal invigilation of women regarding abortion, allowing a mother-to-be to abort her baby, up to full term, for any reason at all, including its sex.”

The amendment, first tabled by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, was pushed through the House of Commons last June after just 46 minutes of backbench debate. f it is ultimately agreed by both Houses of Parliament and enacted, it would no longer be a criminal offense for a woman to end her own pregnancy at any stage, including late in gestation, while leaving criminal penalties in place for others who perform unlawful abortions.

Baroness Monckton and Baroness Philippa Stroud are leading a coordinated bid in the House of Lords to remove the clause from the bill and restore mandatory in‑person medical consultations before at‑home abortions.

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How many souls have been impressed, amused, uplifted and comforted by priests exercising this common practice?

Cardinals, calls, cards, chairs — and courtesy. All come to mind as Cardinal Timothy Dolan takes leave of his cathedral in New York. Amid the grand ceremony, the virtue of courtesy should not be overlooked.

Today is Cardinal Dolan’s last day as “apostolic administrator” of the Archdiocese of New York, a title he has held since he retired as archbishop in December. Tomorrow, Archbishop Ronald Hicks will be installed the new archbishop.

After nearly 17 years of Sunday Masses at St. Patrick’s Cathedral — “America’s parish church,” as he calls it — Cardinal Dolan offered his final one this past Sunday. A “cathedral” gets its name from being the home of the bishop’s “cathedra” or liturgical chair. Cardinal Dolan usually sits on the cathedra. On Sunday, he spoke to it.

“I want to bid farewell to this great piece of furniture,” he said after the final prayer. “My dear cathedra, I am going to miss you! And listen, please be as comfortable for Archbishop Hicks, who’s going to plop down into you this coming Friday, as you have been to me.”


“I’ll miss you,” he said, giving the top of it an affectionate pat.

I have written about Cardinal Dolan in these pages when he was appointed to New York and upon his retirement, principally celebrating his excellence as a preacher of the Gospel and teacher of the faith.

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Adm. Brian Christine, a practicing Catholic, talked about the state of the pro-life movement and how his faith guides him.

Adm. Brian Christine, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a practicing Catholic, talked about the state of the pro-life movement as well as his own faith in an interview on “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly” on Wednesday.

Christine, a practicing Catholic, said the HHS values religious freedom.

“We are not going to allow health care practitioners to be disparaged or be discriminated against because of their faith,” he told host Abigail Galvan. “We faithful don’t have to check our faith at the door to practice medicine or science.”

For his part, Christine said his faith and the example of the saints guides him.

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The pontiff warned that profit, doping, and fanaticism can distort sport’s deeper human purpose.

As the Winter Olympic Games open in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Pope Leo XIV has issued a wide-ranging letter on the value of sport, urging nations to embrace an “Olympic Truce” and warning against corruption, fanaticism, and a “dictatorship of performance” that can distort athletics’ deeper purpose.

The letter, titled “Life in Abundance,” was released by the Vatican on Feb. 6 on the occasion of the XXV Winter Olympic Games (Feb. 6–22) and the XIV Paralympic Games (March 6–15).

The pope describes sport as more than elite competition, calling it “a shared activity, open to all and salutary for both body and spirit, even becoming a universal expression of our humanity.”

A call for an Olympic Truce​

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I made this with my 13-year old nephew. Hope it gives you a chuckle or two.

The U.S. has deployed a military team to Nigeria as part of a growing effort to assist in counterterrorism operations against Islamic State-linked terrorists. The move marks the first publicly acknowledged presence of American forces on the ground following U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day.

A senior U.S. military commander told Reuters the deployment was carried out in agreement with the Nigerian government and reflects expanding cooperation between the two countries in response to escalating violence in the region.

General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, who heads U.S. Africa Command, was quoted as saying that the newly deployed American team brings “unique capabilities” to support Nigerian forces, adding that the deployment follows discussions between both governments about the need for increased collaboration.

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Progressing Pilgrim said:

Should I say nothing and not worry about it since I never agreed to anything anyway?

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Don't worry about it. Send her a card on her birthday or something. There are many many many Godparents in the Philippine. 15 is a common number. I would look at it as a baptism where the whole church agrees to do all they can to raise the child as a Christian and to be a positive influence in their life. They are giving you an honor to show their respect for you.

I have been married to a Filipina for over 30 years. Our son is brilliant; he is a computer engineer. To marry a foreign girl is very good for the children because they are so healthy and intelligent. When parents come from different backgrounds, it’s less likely that they carry the same recessive mutation, so the child is less likely to inherit certain genetic disorders. When you have inbreeding like with the Amish and Judaism there is a greater risk of genetic malfunctions.

Of course our customs clash with their customs. You can take a Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can not take the Philippines out of the Filipino. They love to come to America because it is so difficult to find a job in their country.

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New York needs a lot of prayers.

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Former group member Kelli Byrd testified for two hours on Thursday, providing a rare glimpse inside the religious group that had operated in secret for decades.

Byrd told the court that Shelley Martin referred to herself as Prophetess Kathryn, claimed she was a physical embodiment of the Holy Spirit and that God spoke directly through her.

When the group gathered for worship a “gift of prophecy” would occur through Shelley Martin. Her body would start thrashing and her voice would become deep and low as she shared “a word from the throne of God,” Byrd said.

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“You had no choices in anything,” Anthony Duran, who told The Times in an interview that he escaped the cult in 2020 at age 20. “You can’t go here. You can’t go there. You can only go to work and come home.” Anthony Duran is the nephew of Ramon Duran, who is charged with murder.

The group has a decades long history in the Inland Empire, where it has been connected to two alleged murders and the disappearance of a third person.

Tens of thousands of Californians pay more for health insurance this year after subsidy cuts​

Krista, a 42-year-old photographer and videographer in Santa Cruz County, relies on costly monthly intravenous treatments for a rare blood disorder. She asked that her full name not be used but shared her insurance and medical documents with The Times.

Last year, she paid about $285 a month for a Covered California plan. In late December, she received a notice showing her premium would rise to more than $1,200 a month. The rise was due to her loss of federal subsidies, as well as a 23% increase in the premium charged by Blue Shield.

[She found a plan at $522]

To cut costs and preserve the ability to save for retirement and eventually afford a place of her own, Krista decided to move into an RV on private land.

Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California, said that about 160,000 Californians lost their subsidies when the enhanced federal assistance expired because their incomes were higher than 400% of the federal poverty level.

Although overall enrollment in Covered California this year has held steady, Altman said, she worries that more people will drop coverage as bills with the higher premiums arrive in the mail.

Laodicean60 said:

Maybe not, but the USA's response time would definitely be improved.

How many hostilities have you or Finland been in with Russia after WW2 (81 years)? Russia was more concerned with expansionism for the last 35 years.

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As many as The US. They ran a submarine aground in one of our archipelagos. They threatened war over it. They have continuously violated Swedish airspace.

Laodicean60 said:

Have you ever been in the service or played war strategy games?

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Yes.

Laodicean60 said:

It's safer because it would be ours, and once it becomes ours, because leases can be canceled.

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No they can't (realistically) if the US have boots on the ground.

Laodicean60 said:

We, as in who?

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Europe as a whole, I showed you in this post.


But it is also true for Sweden specifically.

Laodicean60 said:

Stock pile.

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Until Ukraina asked for it we stockpiled what we saw as necessary for ourselves. Sweden didn't stockpile alot of artillery shells, but Finland did (they are much more likely to have to use that particular weapon). Anti-ship missiles are more Swedens thing to stockpile.

Laodicean60 said:

We are not talking about Article 5.

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So those who went to stand beside you doesn't count? If that isn't the best measure of who was prepared to back you up what is?

Laodicean60 said:

I will end because we are going down a rabbit hole. This isn't about Sweden, even though I mention that we would be able to defend Sweden more efficiently if BRICS did attack. I mainly have a negative view of the long-term NATO freeloading.

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I'm still praying because God is still listening!

Pray that The Holy Spirit some how provides for all those affected by the death of so many people due to terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Pakistan:

I’d pick the beach. You can swim, play catch in the sand, read, & just watch the waves

Would you rather be in a small group or big one?