• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
  • We hope the site problems here are now solved, however, if you still have any issues, please start a ticket in Contact Us

  • The rule regarding AI content has been updated. The rule now rules as follows:

    Be sure to credit AI when copying and pasting AI sources. Link to the site of the AI search, just like linking to an article.

How My Faith Was Confirmed.

Read your story. The lord works in mysterious ways. I have 3 people in my life that seems to be "jesus's to me". One guy name is Phoenix Jenkins, the only guys name is PJ. (patrick joseph). They are "Personal Jesus's" in my life.
The Lord can work through people to help others, it doesnt mean that that person is the actual Jesus christ or lord, but they could be a reflection of him, being used for some purpose.
The first Jesus, Phoenix. I misplaced my love for my ex girlfriend onto his wife. And by the grace of god, this man, forgave me and didnt hold it against me. He was friendly with me afterwards, and we made it into a positive relationship between us two after i came to my senses and realized the root of my feelings for his wife came from my heartbreak over my ex girlfriend. He showed me the maturity of a real man, and the forgiveness rather than jealousy or strife.
The second Jesus, or Personal Jesus (Patrick Jospeh) was my uncle. Because i am schizophrenic, i have been or went homeless several times. My uncle PJ took me into his home or moved in with me to give me stability on 3 seperate occassions, saving my life.
Another instance is my other uncle, being a kinsman redeemer, and redeeming me and getting me onto Social Security.

THe lord uses our life to mirror or use lessons from the bible directly on our life to build our faith. At least that is how i see it with me.
Upvote 0

What are your favorite flowers?

My favorites are:

rocket larkspur (very prolific and last into the hot summer);

iris (have a short blooming season but are great year round in garden areas where nothing else might grow, loads of lovely colors too);

and black-eyed susan (long growing season and withstands heat).
My mother loves Black Eyed Susans as well. :heart:
Upvote 0

Prayers for my sister-in-law (advice welcomed too)

I’m praying and please keep us all updated. I’m pretty invested in all you have been going throw and I think your story is pretty amazing. :heart: :praying:
Thanks, and likewise. Your fam's been through the wringer, praying the Lord delivers your family from their trials and showers your family with blessings. You all deserve it.
  • Friendly
Reactions: Michie
Upvote 0

‘Stop Trying To Read the Bible in a Year,’ Says Alisa Childers

It’s a new year, and many people have started a Bible-in-a-year reading plan.
I have read all of the Bible at least 5 times but not on a random program. I like to decide for myself what book I am going to read and study. I underline so I know what I read and what I still need to read. I have books I do not remember reading but I underlined them so it is obvious that I did read them.
  • Prayers
Reactions: Michie
Upvote 0

'Moses the Black': Omar Epps channels ancient saint’s story in modern tale of crime, consequence and grace

I'll keep an eye on that one, even though reviews are just average. I thought Popovic's Man of God was good eastern Christian hagiography, in the traditional style, but probably wouldn't connect with a wider audience very well.

I thought Scorsese's portrayal of Moses the Black in his miniseries The Saints was actually very good, true to the spirit of the setting of the desert fathers.
Upvote 0

How to Survive the "Sundown Scaries" as a New Parent

the waves of anxiety can roll in: "Am I a bad parent?" "Am I doing this right?" "Is there something I could be doing better?"
We do the best we can and we esp try to be better parents than our parents were.
My wife says do your best and trust the rest to God.
  • Like
Reactions: Michie
Upvote 0

#47 in Christian persecution, Columbia.

What does persecution look like in Colombia?​

Many regions in Colombia are riddled with criminality – and that can make life very dangerous for Christians, especially church leaders who are involved in activities that threaten the influence of gangs and cartels. This could be helping former gang members rehabilitate, protecting young people from recruitment to gangs, or engaging in humanitarian work. It can lead to threats, extortion and even murder.

Christians living in indigenous areas can also face opposition. Faced with accusations that they have betrayed local traditions by choosing to follow Jesus, Christians can be targeted for threats, discrimination, legal complaints and imprisonment. Given these dangers, some believers choose to stay under the radar.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?​

Whilst Christians from all denominations can face opposition for their faith in Colombia, those from Baptist and Pentecostal churches are particularly vulnerable to persecution from criminal groups. Those who convert to Christianity – especially gang members and people from an indigenous background – can be especially at risk.

Meet "Camilo"​

"They treated us as if being Christian were a crime."
"CAMILO", A CONVERT FROM ISLAM.

What has changed this year?​

Very little has changed in Colombia since last year. There’s continued danger for Christians living in places where criminality is pervasive, as two incidents that happened last year show.

In July 2025, the bodies of seven Christians were found buried in a mass grave in Guaviare. They had been kidnapped in April and subjected to interrogation. The Christians were leaders of two evangelical denominations and were known for their good witness within the community.

The previous month, 24 coordinated terrorist attacks devastated local communities in Cauca and Valle de Cauca, killing seven people. Whilst Christians don’t appear to have been targeted, the attacks have only added to the fear already felt by many local believers and disrupted church activities.

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Colombia?​

Open Doors supports our persecuted family in Colombia through various initiatives. These include trauma care, legal advice, education support, emergency aid and biblical training.

How can you pray for Colombia?​

  • Ask God to bring about peace, and that He would give His people strength to be peacemakers. The armed conflict has once again intensified. It’s a reminder that any peace in the country is tenuous.
  • Pray that God would protect believers who find Jesus in indigenous communities. Pray they would be accepted rather than oppressed.
  • Christians living in places ruled by drug gangs are at risk. Pray with them for their protection.
DOWNLOAD SUMMARY REPORT
Colombia-WWL-Prayer-2026.jpg

A PRAYER FOR COLOMBIA
God of all comfort, surround those affected by persecution in Colombia with Your unfailing peace. Give them strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Continue to embolden them amidst opposition and protect them from harm. Help Your children to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16), and through their shining and persevering witness, draw people to Jesus and transform communities. Bring peace to conflict-ridden regions, we pray. Amen.

Question, can angels see the future?

As I asked the other...

Did angels know about the incarnation before it happened? Because some traditions say they didn't.
Saint Gabriel did because he announced it. I'm not so sure there's secrets in heaven so the heavenly host possibly knew, they're also participating in the divine relationship so they probably knew the second person of the trinity was condescending from heaven to be incarnate and save the world.
  • Agree
Reactions: Michie
Upvote 0

The Church Working Properly

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB1995)

Why did Christ give us some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers? It wasn’t so they would do all the work of the ministry, so that they would be regarded as “THE ministers,” and so they would be the ones doing all the preaching (prophesying). He gave them to us so that they would train us for the work of the ministry, but not with worldly means and methods and marketing schemes, but via the Word of God and what God instructs his church, the body of Christ, that we should all be doing.

“The Church” not only is not a building, and not a place you go to and then you leave until you go to it again, but it is not a place where the bulk of the body of believers in Christ sit as spectators while a handful of “professionals” do all the “ministering.” It should not be like going to a theatre. For the biblical church is the universal body of believers in Jesus Christ, and all of us are necessary to the proper working of the body, as EACH PART does its work. And our gatherings are to be participatory, not stage productions.

All of us who are of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ, who have died with him to sin and who have been reborn of God to walk (in conduct) in obeying him and his commands, have been given spiritual gifts of the Spirit of God, and we have been assigned our body parts by God, and we each have a part in the proper working of the body of Christ. And we are to be speaking the truth of God’s word to one another, in love, for the spiritual growth of the whole body of Christ, which happens when EACH PART is working PROPERLY!

We speak the truth of God’s word to one another so that those who believe in Jesus will no longer be influenced and led astray by some humans who in their cunning, craftiness, and deceitful scheming teach false doctrines and altered gospel messages which do not teach the truth. We speak truth so no believer will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, too. And we are to stir one another up to love and good deeds. As well, we are to be helping fallen brothers and sisters in Christ back to biblical relationships with our Lord.

[Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

Servant of the Lord

Based off Romans 1:1-17
An Original Work / July 26, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love


Servant of the Lord;
For the gospel you’re set apart.
Promised through the prophets of old:
Jesus, Son of God.
Through Him, and for His name alone,
We receive His grace
To call people, Him to obey;
Coming from their faith.
Servant of the Lord,
For the gospel you’re set apart.
Promised through the prophets of old:
Jesus, Son of God.

You belong to Christ;
Loved by God, and called to be saints;
Serving God with whole heart and mind;
Preaching Jesus Christ;
Always praying for others’ needs;
Helping hand to lend;
Giving courage to others’ faith,
For the praise of God.
You belong to Christ;
Loved by God, and called to be saints;
Serving God with whole heart and mind;
Preaching Jesus Christ.

Servant of the Lord;
Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;
For salvation, power of God
To those who have faith.
In the gospel find righteousness:
Being right with God.
Turn from sin, and trust Jesus Christ.
By faith, live in Him.
Servant of the Lord;
Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;
For salvation, power of God
To those who have faith.

Login to view embedded media
The Church Working Properly
An Original Work / January 30, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Has anyone ever witnessed to someone who has Alzheimers?

Greetings rebornfree and lismore,
Agreed that use of music and simple lessons are often the best ways to go here. One of our ministers recently was providing lessons to an individual under generally similar circumstances, it was not Alzheimer's but one of the other forms of dementia (I believe it may have been vascular dementia or similar, apologies as I'm not too versed in the medical terminology).

He was facing generally similar challenges, the key he found was to break things down and keep them simple. And where needed, to start with the verses and teachings that were easier to grasp, and then build little stories and examples from there that were easier to follow. As analogy, many Biblical concepts and teachings are quite challenging even for Biblical scholars, hence the detailed exegesis and multiple levels of interpretation in seminaries and commentaries, to make the concepts relatable and understand the underlying and varied meanings. So there's nothing inherently awry with challenges in communicating difficult teachings, especially for individuals with cognitive challenges as well. In his case talking with the church member with vascular dementia, he would often start with a verse from ex. Psalms or Corinthians that might be more familiar or easier to grasp, and then build out from there, not unlike a carefully put together but simple Sunday school lesson. And yes music helps! Especially if the person being addressed has musical experience or loves to sing, one of our chaplains mentioned this is often good way to reach individuals as this part of their minds functions well even with dementia. Gospel music often works well. We've also found some simple, moving hymns work very well.
Thank you for your reply Inhocsigno. Yes, it does seem to be necessary to keep things simple. Using a scripture and building on it is a good idea. I appreciate that music is also a good way to go. but in this particular case, with my cousin, I can't see how I can do it.

At times she is quite coherent, but then at others she can keep asking the same question, having completely forgotten that she'd already asked it. A friend, who was a social worker, told me that family history and photographs can help keep the memories alive, so her son and I have been looking at those with her. Her father had dementia and my aunt would say that he could remember his school Latin but was confused about current things. I suppose it's because older memories are more deeply embedded in the mind.
  • Like
Reactions: Inhocsigno
Upvote 0

What is Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome?

I think High Functioning Autistic people like me don't like small talk too much. Especially if you are introverted, like me. We like deep and meaningful conversations. Something of value and substance.

A few nights ago I was talking to some skateboarders somewhere else on the Internet, but they weren't saying stuff of much value and substance, and after awhile I lost interest in them. I thought the shallowness of their conversations was funny and I asked myself: "Are skateboarders really this stupid?" Because I hope not! I kind of like them. I'm sure a few of them have huge brains in their heads. :)

No offense if you are one.
Upvote 0

Catherine O'Hara, who starred in 'Home Alone' and 'Schitt's Creek,' dies at 71

Alongside her more famous movies, she was part of a troop of other famous actors who made a series of what are called mockumentary films. These were like satire of a documentary portraying fictional characters & themes. Movies like A Mighty Wind, The Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman are most of these which are deeply satirical but in a strangely kind hearted way. Rest in peace to a great actress.
Upvote 0

I have autism and asperger's syndrome just like the rest of you lot

It's good to know that I am not the only one with autism. :) But I heard it is on the rise, with more and more people getting it... :o The Government was starting to call it an "epidemic." I hope one day someone can find a cure. :( Truth be told, I never wanted to be autistic, I just am, and I know I can't just wish it away like I want. Real life is not like that. :(
Upvote 0

Conservative Christian online radio stations: your favorite?

What is your favorite online Conservative Christian radio station/s? I have been listening to Heaven 88.7 FM, KFBN.org. broadcasting from Fargo, North Dakota and its a reasonably close match to the music I like to listen to, which would include the John Marshall Family, surprisingly some of the very early Maranatha! Music albums (conservative Christian music can be lively and inventive without getting anywhere near the pop/rock sound of todays Contemporary Christian Music as regards these first two groups!) and The Heritage Singers, a very wholesome music, very upbeat and pure as well as being scripturally based.

What is your favorite online station for this category of music? Hoping to find more similar to KFBN, and maybe even ones I like a bit better in context of the 3 groups that are among my absolute favorites I mention here.

Filter

Forum statistics

Threads
5,883,555
Messages
65,497,708
Members
276,652
Latest member
GospelWitness