O mountains said:

Well guys, He's giving me the silent treatment again, It's been almost 20 days. We had started talking again and during one of our conversations, then he started to ponder past of all the time I was speaking foolishness about certain conspiracy theories and rambling and he started seething in rage against me again, I don't have a problem with that but it was the fact that it was unprovoked and I had taken accountability and acknowledged it yet he still felt the need to just unwind on on me. It was just needless rageful venting. I didn't get angry or raise my voice or anything, but I let a few things off my chest again and confronted him about all the cruel stuff he said and did in the past and his response was that i was cherry picking minor instances when the instances i mentioned covered such a broad and frequent span of time that I was not cherry picking and in were indicative of his general behavior. He said I was selfish because I didn't hold tongue and let him rage as usual, but he wasn't selfish for just avoiding his seething. I basically confronted him about this for 2 hours straight because i wanted to approach this from every angle to achieve clarity and understanding but he perceived this as me trying to wring some sort of apology out of him.

I just want him to full acknowledge the egotistical and rageful side of himself and just cut it out. Just like when I called him out and got angry and yelled at him for raging demonically at me over the videogame and gave me silent treatment, i responded to his unprovoked rage against which comes from the same place and now im getting the silent treatment again and for who knows how long, perhaps months. I don't want to endure this quietly anymore. Part of me wants to just let go and move on like i did when he gave me 3 months of silent treatment before.

I don't want to block him because I do believe that if i handled these situations with more discipline and self control perhaps really would change and part of me wants to double down address the silent treatment in a non-angry or hostile way, very thoroughly and maybe explain to him that he is infact being narcissistic by repeating a pattern of giving me silent treatment every time i stand up to him and further elaborate internally on why i react the way i do to his hostility and perhaps he can help me work through it,, Full complete transparency. In this case, I suspect he'll either ignore that, respond dismissively and change the topic, block me because I'm a wicked selfish demon that won't take full accountability for the situation and ALL THE SITUATIONS in which he's punked me off and yelled at me and not stoically enduring his rage like a saint despite him not just doing that himself (What's easier? Nothing seething out of the blue for my unwise rambling of conspiracy theories or enduring someone's belligerent attitude endlessly) , or hopefully he will respond organically and productively in a way where we can come to solution. Alternatively, I could just completely let go and move on but again, I think he'll just end up reaching out to me after a few months and I don't have it in me to just cut him out of my life because I truly cannot determine if he is truly a demonic bad influence or just some guy god sent me to whip into submission so i fully follow god's will.

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Either you are codependent or you need to stop this cycle and end the relationship. It’s up to you. *shrug* The ball is in your court.

Laodicean60 said:

Where was the court when Ukraine neo nazis were killing ethnic Russians? One thing that surprised me is that Hamas is included in warrants this time along with Israel. Usually, those international bodies blame Israel for their actions.

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Professor Tim Snyder, an expert on Eastern European history and politics, has been on record stating that Neo-Nazi participation in Ukrainian civil society is minimal, and that reports to the contrary are Kremlin propaganda. Rumors of significant "Neo-Nazi" attrocities in Ukraine against Russians simply aren't true.

In Ukraine, ethnicity or language is not a marker of nationality, and again, the notion that there are significant numbers of "Russians" trapped in Ukraine in the Donbas and Luhansk regions is a Kremlin talking point that simply doesn't reflect the reality. Ruthenian peoples have intermixed in that region for centuries and the differences between Ukrainian people and Russian peoples is one of history and politics, not necessarily strict ethnic differences. Some may speak a language much more similar to what we think of as standard Ukrainian, others speak Russian, but in eastern Europe, the language you speak isn't necessarily representative of nationality, or even ethnicity, and never has been.

DaveHTexas said:

I work in information technology as a computer systems engineer, I got laid off from my job last February, with a non compete / severance package that meant I was on the books until the end of April.

Job postings have been Ghost jobs meaning the same jobs are posted up for 6 to 9 months and likely do not exist.

My unemployment ran out in November and my savings I am living on is running down... I need a job sooner rather than later.

Now the issue...

While I don't have paperwork from the Dr. (I can get it), I have major back issues preventing me from doing physical labor jobs, and am an IBD patient, so even when I do apply for employment, because I am not willing to be deceitful, I do disclose that under the disability self identification... Between that, and my age I am somewhat certain that is limiting me...

I have a small Youtube thing going on that I have monetized, but ad revenues went down the drain a while back and I literally don't make the money it takes to put gas in my tank...

I need prayer for either a job, or the direction and blessing to grow this business....

I am not asking to be rich, I am asking for my daily bread (and a full tank of gas and health care...) to provide for myself, my family and be able to help others...

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Praying now!

Lord God I lift up Dave to You right now and I pray for a miracle in his situation, I pray for supernatural provision of a job immediately! I pray for his dream job with a high salary! I pray for wisdom on the job hunt and also for favor in all job interviews, I also pray that he would be able to excel on the job and in his line of work! I also pray for provision of all financial needs according to You riches and glory Thank You God!

Yes, I skipped over verses 2-12, but I am going to summarize them and you can read them for yourselves. The situation at hand was that the Judaizers of the day were trying to convince the Christians that they had to keep to some of the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, and dietary laws, as well as the requirement of the circumcision of all males. And they were adding on circumcision to their salvation. So Paul was reminding them that God set them free from those requirements, and we are saved by grace, through faith, which is of God and is not of our own doing – not of the will of man.

Now some people read these words out of context and they teach that God no longer requires that we obey his commands. Not true! Yes, we are not under all the Old Covenant Mosaic laws, but God’s moral laws never went away, just the liturgical, ceremonial, sacrificial, purification, dietary and circumcision laws of the Old Covenant. We still have to obey our Lord’s commands under the New Covenant which we can read about all throughout the New Testament writings. We are to put off that and put on this, etc. We must die with Christ to sin and now walk in obedience to his commands.

[Matt 5:27-30; Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 3:5-11; 1 Thes 4:1-8; 1 Tim 4:7; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 12:1-17; 1 Pet 1:14; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

So, Galatians 5:1, although I believe primarily was in the context of the Christians believing that they must return to coming under at least some of the Old Covenant ceremonial laws, serves both their situation and the situation we are faced with much today. And that is that so many professing Christians, who, if genuine, were set free from bondage (addiction) to sin, are returning to coming back under slavery to sin, some of them convinced that, because of their professions of faith in Jesus, and by his grace, that they can continue living in sin and that God will no longer judge them.

But, then what did Paul say? He said to the Christians of his time that, although they were no longer under the Old Covenant liturgical (etc.) laws, they were not to turn their freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, to serve the flesh. And sadly that is many people’s approach to salvation today, that it frees them from the punishment of sin, and God forgives them, and heaven is now guaranteed them, and so it doesn’t matter what they do. But that is a lie from hell! For what did Jesus’ death free us from? Our slavery to sin! And so that we will now honor God by obeying his commands.

And how are we supposed to be living as those who profess faith in Jesus Christ? Through love we are to serve one another, not sin deliberately and habitually against one another, for that is not love! For to love is to prefer what God prefers, and to choose his choices, and to obey them in his power. And love is righteousness, holiness, godliness, moral purity, uprightness, honesty, faithfulness, and obedience to our Lord and to his commands. And love will not deliberately do what is against God and what is harmful to other humans. Love will do what is best for others, in the eyes of the Lord.

For being saved by grace, through faith, which is not of our own doing, but which comes from God, is persuaded of God, and which is gifted to us by God, is not to be defined by human beings who are looking to get out of having to obey the Lord and to avoid putting sin to death in their lives. For biblical faith = obedience to God. If we do not obey God, we do not have faith. If we deliberately and habitually sin against God, we do not have faith, and we are not in fellowship with God. And God’s grace instructs us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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Freedom From Slavery to Sin
An Original Work / March 19, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

1 KINGS 18:1-39

…. This relates to the time when there is a contest, sponsored by Eliyahu Ha Navi, (Elijah the prophet). He calls for a contest between “Baal” and “YHVH” It is time to take action and clear up the error that Baal even exists. So, it is Baal vs YHVH, Elijah against 450 false prophets of Baal. Sacrifices are ready, all that is needed is fire, but fire not kindled by man, only by the true God, We all know who won the contest, Elijah called upon YHVH;

…..”ATAH YHVH HaELOHIM” (you are YHVH you are God) and fire fell from heaven and consumed EVERYTHING, the sacrifice, altar, stones, and water, The people now had proof, and the false prophets were still crying out and dancing around. Judgment; death for all false prophets. The people repented and returned to YHVH

…..Are we worshiping and serving our true God? Or are we chasing after idols, idols of money, fame, popularity, jobs, fast cars, lust, avarice, etc.? We can only serve one master, who is it going to be? Do we serve YHVH? Or the world? The choice is ours.


MARK 7: 1-8:38

…..In this portion of scripture, we see Yeshua rebuking the Pharisees. They are pointing out that the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. It is true that one of the rites of the priests was to wash their hands and feet before entering the Holy Place, yet this was never stated as a commandment. It has health benefits though as we all know.

…. Today, we see many religious practices that are stressed and done as if they were commandments. There is a big difference between “commandments” and “tradition” Many traditions stem from commandments, but we need to differentiate between the two. Wearing a Kippa is a tradition, but wearing Tzitziot (fringes on garments) is a commandment, and putting a mezuzah on the doorpost is a commandment. But one should not judge one another in these cases. One can point out different scripture verses, but we must leave everything in the hands of God.

…..”It is not what goes into a person that which defiles, but what comes out of a person that which defiles, for out of the HEART comes forth

…..So as not to confuse one thing with another, eating certain kinds of food does not defile a person SPIRITUALLY!, it may defile one physically, eating what is not considered biblically kosher, like pork, shellfish, etc.. But other things can defile a person spiritually, like listening to unholy music, doing things, watching things, movies, etc. that are unholy, satanic, occultic, etc.

…..Physical defilement is different from spiritual defilement. In this passage of scripture, Yeshua is performing many miracles, opening the ears of a deaf man, healing the eyes of a blind man, and casting out demons. How are our eyes, ears, and hearts? Can we see the truth in scripture? Can we hear the WORD of God? Is our heart open to receive his word? We come against Satan and his demons through the power of the Holy Spirit. Is Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) your savior and LORD?

JustaPewFiller said:

He's not necessarily wrong that disagreement should not be grounds for impeachment.

Look at this way. Say you agree with Trump and think disagreement with the President should be grounds for impeachment.

Will you still think that way if a left leaning President is in office and wants to impeach judges who disagree with him?

There is some old saying about a goose and a gander that may apply here.

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If a person thinks that disagreements ar grounds for impeachment then that person has no business anywhere near government.

The law is not up to interpretation by individuals but by the courts. Enforce the darn law! But get the liberal judges out of there.

The apostle Paul regularly gave testimony to what the Lord Jesus Christ was doing in the lives of Christians in various locations, and to what the Lord was doing through those who were his servants and messengers who were taking the truth of the gospel to the people of the world. And he shared these things as an encouragement to the church, the body of believers in Jesus Christ who were following Jesus with their lives, some of them at great cost.

I love to hear testimonies from people who are serving the Lord with their lives, in truth and in righteousness, who are doing the will of God in sharing with the people the truths of the Scriptures, and who are ministering to the needs of the people. I love to hear how God is working among them and of how people’s lives are being changed because of the testimonies of the Lord’s servants and messengers. That encourages and strengthens my heart.

Paul did not confine himself, though, to just sharing all the good stuff of how the people were now forsaking their sins, and of how they were following the Lord Jesus in obedience to his commands. He often shared about the sufferings that he and the other apostles and many of the other Christians were going through because of their walks of faith in the Lord Jesus, in obedience to his commands, and in holy living. And he did this so that the church would pray for them.

Now, because he was sharing the good stuff about how God was using him and the other apostles and some of the other servants of the Lord, some people might have accused him of being a braggart or of being prideful and boastful, in the sense of wanting attention and praise for himself. But Paul gave God the glory, and he only shared these things as an encouragement to the other Christians, many of whom were suffering for their walks of faith.

And, because he also made a practice of sharing his sufferings with the body of Christ, and sometimes he even named names of people who opposed and persecuted them, and he definitely described in detail the kinds of things that they were suffering for the sake of Christ and his gospel message, some people might have accused him of wanting attention and pity for himself, or they might have accused him of being negative or of just complaining.

But the Scriptures teach us that we are to bear one another’s burdens. But how can we do that if we don’t know what their burdens are? And they teach us to ask others to pray for us in our sufferings, and how will they know what to pray if they don’t even know that we are suffering? And how can we encourage them in their sufferings with the comfort we received in our sufferings if we don’t even let them know the things that we are suffering?

Now, we should not be complainers and gossipers and people who are negative all the time who just want attention for ourselves and for people to feel sorry for us. But we are to share our burdens with the body of Christ so that they can pray for us and encourage us and so that we can encourage them in their suffering, especially if they are going through something similar and it helps them to know that they are not alone in their suffering.

Somewhere in between selfishly complaining just to get people to feel sorry for us, and clamming up and remaining silent and telling no one anything about our sufferings, is the correct balance. And I believe Paul gives us the right example of what that correct balance is. And the purpose cannot be selfish, but asking for help when you need it is not selfish in and of itself. Paul all the time was sharing his sufferings and asking for prayer.

And when he shared the good stuff that was happening in the life of the church, and in his life, and in the lives of the other apostles, it was for the encouragement of the body of Christ, as a whole, that they might rejoice in what God was doing and be blessed by it. So his “boasting” was in Christ and in what Christ was doing in and through them, for his glory, and to change lives, and he gave God the credit and did not take it for himself.

So, if your hearts are pure, and your motivation is right, don’t shy away from sharing your sufferings or your joys. Always give God the glory for anything he accomplishes in and through your lives, but don’t be afraid to let people know you are going through hard times and you need prayer and encouragement. Don’t be afraid to share with them how God is using you in ministry and how it is blessing the lives of other people, for their joy.

And keep speaking the truth of the gospel, even if people don’t like it, and even if they call you names, or if they accuse you falsely of wrong motives. For if you are serving the Lord, and if what you are speaking is the truth of God’s Word, and not the lies which tickle itching ears, then you are doing a good thing. And we need people like you. But please make sure the gospel you are sharing is the truth that Jesus taught in the right context.

Jesus said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow Jesus in walks of surrender to him, in obedience to his commands, in holy living, then we have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. But if Christ we deny by our lifestyles, when he returns he will deny us (Luke 9:23-26).

[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 4:17-32; 1 Peter 2:24; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

In Harmony

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

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.

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In Things Pertaining to God
An Original Work / March 18, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Always in His Presence said:

Link?

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He pre-emptively stated that Ukraine would never be admitted to NATO, that they would have to surrender territory, and that US troops would never be stationed in Ukraine as peacekeepers. He also stopped military aid and intelligence sharing temporarily, called Zelensky a dictator, and blamed Ukraine for starting the war. So far, the only thing he's gotten in exchange for all of this is an agreement from Putin to stop attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure for 30 days.

Soyeong said:

Christ quoted from Deuteronomy three times in order to defeat the temptations from Satan, which included saying that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, so he affirmed Deuteronomy and every word that has come from the mouth of God as being authoritative, which included what God spoke in Deuteronomy 5:31-33 in regard to the laws of the Torah. In Deuteronomy 12:32, it prohibits adding to or subtracting from the Torah. In Deuteronomy 13, the way that God instructed His people to determine that someone is a false prophet who is not speaking for Him is if they teach against obeying the Torah.

So how does it make sense for someone to interpret Jesus as being against following anything in Deuteronomy or that has come from the mouth of God? About 1/3 of the verses in the NT contain quotes or allusions to the OT, which its authors did thousands of times in order to support what they were saying, so how does it make sense for someone to consider those quotes to be authoritative while rejecting the Torah that the authors of those quotes considered to be authoritative? If someone thinks the authors of the NT did spoke against obeying the Torah, then they should either conclude that they were false prophets or conclude that they must have misinterpreted them.

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There's a fundamental perspective difference. Where you may see "teaching against" I see the same focus under new revelation. Clearly, we do not value the sacrificial laws yet we do not look at these laws as thrown away, rejected or teaching against either. They point to Christ and their values can still be found through Christ as he fulfills them, yet the law itself never explicitly states "until the one who will come and fulfill" Even still, we approach it with no compromise in this outlook. The law values the sacrifice and we continue to value it just seen made complete through Christ.

How then can we not approach all law this way? If our outlook of the sacrifice has been fundamentally changed through Christ why can't our outlook of circumcision be the same, again the same values and without compromise just seen made complete through Christ? What about Sabbath? The same values, without compromise but seen made complete through Christ? What about dietary laws... et cetera..

Fundamentally the law exposes an imperfect system that needs to be repeated. It makes anything with repetitive requirement innately ceremonial and imperfect and points to a construct higher than itself that can complete it if it is worthy. Even if only an abstract idea this is what all repetitive ceremony in any system points to.

For example, Christ tells us it is lawful to do good on the sabbath (Mat 12:12) This reveals that goodness itself is above the ceremony or the letter of law and if all our actions were good, then all our actions are also lawful regardless of what day they are conducted on. It also shows us that if one were to come who was of a substance of pure goodness then their acts would always be lawful and could never be unlawful. A practitioner of this goodness would be able to freely move without consequence even if in conflict of the letter. It's not that they are unaccountable or lawless, it's that the goodness fulfills the legal requirements so provided their actions measure to this construct of goodness Jesus identifies then their actions are also lawful. Abstractly, this would absolve the person from the letter of the law as their goodness would cover their actions, in practice however, their actions may still come under scrutiny by those driven by legalism over goodness but the legalism has no power over it even with the scrutiny. If this practitioner of goodness was one with authority, then their actions would not just be localized but may also cover all that they have authority over. Of course, we know no one is good but God (Mark 10:18) so by human means this standard is not possible and so all are bound by law, but since Christ offers himself freely we may share in his goodness which is pure and worthy through our faith in Christ. Our actions need not be measured by law anymore but measured by Christ. Thus we are not under law, we are under Christ. This is the gospel message unpacked.

So what you see as an injustice to the Torah I see as an injustice to the power of Christ and hypocrisy because you very happily do away with Torah and very explicitly teach NOT TO DO, what the Torah teaches TO DO yet have no issue with this. We agree regarding the sacrifice but when I apply the same logic to something like Sabbath, dietary laws or circumcision, I'm accused of rejecting Torah and calling the apostles and even Christ himself false prophets. How can I not be offended by such remarks? My faith is in Christ, not in law, so your legalistic scrutiny has no merit under Christ.

SelfSim said:

Gulf of .. where?

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Gulf of Starship Debris

After nine months in space, Butch Wilmore's life lesson is moving hearts and changing minds.

It all sounds like the plot of the next space blockbuster movie, but for the two astronauts who have been stuck in space for nine months, living suspended in space is a very real thing.

Millions across the country and around the globe have heard about these astronauts stranded at the International Space Station for the same time it takes a baby to form in the womb.

Continued below.

Sports gambling seems to be everywhere, especially when watching or listening to sports — both collegiate and professional. In fact, during March Madness season, nearly 68 million Americans are expected to wager over $15 billion on the NCAA basketball tournament.

Yet few people besides key stakeholders with lots of money to make are paying attention to how the legal landscape of sports gambling is unfolding in our state capitols since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing states to create their own regulatory frameworks around sports gambling.

This issue, often playing out behind the scenes, is already repeating both the predatory aspects of the Big Tobacco scandal while exacerbating addiction like the opioid crisis. In the next 10 years, it is predicted to absorb 1 trillion dollars in revenue. More and more people are calling legalization a huge mistake.

Fortunately, one Catholic, Les Bernal, is serving as a resource to those working to prevent more people from being victimized. Bernal is the national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, a national advocacy organization that is exposing the harms of online sports gambling. He recently joined my OSV podcast, Catholic in America, to explain why he is so passionate about gambling.


In the years since PASPA, 39 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports gambling in some form. Some states allow sports gambling at physical sites, such as tribal casinos. Others allow it online as well through apps such as DraftKings or MGM.

Predatory gambling, according to Bernal, is not church bingo, a friendly poker game, meat raffles, or even office pool NCAA tournament brackets. There is no “house,” and these are private, social forms of gambling. Even horse racing is called pari-mutuel betting, where people bet against others.

‘Becoming an enslavement’​

Continued below.

All Praise, Thanks, Glory, Honor, Victory & Joy to The Heavenly Father for ensuring that Astronauts Suni Williams & Butch Wilmore returned safely to back to earth:

'Stranded' Starliner astronauts finally have a return date — and it's sooner than expected

jas3 said:

I thought to take a look at this again today and found this diocesan newspaper that has both calendars presented:

https://archpitt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BCW_vol68_no05_PASCHA2023-FINAL302.pdf

The Holy Week schedule for St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral (page 2) is aligned with the Julian calendar, while the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh calendar (page 12) is aligned with the Gregorian.

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That doesn’t really surprise me.

Has anyone here heard of St. Maximilian Kolbe?

Michie said:

Moment ‘alien’ greets SpaceX crew as they arrive to rescue stranded astronauts​

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God bless them abundantly

Lord have mercy!

Protect the most vulnerable at all costs!

FireDragon76 said:

Are Republicans still raging bating with their unicorn poster child? Cole's experiences, while unfortunate, are in no way typical of the vast majority of transpeople.

Shall we parade around all the people maimed by circumcision and ban the practice also? Or is it more politically convenient to just target medical treatments that the general public has little knowledge, acceptance, or understanding of?

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Why do you support transgenderism?

Just an update, you might notice a change in my relationship status in my profile. The girlfriend I have been with since June and I are engaged to be married. We have an enormous amount of logistics issues to figure out, and are doing so literally prayerfully. Maybe at some point sooner rather than later, I can give you an update and a wedding announcement.

hldude said:

YouTube Channel Video Devo
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“This Is Too Hard”
Matthew 26:39 NLT
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve used the phrase, “This is too hard” through my life. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve found myself either thinking this or saying it to someone because of a challenging situation I was in. I’m sure many of us have said this multiple times as we’ve found ourselves in unwanted, uncomfortable and challenging times.

Who really wants to wake up each day and look forward to challenging times that make life hard? No one! I think it’s so important for all of us to take time to focus on this moment in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is so close to His death and He is honestly pleading with His Father to possibly get Him out of the situation. This is one of the most human situations in all of Scripture. Jesus knows what He has to do, but He wrestles with this and agonizes over it.

Friends, when we go through hard situations, Jesus knows how it feels. No matter what pain or agony you are feeling, He is right there with you. As I pondered this Scripture and scene today, it just made me think of all the times we have all said, “This is too hard” as we experience challenging situations. There are times we just don’t want to be in and don’t want to deal with. We’d rather walk away and not deal with the situation in front of us. We plead with God to remove the hard times so that we don’t have to suffer anymore.

As much as we want to avoid pain, sometimes God needs to use the painful situations to help us grow. Whatever painful situation you might be experiencing right now in our life, have a real heart to heart conversation with God and tell Him everything you are feeling. He’s not surprised that you might be pleading with Him. He wants to hear your agony and your pain and for you to be real with Him. It doesn’t mean He’s going to take the pain away, but it will bring you much closer to Him.

There are many situations in life I wish that I could just steer clear from, but I know that God challenges me and wants me to grow through these to become stronger. I also know He will be with me through all of it. I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety through the past months in various ways and learning about myself in ways I never considered before. I know that God is teaching me to deal with what I’m experiencing and He is showing me nothing is too hard to get through with Him.

Every time I think something is too hard for me, I just need to remember what Jesus experienced and I know that I’m not alone. Whatever your painful time is, know God is with you also.

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Amen! I'd like to affirm your words of encouragement with a little story.

I was really going through it about a year ago. Chronic illness, pain and what not. After about a week straight of relentless attack by the enemy in mind, body and spirit, one Sunday morning I just cried out to God, "Lord I can't take it, I just can't take it anymore!"

A beat later I heard that Voice we His sheep all recognize. He said simply and calmly, "Yes, you can."

Well, I knew it was Him because I know all His Scriptures that affirm this promise to His children.

So... I let out a huge sigh and just replied, "Yes I can, just because you say so."

So I forged ahead on shaky feet and walked to church. Arrived and took my seat and yep, you guessed it, the sermon was all about the reasons for suffering - how our testimonies in the midst of the worst give glory to His Name.

Okay, I got it, thank you Lord.

Well... He wasn't finished yet. I was walking up the aisle to go to my men's group and I looked up and for the first time since I had been attending I noticed a big video screen on the back wall. Do you know what it said?

"Jesus says you can take it."

I felt like weeping and laughing at the same time!

Ever since when it gets bad and worse, I just proclaim, "Jesus says I can take it!". And I do and I know I will all the way to our Heavenly Home.

Don't you just love how God uses humor to drive His point home and put a cherry on top of HIS witness?

God bless us all who believe!

Darkness looming, faces glooming,
Many people lies assuming.
Turning tables with their fables,
Many liars they enable.

Many people follow idols,
For their sins, they are not idle.
Words are spoken, they not bridle,
But for them, they are recital.

Liars plenty fool the people
Who they want to be their sheeple.
All in chorus, raise their idol
To a status suicidal.

Bow to worship man, as their king,
Who they think peace to them will bring.
Honor him, as if he’s of God,
When in truth that is a façade.

Where’s this going? Straight to nowhere
good for us who Christ’s cross do bear.
Persecution soon awaits us,
Who in Jesus our lives do trust.

Read the Bible, see what it says,
For it predicts much of this biz.
Revelation tells the story
Of what’s happ’ning, and its gory.

Follow Jesus, do what he says,
Do not follow man who is Prez.
Bible warns us who not to trust.
Trust in man we are now to bust.

Give your lives to follow Jesus
Who from our sins He does free us.
Follow Him where’re He leads you,
And obey Him. Praise to Him due.

An Original Work / March 18, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love