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Lost Witness · May 30, 2026

orbiter said:
Peace in Christ.

Woe unto the rich…the rich pastors…for they have received their consolation.

They are “full” now for they are getting their earthly needs met from their congregations who all speak well of them.

They laugh now…that is, they REJOICE… for all of the good things that they are receiving from the people that they are “pastoring” who are spiritually poor and are experiencing bad things.

Luk 6:24-26 KJV
(24) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
(25) Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
(26) Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

There is currently a severe famine….a famine of hearing the words of the LORD…under the pastoring of those who are only concerned about earthly things. This is not a famine of literal bread nor a thirst for water. The rich pastors are all receiving these earthly things from their congregations. They are full now with these things....but they have no spiritual food to feed their congregations who are spiritually being fed crumbs.

Amo 8:11-12 KJV
(11) Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

It is widespread in every man-based church where their pastors are only feeding themselves literally.

(12) And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

The people are perishing because of a lack of knowledge as their preachers have no understanding of the gospel because they are only serving for their own belly…minding earthly things. The pastors rejoice now. The pastors are full now. They receive good things and rejoice in it.

Yet, their congregations are the “flock of the slaughter” that is being “pastored” by those who have no knowledge.

Hos 4:6-7 KJV
(6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
(7) As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

Those shepherds who are “feeding” the current flock of the slaughter are rejoicing: “Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich!” while the sheep that they are “pastoring” are given crumbs to spiritually feed on.

Their own shepherds pity them not as they are too busy rejoicing over their earthly needs being met by the giving of their congregations. They have no real pity for them.

Zec 11:4-5 KJV
(4) Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
(5) Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

Judas has been their guide as they follow after his example.

They come to take Jesus out of the lives of those they are preaching (without knowledge) to. The life of Jesus is not being made manifest in the mortal flesh of any as they remove the keeping of His daily sacrifice out of the lives of the sheep. There is no age-lasting life (aka eternal life) in those who are being deceived by them. The Son of man goes away.

Act 1:16-19 KJV
(16) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
(17) For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

The field is the people that they “purchase”.

Their “possessors”….their shepherds… slay them because they are not preaching the Word of Truth to them and so the life of Jesus is not being made manifest in the mortal flesh of those who are perishing. They come to take Jesus out of their lives.

They perish because of a lack of knowledge of the gospel that their “pastors” are not feeding them in this severe famine of hearing the Word of God.

Like Judas their guide, they do this for the “reward” (pay for their preaching/service) of the iniquity. They “fall headlong” after the reward as that is the only thing that they are concerned about. They are only minding earthly things while they preach crumbs of the Truth.

“Reward” = Greek: misthos- apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad: - hire, reward, wages.

They “burst asunder in the midst/middle”…that is, they REJOICE in their hearts: “Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich.” They “burst asunder” with rejoicing in the “middle” of their hearts.

Their “bowels gush out”…that is, they do not pity the sheep that they are pastoring. The sheep are spiritually poor with many problems in their lives. Yet, their shepherds are too busy rejoicing that they are getting rich (having their daily needs met) so that they have no pity for them. They receive good things while their congregations that they pastor are receiving bad things.

“Bowels” = Greek: splagchnon - (the “spleen”); an intestine (plural); figuratively pity or sympathy: - bowels, inward affection, + tender mercy.

(18) Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

“Aceldama”:

“Acel” = chêleq - From H2505; properly smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment: - flattery, inheritance, part, X partake, portion.

“dama” = from H1826 (compare H119); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (that is, drops of blood): - blood (-y, -guiltiness, [-thirsty]), + innocent.

Aceldama. They use their flattering tongues to smooth over the troubles of their perishing congregations that they really have no pity for.

(19) And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

We see this parallel also in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

The rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen. He represents the ruling, rich pastors of the churches.

The rich man fared …that is, REJOICED…sumptuously (brilliantly) EVERY DAY.

“Fared” = euphrainō - From G2095 and G5424; to put (middle voice or passive voice be) in a good frame of mind, that is, rejoice: - fare, make glad, be (make) merry, rejoice

He gets his daily earthly needs met….and he rejoices that he is receiving good things even though his congregation (represented by Lazarus) receives evil things. The rich pastors “burst asunder in the middle” as they rejoice in their hearts while not having pity for their congregations who are suffering evil things (spiritual “sores”).

Luk 16:19-21 KJV
(19) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Lazarus….their congregations…laid at the “gate”….that is, at the gate of their mouth that preaches. They want to hear the Word of Truth from their mouths….so they lie at the gate waiting hear it (but don’t).

They are desiring to be fed with the crumbs which falls from the rich pastor’s table (where he is feeding himself).

The crumbs are crumbs of the Truth as there is currently a severe famine of hearing the Word of God spoken in truth and sincerity. They preach very little Truth and it is not enough to truly spiritually feed their congregations who are suffering a severe famine of hearing the Word of God.

Their shepherds have no pity upon their congregations. The dogs came and licked the sores…that is, they use their tongues to smooth over the troubles that their congregations are experiencing. Aceldama.

(20) And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
(21) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

“Hurt not the oil and the wine”….that is, hurt not the brilliant REJOICING of the pastors… while there is a severe famine of hearing the Word of God among the people.

Rev 6:5-6 KJV
(5) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
(6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Wine makes glad the heart of man and oil makes his face to shine. The “rich man” fared (rejoiced) sumptuously (brilliantly) every day. They “burst asunder in the middle”…rejoicing in the middle of the heart of man. Their faces shine....brilliantly...every day.

Psa 104:15 KJV
(15) And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

A “great multitude” are following Judas. They come to take Jesus out of the lives of those they are deceiving with a feigned kiss…with good words and fair speeches.

Mat 26:47-50 KJV
(47) And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
(48) Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

“Hail” = REJOICE.

“Hail” = chairō - A primary verb; to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well: - farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice

(49) And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail (REJOICE), master; and kissed him.
(50) And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

The rich pastors who are laughing now are living in pleasure on the earth. They nourish their hearts as in the day of slaughter. They "burst asunder in the middle" of their hearts...rejoicing there. Yet, they have condemned and kill the Just One. The life of Jesus is not being made manifest in the mortal flesh of those they are “pastoring” as the Word of Truth is being held back by their fraud.

Jas 5:5-6 KJV
(5) Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
(6) Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

“Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.” They live in pleasure on the earth.

Woe unto the rich pastors who laugh now for they shall “weep and howl” for the miseries that shall come upon them.

Jas 5:1-4 KJV
(1) Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
(2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
(3) Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

The “hire” of the laborers is the Word of Truth. It is being kept back by fraud. The cries of their congregations (their laborers) is not being heard by the pastors who are too busy rejoicing…faring sumptuously every day....and have no pity upon their congregations who are receiving evil things in their lives.

But the cries enter into the ears of the Lord who will do something about it. God helps them. “Lazarus” = God helps.

(4) Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

The shepherds feed themselves but are not feeding the flock. God will cause them to cease from feeding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves as God will deliver His flock from their mouth.

Eze 34:7-10 KJV
(7) Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
(8) As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
(9) Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
(10) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

This verse has been on my mind a lot lately after the Lord Brought me my wife…

"But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Christsfreeservant · May 30, 2026

The apostle Paul was now in Athens. As he looked around the city, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. So, in the synagogue and in the marketplace he reasoned with the Jews, with the Gentile worshipers, and with any who happened to be in the marketplace. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers took him and brought him to the Areopagus, because they wanted to know what doctrine he was teaching, for they wanted to know what those things meant.

Acts 17:22-31 NKJV

22Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Being religious does not automatically translate to being righteous. And worship does not necessarily mean relationship, surrender, and obedience, depending upon how the word is being used, and in what context. For biblical worship of our creator God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – is not about religious activities and performances and ritualistic exercises. True worship of the one true God is about surrender, submission, fidelity, repentance, and obedience to God and to his commands, in practice.

And so you can’t truly worship what you don’t know. And they did not know the one true God. For the Bible teaches us that if we say that we know God but we do not obey him, we are liars. And if we claim we are in fellowship with him, but while we deliberately and habitually sin against him, we are liars. And Jesus taught that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the ones doing (obeying) the will of God. And Jesus said to follow him we must deny self, die to sin, and obey God.

So the people were not worshiping the one true God, in a biblical sense, without realizing that they were doing so. This is not what this is teaching. They were giving their devotion to all kinds of idols, one of which they called “The Unknown God,” and in all sorts of forms of religious exercises. But Paul used this opportunity as a stepping stone to presenting to them the God who was truly unknown to them and that is God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. He was letting them know that the God who they did not know was our creator God who made us and who formed us all for a purpose.

Now what Paul stated next is something that everyone today who professes faith in Jesus Christ needs to hear. The Lord of heaven and earth does not dwell in temples made with hands. No building called “church” is “the house of God.” We who believe in Jesus are the church, the body of Christ. And when we step inside one of those buildings, we are not “standing on holy ground.” And true worship of God is not just doing “good deeds” or going through religious rituals, nor is it in regular “church attendance,” but it is in death to sin and in walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands.

So, there is nothing sacred about going to a building called “church” once or twice a week, then sitting on a chair or on a bench, then singing some songs, then listening to the preacher preach, and then going home and resuming life as normal until the next week. We, the true church, the body of Christ, are to be ministering to one another daily, encouraging one another in obedience to our Lord and in holy living, and warning one another about the consequences of deliberate and habitual sin against God. Then we are functioning as the biblical body of Christ, as God had always intended.

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; 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 5:11-21; 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; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]

For God commands that all of us repent of our sins. And to repent is to have a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. We were going one direction, and now we turn, and we go the opposite direction. So this means denying self, dying to sin, and following our Lord in obedience to his commands, in practice, in going wherever he sends us, and doing whatever he commands and calls us to do, as his followers. For God is going to judge all of us. And he will say to many who claimed faith in Jesus Christ that he never knew them because they did not obey the commands of God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; 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 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

The Unknown God
An Original Work / May 30, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

ThatRobGuy · May 30, 2026

jacks said:
From AI:
Data consistently indicates that concealed carry permit holders commit homicides at significantly lower rates than the general population. While exact figures vary by state and study methodology, permit holders are generally found to be 10 to 19 times less likely to commit murder compared to non-permit holders.

That's correct.

The people who actually spend the time and money to go through an official process generally aren't the people anyone needs to be worried about.

When you think about it, they are, in essence, the gun owners who have voluntarily submitted to the process that a lot of Democrats say they want for guns. (background checked, finger printed, mandatory training/testing, registered).

In a state of 11 million, only a small percentage of us actually have them. One of the reasons why 40+ states will honor the Ohio permit (even some of the blue states) is because Ohio is also actually fairly diligent about rejecting and suspending licenses as when need be. (IE: house-cleaning)

Per Dave Yost's Attorney General’s Office, county sheriffs issued 14,440 new licenses and 59,112 renewals last year.

License suspensions totaled 1,439 and license revocations totaled 339. License denials totaled 377.

Christian of Freedom · May 30, 2026

To all Christians, Robotics Engineers, Data Scientists, Software programmers, etc. Build Robots to protect humans/ humanity have them carry handheld laser weapons, the future of the world rests in your hands. Build DEWS LASERS THEL 500KW, 1000KW as speed of light to stop destructive weapons nukes. Build Laser Tunnel Boring Machines to live in safety store heirloom seeds in underground tunnels. EMP EMI proof all electronics in robots. Build off grid community with heirloom gardens teach how to forage for healing medicinal herbs. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU. Work together with Christians Manufacturing and build AI robot Automation factories. Work with preppers groups to Preserve freedom, protect the Elderly and children and everyone you possibly can. Protect the Generals who stood against Tyrrany. Stand for Truth and Righteousness and be brave for all.

LoricaLady · May 30, 2026

NASER NAVARD GOL-TAPATH

According to Article 18, Pastor Naser Navard Gol-Tapath was rearrested on February 6, 2025, and is being held without charges or a reason for his arrest. Naser immediately began a hunger strike in protest against the ‘continued persecution of Christians in Iran’, but suffered a debilitating stroke on March 17.
While he reportedly received some medical treatment, he remains behind bars and continues to suffer lack of movement on his left side. Pastor Nasser, who is 63, had previously served nearly five years in the same prison on a 10-year sentence for charges amounting to “action against national security” for leading house churches.

Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh sentenced again

January 21, 2026
Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh was recently sentenced again for activities related to his faith. When the new sentence was announced in early December 2025, an Iranian
Read More »

Prisoners transferred back to Evin Prison

September 7, 2025
Christian converts Mehran Shamloui, Joseph Shabazian, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Hakop Gochumyan were transferred back to Evin Prison in August after the prison was partially
Read More »

Four prisoners transferred in Iran

July 16, 2025
It has been reported that Amir Ali-Minae, Hakop Gochumyan, Joseph Shahbazian and Naser Navera Gol-Tapeh were among those transferred to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary during the 12-Day
Read More »

UPDATE: Naser Navard Gol-Tapath Transferred from Evin Prison

June 29, 2025
According to reports, Naser Navard Gol-Tapath was transferred from Evin Prison during the 12-day War along with at least 10 other Christian prisoners of conscience to
Read More »

Tehran Prisoners Transferred

June 29, 2025
According to reports, Joseph Shahbazian, Naser Navard Gol-Tapath, Amir Ali-Minae, Hakop Gochumyan and Mina Khajavi, were transferred, along with busloads of other prisoners from Evin
Read More »

Imprisoned Pastor Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh Suffers Stroke

June 27, 2025
In 2017, Pastor Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh was sentenced to ten years in prison for his Christian ministry activities. Though pardoned and released in 2022, the
Read More »

Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh | Released

October 23, 2022
Nasser Gol-Tapeh has been released from Evin Prison, after serving nearly five years of his 10-year prison sentence. On October 17, he was informed that
Read More »

Update on Nassar Navard Gol-Tapeh

July 7, 2021
July 2021 Christian prisoner of conscience Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh has been told his request for conditional release has been rejected. The news comes as a
Read More »

Update on Naser Gol-Tapeh

June 11, 2021
August 2020 In early August, Naser developed symptoms of Covid-19. Despite being ill with fever, the only medical care he received was a few painkillers, and
Read More »

IRAN

Contact Address:

Evin Prison
Saadat Abad
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

CHARGED WITH:
Held without charges

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According to Article 18, Pastor Naser Navard Gol-Tapath was rearrested on February 6, 2025, and is being held without charges or a reason

LoricaLady · May 30, 2026

What does persecution look like in Myanmar?

Christians in Myanmar continue to experience untold suffering because of persecution and conflict, with last year’s devastating earthquakes adding to the vulnerability of many believers.

It is now five years since the military coup that deepened Myanmar’s long-running civil war and had a catastrophic impact on the whole country. Many Christians have been caught in the crossfire, particularly in ethnic minority areas, with believers killed, churches bombed and villages destroyed. Thousands have been displaced, and an earthquake in March killed more than 3,600 people and forced even more from their homes.

The vulnerability of Christians in Myanmar goes back years, rooted in the belief that to be Burmese is to be Buddhist – and that means other faiths are often seen as foreign and a threat to national unity. It leads to everyday discrimination, such as difficulties getting Christianity recognised on ID cards, denial of access to basic services such as water, and forced participation in Buddhist rituals. There is even a state-supported plan to convert Christians and other religious minorities to Buddhism, particularly in remote areas. Churches, meanwhile, have difficulty registering with the authorities and evangelistic activities are strongly opposed.

Converts can face additional hostility from their families and communities, who may view their faith as a betrayal of their heritage.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

Christians in Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah and Sagaing are particularly at risk amid worsening violence, displacement and targeted attacks. Young believers from poor backgrounds who have to attend Buddhist schools are also vulnerable.

Meet Pastor Yang

"The reason we remain resilient in the midst of persecution and hardship is because of the persecution-survival training we received."
PASTOR YANG, WHO DESPITE WAR, DISPLACEMENT AND NATURAL DISASTERS, CONTINUES TO BRAVELY SHEPHERD HIS SCATTERED COMMUNITY IN MYANMAR.

What has changed this year?

The past year has seen conflict intensify across Myanmar, with Christians among those affected. Sagaing Region – which was hit by the earthquakes – saw Christian villages targeted by violence. And in the Christian-majority Chin State, attacks on churches persist. Overall, Christians have faced worsening violence, displacement and systematic targeting, with the earthquakes deepening the suffering of many. In one of numerous tragic incidents, ten armed men stormed a parish in Kangyitaw, forcing Father Donald Martin to kneel. He refused, declaring that he knelt only to God, and it cost him his life.

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Myanmar?

Open Doors partners strengthen persecuted believers in Myanmar through literature distribution, persecution-survival training, presence ministry and livelihood support.

How can you pray for Myanmar?

The devastating 2025 earthquake left more than 3,600 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced – Christians among them. Pray for these believers and all people in Myanmar as they rebuild.
Christians are targeted and discriminated against by the ruling military junta. Pray for a change of heart in the authorities.
Ask God to protect church leaders and evangelists in Myanmar who risk their lives to bring God’s Word and discipleship training to Christians in remote areas.

essentialsaltes · May 30, 2026

Vince McMahon and others are sanctioned for destroying evidence in WWE shareholder lawsuit

Judge J. Travis Laster, vice chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, issued sanctions for “spoliation of evidence” in the shareholder lawsuit over the 2023 merger between Ultimate Fighting Championship and WWE.

The litigation is related to the 2022 investigation by WWE’s board that found that McMahon made at least $14.6 million in payments between 2006 and 2022 for “alleged misconduct.” McMahon has denied claims of misconduct.

Laster ruled on Tuesday that WWE executives destroyed evidence by using the auto-delete setting on the messaging app Signal, enabling potentially relevant communications to be deleted.

The ruling means the court will operate under the assumption that five potentially damaging statements are true while allowing the defendants to rebut them.

The statements, according to the ruling, include that McMahon’s decision on the merger was “influenced” by Endeavor Executive Chairman Ari Emanuel’s “promise” to provide him with a continued role at the company and to indemnify him and provide legal support as federal investigators were looking into claims of alleged sexual misconduct.

GoldenKingGaze · May 30, 2026

SavedByGrace3 said:
1 Corinthians 12:29 belongs to chapter 13. The thought should be included as a controlling context of Chapter 13.

1Co 12:31 But covet the best gifts earnestly: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

What is the subject being addressed by this verse?
First, it is an important instruction. Paul is telling the Corinthians to do a certain thing in a certain way. "Covet Earnestly the best gifts."
The literal is clearer.
"But zealously strive after the better gifts."
Other translations include the concepts of "envious" and "jealous."
If the verse stopped there, what would you come away with?
We are to desire "the better gifts."
How are we to strive for the better gifts?
We are to zealously strive for them.
In context, what is the verse telling us to do?
It is telling us both what to desire and the way to desire it.
He suggests that one way to obtain the best gifts is to "covet" or "zealously strive."
But then he states there is a better WAY to get the best gifts.
"I will show you a more excellent way to do it."
A more excellent way to do what?
A more excellent way to get the best gifts.
Keep that context in mind as you read the rest of the verse. He is telling us a better WAY to get the best gifts.
"...and yet shew I unto you a more excellent WAY. "

So this is key:
He is going to reveal to us a better WAY than coveting to get the best gifts.
He is not going to reveal a THING better than the best gifts. That is a huge error.
He is not saying that love is better than gifts!
He is going to reveal a better WAY to get the best gifts.
Keep that in mind as you proceed to the next chapter.
In no way is Paul telling us that Love is better than the gifts.
Paul is telling us that Love is the better WAY than coveting to get the best gifts.

Robert's Word Pictures points this out:

"And a still more excellent way (kai eti kath' huperbolēn hodon). In order to gain the greater gifts. “I show you a way par excellence,” beyond all comparison (superlative idea in this adjunct, not comparative), like kath' huperbolēn eis huperbolēn (2Co_4:17). Huperbolē is old word from huperballō, to throw beyond, to surpass, to excel (2Co_3:10; Eph_1:19). “I show you a supremely excellent way.” Chapter 1Co_13:1-13 is this way, the way of love already laid down in 1Co_8:1 concerning the question of meats offered to idols (cf. 1Jo_4:7). Poor division of chapters here. This verse belongs with chapter 1Co_13:1-13."
Note on 13:1
"But have not love (agapēn de mē echō). This is the crux of the chapter. Love is the way par excellence of 1Co_12:31."

Vincent's Word Studies also points this out:
Way
To attain the higher gifts.

So if you read chapter 13 in the context of "way" (love way better than coveting way) rather than "thing" (love better than gifts), you get the truth.
Which "WAY" benefits you and the church par excellence?
The love (way) benefits you (and the church) more than coveting (way).
1Co 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels (by the coveting way), but I do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And if I have prophecies (by the coveting way), and know all mysteries (by the coveting way), and all knowledge( by the coveting way), and if I have all faith so as to move mountains (by the coveting way), but do not have love, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And if I give out all my goods (by the coveting way), and if I deliver my body that I be burned(by the coveting way), but I do not have love, I am not profited anything.
1Co 13:4 Love (unlike coveting) has patience, is kind; love is not envious (like coveting); love is not vain (like coveting), is not puffed up (like coveting);
1Co 13:5 does not behave indecently (like coveting), does not pursue its own things (like coveting), is not easily provoked (like coveting), thinks no evil (like coveting);
1Co 13:6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness (like coveting), but rejoices in the truth.
1Co 13:7 (Unlike coveting,) Love quietly covers all things, (Unlike coveting, love) believes all things, (Unlike coveting, love) hopes all things, (Unlike coveting, love) endures all things.
1Co 13:8 (Unlike coveting,) Love never fails. But if there are prophecies (derived by coveting), they will be caused to cease; if tongues (derived by coveting), they shall cease; if knowledge (derived by coveting), it will be caused to cease.
1Co 13:9 For (in coveting) we know in part, and (in coveting) we prophesy in part;
1Co 13:10 but when the perfect thing (the love way) comes, then that which is in part (the coveting way) will be caused to cease.
1Co 13:11 When I was an (coveting) infant, I spoke as an (coveting) infant, I thought as an (coveting) infant, I reasoned as an (coveting) infant. But when I became a (love) man, I caused to cease the (immature) things of the infant.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a mirror in dimness, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will fully know even as I also was fully known.
1Co 13:13 And now faith, hope, and love, these three things remain; but the greatest of these is love.

In conclusion, the cessationist argument falls flat once you realize that Paul is not saying Love is better than Gifts. Rather, love is the better way than coveting to get the best gifts. Once the mature Love-driven man comes into his own, all the immaturity and failure of the baby-coveting child will be done away with, simply because the man has grown up. Grown up into love. This is the love-driven mature man of the parallel passage in Eph 4. He, Paul, specifically states that the best gifts will come into reality when the love way, the mature way, the perfect way of love is manifested.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

That is the perfect mature, Love way of 1 Corinthians 13.
Moving forward from the "coveting way" to the "love way" is simply growing up into the perfection that is Christ.

The description of love is very very social. Not at all only about the true motive with which to pursue prophecy. Paul taught that these three remain, faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. Love for other persons and peoples.

Prophecy does not need us to keep no record of wrongs.

Anonymous9090 · May 30, 2026

Pray that Jesus Christ heals & comforts Israelis & Palestinians in order to heal them of PTSD, depression & anxiety due to the Israeli-Gaza war:

https://www.economist.com/interactive/1843/2026/05/29/what-i-did-in-gaza-an-israeli-soldiers-reckoning

Michie · May 30, 2026

Now I’ll have to baptize myself Catholic’: Social media reacts to Pope Leo’s surprisingly poignant warning about AI

A 42,000-word letter by the leader of the Catholic Church is resonating with modern readers in ways that speak to the unique anxieties of our era.

Given its profound implications for the workforce, the environment, and humankind as a whole, it’s no surprise that almost everyone has an opinion on artificial intelligence these days, including the pope.

Less than a year after his election, Pope Leo XIV just released his first encyclical, a pastoral letter aimed to offer guidance.

Titled Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, the 42,300-word letter offers a glimpse into the pope’s stance on AI, highlighting various concerns over the dangers of technology as well as a need for safeguards to be put in place.

Continued below.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91548280/pope-leo-ai-warning-social-media-reactions-to-poignant-letter

Michie · May 30, 2026

Washington Nationals executive Sean Hudson has been fired days after an undercover video showed him saying the team excluded pitcher Trevor Williams from certain social media content because of the player's Catholic faith.

Hudson, the Nationals' director of community relations, was recorded by an undercover reporter with O'Keefe Media Group in footage released May 26. In the video, Hudson said the team avoided featuring Williams in lighthearted social media posts after the pitcher publicly criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 for honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag performance group known for mocking Catholicism.

The Nationals parted ways with Hudson May 29, three days after the video's release, sources told The Athletic.

The team declined to comment on Hudson's employment status, citing a policy against discussing personnel matters publicly, according to the report.

A spokesperson for the Nationals claimed in a comment to The Athleticthat the team had issued no directive to exclude Williams from social media content. The spokesperson said that Williams, who is currently injured, has been featured in some social media posts, and that Hudson is not on the social media management team.

Continued below.

Nationals executive fired after undercover video sparks controversy over comments about Catholic pitcher - Zeale

Washington Nationals executive Sean Hudson has been fired days after an undercover video showed him saying the team excluded pitcher Trevor Williams from certain social media content because of the player's Catholic faith.

zeale.co

Michie · May 30, 2026

The large protest that erupted inside a Minnesota church earlier this year led to high-profile arrests and federal charges, and it also prompted tougher legislation.

Lawmakers in several states have moved to tighten penalties for disrupting worship services. Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas have enacted laws to protect churches and other houses of worship from interference, while similar bills have been introduced in at least seven other states. Alabama and South Dakota are among the states that have considered related legislation. Nassau County, New York, has adopted a local measure addressing disruptions near houses of worship. Critics say some of these measures could raise free speech concerns.

In January, a group protesting immigration enforcement actions in the Twin Cities disrupted worship at Cities Church in St. Paul after learning that a church staff member was also a local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official.

As protesters chanted slogans and waved signs, parishioners, including young children, huddled in fear. Afterward, the Southern Baptist Convention congregation condemned the disruption as “shameful” and “unlawful.”

Continued below.

Protesters Stormed a Church. Now States Are Criminalizing Worship Disruptions.

New laws in several states increase penalties for disrupting worship services. Learn what church protest laws mean for pastors, congregations, and religious freedom.

churchleaders.com

AV1611VET · May 30, 2026

mindlight said:
The animal soul that behaviorists like to reduce us to is just senses, instincts and a response to stimuli.

johnnypapa · May 30, 2026

Day 30: If Tonight Were Your Last Night, Would You Be Ready?

Death is certain, but its hour remains unknown.

Many people spend their lives preparing for tomorrow while neglecting eternity. Yet every soul will one day stand before God in judgment. The Church teaches us not to fear death, but to prepare for it through repentance, prayer, confession, and perseverance in grace.

In this final day of our Month of Mary Devotion, we reflect upon the traditional Catholic understanding of a holy death and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who assists her faithful children at the hour of death.

May Our Lady obtain for us the grace of final perseverance, that we may die in the friendship of God and enter eternity prepared.

"O Mary, be with me at my last moment."

Ave Maria.

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Christsfreeservant · May 30, 2026

Acts 17:10-13 NKJV

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.”

Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake

It seems like wherever Paul was sent by God to preach the message of the gospel of Christ to the people, if not right away, eventually someone among the Jews (mainly Jews) would stir up the crowds against him, which would sometimes land him in jail or to being beaten. Basically, he was persecuted pretty much everywhere he went because he spoke the truth of the gospel that certain people did not want to hear. And this often resulted in Paul having to depart from where he was and having to go to another location.

I empathize with him. Although, as an adult, I have not been physically beaten, and I have not been put in prison for speaking the truth of the gospel, I have been strongly opposed, mistreated, rejected, persecuted, and cast aside as unwanted because I spoke the truth of the gospel that many did not want to hear. And I have been falsely accused of what I did not do and of who I am not, because people were judging me by their own selves or because they did not want to hear what the Scriptures teach, in truth.

Truth Tellers vs Thieves and Liars

It is so refreshing if you go somewhere and you are received well, and there are people who want to hear what you have to share with them. And this was the situation for Paul in Berea. The Jews there received the word spoken by Paul with all readiness. But they didn’t believe it just because Paul said it, but they tested his words against the Scriptures to find out whether or not what Paul was teaching was indeed the truth. And this is what we all should be doing. We should be testing words spoken to make sure they are of God.

Especially in our day and age, for we have so many thieves and liars and manipulators who are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” pretending to be who and what they are not in order to deceive the people and to lead them astray to follow after what is not of God but is of the devil, instead. Many of them are trained and educated pastors of “churches.” Some of them are politicians or rulers of nations who may or may not have the appearance of all goodness, but they are leading many people to hell on the false promise of heaven.

The Gospel in Summary

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).

For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

And we learn in 1 John 1-3 that if we claim that we have fellowship with God, but yet we walk in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we claim that we know God, but we do not obey his commandments, in practice, we are liars. For it is not the one who claims he is “in Christ” who is “in Christ,” but it is the one who has denied self, died with Christ to sin, and who is now walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, and no longer in sin. We have the hope and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven.

Believe the Truth and Not the Lies

So, as those who are seekers of truth and righteousness, we should be testing the spirits to see which ones are of God, and we should not believe someone just because they are famous or well known or well liked among the people. But we should also not just disregard someone either just because what they are teaching may be different from what we originally believed unless it is obviously blasphemous. We should all be Bereans who search the Scriptures so that we know firsthand what they really teach.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; 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 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

Be Like the Bereans
An Original Work / May 30, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Mark Dohle · May 30, 2026

Long Slow Journey

“If you only knew who God is… and how much He deserves to have you study His unsearchable riches, His generosity, His extreme goodness, His love—and again, yes, always—His love, for love is the essence of His being.”

—Gabrielle Bossis, He and I

One of the blessings of getting older—despite all that one endures—is, for me, a great gift.

When I was a young monk, I was strong, busy, and often driving for the community. It was good for me. Yet, learning to settle quietly in God’s presence took many decades, and not without much frustration.

Working in the infirmary, caring for the elderly, helped me understand human weakness, especially in times of decline and vulnerability. Yet I also used that work, in part, to avoid deepening my relationship with God in any real way. Slowly, over the years, God worked on me—allowing me to struggle, fall, rise again, and gradually grow in trust.

God’s mercy and love can seem harsh when we are confronted with inner realities we did not know we carried. My monastic vocation brought many of these to light. Yet even in that, there was grace.

I still work. I remain Prior and Guest Master. By temperament, I am a good manager, so I am not overwhelmed. I have great respect for our Abbot and will serve as long as he desires, or until age no longer permits it.

By God’s grace—and only by His mercy—I have come to love solitude deeply. I find myself drawn into the vast, bottomless ocean that is God. In times of both consolation and desolation, I am slowly learning that His love does not change.

I pray the Chaplet of Mercy each morning before Vigils. Each day has its own quiet uniqueness. This morning, as I prayed slowly, I was drawn to contemplate Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles. Though He knew He would be abandoned, though He knew Judas’s intent, He still knelt before each one in love.

Then, suddenly, it was my own feet He was washing.

I recoiled inwardly—almost horrified by the turn my meditation had taken—yet I stayed with it. One of my sufferings in old age is my longing for God, alongside the painful awareness of how little I truly love Him. My heart remains guarded in ways that only grace can gently work open.

God as servant—everything turned upside down.

If I could weep, I would have. That, too, is a small sorrow I must carry and be patient with. I often feel like a moth drawn to light, continually meeting an invisible barrier—yet the pull only grows stronger.

When I speak with guests, I often feel they are closer to God than I am. Perhaps that is why I am a monk. I need the community; I cannot do this alone.

The Abbot understands me well. I have a tendency to isolate, which is not the same as solitude. He gently challenges me to remain connected. I am grateful for that, even when it stirs resistance in me. The resistance passes.

On Holy Thursday, the Abbot washes the feet of the community, mindful of its meaning. This morning’s grace has deepened that meaning for me. In the Rule, we are called to be obedient to one another—not only to the Abbot.

Yes, getting older—with all its burdens—may be the most important time of all, for those who are given the grace to receive it.

—Br. MD

MarkRohfrietsch · May 30, 2026

concretecamper said:
Sorry of like saying, for the sake of this discussion, Jesus is nothing more than just another teacher.

How very "Catholic" of you.

David Lamb · May 30, 2026

mindlight said:
Which is what I thought I just said. The souls of the martyrs are clearly conscious during the intermediate state as are parties on both sides of the unbridgeable chasm in the case of Lazarus and the Rich man.

In that case, sorry for my misunderstanding.

David Lamb · May 30, 2026

Roman57 said:
MSN

Interesting, but 3 of the "slides" your link takes me to are adverts for things like solar panels and hearing-aids.

mindlight · May 30, 2026

While I have always respected the idea that we do not die perfect and there needs to be some kind of purification for our souls to dwell in the presence of the Lord in the intermediate state. Purgatory sounds a long winded way of doing that compared to the instance burning away of all darkness in the presence of the Lord.

mindlight · May 30, 2026

Phar said:
I mean like God! He`s a bodyless soul just floating everywhere in nature and in you, what does he feed on for energy? And how does he conform energy from his surroundings when he doesn`t have a body, no metabolism?

Cool question. In Genesis 2:7 the word nepesh is used to describe the living soul created when God breathed into dead matter to create the first human. This implied a monistic view of the soul that required both the material and immaterial to function. Aquinas refined our understanding distinguishing between the kind of souls given to plants, animals and rational agents like ourselves made in the image of God. As with most things the New Testament takes us deeper using the interchangeable terms pneuma and psyche to describe the immaterial aspect of our being. This opened up the dualistic possibility of out of body experiences, and the intermediate state in which souls are detached from bodies and yet remain conscious. The final and most perfect state envisaged for us in when we receive our new and glorious bodies at the resurrection and are made whole again.

In one sense the answer to your question is an obvious one. It is the presence of God that sustains the immaterial soul as it was his breath that gave it life in the first place and reanimated it at Pentecost in anticipation of the new creation that we personally experience through our new glorified bodies and now with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

But there are two kinds of people in the intermediate state, believers and unbelievers. Believers dwell continually with God so their sustenance is not really that mysterious but what about unbelievers. Isn't there a kind of absence in their case which makes how they survive to the judgment a little more mysterious. God sustains them without burning away their delusions, healing their wounds. IN effect their souls remain conscious in dark degraded bubbles so how is it they remain conscious at all.

That said maybe believers should not worry about those who are headed for that other place as their is an unbridgeable chasm fixed between them and us.

Michie · May 30, 2026

Cop who had loud sex with judge in chambers ID’d as deputy chief with Atlanta police: report

The “prominent” cop who allegedly had thunderous sex with Atlanta-based federal judge Eleanor Ross was identified as a deputy chief in the Georgia city’s police department, according to a report.…

nypost.com

Aussie52 · May 30, 2026

Michie said:
This is the Catholic forum for anyone that has not noticed.

Sorry!

New Posts

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NASER NAVARD GOL-TAPATH​

Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh sentenced again​

Prisoners transferred back to Evin Prison​

Four prisoners transferred in Iran​

UPDATE: Naser Navard Gol-Tapath Transferred from Evin Prison​

Tehran Prisoners Transferred​

Imprisoned Pastor Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh Suffers Stroke​

Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh | Released ​

Update on Nassar Navard Gol-Tapeh​

Update on Naser Gol-Tapeh​

IRAN​

Contact Address:​

Please read our writing guidelines before writing to prisoners​

Create a print friendly pdf of this profile.​

What does persecution look like in Myanmar?​

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?​

Meet Pastor Yang​

What has changed this year?​

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

How can you pray for Myanmar?​

Vince McMahon and others are sanctioned for destroying evidence in WWE shareholder lawsuit​

Now I’ll have to baptize myself Catholic’: Social media reacts to Pope Leo’s surprisingly poignant warning about AI​

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NASER NAVARD GOL-TAPATH

Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh sentenced again

Prisoners transferred back to Evin Prison

Four prisoners transferred in Iran

UPDATE: Naser Navard Gol-Tapath Transferred from Evin Prison

Tehran Prisoners Transferred

Imprisoned Pastor Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh Suffers Stroke

Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh | Released

Update on Nassar Navard Gol-Tapeh

Update on Naser Gol-Tapeh

IRAN

Contact Address:

Please read our writing guidelines before writing to prisoners

Create a print friendly pdf of this profile.

What does persecution look like in Myanmar?

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

Meet Pastor Yang

What has changed this year?

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Myanmar?

How can you pray for Myanmar?

Vince McMahon and others are sanctioned for destroying evidence in WWE shareholder lawsuit

Now I’ll have to baptize myself Catholic’: Social media reacts to Pope Leo’s surprisingly poignant warning about AI