New Posts

LoricaLady · Nov 24, 2024

Bhutan

Pray for the endurance of believers in Bhutan who are often ostracised, denied jobs and falsely accused.
YES - I will Pray

Bhutan

Please pray for greater religious freedom in Bhutan. Christian converts can be exposed to harsh treatment from their family and local community, including losing their jobs or being disinherited. Bhutanese culture is very communal and the protection of family is paramount, so being ostracised by relatives has a significant impact on a convert’s life.
YES - I will Pray

Sudan

Praise God for the large numbers among the Sudanese diaspora who have come to Christ in neighbouring countries. Pray for their protection and that they will stand strong as new believers and share their faith with their families and wider community.
YES - I will Pray

Sudan

Pray for the protection of front-line workers (nationals and foreigners), as well as for their boldness in proclaiming the gospel and for provision of their spiritual and practical needs.
YES - I will Pray

Pray that those who have converted to Christianity would experience God’s peace in whatever circumstances they are living.
YES - I will Pray

YES - I will Pray

Let us also pray for prisoners pf faith, to be freed, and healed in every way.

LoricaLady · Nov 24, 2024

45Comoros

The majority of the people in Comoros follow Sunni Islam – instituted as the state religion in 2018.
Christians are forbidden from sharing the Gospel, and any distribution of Bibles or religious materials to a Muslim is illegal. Sunni Muslims are the only ones allowed to participate in public religious celebrations, and Comoros doesn’t have an official process to register non-Sunni religious groups.
There are many reports of local communities ostracising individuals suspected of converting from Islam to Christianity, which forces many converts to keep their faith a secret. Any Christian who evangelises can face legal consequences, including a fine and up to a year in prison. Finally, in some parts of this small country, extremist groups are active and threaten believers.

Meet Titus

“Barely three days after I decided to follow Christ, my house was burned down. I felt this was a test of my faith in Christ, but it turned out to be faith strengthening.”
Titus (name changed), a Christian who converted from Islam.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Open Doors works through local partners to strengthen the persecuted Church in the East African islands through discipleship and economic empowerment projects.

Please pray

Pray for protection for Christians who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ out of Islam.
Ask God to give secret Christians the knowledge that they belong to a global family.
Pray that the government of Comoros will ease their restrictions on practicing the Christian faith.

JimR-OCDS · Nov 24, 2024

Monasteries also developed wine and beer, which I appreciate!

Michie · Nov 24, 2024

Stephen3141 said:
This is an interesting article in the National Catholic Register. But, I don't think
that it is insightful. For the following reasons...

1 Trump still has not won over 50% of all the votes cast. Most votes cast
(and they are still being counted) are for a non-Trump candidate. To claim
a great "mandate" with less than half of the votes cast, is a large and
problematic exaggeration.

2 The author of the article does not seem to realize that "Latinos" are not
a single group. There are hispanics, and chicanos, and middle class
people who have immigrated legally from "latino" countries, and
"latinos" who are legal immigrants, but still working uneducated jobs
that are essentially manual labor. There are "latino" men, who were
attracted by Tump's crude language of male superiority (and disregard
of policy). There are simply men, who are alienated by the Democratic
Party's endless praise of women (among their "diversity" language), and
(like some Christian congregations who endlessly underline "diversity"),
latino men just didn't feel comfortable in an openly and almost exclusive
feminism of the Democratic Party. This is more a reaction to sexual biases,
than an ethnic one.

3 The situation with Catholic Christians is also complicated. Some Catholics
are one-topic voters (abortion on demand), and don't seem to understand
what the Pope himself said -- that Catholics should take into consideration
more than one topic, when voting. Also, many Catholics seem to not know
that Trump has changed his view on abortion on demand, and is not the
strong pro-life candidate he claimed to be, a year ago. The emphasis of the
Democratic Party on an "in-your-face" feminism, lost Catholic voters. But,
so did the ignorance of Trump's true position on abortion on demand,
also left many Catholics voting for Trump.

4 Still, about 40% of Americans get their "news" from non-news sources,
such as social media. Those who read only Fox News, and not the top
20 news sources in America, are often raised on a diet of conspiracy theories
that the rest of the news sources in America recognize as fairy tales.
If analysts bothered to investigate how individual voters get their "news",
I think that you would find that those who are not critical of their "news"
source, often held positive spins about Trump that are not supported
by credible information.

5 For those who do not credible fact-checking, many voters would not face
the endless lies and misrepresentations of the political candidates. The
professional journalists tended to NOT want to mention this problem
of outright lying by political candidates. So much for their claims to be
objective speakers of truth, regardless of the popularity of such speaking.
The language used to characterize candidates, turned from the crude,
often, to the VILE. And, it seems that Christians could not process all the
different claims of the candidates, AND the fact that some candidates were
speaking vile lies, endlessly.

6 The situation is complicated, as the "electronic screen" generations have
gotten used to living in a fake reality of logically invalid arguments, and
logically unsound definitions (used in those arguments). They seem to live
their life as if they are playing an online game, that is completely disconnected
from history, and the destructive definitions and policies of past dictators,
that lead to World War II. Trump also, seems to be ignorant of the historical
meanings of some of the shock vocabulary that he uses. With 3 generations
of electronic screen gamers, many of them are oblivious to logically valid and
sound arguments. They have become largely "gamer voters", cut free of
the historical definitions of Democracy, and the founding documents of
America.

---------- ----------

This election was "historic".
But not because it was some sort of "great mandate" for Trump and his policies.

The Republican Party has dumped its historic conservatives. In their place
are popularity figures, who make their case with parochial social media
commentators, who often embrace ridiculous conspiracy theories. For the
Republican Party, this was an election based on social media propaganda.
(This is why so many conservative Republicans openly advocated voting
for Harris.)

The Democratic Party doubled down on the far left of its members, and the
resulting message was something that could not connect with a lot of the
Middle Class (the Moderate Middle) of America. The Democratic Party should
have shed its entire far left, and embraced the Moderate Middle of America.

Both parties have shifted so far from their historic roots, that Americans really
need to consider whether or not either Party represents the Moderate Middle of
America, and the values/morals that are needed to uphold the fair rule of law
in America, and justice.
---------- ----------

The author from the National Catholic Register, got almost all the dynamics
of this latest presidential election, wrong.

But, many of the electronic screen Catholic Christians who read
the article, don’t have critical thinking skills, and won’t recognize
The weaknesses of the analysis.

Just wow. When one has to result to insults it’s really difficult not to see through the biases and sense of superiority. Nobody takes that seriously.

Michie · Nov 24, 2024

We celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year B, this Sunday. The name sounds impressive: The ultimate power ruling not just the world, but 200 billion trillion solar systems spinning around 200 billion trillion stars from here to the far reaches of space.

But the image we get in the Gospel for the day is less impressive: An imprisoned small-town carpenter crowned with thorns. How do you look at this suffering figure and see the King of Everything?

Here are takeaways from “This Sunday” columns and The Extraordinary Story podcast.

First: Jesus doesn’t address Pilate like a trapped man pleading for his life, but like the Ruler of the Universe putting a government functionary in his place.

Pilate and Jesus are both confident in their confrontation, because they both have faith in the power that backs them.

Pilate faces the son of God — the Way , the Truth, and the Life — and seems to know Jesus is innocent. But he is willing to condemn him anyway because he thinks he has nothing to fear: Caesar has his back, along with the legions of Rome.

So Pilate asks him boldly: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus certainly is that. He is the Son of David that was promised, the Messiah King — but he knows what Pilate is really asking. Pilate wants to know: “Are you a rival claimant to the authority of Caesar?”

Continued below.

This Sunday, Five Takeaways From the Words of Christ the King to Pontius Pilate … and Us

How can we look at this suffering figure and see the King of Everything?

media.benedictine.edu

Minister Monardo · Nov 24, 2024

Akita Suggagaki said:
I find it easy to say but hard to do. It takes real trust.

The comprehension is in the Redemption:
Psalm 31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Minister Monardo · Nov 24, 2024

jonojim1337 said:
The Scripture tells us how God operates. It revolves around what is communicated in the text. It is hard to kick against the rocks.

Hebrews 12:
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

This is the sure mercies of David
Acts 13:34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:
‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’

2 Samuel 7:
14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men
and with the blows of the sons of men.
15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.

Luke 1:67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74 To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

Minister Monardo · Nov 24, 2024

jonojim1337 said:
I think nothing demonstrates a spiritual battle better than peoples' unability to understand the meaning of these four characters, believers and unbelievers alike. They will go to whatever length, just to Blapsheme.

Matthew 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and will deceive many.

If they come in the Lord's name, then what is the implication of claiming 'I am Christ'?
Christ-christos means anointed one. Therefore, they are claiming "I am Anointed". Beware of those who make this claim. The Anointing is found in the fellowship of Saints by the Holy Spirit, not an individual. John is addressing the Ecclesia, not individuals when he states:
1 John 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
27 But the Anointing (chrisma) which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same Anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

When the Ecclesia has been broken down unto essentially "not one stone left upon another",
then the chrisma will no longer function but will be taken out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

Michie · Nov 24, 2024

The Old Testament forbids consuming blood, but what is the status of this requirement for Christians?

A common objection to the Catholic faith is the idea that the Bible forbids the drinking of blood, yet Catholics claim to drink the blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

It’s true that the Old Testament forbids consuming blood, but what is the status of this requirement for Christians?

Soon we will look at drinking Christ's blood specifically, but here let's look at the Old Testament prohibition on consuming animal blood ...

Animal Blood as Food

Neither Christianity nor Judaism are vegetarian religions. Both acknowledge the possibility of eating animals. Biblical Judaism even mandates it, with the requirement of consuming the Passover lamb.

But what parts of an animal are okay to eat?

Continued below.

Are Christians Forbidden to Consume Blood?

The Old Testament forbids consuming blood, but what is the status of this requirement for Christians?

www.ncregister.com

Michie · Nov 24, 2024

There are no purposeless activities at Mass, and the use of incense is no exception.

Many people, particularly within our pews, do not know the reasons for the use of incense in worship. Even I, when I was a Franciscan friar using incense as an altar server, often thought, “Why?”

All of us who see incense need to reflect on its purpose, for we don’t do meaningless activities at Mass. When I reflected on its place in Scripture, I found that there is a surprising number of verses on the matter.

The first instance of incense appears over a thousand years before Jesus. It was the major event on Mount Sinai in Exodus 24: God came down as a large cloud over the mountain, with fire, and Moses was called up into the cloud. God did not come down casually with a human face. Nobody could even see him! He was clouded in mystery. Exodus 24:15-18 reads,

Continued below.

Why Have Incense at Mass?

Many people, particularly within our pews, do not know the reasons for the use of incense in worship. It's worth finding out.

www.catholic.com

Akita Suggagaki · Nov 24, 2024

Stephen3141 said:
This, I think, is more the picture of Trump, that we should be discussing.

But where do we begin and to what end? It seems half the people in the country dispute you picture in favor of an idealized icon or even savior of our present ills created by democrats and liberals. I think al we can do at this point is pay attention and correlate his decisions with actual results. And this is where truth telling will be so important.

Take something like deportations. If it is carried out on the massive scale promised there will certainly be unintended consequences. Can we still rely on Reuters and WSJ?

Michie · Nov 24, 2024

In October, New York Times pundit and author Ross Douthat penned an opinion column on the theme that religious belief among the disillusioned could be poised for a comeback.

The column was timely for two reasons: First, there has been a spate of new book releases on the question of faith’s rebound, and second, that Douthat himself is among the authors of these religion-themed books.

Douthat’s latest effort, “Believe: Why Everyone Should be Religious,” is set for release in February. In many ways, the new book is a natural outgrowth of Douthat’s emergence as a conservative-minded cultural critic whose work by his own admission is “to make religious belief intelligible to irreligious readers.”

An adult convert to Catholicism, Douthat is also author of “The Deep Places” (2021), a poignant memoir of the writer’s struggle with the lingering effects of Lyme disease. In that work, Douthat makes several references to the comfort and resilience he drew from his Catholic faith in returning to health and personal equilibrium.

Continued below.

'Believe' offers a logical and compassionate case for religious belief

Can faith rebound? Ross Douthat’s "Believe" challenges modern skepticism and offers a compelling case for religion today.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

Michie · Nov 24, 2024

Imagine a day when altar boys became bishops, monks led wild dances, and hymns gave way to irreverent songs about donkeys.

Welcome to the Feast of Fools, a raucous medieval celebration that transformed cathedrals across Europe into scenes of hilarity and chaos. Rooted in ancient liturgical traditions, this peculiar festival turned the hierarchy of the Church on its head, sparking joy—and scandal—before the Church ultimately banned it.

Emerging in 12th-century France and celebrated primarily on January 1, the Feast of Fools embodied the biblical paradox of “the last shall be first.” It was a day for role reversals, where subdeacons—the lowest-ranking clergy—parodied their superiors in mock ceremonies. Choirboys might be crowned as “boy bishops,” and even a “Pope of Fools” could preside over exaggerated rituals. These antics symbolized humility, reflecting the idea that even the foolish and lowly are favored by God.

But what began as a symbolic and playful reminder of humility quickly spiraled into farce.

Continued below.

When Clergy Became 'Fools' and Chaos Ensued: The Bizarre Medieval Feast of Fools the Church Had to Ban | uCatholic

The medieval 'Feast of Fools' had clergy and lay people swap roles—the celebration got so chaotic, the Church eventually had to ban it.

ucatholic.com

BCP1928 · Nov 24, 2024

ozso said:
I know, because the US government thinks that it's in charge of the world. And the world uses that to make the US their cash cow.

Right. It's the doctrine of American Exceptionalism.

mindlight · Nov 24, 2024

Nithavela said:
Scholz sets stage for German snap election as government collapses

Germany’s chancellor said a confidence vote will first take place on Jan. 15 after announcing he would fire his finance minister.

www.politico.eu

I guess the big issues that need dealing with are a response to the challenge of a Trump presidency, the malaise in the German economy, what to do if Trump abandons Ukraine, the rise of the AFD.

If Trump does end the Ukraine war on day one or soon after then there will be domestic pressure to cut military spending at a time when a continuance of the US Alliance depends on a 2% level, a boost to the economy and especially German manufacturing. In the light of reduced uncertainty and restored economic growth the support for the AFD might fade away quite quickly. So whoever gets elected might get a boost immediately following their election anyway.

Some implications of a Trump presidency - different definitions of freedom. American ones will be less supportive of the transgender madness or of killing the unborn than in Europe. Will Europe seek to define itself in opposition to Trump or work with him as far as possible to preserve the Europe-US alliance?

mindlight · Nov 24, 2024

The US Economy looks quite healthy at first glance but the real issues about debt, deficits, and the unequal distribution of the benefits of growth are not being discussed at all. It is a kind of collective con that both Democrats and Republicans seem to buy into. Declining Social Mobility, the extraordinary waste of resources in the health sector are a big problem. No one is talking.

OldAbramBrown · Nov 24, 2024

rocknanchor said:
... if He does, I would not advise become hardened against the possibility.

I agree. Couldn't settle upon a better word.

1Tonne · Nov 24, 2024

Great verses. Love them. They need to be preached in churches more often.

mindlight · Nov 24, 2024

Mr. M said:
NASA scientists study and model the Sun to better understand what it does and why.
The Sun has its ups and downs and cycles between them regularly.
Roughly every 11 years, at the height of this cycle, the Sun’s magnetic poles flip —
on Earth, that’d be like if the North and South Poles swapped places every decade —
and the Sun transitions from sluggish to active and stormy. At its quietest, the Sun is at
solar minimum; during solar maximum, the Sun blazes with bright flares and solar eruptions

Solar cycle predictions give a rough idea of what we can expect in terms of space weather, the conditions in space that change much like weather on Earth. Outbursts from the Sun can lead to a range of effects, from ethereal aurora to satellite orbital decay, and disruptions to radio communications or the power grid. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts: With accurate predictions, we can prepare.

What Will Solar Cycle 25 Look Like? - NASA
Homepage | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center
Solar Cycle 25 Forecast Update | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Eventually, scientists would like to issue weekly forecasts for the Sun, just like meteorologists do for Earth. But solar cycle and space weather forecasting have far to go. There are still questions about the Sun’s interior to answer and important data to collect.

My understanding is that this will have a minimal impact on Earth's climate but may mess up high-orbit electronics, power grids and communications for a season.

FutureAndAHope · Nov 24, 2024

If you find it easier to watch a video, I have made one with similar content to the OP.

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Yusuphhai · Nov 24, 2024

虽然我出生在北京，但我的語言第一感更接近粵語。如果粵語消亡，中國人就離漢語古音更遙遠，而更像是一個滿族化和共產化的社會，燦爛的古典文化會被破壞和扭曲。香港（粵語和英語地區）會失去自由的國際地位。教會如果失去文化和語言的多樣性，就會減少活力。

Although I was born in Beijing, my first sense of language is closer to Cantonese. If Cantonese dies out, the Chinese people will be more distant from the ancient Chinese sound, and more like a Manchu and communist society, and the splendid classical culture will be destroyed and distorted. HK (Cantonese and English erea) will lose its free international statue. If the church loses cultural and linguistic diversity, it will reduce its vitality.

RileyG · Nov 24, 2024

Michie said:
You talk to a priest. It’s never a good idea to seek important advice on the internet. I’ve not had children and I’m considered married by the Church. There is always more to the story than most think.

Yup. I 100% agree.

Christsfreeservant · Nov 24, 2024

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Salt is used for seasoning and for preserving food. And to season is to flavor, and flavor is the distinctive taste of a food or drink; an indication of the essential character of something. And food is often a symbol spiritually of the word of God, of the truth of the gospel, and of Jesus Christ himself.

So we who are following Jesus Christ with our lives are to be an indication to the people of the earth of the essential character of Jesus Christ and of his gospel message. And salt is for preserving this food, so we are to maintain, uphold, continue in, protect, safeguard, and defend the essential character of Jesus Christ and of the truth of the gospel by what we say and by how we live our lives.

However, if we lose our taste, i.e. if we no longer show forth the essential character of Jesus Christ and of the truth of the gospel of our salvation, because we have fallen back into sin, and/or via going back to living like the world and getting caught up in worldly passions, and/or by accepting a diluted gospel message, and being convinced we do not have to repent of our sins and walk in obedience to the Lord and show forth his character in our lives, then we serve no good purpose for the Lord and for his gospel.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Light is Jesus Christ. It is the gospel truth, and it is righteousness, holiness, and godliness. So, in essence, we are to be Jesus Christ to the people of this world, i.e. we are to be like him in character, and we are to be doing and speaking the kinds of things he did and spoke to the people. And we are to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness (sin) into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9), which is righteousness, Jesus Christ, the gospel, and obedience to God. And in this way we are the light of the world.

So, we are not to hide that light and to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ and of Christ as our Lord and Savior. But we are to shine forth the message of the gospel and the character of Jesus Christ by how we live our lives. For, Jesus said that we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he prepared in advance that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11-14). But these are the works of God, not our only fleshly works, but the ones he prepared for us to walk in.

Thus, if we are living for the Lord, and if our lives are a reflection of the truth of the gospel and of the character of Jesus Christ, then we are those who are doing the good works he prepared for us to walk in them, and we are living holy and godly lives in obedience to our Lord. We are no longer living in sin, making sin our practice, but righteousness and obedience to our Lord are what we practice. We are not perfect people, but we are being made perfect by the grace of God as we yield our lives to his control.

Be The Salt and Light
Video Talk

May 3, 2023

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For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

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Christsfreeservant · Nov 23, 2024

Flittering here, flittering there,
Idols and idols are everywhere.
No sound of mind there to be found,
Wandering, wandering all around.

No light of day, lives in dismay,
He’s going nowhere from day to day.
Listening not, he’s to be bought,
Slipping and sliding without a thought.

No sense to him, lives with a grin,
Mockery, mockery, all ‘bout him.
Nowhere to go, all is a show,
Comforting, comforting – all he knows.

Not will end well, end up in hell,
While prideful thoughts within him do swell.
All is a game – not him to blame,
While he keeps wandering, all the same.

An Original Work / September 6, 2020

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Animal Blood as Food​

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Bhutan

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Sudan

Sudan

45Comoros

Meet Titus

What does Open Doors do to help?

Please pray

Animal Blood as Food

There are no purposeless activities at Mass, and the use of incense is no exception.