Hamas announced Friday the names of the three hostages who will be released Saturday in the fifth phase of the first stage of the deal: Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami.

According to the list provided by Hamas, around 180 prisoners will be released on Saturday, similar to last week, including 18 serving life sentences and 111 Gazan detainees who were arrested during IDF operations in Gaza.

Eli Sharabi​

Eli Sharabi, who will turn 53 next week, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. During the massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, Eli lost his entire immediate family — his wife, Lian, and his two daughters, Yahel and Noya, were murdered by Hamas terrorists. His brother, Yossi Sharabi, was also kidnapped on Oct. 7 and was later declared dead while in captivity after the IDF attacked near the building where he was held. His body is still being held in Gaza.

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It would be so wonderful if they lent their talents to immigrants and refugees who are endangered with the new president.

We'll see. Hopefully he's not an Osteen...he is in an affluent suburb.

Bird migration may be to blame.

There comes a point in every child’s life when they ask where babies come from, and some parents—not wanting to explain the details of reproduction just yet—turn to the story of storks. Even if adults are up-front about the facts of life, kids are often exposed to the myth of storks delivering babies via media. Disney’s 1941 animated classic Dumbo, which starts with a scene of the long-legged birds dropping bundled-up babies to their circus animal parents, is the most famous example. But this myth predates Disney by at least a few hundred years.

1. The Less Likely Mythological Origin
2. The More Likely Historical Origin

The Less Likely Mythological Origin​

The roots of this feathery folk story are sometimes traced back to Greek mythology, specifically the tale of the Pygmy queen Gerana drawing the eye—and ire—of Hera, the vengeful queen of the gods. Gerana boasted about her beauty and was deified by her people, so Hera punished her by turning her into a stork. Gerana, not willing to leave her young son behind, either flew around to stay close to him, or, as some later versionstell it, snatched him up in her beak.

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CJPharaoh said:

I need help with this. It is my belief that it is wrong for us to test others. Is it wrong for us to test others? Is it only Gods right and place to test us? Please, if possible, provide Bible verses supporting.

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In what sense do you mean "test"?
Driving test? Sight test? Job interviews, where they might test candidates on their skill, knowledge or suitability for the job? Exam?
All of the above are fine.

But I'm told that, in the Greek, the words "test" and "tempt" are the same, or very similar. I don't think it's a good idea to tempt people, although, again, I suppose it depends on what it is. Eg saying to a friend "can I tempt you to another slice of cake?" may be ok, unless you know they are on a diet or there is another reason they shouldn't have too much sugar. But saying to an alcoholic, "do you want a quick drink", or to a gambler, "on go on, it's only a small bet", would be wrong.

soldier of light said:

The Bible determines

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In 1 Cor 11;1 you become IMITATORS of me ( Paul ) just as I also am of Christ , !!

dan p

Atlanta’s Shrine of the Immaculate Conception provides yet another instance of the rainbow fighting to cast its shadow over the Church. In what should be a place of worship and doctrinal clarity, one finds so-called ministries (Shrine Ministries) such as “Pride Outreach,” “Pride Potluck Socials,” and an affiliated group called Fortunate & Faithful Families (FFF), which describes itself as “Catholic Families Affirming Their LGBTQ Members.”

FFF enjoys the blessing of the local bishop, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, who endorses the group as “a ministry in the Archdiocese of Atlanta that urges families to draw upon reservoirs of faith, hope, and love as families of LGBT children face uncharted futures.”

This is not an isolated case but a microcosm of a far greater crisis. Under the pretense of pastoral care, such organizations promote acceptance without conversion, welcome without repentance, and love without truth—all while certain bishops lend them credibility. In the name of inclusion, they distort the fullness of the Church’s teachings, subtly conforming them to modern sensibilities, despite Scripture’s explicit warning that “the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). By disregarding this, they also ignore the sobering truth that “a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

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From Egypt, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to return to Judea in Mt 2:

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

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During Archelaus' rule, he had to deal with worshippers at Passover on temple ground for their seditious activities, Josephus' "Antiquities of the Jews", Book 17, Chapter 9, Section 3:

He sent a regiment of armed men, and with them a captain of a thousand, to suppress the violent efforts of the seditious; before the whole multitude should be infected with the like madness: and gave them this charge, that if they found any much more openly seditious than others, and more busy in tumultuous practices, they should bring them to him. But those that were seditious on account of those teachers of the law, irritated the people by the noise and clamour they used to encourage the people in their designs. So they made an assault upon the soldiers; and came up to them, and stoned the greatest part of them: although some of them ran away wounded, and their captain among them. And when they had thus done, they returned to the sacrifices which were already in their hands.

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The Jews won the initial fight. They went on to continue to perform their animal sacrifices in the temple.

Now Archelaus thought there was no way to preserve the intire government, but by cutting off those who made this attempt upon it. So he sent out the whole army upon them, and sent the horsemen to prevent those that had their tents without the temple, from assisting those that were within the temple, and to kill such as ran away from the footmen, when they thought themselves out of danger: which horsemen slew three thousand men: while the rest went to the neighbouring mountains.

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In the final fight, Archelaus killed 3000 worshippers around the temple area.

Emperor Augustus didn't like this massacre and dismissed Archelaus and replaced him with a Roman prefect/procurator.

By the 3rd year of Jesus' ministry, Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judea.

ESV, Lk 13:

1 There were some present at that very time who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

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The Jews informed Jesus of a similar incident ordered, this time, by Pilate. The numbers involved were likely a lot lower than Archelaus' massacre.

NIV:

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood [accusative, direct object] Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices [genitive].

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These Galileans did something that Rome and Pilate didn't like. The soldiers attacked them at the temple area while they had the animal sacrifices with them. Their human blood was spilled onto the animals. I don't think the human blood and the animal blood were carefully combined.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The fight against human trafficking requires a global response and coordinated efforts at every level, Pope Francis said.

He urged everyone, “especially representatives of governments and organizations that share this commitment, to join us, animated by prayer, to promote initiatives in defense of human dignity, for the elimination of human trafficking in all its forms and for the promotion of peace in the world.”

His appeal was part of a message released Feb. 7 for the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, observed Feb. 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. The saint was kidnapped by slave traders in Sudan in the late 1870s and sold into slavery before she eventually secured her freedom and became a religious sister in Italy.

Trafficking is a complex problem that is “fueled by wars, conflicts, famine and the consequences of climate change,” the pope wrote. “It therefore requires global responses and a common effort, at all levels, to tackle it.”

Invoking hope during the Holy Year​

Continued below.

The Roman Catholic bishops of Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, have issued a joint statement about immigration policy and enforcement in the United States, describing the issue as “both complicated and emotional.”

In their statement, Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv, of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of the Diocese of Raleigh indicate that while “there is room for disagreement and discussion with respect to immigration policy, we wish to remind our more than 1 million Catholic faithful in North Carolina of the stated positions of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, formed by Catholic social teaching, and encourage personal reflection and formation on these issues.”

“We respect our borders and laws AND support immigration policy reforms and care for those who are already here, many already contributing members of our society for years. We do not see these ends as mutually exclusive,” the bishops state.

“We recognize there are persons residing in the United States without legal documentation and we do not condone violating the law,” the bishops make clear. “We will not counsel anyone to thwart or resist proper law enforcement but will continue to provide education about individuals’ legal rights,” they add.

Continued below.

Here is a roundup of recent abortion- and pro-life-related news:

Undoing Missouri’s abortion rights amendment​

Missouri Republicans are taking steps to partially reverse the state’s new constitutional right to abortion via a ballot question.

The ballot resolution would ask voters to allow an abortion only in the case of a medical emergency, fetal abnormality, or rape or incest.

The measure, if passed, would also constitutionally ban hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries for gender transition for minors. The procedures are currently banned for minors but the restriction expires in August 2027. If passed in the Legislature, the ballot question could go before voters this year, should Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe call a special election.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio capped a whirlwind tour of Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic this week by signing fresh migration accords designed to stem northbound flows. But the trip was as much about Central America as it was about China as the Trump administration aims to reclaim American influence and authority in the continent away from its Far East rival.

Rubio began his trip in Panama, where he attended Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in Panama City, a nod to the Catholic faith he often cites as a guiding force in his life. Talks swiftly pivoted to U.S. priorities: curbing illegal migration, restraining Beijing’s influence, and ensuring authoritarian regimes face repercussions for driving mass migration.

During meetings with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Rubio warned of China’s “influence and control” near the canal’s logistics chain. In response, Mulino announced that Panama would let its participation in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative expire, effectively distancing the nation from a deal it had signed in 2017.

Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta pointedly defended Panama’s sovereignty and the canal’s neutrality, calling it a “symbol of national identity.”

Continued below.

notyourenemy said:

She wasn't calling him out to give illegal immigrants "a pass"; she was calling on him to show them *mercy*, which I believe Jesus identified as one of the weightier measures of the law. And even lawbreakers are supposed to be given due process; that's in the Constitution and it applies even to those who aren't citizens.

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What would Trump showing them mercy look like?

notyourenemy said:

And while I don't agree with transgenderism myself, here again the Bishop was pointing out that there are such people who are AFRAID. Common human decency shouldn't be reserved only for those of whom you approve. Didn't Jesus also say something about there being no reward in loving only those who love you?

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Why are they afraid?

notyourenemy said:

And who qualifies as a child of God would be best left for God to determine, I would think.

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Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NIV

With the world shocked, enthusiastic or outraged at U.S. President Donald Trump’s idea to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate its population, it is worth recounting the recent history of the area and the previous attempts to solve the Gaza problem through resettlement — which brought mixed success.

The problem began in 1948, during Israel’s War of Independence, a recent video by Kan News explained.

When the newly created Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pushed the invading Egyptian army back south, a flood of some 200,000 refugees fled ahead of it.

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Just as Trump could not stay on target, in his presidential campaign speeches,
so too, he seems to not be able to stay on target with his creative ideas
(which are NOT solutions) as a president.

Even his close supporters, cannot figure out why he would continue to bring up
ideas that ...

1 Horrify and alienate America's allies

2 Enervate America's enemies to point out how ineffective his ideas are

3 Often, have nothing to do with the policy that he ran his campaign on.

Serious American business managers need a president who is MUCH, MUCH more
thoughtful than some hallucinating and poorly designed Artificial Intelligence tool.

Dominican priests react to the visage of a holy man they have grown to know and love.
Recreation of St. Thomas Aquinas from 3D imaging using the saint’s skull. (photo: Courtesy photo / Cicero Moraes)

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with comments from the project's research team.



On the heels of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas touring the nation, a new study released this week gives Catholics a glimpse at what the “Angelic Doctor” may have looked like.

The image of the doctor of the Church who contributed a wealth of wisdom in the areas of theology and philosophy was reconstructed using the saint’s skull.

The lead author of the new study, Brazilian 3D designer Cicero Moraes, who has reconstructed the faces of other saints, told the Daily Mail, “We initially reconstructed the skull from photographic and structural data.”

“In the end, we combined all this data to create the basic bust and also generate a colored version, based on the iconography of the saint,” explained Moraes.

Continued below.

Catholic Relief Services lost half their budget. They could start there.
Are we supposed to be grateful?
Mr. Musk, thank you for sparing half the programs for clean water in Africa. I will sleep peacefully knowing only half as many African babies will die of dysentery. SMH.

Nithavela said:

Has anyone checked if it's DEI?

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Yes, it was a DEI agent's head exploding because of the current DEI policy that brought down the plane.

Peace in Christ.

We must change our minds (“repent”) and be converted, that our sins may be blotted out (Greek: exaleiphō).

Then the times of refreshing shall come from the presence (Greek: prosōpon -FACE) of the Lord.

We are to be His “open face” in this world to which the outside people of this world who are in deep darkness shall see His glory light shining towards them and will come to it/us (refreshing us).

Act 3:19-20
(19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence (FACE) of the Lord;
(20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

But our sins must be “blotted out”.

What is to be blotted out (Greek: exaleiphō) is the keeping and serving of the church handwriting of ordinances/dogmas. We are forgiven for it as He takes it out of the way and nails it to His cross. The church handwriting brings us trouble as it is contrary (hostile) to us.

Col 2:14-15 KJV
(14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

We are to follow Him out of the congregations of man-based churches….making an open show of them…triumphing over them in Christ.

Their handwritings no longer have power over us. We are to “spoil”…that is, to divest wholly ….their “principalities and powers” (the ordinances/dogmas) by which they had ruled us by.

(15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

We must no longer be partakers with them (the children of disobedience who are keeping and serving their church handwritings) as now we are LIGHT in the Lord.

Eph 5:6-8 KJV
(6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
(7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
(8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Then the times of refreshing shall come at His face as we shall then be able to reflect His glory light toward the outside world that is living in spiritual darkness.

When Christ shall “appear” ….that is, SHINE, then we shall also appear (shine) with Him in glory….and those on the outside shall see it and come to it....which shall be refreshing.

Col 3:4
(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear (SHINE), then shall ye also appear (SHINE) with him in glory.

This shining shall give the people in the outside darkness the knowledge of the glory of God as we shall reflect the glory of His Son…in the face of Jesus Christ…toward them. They will have knowledge of His glory as we shall shine it towards them.

2Co 4:6 KJV
(6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Those who are on the outside (the "earth") shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD ...as we shall shine it towards them and the goal is to fill the whole earth with it.

Hab 2:14 KJV
(14) For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Again, we must “arise” from the dead man-based churches and depart from them in order to shine so that His glory shall IRRADIATE (rays of light shoot forth) us.

Isa 60:1-2
(1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen (IRRADIATE) upon thee.
(2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Then the outside world shall come to our light and their kings to the brightness of our irradiation….which refreshes us. The earth will then flow with milk and honey rather than give us hardship.

Isa 60:3-8 KJV
(3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
(4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

We shall then see the people of the outside world come to us….and our hearts shall be startled (with amazement). It will be “refreshing” as they will no longer treat us with contempt and scorn as they did before but instead they will now come to the light in us.

(5) Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
(6) The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
(7) All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
(8) Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

The man-based churches will not hear this though. They will resist even though this is way to the refreshing.

Isa 28:12 KJV
(12) To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

ariekitten said:

So, my dad pointed out to me the other day that during Jesus's 1000 year reign, the martyred for Christ will reign with him?
I'd never noticed that.
Here's a thought, if all the Christians are gone, how will anyone hear the gospel? I thought the tribulation was when Jesus began reaping the harvest, and people would have this "second chance" to repent, you know?
That's what I get.
Yes, in my dream, my sister (I ponder she might be atheist in real life, but...) and i were in a huge like walmart or supermall underground bunker as refugees on cots. i was trying to find our parents, and this alien (who was a good one, but aliens had rounded us up like cattle) got my attention and motioned me to the bathroom. there was a huge dressing room area further back in the bathroom (which said restricted to staff only - aliens) and an underground river where on a tiny boat my parents were tied up, back to back, gagged. the alien didn't speak but used mind communication to say he wanted to help me and he would free my parents. he looked like we did, but only on his planet he said. he showed me his face - he was really handsome. i thought it was weird the dream made me feel like "romance" was in the air, but i remember fear because the guy was an alien.
he helped me free my parents, and i asked if he'd get in trouble, and he said we cannot tell anyone, but then yes, he was going to get in trouble....he thought we were good people and thought Jesus was correct. I don't really know what Jesus meant when He said He had other flocks of which we know not, but....if you're still listening ! HA!
I had this other dream where I was in a strange land and they needed Jesus and it was forbidden to speak of Jesus, but I called Jesus up on a phone somehow. He said yes He knew there were many other places that were not yet ready for His works, but....really interesting to think that other "peoples" out there might have salvation through our influence on them! Be ready in any season, right?

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Your dream reminds me of the Nazis rounding up the Jews during WW2 where few of the Nazis/Germans were nice and helped hid/escape the Jews.

In my dream, the aliens as a whole would either round you up or treat you nicely. If there were nice to you, they will show their face to you and talk to you in your language plainly as well as reveal you their plans, even smile and hug you.

I can't remember his/her face nor anything he or she told me which is really weird.

I remembered some of their faces in other dreams. They looked like Polynesians/Native Americans.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) banned biological men from competing in women’s sports on Thursday, Feb. 6, to comply with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump the previous day.

A new NCAA policy that went into effect on Thursday afternoon states that biological men are no longer eligible to compete on women’s college athletic teams under any circumstance. The NCAA is the largest college athletic association and governs the athletic policies for the highest levels of college sports.

“We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement.

“To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard,” Baker said.

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Joseph G said:

Actually, the purpose of the thread is more complex.

1) In reference to the Creation/Evolution debate, it will ultimately always be disappointing for the person who presumes to grasp origins through mere intellectual assent as a) we weren't there, and b) we aren't God.

2) And in that, the Scripture in the vid and the visuals of what *we cannot create or perform ourselves* - though we take great satisfaction in our growing ability to perceive their properties - is a demonstration of why its ultimately really futile to sit in judgement over God - in Who He is or in how He does what He does.

Which is included because the underlying point of resistance we have towards acknowledging His existence and crediting Him with creation - is that we would open ourselves to being morally accountable to Him, seeking to know Him and what His plan for our lives is, and thereby submitting to His will - which is precisely His point in His challenge to us.

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We are growing tired of that falsehood, Joseph. It is offensive and insulting and wrong.

Joseph G said:

The true treasure to be had, is that He provides answers to the questions like the ones posed in the vid and much much more - and above all to resolve our eternal destiny through Jesus. But again, He reserves such revelation for those who are sincerely seeking Him - through faith.

The prayer is that we all come to recognize that no matter how we strive - our intellects are just too limited to satisfy - and that all the vanities of this life are profoundly disappointing - and we finally choose to do just that - seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

www.biblegateway.com

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What's clear is that your purpose here is not to evangelize but to attempt to drive all those who don't accept your interpretation of scripture from their faith in Christ.
Christ.

CBP is doing a good job and how they find this stuff out of all the boxes imported from Japan is beyond me. I've watched videos of people getting busted at airports for transporting drugs and customs agents a pretty smart too.

Fantine said:

Compassion is never "contrived." It is a God-inspired response to suffering that people who are open to His prompting (like Bishop Budde) respond to with love and integrity.
What is contrived is people who are callous to the suffering of immigrants and refugees contorting Bible verses to justify their callousness.

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Works both ways Fantine. I stand by what I said.

UNRWA, the State Department wrote, had already removed or changed the content before the report's release. Shortly thereafter, however, Impact-se issued a follow-up report that identified additional "problematic cards," including "references to jihad in and violence in Arabic language lessons for grades 6 and 9," as well as references to "the Israeli occupation." UNRWA determined that those terms did not violate "U.N. principles," according to the State Department memo, which states that only "some other audiences" may object to them.

Not surprising.