Or the Tetragrammaton - the four letters. However, if you look closely, the name is consisting of three characters (charagma). To understand these, we need to look at the Tetramorph - The Ox, The Lion, the Eagle, the Angel

The Ox is Beholding the Beginning - the heaven and the earth (two horns)

The Lion is Beholding the Ending - the Reign of Christ

The Angel is Beholding the Face of God

The Eagle is Beholding the face of man

The Tetramorph can move in all of these directions - between the beginning and the ending, between God and man.

We know that the Name is above all names, so it is above the Tetramorph, but how is it superior?

The Charagma that is repeated in the Tetragrammaton means Behold. The other two mean Hand and Nail. The meaning doesn't change if we say Behold Hand Nail, but what has happened is that the Two have become One. This allows YHWH to not be constrained to time like the Cherubim, who, even if they are allowed to move freely along this axel, are still required to move along it.

When it comes to the other direction it is clear from the meaning of Hand and Nail, that just as He is Above the Cherubim, he is also Below man.

In this song, Jesus is speaking, and he is asking us to open our hearts to him, and to accept him into our hearts and lives. He is not only saying this to those who don’t know him, but he is saying this to those who think they know him or to those who do know him but who have closed their hearts off to his voice. He is asking that we come and follow him and obey his teachings, for he is our only hope of salvation and eternal life with God.

I think sometimes we can get so caught up in our own lives, or even in Christian ministry, that we don’t really spend the time with our Lord in listening to his words, in listening to him speaking to our hearts words of encouragement, direction, correction and/or instruction as we ought to. We may think we are living the Christian life just fine, but we are still so worldly and so focused on ourselves and on our own pleasure and comfort, instead of us listening to his voice and doing what he wants. So, he is calling us to open our hearts to him, to listen to him, and then to obey him.

Open Your Hearts

An Original Work / September 11, 2011

Open your hearts to Me.
Will you not receive me?
I’m your Lord and Savior, Jesus,
I am King of kings.
Listen to Me speaking to you.
Invite Me within.

Hasten to Me calling.
I’ll keep you from falling.
I am with you, and I will
Abide with you always.
Repent of your sins and
Worship Jesus Christ today.

Come and follow your Lord.
Obey all His teachings.
Witness to your neighbors,
And tell them of Jesus Christ.
Let them know that He provided
Their sin’s sacrifice.

He is your deliv’rer;
Rock of your salvation;
Cornerstone, rejected by men,
Mighty God is He.
He will give the only hope
Of life eternally.

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Utah police have arrested a man who entered a Catholic church during Sunday morning worship and reportedly attacked parishioners at random by punching them with his fists and striking them with a wooden sword.

Chandler Grillone, 31, was arrested on Sunday morning after he started attacking people at the Cathedral of the Madeline in Salt Lake City, reportedly doing so at random.

Grillone is facing two felony charges of aggravated assault, a felony charge of property damage below $5,000, a misdemeanor assault charge, and charges of disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer, according to ABC affiliate KTVX.

Continued below.

I came across a post on social media that was written by a Christian dating website:





What do you think of the post? Do you agree or disagree with what they're saying? Do you have a different experience?


Even though the post is mainly geared towards single men, I think single women can agree to it and relate to it also. I had a friend years ago that was single but wanted to be married. People in the church kept telling her that "God wanted her to be single" but she didn't feel that way about herself. She eventually found a Christian man (that went to a different church) and married him. A church I used to go to had a problem with allowing a singles class, even though there were older adults volunteering to lead the class. The church leaders' response was "we have more important things to focus on".

I used to be a feminist (except I have always been pro-life). I'm not anymore and haven't been for awhile. When I look back, the only option the schools and my mom promoted was for me to go to college and be whatever I wanted to be. That was my only guidance - zero guidance about how I need to talk to God about my future and how to live my life. And it ended up being a disaster. I will admit that I am not happy with my life right now. I do want a husband; I hate being single most days. I do not want to work long hours for a liberal corporation anymore that promotes sinful things and makes irrational business decisions.

A 30-year-old mother in England has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 25 years for the murder of her 3-year-old son after she attempted to justify weeks of abuse preceding the child's death by saying the "the Bible advised it.”

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, evidence emerged that Christina Robinson, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, subjected her son, Dwelaniyah, to a prolonged period of cruelty, utilizing a bamboo cane for beatings, which she justified using biblical scripture as guidance, The Telegraphreported.

This scripture, she claimed, sanctioned physical chastisement to correct a child's behavior. Robinson's defense centered around these religious beliefs linked to the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, a faith she adheres to.

Continued below.

Atheist Alex O'Connor recently visited with Jordan Peterson. O'Connor told the famous psychologist, “You've spent more time in Exodus than probably anyone I've ever met in person ... When people suddenly say to you, ‘But do you think it really happened?’” Peterson immediately intervened, “Well what the Hell does that mean?”

O'Connor gently pressed Peterson on the historicity of the Exodus. He said, “When somebody says, ‘Did the Exodus story happen? Did the Jews enslaved in Egypt break free of their slavery and move to the Promised Land across the desert for 40 years? Did that happen?’ You have also said of the Exodus specifically, ‘It's still happening.’” Peterson replied, “Yes.”

O'Connor said this type of response is “inappropriate,” and then asked, “Do you believe that these people in that time period actually did this in such a way that for instance might show up in an archaeological report?’” Peterson responded, “I think the simplest answer is, ‘Probably, but we don't know.’” The psychologist incorrectly stated that “we don't know” if the Exodus was an actual historical event. There are plenty of Jews, Christians and others who know for a fact that the Exodus truly took place.

O'Connor essentially wanted to see whether Jordan Peterson believed what the Apostle Paul believed about the Exodus. During a sermon Paul firmly stated, “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers and made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt. With mighty power He led them out of that country and endured their conduct forty years in the desert” (Acts 13:16-18). Paul was certain the Exodus took place.

Continued below.

Sadly, not everyone is who he says he is or who he appears to be. We have many “wolves in sheep’s clothing” among us who serve in the positions of pastors, elders, and deacons (and like positions) within the gatherings of what are called “churches,” and as politicians and government heads within our national and localized governments, and as news anchors on TV stations. Many famous actors and businessmen (and women) and sports heroes are also those who pretend one thing while they live another. But not just them!

But this subject is focusing in on those in positions of power, rule, authority, and/or influence who have the capability to deceive a massive amount of people and to lead them astray to follow after false gods and false beliefs and false gospels created in the minds of human beings, and which are not of God, and not in agreement with the Scriptures, if taught in their appropriate context. And so this is a warning to us that we are to watch out for such people, and so this involves us testing to see if they are of God.

Now, when this says here that they come to us in “sheep’s clothing,” it means that they are pretending to be followers of Jesus Christ in order to get us to trust them so that they can deceive us. So, just because someone claims to be a Christian, it does not mean that person is really a Christian. For Jesus said that not everyone saying to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven. So, it is not what we profess that matters, but it is what we do.

And not only do they put on an outward appearance of being Christians, but inwardly they are “ferocious wolves” out to destroy us and to lead us to destruction and not to eternal life with God. And one of the biggest ways in which they deceive is by teaching the Scriptures outside of their appropriate context and thus twisting them to make them say what they do not say if taught within the right context. So this is why I try to always emphasize the importance of context, so that we don’t end up being deceived by lies.

Now it says here that by their fruit we will know them, but this is not speaking of literal edible fruit. This is referring to how we live – our lifestyles, our practices, our words, our deeds, our attitudes, our behaviors.


Now, this is not to say that any of us will do all of this perfectly all of the time, but if we are following Jesus Christ with our lives, in truth, these qualities should be reflected in our lives, but understood according to their biblical meanings. For patience is not tolerance of deliberate and habitual sin in the lives of other professing Christians. And kindness is not withholding the truth from people they need to hear, and/or speaking lies to people in order to make them feel good so that they will like us and not reject us.

Peace, as well, is not compromise of truth and righteousness and moral purity just so we don’t offend people with the righteousness of God and with his requirements that we, as his followers, live holy lives, pleasing to God, in walks of obedience to his commands, and no longer in sin, if we want to have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. And gentleness is not soft on sin, but it is meekness and reserved strength. And Jesus was meek, but he was not weak. He spoke the truth boldly, and they hated him.

For you see what it says after this list of qualities (fruit)? Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. So this fruit mentioned here has to agree with that statement, in practice. Every quality of that fruit has to agree with the instructions given in the Scriptures regarding how we are to live, as followers of Christ. So this means we live by the Spirit and in step with the Spirit, so our lives are under Holy Spirit control and not under the control of the flesh. We are not worldly.

I believe the biggest thing we need to be watching out for is consistency in words and in practice, and that those who profess to be of God and to be ministers of the Lord in sharing his messages should be people of integrity and who speak truth and not lies. So this is why the Scriptures encourage us to be those who make it our practice to test what we hear said in the name of God/Christ to make certain it really is of God. But we have to read Scriptures in context if we want to get to the truth and not receive the lies.

[Matt 7:15-23; Matt 24:11-24; Lu 6:26; John 10:1-15; Rom 2:13; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Eph 4:17-24; 2 Co 1:12; 2 Co 11:13-15; Php 1:11; Php 3:2; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 1 Tim 6:3-11; 2 Tim 2:22; 2 Tim 3:12-13; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Pet 2:5; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:3-23]

Open My Heart

An Original Work / July 2, 2013

“Be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil” (Rm. 16:19b).

Open my heart. Let Your truth in.
Make of me a servant, pure within;
Sing of Your praise all of my days.
Let Your Spirit transform all my ways.
Jesus Christ died on a cross to
Save me from my sin.
“Repent of sin. Be cleansed within.
Obey all of His commands today.”

“Why do you doubt? Why do you fear?
Jesus Christ will wipe away your tears.
He cares for you. He feels your pain.
Die to sin, and life with Him you’ll gain.
Follow Him where’er He leads you.
Talk with Him each day.
Then you will know what He has planned
For your life before your world began.”

“Come unto Me, weary in heart.
Let My love and grace to you impart.
Believe in Me. Trust in My care.
Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer.
He will meet all of your needs,
And give you peace within.
Rejoice in Him! Tell of His love.
He will give you comfort from above.”

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Salem Media Statement​

In publishing the film and the book, we relied on representations made to us by Dinesh D’Souza and True the Vote, Inc. (“TTV”) that the individuals depicted in the videos provided to us by TTV, including Mr. Andrews, illegally deposited ballots. We have learned that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has cleared Mr. Andrews of illegal voting activity in connection with the event depicted in 2000 Mules.

[Additional butt-covering - ]

Salem Media Group is America’s leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book and newsletter publishing.

--

Right-wing media company Salem apologizes, stops distributing 2020 election conspiracy film ‘2000 Mules’ after lawsuit​

Salem Media Group, the right-wing talk radio network owner, issued a public apology and said it would stop distributing a discredited 2020 election conspiracy theory film after a Georgia man wrongly accused of voter fraud sued the company for defamation.

The Georgia man, Mark Andrews, said in his 2022 lawsuit that “2000 Mules,” a film and book by far-right activist Dinesh D’Souza contained a string of bogus claims about the 2020 election, leading to threats of violence against him and his family.

The apology from Salem came as part of a larger settlement to the lawsuit filed by Andrews.

Hours after former president and presumptive Republican 2024 presidential nominee Donald Trump was convictedThursday on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened his 2016 presidential campaign, megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll pleaded on social media for Jesus to return before Election Day.

"Lord Jesus we would humbly request that you return before November 5," wrote Driscoll, founding pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, in a post on X.

While many conservative Christians see Trump as the answer to America's challenges, earlier this month, Driscoll made it clear in a post on Instagram that he doesn't believe trusting in politicians should be seen as the answer for Christians.

Continued below.

Beautiful and multitalented, Betty Hutton rocketed to stardom. But she also had a precipitous fall and discovered that she needed Jesus.

Betty Hutton, best known as the star of Annie Get Your Gun(1950), took Hollywood by storm when she arrived in the film capital of the world in 1941. Paramount Studios legend A.C. Lyles told me Betty’s moving story just three months after her death.


As a newly-minted junior press agent, it fell to Lyles, who was only 22, to introduce Betty around the studio lot. Organizers of a show at the Shrine Auditorium soon came calling, looking for talent. “It doesn’t have to be a star name, just someone to open the show that has a lot of energy and can get people awake.”

“Naturally that was Betty,” said A.C. “And, when they arrived “the lady said, ‘It’s nice of you to do this because we know that you’re not known here but we hope they will give you a good reception.’ And, Betty said, ‘I might not be known, but they will [know me] after I’m finished.’ She just brought the house down,” said A.C.

Her rapid rise to stardom​

Continued below.

As is his habit, Trump re-creates events and situations in which he is
shown to be deficient.

After he was convicted of felonies in his hush money trial, Trump came
out with a list of wrong information, trying to spin the trial, and place
blame for the fraud on other people than himself.


The list of ways in which Trump imagines that he was persecuted, is a
list of falsehoods.

Many of the points that Trump claims as accomplishments during his presidency,
are falsehoods.

Trump claims that the judge did not allow him to present a robust defense.
This is false.

With all of Trump's massive financial resources, Trump could not come up with
a credible defense. His basic defense was "Cohen is a liar." But Trump knew
this, when he hired Cohen. Who's fault was it, that Trump hired Cohen?

Trump continues to put out slogans that he thinks are explanations that
vindicate him. But, these are empty assertions, or worse, are statements
that go directly against the public evidence.

This word “narrow” means, “restricted, limited, confined, controlled.” It is the opposite of “broad” or “wide” which mean, “wide-ranging, eclectic, assorted, diverse, all-encompassing, varied, inclusive, off the mark.”

In a spiritual sense this is speaking of the way to God and to salvation and to eternal life with God in heaven. Some people are entering via the way that is restricted, limited, and controlled. And this is the way of holiness, righteousness, godliness, moral purity, uprightness, honesty, faithfulness and obedience to our Lord, which are all by-products of genuine God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, but is only by the grace of God and as gifted to us by God.

And this is the narrow way because it is the way of the cross via us dying with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and us walking in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in practice. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. He died that we might live for him and no longer for self. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now become slaves of God and of his righteousness, and honor God with our bodies.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

But the majority of people are on the broad road which leads to destruction, and many of them are people who also profess faith in Jesus Christ but who are not walking the narrow road which is restricted and controlled by God with regard to what we are allowed to do and not allowed to do. For they prefer the broad road because it does not restrict them with regard to how they ought to live, and it does not warn them of divine judgment if they continue on that path which is “off the mark.”

The problem here is that so many people today are flip-flopping these two roads (ways of life) and so they have turned the broad road into the road to heaven and they have turned the narrow road into a lie, essentially. For they are teaching a salvation message absent of the cross of Christ in our lives, for it does not require death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord. All they require is an undefined “faith” that is of the flesh of man and not of God, for it does not submit to God’s will and purpose for our lives.

And so many people, thus, are getting this impression that they can make that profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and now all their sins are forgiven, and they are on their way to heaven, but regardless of how they live. But Jesus said if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. So if we keep on in walking in sin and not in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord, then we will not inherit eternal life with God, but hell will be our destiny.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31]

Full Release

An Original Work / April 15, 2012

Walking daily with my Savior
brings me joy.
Loving Father; precious Jesus;
He’s my Savior and my Lord.
Gently leads me; follow Him.
I’ve invited Him within.
Now abiding in His presence,
oh, what peace.
From my self-life
He has brought me,
By His mercy, full release.

Hope and comfort,
peace and safety Jesus brings
When I daily bow before Him;
Obey freely; do His will.
Follow Him where’er He leads.
Listen to Him; His words heed.
Now obeying his words fully,
oh, what love
That He gives me
through salvation,
By His Spirit, from above.

Loving Father; precious Jesus,
He’s my friend.
With my Savior, by His Spirit,
I will endure to the end.
Share the gospel, tell what’s true.
Witness daily; His will do.
Tell the world of how their Savior
bled and died.
On a cruel cross He suffered
So that we might be alive.

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Paulette Harlow, an elderly woman with a debilitating medical condition was sentenced to 24 months in jail Friday after being convicted last November of participating in a pro-life blockade of a Washington, D.C. abortion clinic in 2020.

Harlow of Kingston, Massachusetts, 75, was convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and of a civil rights conspiracy, a statute that prohibits the violation of someone’s rights guaranteed to them by the U.S. Constitution and law.

The FACE Act prohibits “violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services.”

Harlow was sentenced by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sitting in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the same judge who presided over and sentenced each of the other eight protesters who were found guilty in the case.


Continued below.

The procession in Zahle, Lebanon, for the feast of Corpus Christi, May 30, 2024. | Credit: Marwan Semaan

Thousands of Christians flocked to Zahle, Lebanon, on Thursday, May 30, a city nicknamed "The City of 52 Churches," to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi.

This year's celebration held special significance, marking the 199th anniversary of a miraculous event credited with saving Zahle from a bubonic plague outbreak.

Preparations for the feast began a week prior, culminating in a moving candlelit procession on the eve of Corpus Christi. The procession weaved through the streets of Zahle, starting from St. Elias Al-Touak Monastery and concluding at the Melkite Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance. The faithful walked and prayed in unison, led by the stirring sounds of trumpets. The procession culminated in a blessing bestowed by the Melkite Patriarch Youssef al-Absi and Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim.

Continued below.

Cardinal Kelvin Edward Felix died in his home on the island nation of St. Lucia Thursday, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, at the age of 91.

The Dominican cardinal led the Archdiocese of Castries in St. Lucia from 1981 until his retirement in 2008. In 2014, in his first-ever consistory, Pope Francis made Felix a cardinal, the first from the Antilles.

After his retirement, Felix lived on the island nation of Dominica, where he assisted the local Church.

The Archdiocese of Castries said the retired archbishop moved to the Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of the Assumption on St. Lucia in 2023 to receive medical care for health problems which required him to withdraw from most public functions.

Continued below.

Well, not exactly, Hebrews 12:

5b “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Click to expand...

God disciplines us to train us in righteousness. The result is peace. However, not every time something bad happens to us is a result of God's discipline. This life is a testing place for everyone.

Do believers experience God’s wrath?

No. 1 Thessalonians 5:

9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Romans 5:

9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!

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One month after his ordination as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado expressed his aspiration to “spiritually nourish” the people of God in the Pacific Ocean nation and develop a “harmonious relationship” with the priests of the diocese.

Getalado was ordained bishop at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the Cook Islands’ capital city, Avarua, on April 27 in the presence of Father Giosuè Busti, the first deputy-head of mission at the apostolic nunciature of the Holy See in Wellington and representative of Pope Francis, as well as hundreds of Catholic faithful.

Together with the passionate singing of hymns in Cook Islands’ Māori, English, Fijian (iTaukei), and Filipino at Getalado’s ordination Mass, several men, women, and clergy also wore traditional neck garlands, called Ei Kaki, as a symbol of welcoming, love, and belonging in a community.

“Catholic communities in general are friendly, generous, and active in participating in the life of the parish,” Getalado told CNA. “My hope is to look after the sheep of God in Cook Islands, spiritually nourish them, organize the diocese, and develop a good harmonious relationship with my priests in the diocese.”

Continued below.

A law meant to offer accommodations for pregnant workers has been “twisted” to “undermine human dignity” thanks to a new regulation mandating paid abortion leave, according to the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Timothy Broglio.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to accommodate women for workplace limitations that arise from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, had the full support of the USCCB when lawmakers considered the bill in 2022.

However, regulations issued by President Joe Biden’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this year have interpreted the related medical conditions covered in the law to include abortion.

In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Broglio denounced the EEOC for its new regulations. His op-ed comes less than one week after the USCCB filed a lawsuit, which asks a court to strike down the abortion accommodation rule.

Continued below

Addictions and compulsive behaviors: Alcohol, drugs, pornography, masturbation, lust, fornication, gambling, gluttony, lying, procrastination, evil video games, homosexuality, bisexual, lesbian, etc.

Do these weaknesses prevent you from being born of the Spirit?

No. The LORD looks at the heart.

Do most Christians struggle with porn?

I think so, The Gospel Coalition:

The survey found that approximately two-thirds (64 percent) of Christian men admit they view pornography at least monthly.

Click to expand...

Once you have been born of the Spirit, will you be free from these addictions?

Yes, in some cases, but not in every case. This world is a testing ground.

What should you do?

1. Admit that there is sin involved.
2. Pray for deliverance.
3. When you sin, confess it to God.
4. Confess it with a mature Christian whom you trust. You are accountable to him. Choose someone from your local area whom you can meet face-to-face.
5. Join a church support group if available.

What should you not do?

1. Don't tell your conscience that it is okay to practice this sin.
2. Don't plan to sin and confess later.
3. Don't condemn yourself even if you had planned to sin.

Focus on the grace of God (2 Corinthians 12:9). Have a humble repentant attitude. Addiction impacts the brain on many levels. It may take many years before you are completely free from it. Hopefully, you will experience improvement yearly (Romans 7:15-19). In the meantime, practice How to get closer to God and grow in faith.

Do you think Jesus is coming back soon?

Jesus wanted every generation to be ready for his second coming.

Jesus spoke of future happenings in Matthew 24:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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These are signs from heaven.

33 So also, when you see all these things,

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"you" refers to the future people who will see all those future signs.

you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you,

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Jesus wasn't kidding. He used the words from this passage to speak to the future people ("you").

this generation will not pass away

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Jesus saw this generation in his mind and directly addressed them. When the time comes, this future generation will read this passage as Jesus' words speak to them.

until all these things take place.

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All those signs will occur within a single generation.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

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Jesus's words will come through space-time. He wanted every generation to be ready for his second coming.

Exactly when will Jesus come back?

The disciples asked a similar question in Acts 1:

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

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Jesus answered:

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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The penultimate verse in the Bible, Berean Literal Bible, Rev 22:

The One testifying these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

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Jesus wanted us to act like he would be back in our generation.

I would not waste time trying to figure out the date. In the meantime, spread the gospel.

The above is my current interpretation of the passage. As usual, of course, I could be wrong

See also This generation will not PASS AWAY

Afghanistan​

Give thanks for ‘Adam’ who heads up a Release International partner ministry seeking to see vibrant communities of Jesus followers among the people of Afghanistan.
Number of Prayers 20
YES - I WILL PRAY

Ethiopia​

Pray for the underground churches that our partner planted last year. Pray particularly for the Muslim-background leaders who are being trained in Bible teaching and evangelism.
Number of Prayers 29
YES - I WILL PRAY

Ethiopia​

Pray for those who have come to Christ recently and face open hostility from family and community. Pray that they will stand strong and grow in their new-found faith.
Number of Prayers 37
YES - I WILL PRAY

Ethiopia​

Praise God for a new partnership we have established with an Ethiopian organisation that is sharing the gospel in strategic locations. Pray for protection for its workers who make Jesus known among un-reached communities in Ethiopia and beyond.
Number of Prayers 44
YES - I WILL PRAY

Somalia​

Pray for the gospel work through the media and particularly radio ministry to reach Somalis. Pray for the right content and for the resources that are necessary to reach a wide audience.
Number of Prayers 31
YES - I WILL PRAY

Somalia​

Pray for the Somali diaspora in other parts of Africa where there are more opportunities to hear the gospel. Pray that the Lord would use these opportunities to speak to their hearts and draw them close to Him.
Number of Prayers 44
YES - I WILL PRAY

Somalia​

Pray for an opportunity that is opening up to offer eyecare as a form of meeting need among Somalis as well as providing a small income for those involved. Pray for God’s blessing on the training which will take place during the coming months.
Number of Prayers 42
YES - I WILL PRAY

Peace to all,

To me, the transfiguration starts with the Body that becomes from the storms from the sea, mortal and corruptible from Adam and Eve. Then through the waters of the Baptism the Body becomes immortal an incorruptible “from” the Body of Christ and then becomes regenerated “through” the reconfirmation of the Holy Spirit will of God in the soul of the being in the Communion with the spirit and life from the cross becoming transfigured gloriously into the image of the God “to” The Father.

Baptism is to the spirit in the soul of the being in the flesh that becomes sanctified immortal and incorruptible “from” the body of Mary, the Christ, that becomes the re-sanctified reconfirmed “through” the Holy Spirit will of God in the soul of the Christ that becomes glorified and transfigured into the image of God “to” the Father.

To me, this is just the Logic of the Second Coming of the Christ, the Body of God, united as one in being in in union with the Holy Spirit will of the God.

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things" is a verse from the Bible, Romans 11:36.

Peace always,
Stephen

20Burkina Faso​

Thanks to ongoing political instability, the impact of Islamic militant groups has remained steady over the last several years. There were two military coups in 2022, which contributed to civilian deaths, but the number of faith-related violent incidents decreased in 2023 – though the danger has not truly subsided.
The country has one of the world’s most severe displacement crises – with many Christians among the displaced – and the military government has faced accusations of war crimes. With this backdrop, Christians attempting to follow Jesus in Burkina Faso must try to do so without any sense of security or safety, even in places where Islamic militants were previously unable to reach.
Burkina Faso used to be the epitome of religious cohesion, but Islamic militant influence has managed to erode much of the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. Now, in addition to facing violence and threats from Islamic extremists, Christian converts from Islam face increasing pressure and sometimes even threats from their families and communities.

Meet Habiba​

“At prayer time, [the militants who kidnapped me] would gather everyone to pray. We couldn’t refuse or even hide. We were constantly surrounded by guns. They would kill you if you didn’t perform the Muslim prayers.”
Habiba (name changed), a Christian who was abducted by Islamic militants in Burkina Faso.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Open Doors works through local partners to strengthen Christians in Burkina Faso by providing persecution survival training, relief aid, and spiritual and trauma care.

Please pray​

• Ask God to heal the hearts and souls of those affected by abductions, sexual violence and death.
• Pray that God would bind up the wounds of Christians displaced by Islamic militant violence.
• Pray for wisdom for Open Doors local partners as they try to navigate a changing political reality and humanitarian crises.