In a significant reversal, the Vatican approved the appointment of a new dean at a seminary in Northern Italy almost one year after first blocking the appointment over the candidate’s published views on sexual morality.

The Philosophical-Theological College in Bressanone (PTH Brixen) announced “with great joy” that Father Martin M. Lintner, OSM, has now been confirmed as dean and will take office on Sept. 1.

The appointment of Lintner, who teaches moral and spiritual theology at the seminary, faced opposition from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education in mid-2023 over his published works on Catholic sexual morality, particularly his views on same-sex blessings.

In an article published in 2020 by New Ways Ministry titled “Theologian Suggests Papal Civil Union Support May Lead to Church Blessings,” Lintner is quoted as saying: “A homosexual relationship does not lose its dignity due to the lack of fertility.”

Continued below.

Would you support a woman priest
holding the Pro Life flag?

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LOW birth rates.

Abortion and contraception self inflicted destruction of humanity?

This is not just about a flag — it’s about the views being taught inside Catholic schools.

There are some ideas so fundamental to Catholic teaching that they must be accepted by Catholics without question. Opposition to abortion and opposition to euthanasia are two such core teachings that are not up for question.

These pro-life convictions provide a key to a greater understanding of what the Church stands for. If the Church isn’t for life, it isn’t for much of anything.


Yet a recent episode in Toronto shows what happens when secularism infects theology, and in the process rips up the foundation of all that Catholics find sacred. It also shows that those in charge of teaching the new generation of young Toronto Catholics need to review the Catechism or find another job.

What happened puts into question just how Catholic these schools really are.

Last month, the trustees of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, voted to reject a proposal to fly a pro-life flag over its schools. The board, however, does allow pride flags to fly over its schools in June, so-called Pride Month.

“Trustees at the Toronto Catholic District School Board once again trampled on parents’ rights to have their children educated according to Catholic teachings when they voted 8-2 against a proposal to fly the pro-life flag at schools,” said Dr. Teresa Pierre, president of Parents as First Educators, a national Canadian group that supports the rights of parents over the secular liberal ideology of governments and school boards.


“Since the sanctity of human life is a front piece of Catholic moral thought, you would have thought this was a no-brainer. Well, you would be wrong.”

The decision to fly the Pride flag was made in 2021 on an 8-2 vote, over the objections of Cardinal Thomas Collins, then archbishop of Toronto.


“Things really are in a shambles when a Catholic school board allows a loophole for LGBTQ+ activists but refuses to offer the same respect for the Church’s actual teachings,” Pierre added.

Trustee Markus de Domenico told the Toronto Star newspaper he opposed flying a pro-life flag because of its association with Campaign Life Coalition, an unapologetic pro-life group and supporter of the National March for Life held in Ottawa each year.


De Domenico said that the coalition “really disturbs me (as) they’ve been nothing but very anti-Pride, anti-human rights code.”

The Coalition is not a hate group or opposed to human rights — rather, it supports Church teaching.

The pro-life flag is almost whimsical in its unthreatening, childlike design. On a white background there are two horizontal lines, one blue and one pink — because “male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). In the middle are two baby feet, also pink and blue, inside a white orb. The feet are being protected by a hand above and below the orb.

In an article in the (Toronto) Catholic Register, board member Michael Del Grande explained why voting against flying the pro-life flag is an insult to what the Church stands for:

Continued below.

Dr. George Delgado says he has the statistics that prove otherwise.

In a lawsuit against New York pro-life pregnancy centers earlier this month, Attorney General Letitia James took aim at the abortion-pill-reversal method, claiming that there is “no credible evidence” to prove that it is either safe or effective.

But her claims don’t reflect the available data and literature on abortion-pill reversal (APR), Dr. George Delgado, who famously established the first protocol for APR, contends.


“There have been over 5,000 documented cases of successful births after successful reversal. It is fallacious to say that there’s no proof and no evidence,” Delgado, who is board certified in family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, told the Register this month.

That 5,000 number is a statistic taken from Heartbeat International, ironically one of the pro-life organizations being sued by New York. The organization oversees a network of health-care professionals who administer APR when a woman seeks help after abortion regret.


Abortion-pill reversal is a method that uses a regimen of progesterone to compete with the first of the two abortion pills, mifepristone, in order to save the life of the unborn child. APR is only used before the second pill, misoprostol, is taken.

Some physicians and pro-life organizations, including Heartbeat International, have said that APR is a method that has saved thousands of unborn lives.


Others, like the pro-abortion group the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have said APR is “not supported by science” and it’s misleading to claim otherwise.

Pro-abortion and pro-life organizations stand on opposite sides of the debate, so who’s right about the science?

Can a mother who regrets taking the abortion pill really save her baby with a directed regimen of progesterone?

Science Says​

Continued below.

See Why Did God Create People He Knew Would Go to Hell?

The new norms take effect on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, abrogating the previous norms established under Pope Paul VI in 1978.

ROME — The Vatican’s top doctrinal office is centralizing its authority over the investigation of alleged Marian apparitions and other religious phenomena under new norms it issued Friday, a break from past protocols that gave local bishops greater autonomy in discerning such cases.

While emphasizing that “discernment in this area remains the task of the Diocesan Bishop,” the new guidelines state that the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “must always be consulted and give final approval to what the Bishop decides before he announces a determination on an event of alleged supernatural origin.”

The document spelling out the new procedures, titled “Norms For Proceeding In the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena,” explains that the doctrinal office previously played a role in the evaluation process, but generally did so behind the scenes.

“While previously the Dicastery had intervened but the Bishop was asked not to mention it, today, the Dicastery openly manifests its involvement and accompanies the Bishop in reaching a final determination,” the document states. “Now, when the Bishop makes his decision public, it will be stated as ‘in agreement with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.’”


Continued below.

On the night before the arrest, Jesus prayed with his disciples in John 17:

20 “I do not ask for these [disciples in the room] only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

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i.e., future believers like us

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us,

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Spiritually speaking, that is accomplished through the Paraclete indwelling spirit.

so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

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Earlier in same evening in John 13:

34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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Practically speaking, Christians loving one another will prove unity in Christ to the world/people.

Vertically, the Paraclete in every Christian's spirit connects every one of us to God to form a spiritual Body of Christ. This organic oneness is an undeniable perfect spiritual reality.

Horizontally, how do non-believers observe this oneness physically? They can see the fruit of this oneness in Paraclete if we love one another in Christ. Unfortunately, many Christians are not practicing this new commandment of loving one another, due to selfishness, doctrinal divisions, etc.

Jesus prayed for this showing of oneness in all his followers. It must have been important to him. For my part, I'd try to be less selfish, more objective, humble, meek, and loving toward my brothers and sisters. Also, to avoid bickering on doctrinal isms, I employ a Disciplined Probabilistic Approach to Biblical Hermeneutics.

To see all my reach and teach devotions in Chinese/English and hundreds of devotions in English, please click on this link.

我们有了一种分享灵修的新方式，要查看我所有的中文/英文灵修以及成百上千的英文灵修，请点击以下链接。

TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries


1 THESSALONIANS 1 帖撒罗尼迦前书1章



2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

【帖前1:2】我们为你们众人常常感谢　神，祷告的时候提到你们。

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

【帖前1:3】在　神我们的父面前，不住地记念你们因信心所作的工夫，因爱心所受的劳苦，因盼望我们主耶稣基督所存的忍耐。

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

【帖前1:4】被　神所爱的弟兄啊，我知道你们是蒙拣选的。

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

【帖前1:5】因为我们的福音传到你们那里，不独在乎言语，也在乎权能和圣灵，并充足的信心，正如你们知道我们在你们那里，为你们的缘故是怎样为人。

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

【帖前1:6】并且你们在大难之中蒙了圣灵所赐的喜乐，领受真道，就效法我们，也效法了主，

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

【帖前1:7】甚至你们作了马其顿和亚该亚所有信主之人的榜样。

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

【帖前1:8】因为主的道从你们那里已经传扬出来，你们向　神的信心不但在马其顿和亚该亚，就是在各处也都传开了，所以不用我们说什么话。

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

【帖前1:9】因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里，你们是怎样离弃偶像，归向　神，要服侍那又真又活的　神，

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

【帖前1:10】等候他儿子从天降临，就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。



We hear every day about China, we hear about church growth in China, and we want to pray effectively and help the Chinese church.



我们每天都听到关于中国的消息，我们听说中国的教会在增长，我们想要有效地祈祷并帮助中国的教会。



How can this be done, in this article, with the help of my dear Chinese brother David, who has lived in China and the USA, both of us have a unique vantage point.

这可以通过怎样的方式完成，在本文中，通过我亲爱的中国兄弟大卫的帮助，他在中国和美国都生活过，我们俩都有独特的视角。



First of all you must have a deep concern for China:



首先，你必须对中国有深刻的关切：



God alone can place that burden on your heart, ask him to put that burden on your heart.



只有上帝能把这个担子放在你的心上，请他把这个担子放在你的心上。



Secondly, you must be PROPERLY informed. Knowledge of the harvest field is wonderful and up to date information is better, we need information that is effective and from the voice of the Chinese people themselves.



其次，你必须得到正确的信息。了解禾场的情况是很好的，最好是得到最新的信息，我们需要的是有效的信息，来自中国人自己的声音。



One of the best sources for information is:



一个最好的信息来源是：



We support an indigenous gospel movement in China - China Partnership



You can pray systematically and practically for the Chinese church using this website.



你可以使用这个网站系统地和实际地为中国的教会祈祷。



Other websites to help you:



其他帮助你的网站：



About - ChinaSource



There are many other sites , you can use, such as:



还有许多其他的网站，你可以使用，比如：



A CALL TO UPLIFT THE CHINESE CHURCH IN PRAYER - INcontext International



Voice of the Martyrs – Praying for Persecuted Christians in China



Before you start to pray effectively, you must understand these three things:



在你开始有效地祈祷之前，你必须了解以下三件事：



YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT CHINESE CULTURE IS DIFFERENT



你必须了解中国文化是不同的



The gospel is the power of God to all who believe to all the nations.. amen.



福音是上帝的大能，给所有信徒，给所有国家...阿们。



But in a different cultural setting, it must be refined, note I said refined, not changed.



但是在不同的文化环境中，它必须被精炼，注意我说的是精炼，不是改变。



The Chinese culture is one based on benevolence, they believe that they are basically good. So confronting them with sin and stating that they are a sinner, is a difficult concept, for a Chinese person to understand.



中国文化是以仁慈为基础的，他们相信自己基本上是好的。所以用罪恶来对抗他们，并声明他们是罪人，对于一个中国人来说是一个难以理解的概念。



Christ addressed several seemingly good people in the gospels, such as Nicodemus and Zaccheus. Paul spoke to Lydia and to Cornelius, who were good religious people.



基督在福音书中对付了几个看似好的人，比如尼哥底母和撒该。保罗与吕底亚和哥尼流谈话，他们都是好的虔诚的人。



Chinese people from an early age have been told that there is no God and that there is no morality.



中国人从小就被告知没有神，没有道德。



Atheism is a thin veneer for all kinds of sin as Paul stated in Romans 1, we have witnessed to many Chinese and had to explain the existence of God.



无神论是一层薄薄的外衣，遮掩着各种罪恶，正如保罗在罗马书1章所说的，我们向许多中国人作见证，并不得不解释上帝的存在。

Pray that God would move mightily in the hearts of the Chinese people, many who are saved come out of a life of atheism and Buddhism and they need a complete washing and renewing of their minds, as there are many alien concepts to them.



祈求上帝在中国人的心中大行其工，许多信徒来自无神论和佛教的生活，他们需要心灵的彻底洗涤和更新，因为有许多对他们来说是陌生的概念。



PRAY THAT THE CULTURE WILL BE CHALLENGED



祈求文化受到挑战



2 CORINTHINS 10 哥林多后书第10章



4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.



【林后10:4】我们争战的兵器，本不是属血气的，乃是在　神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒，

【林后10:5】将各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识　神的那些自高之事一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督。

【林后10:6】并且我已经预备好了，等你们十分顺服的时候，要责罚那一切不顺服的人。



Christianity in China, is still seen to some extent as a foreign religion, so the best things western Christians to do is to pray.



在中国，基督教仍然在某种程度上被视为外来宗教，所以西方基督徒最好的做法就是祈祷。



As mentioned earlier Chinese culture is based on Confucius teaching and atheism, it has to be challenged by the gospel.



正如前面提到的，中国文化是以孔子的教导和无神论为基础的，它必须受到福音的挑战。



Women in the home are seen as dominant and this along with other unbiblical ideas, must be challenged.



家庭中的女性被视为占据主导地位，这以及其他一些不合圣经的观念，必须受到挑战。



The word of God is God's agent of challenge, but many of the things that it says and makes clear are alien to the Chinese and go against Chinese culture.



上帝的话语是上帝挑战的工具，但圣经中许多教训并清楚陈明的事情对于中国人来说是陌生的，与中国文化相违背。



So there is a great need for a move of the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of the Chinese people. Many people including my Chinese wife come from a Buddhist background, so their minds must be washed by the word.



因此，中国人的心灵非常需要圣灵的运行。许多人，包括我的中国妻子，从小就接受了无神论和佛教的影响，所以他们的思想必须经过上帝的话语的洗涤。



This may take years, that's why we need prayer warriors to pray, leading a Chinese person to Christ, is the easy part, now begins the difficult part, as the discipleship process starts.



这可能需要很多年，这就是为什么我们需要祈祷勇士来祈祷，带领一个中国人去认识基督，这只是简单的部分，现在开始的是困难的部分，因为门徒训练的过程开始了。



Please pray that the Church, would be able to disciple in a biblical way and that God's people would grow in grace and love for his Word.



请为教会祷告，使它能够以合乎圣经的方式培训门徒，并且上帝的子民会在恩典和对他的话的爱中成长。



PRAY THAT THE CULTURE WOULD BE CHANGED



祈求文化将被改变



China is seeking to erase corruption from the country, this is virtually impossible, but there is a way that it could be, by changing people's hearts with the gospel.



中国正在试图清除该国的腐败，这几乎是不可能的，但有一种方式可以做到，那就是通过福音改变人们的心。



The first six chapters of Daniel, show how a society, can be challenged by four men, who stand truly for God.



但以理书的前六章展示了四个真正为上帝站立的人是如何挑战社会的。



We are not here to change the government, only God can do that, that is something which is in God's hand Psalm 2.



我们不在这里改变政府，只有上帝才能做到，这是上帝手中的事，诗篇2章所说。



How can we do this:



我们如何做到这一点：



TRUE CONVERSION



真正的皈依



Pray that people would come to be born again, like Paul, Nicodemus, Lydia etc.

祈求人们像保罗、尼哥底母、吕底亚等人一样重生。



Sad to say, many millions, have said the sinners prayers are still living in sin, because of false teaching such as The Shack and Purpose Driven Life. Pray that the true gospel, would be preached.



令人遗憾的是，许多人已经做了决志祷告，但仍然生活在罪中，因为有假教导，比如《小屋》（加拿大作家杨威廉著的书）和《标杆人生》（华理克牧师所著的书）。祈求真正的福音被传扬。



TRUE CLEANSING



真正的洁净



There has to be deep repentance Psalms 32/51, many people come to Christ, carrying so much baggage from their past, such as the burning of paper money to ancestors and other occult practices.



必须有深深的悔改，诗篇32/51，许多人来到基督面前，背负着过去的重负，比如烧纸钱给祖先和其他的邪教行为。



Again these things have to be addressed and defeated by prayer.



同样，这些事情必须通过祈祷来解决和战胜。



TRUE COMMITMENT



真正的承诺



In the parable of the Sower, only one seed bore fruit, pray that the seed of the gospel brings forth fruit and that this fruit grows. To do this, it must be watered by fervent intercessory prayer.



在播种者的比喻中，只有一颗种子结出了果实，祈求福音的种子结出果实，并且这果实长大。要做到这一点，必须通过热切的代祷来浇灌。



TRUE CHANGE



真正的改变



What is our aim by praying for China, it is to see not just the culture challenged, but people to be converted and changed. Only then can the culture be changed.



我们为中国祈祷的目的是什么，不仅是为了挑战文化，还为了使人们转变和改变。只有这样，文化才能改变。



People hearts need to be changed and the only agent of change is the gospel, I hope you will join us as we pray for China,



人们的心需要改变，唯一的变革者是福音，希望你能加入我们为中国祈祷，



In the second part of this article, we will be getting down to what we can pray for in specific terms.



在本文的第二部分中，我们将具体讨论可以为之祈祷的事项。



For now, I am going to hand over to my friend David, who will add his personal words of wisdom.



现在，我要把话让给我的朋友大卫，他将会加入他的个人智慧。



Over to you David



轮到你了，大卫。



My thoughts (from David, a Chinese Christian living now in the USA):



我的想法（来自大卫，一个现在在美国生活的中国基督徒）：



First of all, thanks for reading this. There are a lot of Christian information around, and your time reading this is appreciated. I will keep it short.



首先，感谢你阅读这篇文章。周围有很多基督教信息，你花时间阅读这篇文章，我很感激。我会保持简短。



To pray for China, please first pray for the Chinese leaders, such as President Xi Jinping. The Poliburo members are also very powerful people. They are the true decision makers in Chinese politics. Pray for Premier Li Qiang, and Poliburo member Cai Qi. No matter who becomes the next President, that person would have already been in the current Poliburo.



为了为中国祈祷，请先为中国的领导人祈祷，比如习近平主席。中央政治局成员也是非常有权势的人。他们是中国政治的真正决策者。为李强总理和中央政治局委员蔡奇祈祷。无论谁成为下一任总统，那个人都已经在现任中央政治局中。



As to prayers for the church, please pray that the house church leaders can petition the government to make house churches legal in China. This is an overdue issue. Some new laws need to be passed. Some prisoners released.



至于为教会祈祷，请祈祷家庭教会领袖能向政府提请使家庭教会在中国合法化。这是一个早就应该解决的问题。一些新法律需要通过。一些囚犯需要释放。



You should visit China. The western media paints China in a negative way. Therefore, come visit. Go to places like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and taste Chinese food. Unlike people in the west, Chinese people are generally more friendly towards foreigners. But please do not come in a condescending manner. Respect local customs.



你应该去中国看看。西方媒体以消极的方式描绘中国。因此，来访一下。去北京、上海、广州和深圳等地，品尝一下中国美食。与西方人不同，中国人通常更友好地对待外国人。但请不要带着傲慢的态度来。尊重当地的习俗。



I wish you all very well. God bless you.



祝愿大家一切顺利。上帝保佑你们。



David

大卫

Deuteronomy 22:

23 If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her, 24you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you must purge the evil from among you.

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Presumably, crying out would bring in witnesses and help. If a betrothed virgin did not cry out and had sexual intercourse with a man, it wasn't rape. Kill them both.

25 But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. 26 Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. 27 When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.

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If a betrothed woman cried out and had sex with a man, it was rape. Kill only the man

28 If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, 29then the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives.

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In this case, there was no mention of crying out. If a non-betrothed virgin had sexual intercourse with a man, he didn't need to be executed. It is arguable whether this was a case of rape or not,

What about the case of a man raping someone's wife?

The Law did not specify this case precisely. However, it did say:

22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

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I assume that she didn't cry out. If she had cried out, then only the man would be executed.

Instead of our modern concept of rape, Moses law focused on whether the woman had cried out for help or not.

The NT does not mention rape explicitly.

In any case, these were antiquated laws particular to its time and culture. Our modern legal and ethical understanding of the concept of rape is more precise and defined.

See also

• What did Moses say about rapists?
• Did David rape Bathsheba?
• Did Shechem rape Dinah?

Paul said his heart’s desire, and his prayer to God for the Israelites (his own people), was that they may be saved. I concur with him, in that is my desire, as well, for my family members, friends, neighbors and the people of this world to come to know Christ Jesus as Lord and as Savior of their lives, and for them to walk with him in faith and obedience to his commands.

There are many who profess Christ as Savior who are zealous to do good works. Yet, there are others who profess Christ who are just busy living to please themselves. Whether living to please self with little to no concern for others, or fully zealous for good works and Christian service, it is possible to believe you are a Christian and yet not be, because you seek to establish your own righteousness instead of submitting to God’s.

Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny (disallow) himself, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) him. He said if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and to please self, we will lose them for eternity, but if we willingly die to sin and self, and follow him in obedience, then we will gain eternal life with God in heaven (Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Peter 2:24).

The Apostle Paul, in the Spirit, said that the way we come to know Christ is by forsaking our old lives of sin and self, by being transformed in heart and mind (via the Spirit of God), and by putting on our new lives in Christ Jesus, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24). So, when we declare with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord, this is what we are declaring, and we agree with this in our hearts, that we should die with him to sin and obey his commandments. Then, we are saved.

My Heart’s Desire

An Original Work / June 29, 2013
Based off Romans 10:1-21; Luke 9:23-26; Ephesians 4:17-24

Loved Ones, Oh, my heart’s desire
Is that you might come to Jesus.
Many appear zealous for God,
But they do not trust in Him.
They have not submitted to the One
Who saved them from their sins;
Not forsaken their sins,
Nor have they obeyed their King.

The word of the Lord is near you:
The word of faith we’re proclaiming:
That you must confess your faith
In Jesus as your Lord and King:
Believe in Him as your Lord,
And follow Him where’er He leads.
Share the gospel; be a witness,
And meet others’ needs.

Beautiful are the feet of those
Who bring the good news of Jesus:
Anyone who would come to Him
Must deny himself today;
Die to sin and self, and
Let the Spirit transform you in heart;
Put on your new self in Jesus,
Yielding to the cross.

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To appeal to is to call to, to exhort, to encourage, to beseech, to entreat, and to admonish. In this context it is a holy urging to us to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, to do what is acceptable to God according to his word, and to do what meets with his divine approval. So this is not a mere suggestion nor just a recommendation, but this is an insistence that the will of God must be done in how we live our lives on a day to day basis.

And Paul wrote these words to his fellow believers in Jesus Christ. And his appeal to them (to all of us) was that, on account of God’s grace and mercies to us, we are to present (prove or exhibit) our bodies (our whole beings) to God as living sacrifices, prescribed by God and acceptable to God because offered on His terms and not on our own terms of what we might think is acceptable to God or that meets with his divine approval.

For God’s grace to us is not just in forgiving us our sins so that when we die we get to go to heaven and not to hell (Titus 2:11-14). God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training and instructing us to renounce (say “No!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s soon return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

And God’s grace to us, and the faith to believe in the Lord Jesus, are gifted to us by God, and this is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man – so we don’t get to determine what that grace and what that faith look like, either. Only God does! And “faith” means to be persuaded of God, for we cannot even come to faith in Jesus unless God first persuades us as to his holiness and righteousness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent of our sins and to follow Jesus in obedience to his commands.

Now if we sacrifice our bodies to Christ, as living sacrifices, it still involves death, but it is death to sin and to self, and it is being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Therefore we are no longer to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to obey its passions and desires. For if sin is what we obey, in practice, it leads to death, not to life everlasting. But if obedience to God is what we obey it leads to sanctification and its end is eternal life.

[Heb 12:1-2; Eph 2:8-10; Jn 1:12-13; Jn 6:44; Acts 26:18; Rom 6:1-23]

And our lives (our bodies), as living sacrifices to God, are to be holy and acceptable to God, i.e. which meet with his divine approval (dead to sin and in walks of obedience to will). And to be holy is to be separate (unlike, different) from the world because we are being conformed to the likeness of character of Jesus Christ, by God, as we cooperate with God in his work of grace in our lives, and as we submit to his will and purpose for our lives.

For this is our reasonable (by God’s standards) and acceptable (to God) service of worship of God, to surrender our lives over to the Lord to now follow him in his ways in obedience to his commands in holy living and to no longer be conformed to the ways of this sinful world. So, although singing and the lifting of hands may be a part of our worship, by themselves they are not worship of God unless our lives are given to God as living sacrifices.

Therefore, we as followers of Jesus Christ are no longer to be conformed to the ways of this sinful world. We are not to take on the character of the world and we are not to live our lives as those do who are without God/Christ in their lives. But as followers of Jesus we are to be transformed in heart and mind away from living in sin and for self to now surrendering our lives over to the Lord to obey him and his commands in holy living.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; 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 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

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

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

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From: https://www.worldchallenge.org/without-fault-throne-god​

WITHOUT FAULT BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD​

“These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:4–5).

My wife and I were having dinner with a family friend, a woman we’ve known a long time. Suddenly, in the middle of our meal, our friend began to voice the kinds of thoughts I’ve been hearing from Christians all over the country. She said to us:

“As you know, my husband is an oculist. He makes and fits glass eyes. We’ve both worked hard all of our lives, and we’ve been able to save some money. We’ve also built up a small retirement fund. But now, just as we’re beginning to think about retirement, we’re seeing things that scare us. Nations all over the world are falling into economic depression. America can’t help but be affected by all of this. And there are all kinds of terrorist acts taking place."

“My husband and I just can’t take hearing any more news like this. Every time we pick up a newspaper, another awful thing is happening somewhere. I know Christians are not supposed to fear, but it’s hard not to be scared when we see all these terrible things going on. I struggle with fear every time I think about our mortgage and car payments. After all, who knows if people are going to buy glass eyes when the economy takes a downturn?"

“I have to fight off these fears daily. I feel bad about even having such feelings, because I know I should be trusting the Lord. But, frankly, things are becoming so frightening, it’s hard to keep all of my fears at bay.”

I believe our friend was voicing what multitudes of other sincere Christians are going through: a struggle to keep fear out of their hearts. Like her, most believers who write to our ministry sense that our nation is disintegrating and that some kind of ominous disaster is looming on the horizon. Now, as they hear all these terrible reports of what’s happening in America and around the globe, they struggle just to rest in the promise of God’s keeping power.

Many Christians write to us that they can’t help being gripped by a very human fear. They think they’re not prepared for whatever perilous circumstances an economic collapse would bring. Others say they’re making preparations for their physical survival, because they’re convinced a financial holocaust will usher in social chaos as well.

The fact is, no matter how righteous we may be, no matter how strong our faith is, all of these frightful uncertainties coming to pass cannot help but affect our human emotions. It’s all very scary. And the worst part is, things are going to grow even more ominous in the days ahead.
But for the overcoming Christian, whose sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, there is very good news. And I believe if we keep our eyes focused on this good news, meditating on it night and day, no evil report will ever faze us. Here is the good news God wants us to know: We are all going to stand before the throne of judgment.

Now, if it seems bizarre to you that I’m calling this statement “good news,” I understand. But the truth is, if you’re a Christian, this kind of news shouldn’t sound bizarre at all. Let me explain.

God’s people have good reason to look beyond troubling times.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). As Scripture testifies, our lives here on earth are like grass. One day we’re here, growing and thriving, and the next day we’re fading away with the season. We’re like the vapor of breath we see on a frosty day: here one moment and gone the next. And I’m convinced that just one moment into eternity, we’ll all realize how unimportant and fleeting our present fears and trials have been. We’ll also see just how present the Lord has been with us the whole time, watching over us with his saving and keeping power.

At this point, I can imagine you’re thinking, “How can I be expected to accept this as good news? I’m trying to rid my heart of all my fears about a coming economic depression and all the violence that could follow. Yet you’re reminding me I’m going to die and have to stand before the judgment seat and give an account for my life. What kind of comfort is that? The day we stand before Christ’s throne is going to be a dreadful time. We’re going to have to give an account of our every thought and deed.”
I know many sincere Christians have this same feeling about the judgment. They tremble inside every time they think about that day to come: “How can I ever give an account of all the millions of sinful, un-Christlike thoughts I’ve had? How can I answer for all the thousands upon thousands of idle words I’ve uttered? How can I face all my evil deeds, my sins of omission, my carelessness, my complaining, my apathy, my sins against the light, the sins of my youth? How will I ever be able to look Jesus in the eye on that day? How can I avoid trembling in fear when such a time comes?”

I bring you good news — glorious news — that will help you combat all of the bad news you’ve been hearing. And I believe this news will keep your heart and spirit peaceful, even joyful, through all that’s coming upon the earth. Here is that good news:

If you have repented of any and all sins, and you are trusting Jesus — believing in his cleansing blood, submitting daily to his Lordship — you’re going to stand before his throne without fault or fear. In fact, you’re going to be acknowledged before everyone present — every human, every angel, every demon in hell — as the precious bride of Christ.

I hope to prove to you that you won’t have to face even a single sin against you, nor be exposed for any failure, but that you will be able to stand without blemish.

Not a single sin of yours will be mentioned. Instead, only your good works — including your faith in Jesus Christ — will be expressed to the multitudes gathered.

On the day of judgment, all your evil works will already have been judged and done away with.

I don’t want to get into a discussion of exactly what the judgment will be like — whether there will be one or two judgments, or other such subjects that biblical scholars continue to debate. (Some say there will be one judgment, while others claim there will be two: one for believers and a separate one for all others. The Puritans and other theologians throughout history have taught there will be one general judgment, and that the judgment seat of Christ and the “great white throne judgment” are one and the same.)

Suffice it to say, we all must give an account of our deeds, whether those deeds are good or bad. Scripture tells us, “God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). You may say, “But you just told me the sins of the saints won’t be mentioned. How can this be, if the Bible says every work, good or bad, will be brought to judgment? How can we stand before God without fear if our bad works will be brought into the light?”

We have to keep in mind, there will be two groups at the judgment: sheep and goats. These two groups are going to stand before the Lord separately on that day, one group on the right and one on the left: saints and sinners, sons and slaves, the faithful and the unfaithful, the wise and the foolish, believers and unbelievers. And the bad works referred to, which will be exposed that day, are only those of the wicked.

Scripture says all of their evil deeds will be brought into the light and exposed. Every wicked thought, every secret desire, every lust, every vile imagination, every denial of Christ, every curse word — all will be proclaimed and judged. After these hidden deeds are made public, they will pursue their perpetrators into eternal damnation.

On the other hand, no evil deed of the righteous will be mentioned on that day. Instead, every good thing about their lives will be brought into the light: every holy thought, every charitable act, every sacrificial work. Our Lord is going to make known to all who are present every heart-cry, every morsel of bread given to the hungry, every piece of clothing given to the freezing and naked. He’s going to bring everything good out into the open. And that will be one glorious moment.

The fact is, as we stand before our Lord at the judgment, we will be complete in him. This means that everything we’ve ever done, including any sin we’ve ever committed, will already be covered under his blood and never mentioned again. In short, there is no condemnation to the righteous — none at all. Jesus tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). The Greek word for condemnation here is “judgment.” Jesus is saying, in essence, “If you believe in me, you won’t come into judgment. Instead, you will pass from death over into life.”
Indeed, Scripture tells us from cover to cover that once the Lord forgives our sins, he wipes them from memory:

• “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
• “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto me; for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:22).
• “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).
• “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).
• “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16–17).
• “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).

Here is abundant good news for every Christian who’s ever striven or worked to mortify the deeds of his flesh in his own strength. Does this include you? How many times have you tried to bite the bullet and plow ahead toward victory in the Christian life? How many promises have you made to God only to break them? How many times have you tried to please him by fighting off your lusts and habits, only to fail once again?

Here is your good news, reported in the book of Micah: “I, the Lord, will subdue all your iniquities!” God’s Word has given us image after image in these passages of how he wipes our sins from memory: He blots them out. He remembers them no more. He buries them in the sea. He subdues them, meaning he hunts them down and captures them. Isaiah even tells us God takes our trespasses and flips them over his shoulder: “Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back” (Isaiah 38:17). This means God will never look at our sins or acknowledge them again.

Now let me ask you: if God forgets our sins, why don’t you or I? Why do we always allow the devil to dig up some muck or mire from our past and wave it in our face, when all of our sins are already covered by Christ’s blood? The cleansing, forgiving power of Jesus’ blood is all-encompassing. It covers our entire lives.

All the books are going to be opened and examined on that day.

John writes of the judgment: “I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away: and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:11–12).

Notice that John says there are many books, and there is also a book at the judgment. What are the first books? They’re records of the life of every single sinner who stands before the Judge. You see, every unbelieving person has a book of works and deeds that’s being recorded in heaven. Every page of his book is a record of how he lives. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like for a transgressor when he stands before the Lord on that day? Every thought, word and action in his life will be brought out into the open, exposed for its evil.

But for the righteous, there will be only the book of life. And when that book is opened, we won’t hear one word, one account, one record of a single sin or failing of any of God’s people. Why? All of their sins are covered under the blood of Jesus. The only thing that will appear in that book will be our names. In fact, it will contain our new, heavenly names, and God himself is going to reveal to us what our new names are.

How do our names get recorded in the book of life? They are recorded the moment we believe, with all of our being, that Jesus Christ shed his blood for us. It happens as we claim the victory of his cross and determine to seek him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, submitting to his Lordship in all things.

Moreover, God offers a wonderful promise to all who were guilty of horrible, “scarlet” sins: whose acts were bloodied with the stench of hell…who abused their bodies with alcohol, drugs, perversions, fornications…who blush when they remember their past …who gulp when they think of how close they came to falling headlong into hell. God’s promise to them is that they can stand assured, with great joy, on the day of judgment without a trace of fear. He pledges: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Having repented and forsaken their sins, trusting in his forgiving grace, they were reconciled by faith to him.

No matter what your past is like, God no longer sees you as you once were. You’re no longer a junkie in his eyes. You’re not an alcoholic, an adulterer, a prostitute, a tax evader, a corporate crook. Instead, you’ve been transformed into his precious, lovely, spotless bride. And he is awaiting your presence at the jubilant marriage feast, where you’ll be joined to your bridegroom.
Tell me, would a bridegroom anticipating his wedding day suddenly charge his bride with iniquity at the judgment? No groom would do that. You may wonder, “But isn’t Jesus going to judge all wickedness? Isn’t he going to judge sin?” Yes, he is. But the Christ you’re going to meet on that day is the same Christ who has called you, saved you, forgiven you, purchased you with his own blood, cleansed you, branded you on your forehead as his own, and interceded for you all these years.

As you stand before Jesus, you’re going to see him as your husband, your redeemer, your friend, your advocate, your intercessor still. And, in that moment, you’re going to stand complete in him. You’re going to appear without fault, without spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13). “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

We are Christ’s body: bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh. Do you think he’s going to mutilate his own body before all the hosts of devils and wicked people gathered before God’s throne? No, never. He’s going to love and care for us who comprise his body. He’s not going to suddenly sever a limb on that day. Besides that, Jesus is the cornerstone of the whole church. Do you think he’s going to remove himself from that building and bring the whole place down after he has placed you in it so strategically?
It is impossible.

After the 2020 presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American flag.

One of the homes flying an inverted flag during that time was the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in Alexandria, Va., according to photographs and interviews with neighbors.

The upside-down flag was aloft on Jan. 17, 2021, the images showed.

The justice blamed his wife and her beef with a neighbor:

”I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Justice Alito said in an emailed statement to The Times. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”

Living in Edmonton, it's unavoidable. But yes, the Oilers are doing well and good coaching seems to be covering more than a few of our weaknesses.

How about you? Who you rooting for?

Psalms 121:8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in:
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

How would you describe your "going out and your coming in"?
Here is an instruction from Leviticus:

Leviticus 18:
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them:
I am the Lord your God.
3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt,
you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan,
where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in
their ordinances.
4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances,
to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.

Christians are said to be brought "out of the world",
but what are they brought into?
A megachurch environment? A home fellowship?
A traditional denomination?
Is there a point in common with these instructions?

Matthew 23:3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,
observe and do, but do not do according to their works;
for they say, and do not do.

The context for this is the Pharisees and Moses seat.
But many people enter the faith and into a church only
to immediately find fault with the leadership and members
of the church. There is no perfect church, because the church is people.
It takes faith to abide in where the Lord places.
"Look unto the Lord, maker of heaven and earth". "And grow in grace".

Were the Israelites not forever ‘coming out’ of Egypt?
It is a Memorial of the Torah every seven days!

Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou were a slave in the land of Egypt,
and that the Lord thy God brought you out thence through a mighty hand
and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded you
to keep the Sabbath.

In regards to your going out and coming in, are you in a wilderness trek
to "a promised land", or returning to the tents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

The "promised land" of course is the age to come:
2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

In this age, we live as "strangers and sojourners".
Hebrews 11:
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents
with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul....

GNN has reported several times over the last three years about large baleen whales returning to waters in which they haven’t been sighted for decades.

Now again, news from Argentina shows that the benefits of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling are still compounding, with sei whales returning to the South American nation’s coastal waters for the first time in nearly a decade.

Overhunting during the 1920s and 1930s led these massive blue-grey giants to abandon their ancestral waters in Argentina.

“After nearly a century of being hunted to near extinction, sei whale populations are now bouncing back and returning to their former habitats,” saidMariano Coscarella, a biologist and marine ecosystem researcher at Argentina’s CONICET scientific agency, who added that the whales “reproduce every two or three years, so it nearly took 100 years for their population to reach a level where people could notice their presence.”

The third largest whale in the world, the sei can grow up to 64 feet (20 meters) in length and weigh up to 31 tons (28 tonnes). It’s also among the fastest whales in the world, and is certainly the fastest for its size group. It can swim 31 mph over short distances.


Continued below.

In an interview with “60 Minutes” airing this Sunday, Pope Francis takes aim at his “conservative critics” in the United States, reportedly saying a conservative is someone who “clings to something and does not want to see beyond that.”

“It is a suicidal attitude,” the pope said as reported by “60 Minutes,” which released a brief clip of the upcoming interview conducted by CBS’ Nora O’Donnell.

“Because one thing is to take tradition into account, to consider situations from the past, but quite another is to be closed up inside a dogmatic box.”

Continued below.

2 stops away... Ahh, I have to go meet up with a friend. Should I stay or should I go? 1 stop... Oh boy, here it comes, I'm waiting!!! What's that I hear, it's the 'ole Amazon truck with my package! I see the young guy at my front door (that I don't use) and quickly grab a cold water and Gospel tract and run out the garage door to catch him before he drives off. Phew, caught him! I give him the water and tract, he's shocked and thanks me and we part ways (I head back to the house and he back to the van). Once inside, I was opening up the package but then it hit me, he was parked halfway up my driveway and I wasn't sure if he knew he could turn around so I run back outside before he backs out to let him know he can turn around. He starts to drive forward a little and yells out the window if he could talk to me for a minute. Absolutely! So I head on over and he said because of the tact he knows I'm a Christian. He said he's spiritual but not a Christian and mentioned how all day long he's been anxious and worried... Why, well he's married and has his first child on the way and he started tearing up. Everything is ok with his wife and son, he's just scared. So, I offered to pray with him right then and there. After prayer and the tearful moment, he mentioned he feels this was a sign from God and the tract that I gave him, has a $2 bill in it, really hit home because he said his wife collects $2 bills. We chatted some more, and I let him know he needs to surrender his life Jesus and look to Him and not the things of this world. It was an amazing, divine moment. I don't believe in coincidences, and the Lord kept me home for him.

So, please keep John, his wife Claire and his soon to be born son Nova in prayer. Who knows, maybe his whole family will be saved by the blood of Jesus!

And, remember, a simple Gospel tract can open the door to a weary soul.

Jessica Tapia displays a sign outside the Garden Grove Unified School District board meeting on behalf of the Teachers Don’t Lie program. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Advocates for Faith and Freedom and Jessica Tapia

A Christian teacher settled in court for $360,000 earlier this week after suing a California school district board for firing her after she refused to comply with gender ideology rules that went against her religious beliefs.

After refusing to comply with a preferred pronoun rule, Jessica Tapia was fired by the Jurupa Unified School District from her job as a physical education teacher.

“It ultimately really does come down to my faith and how I believe that it’s always worth it to stand for righteousness and fight for truth,” Tapia told CNA in a phone call. “And ultimately, I believe the word of God is that truth and is the instructions we’ve been given to live our life upon. There’s really nothing else or no one else that I lean on for that.”

After students reported Tapia’s private social media account to the school district, an account where she shared her views, the school district placed her on administrative leave and investigated her in 2022.

Continued below.

Pope Francis has placed in young people his hope that Catholics and Orthodox may be “united in diversity” and “break the chains” of antagonism, misunderstanding, and prejudice that have kept them prisoners for centuries.

In a Thursday audience, the Holy Father received the director-general of the Apostolikí Diakonía of the Orthodox Church of Greece, Metropolitan Agathangelos, and a delegation from the Theological College of Athens.

The Apostolikí Diakonía is the official publishing house and missionary arm of the Orthodox Christian Church of Greece. Since 1936 it has published hundreds of books on Christian theology and tradition, Orthodox spirituality, and biblical studies.

At the beginning of his talk given at the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for the collaboration between Apostolikí Diakonía and the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity.

Continued below.

Professional scientists have relied on the average person in the street who have an interest in science but are not qualified to participate in research activities.
The activity is known as citizen science and in fields such as astronomy the research from citizen scientists is at times of such high quality, their work appears in peer reviewed journals.

Here is a general description of citizen science.

Here is a specific example of citizen science.

Hey something just came to me- it seems that there will be a time that we pass on from this life and enter heaven, but once we arrive there it is for eternity, we will never leave! I think this means something, but I am not sure what it is! Is anything coming to you? Let me know. It seems that there is a timeline in heaven, but maybe it is on a different timeline than the earth!

Hello folks. Sometimes, we may feel like straying from the path, whether at home or at work. So, here are three passages from the Bible that can help us remember that God commanded us to listen to those in authority, as well as a Star Trek analogy. The scripture analysis is below the video player.

Analogy Background: Star Trek DS9 Scene - Worf, a Klingon's Insubordination
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Momma and I went to a city-wide yard sale about a half an hour from where we live today. We hit dozens of sales---I got some cool books, some DVD movies, a lightweight camo jacket, and so on.

Two Catholic parishes were part of the event: my parish (St. Michael's), and All Saints parish; most of the stuff consisted of donations from people in the area. It was at the last one that I found this wonderful little item. Maybe you've seen them before: it's a rosary made in Ireland from Connemara marble. They retail for anywhere from $45.00 up to $75.00; I got this one for a free-will donation of $5.00. (I had no idea what they went for new online. I guess I'll have to throw some extra cash in the collection plate on Sunday. )

Anyway, it looks just like the ones in these pictures. Very sturdy, and it has a nice, heavy feel to it. I am sure to be using it quite a bit in the near future.