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Changing How Our Children Do Dating

How our young people date is problematic; and I’m not talking about the mainstream habits of a ‘hookup culture.’ I mean young people from families with traditional values, where preparing for marriage and waiting for marriage are implicit, accepted goods.

It is not surprising that we have a problem. I think we have a perfect storm in the combination of three things: a legitimate desire to emphasize and pursue marriage; the extraordinarily bad societal habits and examples regarding romance; and, the fallen inclinations of human persons. Allow me to explain.

In being around college aged young adults from good families, I’ve had occasion to notice and reflect on these things for some three decades; and I still have much thinking to do. But here are a few thoughts regarding romance and dating in the teen and young adult years. The matter of adult dating requires separate treatment.

The first ingredient in the perfect storm arises both from human nature itself and from a legitimate response to our age: we need to prioritize marriage while others are setting it aside. Parents want their children to think in terms of the great good of marriage, and well-raised young people are often ready and excited to oblige. So far so good.

Then enter the second factor. When a young person asks himself what dating looks like, he cannot but look around and take note. Now a well-formed, intentional soul immediately recognizes that he should do things differently. But here is a key moment. In short, while he resolves to do things better, he is in fact poorly positioned to do so for two reasons. First, his notion of dating (often even in the best-case scenario) is formed negatively, in reaction: i.e., I won’t do it the way others do it. Second, despite having received a good upbringing, our teens and young adults as a rule have notably less maturity and responsibility than prior generations even in recent memory. This last point is, in my judgment, often overlooked.

Continued below.

Time to disentangle?

I am referring to our Biblical take away of God favoring Israel and therefore we should support them no matter what.

We have appropriated the Hebrew scripture for so long that we view it as a universal message meant for all people.
We seem to forget that it is the product and property of the Jews. Yes, there is a lot of great spiritual message to be found there.
But should we really be basing our foreign policy on it?
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SCOTUS Rules 7-2 CFPB Funding Scheme is Legal, Thomas Writes Opinion


The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the funding structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is legal.​
The court in a 7-2 decision rejected an argument that the CFPB’s funding method violated the U.S. Constitution because Congress does not annually appropriate money for the agency as it does for other executive branch entities.​
Instead, Congress authorized the CPFB to draw its funding from the Federal Reserve system.​
Thursday’s ruling protects the CFPB from a potential death sentence, given the risk that Republicans in a bitterly divided Congress would block annual appropriations for the agency.​

Expectation

Jesus tells us, that we do not know when the master will come, but that we should expect him. That we should not let the world distract us, that we should expect him to come RIGHT NOW.

I don't think he said it as a matter of speech. A lot of things happen if you expect him to come RIGHT NOW.

For one thing, you wouldn't do any sin, you wouldn't dare, if he was just around the corner.

But if you think he delays his coming, and start to eat and drink with the drunkards, he will come when you do not expect it.

Of course, we should not only expect him, but realize that without him we can do nothing.

Therefore, when we empty ourselves, and wait for the Lord, and do not trust in our own devices, we have an opportunity to be filled with the things of God.

Take Heed, Watch & Pray

Jeremiah:23-29
"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein."

Contrary to what some teach, this is not a repeat of Genesis 1, though it has the same wording when it says the earth was without form and void. This is not talking about some pre Adamic civilization. This is a dual prophecy in chapter 4 of Jeremiah that involves both Israel (4:1) and then jumps ahead in verse 23 to include end of the world prophecy.

That is is not the creation is clear because we see the birds fled, what was once fruitful turned into a wilderness, and all the cities broken down. We also see that there was no man, and not a man dwelt therein the cities. When Israel was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and Judah taken captive, there were men left in the land.
Jeremiah 52:16 "But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen" And also 2 Kings 25:12, "But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen."

Now some people fled during the conquest and returned, only to later flee to Egypt, but then came back into the land.

We see the whole city going into the wilderness and into the rocks, and here we have Revelation 6:15-16, "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb"

At this point the LORD has made Himself known, and visible, for the people know He is on the throne, and who the Lamb is, but they are the wicked, and apostate, unbelievers, and those who profess to know Christ but are not known by Christ - and, are any of you in that crowd? I say, are there any who are not in Christ, and do not know Him? Examine yourselves, and prove your own selves, whether ye be in the faith or not, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, lest ye be fallen from grace, and have been so close, and almost a Christian, but something has got in the way, and you stumbled at the Rock of offense, because something about the holiness of God, and being born again, and repentance, and public confession in baptism turns you off.

Perhaps you think this is too extreme. Well then, know this: That Jesus Christ says if you do not forsake all you have and come follow Him you cannot be His disciple, and again, take up your cross daily and follow Him, denying yourself. If you are ashamed of Him in any way, He will not acknowledge you as His. If you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven. Search the scriptures to see if these things be so, for they are quite true.

Terrible times are coming, and while you are at ease in Zion here in America, in Ukraine people are dying. They be sleeping in their apartment one moment and the next moment are blown to bits by a Russian shell, or missile, or drone. Whole towns are flattened. You could be in Gaza, or what happened in Israel last October 7th, or in Lebanon, or Myanmar, or Sudan, where war is a daily reality and death is all around you. There will come a time when the whole earth experiences such things. Then why are so many denying God, and denying Christ? Maybe not in words but in thoughts and in actions.

Matthew 24:21-22,
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

This coincides with Jeremiah 4, when we see in verse 29, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:" Just as it is written, "I beheld the heavens, and they had no light... the heavens above be black." And you know the electric grid is must be down at this point, probably everywhere. Things we've come to rely on will be shut off and shut down. Nuclear, EMP, or something else: even an act of God beyond all man can do - and IT IS COMING!

And then this dreadful passage in Isaiah 24:4-6, "The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."

How terrible! This is almost beyond comprehension, except for some scenes from apocalyptic movies. This will be in real life, in real time, and will result in a lot of real death. Why? The earth is defiled under the inhabitants because they have transgressed the laws of God, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Then Isaiah cries even further, "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."

We see a glimpse of hope at the end there, and more than a glimmer: it is the glorious return of our Lord and our saviour to reign! But before that the earth must go through what has been prophesied of old, and all these passages we are reading all conjoin: they all fit together like a prophetic puzzle to paint the picture of the end before the Day of the LORD, and before the new heavens and new earth are established.

And we may well be alive to experience these things, and we are in birth pains now. Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." The earth itself groans, with earthquake, and volcano, and flood, and fire, with whirlwind, and mighty storm and tempest. We see this more and more. Of course most of it gets blamed on climate change and global warming. There are an escalation of all kind of events, the nations are mad and threatening, and polarized into East versus West just as the Bible tells us!

A 200 million man army is described in Revelation 9:15. China's "2.8 million active soldiers in uniform is the largest military force in the world. Approximately 1 million reservists and some 15 million militia back them up. With a population of over 1.2 billion people, China also has a potential manpower base of another 200 million" (This was as of 1998, ARMY WAR COLL STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA)

A third of mankind are killed by these alone in Revelation 9:18. Then Revelation 16:12-14 states, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."
And Daniel 11:44, "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many." then Daniel 12:1, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

Look at Joel 2:1-2, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations."
Deuteronomy 32:22,
"For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains."

Now, if you are not wrapped up tight in the sheepfold under the protective arms and the staff of the great Shepherd, then beware, for Amos 5:18-20 declares, "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"

2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Malachi 4:13, "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts."

You cannot get away from the Old Testament here like some people want to stay out of the Old Testament. There are prophesies still yet to be fulfilled, and the Old Testament contains many prophesies that have come to pass, most notably all the ones about Jesus first coming. And there are many more about His second coming and last days events. These are confirmed and detailed by the New Testament prophecies that back them up, and we've only covered but a few of the comparisons.

Look at the signs and see world conditions converging into exactly what the Bible describes. Nature, and society, and governments all falling right into what the Sovereign Lord God revealed thousands of years before. Look at Revelation 16:8-11, "And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds."

But then Jesus says amidst all this calamity, and right after the passage about the kings of the east, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:15)

There are a lot of things still to occur: Damascus must be destroyed. That's in Isaiah 17. The destruction of Mystery Babylon must take place, which I believe includes North America and Western Europe: that's in Revelation 17 and 18, and Isaiah 47 and Jeremiah 50 & 51 about ancient Babylon also contain dual prophesy about modern Babylon. The Gog and Magog war of Ezekiel 38 & 39 must also occur.... Indeed, the whole entire earth will reel just as Isaiah wrote, and this is probably all gonna go down in our lifetime, and I'm 62.

Elderly Pro-Life Activist Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Prison Under FACE Act

Cannon said he is optimistic they will be able to lessen the sentences.

Joan Andrews Bell, a 76-year-old Catholic and pro-life activist, has been sentenced to over two years in prison for her involvement in a “rescue” at a Washington, D.C., abortion facility.

In addition to Bell, three other activists — Jean Marshall, 74, Jonathan Darnel, 42, and Herb Geraghty, 27 — were sentenced on Wednesday. Marshall received a 24-month sentence, Darnel was sentenced to 34 months, and Geraghty received 27 months.

The sentences were given by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

According to Terrisa Bukovinac, another pro-life activist who has been posting updates from the courtroom, Bell’s family “cried tears of joy that the sentence wasn’t longer,” while Marshall provided a doctor’s note indicating that she needs a hip replacement due to extreme osteoporosis.

The three were charged with felony crimes involving conspiracy against rights and violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, also known as the FACE Act. According to the Department of Justice, the three activists engaged in a conspiracy to create a blockade of an abortion facility.

This comes nearly nine months after Bell and eight other pro-life activists were convicted on felony charges of conspiracy against rights and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for their involvement in an October 2020 rescue at the Washington Surgi-Clinic run by Dr. Cesare Santangelo.

Continued below.

Full Text: Harrison Butker of Kansas City Chiefs Graduation Speech

The Super Bowl champ and kicker spoke about the dignity of life, masculinity, and the most important role of all: motherhood.

Editor’s Note: Harrison Butker, 28, the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League, delivered the commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. A transcript of his remarks is below.



Ladies and gentlemen of the Class of 2024: I would like to start off by congratulating all of you for successfully making it to this achievement today. I'm sure your high school graduation was not what you had imagined, and most likely, neither was your first couple years of college.

By making it to this moment through all the adversity thrown your way from COVID, I hope you learned the important lessons that suffering in this life is only temporary. As a group, you witnessed firsthand how bad leaders who don't stay in their lane can have a negative impact on society. It is through this lens that I want to take stock of how we got to where we are, and where we want to go as citizens and, yes, as Catholics. One last thing before I begin, I want to be sure to thank President Minnis and the board for their invitation to speak.


When President Minnis first reached out a couple of months ago, I had originally said No. You see, last year I gave the commencement address at my alma mater, Georgia Tech, and I felt that one graduation speech was more than enough, especially for someone who isn't a professional speaker. But of course, President Minnis used his gift of persuasion. [Laughter] It spoke to the many challenges you all faced throughout the COVID fiasco ,and how you missed out on so many milestones the rest of us older people have taken for granted. While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique. Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values in media, all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.

Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the Sign of the Cross during a pro- abortion rally. He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I'm sure to many people it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.

Continued below.
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Bishops respond with shock, prayer after Slovak prime minister shot

(OSV News) — Catholic bishops have expressed shock and promised prayers as Slovakia‘s Prime Minister Robert Fico fights for his life after being shot multiple times May 15.

Fico was attacked while leaving a government gathering in the central town of Handlova, Slovakia, located some 125 miles east of the nation’s capital, Bratislava.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico sustains critical injuries​

According to media reports, Fico sustained critical injuries to his abdomen, arm and leg. He was airlifted to the hospital and transferred again by air to a second facility.


Police have detained an unnamed 71-year-old suspect, whose motive is not yet known.

“We condemn this act of violence, we pray for the recovery of Prime Minister Robert Fico and we invite everyone to unite in prayer for this purpose,” said Slovakia’s Greek Catholic bishops in a May 15 statement. “Such (an) injustice and attack on a public official is absolutely unacceptable from a human and Christian point of view and points to our inability to respect different opinions and conduct dialogue in a civilized manner.”

Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Bratislava said in a May 15 statement posted to the archdiocese’s Facebook page that he would pray for Fico’s “salvation (from death) and healing.”

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The archbishop announced that on Pentecost (May 19), “the feast of the sending of the Holy Spirit,” he planned to celebrate Mass during the national spring pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in the town of Sastin, and would offer the liturgy “for peace in Slovakia, so that we can open ourselves to the action of God’s Holy Spiritand mutual respect through the intercession of our Patroness of the Seven Sorrows.”

Concerns expressed by Vatican Secretary of State​


Continued below.

Celebrity conversions inspire, challenge personal faith, experts say

(OSV News) — Celebrities who convert to Catholicism can be an inspiration, a call to caution — and above all an occasion for personally recommitting to the faith, two evangelizationexperts told OSV News.

Entering the church “is a process that a lot of people go through, but (for celebrities) it’s playing out because they’re famous,” Sherry Anne Weddell, co-founder and executive director of the Colorado-based Catherine of Siena Institute, told OSV News. “So everything gets magnified more.”

Over the past several months, a number of high-profile public figures — among them, podcaster Tammy Peterson, conservative commentator Candace Owens, former porn actress Bree Solstad, actor Shia LeBoeuf and comedian Rob Schneider have publicly announced their embrace of the Catholic faith.

While such conversions are nothing new for the church (which over the centuries has welcomed everyone from the once-notorious Saul of Tarsus, later St. Paul, to royalty, philosophers, artists, intellectuals and world leaders), professing the faith in the age of hyper-fandom and social media can complicate matters, said Weddell, author of the 2012 book “Forming Intentional Disciples” and a consultant for hundreds of parishes worldwide.

The challenges of fame​


Continued below.

Get ready: The Eucharistic Pilgrimage begins on May 18-19

(OSV News) — In 1776, Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, dedicated a small mission church in San Francisco to St. Francis Assisi. On May 18, the mission of San Francisco de Asis, also known as Mission Dolores, will host an evening of Eucharistic adoration and prayer for the launch of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage‘s western route, named for now St. Junipero Serra.

Similar events are planned May 18-19, Pentecost weekend, at the pilgrimage’s other three launch points in Brownsville, Texas, New Haven, Connecticut, and in Northern Minnesota, as four groups of six pilgrims begin their eight-week journey. The routes’ 24 “perpetual pilgrims,” along with their priest chaplains and seven seminarians will accompany the Eucharist, exposed in a monstrance, as they travel — often on foot — across the United States.

Their itineraries include daily stops along their routes for Mass, adoration and Eucharistic processions to celebrate Jesus’ real presence. The pilgrims will converge in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21. Information about the four routes, including details about pilgrimage events and requested participant registration, is at eucharisticpilgrimage.org.

Southern route: Honoring St. Juan Diego​


Continued below.

Church in Mexico wins lawsuit filed by ‘trans’ person seeking baptismal record change

A Mexican court has ruled in favor of the Diocese of Querétaro, located in the north-central region of the country, in a lawsuit filed by a person who identifies as transgender and demanded that the diocese change the sex indicated on the church’s baptismal certificate and registry.

According to Tomás Henríquez, director of the Latin American and Caribbean division of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International — an organization that helped the diocese in this case — the complaint, filed for the first time in 2021, demanded that the Catholic Church change the baptismal record “so that it reflects the person’s claim to be a woman instead of a man.”

In a May 14 interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Henríquez explained that the Catholic Church refused to make the change due to “the immutable doctrine of the Church regarding the constitution of the person as a man, as a woman, who has been created that way by God.”

Faced with the Church’s refusal, the complaining party turned to Mexico’s National Data Protection Institute (INAI), a federal agency in charge of adjudicating claims of data protection violations, which issued an order requiring the Diocese of Querétaro to carry out the requested change.

Continued below.

Beacon of faith: Lebanese town builds giant floating rosary at sea

A Lebanese Catholic man has created a giant rosary that floats upon the Mediterranean waves.

Joe Abdel Sater, a swimming instructor in the seaside town of Bouar, built the world’s largest rosary on the ocean on May 11 — with the help of family and friends — on the feast of Our Lady of the Seas.
The idea came to Abdel Sater during his daily contemplation of the sea.

For six months, he perceived the outlining of rosary beads on the water’s surface. Compelled to make this vision a reality, he received blessings from the local parish priest, Father Ferez Tawk, and from the mayor. However, executing such an ambitious undertaking was no easy feat.

“For a month, I puzzled over what materials to use — wood or foam?” Abdel Sater recalled. “How could I secure the rosary’s shape against the shifting currents?” But, as he put it, “divine providence facilitated things.”

An illuminated icon on the waves​


Continued below.

Pharaoh TOOK Sarai for his wife

Did Pharaoh have sexual intercourse with Sarai?

ESV, Genesis 12:

5a And Abram took [H3947] Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.
H3947 was a common word.
Strong's Hebrew: 3947. לָקַח (laqach) — 965 Occurrences

There was no sexual intercourse connotation here.

Later in Canaan:

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”
Abram instructed his wife to tell a half-truth to save his life.

14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken [H3947] into Pharaoh’s house.
Pharaoh expected to have sexual intercourse with Sarai. Abram jeopardized his wife's honor, but Abram was rewarded:

16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Then God intervened.

17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took [H3947] her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
Did Pharaoh have sexual intercourse with Sarai?

The language did not assert that one way or another. From the context, I think God intervened before the intercourse happened to preserve Sarai's sexual purity. That was the point of the intervention.

Was Abram willing to risk Pharaoh having sexual intercourse with Sarai?

I think so in order to save his own life. God did not reprimand Abram for this. In fact, a similar incident happened again two decades later with Abimelech (Gen 20:2).

Catholic Church responds to mental health crisis across the U.S. and globally

The percentage of U.S. adults diagnosed with depression has risen almost 10% since 2015, reaching 29% according to a 2023 Gallup poll, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that almost half of U.S. teens report experiencing persistent sadness and hopelessness. The Catholic Church is responding.

Following a 2023 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops initiative, Catholics across the country have been working in their local communities to address the mental health crisis.

In the Archdiocese of Washington, Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar offered a May 11 Mass for people with mental health challenges.

“Those living with a mental illness should never bear these burdens alone, nor should their families who struggle heroically to assist their loved ones,” the bishop said at the Mass in Landover Hills, Maryland, according to a report by the Catholic Standard.

“We Christians must encounter them, accompany them, comfort them, include them, and help bear their burdens in solidarity with them, offering our understanding, prayers, and tangible, ongoing support,” he noted.

In Emmitsburg, Maryland, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is hosting a Mental Wellness Retreat under the patronage of St. Dymphna, whose feast day is May 30. (Traditionally, the feast day of the young saint who is patron of the abused and mentally ill was May 15.)

Continued below.
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Our thoughts as christians

Hi,

This is a well known verse:

So I have been thinking sometimes it is not so clear what these abstract words means exactly in some cases:
true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, praiseworthy.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Br,

Did Paul allow a woman to be a deacon?

John 2:

9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants [G1249] who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
Strong's Greek: 1249. διάκονος (diakonos) — 29 Occurrences

The English word "deacon" came from G1249.

BDAG διάκονος:

gener. one who is busy with someth. in a manner that is of assistance to someone
A G1249-servant worked for a boss for a specific service/task. There was a more common word G1401 δοῦλος (126 occurrences) that meant servant or slave

NIV, 1 Tim 3:

8 In the same way, deacons [G1249]
i.e., male and female deacons/servants who were tasked by a local church for its service

are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons [G1247].
11 In the same way, the women
i.e., female deacons

are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon [G1249]
i.e., a male deacon

must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
The term could be applied to male or female. BDAG διάκονος:

① one who serves as an intermediary in a transaction, agent, intermediary, courier (cp. Jos., Ant. 1, 298 of Rachel who brought Jacob to Laban
② one who gets someth. done, at the behest of a superior, assistant to someone (the context determines whether the term, with or without the article ὁ, οἱ is used inclusively of women or exclusively)
When Paul was alive, did he allow a woman to be a dG1249-deacon?

I think so. NIV, Romans 16:

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon [G1249] of the church in Cenchreae.
3rd century, Didascalia Apostolorum:

CHAPTER XVI
On the appointment of Deacons and Deaconesses.
[iii. 12] Wherefore, O bishop, appoint thee workers of righteousness as helpers who may co-operate with thee unto salvation. Those that please thee out of all the people thou shalt choose and appoint as deacons:? a man for the performance of the most things that are required, but a woman for the ministry of women. For there are houses whither thou canst not send a deacon to the women, on account of the heathen, but mayest send a deaconess. Also, because in many other matters the office of a woman deacon is required.
Early churches appointed women deacons.

See also

Repent!

On the road to salvation, the first step is to true contrition for sins. Psalm 51 helps us to reflect and to lament over our sins, leading us to true contrition, and therefore repentance and confession.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;

in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.

Thoroughly wash away my guilt;

and from my sin cleanse me.

For I know my transgressions;

my sin is always before me.

Against you, you alone have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your eyes

So that you are just in your word,

and without reproach in your judgment.

Behold, I was born in guilt,

in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, you desire true sincerity;

and secretly you teach me wisdom.

Cleanse me with hyssop,* that I may be pure;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

You will let me hear gladness and joy;

the bones you have crushed will rejoice.

II​


Turn away your face from my sins;

blot out all my iniquities.

A clean heart create for me, God;

renew within me a steadfast spirit.

Do not drive me from before your face,

nor take from me your holy spirit.

Restore to me the gladness of your salvation;

uphold me with a willing spirit.

I will teach the wicked your ways,

that sinners may return to you.

Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God,

and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.

Lord, you will open my lips;

and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

For you do not desire sacrifice* or I would give it;

a burnt offering you would not accept.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;

a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn

Treat Zion kindly according to your good will;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.j

Then you will desire the sacrifices of the just,

burnt offering and whole offerings;

then they will offer up young bulls on your altar.


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Were Andronicus and Junia apostles?

Jn 13:

16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.
Strong's Greek: 652. ἀπόστολος (apostolos) — 80 Occurrences

a messenger
ἀπόστολος (apostolos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

G652 had a few nuances. BDAG:
① of messengers without extraordinary status delegate, envoy, messenger
② of messengers with extraordinary status, esp. of God’s messenger, envoy
ⓒ but predominately in the NT (of the apologists, only Just.) of a group of highly honored believers w. a special function as God’s envoys.

ESV Romans 16:

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to [ἐν] the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
ESV wasn't so sure they were apostles.

NIV:

They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
NIV was more sure.

The Greek preposition was ambiguous. Berean Literal Bible:

Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, and who were in Christ before me.
Was Junia a woman?

John Chrysostom (347-407 CE) thought Junia was a female apostle.

Wiki:

All others in the first millennium of the ancient church also took the name to be feminine.

Why healing is not holiness

I thought I would make my own thread so I don't derail the other thread on healing

Why did Paul boast in his infirmities? Why did he tell Timothy to drink a little wine for his often infirmities? Why does Romans chapter 8 say that pestilence can't separate us from God's love? Please realize that this chapter is teaching us that we will face great hardship and not have good health necesarily. Indeed we are sheep led to the slaughter.

Jesus did physical miracles as a sign but in my opinion the real promise is spiritual healing. Jesus said that the sick need a physician and he refers to sin and spirital blindness but not physical illness.

What we do when promising physical healing is destroy people's faith. They end up thinking that their faith is false because they dont get physical healing. They torment themselves instead of growing in grace. Paul said that God's grace was sufficient for his infirmities. I have mental illness or spiritual warfare. I'm OK. God loves me. My body is old and run down. Its ok.


2 Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Did Christ die for the sin of unbelief ?

Jn 1:29

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Now the sin of the world did involve unbelief. Eve didn't believe the truth of God. God had said in the day that you eat you shall surely die. Observe Gen 2:17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Now Gen 3:2-4

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.


4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:


as a result of unbelief:


5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

David and Goliath, or me and my fleshy mind?

Paul said that he didn't judge himself but waited on God to judge. How is it that this man the apostle Paul who built churches and judges them doesn't judge himself? It's a mystery, is it not?

It means that Paul seen his own mind as his enemy. In my opinion anyway. He had a messenger of Satan torment him. He called it a thorn in his flesh. He said that he and the apostles were out of their minds for God at timeS. Paul said that there was nothing good in his flesh.

So I wonder if Goliath doesn't represent our mind and pride? Paul said to be wise we must become foolish in the world's eyes. He said that the natural man cannot understand spiritual things. There is a war between flesh and spirit.


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Hello. Im new here.

I have psychosis and it may come from depression but I'm unsure. Anyway I've seen visions or something and I experience times of confusion and fear.

This experience leaves me scared but I put on Christ my redeemer and my older brother who is my friend and my God. He strengthens me. I don't comprehend his mystery but it's ok. He is surely with me.

Romans chapter 8. Nothing can separate me from God's love in Christ. Nothing can take me from Jesus hand as Jesus said in John 10:28

Time Travel In The Bible

Apparently in the book of Baruch there is a story of time travel.

Although the book of Baruch is not in the Hebrew Bible, it is found in the Septuagint, in the Eritrean/Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, and also in Theodotion's Greek version. In 80-book Protestant Bibles, the Book of Baruch is a part of the Biblical apocrypha.


The Complete Story of Abimelech: The First Man to Travel in Time in the Bible (Book of Baruch) Embark on a journey through time with the remarkable tale of Abimelech, the pioneering time traveler from the Book of Baruch. Join us as we unravel the fascinating narrative of Abimelech's extraordinary journey, a story often overlooked in traditional biblical texts. Discover the ancient wisdom and mystical encounters that await as Abimelech navigates the realms of past, present, and future. Unveil the secrets of time travel as recounted in the Book of Baruch and delve into the profound insights it offers into the human condition and the nature of existence. Don't miss this opportunity to delve into one of the most intriguing and lesser-known chapters of biblical lore. Subscribe now to uncover more hidden gems from ancient texts and unlock the mysteries of the past.

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