Father Eduardo Chávez has been immersed in the study and dissemination of the message of the Virgin of Guadalupe for more than 40 years. | Credit: David Ramos/ACI Prensa


Father Eduardo Chávez, director of the Higher Institute of Guadalupan Studies and postulator of the cause for canonization of St. Juan Diego, was recently confirmed as “master Guadalupan theologian” by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, the primatial archbishop of Mexico.

The decision was made May 9 in conjunction with the Chapter of the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, headed by its rector, Father Efraín Hernández.

Chávez, who also holds a doctorate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome, shared with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, his gratitude for this appointment, committing himself to “deepen knowledge of the Guadalupan event, to disseminate it throughout the world.”

Chávez noted that “the Virgin of Guadalupe places Jesus in the heart of every human being, of every culture,” so his work as master Guadalupan theologian is to convey this message as well as “deepen, investigate, analyze, and in so doing also form” more people in the “Guadalupan event,” as the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico are also known.

Continued below.

An English pediatrician who led a comprehensive review of the safety and efficacy of prescribing transgender drugs to children is warning that health associations in the United States may be misleading the public.

In an interview with the New York Times published on Monday, Dr. Hilary Cass warned there is no comprehensive evidence to support the routine prescription of transgender drugs to minors with gender dysphoria.

Cass published the independent “Cass Review,” commissioned by the National Health Service in England, which prompted England and Scotland to halt the prescription of transgender drugs to minors until more research is conducted.

As England, Scotland, and other European countries scale back their use of transgender drugs for minors, most doctors’ associations and health associations in the U.S. continue to endorse these medical interventions. In more than half of the states in the United States, it is still legal to prescribe transgender drugs to children and to perform transgender surgeries on them.

Continued below.

The Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz (Holy Cross) in Austria is the oldest in the world, dating back almost 1,000 years, and currently has more than 100 monks living there. It has never had “interruptions” in its history and is now an oasis of the Catholic Church in Europe, with love for God and others at the center of its work and with the beloved Pope Benedict XVI as an “ally.”

Heiligenkreuz is located about 18 miles from Vienna, the capital of Austria. The monks, explained the Italian newspaper Avvenire, have an average age of 49, which means they are “young” in current Church terms, especially in Europe where there has been a precipitous decline in vocations.

Four or five men each year join the historic abbey, founded in 1135, almost a thousand years ago, making it the oldest Cistercian abbey in the world.

Among the abbey’s current 103 monks, there are 11 with temporary vows and six novices, all led by Abbot Maximilian Heim.

Continued below.

Six members of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Wyoming are suing their sorority for admitting a man who identifies as a woman.

Represented by the Independent Women’s Law Center (IWLC), the sisters argued their case before a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Tuesday.

The women are alleging that the sorority’s decision in fall 2022 to admit a man, Artemis Langford, violated its bylaws, which state that all members be women. The sisters have also said that Langford has harassed them in their sorority house by watching them change, taking photos, and asking “invasive” sexual questions.

Allie Coghan, a Kappa Kappa Gamma alumna from the class of 2023 and one of the plaintiffs in the suit, told CNA that Langford’s admission into the sorority caused her and her sisters to feel very unsafe in their own home.

Continued below.

Three Catholic bishops warned of a growing ideological polarization within the Church and the need for civil dialogue among those with disagreements during a livestreamed panel discussion on Tuesday afternoon.

“Politics is almost a religion and sometimes it’s a sport, [but] it’s not supposed to be either,” Bishop Daniel Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, said during the discussion.

“It’s supposed to be a civil conversation … to seek what is good and make the priority how to achieve it and how to avoid what is evil,” Flores said. “And I think if we could stay focused on that, we can kind of tone down the caricature and the rhetoric that seeks to dehumanize people.”

The panel discussion included Flores, Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Diocese of San Diego, and Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota. It was moderated by Gloria Purvis, the host of “The Gloria Purvis Podcast” at America Magazine, and co-sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Charities USA, Glenmary Home Missioners, and the Jesuit Conference.

Continued below.

So my step mum raised me since I was about 10 years old. My real mum moved away and has remained in my life but we don’t speak often. I became a born again Christian a few years ago and while I don’t support the Mormon church (I am aware that their baptism isn’t a true Christian baptism), I feel bad to not be there for my step mum since she wants me there. I am also worried it will make her hesitant to attend my own events if my faith is involved. I don’t want to cause division between us so I am confused about what to do… any biblical advice appreciated Sorry if this is the wrong thread/forum for this question.

I grew up in the church, got baptised, had my confirmation (calvinist). However, I've never really felt a passion for Christ. I pray, but I rarely read my bible. I go to church and donate, but I don't really evangelise or spread the gospel. Every time I try, it's like the seed on the rock, quickly growing and quickly dying.
Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome this?
Please pray for me.

To the love of my life
Not a husband nor a wife
Not in flesh, not on earth
But the one Who’s given birth

He Who created us
Who breathed in us breath of life
He Who died on a cross
Who’s freed us from sin and strife

My beloved Jesus Christ
Who died so I would be free
The only begotten Son
Of God, in Him I believe

He’s my Savior and my Lord
He’s the King of my life
In Him I’m forgiven of sins
And now I have eternal life

An Original Work / May 15, 2024

We live in very evil times, and it is getting worse by the day. There are so many liars and deceptions and deceiving spirits that it is hard to know if anyone still exists who tells the truth consistently and who does not practice telling lies, even what are called “white lies,” which are still lies. For liars exist within human governments, politicians, the media, the newscasters, preachers, evangelists, missionaries, people who profess faith in Jesus Christ, actors, husbands, wives, children, teachers, and the list goes on.

So we must not be people who just believe whatever we are told by whomever just because “so and so” said it. For “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and charlatans are among us, probably in droves, if truth be told, and they are disguising themselves as Christians and as preachers and evangelists and missionaries, and as authors of Christian literature and songs, and as “Christian” politicians, and as servants of righteousness when it is the devil and the flesh that they serve, instead. So be wise and be discerning.

And these people use all sorts of means and trickery and deception in order to get us to listen to them and to believe them and their lies. And some of us baby boomers (post WWII) were taught all sorts of lies which we believed as children, which some of us, since we have become adults, have been able to see for what they are, by the grace of God, so that we have been able to reject the lies and to see the truth (perhaps not all of it, though). For we have been given discernment by God to sift through the lies, to see truth.

The biggest area of concern, though, is with the message of the gospel of our salvation which so many people today are diluting and altering in order to make God/Jesus and his gospel message more acceptable and less offensive to the people of the world. So many have shortened the gospel message to just say that if we “believe” (rarely biblically defined) in Jesus that now all our sins are forgiven, heaven is guaranteed us when we die, and that it can’t be taken away from us, but regardless of how we live.

But that is not the gospel that Jesus taught, and it is not the gospel that the NT apostles taught, either, if read and understood in context, and if not defined by Scriptures taken out of context and made to say what they do not say if taught in context. For so many people are quoting Ephesians 2:8-9 absent of verse 10 (which is critical to the message). And they are quoting John 10:28-30 absent of verse 27 which tells us to whom verses 28-30 apply. And so they are applying them broadly where they don’t apply.

So, we need to be people of discernment who walk in the wisdom of God and under his direction, who have died with him to sin, and who have been raised with him to walk in newness of life in him in freedom from slavery to sin and in holiness and in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord. And then we need to look carefully at how we walk, that our habits and our character and how we conduct our lives line up with the teachings of the Scriptures with regard to how we are to live to please God.

For Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now follow the Lord Jesus in obedience to his commands in holy living, and thus be those who are honoring God with our bodies. But if obedience to our Lord and holy living are not what we practice, and if sin is still what we practice, then the Scriptures teach that we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what professions of faith we make with our lips.

So the encouragement here is to be aware of the evil times in which we live, to seek the Lord for wisdom and discernment to separate truth from lies, and then walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh. For making the best use of our time has to do with our lives fully surrendered to Jesus Christ to do his will, for this is not about what our flesh desires, but what God desires for us according to his will and purpose. So our lives are now to be under the control of God, and not out-of-control.

[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]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

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

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

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

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

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This world is not my home...

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On the morning of October 14, 2011, I was reading in Ephesians 1 for my quiet time with the Lord. This passage of Scripture speaks to all of us who have turned from our sins, who have trusted in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, and who are now walking in his ways and in his truth and in his righteousness and in obedience to our Lord, and no longer in sin. And it is encouraging us about every spiritual blessing which we have in Him.

We are called and predestined to be holy and blameless in Christ Jesus, set apart from the world, because we are being made into Christ’s likeness. We were bought back for God via the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for our sins, so our lives are no longer our own, to be lived how we want, but we are to honor God with our lives and with our bodies. We who were turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, were forgiven of our sins, so that we don’t have to pay the penalty for sin, eternal death.

We were sealed in Christ Jesus with the promised Holy Spirit, who dwells within our hearts, and who gives us wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding of the things of Christ and of his word. And, we are included in Christ via faith in Jesus and what he did for us in dying for our sins.

Yet, some of his church, his offspring, have since drifted off to sleep, spiritually speaking, so Jesus Christ is calling out to them to wake up. He is speaking to them in a still small voice and with gentle prodding, reminding them of all that he has given us and done for us, so that those who have fallen asleep will wake from their slumber, hear his voice, turn from their sins, and follow him with their lives. Will you hear him calling today?

Muted Trumpet

An Original Work / October 14, 2011
Sung by Jennifer Love Moss

Softly He speaks gently to us,
Giving us His messages, and
He waits patiently for us to
Respond to His words.
Will you listen to Him speaking?
Will you waken from your sleeping?
He is calling; hear Him whisper
His truth unto you.

Jesus speaks His words unto us,
So that He might live out through us,
Giving light to all who need Him,
So they can obey.
He gave His life to die for us,
So that from sin He would free us
To walk humbly in obedience
Unto Him each day.

Hear the trumpet clearly calling.
He died to keep us from falling.
Won’t you listen; heed His call to
Turn to Him today?
Hasten to Him calling to you.
Turn from sin and follow Jesus.
He loves you so much He gave you
Life eternally.

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The Lord recently had me write a meme on the subject of “In Church.” And he had me explain that the church is the body of Christ which is made up of all who are followers of God/Christ who are walking in his (agape) love who are following Christ in obedience to his commands. The church, thus, is not a building called “church,” and it is not a church denomination, nor is it a business incorporated under the state, nor is it a civic center nor a social club, although that is largely what it has been turned into here in America.

So to be “in church” is not us attending a “church service” once or twice a week in a particular building on a specific day in the week, but it means to be in Christ by genuine God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ which results in us being crucified with Christ in death to sin, and us 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. And it means that we are denying self, dying daily to sin, and that we are following Jesus in obedience to his will.

Does it also mean for us to gather with other members of the body of Christ for the specific purpose of worship, fellowship, the studying of God’s word, and for a time in which we can minister to one another within the body of Christ for the purpose of mutual encouragement and edification? Yes! It does! But the church is still the people of God who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ whose lives should be committed to serving Jesus Christ with their lives and to obeying him and his commands and walking in his ways.

And these gatherings should be gatherings of Christ’s body where we can mutually encourage one another in our walks of faith so that none of us will be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, and where we can utilize the gifts of the Spirit given to us by God in the areas of ministry to which God has assigned us within the body of Christ, and where we, the body, can speak the truth in love to one another, and build one another up in our most holy faith, and where we can warn other Christians against false teachings, and where we can stir one another up to love and to the good works of God.

And one person is not to do all the talking and ministering, and one person is not to do all the song selections. And our gatherings are not to be for the purpose to invite the world into our gatherings, and thus we alter God’s purposes for our gatherings in order to “draw in large crowds of people from the world” to our gatherings, and so we make decisions for our gatherings based on the felt needs of the people of the world and based on marketing tricks and schemes on how to attract the world to our gatherings. Our gatherings are for our edification, not to attract the world.

So, does that mean that we are to be ingrown and that we ignore the people of the world? No! But the purpose of our gatherings is so that we can encourage one another who are “in Christ” and who are part of Christ’s body so that we can grow to maturity in Christ and so we are not led astray by those who deceive with empty words which are giving professing Christians permission to keep living like the world and to keep walking in sin, which is what so many of these “churches” (businesses) now are doing. But that purpose can’t happen if we are trying to attract the world to our gatherings.

And if our gatherings are all so large to where only a select few get to do all the ministering, then we become a lopsided body of Christ, and the body suffers from starvation from the encouragement that they could be receiving from the rest of the body. And the Scriptures teach that we are to meet daily, like the New Testament church did, and in people’s homes, or wherever other believers can gather together for mutual encouragement and fellowship, which is happening to some degree on the internet, as well, especially on social media sites or in the blogging world.

Anyway, the Scriptures teach that all of us who are part of the body of Christ are necessary to the proper working of Christ’s body, and so we need to be doing what God has called and designed us to do, and we need to be meeting with one another and sharing with one another what the Scriptures teach with regard to how we are to live, and where we can exhort one another to leave behind our sinful practices and to walk in holiness and in righteousness in walks of obedience to the Lord. Then we can go out to the world with the message of the gospel, to bring people to faith in Christ.

So, please understand that to be “in church” is not about attending a “church service” that is institutionalized and is incorporated under the government and that is following the marketing schemes of human beings who are trying to grow their businesses. And we are not to dilute the gospel nor the purpose of our gatherings in order to attract the world so that they will feel comfortable among us. They should not feel comfortable among us if we are doing what the Bible teaches we are to be doing in our gatherings, and if we are confronting sin and calling for repentance and obedience.

So we are not to be partners with those who are partners with the world and who are trying to attract the world to their gatherings via worldly means and methods. For we are to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather we are to expose them. And we are not to be partners with those who are following institutional and denominational and historical ways of “doing church” which are contrary to the teachings of the Scripture and which ignore the bulk of the body of Christ and their gifts and ministries and which are being controlled by businesspeople trying to grow their businesses.

So, please know what the Scriptures teach with regard to who the church is, that it is believers in Jesus Christ, and with regard to how we all are to operate as the body of Christ in ministering to one another, and not just one day a week, but every day, and not in just one location, but any location where two or more can gather in the name of Jesus for the purpose of ministering to one another. For it is not “the church” just because it is called “church.” It is only the church if it is a gathering of followers of Christ who are gathering to minister to one another in the way God purposed for us to do so.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]

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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I was on the train and had just gotten off, I saw someone and promptly had an intrusive thought. I then briefly leered at them for a second before I caught myself and was horrified. This was not a person I had any interest in (inapropriate target) and I can only hope they didn't see me. I feel horrible. I don't really think of anyone that way. (I suspect I have asexual leanings)
My OCD is now insisting that I sexually harassed them and should be punished.
Please pray for me.

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She was upset her personal private journal was sold for money.


"Inappropriate showers with my dad, turned on and probably not appropriate..."

"When Donald Trump attacks the integrity of judges hearing cases against him, his followers often respond with posts urging that the jurists be beaten, tortured and killed.'

Read the article here....

Often sin seems to have two meanings. We see this in spiritual adultery, witches, murderers, wolves, and drunkards. Even wealth has two meanings. It's money and spirit. A rich and well fed man is glad but a poor man is sad.

We see this in illness and nature as well. Blindness for example is either physical or spiritual. Sin is spiritual sickness as well.

Water, food, shelter, warfare, sowing and reaping, animals, and the weather all have spiritual meaning.


in Christ however we're free.

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





But God... a story of amazing grace!
只有神……一个奇异恩典的故事！

My wilderness years were between 1986-2001. Yes, I did go to church on occasion, not the best one to be honest... I picked up my Bible on occasion and I prayed, but not with same love and fervour I once had.
我的旷野岁月是从1986年到2001年。没错，我偶尔会去教堂，老实说不是最好的一个……我偶尔会拿起我的圣经，我也会祈祷，但没有了我曾经有的那种爱和热情。

Something was happening, and the Holy Spirit was speaking. At this time, I was back home with mum after living away for a long time. I had put all my effort into trying to do it my way. I had a computer and through that I came into contact with a Christian who challenged me to repent and to come back to God. My answer was that although God would forgive, HE would never trust me and would never forget MY sin.
在这个时候，圣灵在借着正在发生的事情说话。在外面住了很长时间以后，我回到了妈妈家。我全力以赴地尝试用我的方式来生活。我有一台电脑，通过这台电脑，我接触到了一个基督徒，他劝勉我悔改并回归神。我的回答是，尽管神会原谅我，但他永远不会信任我，也永远不会忘记我的罪。

I remember one day being in my bedroom, when I broke down in tears. The Lord restored me! He is truly the God of the second chance, and I was a prodigal who had come home.
我记得有一天在我的卧室里，哭泣崩溃。此刻主恢复了我！他真的是给我第二次机会的神，我是一个回家的浪子。

I found a church and settled there, but my computer turned out to be my enemy. I was led away by my own lusts and the devil, and made friends with a so-called female "pastor" in the USA. Being very foolish, I moved there in 2004 and got married, losing not only my testimony, but also my mother, the respect of my family and nearly my life. The three years spent in America were a sobering experience. I blame no one but myself, but again God was gracious and merciful, giving me the mercy and grace that I didn't deserve.
我找到了一个教堂并在那里安顿下来，但我的电脑却成了我的敌人。我被自己的欲望和魔鬼引诱，和一个所谓的美国女“牧师”成了朋友。非常愚蠢。我2004年搬到了美国并结婚，不仅失去了我的见证，还失去了我的母亲、家人的尊重，几乎丧命。在美国度过的三年是一次清醒的经历。我不怪任何人，但神再次显示了他的仁慈，赐给我我不配得的怜悯和恩典。

Thankfully, I was able to spend three months at my brothers in Canada, taking lots of time to restore my relationship with him and most importantly the Lord. I then returned to the UK and went back to my old church, and they looked aghast when I turned up, and I heard lots of "Well, I told you so."
幸运的是，我能在加拿大的兄弟家待三个月，花了很多时间恢复与兄弟的关系，还有最重要的是与主的关系。然后我回到英国，回到了我原来的教堂，当我出现时，他们惊讶地看着我，我听到很多“我就说吧”。

Over the next four years, the Lord restored me. I thought that was it for me, but God had another surprise for me. I thought I would not be moving again. Relationships tool a back burner, as I remember, and after I had the latest let down I said to the Lord, "No relationships and no internet relationships ever Lord."
在接下来的四年里，主恢复了我。我以为这就是我的结局，但神为我准备了另一个惊喜。我以为我不会再搬家了。关系这件事已经退居二线，我记得，经历了最后的失望后，我对主说：“主啊，再也不要恋爱，也不要网恋了。”

The summer of 2011 was a time of great fellowship between me and the Lord. I spent hours in prayer, fellowship was sweet, and I also had a website, which was getting hits from all over the world, including Nanjing China. Wow China... that's great, but I gave it little thought.
2011年的夏天是我和主之间的美好团契时间。我花了很多时间祷告，团契很甜美，我还有一个网站，吸引了来自世界各地的点击，包括中国南京。哇中国……这很棒，但我没怎么在意。

I had an old email, so I decided to move to Gmail, and told these few people on Hotmail that I was moving, never expecting to receive a reply. I did, from a lady who was in China. She didn't know if I was a sister or a brother, or a strange person. I thought she was the person that viewed the site, and thought, "Hey that's cool. She wants to be friends. Wow a Chinese friend!!"
我有一个旧电子邮件，所以我决定转到Gmail，并告诉Hotmail上的这几个人我要搬家，从未期待会收到回复。但我确实收到了，来自中国的一位女士的回复。她不知道我是姐妹还是兄弟，还是一个陌生人。我以为她到处是浏览网站的人，并想：“嘿，这很酷。她想交朋友。哇，一个中国朋友！！”

Over the summer of 11, something happened. I didn't hear from my friend for a few weeks, but then she wanted to skype. "Okay, I thought... we can see what the other looks like, and that will put her off for good."
在11年的夏天，事情发生了。几周我都没从她那里听到消息，但后来她来消息了，并说想要使用Skype。我想……我们可以看看对方长什么样，这会让她彻底失望。

We soon found ourselves chatting every day. Something was happening... No come on Lord!, are you joking with me? We all know the end of the story.
我们很快发现我们每天都在聊天。一些事情正在发生……不，拜托主啊！你在跟我开玩笑吗？我们都知道故事的结局。

As autumn came around things moved quickly. Our friendship had deepened, and on October 1st, God spoke to Helen clearly about me being her husband. On the following Tuesday, He spoke to me about her being my wife. I remember it clearly; it was early morning and He spoke clearly and decisively.
当秋天来临时，事情迅速发展。我们的友谊加深了，10月1日，神清晰地对海伦说我是她的丈夫。接下来的星期二，他对我说她是我的妻子。我记得很清楚；那是清晨，神清晰而果断地对我说话。

But I had just moved into my caravan and I was settled. What did my family think? My niece went bonkers and my brother refused to talk to me for two weeks. Everything was becoming obvious, and as we both prayed and sought the Lord, He made it even clearer. Obstacles were removed and I bought the ticket to China on 29 feb 2012. I went in June, lost my luggage (fortunately I had tag and track, and they found it) and was the last one off the plane. Helen must have thought I wasn't coming, but we met and things changed forever.
但我刚刚安定下来，刚刚搬进我的房车里。我的家人怎么想？我的侄女发疯了，我的兄弟两周不跟我说话。一切都明白不过了，当我们两个祷告并寻求主时，他让一切更加清晰。障碍被清除了。我在2012年2月29日买了去中国的票。我在六月去了，丢了行李（幸好我有标签和追踪，他们找到了）并成为飞机上最后一个下机的人。海伦一定以为我不会来，但我们见面了，事情永远地改变了。

We became engaged in China and I returned after a month to the UK. My static had to be sold, along with my furniture, which the Lord graciously blessed.
我们在中国订了婚，一个月后我返回英国。我的房车和家具必须被卖掉，主仁慈地赐福了。

Now I live in China. My life here is not easy, the language is still a mystery to me, but I am thankful to my two wonderful girls, my dear wife and our special daughter.
现在我住在中国。我的生活在这里并不容易，语言对我仍是一个谜，但我感谢我的两个美丽的女生，我亲爱的妻子和我们特别的女儿。

But God is my story. I was dead totally dead... not just sick. I had no hope. Spiritually we aren't sick... we are dead, in rebellion against God and His ways, lost to His wonderful grace and truth, and under His wrath.
但神是我的故事的主角。我完全死了……不仅仅只是病了。我没有希望。在精神上我们不是病了……而是死了，与神及其他的道相抗争，丢失了他的奇妙恩典和真理，处于他的愤怒之下。

I could do nothing to help myself. You see we are all like that. We are dead spiritually, and it takes God to step in and to spiritually activate us. Someone has said it's all about grace.. amazing grace to be exact:
我无法自助。你看我们都是这样。我们在精神上是死的，需要神介入，使我们精神再次活跃。有人说这完全是关于恩典……确切地说是奇异的恩典：


G - God's 神的
R - Riches 富饶
A - At 在
C - Christ's 基督的
E - Expense 代价


I have been saved by God's grace, and it's all about His amazing grace. God has intervened in my life. BUT GOD... because of this I have been redeemed. I have nothing to offer to God except my sins, but what He offered to me was His love, mercy and grace, all of which was totally underserved.
我已经被神的恩典拯救，这完全是因为他的惊人恩典。神已经介入了我的生活。只是因为神……因此我已经被赎回。我除了我的罪之外，没有什么可以献给神的，但他给我的却是他的爱、怜悯和恩典，所有这些都是我完全不配得的。

I hope what I have shared is used by God to open someone's eyes to the Saviour, who I love and treasure, to His finished work on the cross. It is because of this that I can sing the words:
我希望我所分享的能被神用来开启某些人的眼睛，看到我所爱和珍惜的救主，看到他在十字架上所完成的工作。正是因为这个，我可以唱出这些词：

1 Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
奇异恩典，何等甘甜，
我罪已得赦免；
前我失丧，今被寻回，
瞎眼今得看见。

2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
如此恩典，使我敬畏，
使我心得安慰；
初信之时，即蒙恩惠，
真是何等宝贵！

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
许多危险，试炼网罗，
我已安然经过；
靠主恩典，安全不怕，
更引导我归家。

4 The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
主已应许 美好计划，
立根主话 盼望保固。
我的山寨 我的产业，
日子如何 力量如何。

5 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
身心可朽 生命可绝，
圣殿巍然不毁。
寄身其间 平安喜乐，
人生圆满丰沛。

6 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.
大地即将 如雪消融，
太阳终会陨没。
唯有上帝 与我永在，
声声唤我依托。

Ancient & Modern, 2013
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

God bless you,
神祝福你，
Keith


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Both sin and the uncleanness from death that defiles the holy things
were dealt with on the cross, and will consummate the age.

Zechariah 13:1 In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David
and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

We all have contact with dead things, which defiles what must be kept holy.
Numbers 19:
11 He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean for seven days.
12 He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day;
then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day
and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.
13 Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself,
defiles the tabernacle of the Lord. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean,
because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.

19 The clean person shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day;
and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, wash his clothes, and bathe in water;
and in the evening he shall be clean.

Sin And Death Defiled The Holy Land and The Offerings of the people
Ezekiel 36:17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land,
they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness
of a woman in her customary impurity.

Ezekiel 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions
I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them.

This is a reflection of the inner working of Christ,
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Chronicles 29:16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord,
to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of
the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it
out abroad into the brook Kidron.

Deuteronomy 21:
22 If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death,
and you hang him on a tree,
23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him
that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you
as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

The apostolic doctrine reflects this knowledge; for sin and for uncleanness
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free
from the law of sin and death.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

James 1:
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown,
brings forth death.

1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death.

1 Thessalonians 4:
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God,
who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Psalms 77:6 I remember my song in the night; I commune with my own heart
and my spirit made diligent search.

When Asaph speaks of his song, he is not talking about his favorite tune.
The word negenah refers to music played to enter into the prophetic spirit.
Asaph was chosen by David to minister in this capacity.
1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph
and Heman and of Jeduthun who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries and with cymbals.

Negenah, a prophetic song, comes from the word nagan, which refers to playing an instrument
in tune with the spirit.
1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass when the spirit from God was upon Saul that David took a harp
and played (nagan) with his hand so that Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him.

Asaph uses two word pairs to bring forth his prophetic word in this psalm:
zakar-to remember, and seyach- to commune or meditate, which means here
“talk through your situation” in an inner dialog. Seyach is translated differently each time used.

Psalm 77:3 I remembered God and was troubled, I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

Here seyach is translated as complained in the KJV, other translations use moan and groan,
when commune or meditate on God is all that is expressed.
He is troubled, and the translation interprets his inner dialog rather than translating the word
and allowing the following verses to describe his deliberations.
Again, the same word was translated commune in verse 6, used as the main text for this discussion.
He then asks a series of questions to God to express his anguish before drawing his conclusions.
Psalm 77:
10 And I said this is my infirmity, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high.
11 I will remember the works of the Lord, surely I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will also meditate on all your work and talk of your doings.

In verse 12 we find the third occurrence of the word seyach, this time translated talk in the KJV,
meditate in most other versions.
When he says “I will remember” in verse 11, zakar is used twice and should be read, “I will remember to remember”.
Here he expresses the all too common human reaction to trials to forget God’s faithfulness and “stress out”.
He then concludes:
Psalm 77:13 Your way O God is in the sanctuary (our place of prayer or seyach)
who is so great a God as our God?

He then finishes the Psalm with a memorial to the Lord’s might.
So how does prophetic psalms pertain to us in the church today?
What if we don’t play an instrument? Is this strictly the gift of the musicians
and worship leaders? On the contrary, the Holy Spirit within you is able to
provide the same “song in the night” to anyone seeking God.

Paul describes this gift.
1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit
and I will pray with the understanding also,
I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.

He further clarifies his concern for conducting orderly meetings.
26 How is it then brethren? When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine,
has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification.

If a congregation’s worship team is allowed to flow in improvisational prophetic worship, it is easy
in this setting to sing in the spirit and be edified. But what about when you are alone in your place of seyach?
Do you pray in the spirit and sing in the spirit? You don’t need an instrument, just allow the spirit to move
in you the way worship in church moves your spirit, and you will commune with the Lord in the night,
and your spirit can make a diligent search. For "the way of the Lord is in the sanctuary".

The Lord Makes a Covenant of Faithfulness With His Betrothed
Hosea 2:
19 I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice, In loving kindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the Lord.

By Law, the betrothed must cry out in faithfulness to the beloved
Deuteronomy 22:
23 If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man
finds her in the city and lies with her,
24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall
stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry
out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you
shall put away the evil from among you.
25 But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man
forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die.
26 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; there is in the young woman no sin deserving of death,
for just as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter.
27 For he found her in the countryside, and the betrothed young woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.

The Lord Sows Mercy in the Earth in Response to the Cry of His Betrothed.
Hosea 2:
21 It shall come to pass in that day I will answer, says the Lord;
I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth.
22 The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil;
They shall answer "God Will Sow" (Jezreel)
23 Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her
who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people,
You are My people! And they shall say, You are my God!

The Spread of the Gospel is
The Cry for Mercy and Justice From the Betrothed
Romans 9:
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy,
which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As He says also in Hosea: I will call them My people, who were not My people,
and her beloved, who was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
You are not My people, There they shall be called sons of the living God.

The Lord’s Covenant of Betrothal: The Door of Hope
Micah 2:
14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness,
and speak comfort to her.
15 I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.
She shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
16 And it shall be, on that day, says the Lord, you will call Me My Husband, and no longer call Me Lord.

Emmett

Artwork created through the use of artificial intelligence. Partially at least…

Last may (Exactly one year ago) I started to experience frequent deja vu. First it was once every few weeks, then once a week and now its several times a day. I can't shake it and im terrified that its seizures. I have seen two neuros and both have said im most likely in the clear but im still scared as hell. Has anyone else had this?

When my wife and I were dating and engaged we focused on a lot of devotions to Saint Joseph. A month before we met she did a consecration to him and later that year I did as well. We got engaged and then married both on Saint Joseph's feast day (a year apart).

Now I'm almost 18 months into fatherhood and I've been thinking about the love Saint Joseph had for Christ.

I started thinking about how Saint Joseph was already passed away at the time of Christ's passion and crucifixion, and wondered whether that was an act of God's mercy cause, but also necessary for the completion of God's plan for salvation? I keep think how I wouldn't be able to allow my son to be tortured and executed so long as I have breath in my lungs, and wonder whether Saint Joseph would've tried to intervene with the authorities had he been alive and present at that time.

Sure he submitted to God's will the same as Our Lady but not in the perfect way she did, right? That makes me wonder whether he would've tried to stop the guards and the Romans from attacking his son, or whether he might've thrown himself under the whips when Christ was scourged, or even tried to offer himself as to be executed instead, like I think most fathers instinctually would.

Is there any discourse on this already? That Saint Joseph's absence from that part of the story was both a necessity for God's plan to happen and an act of mercy on Saint Joseph by God.

Just some random thoughts I had here thinking about fatherhood and the model earthly father for all Catholics.

In these last days, people hear what they want to hear. They heap up teachers to tell them what they want to hear. They heap up politicians as well for the same reason. We should reject teachers and politicians. We should follow Jesus and the apostles in scripture. 1 John 2:27 and 1 Corinthians chapter 4.