Threads

Kokavkrystallos · May 11, 2024

I love studying the old Methodists, not only because they appear to have lived holy lives, sanctified and set apart unto God, but also because I have attended 2 different Methodist churches: one a UMC, and the other one The Wesleyan Way also under UMC but quite different. The UMC was a lady pastor, while the Wesleyan Way was a man.

I must say the lady even 25 years ago said some things that just couldn't sit right in my spirit, like "Mother/father God" and how she dismissed adultery and fornication as being serious sins, and thus permitted them without any church discipline.
The male pastor was much more scriptural, but when one man during prayer requests and praise reports thanked God for the overturning of Roe v Wade, he would not receive it, and then revealed his pro choice stand, much to the dismay of many in attendance. I came across this while doing some research on William Bramwell, who said, "How is it that the soul being of such value, and God so great, eternity so near, and yet we are so little moved?"

"Modern Methodism bears little resemblance to the Methodism that sprang from the Evangelical Revival of the 18th century, as those whose lives had been transformed by the Christian gospel were formed into societies.
The revival had waned well before John Wesley’s death in 1791 but from the early 1790s, and for a period of fifty years, a second evangelical awakening took place. Spontaneous revivals broke out all over the British Isles in varying degrees of divine power – usually limited to certain towns or denominations but at times sweeping the nation.
Most of these revivals have been forgotten, and yet a tenth of the population of our land was gathered into the Nonconformist churches in this period. So we ought to know about them, and the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Bramwell is a good time to begin.
Prayer and preaching
By his fervent preaching in the Wesleyan Connexion, Bramwell was responsible under God for the conversion to Christ of thousands of ungodly people."
Fire from heaven: William Bramwell and his ministry

This from John Wesley,

"This it is to be a perfect man, to be ‘sanctified throughout;’ even ‘to have a heart so all-flaming with the love of God,’ (to use Archbishop Usher’s words,) ‘as continually to offer up every thought, word, and work, as a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God through Christ.’ In every thought of our hearts, in every word of our tongues, in every work of our hands, to ‘show forth his praise, who bath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ O that both we, and all who seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus ‘be made perfect in one!’”
From, A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION, AS BELIEVED AND TAUGHT BY THE REVEREND MR. JOHN WESLEY, FROM THE YEAR 1725, TO THE YEAR 1777. John Wesley

I totally identify with this fire they speak of, and seek it. I know the LORD dwells in fire, and our God is a consuming fire. I know without the fire of the Holy Spirit, preaching is quite dead, and those who hear it go away with little or no conviction of sin, nor admonishments to change their lives to conform to the life of the Blessed Redeemer who hath purchased them with His own blood. I've walked away from such preaching myself, head down and shaking it from side to side, almost thinking I should have stood up and shouted in the Spirit for the real fire to fall! But let everything be done decently and in order, and do not disrupt the service, but rather pray for those whose fire has been extinguished, that the fire be rekindled!

Edward M. Bounds in his book Purpose in Prayer said,
"Prayer and a holy life are one. They mutually act and react. Neither can survive alone. The absence of the one is the absence of the other. The monk depraved prayer, substituted superstition for praying, mummeries and routine for a holy life. We are in danger of substituting churchly work and a ceaseless round of showy activities for prayer and holy living. A holy life does not live in the closet, but it cannot live without the closet. If, by any chance, a prayer chamber should be established without a holy life, it would be a chamber without the presence of God in it."

Would to God I not stumble into the morass of filth I once wallowed in, and be kept by His power! I thank Him for His sanctifying Spirit! Things that once would draw my attention so much so I'd "lock on target" and fixate on, or even pursue, now turns me off, and even grosses me out at times. Scantily clad women gross me out. Get dressed and repent! The smell of liquor used to draw me in and I'd pine away for a slug of the swill. Now it makes me sick as if I smelled a deadly poison! Rock n Roll, heavy metal, I used to sing along and groove to the beat, and desire more of my favorite songs. Now it's a cacophonic noise that accosts my ears and makes me uncomfortable to be around. I get away from it if I can, or I'll try to drown it out by listening to praise music. And why do some gas stations have to have a speaker in their restroom blaring this trash? I know, because Satan's the prince of the power of the air, so I just answered my own question.

None of those THINGS have changed, but I have, and the Christ dwelling within transformed me by the renewing of my mind by the washing of the water of the Word, and setting me apart from the unclean and impure to sanctification and holiness, without which no one shall see the LORD (Hebrews 12:14) Truly, "he that feareth God shall come forth of them all." (Ecclesiastes 7:18)

I would long for a time when the wickedest of sinners can see the glow on my face, and observe from my life without me saying a word that I'd been with Jesus, that I am with Jesus! I desire that when I speak words they pierce like a sword and burn like a white hot flame of Almighty God's jealousy for our souls: The "most vehement flame" of Song of Solomon 8:6, which is in Hebrew "ShelhevetYah" The flame of Yahweh. I desire the word be like a hammer and a fire as Jeremiah said; both a sin slaying weapon, and a life renewing water and sanctifying food. Others can have their mediocre religion, and churchianity, but I must seek His all, and believe His Word when He says to forsake all and follow Him, and to deny myself and take up my cross, and to preach the gospel, for woe unto me if I preach not the gospel! As we do these things we will close on that perfection of Christ He calls us to, as it is written in Matthew 5, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Let us be edified with this snippet from George Whitefield's sermon, The Potter and the Clay,
"Will you not see reason to pray for yourselves also? Yes, doubtless, for yourselves also. For you, and you only know, how much there is yet lacking in your faith, and how far you are from being partakers in that degree, which you desire to be, of the whole mind that was in Christ Jesus. You know what a body of sin and death you carry about with you, and that you must necessarily expect many turns of God's providence and grace, before you will be wholly delivered form it. But thanks be to God, we are in safe hands. He that has been the author, will also be the finisher of our faith. Yet a little while, and we like him shall say “It is finished;” we shall bow down our heads an give up the ghost. Till then, (for to thee, O Lord, will we now direct our prayer) help us, O Almighty Father, in patience to possess our souls."

I'll conclude with what William Bramwell said here:
"Pray, O pray, my brother! never, never quit your hold of the fullness of God; for time is nearly over, and if this fullness be lost it will be lost forever. I am astonished that we do not pray more, yea, that we do not live every moment as on the brink of the eternal world, and in the blessed expectation of that glorious country."

Amen!

Jerryhuerta · May 11, 2024

Historicism holds the seven churches as literal, symbolic, and prophetic. In the prophetic sense, knowing the ethos or the defining spirit or mood of the Church in a particular historical period corresponds with the letters to the churches. The ethos of specific eras of the Church is not ignored by those who value knowledge and understanding,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction… How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? (Proverbs 1:7, 22)

Church history follows the letters to the churches. Respectively, we live in an ethos of a commercial society, and according to the prophetic sense, the Church in our day is market-driven, influenced by our market-driven society,

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God… Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:14, 17)

Seeking God and pursuing knowledge allows us to discern the characteristics of different church eras, which affirms the letter to the Church in Laodicea reflects our current ethos.

Understanding the ideal ethos of the Church, often referred to as the city on a hill, is crucial, insomuch Christ praised the church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia represents a brief but true restoration of the Church before entering the era of the Laodicea in modern times. Most historicists and even futurists agree that Sardis represents the Reformation based on the interpretation of the name. Historicist David Wilcoxson explains the meaning of Sardis,

is the “escaping one,” or those who “come out,” so it’s an excellent symbol of the church era during the Reformation period when the Protestants preached the Gospel.[1]

The ethos of Sardis was outlined in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians,

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Protestantism escaped the ecclesiocracy of the Papacy, only to be caught in the unholy union again, as documented by former associate editor of Ministry Magazine, Orley M. Berg,

The letter to Sardis is strikingly appropriate to the post-Reformation period of the church, a period fittingly described as “the age of dead orthodoxy.” Appropriate dates suggested for the Sardis period are from the close of the Council of Trent in 1563 to the beginning of the great religious awakening in 1734.

Instead of continuing its work of restoration, the Reformation committed the great error of submitting the church to the protection and support of civil authorities. Although separating from the established church, Protestants became subject to the state. In so doing, the church was forced to compromise some of the basic tenets of evangelical Protestantism and to protect her creeds in endless controversies.

This greatly contributed to spiritual deterioration. Church life largely became little more than form and ceremony; preaching centered on promoting right thinking, with little regard for the condition of the heart. According to Newman, the church historian, personal conversion, even in the case of ministers of the Gospel, seems not to have been expected.[2]

Only Christ lawfully possesses the authority residing in both miter and crown, authority over matters in church and temporal affairs, and the latter consummated at his return (Psalm 110). The Papacy’s attempt to wield power in both jurisdictions as an ecclesiocracy is what made it blasphemous, fulfilling Daniel 7:8 and Revelation 13:5. Protestantism separated itself from the blasphemous power of the Papacy but then held intercourse with the princes of the earth, which is why Sardis is judged almost dead, and many arrayed in defiled garments,

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1)

Historians such as sociologist George M. Thomas concur,

The Reformation found its first alliance with the territorial prince, partly because of a mutual interest in undermining imperial church authority, but basically because of a similar ontology based on rationalizing principles and a common acceptance of a rational central authority (Walzer 1965). The spread of the Reformation throughout the town councils must be interpreted in the larger political context of its isomorphism with the prince as well as with the town’s increasing dependence on and incorporation into the central authority.[3]

Berg goes on to verify that “there were faithful ones in Sardis,”

Truly it could be said of the church in the Sardis period, “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

But, as in every period of the church, there were faithful ones in Sardis. God declared, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy” (verse 4).

During this time, a third force was at work, in addition to both Rome and the established churches of the Reformation. Known as the Radical Reformation, it advocated the principle of a free church in a free state.[4]

Berg comments further on the Radical Reformers,

The hallmark of the Radical Reformers was their zeal for New Testament Christianity and their emphasis on complete freedom for each believer to worship God according to his own conscience…

History testifies that the basic principles of American democracy had their roots, not in the established churches of the Reformation, but in the so-called “sects” of the third force, or Radical Reformation. Through these groups the true spirit of the evangelical Reformation was preserved and advanced.[5]

Berg verifies the origins of the movement that led to the Philadelphian era. The spirit or ethos of a free state abides where “rulers are the servants and the people,” which Benjamin Franklin and the founders of the United States held.[6] This is the ethos of the Philadelphian era, which Christ affirmed,

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28)

The rules of the unbelievers cannot resist the carnal nature to subjugate and exploit the people under them. However, a free state is founded upon the principles of a more perfect union, one of the common good, a pledge to domestic tranquility, the common defense, and the general welfare to posterity. This was the pledge to the people of the United States and why it was in America that the Philadelphian ethos flourished for a brief interval. American evangelical author Nancy R. Pearcey documents this time as one in which the people briefly held the ethos of the common good, as opposed to self-interests,

In the colonial period, the husband and father was regarded as the head of the household— and headship had a highly specific definition: It was defined as a divinely sanctioned office that conferred a duty to represent not his own individual interests but those of the entire household. This was an extension of the classical republican political theory discussed in chapter 10, in which a social institution (family, church, or state) was regarded as an organic unity where all shared in a common good. There was a “good” for individuals, but there was also a “good” of the whole, which was more than the sum of its parts— and this latter was the responsibility of the one in authority. He was called to sacrifice his own interests— to be disinterested— in order to represent the interests of the whole. 12 Husbands and fathers were not to be driven by personal ambition or self-interest but to take responsibility for the common good of the entire household.[7]

The ethos of the Philadelphian era is one of promoting the common good, in which the rulers are the servants to the people, which was held for a brief period at the founding and colonial period in America, lasting into the mid-nineteenth century. The era culminated with the rise of the merchants, who were fostered by Protestant factions bent on self-interest. It was this latter faction that held intercourse with the princes, fulfilling the illustrations of the harlot Babylon,

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:1-5)

We are called to come out of an ethos of self-interest and into one in which we uphold the common good, which is the ethos of the Philadelphian Church and the 144 thousand.

[1] David Wilcoxson, Revelation Timeline Decoded, Independently published (January 14, 2021) 257.

[2] Orley M. Berg, Sardis The Dead Church, Ministry Magazine, November 1978, 17.

[3] George M. Thomas, Revivalism and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press; Revised edition (January 19, 1998), 147.

[4] Berg, Sardis The Dead Church

[5] Berg, Sardis The Dead Church

[6] July 26, 1787: A Last Debate before Adjourning, July 26, 1787: A Last Debate before Adjourning (U.S. National Park Service)

[7] Nancy R. Pearcey, TOTAL TRUTH Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity, Crossway; Study Guide edition (February 28, 2008), 328.

tonychanyt · May 11, 2024

Hezekiah reinstated the Passover festival.

A few decades later, 2 Kings 23:

22 Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed.

Some decades later, Jerusalem fell.

The following is from Dottard:

There were two things that appear to have characterized this Passover recorded in 2 Kings 23 -

It was observed with greater care and solemnity than any before it
It was observed by more people than any before it

These can be judged by the extensive and thorough preparations made in order to celebrate this Passover including:

The great Israelite covenant was restored and renewed (V1-3)
the temple was clean up and the re-consecrated (V4)
unworthy, unsuitable priests were banished from the temple (V5)
idols, Asherah poles, and all pagan influences were removed from the city (V6)
prostitution in the temple was banished (V7)
Even pagan places of worship, high places, etc, were desecrated both inside and outside of Judah (V8-16) as far away as Samaria (V19, 20)
mediums and spiritists were removed from all the land (V24)

The dedication of the ceremony can also be gauged by the following:

The king encourage all to participate (V21)
The king turned to the LORD with "with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength" [Compare Deut 6:5 - And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.]

Note the comments from the Pulpit commentary:

Verse 22. - Surely there was not holden such a Passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah. Such a Passover, one so numerously attended (2 Chronicles 35:18). and so exactly kept according to every ordinance of the Law of Moses (2 Chronicles 35:6), had not been celebrated during all the period of the judges, from Joshua to Samuel, nor under the kings of all Israel, Saul, David, and Solomon, nor under those of the separated kingdom of Judah, from Rehoboam to this year (the eighteenth) of Josiah.

AlexB23 · May 11, 2024

Hello folks. Today, we will be doing an analysis on forgiveness, something we must try to do, regardless of circumstances.

Date	May 11, 2024 \| Forgiveness
Verse	Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Ephesians 4:31-32: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Colossians 3:12-13: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Luke 17:3-4: "So watch yourselves.“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”" All verses in NIV.
Explanation	These four passages from Matthew, Ephesians, Colossians, and Luke all emphasize the importance of forgiveness in our relationships with others and with God. Forgiveness is a key aspect of living a Christian life and maintaining healthy relationships. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus teaches that if we forgive others, we will be forgiven by God. This passage emphasizes the connection between our ability to forgive others and God's willingness to forgive us. It also implies that holding a grudge or refusing to forgive can hinder our relationship with God. Ephesians 4:31-32 and Colossians 3:12-13 both encourage forgiveness as a means of maintaining unity and love within the Christian community. Forgiveness is a form of compassion and kindness, and it allows us to let go of bitterness and anger. By following Christ's example of forgiveness, we can create a more harmonious and loving community. Luke 17:3-4 provides practical advice on how to forgive others. It emphasizes the importance of addressing conflict directly and giving others the opportunity to repent. Even if someone sins against us multiple times, we are still called to forgive them. This passage suggests that forgiveness is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process that requires patience and perseverance.
Societal Relevance	When encountering family, friends, or strangers in the modern world, these passages call us to extend forgiveness even when it feels difficult or impossible. Some tips for practicing forgiveness include: Pray for the person who has wronged you and ask God for the grace to forgive them. Focus on the person's humanity and remember that they are created in God's image. Practice empathy and try to understand the reasons behind their actions. Reflect on the benefits of forgiveness for yourself and for your relationship with the person. Seek out professional help if necessary, such as therapy or counseling. It's important to remember that forgiveness does not mean excusing or condoning harmful behavior or allowing ourselves to be taken advantage of. It means releasing the emotional burden of anger and bitterness and choosing to respond with compassion and love. Ultimately, forgiveness is a powerful way to heal relationships and bring about reconciliation. Forgiveness can be difficult for many Christians to follow, myself included. Sometimes it takes an entire decade to forgive, such as when a man wore a shirt which made my blood boil, about 12 years ago. In 2012, my parents and I had a layover in Iceland en-route to the European mainland, so we went to the Blue Lagoon, long before all the Instagram influencers made the admissions price balloon in the late-2010s. At the lagoon, there were a lot of tourists. One tourist had on a black shirt with white English text that said something along the lines of "[censored] Christianity". He never approached us, but I was people watching and saw him >50 ft (20 m) away. That made my blood boil, and I asked my parents why anyone would wear a shirt like that. My parents said that some folks may not understand the gravity of that phrase, especially a small subset of irreligious people. Recently, I prayed and forgave this stranger in my prayers a few months ago in the autumn of 2023, that he may be forgiven by myself and God, and that hopefully he seeks Christ. Back in April 2021 at age 21, my parents wanted to see if it was possible for me to move out, with a classmate named John Doe from a vocational program for folks with disabilities. John was a good guy, but he had a bit of temper issues. He has broken his phone a few times during 2020 and 2021, as well as a laptop that belonged to the vocational program. But, at the time, my parents and I thought John would make a good roommate. John was particular about certain things, such as having the thermostat temperature at 72F or below. In July 2021, he and I had a thermostat disagreement as we were going to be out of the apartment for a few days to visit our respective parents, so I thought we could set the temp to 78 degrees when we were away. He hit me, as I was programming the temperature to 78F. That is when the roommate situation came to a boil, and I moved back home with my parents at the end of July 2021. Fast forward to July 2022, and the vocational program alumni had plans to go on a camping trip to a nearby park in my city. I prayed to God, to help me forgive John for his actions. During the ride to the camping trip, I forgave John. He and I shortly afterwards began discussing computer systems from the late-20th century such as the TurboGrafx-16, as we both like technology, though John prefers the video game side aspect to it, while I prefer the scientific aspect to tech, but our interests overlap. In summary, we both became friends and forgave each other of our mistakes, and my year-long grudge was no more.

Kokavkrystallos · May 11, 2024

With a surprise cross-border attack, Russia ruthlessly exposes Ukraine’s weaknesses

CNN —
For Ukraine, May is turning out to be the cruellest month.

The town of Vovchansk in the northern Kharkiv region, liberated from Russian occupation more than 18 months ago, awoke Friday to intense shelling and aerial bombardment. Russia has found another way of stretching Ukraine’s already thin blue line.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials said that Russian efforts to advance towards the town had been thwarted, but the Russians have since tried to cut road links with Vovchansk.

The Russians launched battalion-strength attacks along a 60-kilometer stretch of the border on Friday, claiming to occupy several villages in what is known as the ‘gray zone’ along the frontier, after focusing much of their offensive capabilities this year on a grinding advance in Donetsk in the east that has seen incremental but significant progress.

As of Saturday, it appeared the Russians still held a handful of Ukrainian border villages, with intense aerial bombardment continuing in the Vovchansk area.

The cross-border attack is yet another example of what’s going wrong for the Ukrainians this year. Their forces are thinly stretched, with much less artillery than the Russians, grossly inadequate air defenses and above all a lack of soldiers. Their plight has been worsened by dry weather, allowing Russian mechanized units to move more easily.

The deputy head of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Major-General Vadym Skibitsky, told the Economist last week: “Our problem is very simple: we have no weapons. They always knew April and May would be a difficult time for us.”

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that despite immense losses since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has more than half-a-million men now inside Ukraine or at its borders. It is also “generating a division of reserves” in central Russia, according to Skibitsky.

The northern border assault follows the creation of a new Russian military grouping called Sever [North]. George Barros at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington told CNN that Sever is an “operationally significant group.”

“Russia sought to generate 60,000-100,000 troops for its group to attack Kharkiv and we assess it’s closer to 50,000,” Barros says, but “it still has a lot of combat power.”

It’s from this new force that units of armored infantry tried to cross the border. The available evidence suggests they were expected and suffered significant losses. But if more elite units join (there are reports that elements from other divisions may do so) Russia’s ambitions could grow.

As a Ukrainian special forces unit told CNN this weekend, “This is only the beginning, the Russians have a bridgehead for further offensives.”

One former Ukrainian officer who writes about the conflict on the blog Frontelligence says that “Manpower shortages compel Ukraine to avoid deploying large units along the border continuously, with fully stocked and ready for immediate-use artillery.”

He expects the situation to evolve, “with Russian forces deploying more units to penetrate additional border areas or to reinforce initial successes.”

Several analysts expect the Russians to broaden the border attacks westwards to Sumy region, which has seen months of raids by Russian special forces.

The Sever grouping could not attack and occupy a city the size of Kharkiv, but that’s likely not the goal. Barros says that it is instead to compel Ukrainian forces to pivot from Donetsk to Kharkiv region. The Russians seek to “thin Ukrainian forces out along the 600-mile frontline and create opportunities, specifically in Donetsk oblast, which is Russia’s main operational objective for 2024,” Barros says.

The latest cross-border assaults may also divert Ukrainian units from the defense of Kupiansk, also in Kharkiv region, where a Russian assault has stalled for months, as well as create a buffer zone inside Ukraine that the Kremlin says it wants to reduce attacks on Russian cities like Belgorod.

Upping the tempo

What’s happening in Kharkiv is not isolated. The Ukrainian military acknowledged this week a spike in combat engagements (more than 150 on Thursday alone), coming on top of a marked increase from March to April.

In effect, the Russians have the manpower to stretch Ukrainian defenses through multiple points of attack hundreds of kilometers apart, forcing Kyiv to guess where and when an anticipated early-summer offensive will focus.

The increased tempo of attacks exacerbates Ukraine’s two critical vulnerabilities: insufficient manpower and sparse air defenses. Russia is exploiting both in a hurry, keen to establish facts on the ground before a new wave of Western aid can help. That is at least weeks away in any meaningful amounts.

“Manpower remains a core challenge, and Ukraine is working to restore its existing degraded brigades as well as from about 10 new maneuver brigades,” Barros says.

more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/11/europe/ukraine-kharkiv-russia-attack-intl/index.html

Michie · May 11, 2024

The Vatican’s latest bid to tackle climate change will bring together politicians and researchers from around the world for a three-day conference next week featuring a series of roundtable discussions and culminating in the signing of a new international protocol that will be submitted to the United Nations.

The joint summit, “From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience,” will be held at the Vatican from May 15–17 at the Casina Pio IV, the seat of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, which sits in the Vatican Gardens.

The conference — organized by the two pontifical academies — brings together policymakers, civic leaders, researchers, and lawmakers from the United States and other countries, including Italy, Kenya, and Sweden.

This year’s U.S. invitees include Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul as well as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

Continued below.

International summit on climate change to bring California, New York governors to the Vatican

The joint summit “From Climate Crisis To Climate Resilience,” will be held at the Vatican from May 15–17 at the Casina Pio IV.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Michie · May 11, 2024

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 11, 2024 / 15:18 pm

Actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus Christ in the popular television series “The Chosen,” encouraged graduates at the Catholic University of America (CUA) to emulate Christ and strengthen their prayer lives during the university’s commencement ceremony Saturday morning.

“Last time I spoke [to] a crowd this big, there were loaves and fish and baskets of them,” Roumie joked, referencing the Sermon on the Mount. “So many leftovers.”

Roumie headlined the commencement ceremony for CUA graduates held on the lawn of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., which sits adjacent to the university.

The actor was also awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts for his work evangelizing through his acting career.

Continued below.

‘The Chosen’ star Jonathan Roumie urges Catholic University grads to emulate Christ

Roumie headlined the commencement ceremony for CUA graduates held on the lawn of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

discombobulated1 · May 11, 2024

Jonathan Turley: Prosecutors knew Stormy Daniels would 'combust' on the stand | Fox News Video

Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley says the cross-examination of Stormy Daniels in NY vs. Trump was 'devastating' on 'America Reports.'

www.foxnews.com

LOL

That is what the Trump- hater Cohen will be doing: saying in his testimony: Punish Trump for taking my legal advice.

You just can't make this stuff up

If you wrote a novel like this, people would call it too far-fetched and unreal, and potential publishers would say That book won't sell

Jamdoc · May 11, 2024

Irenaeus, who was the disciple of Polycarp, who was the disciple of John, who wrote Revelation wrote in "Against Heresies" a premillennial view of eschatology, that had the Church put to flight by Antichrist (so incompatible with Pre-tribulationism), and took prophecy literally (including the number 666, which while it was a symbol for the accumulation of sin all put on one man, it was still literally a number that could be calculated from his name using GREEK Gematria not Hebrew or English or any other language, but Greek), and was incompatible with the heresies later brought by Origen and Augustine, theological poison introduced in the 4th and 5th centuries that poisoned Christian Theology for over 1000 years (and still poison it today)

Views compatible with the early church are Post-tribulation Premillennialism (Historic Premillennialism as opposed to Dispensational), and possibly Pre-wrath Premillennialism (as the main thing said to be faced by the church is the reign of Antichrist not supernatural judgements from God)
Pre-wrath is a newer teaching on it that sees a more distinct difference between Antichrist's reign/Tribulation vs God's Wrath (taking literally the bowls and trumpets as God's wrath as opposed to most post-trib seeing the bowls and trumpets as "symbols" and just "tribulation" rather than the wrath of God), so it's still compatible as both schools believe it's future, premillennial, and the Church would face Antichrist before being delivered. Pre-wrath's main problem is a hangover from a Pre-tribulation view that I believe most start in before reading the bible and seeing a more post-trib view in the bible but they hang onto the '2 second comings' from pre-trib too hard (I only believe in 1 second coming but it's earlier)

Views incompatible with the Early Church are Amillennialism, Post-Millennialism, Full and Partial Preterism (as if even part had been fulfilled, the Early Church Fathers would have wrote about how those parts were fulfilled), and Pre-tribulation Dispensational Premillennialism.

Historicism is hard to say, as historical events could have happened in our past but the Early Church's future though most Historicism relies on allegorical interpretation more in line with Amillennialism which was incompatible with the Early Church (that is 1st and second centuries, pre Augustinian Platonic Cancer infection) as its base.

discombobulated1 · May 11, 2024

NY v Trump: How Stormy Daniels self-destructed under a devastating cross-examination

Manhattan DA Bragg and his team called Stormy Daniels to the witness stand to humiliate and smear Donald Trump. But by the time she slinked off the stand, her narrative was in shreds.

www.foxnews.com

It doesn't look like Ms Daniels knows much about the law or courtroom procedures, or in this case: courtroom antics by politically motivated players.

Oh well... we expected such vacuousness considering her chosen career.

So yeh, for anyone interested in finding out the FACTS about this case, what better person to give them to us than a respectable attorney like Jarrett? Also at this site is another attorney, Alan Dershowitz. I haven't read or heard his comments but plan to.

I don't know if we will ever know if there really was a tyrst btwn Trump and that.... "star." I read the part of her book that talked about the alleged encounter and it did NOT at all sound like Trump. I think she lied about it, but it doesn't matter. The case is about a possible (alleged) bookkeeping irregularity..

But you know how it goes w/ the Politics-worshipping Left:

Gotta get Trump, Gotta get Trump, gotta get him....

Kokavkrystallos · May 11, 2024

Joshua 1:2-9,
"Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Numbers 10:35,
"And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee."

Now the ark was where the presence of the LORD was, and the Shekinah glory appeared between the cherubim above the mercy seat. But now the ark is not with us, and while some say it's buried under the Temple Mount, or in Ethiopia, or some other place, where we see the ark next is in HEAVEN in the Book of Revelation:
"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (Revelation 11:18)

So where is the glory of God now? It is within us! "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Now we can go back to Numbers, and this is before Joshua receives his commission to go in and take the land, and in Numbers 13 there are 12 spies sent to spy out the land. Joshua and Caleb bring back this report: "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30)

Sounds great, but then we have the following verses that are not so great, and as a matter of fact is why the children of Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness:
"But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Numbers 13:31-33)

Then in Numbers 14:6-10,
"And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones."

Enough! Are we to be like Joshua and Caleb, or like the rest, who by the way were destroyed:
"And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still." (Numbers 14:36-38)

How long shall our own lives be fearful and out of control, wanting to go back to Egypt and back to bondage because it almost seems easier? The fearful are among those shut out of the kingdom in Revelation, and hey, I was fearful of going back to my own land as I've shared here in several posts, and because there are "giants" there. So what? Jesus is greater than any giant and the same God who emboldened David to defeat Goliath is the same today and has not changed! Amen?

Now I know Lucifer had been summoned upon my land, and reptilian-like demons that could shapeshift into men living underground, a long with goddesses, aliens, and animal spirits, and Arien; familiar spirits and orbs abundantly, so much so that people fear the place and sense the heavy "negative energy" though I'd rather not use such a new age term. ENOUGH!

Do I not trust Jesus, who was more than able to deliver me from the devils of drugs and alcohol, and rock music, and cursing and smoking, and all manner of evil thought and activities? So death was down abundantly; isn't Jesus the giver of LIFE and that more abundantly?

Jesus saith, " I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:18-19)
And,
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18)

Well, there are 3 things in that last utterance that apply: they shall cast out devils, take up serpents, and drink any deadly thing and it shall not hurt them. That's authority over darkness right there; not as the charlatans who make a buck on fake healings and deliverances, nor the snake handlers who deliberately reach into boxes of vipers, or drink formaldehyde. Thou shalt NOT TEMPT the LORD thy God, it is written. But will God protect one who is faithful to Him and seeking His will and His righteousness, as Paul was protected from the viper that fastened to his hand in Acts 28:3-6? Yes, He absolutely will.

Above all, this is not just something personal I have to do, but this applies to anyone who is fearful of certain things, worries and fears that torment, and sin that drags one down. Jesus gives the same authority over sin, and fear and worry as He did with Moses who went before Pharaoh, and Joshua who led Israel into the land and defeated giants. Oh, but don't take of the accursed thing because when that happened, when someone decided a little bit of the world and a Babylonish garment were worth coveting, he got 36 Israelis killed in Joshua 7. So best get any accursed thing out and away from your camp, and your life before you tackle the enemies or they will be set you and drive you under foot and wheel.

"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:14-15

timothyu · May 11, 2024

I wonder who profited from building a miniscule copy of all the trees and jungle cut down and burned? This is the reality of the environmental movement. Destroy nature then replace it with profit through industry, an industry that can never match or replace God's given natural filters.

The world’s largest carbon removal plant is here, and bigger ones are on the way

“Mammoth” facility to filter CO2 out of air powers up.

www.theverge.com

Kokavkrystallos · May 11, 2024

I find these messages from E.M. Bounds really convict me about my prayer life, so that I've intensified it from where I was. This one is so important, and one that I have done now for a few years. When I did not begin my day with prayer I note that my days did not often go well, and my mind was filled with swirling thought that were not always good, and at times downright evil. Now when an evil thought comes it is a rarity, and is nipped in the bud quite quickly in Jesus holy and powerful name, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I awaken before dawn usually and immediately pray and read Scripture, but I remember well doing what this first paragraph says, and even days forgetting to pray altogether at my worst prodigal time. How awful and dreadful a wretch I was. I almost cannot imagine now myself as I was then, even 6 - 7 years ago, a miserable, lonely, angry wretch, and often when I did pray it was blasphemous and complaining. Now I pray that believers not go through such, and if you wonder why things may not be going right, PRAY. Christ didn't promise a bed of roses, but He did promise JOY, and PEACE, which passeth all understanding.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." - John 15:11

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (John 14:27 & Philippians 4:7)

From Power Through Prayer, chapter 9

Begin the Day with Prayer

I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o’clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says: “Early will I seek thee”; “Thou shalt early hear my voice.” Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness, and I can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed. Then when in secret prayer the soul is often out of tune, I feel it is far better to begin with God—to see his face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another.—Robert Murray McCheyne

THE men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, he will be in the last place the remainder of the day.

Behind this early rising and early praying is the ardent desire which presses us into this pursuit after God. Morning listlessness is the index to a listless heart. The heart which is behindhand in seeking God in the morning has lost its relish for God. David’s heart was ardent after God. He hungered and thirsted after God, and so he sought God early, before daylight. The bed and sleep could not chain his soul in its eagerness after God. Christ longed for communion with God; and so, rising a great while before day, he would go out into the mountain to pray. The disciples, when fully awake and ashamed of their indulgence, would know where to find him. We might go through the list of men who have mightily impressed the world for God, and we would find them early after God.

A desire for God which cannot break the chains of sleep is a weak thing and will do but little good for God after it has indulged itself fully. The desire for God that keeps so far behind the devil and the world at the beginning of the day will never catch up.

It is not simply the getting up that puts men to the front and makes them captain generals in God’s hosts, but it is the ardent desire which stirs and breaks all self-indulgent chains. But the getting up gives vent, increase, and strength to the desire. If they had lain in bed and indulged themselves, the desire would have been quenched. The desire aroused them and put them on the stretch for God, and this heeding and acting on the call gave their faith its grasp on God and gave to their hearts the sweetest and fullest revelation of God, and this strength of faith and fullness of revelation made them saints by eminence, and the halo of their sainthood has come down to us, and we have entered on the enjoyment of their conquests. But we take our fill in enjoyment, and not in productions. We build their tombs and write their epitaphs, but are careful not to follow their examples.

We need a generation of preachers who seek God and seek him early, who give the freshness and dew of effort to God, and secure in return the freshness and fullness of his power that he may be as the dew to them, full of gladness and strength, through all the heat and labor of the day. Our laziness after God is our crying sin. The children of this world are far wiser than we. They are at it early and late. We do not seek God with ardor and diligence. No man gets God who does not follow hard after him, and no soul follows hard after God who is not after him in early morn.

Laodicean60 · May 11, 2024

Are we sure the Ukraine war is about Russia or protecting the interests of corporations? No longer do we need to invade we'll buy them. Poland farmers are also blocking access to Ukraine because Poland is buying grain from Ukraine instead of their farmers. It's Blackrock and Vanguard taking advantage of Ukraine's situation. From the video, I deleted linked here if curious. Polish Farmers

Amidst Chaos of War, A New Report Exposes the Stealth Take-over of Ukrainian Agricultural Land

One year into the war, a new report reveals how oligarchs and financial interests are expanding control over Ukraine's agricultural land

www.oaklandinstitute.org

Wolseley · May 11, 2024

Astounding to me that this is a supposedly Catholic school.

MSN

Dorothea · May 11, 2024

Hi, friends,

Christ is risen!

Does anybody know what Orthodox books were first published in English around 1977 - mid to late 1970s?

discombobulated1 · May 11, 2024

Swing state GOP looks to go around Dem governor, put Texas-style border bill before voters

An Arizona border security bill that would give local law enforcement the ability to enforce immigration laws is one step closer to going in front of the voters.

www.foxnews.com

If you go down to Comments section that follow this video/article, you will find a commentator named Nightvigil who said this, but I did not know that Congressional representation involves counting illegals!

Is this some recent change in the law?

This is absolutely horrible, if true. That means our government is being influenced/controlled by people who

well, just fill in the blanks! But some of these border- crashers hate us.

JesusFollowerForever · May 11, 2024

The Sabbath is a sacred day of rest, deeply rooted in religious traditions, notably Judaism and Christianity. It is typically observed on the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday for Jews and some Christian denominations.
Understanding the Sabbath:
The Sabbath finds its origins in the creation narrative of the book of Genesis, where it's recounted that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. This act of divine rest sanctified the day and established the pattern for humanity's observance.
The giving of the Sabbath as a commandment is central to the religious laws outlined in the Old Testament. In Exodus 20:8-11, it's enshrined as one of the Ten Commandments, urging believers to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. This commandment underscores the importance of setting aside a day for rest, worship, and spiritual renewal.
Why was it Given?
The Sabbath was given as a gift to humanity, providing a regular opportunity for physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation. It serves as a time to pause from the demands of daily life, to reflect on our relationship with the divine, and to reconnect with ourselves and our loved ones.
How to Follow it Properly with Love:
True Sabbath observance involves more than mere ritualistic adherence to rules and regulations. It's about embracing the spirit of the Sabbath with love and reverence.
Rest and Reflection: The essence of Sabbath observance lies in rest, not just physically but also mentally and spiritually. It's a day to pause from work and worries, to meditate on the goodness of creation, and to deepen our relationship with the divine.
Community and Connection: The Sabbath is a communal experience, a time to gather with family and friends, to share meals, stories, and laughter, and to strengthen bonds of love and fellowship.
Acts of Kindness and Compassion: True Sabbath observance involves acts of love and service towards others. It's about extending grace and generosity to those in need, following the example of Jesus who healed and helped others even on the Sabbath.
Avoiding Pharisaic Legalism:
In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to Sabbath laws, often prioritizing rituals over compassion. Jesus, however, challenged this legalistic mindset, emphasizing the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).
Heart Over Ritual: Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for humanity's well-being, not as a burdensome set of rules to follow. He emphasized the importance of mercy and compassion over rigid adherence to regulations (Mark 2:27).
Freedom in Christ: While the Sabbath remains a sacred institution, the New Testament provides a fresh perspective. In Christ, believers find freedom from legalistic observance of days and rituals, focusing instead on a relationship of grace and faith.
Grace and Forgiveness: Just as Jesus showed grace and forgiveness to those burdened by legalism, we too should extend grace to ourselves and others in our Sabbath observance. What matters most is the sincerity of our hearts and our desire to honor God and love our neighbors.

The Sabbath is a sacred day given by God for rest, reflection, and worship. Observing it properly involves resting from work, connecting with community, and showing love and compassion to others. However, it's essential to avoid the legalistic pitfalls of the Pharisees by prioritizing love, mercy, and grace in our Sabbath observance.

JesusFollowerForever · May 11, 2024

The Sabbath is a sacred day of rest, deeply rooted in religious traditions, notably Judaism and Christianity. It is typically observed on the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday for Jews and some Christian denominations.
Understanding the Sabbath:
The Sabbath finds its origins in the creation narrative of the book of Genesis, where it's recounted that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. This act of divine rest sanctified the day and established the pattern for humanity's observance.
The giving of the Sabbath as a commandment is central to the religious laws outlined in the Old Testament. In Exodus 20:8-11, it's enshrined as one of the Ten Commandments, urging believers to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. This commandment underscores the importance of setting aside a day for rest, worship, and spiritual renewal.
Why was it Given?
The Sabbath was given as a gift to humanity, providing a regular opportunity for physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation. It serves as a time to pause from the demands of daily life, to reflect on our relationship with the divine, and to reconnect with ourselves and our loved ones.
How to Follow it Properly with Love:
True Sabbath observance involves more than mere ritualistic adherence to rules and regulations. It's about embracing the spirit of the Sabbath with love and reverence.
Rest and Reflection: The essence of Sabbath observance lies in rest, not just physically but also mentally and spiritually. It's a day to pause from work and worries, to meditate on the goodness of creation, and to deepen our relationship with the divine.
Community and Connection: The Sabbath is a communal experience, a time to gather with family and friends, to share meals, stories, and laughter, and to strengthen bonds of love and fellowship.
Acts of Kindness and Compassion: True Sabbath observance involves acts of love and service towards others. It's about extending grace and generosity to those in need, following the example of Jesus who healed and helped others even on the Sabbath.
Avoiding Pharisaic Legalism:
In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to Sabbath laws, often prioritizing rituals over compassion. Jesus, however, challenged this legalistic mindset, emphasizing the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).
Heart Over Ritual: Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for humanity's well-being, not as a burdensome set of rules to follow. He emphasized the importance of mercy and compassion over rigid adherence to regulations (Mark 2:27).
Freedom in Christ: While the Sabbath remains a sacred institution, the New Testament provides a fresh perspective. In Christ, believers find freedom from legalistic observance of days and rituals, focusing instead on a relationship of grace and faith.
Grace and Forgiveness: Just as Jesus showed grace and forgiveness to those burdened by legalism, we too should extend grace to ourselves and others in our Sabbath observance. What matters most is the sincerity of our hearts and our desire to honor God and love our neighbors.
In summary, the Sabbath is a sacred day given by God for rest, reflection, and worship. Observing it properly involves resting from work, connecting with community, and showing love and compassion to others. However, it's essential to avoid the legalistic pitfalls of the Pharisees by prioritizing love, mercy, and grace in our Sabbath observance.

LoricaLady · May 11, 2024

I will share what I have been learning on the topic of self deliverance below. In case it might be interesting to anyone.

And I am asking for anyone to please share any thing learned in this area.

Here are the resources that I have personally found the most helpful. See the YouTube video called:

I was a stripper and Playboy model.

Pastor David Middleton channel on YouTube.

Both of those resources how to do self deliverance.

I will give my personal disclaimers on David Middleton, though. He is great on detailed information, and is constantly supporting what he says with the Bible, but he does not think that Demons are going to go out except by commanding them to leave.

That is not what happened to the woman in the video, who was a stripper. She got freed through constant repetition of Bible verses. And others have reported the same things, in particular in regard to getting miraculous healings.

I also disagree with Middleton when he talks about Benny Hinn being a brother. I’m sorry, but Benny is not someone I personally trust at all.

Also, Middleton speaks out against Hebrew Roots, which I am part of. And he speaks out against using the actual Deity names given in Hebrew in the Bible, as for example, names found in the 2,000
year old Dead Sea Scrolls, and other ancient writings, for the Almighty and Messiah.

I’ve gotten tons of prayers answered in the past by saying, God or Jesus. But after I studied a little Hebrew, I switched to the Hebrew. And I think there is something wrong in him for wanting to keep people from using the age old Scriptural names.

But I don’t want to toss out the baby with the bathwater, so I’m still listening to him with hopefully lots of discernment. We are all imperfect people, and the Lord uses imperfect people, which is all he has to work with.

I’ve also seen that people can get deliverance through prayers alone. But if that doesn’t work, we are told to command demons to go out. Before our Savior left, the first thing he told his followers to do was to cast out demons.

P.S. The playboy model video has no inappropriate content at all. But if you are a male, maybe even a female, you might want someone else to find the video for you and blow it up full-size before watching it. Because to the right, there are many thumbnails of Playboy models basically with nothing on.

Michie · May 11, 2024

A private Evangelical college in Indiana has dismissed a professor following opposition from critics upset with his past social media posts, which voiced support for same-sex marriage and declared that his pronouns were "he/they."

Grace College recently released Matthew Warner, a communications professor at the Winona Lake school, who started teaching there at the start of the academic year last August.

While the college did not give a specific reason, Religion News Service reported Wednesday that it was "preceded by an online termination campaign" organized by "conservative influencers and Grace College stakeholders."

Continued below.

Evangelical college dismisses professor after opposition to pro-LGBT social media posts

A private Evangelical college in Indiana has dismissed a professor following opposition from critics upset with his past social media posts, which voiced support for same-sex marriage and declared ...

www.christianpost.com

HopeSings · May 11, 2024

Before I begin let me say that I don't believe that I'm an apostle, prophet or teacher. So please don't take me wrong. I reject titles and I don't know what I am to he honest. I'm no apostle Paul that's for sure. I try to follow him and the other apostle though as we all should.

Anyway, getting to the point of this thread, I've experienced things that make me afraid and times of fear and confusion. I believed that it's the shadow death in psalms 23. I believed that its also the daily dying that Paul teaches about. He died daily. I feel so oppressed sometimes that I weep.

I don't know what it is. Is it mental illness, spiritual warfare, the cross, or all of the above maybe?. I don't even know. I'm very fearful and weak. People will likely say that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear but the apostles knew the fear of God. They were confused at times as well.

Corinthians 4:8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible
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.

newton3005 · May 11, 2024

The Bible has a lot to say about wealth, but it is necessary to give context to the various Passages amidst all the Bible has to say. If you walk away after reading one Passage, you will only have a limited view of what God thinks of wealthy people. For instance,
Mark 10:25 says “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” That may make one think that only poor people have a chance of going into heaven. But you need to read the rest of the Passages to determine if and when God has no use for wealthy people.

Is it wrong to have riches? Not so, according to Genesis 1:28. There, God actually commands Adam and Eve to ““Be fruitful” among His other Commands. He has provided us with an environment on earth in which to be fruitful. And then, continuing in the Old Testament we have Deuteronomy 8:18 in which Moses says to the Hebrews, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” So, if you interact with God favorably you may attain wealth if you want it. That is confirmed later when Job, after being stripped of his riches in a bet God made with Satan, has his wealth restored two-fold when he prays for his friends as described in Job 42:10.

So what’s the problem with wealth? Well, the Bible makes clear that there is nothing wrong with attaining wealth, it’s what you do or don’t do with it that matters. If you don’t do anything with it, then God has no use for you in His Kingdom. In Matthew 19:16-21, a rich young man asks Jesus what to do to have eternal life. Jesus says he should sell what he possesses and give to the poor. In short, make your wealth useful. Jesus fortifies this later in his Parable of the Rich Fool, in Luke 12:16-21. There, a rich man said he will gather ever more wealth and store it in ever bigger and more barns. But the Lord in verses 20 and 21 says “’Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

The one who is rich toward God is the one who shares his riches with others. Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46 says that those who help the disabled, destitute, sick otherwise unfortunate will enter His Kingdom and those who don’t will go to “the eternal fire.”

At the end of the day, regardless of the wealth we acquire, if we work for God by making use of our wealth for others, and for ourselves to the extent we are still alive to enjoy it, we stand a good chance that God will look favorably upon us.

Michie · May 11, 2024

The quick thinking of a headteacher helped save the lives of sleeping students after armed extremists stormed a secondary school in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Fr Emmanuel Ogwuche, principal at Fr Angus Frazer Memorial High School in Makurdi, promptly switched off all the lights in the building after hearing gunshots outside, preventing the terrorists from finding their way inside the school.

An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps guarding the school in Benue State “jumped over the fence” and “the gunmen went after him, but he managed to escape” with non-fatal injuries, Fr Moses Iorapuu, Director of Social Communications at Makurdi Diocese told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Father Iorapuu said that unidentified extremists opened fire at the co-educational Catholic school while the pupils were asleep inside the building.

He added: “There were so many gunshots and they were shooting for a very long time.

“We were lucky and the Lord was kind to us that no student was hit.”

Fr Iorapuu explained that the school is temporarily closed and the students have been evacuated as “a pre-emptive measure to ensure the safety of the children and avoid what could have been an unimaginable disaster”.

He added: “The people are kind of getting used to these attacks.

Continued below.

Priest plunges school into darkness to save children from marauding gunmen - Catholic Herald

The quick thinking of a headteacher helped save the lives of sleeping students after armed extremists stormed a secondary school in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Fr Emmanuel Ogwuche, principal at Fr Angus Frazer Memorial High School in Makurdi, promptly switched off all the lights in the building after...

catholicherald.co.uk

Michie · May 11, 2024

The book opens like a mystery novel. The year is 2006. An Irish farmer, digging for peat, notices an odd shape in his bucket. Looking carefully, he discovers that it is a very old book. Bringing it to experts, he learns that it is a psalter, more than a thousand years old, written on papyrus, bound in leather. “To find a book made the same way, conservators had to go to the binding of the Nag Haamadi codices in Egypt, fourth-century Gnostic Gospels that had been discovered in 1945.”

What was an ancient Egyptian psalter doing in a peat bog in Tipperay? In Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity, Connie Marshner gives a surprising answer: The psalter was brought to Ireland by monks who had settled as early as the 4th century— before the time of St. Patrick.

St. Patrick, undoubtedly one of the greatest evangelizers in the history of the Church, brought the Gospel message to Ireland in the 5th century. The evidence of his success in that mission is astonishing; within just a few generations, while Christendom was sinking into what is commonly called the Dark Ages, Ireland was the great bastion of Christian learning, where monks preserved the treasures of the faith while barbarians ravaged most of Europe.

The details of St. Patrick’s mission are lost to history. His own Confession reveals much about his zeal and his prayer, but offers none of the names, dates, and places that would provide a clear picture. Other accounts of his life came only much later, and were obviously embellished so that the myths obscure the man. (To take one popular example, St. Patrick could not have driven the snakes out of Ireland, because there never were snakes there.)

But a few of the available facts buttress Marshner’s theory:

Continued below.

Did Egyptian monks pave the way for St. Patrick?

During its early years of explosive growth, the Church in Ireland was marked by strong indications of Eastern influence.

www.catholicculture.org

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With a surprise cross-border attack, Russia ruthlessly exposes Ukraine’s weaknesses

Upping the tempo

Begin the Day with Prayer

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We don't need war all we need is money