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The ideological cocktail poisoning American campuses

The leftist ideology that has become dominant on campuses today, sometimes called wokeism, adds a twist that is racialist and arguably racist: that all those deemed (by the woke) as "people of color" are oppressed and entitled to commit any and all atrocities to "resist" those deemed (by the woke) as "white."
This is a mirror image of the Nazis' belief that the German nation, "the Aryan man," and white people were oppressed and that the solution was what they called a "racial revolution." (You should know that both Nazi and woke racial constructs lack any scientific basis.)

Exactly. It is a spinoff of Marxism, with hatred of race replacing hatred of class.

Meteor shower visible this weekend, NASA says

The Eta Aquarid meteors will be visible overnight on Sunday and early Monday morning, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported this week. The American Meteor Society expects the shower—which takes place annually—to be especially visible this year, due to interactions with particles from the planet Jupiter.

Continued below.
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A Soldier and citizen of the kingdom but not the world

This is why I gave up politics and America for Jesus and the kingdom of God. I'm not saying that police and military do wrong necesarily. I'm only referring to politics here.

2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

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The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a WEAVER's BEAM

2 Samuel 21:

19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
1 Chronicles 11:

23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
What was so intimidating about a spear like a weaver's beam?

Let's check a parallel account in (Brenton Septuagint Translation) 2 Samuel 23:

21 [Benaiah] smote an Egyptian, a wonderful man, and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear as the side of a ladder; and he went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
It was thick.

More details at David vs Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:

7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.
It was threatening indeed.
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Culturally respectable racism

Why aren’t pundits who bashed evangelicals as racists more vocal about rampant anti-Semitism on the left?​


The scenes that have been playing out on elite American campuses—scenes of the most explicit racism—are a national disgrace. Of course, in the United States, people have a right to public protest. And while I am pro-Israel in the current conflict, it does not seem irrational to me that others might wish to support the Palestinians and criticize aspects of the Israeli war strategy. But the protests are not merely supportive of Palestinians. They are supportive of Hamas. And they are targeted not at Israelis in particular but at the Jewish population in general. Such protests are racist, at least according to the traditional definition before folks like Ibram Kendi and the BLM activists of this world managed to twist the term to suit their own interests.

Some may wish to argue that support for Hamas is not anti-Semitic but rather anti-Zionist. They will likely claim that the 2017 Hamas charter identified the problem as “Zionists” rather than “Jews” for this reason. But that is a specious dodge. When you think that the state of Israel is the result of a Jewish conspiracy, the terms become basically interchangeable. And when events on elite college campuses in the USA have created an environment where Jewish students are under threat simply because of their Jewishness, Israeli military action would seem only to be the pretext and not the true cause of the hatred.

I recently had the pleasure of chairing a discussion on anti-Semitism at Grove City College with two leading Jewish intellectuals, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of Yeshiva University and Devorah Goldman of the Tikvah Fund. Both described growing up in an America where they experienced no anti-Semitism. Both also reflected on the immediate exultant response on campuses in the United States to the Oct. 7 attacks. These responses could not be interpreted as criticism of Israeli military action since none had yet taken place. They were celebrations of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Jewish civilians. No doubt many of the celebrants would regard any American who deadnames a man presenting as a woman, or who refuses to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, or who believes in any limits on abortion as opposing basic human rights and meriting severe punishment. Those who kidnap, rape, and murder Jewish women and children, not so much.

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Titus 3:1-11 - Make Peace with One Another + Star Wars Analogy

Whew, Titus 3:1-11 is a good passage for all of us to follow. In summary, Titus 3 tells us to make peace with each other. Also, happy Star Wars day, folks.

Date
May 4, 2024​
Verse
Titus 3:1-11 (NIV): "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."​
Explanation
Titus 3:1-11 is a passage from the New Testament book of Titus, written by the apostle Paul to encourage the early Christian community in Crete to live in harmony with the non-believers in their society and with each other. The passage emphasizes the importance of being obedient to authorities, doing good works, speaking evil of no one, and maintaining peace and humility.

Now, let's use a Star Wars analogy to help illustrate this concept. In the Star Wars universe, the Galactic Empire can be seen as an authority figure, representing the governing body with rules and regulations that must be obeyed. As believers in Christ, we are called to be good citizens of the world around us, just as the New Republic in Star Wars sought to bring peace and justice to the galaxy by signing a peace treaty in 5 ABY (The Galactic Concordance) with the last remnants of the Empire.​
Societal Relevance
This passage is still relevant to us in modern society as we continue to live in a world with various forms of authority, from government leaders to employers and community rules. The passage calls us to respect and obey these authorities, while also striving to do good works and spreading ethical Christian teachings.

To avoid contentions and still help spread ethical Christian teachings, we can follow the example of Christ and practice love, humility, and peace. We can engage in respectful dialogue with those who hold different viewpoints, seeking to understand their perspectives while also sharing our own. We can also focus on the common ground we share as human beings, rather than our differences. By living out the teachings of Jesus, we can be a positive influence in our communities and help bring about positive change.
Additionally, we can avoid getting drawn into divisive disputes, unfounded speculations, and wars about the law. Instead, we can focus on the essential teachings of the Christian faith and seek to live them out in our daily lives. By doing so, we can help bring unity and harmony, even in the face of disagreements and differences.

In my life, it has been difficult for me to make compromises, until recently, where I have learned how to accept other’s viewpoints better. For instance, on Christian Forums, a wonderful guy by the pseudonym of @Vambram has more of a conservative ideology compared to my own. However, he and I found common ground in the politics sub-forum, as we both are pro-life (except when mother and fetus are both at risk of dying), we both enjoy Star Trek (as his profile includes the Federation ship, the USS Defiant in the background of his avatar), and we both support environmental stewardship as long as it does not come at the expense of other people or involve exploitative practices.
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Race politics and Christian identity

The law seems to protect minorities so it can't be racist against them. It doesn't much matter however because my church is not racist.

I'm not Republican or Democrat. I'm a Christian disciple of Jesus Christ my only king. If I'm a politician then I am racist. It's politicians who engaged in racism but not Jesus. I can't stain the Lord by joining him to racism.

Jesus destroyed race identity. We are all one in Christ as Paul teaches us. We are not flesh or race now. We are new and we are spirit now.

Ex-Satanist Turned Christian Reveals What is 'Behind the Curtains' of 'Devil's Battle Plan'

The co-founder of a Satanic movement in South Africa who had a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ and renounced the occult says he is now on a mission to equip Christians to "handle and understand the devil's battle plan" in the last days.

Riaan Swiegelaar, a former reverend at the South African Satanic Church (SASC), stepped down from his position in May 2022 but recently revealed on social media why he has decided now is the time to reveal what is "behind the curtains" of the satanic church.


"I don't feel that our war is against physical people. I feel our war is in spirit and what God has revealed to me is that we are in a time where it is crucial," he explained. "We are living in the time of (the book of) Revelation. So it is time to put this information out in a very respectful way," he shared.

"We will equip spiritual warriors to handle and understand the devil's battle plan," he added.

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Portland State protesters 'delusional,' mayor says; university reopens after 30 demonstrators arrested

Police have arrested 30 people related to anti-Israel protests at Portland State University in Oregon, where authorities also detained a driver who accelerated toward a crowd of demonstrators and allegedly sprayed them with mace or pepper spray.

Anti-Israel encampments protesting the ongoing war in Gaza and demanding that universities cease support of the Jewish state have sprung up at college campuses throughout the country. Demonstrators at PSU had occupied the campus library building since Monday before the Portland police intervened.

PSU did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment, but on Friday, the university announced the campus had reopened to access card holders. At the time of this report, the university did not disclose when the campus buildings would be open to those without access cards.

Continued below.
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Protestant pastor's prison sentence upheld in Algeria over 'illegal worship' conviction

A court in Algeria last week upheld a one-year prison sentence for a top church leader baselessly convicted of “illegal worshiping,” according to a legal advocacy group.

The Court of Appeal in Tizi Ouzou issued the verdict against Pastor Youssef Ourahamane of Emmanuel Church in Algeria, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International said in a press statement. Pastor Ourahamane has long been a top leader in the Église Protestante d’Algérie (Protestant Church of Algeria, or EPA) association, which has seen 43 of its churches forcibly closed by authorities since 2019, with only one remaining open.

“No one should be punished, let alone face prison, for exercising their right to religious freedom,” said Kelsey Zorzi, director of advocacy for Global Religious Freedom for ADF International, which is coordinating with other non-governmental organizations to support the pastor. “The decision of the Appellate Court to uphold Pastor Youssef’s conviction and sentence amounts to a blatant violation of his rights under both Algerian and international law and must be condemned.”

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Pastor says his mentally troubled wife died by suicide, but some refuse to believe

Police in North Carolina are investigating the death of Mica Miller, the wife of Pastor John-Paul Miller of Solid Rock at Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, who was found with a bullet wound to her head at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County last Saturday as her widower comes under a barrage of suspicion online.

Major Damien McLean of Robeson County Sheriff's Office told ABC15 News that officers are gathering information from people who knew the late 30-year-old pastor’s wife to understand how she died.

Last Sunday, just hours after her body was found, Pastor Miller announced to his congregation in a viral video that his wife died by suicide even though investigators have not yet confirmed an official cause of death.

Continued below.

Couple in Their 80s Who’ve Fostered More Than 150 Children Have No Plans to Retire

English couple Margaret Isdale and her husband Robert decided to welcome a teenage girl into their home for foster care back in 1978.

Now almost 40 years later, they are receiving a lifetime achievement award, because the octogenarians have fostered an incredible 150 children and teenagers.

They’ve seen many dramatic circumstances, including a boy who had to have a kidney removed, and a child who came with no possessions of any kind apart from a set of pajamas, but they have no plans on slowing down.

From the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, they received a lifetime achievement award from Lincolnshire Foster Services, whose administrator, Michelle Sawmynaden, was in awe of the pair, saying that over their 46 years of raising other people’s children, lots of them have either gone back to their birth families or gone on to be adopted.

“It’s really quite humbling. It’s not about us, it’s about the kids we look after—they’re the important ones,” said Margaret, on the occasion of the award

Continued below.
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Living Sacrifices

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14 ESV).

Because of God’s great love for us, and because of his richness in mercy toward us in sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, we should lay down our lives as living sacrifices on the altar of thanksgiving to God, living lives that are holy (set apart in purity) and pleasing to God. This is what it means to truly worship God! We are to no longer be controlled or conformed to the standards and culture of this world, but we are to be transformed in heart and mind by the working of the Holy Spirit of God within us. Sin should no longer be our master, but we should be instruments of Christ’s righteousness to the world around us for the glory of God. Amen!

Living Sacrifices

An Original Work / September 14, 2012
Based off Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:11-14 NIV


Oh, holy ones, I counsel you,
In view of God’s mercy,
To give yourselves to God in love
As living offerings,
Pleasing to God, holy in love.
This is your true worship.
Do not conform to worldly lives.
Let God transform you today.
Then you’ll be able to
Test and approve of what
God’s will is – His pleasing
And perfect will. Oh, holy ones,
I counsel you – Offer yourselves unto God.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –
Do not be conceited.
Humble yourselves before your God.
Do not be self-righteous.
The strength you have to live in love
Comes from your Lord God, so
Live your new lives in pow’r of God.
Be changed in heart, mind and will.
Do this because of what
Christ did for you when
He died on the cross to save
The world from sin. Oh, holy ones,
I counsel you – Humble yourselves before God.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –
Count yourselves dead to sin,
But be alive to God in Christ.
Do not let sin reign in
Your earthly lives so you
Obey its evil desires.
Offer yourselves unto your God
As those who’ve been born again.
For sin shall no longer be
Your lord and master.
Give of yourselves to God
For righteousness. Oh, holy ones,
I counsel you – Be alive to God in Christ.

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Behind the scenes with the Swiss Guard on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony

34 new recruits to the Swiss Guard will be sworn in on Monday by Pope Francis. We visited the barracks of the famous papal army.

The Swiss Guard barracks in the heart of the Vatican are a hive of activity. With just a short time to go before the new guards are sworn in, the soldiers of the world’s smallest army are on their toes. No detail is left to chance in preparation for the traditional ceremony on May 6.

In the weapons room, the metal breastplates that make up the mythical uniform of this army of 135 men in the service of the popes since 1506 are once again brushed with oil. In an adjoining room hang the famous gala uniforms with their blue and yellow stripes and red cuffs.

With the help of elders, the young recruits manage to don the armor, which weighs around 15 kg (33 lbs). “The weight of history,” breathes one of them, recalling that May 6 commemorates the 147 Swiss halberdiers killed by Charles V’s troops who were threatening Pope Clement VII.

Continued below.

Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be DEVOTED TO DESTRUCTION

ESV, Ex 20:

19 Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.
מ֥וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

Strong's Hebrew: 4191. מוּת (muth) — 839 Occurrences

20 Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.
יָֽחֳרָ֑ם (yā·ḥo·rām)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses

Strong's Hebrew: 2763. חָרַם (charam) — 52 Occurrences

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges:

utterly destroyed] banned or devoted. The ‘ban’ (ḥérem) was an archaic institution, often alluded to in the OT. A city or nation that was hostile to Jehovah was ‘banned,’ or ‘devoted’ (etymologically, as Arabic shews, separated or set apart1[189]), i.e. given over to Him as a form of offering, human beings being destroyed, with or without the cattle and spoil as well, according to the gravity of the occasion.
Gill explained:

he shall be utterly destroyed; be accursed, anathematized, devoted to destruction.
Deuteronomy 2:

34 And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors.
H4191-put-to-death was a generic word for killing. H2763-devoted-to-destruction was a more solemn form of holy killing. It carried a more religious connotation.

There is only one Dragon/Serpent in scripture (Part 5)

5th Installment of this OP set
There are severe questions that arise, whenever I biblically reveal who God's Adversary is. I have held out until now to answer them... because the long game is much better than the short game, on this theological matter. I've been building a foundation to answer many questions about the matter, that haven't been revealed yet.

Question 1) I thought Satan was cast out of Heaven before we meet him in Eden, can you prove otherwise?


Revelation 12:5 But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd[d] all nations with an iron scepterand her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Here, we have a clear (Before) event that is theologically simple to identify. This is about the Crucifixion of Jesus, His ascension and His establishment as our High Priest.
6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be fed there[e] for 1,260 days..
This is about Literal Israel, because it is the WOMAN that birthed the child. Eschatology hounds have been trying to crack the 1260 days thing since the first eschatology hound sat in whatever country they sat, and tried to make the matter point out the very seat that sat in.
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil[f] and Satan,[g] the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.
Then war. First Jesus, Then War. Easy Peasy.

Why do theologians make the other assumption? The Dragons tail sweeping a third of the "stars" verse is misunderstood.
1: The Dragons tail is sweeping things down. The classic teaching is to say that "As Satan was cast down, he swept a third of the angels with him". This is wrong. The Dragon is established "Above" and sweeping up his army of deceived angels, below.​
2: Theologians miss that Satan is literally building his active rebellion from the beginning of scripture, all the way through to the gospels. Satan's first act of rebellion is exactly what the bible shows it to be. Satan, under the appointed position of "Guardian Angel" over Adam and Eve, pulls a nasty trick and makes a display of "TESTING" Adam and Eve. God didn't intend Satan to do that, any more than he intends a 5 year old girl to get Leukemia! Furthermore, Satan outright Deceives Eve. The very moment that Eve "Eats of the Fruit of God's Knowledge (Genesis 3:22)", she unknowingly was cheated out of her and Adam's Dominion of the Earth and had elected a Power Mongering (of his own Free Moral Agency) creation as the Ruler of all creation. This is how Satan usurped the position of Middle man, between God and creation.​
3: Now.... Let's reveal a matter of scripture.... Oh Death (The Power of the Devil Heb 2:14) Where is your STING (Serpent Strike/Snake Venom Bite), Thy Snake Venom Bite is Sin (Missing the Mark... but what is the Mark?.... the Mark we miss is the perfection of YH-H). The Devil's Venom is exposing mankind's lack of perfection, when compared to God. God never intended His children to "Be compared to Him". God isn't a narcist that wants a bunch of Mini Me's. God had intended to guide Adam and Eve as a Loving Mother and Father Guide their children. MOTHER! Are you nuts?!? In the Hebrew, as the Spirit Hovers above the Waters of the Deep.... it actually renders to echo a powerful Bird, Hovering over Her young. Are you still irritated with me? How about when Jesus, Himself, likens Himself to Gathering Israel as a Mother Hen gathers her chicks. This isn't to denote gender to God, as God is Masculine. This is to denote authority. Most masculine and feminine analogies in scripture are actually intended to point to God. Allow me to put it this way. If humanity was on a motorcycle, we ALWAYS sit in the back. ;)
Now it comes to it... One of my favorite passages on this topic that is found in reference to a Wicked king, within a wide indictment of multiple wicked kings... but breaks into Spiritual Prophecy. Why shouldn't it? Ezekiel was a PROPHET. :p (Key point, in reference to this matter: King over all Proud Beasts)

If you are just joining in, you really do need to sit down with OP's 1-4, after you finish reading through this OP, at the very least, because I'm going to build off of them as I address the passage.

Ezekiel 28:12-18
You were the seal[c] of perfection,[d]full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.​
God is saying that this being was created without any intention of evil. He was beautiful, wise and perfect, upon creation. I wonder who this is?
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God.
Huh? Let's see here. This is Spiritual Prophecy about a wicked king. So, now we've been placed in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?”​
So, everyone assumes that Satan is already fully revealed as the Bad Guy, by this point in history. However, everyone forgets that Genesis was written by MOSES. Which means, this is an account written in HIND SIGHT. How did we know that Satan was "Crafty" or a "Serpent".
Matthew 23:23 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?​
Everyone jumps to believing this "Serpent" in Genesis 3:1 is a LITERAL snake, posessed by the Devil. This is God recalling matters, through Moses in a way that gives the reader insight into Satan's heart. It's like God is saying, so this Angel that I had appointed to look out for humanity... yeah... he turned out to be a genuine SNAKE! He was "Crafty" and attempted to overthrow Me. This is where that Snake first began to show the iniquity within his character.
Every kind of precious stone covered you:
carnelian, topaz, and diamond,[e]beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,[f] turquoise[g] and emerald.[h]​
These 9 stones listed are very odd. They are rows 1,2 and 4 of the Hebrew Priest Breast Plate. Interesting enough, God has always been the "High Priest", but because Satan abused his authority and usurped the "Middle man" position, it would make sense that he is adorned with a partial priest plate. If you have that prophecy bone... Dan, Asher and Gad are missing from his Breast plate.
Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold; they were prepared on the day you were created.
This is what the stones are inlaid within on the breastplate, per the Law.
14 You were an anointed guardian cherub, for[i] I had appointed you.
Oddly enough, there is only one "Guardian Angel" ever directly mentioned as a "Guardian Angel" within the "Protestant 66". It is only logical that the appointment of Guardian Angel was Satan's initial High Station.. which would easily insinuate that he was in the Garden of Eden as a very specially appointed Guardian Angel.
You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
This explains why, though God gave the Law, that Paul and Luke reveal that the Law was given by the dispensation of angels. Satan goes by another name, also, interestingly enough, within scripture. "Ba'al". Isn't it "odd" that the Israelites crafted a Golden Ba'al idol, while Moses was speaking on Mount Sinai to YH-H, Himself?
The fiery stones are no doubt a reference to what had to be instituted immediately after the deception of Eve. Alters and sacrifice had to be instituted. In fact, God brings animal skins for Adam and Eve to cover their shame which is a proto evangelum in and of itself. (Their shame was due to their implicit lacking when compared to God. It's interesting that the same Adam and Eve were able to be Naked and Unashamed in the presence of God, until the Devil deceived Eve to believe that she needed to have the Knowledge of God, as if she was "lacking". By God's work, Eve lacked nothing! (Adam and Eve were created on the 6th day and God declared His creation good.)
15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you.
This is a verse that demonstrates that God didn't create the Devil to be the Devil, nor did He place him where He placed Him to "Cause the Fall" and demonstrate that OBEDIENCE to Him is His highest call. What we see in the wording of this verse, is that God indeed imbued His creation with Full Free Moral Agency. We see that Satan abused his agency and then deceived Eve to do the same.
16 Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned.
Where did Satan actually first officially SIN? Eden. Which bares the question... why didn't God just wipe Satan out and restore Adam and Eve? Why did the Omnipotent, Infinite, Creator of everything, Who, Himself has Always existed and never not existed... Him Who preexists everything... allow Himself to be challenged in authority? I suggest that it is because God didn't HATE Satan, but Loved Satan, as much as He Loves all of His creations! It is Love that God demonstrates by fostering sincerity, within creation. It is Love that ensures that God allows Angels and Mankind to live out their lives as they choose. My personal assertion is that God only intercedes upon request or utter necessity in respects to the wellbeing of the human race.

Why a flood? Because God destroyed the flesh of those that were steeped in violence, but ONLY GOD knows the fate of their souls or spirits or ghosts or whatever you want to call that and believe what state they may exist as. Humanity was on a course of extinction and God interceded. This logic carries forward when any questions arise about why God does something that seems "UnLoving".
So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you, guardian cherub,[j] from among the fiery stones.
This is the end result of what Satan did to hang himself on his own gallows. Satan cut off his own nose, to spite his own face, but we haven't arrived at the exact HOW or exactly Just When, yet.
17 Your heart became proud because of your beauty; For the sake of your splendor you corrupted your wisdom.
Pride. His wisdom is lost due to his lust for Power and Self Righteousness.
So I threw you down to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings.
This is exactly where we see Revelation 12:10 spoken about.
18 You profaned your sanctuaries by the magnitude of your iniquities in your dishonest trade.
Satan was part of something huge! He was involved in the sanctuary practices, somehow. He brought condemnation, ruin, death and turmoil, through deceit and duplicity

This concludes Part 5 of this OP (Links to first 4 parts are below this OP Part conclusion)
Link to part 1
Link to part 2
Link to part 3
Link to part 4
Link to part 6
Link to part 7

This Is the Psalm That Led Me Back to the Church

Psalm 88 is a cry of despair that draws those who suffer closer to Christ.

When I was a freshman in college I joined the largest religious denomination in America: Lapsed Catholic. It’s a popular movement that doesn’t require anything but a condescending attitude to the backwards faith of your youth. You get to sleep in on Sunday, and preface dubious opinions on faith and morals with the conversation-stopping qualifier “I was raised a Catholic.”

Leaving was easy for someone nursed on the skim milk of 1970s American Catholicism, a machine purpose-built to squeeze all the majesty and mystery out of one of the most dazzling, sublime, and beautiful religions in human hist0ry. By the time I encountered Greek philosophy in my late teens, I was already heading for the door. The clincher was the Bible, what little I’d read of it. In my ignorance it appeared to be a dull and useless book filled with absurd stories and contradictions. Why should my life be shackled to this leaden weight written millennia ago when an entirely new world, filled with new and better truths, was bursting into creation all around me?


In all this, I proved that no one can be as insufferable as a slightly clever teenager. At a certain stage, being well-read can actually make things worse. I’d encountered enough new ideas to see a hint of the wider world of belief, but not enough to weigh them properly and judge them intelligently. It would take me fifteen years of spiritual wandering to the ends of the world before the twitch upon the thread brought me back with a jolt.



My Only Companion is Darkness​


Continued below.

Springtime with Mary: Trust, Light, and Fertile Ground

Living in the North, I have a particular fondness for springtime. From northern Ohio to Ontario, Canada — both places I’ve called home — winters can be harsh, but there is an unparalleled thrill when spring arrives. As it approaches, I pay close attention to the first buds and blooms and listen attentively to the birds who have returned from their winter reprieve. There is a swell of anticipation in the air that grows each day.

As I tune into nature, I wonder if Jesus is doing — or wants to do — similar things in my heart. This season, as I joyfully anticipate the life and light that summer will bring, I’m reflecting on three concepts that I’m learning from both the season and the Spirit. And with springtime containing the month of May, I’m reflecting on all of this with my Mother Mary.

Continued below.

Hungary’s Pro-Family Policies Should Prompt US Conservatives to Rethink Their Mindset, Says Gladden Pappin

The president of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs discusses the lessons the US can learn from different socio-political situations in Europe on the sidelines of CPAC Hungary.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Could the U.S. learn from the political success of a small Central European country?

This year will be a decisive year politically for the Western world, with the European elections coming up in June followed by the U.S. presidential election in the autumn, so analysts from both the progressive and conservative movements are seeking to provide their respective camps with the intellectual weapons likely to change the game at this year’s polls.

And this includes looking beyond one’s own borders to identify innovative and successful strategies implemented abroad.

A gathering of influential conservatives held in Budapest on April 25-26, the CPAC meeting represented fertile ground for ideas and debate on how to rethink today's rapidly changing societies. Among the political figures in attendance were Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom, Santiago Abascal, president of Spain’s VOX party, and U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.

Continued below.

First Arab Christian woman to lead Israel’s University of Haifa

For the first time, an Arab Christian woman has been elected as the rector of an Israeli university — the University of Haifa. The announcement of Professor Mouna Maroun’s appointment was made on April 11 amid tensions with Iran and while anti-Israel protests were mounting at universities around the world.

Maroun belongs to the Arab minority in Israel, the Christian minority among Arabs, and the Maronite minority among Christians. No other Arab, Christian, or woman has held the position of rector before at the University of Haifa. (In the Israeli system, the rector is the head of the university.)

For this reason, Maroun said in an interview with CNA, “my election is an important message that everything is possible in the Israeli academia. It is a message for the Christian minority that we are rooted here, that we can succeed here; and it is also a message for the young Arab generations: If you have a dream you can really realize it within the Israel society and especially in universities.”

Continued below.

Release International prayer requests, China, South Sudan, Malaysia

China​

Elder Hao Ming of Deyang Qingcaodi Reformed Church was originally detained in November 2021 on a false allegation of fraud. The authorities are urging him to confess in exchange for his freedom but he has maintained his integrity and refused.
Number of Prayers 15
YES - I WILL PRAY
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China​

Deacon Jia Xuewei of Early Rain Covenant Church recently suffered a broken rib while being detained by national security agents after attending a graduation ceremony held by the church. After being released Jia’s landlord was pressurised by the police and he was forced to move out.
Number of Prayers 24
YES - I WILL PRAY
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China​

Pray for all those who attended our partner’s recent training event for Chinese Christians. Many of them have experienced persecution as a result of their faithful witness. Pray for their healing from the trauma that they endured in China.
Number of Prayers 28
YES - I WILL PRAY
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China​

Praise God that our partner was recently able to distribute 150 Bible MP3 players in China. This is a secure way for believers to access the Bible and other Christian material.
Number of Prayers 35
YES - I WILL PRAY
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South Sudan​

Julia is crippled and has five children. Her husband is a soldier. She told our partners: ‘His salary is never enough and almost never comes on time. We are so grateful for your visit and for providing for the needy like us.’
Number of Prayers 29
YES - I WILL PRAY
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South Sudan​

Pray for our partners who are supporting those who have fled persecution and are struggling to survive. Philip is a blind boy who lives with his grandmother and brother. He said: ‘My family and I live by God’s grace. We do not have any external support except the church.’
Number of Prayers 31
YES - I WILL PRAY
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Malaysia​

The majority of those who embrace Christianity, display an overwhelming desire to be baptised. Please pray for them as they make plans to do this discreetly, or secretly.

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