Free Republic

Darryl Hart has a thought-provoking post today on Rick Warren’s recent comments about what Rome and Protestants have in common. Warren’s comments are a sterling reminder of the importance of knowing our church history. Yes, Christians of all the major traditions receive the biblical and catholic truths of the Holy Trinity and the two natures of Christ. Yes, confessional Protestants are committed to the protection of unborn humans and the affirmation of a creational order for sex and marriage—is Pope Francis committed to the latter?—but we share these commitments with Mormons, Jews, and even some atheists.  Obviously, these concerns, as...

The Christmas season comes each year with the expected flurry of media attention to the biblical accounts of Christ’s conception and birth. The general thrust of the secular media is often incredulity toward the fact that so many people still believe the Bible’s accounts to be true. This year, the Pew Research Center released a report on Christmas Day indicating that almost 75% of the American people affirm belief in the virgin birth of Christ. Meanwhile, the Public Religion Research Institute found markedly lower levels of belief, with just under half affirming the historical accuracy of the biblical accounts. The...

In the middle of the cavernous and ornate Al Aqsa Mosque on top of Judaism’s holiest site – the Temple Mount – an Islamic cleric began drawing a crowd as he delivered an impromptu sermon warning the Jewish people that they are about to be “slaughtered without mercy.”

Chicanery, to be polite, is afoot in regard to the Synod next year. Father Z gives us the details. The outline of features for the next Synod of Bishops in October 2015, or Lineamenta, has been released. The Lineamenta is based on the last Synod’s final document, the Relatio Synodi. For the Relatio, the members of the Synod voted on each paragraph. According to the Synod’s own rules, established and approved by those appointed by Pope Francis to run the Synod, in order to be included in the Relatio each paragraph had to receive a 2/3’s majority of voting members....

December 12, 2014Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe    Reading 1 Zec 2:14-17 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,and they shall be his people,and he will dwell among you,and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,and he will again choose Jerusalem.Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling. or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab...

What Are You Considering? Today's Scripture "And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body…he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." Romans 4:19-21 NKJV Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Abraham had many obstacles coming against the promise of God in his life. God told him that he would be “the father of many nations.” Abraham was over 90 years old before he ever saw that promise...

Individuality " Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…" —Matthew 16:24 " Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with...

Pope Francis has praised the role of women in theology, saying that women have a "feminine genius" that helps them discern "unexplored aspects of the unfathomable mystery of Christ." He told the Vatican theological commission that advises him and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that he wanted more women on the committee. Women "are the strawberry on the cake,” but we want more, he said. Francis has previously said that women should have greater decision-making powers in the Church. The presence of women, the Pope said, "becomes an invitation to reflect on the role that women can...

Old Westbury, NY - December 10, 2014 - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest and arraignment today of a Westbury man on a grand jury indictment for stealing more than $360,000 from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Old Westbury where he served as treasurer. Joaquim Canario was arrested today by DA investigators and arraigned before Nassau County Court Judge Philip Grella on the charge of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony). The defendant was released on his own recognizance. If convicted of the top charge, Canario faces a maximum sentence of five to...

May I make two requests? Love me, but remember that you cannot be more merciful than God. It isn’t mercy to affirm same-sex acts as good. Don’t compromise truth; help me to live in harmony with it.Over thirty years have passed since same-sex attraction rushed up from deep within my twelve-year-old frame. This attraction was unbidden and unwanted, yet simultaneously forceful and compelling. As a Christian, the conflict between my sexuality and my faith would become the deepest and most intense of my life. Now in my forties, I’ve gone from being closeted to openly lesbian to celibate to heterosexually...

December 11, 2014Thursday of the Second Week of Advent    Reading 1 Is 41:13-20 I am the LORD, your God,who grasp your right hand;It is I who say to you, “Fear not,I will help you.”Fear not, O worm Jacob,O maggot Israel;I will help you, says the LORD;your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.I will make of you a threshing sledge,sharp, new, and double-edged,To thresh the mountains and crush them,to make the hills like chaff.When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them offand the storm shall scatter them.But you shall rejoice in the LORD,and glory in the Holy...

Link to the video.This has to be seen to be believed. I rarely post, but this really shocked me.

Only in the Messiah of Israel is found the RIGHTEOUSNESS that we so desperately need to enter into Almighty God’s Holy and Perfect Heaven. That is what is so wonderful about the Christmas message! Almighty God provided a PERFECT body for His Son to dwell and make atonement for the sins of the world (Matt. 1:20-21, Luke 1:30-35, John 1:14, Heb. 10:5, 1 Peter 1:19)! We can NEVER enter into Almighty God's holy RIGHTEOUS Heaven without the PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS of the Savior. The PERFECT LAMB for the world was born in Bethlehem of Judea 2000 years ago to be the...

Eternal Glory Today's Scripture “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Troubles and trials are only temporary! In fact, this verse tells us they are momentary. Compared with eternity, our troubles won’t last long at all! When you stand strong in faith during the difficult times, you are building faith in your life and also achieving eternal glory. If you are in the middle of tough times today, look to God. The Bible says that He is the...

The Offering of the Natural " It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. —Galatians 4:22 " Paul was not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural can be turned into the spiritual only through sacrifice. Without this a person will lead a divided life. Why did God demand that the natural must be sacrificed? God did not demand it. It is not God’s perfect will, but His permissive will. God’s perfect will was for the...

December 10, 2014Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent    Reading 1 Is 40:25-31 To whom can you liken me as an equal?says the Holy One.Lift up your eyes on highand see who has created these things:He leads out their army and numbers them,calling them all by name.By his great might and the strength of his powernot one of them is missing!Why, O Jacob, do you say,and declare, O Israel,“My way is hidden from the LORD,and my right is disregarded by my God”? Do you not knowor have you not heard?The LORD is the eternal God,creator of the ends...

Receive Grace Today's Scripture “It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations.” (Romans 1:5 AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you want to see more of God’s favor in your life? Receive His grace. Grace is God’s favor, but it’s also His supernatural empowerment. When you have God’s grace and favor, it enables you to accomplish more and be more effective both in your own life and in building the kingdom of God....

The Opposition of the Natural " Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. —Galatians 5:24 " The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way whatsoever. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought. The things that...

December 9, 2014Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent    Reading 1 Is 40:1-11 Comfort, give comfort to my people,says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her service is at an end,her guilt is expiated;Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORDdouble for all her sins. A voice cries out:In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!Every valley shall be filled in,every mountain and hill shall be made low;The rugged land shall be made a plain,the rough country, a broad valley.Then the glory of...

Prepared Blessings Today's Scripture “You prepare a table before me...” (Psalm 23:5, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria When God laid out the plan for your life, He lined up the right people, the right breaks and the right opportunities. He has blessings that have your name on them. If you will stay in faith and keep honoring God, one day you will come in to what already belongs to you. It’s a prepared blessing! Think about Adam and Eve in the garden. God took the first five days and created the heavens, the earth, the sky, the...