God is “pro-choice” only in so far as He has given each of us free will to choose where we will spend eternal life.
Category Archives: Christianity
CNN’s Carol Costello is no longer a lapsed Catholic
Excerpt from http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/10/living/carol-francis-effect/index.html
There is something about Francis that’s reawakened my faith. And it’s not because he opened the floodgates to allow sin in the eyes of the church. He still argues against things I passionately support, but I find myself — like many other lapsed Catholics — enthralled.
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting one of the Pope’s newly appointed cardinals. His name is Cardinal Gerald LaCroix. The 57-year-old presides at the Basilica Cathedral of Notre Dame in Quebec City.
One of my first questions: What is it about Pope Francis?
“Every person is a mystery you know. … But what’s evident is this man is living with such freedom, such inner freedom. He’s himself. He’s in tune with the Lord,” LaCroix told me.
“Those close to him say he’s up close to 4 in the morning to prepare his daily Mass, which is at 7 in the morning on the weekdays. So that’s almost three hours of prayer, preparation and silence before the Lord and the word of God. Wow, that really fine-tunes you to start off a day.”
Perhaps that’s how the Pope stays humble. Why he defies tradition and washes the feet of the disabled, women and those of other faiths. Why he ordered showers to be built for the poor in St. Peter’s Square.
All of this is appealing, but it’s more than that. In my mind, it’s his tone. When Pope Francis said, “If a person is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” The comment took me aback.
Homosexuality has long been a taboo subject for the Vatican, yet Pope Francis uttered those welcoming words.
LaCroix likened the Pope’s approach to Jesus. “Jesus didn’t judge. Jesus did not come as a judge. He came as someone who preached and talked about the love of God.”But isn’t homosexuality a sin in the eyes of the church?
“There is room for everyone. The door is open,” Cardinal Lacroix insisted. “Of course you know that the Catholic Church will never promote same sex marriage, but do we respect homosexual persons? Do we welcome them? Do we accompany them? Of course. But to respect the Church and its teaching, which is based on a long tradition and also the word of God, we will not go so far as to bless. But that doesn’t mean we reject.”
The Cardinal’s last words to me: “I’m trying to do my best on (the) local level — to have an open ear to what the church and world are experiencing. To see how we can today respond to those needs. I want people to see me, and the church, as an open heart to grow together. Not a church that’s imposing — we have nothing to impose — we have someone to propose: the Lord Jesus and his Gospel.”
I can’t wait to go church next Sunday.
Filed under Catholic Church, Christianity, Pope Francis
Fragrant Faith
Our Daily Bread meditation by Joe Stowell
I’m grateful that God has given us the sense of smell so we can enjoy the many fragrances of life. I think of how much I enjoy something as simple as the fresh and inviting aroma of after-shave lotion in the morning. Or the mellow smell of fresh-cut grass in the spring. I especially enjoy sitting in the backyard when the delicate scent of my favorite roses fills the air. And then there are the savory aromas of delicious food.
So it catches my attention when the apostle Paul says that our generous acts of love toward others are like a “sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18). When we think of helping those in need, we usually think of it as the right thing to do—or even the Christlike thing to do. But Paul says that our intentional act of reaching out to meet someone’s need actually fills the throne room of God with a fragrance that brings pleasure to Him.
We can please God with the aromas that rise from being a blessing to others! What an added incentive this is for us to perform deeds of kindness in His name.
Who might need your act of kindness today? Ask God to lead you to someone. Be a blessing. It’s a fragrant thing to do!
Scriptures:
- “We are the aroma of Christ for God.” 2 Cor 2:15
- “Live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” Eph 5:2
- “I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Phil 4:18
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Filed under Christianity
Don’t get Left Behind
Jesus said, “All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather His elect.
“As it was in the days of Noah and on the day when Lot left Sodom, so it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.
“Stay awake, for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”
(Compiled from Matt 24:30-31, 37, 40-42)
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Filed under Christianity
Mean, hateful who?
HIDDEN CAM: #GayWeddingCakes at Muslim Bakeries?
H/t to Pat Dollard whose Gay ISIS graphic I altered.
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Filed under Christianity, Islam, Religious Liberty
A BLESSED GOOD FRIDAY TO ALL OF YOU
The regular visitors to our little garden know I’ve had my challenges. I’ve been broken financially, physically and spiritually. I’m cranky, grumpy, sarcastic,cynical and profane. When it seems things are at their darkest, Almighty God says:’Hey, I’ve got your back. I died for you,didn’t I?’ As we struggle to make sense of the chaos going on around us we must remember that He has never, and will never, fail. We don’t understand a lot of things, it is all we can do to follow His example and stay faithful.
Have a blessed Easter weekend and stay faithful.
The Challenge: What is Good about “Good Friday?”
Darkness fell across the land and the man they thought would be their savior cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Soon after, he breathed his last. The people standing at the foot of the cross beat their breasts and walked away. From a distance, his mother and friends watched in somber silence as all this took place.
His disciples were broken in spirit—no doubt confused, hurting and angry. Disappointed to say the least. They had followed this man for years, left their work and their families for him. They thought he would change everything. But in the course of one day, all of their hopes were defeated.
http://townhall.com/columnists/rebeccahagelin/2015/04/02/the-challenge-what-is-good-about-good-friday-n1979599?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=
EVEN CHRISTIANS HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR
Filed under Christianity, Holidays
Obama-Backed Muslim Ex-Dictator Wins in Nigeria
As another Christian leader falls in Africa, thanks very much to the efforts of the Obama Administration and the American taxpayer, willing or not, Boko Haram is celebrating in Nigeria today. That’s because their preferred candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari is now President, and they have very little to worry about.
The truth is, Boko Haram had very little to worry about before the election. Recently, former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman, who was in Nigeria last summer investigating Boko Haram, confirmed that the U.S. military was prepared to give the government of Christian former-President Goodluck Jonathan intelligence that would have allowed it to crush the terrorist group. This was blocked by the Obama State Department using the excuse that they were holding out for concessions in Nigeria’s position on same-sex marriage. Stockman admits that this makes little sense, because the opposition Muslim candidate, General Buhari, now in power, would be considerably less likely to liberalize laws on any gay-rights issues.
In summary, our U.S. State Department, under the leadership of Barack Obama and SecState John Kerry, so badly wanted the next President of Nigeria to be a 72-year-old Muslim ex-dictator, that they were willing to risk it being known that they intentionally failed to help fight Boko Haram during the height of their brutal reign of terror in that country. This means that they decided not to rescue hundreds of kidnapped schoolgirls married off and converted to Islam against their will. They decided not to help stop the slaughter of thousands of Christian martyrs who refused to convert. They decided to purposely weaken the only leader who had a chance of opposing Boko Haram in the future, and they elected to provide an embarrassingly absurd lie about why they chose to do so.
Why did they do this? What motivated our own leadership to behave in this catastrophic, reckless way? If anyone knows, they’re not telling. But it’s certainly unfortunate for all Christians in Africa that they succeeded this time.
Filed under Africa, Barack Obama, Boko Haram, Christianity, Islam, John Kerry
UPDATE: Obama refused to help #BringBackOurGirls
Other statements from Boko Haram leader:
I am the one that captured your girls and I will sell them in the market. … Any infidel is a sheep to be sold. … Prophet Muhammed took slaves himself.
I will not follow anyone except Allah; I will not model anyone except Prophet. … Even if you kill me, other fighters will rise better than me; I am nothing and worthless before God who I am working for. That is Islam.
May Allah help us to do what is in Qur’an. … This is a war against Christians and democracy. … I am against government of the people by the people. I am for government of the people by Allah.
So Obama refused to help Nigeria fight Boko Haram and rescue 300 black girls from slavery, because Nigeria’s laws aren’t friendly to homosexuals?
Yup … or so he says.
Obama’s foreign policy actually makes perfect sense once you recognize that his real agenda has always been to advance the rise to global rule of the apocalyptic Muslim “messiah”, the Imam Mahdi.
Please, listen to these videos all the way through. They are BOTH really important.
Obama refused Nigeria intel to stop Boko Haram over its stance against gay ‘marriage’
Nigeria: Habila Shot for Refusing to Deny Jesus
Sources:
Congressman: Obama refused to help Nigeria stop Boko Haram over its stance against gay ‘marriage’
By John-Henry Westen and Pete Baklinski – Mar 31, 2015
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-u.s.-congressman-obama-refused-to-help-nigeria-stop-boko-haram-over
Boko Haram Leader Pledges War Against Christians; Scoffs at Gays Saying Even Animals Know Better
By Leonardo Blair , CP Reporter – May 16, 2014
http://www.christianpost.com/news/boko-haram-leader-pledges-war-against-christians-scoffs-at-gays-saying-even-animals-know-better-119884/
Deny or Die: The War on Christians in Nigeria – October 2014
http://www.persecution.com/october2014
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Filed under Africa, Barack Obama, Boko Haram, Christianity, Islam
Please … get ready for the Rapture!
1982 years ago* this week, Jesus took His closest disciples up the Mount of Olives for one last in-depth teaching. Where the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) dealt with how to live here, the Olivet Discourse dealt with how to prepare for the Rapture, Great Tribulation and Final Judgment.
Jesus said, “All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather His elect.
“As it was in the days of Noah and on the day when Lot left Sodom, so it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.
“On that day, remember the wife of Lot. A person who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise a person in the field must not return to what was left behind.
“Stay awake, for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”
(Compiled from Matt 24:30-31, 37, 40-42, Luke 17:29-33)
N.b., We can be certain that the gathering of Jesus’ elect is a distinct event from the gathering of all souls for Final Judgment (see Matt 25: 31ff). Here, Jesus says He will come upon the clouds, send out His angels, and invite only some to escape the coming disasters like Noah and Lot. At Final Judgment, He says He will be on His throne with His angels gathered about Him and that all the living and the dead will be required to attend.
I think the Rapture could be very soon. This week is the Medjugorje anniversary** of the Crucifixion and Resurrection; the branches of the fig become tender and grow leaves in April (Matt 24:32). Please, BEG God to put you on the list of His elect, so when He comes in the clouds and sends his angels, you’ll be offered the chance to escape like Noah and Lot did. You really don’t want to be here for what’s coming.
There’s No Deterring an Apocalyptic Nuclear Iran by Thomas Sowell – March 31, 2015
“Clearing the way for Iran to get nuclear bombs may — probably will — be the most catastrophic decision in human history.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/416188/theres-no-deterring-apocalyptic-nuclear-iran-thomas-sowell
*The Hebrew and Roman calendars for this week exactly match those of the original events.
**Explanation for what I mean by “Medjugorje Anniversary”
Filed under Bible Prophecy, Christianity
Another Oxymoron Exposes Himself
Catholic Vote had this to say about the Leftist uproar over Indiana’s religious freedom law:
“What irks LGBT activists so much about this new Indiana law is that it strips them of the right to impose their agenda on religious individuals.”
IMHO, the activist gay Left is playing right into Anti-Christ’s hands attacking our freedom of religion. It will just make it that much easier for the Muslim Mahdi to force Islam on everyone … and you know what that will mean for the LGBTs!
Gays Persecuted and KILLED Under ISIS [5:21]
Sources:
- http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2015/03/apple-bashes-indiana-but-gladly-does-business-with-countries-that-execute-gays/
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/24/here-are-the-10-countries-where-homosexuality-may-be-punished-by-death/
- http://www.catholicvote.org/three-facts-you-need-to-know-about-the-fight-in-indiana/
Filed under Christianity, ISIS, Islam, Religious Liberty
polination.blog 