As promised, here are some photos from today’s blessing of the waters. Temps were around 8°C/45°F, but the winds were strong. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve felt chilly while fully vested.

I’m the one in the Ray-Bans in the second photo.

#Christianity #Orthodox #Theophany

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A religious procession going down the middle of a dead-end street. In the foreground, acolytes are carrying a processional cross, processional banners, and liturgical fans. Behind them a priest is visible, as well as a large crowd of lay people.

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A priest, two deacons, and several acolytes, vested in white, stand in front of a crowd of lay people outdoors.

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A priest throws a wooden cross (attached to a thin rope) into a pond. A group of parishioners with small children are at the edge of the water, watching.

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Clergy and acolytes, carrying a cross, banners, fans, and candles, make their way back to the gold-domed church which is visible in the background. Off-screen behind them (and thus not visible in the frame) is the assembly of lay parishioners singing hymns.

Want to get into the Bible this new year? Why not start with a 12 Day journey we’ve been doing in the lead up to Epiphany? We’re exploring Old Testament history that points to Jesus. You could either start on Day 10 today and then read the first 9 days starting on Wednesday or just start on day 1. https://littlehills.church/2025devotional

#Devotional #Christianity #TwelveDaysOfChristmas #Jesus #OldTestament

@timberwraith
@Dgun8

Often language has similar words or similar sounding words that people speak with incorrectly without really knowing or realizing it's misleading or not quite right.

There is a more specific words and less misleading versions of #words or #phrases...

➡️ For example "Common sense"
...might mean "Common principles"

"Sense" is similar to "principles" but importantly principles can be more specific or measured way of saying / doing things so a list everyone can see is more agreeable, rather than your own version of "sense" which might be differently measured than list of "principles".

Since EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT and naturally they have different personality, it's better to measure it a bit more clearly which a list of principles in the middle which can help indicate agreement or debate things with less #ambiguity.

➡️ Another example
(quick-fast / maybe not perfect)

💜 Love for others is perhaps top of the #list of #commandments for Jesus ✝️ and his principles - so clears up a lot of confusion between #Christian people or #Christianity or #Religion #debate - presenting a |Yes| or |No| simple question

We all need need to debate what loving people or looking after them means perhaps after that, but can assume better and not guess too not far off than even more general / unspecific words.

So if #love is top 5 on your list then a debate "Common sense" or "Common principles" about Jesus or something can be quickly agreed / answered rather than something #ambiguous.

#Lists are always good.

#CommonSense #List of #Principles
= #Answer for #Ambiguous #words or #phrases in #Debate

I was chatting with ChatGPT and suggested that the Bible read like Ayn Rand. The response:

http://philosophics.blog/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social

That’s unkind to Ayn Rand. At least she knew she was writing fan fiction for her own temperament. If it’s literature, it’s literature in the same way a minutes-of-meeting document is prose.

#bible #biblestudy #christianity #worship #religion #reading #writing #history #critique #literature #philosophy #theology #criticalTheory #bollocks #faith

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Angels

Please join me for a #Christmas evening livestream thinking more about what Jesus has done for us and preparing us to savor the season over the #TwelveDays of Christmas. https://youtube.com/live/0epcrugdYJ8

#Christianity #Jesus #Melchizedek

As we encounter Jesus, it is crucial that we aren't just encountering a spokesperson, because a spokesperson is frequently powerless to solve any meaningful problem. And we have those. So, let's think about who Jesus really is... https://youtube.com/live/jFvDmeObuMg

#Christianity #Salvation #Christmas #Advent #Incarnation #Theology

We need something that lasts, not just a temporary banner of God's love. Fortunately, that's exactly what God provides for us. https://youtube.com/live/C_mAZjSrdu8

#Christianity #Advent #Incarnation #Revelation #Jesus

Hebrews 1:2 is very insightful about what really matters at Christmas and all the time. Let's think about #EndTimes in a very different way tonight... https://youtube.com/live/9jKYGbD7IOY

#Christianity #Advent #Hebrews #Jesus #SignsOfTheTimes

We're live for a celebration of #Christmas to start off this #Advent season. Favorite #carols, joyful new songs and the age old story of God's love. https://youtube.com/live/6fkC0xMwmQA

#LessonsAndCarols #Christianity #Bible

How's everyone doing tonight?

I slept most of the day because of pain from #Fibromyalgia and #RheumatoidArthritis, so now I'll probably be up all night. I'm going to try and get some studying done even though my hands hurt. Really hoping the compression gloves I ordered come in soon.

Since college didn’t work out, I've been building my own self-paced curriculum:

• Bible courses from Christian Leaders Institute to deepen my understanding and support future nonprofit work
  
• Coding lessons with #Codecademy (codecademy.com)
  
• Braille proofreading training through NLS and NFB
  
• And if I get the scholarship, AI Software Engineering at Maestro AI University. I applied two days ago and should hear back within 14 days.
  

Tonight I'm deciding whether to focus on Christian Leaders coursework, coding, or Braille proofreading.

Tomorrow's my 34th birthday. My mom’s taking me out to eat, and later we're visiting a new ocularist to see about prosthetic eyes. My current ones no longer fit and cause pain, so they'll likely need to start me with conformers first. I'm dreading that part, but it’s time. I haven't been refitted for new ones since I was 16, a few months after a surgery to remove my extremely painful right eye.

#ChronicIllness #Disability #Blind #Accessibility #PainAwareness
#Learning #Education #Coding #Braille #AI #EdTech
#Christian #BibleStudy #Faith #Christianity
#NonprofitLeadership #DisabilityAdvocacy
#Birthday #Turning34 #Ocularist #Prosthetics

We don't want to know about a miracle that happened and was forgotten thereafter. We need to know that there is a consistency in God's care, too. Hebrews 1 helps us with that this #Advent... https://youtube.com/live/ebgr71x6aS4

#Christianity #Jesus #Hebrews

Iconography update: the filigree around Christ Pantocrator is done, and we are starting to see the outlines of the four evangelists and other figures. We also now have “toweling” around the base of the walls all around the perimeter of the church.

#Christianity #Orthodox

Are we entitled to any favors from God? Let's look at Ephesians 2:11-13 and think about what we _are_ entitled to and what we need to be thankful for getting without deserving... https://youtube.com/live/PfuXmDAs0Ok #christianity #grace

Sigh. Another "Orthodoxy is for manly-men" article. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/us/orthodox-christianity.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

There are certainly lots of right-wing young men that are attracted to Orthodoxy's perceived rigoristic lifestyle. I've met my share, and the YouTube Orthodox manosphere provides a steady stream of first-time visitors.

But those are not the folks that are going to last, and the reason is that the “rigoristic lifestyle” is a means, not an end. By analogy, it is better to pray without fasting than to fast without praying, because the point of fasting is to intensify to prayer. As the saying goes, “fasting without prayer is the fast of demons, because they do not eat, but neither do they pray.”

(I speak from experience: when I converted in the early 90s, I was enraptured by the lifestyle rigorism of all the “rules.” It took me years to realize that the rules do not exist for their own sake, but to bring us face-to-face with Jesus Christ. Sometimes I'm a little slow.)

#Christianity #Orthodoxy

Tonight on Steadfast, we're looking at the counterpoint to the ever familiar Ephesians 2:8-9. What does it mean to be created to do good works? Are we right back to earning God's favor? Ephesians 2:10 helps us dig into that question. https://youtube.com/live/Ma4p6OBiECk

#Christianity #Grace #GoodWorks #Theology #Bible

We need to think about the basics of what God has done, so we don't forget how amazing what He has done is. Eph. 2:8-9... starts in a few minutes, live streaming at 7 p.m. (Central): https://youtube.com/live/IDjMB49c11I

#Ephesians #Gospel #Jesus #Christianity

As we continue in #Ephesians 2, we're reminded of how God loves us even when we are of no value at all. https://youtube.com/live/rDf3AkhxOBI

#Christianity #Gospel #Salvation

@MikeFromLFE Good compact post for how life can go - appreciate the writing. #Christianity for me is the constant talking *together* as we accept the constant suffering and even some great work we can do together in a variety of #Christian style ways and even enjoy it!

Without communication is very limited and not exactly the right type, though this is a soft kind of 'not the right type' but that is the main work to all other work and sorts all things out (which is why I think people don't talk about, to avoid that and even healing too, as it keeps them going in a sense or never healed - because what next after that!)

Happy #ReformationDay

#Christianity #theology

Are We in the Air Without a Parachute? That's a great question to ask about our lives... and #Ephesians 2 has the answer. https://youtube.com/live/RezygSa5emM

#Christianity #Grace #Gospel

Please join @Bigdad1211 and me as we wrap up our discussion on #theGreatCommission and also talk about what "officers" are in the church. https://youtube.com/live/HdmIqKcd5hw

#Christianity #Theology

After reading Powell's review, I definitely want to pick up a copy of Murray’s book. #Faith #Reason #Christianity https://mastodon.faithtree.social/@ofb/115421868956652434

A sincere q for my #ChristianNationalist friends who critique #Christians (like me) skeptical of "Christian politicians." #POTUS participated in a Diwali ritual in the Oval Office and the admin issued multiple Diwali greetings. How is this building what you are advocating for?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/trump-hosts-diwali-festival-of-lights-at-the-white-house/ar-AA1OTYqg

#Christianity #USPolitics

I’m curious to see how many points of view are represented here in answer to the following question:

When Jesus says, “I came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it,” what do you take that to mean?

(feel free to boost for reach, if you like.)

#Christianity

In the linked paper, Carl D. Franklin digs deep into the history of the tetragrammaton and debunks some of the myths commonly accepted as fact. The paper is part of a series and well worth the read for anyone interested in textual criticism or translation.

PDF: https://www.cbcg.org/franklin/debunking2.pdf

"Is it true that the name Jehovah borrowed its vowels from Adonai?"

A lot of religious and textual myths have resulting in mass misconceptions about biblical textual history and meaning. Some of the myths misrepresent the tetragrammaton, or the name of God. This eventually led to the creation of the artificial name, Yahweh, which is not a Hebrew word, and is in fact a cleverly disguised classical Latin name for Jove. The author defrocks the Galatinus origin myth, proving the name JEHOVAH was in use long before Galatinus.

The sacred name mythos is popular in some Christian and Jewish sects as well as among the Hebrew Roots movement. This paper exposes some of the false history and baseless assertions about the pronunciation of the tetragrammaton. As it turns out, the early Masoretes and the Reformers as well as some early Catholics had gotten it right - JEHOVAH is the correctly preserved pronunciation of the name of God. The name was never 'lost' and it has been known all through recorded history, if even only by a few.

#Bible #MasoreticText #Translation #Theology #History #Philology #Myths #SacredNames #NominaSacra #Judaism #Christianity #Hebrew #TiberianHebrew

I'm looking forward to a new series where we are going to explore the less well worn parts of the Old Testament that point to Jesus. That time to pray and praise our God... please join us tonight! https://youtube.com/live/r23QpzggtPQ

#Worship #Christianity #Prophecy #OldTestament #Messiah #Jesus

The Virtue of Laziness -- a strange phrase, but gets to the good and the bad of wrestling with God's Word. How about joining me in a moment for tonight's livestream and I'll explain... https://youtube.com/live/uvYGZiX_MDI

#Laziness #Perl #LarryWall #Christianity #Grace #Gospel #Legalism

Blessing For Children

ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/blessing-for-children-by-jesus-sharon-cummings.html

#handmade #handmadeart #christian #christians #christianity #children #child #kids #kid #newbaby #baby #babies #parents #newparents #jesus #blessing #blessings #giftidea #giftideas #colorful #art #artwork #card #cards #greetingcards #SharonCummingsArt #bible #biblical #scripture

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Christian blessing art in a greeting card in a decor setting by artist Sharon Cummings.

What Makes Truth Valuable? Let's think about that and what we do with that -- tonight on Steadfast, we're exploring John 5:31-34. https://youtube.com/live/Dnu7hiTLTfI

#Christianity #Truth #GodsLove #Revelation #GospelOfJohn.

Please join us as we talk about the #SecondComing of Jesus. What does that look like for us? https://youtube.com/live/Yaa98ffaqus

#Christianity

I reflect on what the Bible says about "the Rapture" and what it is really calling us to focus on. Also, information about Faithtoberfest, which is drawing near!

#Christianity #Rapture #Eschatology #Faithtoberfest #Faith #Jesus

Durant continued, “But I am explaining to you that the gentleman who just got shot was under the impression that you, as a young #Black #woman, don’t have brain processing power. So I am explaining it to you to let you know what he said was wrong & not true.”

As a Christian, Durant also felt he had to address #Kirk’s version of #Christianity, which condemned & disparaged people who are #gay & #transgender.

I'm betting this was the best minute on television last night, picking up on the best moment broadcast on Sunday. And the one moment of Kimmel's monologue absolutely everyone should hear (from the linked part for the next 1:30). https://youtu.be/c1tjh_ZO_tY?si=G3ANJYfq55ioNa1l&t=1039

#Christianity #JimmyKimmel #Jesus #Grace #Forgiveness

I keep being told #TPUSA is about "making heaven crowded." How's that work if the common bond is politics and not Jesus? THIS is the problem with #ChristianNationalism: eventually, it is just nationalism.

To be clear: I'm all for cooperating with EVERYONE on common ground. And Catholics should be included in Christian discussions, because, well, they're Christians. But if an organization is supposed to bring a faithful Christian witness to politics, how can people who deny the Jesus confessed by the one, holy, (little c) catholic Church be the ones speaking for it?

#TurningPoint #CharlieKirk #Politics #Christianity | https://x.com/5Solas2/status/1970259990209249740/photo/1

As a quite-some-time-ago resident of Orange County, California, and as a very-very-long-ago dispensationalist evangelical (though I really didn't know what "dispensationalism" meant until I left Protestantism behind), this article resonates with some of my history.

https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/the-riddleblog/the-oc-a-new-burned-over-district-the-bible-teachers

I ran across this while image-searching for a picture of Fullerton EV Free's famous "rapture hatch" roofline. My parents were big fans of that church's celebrity pastor, Chuck Swindoll. I grew up around his books and his sermons on cassette.

#Christianity #Evangelicalism #Dispensationalism

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The roofline of First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton (or Brea?), California, with its "rapture hatch." Around the perimeter of the church, the roof is relatively low, but it swoops up to ridiculous heights in the middle, as if to funnel attendees up to Jesus when the rapture happens.

These are wise words from Gavin Ortland.

#Revival #Christianity #Gospel #CharlieKirk | https://x.com/gavinortlund/status/1970199923250327743

I'm hate when politicians use the Cross to promote their agenda. BUT, I love when a politician actually gets the Gospel enough that he preaches Christ and Him crucified instead. Bravo, #MarcoRubio. Thank you. https://x.com/BreeSolstad/status/1969880561679216753

#Christianity

Trump's War on Christianity.
Jackbooted big government thugs assault Rev. David Black of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago.
photo by Ashlee Rezin in the Chicago Sun Times, 20 September 2025.

#USpol #Chicago #ICE #Christianity

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Several government thugs in masks and riot gear assault a priest in black with white collar who extends one arm while cringing, his face in pain.

Join us in-person or online for Sunday School Express -- a 30 minute interactive conversation about what we believe as a church. https://youtube.com/live/ohOUao0AuOU

#SecondComing #Jesus #Resurrection #Christianity #Hope