Was John 17 a Pipe Dream?

There may be a lot of organizational differences among Protestants, and that is frequently attacked. However, when it comes to the belief that we are saved by Christ's atoning death on the cross and His resurrection, we're all unified. We are one body in Christ through the unifying Holy Spirit. That unity is a fact. John 17:20-23 was not a vain hope of Christ. Stop looking at the outward appearances and look at the inner man and woman. There is more unity than the world realizes.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

^{John 17: 20}“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

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Hospice or Palliative?

A Personal Update I have not been well for quite some time, largely due to ongoing chronic kidney disease. Recently, however, I received a diagnosis that is even more serious. I have cancer that began in the endometrium and has spread to my ovaries and into the peritoneum. There is also caking on the omentum and malignant ascites that requires frequent paracentesis. The doctors have given a prognosis of less than six months. I was given a choice between hospice care and palliative care. After careful consideration, I chose palliative care. I went through hospice with both of my parents, so I understand firsthand what that experience is like for families. Because of that experience, I do not want to place that burden on my own family. Under hospice care, emergency treatment such as calling 911 or going to the ER is generally not an option. I prefer to keep that freedom if something urgent happens. I also believe it will be better for me to die in a hospital setting, surrounded by nu...

Nathan Apffel's, The Religion Business: Samaritan's Purse.

Nathan Apffel's The Religion Business docuseries exposes financial abuses in megachurches and prosperity gospel ministries, raising valid concerns about corruption. I have always been disgusted by the way prosperity gospel teachers twist Scripture for personal gain. They bring shame to Christ and deter countless people from following Him. However, the documentary's critique of land purchases in Alaska by Samaritan's Purse feels biased, unfair, and out of place. Apffel conflates a respected ministry -- one that serves thousands -- with organizations that primarily enrich their leadership. He questions the acquisition of remote property by Samaritan's Purse, implying it is excessive or shady, yet offers no clear evidence of misuse, such as profiteering. I'm more concerned with foreign land purchases, like China's 352,140 acres of U.S. farmland by 2022 (USDA data), which raise national security concerns. Samaritan's Purse, on the other hand, uses its land in...

The Artist and the Painting

The painting had changed again during the night. The self-portrait was nearly erased, only a faint outline remained, barely visible through the stains and smudges. A new image was gradually forming where the original had been - a grotesque caricature of the artist. Yotsero didn’t turn at the sound of knocking. He already knew who stood outside. “Come in.” His guest entered the studio. Still, the artist did not move from his spot. He merely raised a hand and motioned for Giulio to join him at the canvas. Both men stared at the image, each lost in thought. “You said it keeps changing day by day?” “Yes. It’s happened countless times now.” His guest looked incredulous. “Are you sleep-painting, my friend?” Yotsero might have taken offense at the suggestion, but he did not. He simply shook his head. The noise of his beard rubbing against the rough fabric of his shirt made a faint scratching sound, loud in the silence. Giulio knew the room was always under observation and th...

The Way to God - Jesus. The Way to Jesus - the Cross.

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