http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/theology-religion/ en-us Sun, 3 Jan 2010 16:02:52 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2420003/posts "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6 The Prophet Isaiah summed up the reprobate state into which God's chosen people had sunk. Though they had the blessing of the Law given to them by Moses, when he conversed with God on Mount Sinai, they had turned from their Lawgiver and become more wretched than the people who did not have the Law. God's chosen people were worshiping false gods. Isaiah 42:17 They were reveling in idolatry so much so that the prophet called Jerusalem a harlot that... Enterprise Record Post Scripts http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2420003/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 16:02:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419931/posts With much confusion in the world today regarding Jesus Christ, it is crucial that the original record be researched--the New Testament passages relating to the divinity of Jesus Christ. Allvoices http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419931/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 13:49:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419927/posts Clouds and Darkness "Clouds and darkness surround Him . . ." —Psalm 97:2 A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that "clouds and darkness surround Him . . . ." When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining... My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers;1992) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419927/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 13:38:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419843/posts             Feast of the Epiphany  See also the page "Twelfthnight" Also known as Feast of the Epiphany, Three Kings Day, or Theophany, this Feast is a great and very important Feast in memory of Jesus showing His glory in 3 ways: as an infant to the Magi, at His baptism, and at His first miracle at the wedding in Cana. So important is this Feast, that it is a Holy Day of Obligation in many parts of the Catholic world, though not presently in the United States. The symbols of the day are the same as those mentioned on... Fisheaters.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419843/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 05:04:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419720/posts How could Mary, a finite creature, be the Mother of God? Isn’t God an eternal being? The title "Mother of God" is offensive to some Protestant Christians because they believe that this title raises Mary to an inappropriate, even idolatrous, level -- the level of God Himself. There is also genuine confusion on the part of others -- including Catholics -- about how a finite creature (Mary) could be the "mother" of an eternal being. "Wouldn't Mary have had to exist before God in order to be His mother?", they reason. Referring to Mary as "Mother of God," however, does... cerc http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419720/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 23:32:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419711/posts I was visiting an inner-city church one day and in the vestibule some graffiti was written on the wall which said, "Catholics, God has no mother," obviously referring to Mary's title as "Mother of God." How does one respond to such an objections? To understand the title, "Mother of God," we must first clearly understand Mary's role as mother of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As Catholics, we firmly believe in the incarnation of our Lord: Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Cf. Lk 1: 26-38 and Mt 1: 18-25.) Through her, Jesus Christ — second person of... cerc http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419711/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 23:07:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419448/posts Will You Go Out Without Knowing? "He went out, not knowing where he was going" —Hebrews 11:8 Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?" You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area... My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers;1992) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419448/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 13:34:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419421/posts The mother of the messiah has been called many things in the last 2000 years — the Virgin Mary, Our Lady, the Blessed Mother. But call her “the Mother of God” and you’ll see some Christians squirm.This is nothing new. One day in the early fifth century, a priest preached a stirring sermon in the presence of the patriarch of Constantinople. His subject was the holy mother of Jesus. The preacher continually referred to Mary as the “Theotokos” meaning “God-bearer” or mother of God. This was no innovation — Christians had invoked Mary under this title for at least two... CE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419421/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 12:59:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419216/posts Featured Term (selected at random):TOWER OF BABEL On the plain of Shinar the people decided to build a town and erect a tower so high it would reach heaven. Yahweh distrusted their motives (Genesis 11:1-9). He confused their language so that they could not understand each other. Then he scattered the people over the earth. All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission. CatholicReference.net http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419216/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 23:24:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419036/posts Christians can learn a great deal of the love and devotion due the Mother of our Lord by reviewing the thoughts of St. Francis toward her. The name Mother of God comes from the Greek word Theotokos, which was used to combat the heresy that Jesus was not truly human AND divine...read more... Examiner.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2419036/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:58:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418984/posts Humility, Bill knew, is understanding one's place before Creator God. It is recognizing the biblical definition of the mortal to be fact — that we are indeed as dust, cracked clay, or a wheat strand blowing in the wind. Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418984/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 16:22:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418894/posts Make Plans for the Next Victory Today's Scripture "Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day" (Joshua 14:12, NKJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria In the Bible, Caleb helped lead the people of Israel into their Promised Land. But I love that Caleb didn't just stop there. When he was 80 years old, he said, "God, give me another mountain." He was saying, "God, give me something else to do. Give me another assignment." Notice, he was planning on living out his life in victory. He could have said, "God, just let... Email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418894/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:37:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418890/posts Let Us Keep to the Point " ". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" " —Philippians 1:20 My Utmost for His Highest. ". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . ." We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s... My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers;1992) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418890/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:28:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418625/posts It's not only a new year and new decade, but 2010 will no doubt prove to be a time of both heroic sacrifice and horrific decadence in the struggle to save our Church and country. With this prediction in mind, and with the determination to fight on the side of the saints, I resolve in 2010, along with my 25th consecutive resolution to become a better husband and father (hopefully this is the year I finally get that one right) to write the book exposing "The Ten Big Lies about The Catholic Church (in America)" in an attempt to enlist... Fighting Irish Thomas http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418625/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:01:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418435/posts Featured Term (selected at random):HERODIAS The daughter of Aristobulus, a half-sister of Herod Agrippa. She married her uncle Philip, but left him to marry another uncle, Herod Antipas. John the Baptist denounced this marriage, and Herodias was determined to wreak vengeance. When her daughter, Salome, won the admiration of the king with her dancing, he promised to grant her whatever she asked. Her mother instructed her to demand the head of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3-11). The king reluctantly granted the request (Mark 6:17-29). A few years later Herodias joined Herod Antipas when he was sent into exile. All items... CatholicReference.net http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418435/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:05:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418350/posts I thought perhaps since a discussion regarding whether or not Allah, the Muslim god is the same as Jehovah, was taking place on another thread where it didn't really go, I might start a new thread devoted to this discussion. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418350/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:25:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418307/posts He is Strong in You Today's Scripture "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…" (Romans 8:26 NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Sometimes, people get distracted by what they consider to be a disadvantage or weakness in their lives. It may be something about their personality or looks that they don't like. Or maybe they've been through an unfair situation: a divorce, a bad business deal, or a bad break. We all have things that can feel like disadvantages; things that make it harder on us. It may even be a physical handicap where you can't... Email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418307/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:53:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418306/posts Today's Gospel : John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him...read more... Examiner.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418306/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:52:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418294/posts Yesterday "You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" —Isaiah 52:12 Security from Yesterday. ". . . God requires an account of what is past" ( Ecclesiastes 3:15 ). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is... My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers;1992) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418294/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:44:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418281/posts Today's Gospel : John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him...read more... Examiner.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418281/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:27:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418279/posts If we are deciphering biblical prophecy correctly, the AntiChrist will rule the world from his European base, the old Roman Empire geography. Revelation 17 is one of the key passages to consider. In Revelation, the “beast” is regarded as the AntiChrist. The “other beast” is considered the False Prophet. The “dragon” is considered Satan, “that old snake.” MichNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418279/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:22:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418150/posts Peter Lombard [After delivering his primary catechesis in Italian, the Holy Father then addressed the people in several languages. In English, he said:] Dear Brothers and Sisters, In our catechesis on the Christian culture of the Middle Ages, we now turn to Peter Lombard, an outstanding theologian of the twelfth century. Peter taught at the celebrated school of Notre Dame, and died as Bishop of Paris. His best-known work, the Sentences, is a collection in four books of patristic texts, carefully selected and ordered for use in the teaching of theology. The Sentences became the standard introduction to theology for... Vatican http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418150/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:43:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418072/posts Jesus informs John that Gentile pagans will have their diabolical way in Jerusalem for the last half (42 months divided by 12 equals three-and-a-half years) of the about-seven year Tribulation period, the latter closing out the Church Age. The Church Age began with the First Coming of Christ. The Church Age will conclude with the Second Coming of Christ. The “trampling” includes the AntiChrist desecrating the next Temple to be constructed as well as laying low by his armies’ might the city of Jerusalem. Allvoices http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2418072/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:53:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2417824/posts It is alarming to realize the nonchalance on the part of many concerning abortion. But it is not new. A popular newsmagazine quoted one medical opinion: "Abortion is finding its place as a perfectly acceptable and valid health measure. We no longer think of it as a crime." Allvoices http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2417824/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:28:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2417660/posts Whom have I in heaven but thee?  So cried Asaph the psalmist. It is an astonishing moment in the history of man, for Asaph had looked upon the wicked and seen how they prospered. His feet had well nigh slipped, he says. Yet he held fast to two truths that had been revealed to him. The first is that the wicked, by their very deeds, become hard of understanding, and in the end go down to slaughter, like the witless beasts. The second is that, in a way that batters down the fortress of death itself, the just man... Inside Catholic http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2417660/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:40:06 GMT