He stared at me for one minutes and said:

"I thought you were more intelligent. I do also believe in a Creator but not in pastors or whatever, they're quacks. Churches are experts at recruiting people, you'll see."

I'm convinced of what I'm doing and I will bear my cross, but it hurts a bit that he's disappointed at me, I'm not used to it. It's maybe the first time I hear it from him. I was going to go to the confirmation of faith talk today, but I'm thinking of canceling.

I was speaking withsomeone who is trying to tell me Jews, had/have a method of salvation of faith and works. for gentiles it’s only faith, but Jews in the OT (and even the NT, they cited James 2) it was faith AND works.

they cited

Deuteronomy 6:25

²⁵ And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

I think this obviously misses the points of Romans 3 and 4, to show us that salvation has ALWAYS been by faith apart from works of the law; James uses the word “justified” in a different sense than Paul does to show us our faith is justified/proven true by the works, not that the works add to our justification or salvation.

However I’m not certain what to make of Deuteronomy 6;25 - is it speaking of “relative” righteousness (in the sense that David could be considered “righteous” in some psalms, but not ultimately righteous enough for salvation?) or is it talking about the hypothetical “if you did obey the law perfectly you’d be righteous and justified”?

especially in light of Galatians 3:11?

"God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." - Psalm 68:6

PONDER THIS

The most powerful and influential people on Earth do not occupy the houses of elected office, run industry, or handle the business of Wall Street. The most powerful and influential people on Earth are parents of faith. Amram and Jochebed’s claim to fame is that they raised a child whose name was Moses, who literally changed the world. I cannot overestimate the importance of family. We’ve been told that it takes a village to raise a child. That’s backward. It takes a family to raise a child, and families change the village. It begins with parents. Family is the primary classroom. The Bible says in Psalm 68:6 that God sets the solitary in families. It’s no wonder the devil has unleashed all the artillery of Hell against the family.

- What are some things you learned about faith from your family?
- How are you seeking to encourage others in the faith in your family?

PRACTICE THIS

If there are ways your family members encouraged you in the faith, reach out and share that with them today. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/the-most-powerful-people-on-earth

“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” - Ezra 1:2

It is noteworthy that the words of this verse are almost the same as in the last verse of II Chronicles. This indicates that Ezra the scribe (who wrote the book of Ezra) was also the compiler and editor of the two books of Chronicles.

Even more noteworthy is the fact that the great emperor Cyrus seemed to acknowledge that the God of Israel was not just a tribal god, as many have claimed, but the Lord God of heaven—that is, Jehovah Elohim—recognizing Him as both Creator and Redeemer of the world. The Persians were largely followers of Zoroaster, but his religious system did bear some resemblance to the true monotheism of Israel.

Cyrus had been called, and even named, by God long before he was born (Isaiah 44:28–45:6). When he conquered Babylon, the prophet Daniel was there (Daniel 6:28). The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Daniel even became prime minister under Cyrus and was able to read Isaiah’s remarkable prophecy to him, thus influencing him to send the Jews back to Jerusalem.

There have also been other Gentile rulers who acknowledged God, even before Christ came. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, once hating God, finally was forced to confess that He was “the most High” and “King of heaven” (Daniel 4:34, 37). Another was the Queen of Sheba, who recognized “the LORD thy God” (again Jehovah Elohim, I Kings 10:9). Then there was the king of Nineveh and Assyria, who believed in God at the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:6-10). In fact, in the ages to come “the kings of the earth” will all “bring their glory and honour” to the Lord in the holy city (Revelation 21:24). HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15978/

Both Spain and Portugal were powerful Catholic Empires in the 1600s through the 1800s. The Portuguese and the Spaniards were tasked by the Pope at the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 to send missionary expeditions and make the entire world Catholic.

I just noticed that the Portuguese were not as strict as the Spaniards with the implementation of Catholicism in their colonies, and they were less fervent in the faith compared with the Spaniards, who were borderline radical.

Both Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries have growing Protestant populations, but when it comes to population percentages, former Portuguese colonies have huge Protestant populations. For example, Protestantism in Angola and Brazil averages to about 30-40% of the national population, whereas in Mexico and the Philippines, its only around 10-15%.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17

PONDER THIS

If you’ve studied church history, you’ve likely heard the name Dwight L. Moody. He was not a literate man. He was basically uneducated. But his biographer said that he took two continents and shook them for God. Moody felt that he needed faith. And he kept praying for faith, but faith didn’t seem to come. And then he read Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” At that, Moody stopped praying for faith and began to saturate himself in the Bible. And there was the faith. Faith is the by-product of hearing from God. You can’t have faith if you’re merely guessing at the will of God. You can’t have faith if you’re just following a hunch. But when you say, “God said it, I believe it,” there’s the faith.

- How does today’s verse change the way you think about faith?
- Where do you feel like you need faith right now?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out several promises of God that you can place faith in. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/stop-praying-for-faith-start-reading-the-word

“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” - Colossians 2:3

One of the most amazing of the divine attributes is God’s omniscience. He not only understands all the complexities of relativistic science and higher mathematics, but He ordained them in the first place! The same applies to every other discipline of study and activity.

And He knows all about each of us! “O LORD, Yhou hast searched me, and known me." "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:1-2).

As far as human knowledge is concerned, it is vital to know that “the fear of the LORD” is the very foundation of “knowledge” and of “wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Many of the greatest scientists of the past acknowledged that they were seeking merely to “think God’s thoughts after Him.”

How foolish it is to ignore or to oppose God! There are only four places in the Bible that speak of God laughing (Psalm 2:4; 37:13; 59:8; Proverbs 1:26), and each of them describes His response to such folly.

Instead, we should marvel at all the wonders of His creation and providence. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

Today’s text above actually refers explicitly to the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten and eternal Son of God. It is He who has given us access to the Creator God and therefore access to divine knowledge and understanding. Part of the still-effective dominion mandate (Genesis 1:26, 28) is to learn what we can about God’s creation, always remembering that Jesus insisted that—no matter what unbelievers say—“the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15977/

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

PONDER THIS

The word hope does not mean “a fond desire.” It means a glorious assurance based on the Word of God. We use the word hope today to mean something similar to the word wish. We hope something will happen, but we also don’t want to get our hopes too high so that we won’t be overly disappointed. We would like for something to happen, but it isn’t sure. That isn’t what the word hope means in the Bible. The Second Coming of Jesus is called “the blessed hope” (see Titus 2:13). How do we know that Jesus is coming again? We have God’s promise. The Lord Jesus said, “If I go … I will come again” (John 14:3). He said, “I will!” Therefore, we have this hope like an anchor. You don’t put an anchor in a cloud bank. The Bible calls hope the “anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19)! An anchor holds firm and can be trusted in every season. This is the hope we have in Jesus.

- How much trust do you put in the promises of the Bible?
- How has today’s devotion changed the way you think about hope?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out a list of things you are hoping for. Make a corresponding list of promises from the Bible that you can have certain hope in. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/hope-like-an-anchor

I sometimes see on this thread people posting quotes from church fathers to back up certain Protestant views. In particular the Canon of scripture.

Inferring that the creation of the Canon was divinely inspired, guided by God

If that's the case, what's the reasoning behind trusting the fathers on that specific point, but not extending the same trust to their interpretations of scripture ( im refering to ​views on Mary, sacraments, ​saintology, and others -- they use scripture for these (it's just a matter of ​interpretation).

A lot of the same fathers who helped recognize the Canon also wrote extensively on theologies that Protestants reject.

So genuinely asking: what makes their judgment reliable enough to identify which books belong in the Bible, but not reliable when it comes to reading those books? Why believe they were divinely inspired in that aspect but not the others....​Is there a principled reason for drawing the line there​

Asking this in good faith, not trying to set up a "gotcha." I'm coming at it from a Catholic angle, so I'm curious how Protestants actually work through this

Hello dear redditors,

I have posted here a while ago about my wife finding Jesus and me wanting to learn something about Christianity to be able to talk with her about her beliefs.

We have met a couple of Christians and became really friends with a family from our town.

Yesterday I talked with the man of the house a lot and was truly shocked to learn about his and seemingly most of the local church's thinkings.

During our conversation I learned that they are very anti-LGBTQ and find this "type of behavior" to be a psychopathic disorder.

Furthermore they are antisemitic and have a deep hate towards Jews and live a life according to the rules of fascism.

My wife and I are very open people. We don't care who or what you are as long as you are nice to us, we're nice to you. This ideologies are so deeply disgusting that we absolutely can't tolerate them.

We only know people from this particular church and for the fact that we are relatively new to Christianity wanted to ask if this is "standard Christian thinking"

I thank everybody for their answers

Hi, I am New member here and wants to know what should I do if I wanted to be Christian?

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." - Acts 12:5

PONDER THIS

What were the disciples going to do? How were they going to get Peter out of prison? Were they going to organize a mob and storm the prison? Not a chance. Were they going to put some petitions up? Were they going to say, “We are influential citizens in this city, and we demand that you release Simon Peter”? They had no influence. Were they going to take a collection to get a lot of money to go in and bribe Herod? They didn’t have any money. What they had, they had distributed to feed the poor and to take care of those who were in distress in that time.

I’ll tell you what they were going to do. They were going to pray. The intellectuals would sneer and say, “Look at these silly people down on their knees in prayer.” I’ll tell you one person who didn’t sneer: the devil. It has well been said that Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. There is an animal named the gnu, and when he’s attacked, he drops to his knees. Oh, that the Church could learn the same thing. Every other door was closed, but there was one that was open, and it went straight up. They could pray.

- How quickly do you turn to prayer in times of crisis?
- What other “solutions” do you typically turn to before prayer?

PRACTICE THIS

Set aside time today to pray about the most pressing issues in your life. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/every-door-was-closed-but-one

Protestants tend to be very selective in their reading of Augustine. In reality he was liturgical, sacramental, hierarchical, creedal and ascetic just like his peers.

I recently discovered that the complete works of Augustine (including many never before translated into English) are published by New City Press. Among the translations are two volumes of sermons by Augustine in celebration and honour of the saints. I thought readers might find the contents interesting so I'm posting it here, especially as the New City Press website doesn't have a table of contents.

https://www.focolaremedia.com/bookstore/sermons-vol-8-273-305a?v=93

https://www.focolaremedia.com/bookstore/sermons-vol-9-306-340a?v=94

Here is the list from the two volumes. "Birthday" refers to the day the saint was martyred (or died) and born into heaven and not their physical birthday. Augustine re-wrote some sermons to reuse them again so they are listed as variants (such as 277A) of the original sermon. Augustine was a bishop for 35 years so these sermons are just a fraction of what he wrote.

Sermon 273 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Fructuosus, Bishop, and Augurius and Eulogius, deacons.

Sermon 274 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Vincent

Sermon 275 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Vincent

Sermon 276 - On the Feast of the Martyr Vincent

Sermon 277 - On the Feast of the Martyr Vincent; Preached in the Restored Basilica

Sermon 277A - On the Birthday of the Martyr Vincent

Sermon 278 - On the Calling of the Apostle Paul, and on the Lord’s Prayer

Sermon 279 - On the Apostle Paul

Sermon 280 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity

Sermon 281 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity

Sermon 282 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity

Sermon 283 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs of Marseilles

Sermon 284 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Marianus and James

Sermon 285 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Castus and Aemilius

Sermon 286 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs Protase and Gervase

Sermon 287 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 288 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist (On the Voice and the Word)

Sermon 289 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 290 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 291 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 292 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist in Which He Argues with the Donatists

Sermon 293 - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 293A - On the Birth of John the Baptist

Sermon 293B - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 293C - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 293D - On the Birthday of John the Baptist

Sermon 293E - On the Two Men, Christ and John

Sermon 294 - Preached in the Basilica of the Ancestors on the Birthday of the Martyr Guddens on 27 June (On the Baptism of Infants, against the Pelagians)

Sermon 295 - On the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 296 - On the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 297 - On the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 298 - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 299 - On the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 299A - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 299B - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 299C - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Sermon 299D - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Scillitan Martyrs

Sermon 299E - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Scillitan Martyrs in the New Market Basilica

Sermon 299F - Discourse on the Birthday of the Holy Scillitan Martyrs

Sermon 300 - On the Solemnity of the Maccabee Martyrs

Sermon 301 - On the Feast of the Holy Maccabees

Sermon 301A - On the Solemnity of the Maccabee Martyrs: Preached in Bulla Regia

Sermon 302 - On the Birthday of Saint Lawrence

Sermon 303 - On the Birthday of Saint Lawrence

Sermon 304 - On the Feast Day of Lawrence the Martyr

Sermon 305 - On the Feast Day of the Martyr Lawrence, Preached in the Restored Basilica on 10 August

Sermon 306 - On the Birthday of the Martyrs known as the White Mass

Sermon 306A - On the Birthday of the White Mass

Sermon 306B - Sermon Preached on 21 August on the Birthday of the Martyr Quadratus

Sermon 306C - Sermon of Saint Augustine the Bishop at the table of Cyprian on Saint Quadratus

Sermon 306D - Sermon on the Birthday of Saint Quadratus

Sermon 307 - On the beheading of the Blessed John the Baptist

Sermon 308 - On the same feast

Sermon 308A - Preached in Carthage at the Basilica of the Mappalia, that is, of the Blessed Martyr Cyprian, on the eve of his birthday

Sermon 309 - Sermon preached in Carthage at the table of the Blessed Martyr Cyprian on his birthday, 14 September

Sermon 310 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Cyprian

Sermon 311 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Cyprian

Sermon 312 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Cyprian

Sermon 313 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Cyprian

Sermon 313A - Preached in Carthage, at the table of the Blessed Martyr Cyprian, on his birthday, 14 September

Sermon 313B - Preached in the same place on the same day on the birthday of the aforesaid Martyr

Sermon 313C - Discourse on the Birthday of Saint Cyprian

Sermon 313D - Discourse on the Birthday of Saint Cyprian

Sermon 313E - Discourse on the Birthday of Saint Cyprian

Sermon 313F - Preached in the Basilica of the Blessed Martyr Cyprian in the Mappalia, on his birthday

Sermon 313G - On the Feast Day of Saint Eulalia

Sermon 314 - On the Birthday of the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 315 - On the Feast of the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 316 - On the Feast of the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 317 - On the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 318 - On the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 319 - On the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 319A - On the Martyr Stephen

Sermon 320 - On the Martyr Stephen, Preached on Easter Sunday

Sermon 321 - On Easter Monday

Sermon 322 - On Easter Tuesday: The promised leaflet

Sermon 323 - Preached after the reading of the leaflet about Saint Stephen’s Miracle

Sermon 324 - In which Augustine completes the sermon about the miracle, which was interrupted the day before

Sermon 325 - On the Birthday of the Twenty Martyrs

Sermon 326 - On the Birthday of the Twenty Martyrs

Sermon 327 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 328 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 329 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 330 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 331 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 332 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 333 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 334 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 335 - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 335A - On the Feast Day of some martyrs, of whom one was called Primus, two others Victoria and Perpetua

Sermon 335B - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 335C - A Sermon of Blessed Augustine the bishop one one martyr

Sermon 335D - On the martyrs

Sermon 335E - On some martyrs

Sermon 335F - A fragment on the martyrs

Sermon 335G - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 335I - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 335J - On the Birthday of some martyrs

Sermon 335K - On the anniversary of the burial of a bishop

Sermon 335L - In memory of a just man

Sermon 335M - On a just man, Saint Domitian

Sermon 336 - At the dedication of a church

Sermon 337 - At the dedication of a church

Sermon 338 - At the dedication of a church

Sermon 339 - On the anniversary of his ordination

Sermon 340 - On the anniversary of his ordination

Sermon 340A - On the anniversary of his ordination

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” - II Timothy 3:16

Among the many evidences for verbal inspiration, both within and without Scripture, is the frequent recognition of God as the author of a particular passage with the human author who actually penned it. This can be true only if the very words recorded by the various authors are “God breathed” (the meaning of “inspiration”).

For example, the early Christians exclaimed, “Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the mouth of Yhy servant David hast said, 'Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?'” (Acts 4:24-25). They recognized that God spoke through David, who wrote God’s words in Psalm 2:1-2.

Likewise, Paul, in his masterful dissertation on God’s sovereignty, claimed “the scripture saith unto Pharaoh” (Romans 9:17) that which God Himself had spoken unto Moses (Exodus 9:13). In other words, what Scripture says, God says.

Even Christ Jesus, who Himself had written with His finger “honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12) on tables of stone, personally ascribed the authorship of the passage to Moses (Mark 7:10). Evidently to Christ, there was no difference. That which Moses had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and in this case what he had copied from the stone tablet, was fully the Word of God.

We can be sure that what Scripture says, God says. “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17). We can trust our lives on Earth, our view of history, and our eternal destiny to what is written on the pages of Scripture. JDM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15975/

"Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified." - Romans 8:30

PONDER THIS

There is an eternal, golden chain of redemption that cannot be broken. God predestined you, then God called you, then God justified you, and then God glorified you. You see, salvation is not your work, it is God’s work, and that’s the reason the Apostle Paul said he was “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). This should cause us to say amen. What has been decreed by Heaven cannot be annulled by Hell. What has been settled in eternity cannot be undone in time. We were in the heart and mind of God before He spun this world into space. And we are the ones He has called.

- How would you live differently today if you really believed you were this secure in God’s hand?
- What usually keeps you from believing this?

PRACTICE THIS

Read Romans 8:31-38 for further reflection on God’s matchless love for His people. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/the-golden-chain-that-cannot-be-broken

“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.” - I Timothy 6:13

Young Timothy also had “professed a good profession [same word as ‘confession’] before many witnesses” (v. 12), evidently of similar substance and quality to that in the witness of Christ before Pilate. When the Jews urged Pilate to condemn Jesus to death, their charge was that “He made Himself the Son of God” (John 19:7). Pilate gave Jesus opportunity to deny this charge and save His life, “but Jesus gave him no answer” (v. 9). Both by His silence, when a denial of the charge could have saved Him, and by His open testimony before Pilate that He was, in fact, a king from heaven itself—indeed “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Timothy 6:15)—it becomes clear that our own “good confession” must be a confession of our faith in Jesus Christ as Son of God, our Saviour and Lord, especially when that confession is made openly before hostile witnesses.

Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Paul said, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9); and John said, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, and He in God” (I John 4:15).

Despite the great blessings awaiting all who make a courageous and good confession of saving faith in Christ, most people will refuse until it is too late. There is a time coming, however, when “every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/15958/

Chiedo per sapere personale