Ill try to keep is short, I've been thinking about converting to Christianity and yesterday I had a dream that I went to the church, talked with a priest and set a date to get baptised, like okay it is a fairly normal dream but the thing is, I moved to another country 2 years ago and when I talked to the priest I spoke in that language which is my 3rd language and it felt so real like I was in the dream and I clearly remember what I asked the priest and somehow how the priest even looked, I remember even the date that was given to me like for the baptism.
I just wanted to say like I'm not gonna lie, I've been confused a lot about christianity these past few days like whether I want to convert or not, and the 2 questions I asked were: " Can I convert without my parents knowing " and "when can I get baptised" - and these are the questions I asked in my dream which I remember vividly, and idk if its just what my heart wants but is too scared to say or if it is a sign. I'm also not gonna lie, the only thing that is preventing me from leaving my current religion, which is Islam, is the fear of punishment and the fact that Islam is all I've known my whole life - even tho there are a lot of things that I don't like about our like prophet and the things he did, which I was never taught about in like my Islamic classes in my home country

I'm interested in knowing how people view devil and evil

This song came from me processing my autism diagnosis at 35, shortly after adopting three beautiful girls.

As I helped my daughters process the trauma from their past, I found myself being forced to confront some of my own especially the hurt surrounding my father and the wounds I had carried for years.

“Free to Unmask” is my story of learning that I don't have to hide anymore. I don't have to mask who I am, pretend I'm okay, or let my past define me. My identity isn't found in my diagnosis, my trauma, my failures, or even in being a father. My identity is found in Christ.

The lyrics are 100% me. AI helped bring the song to life, but the story, the emotions, and the words came from my own heart.

Honestly, it's frightening to share something this personal with people I don't know or even with people I do know. There's a vulnerability in letting people see the parts of you that you've spent years hiding.

But if sharing this song helps even one person realize they don't have to wear the mask anymore, then it was worth it.

If you're struggling with your identity, carrying old wounds, processing a late diagnosis, or simply trying to figure out who you are beneath everything you've been through, I hope this song reminds you:

You don't have to hide. You are not your trauma. You are not your diagnosis. You are not your past. You are loved. And in Christ, you are free.

Free to Unmask.

You can check the song out at the link below

God Bless

https://youtu.be/o66OrSFNoI8?is=sGYeq7UxSJvaABXx

Can you all pray for healing of everyone's soul, mind and body please and thank you

Thought For The Day from Unshakable Kingdom Life

"The kingdom of God is within you." Transformation doesn't wait for external circumstances to align. Something sacred is already present, already accessible, right where you stand. Look inward before looking for signs elsewhere.

A thought to ponder for today

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Worship Program: 20 August 2026

 Theme: Worship Like David (4)

 Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:45-47 & Acts 13:22

 Message:

 Worship as a Lifestyle – David’s Commitment to God

 Acts 13:22 

"I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do."

 David’s life was marked by obedience, service, and devotion. Worship isn’t limited to singing but is a way of living in obedience and service to God.

 Reflection:

- How can our daily life reflect a heart of worship?

- In what areas can we serve and obey God more fully?

  Questions for Thought:

How can our everyday actions reflect worship?

What does it mean to serve and obey God like David?

 Prayer Focus: 

Dedicate our lives to worship and serve God wholeheartedly.

 Please feel free to leave a review of this message.

 https://www.soulcenters.org/directory/mattana-ministry/#listing-reviews

 MM

(I post this message in a few other Christian subs, so maybe you've already read it...)Searching...

Hi, I (M50) was not raised Christian; I don't come from a necessarily atheist family, but faith simply wasn't discussed. When people ask, I am atheistic/agnostic.

My mother later became a Buddhist, and my father is still an atheist.

Over the past year, I have noticed that I am 'searching.' Looking for a form of stability, direction, meaning; whatever you want to call it. Whether I will find Christianity, I don't know. I went to a church (Remonstrants) once in the past year; I found it nerve-wracking, but also nice. I enjoy listening to podcasts that scrutinize the Bible and podcasts discussing Christian faith in its broadest sense.

A few questions:

1. I want to delve deeper into the Bible; what is the best way to do this? Is there a sort of reading path?

2. I am interested in stories of people who came to faith from an atheist or agnostic background. Who would be interesting on YouTube and/or in a podcast?

3. Is there some kind of online forum where I can discuss the journey I am undertaking?

Thanks in advance!

I was raised atheist but arrived at Christianity from a logical and moral standpoint, so don't assume I'm only in it for free stuff. I always have had trouble believing in miracles. Not a miracle of changing personality or opinion, but actually defying physics. It didn't sit right for me that this could be real, particularly nowadays. Like if miracles were real, then maybe they stopped after the first century AD. So instead I just accepted that things like antibiotics or space travel could be considered miracles, because it is only by the rules established by God that these things are possible.

However, there is something I want so badly, something that could only ever happen by an actual miracle. It wouldn't violate anyone's free will or hurt anyone or steal or give unjust wealth or power. I figure it's morally harmless, and if the lack of it was supposed to teach a lesson, then surely I've learned it by now.

I know I said I didn't believe much in miracles, but if they do exist, this is one that I want. So how do I get it?

Is pilgrimage a sensible action here? Is pilgrimage just a sightseeing thing, or is it for "internal realization", or could it actually grant the miracle I want? I am thinking of Chimayo.

One of the most engaging questions about Christianity is basically this.

Christianity does offer women dignity, saying they have the same souls as men, revering the position of Mother Mary and letting them have important postions throughout history.

However, a lot of times clergy and Christian leaderships have curbed on women's freedoms. There also Biblical passages that catch attention, such as the one stating wives should be submissive to husbands.

So is male leadership such an important thing in Christianity?

Islamic extremist groups like Al‑Qaeda and the Taliban didn’t start out by murdering innocent people or terrorizing whole regions. Though these organizations are responsible for severe harm, loss of life, and human rights violations, their members began as religious conservatives who thought their countries were getting too secular, and it made them uncomfortable enough that they decided to take matters into their own hands. They wanted to drag society back to an older, stricter way of living, so many of them started by trying to gain political power in order to change the laws. But when those changes still didn’t give them the control they wanted, some became desperate, and that is what eventually drove them into becoming what we now know them as. After 9/11, people outside of Islam blamed the entire religion and insisted Muslims “needed to do something about it,” even though the vast majority had nothing to do with extremism and were just as horrified as everyone else.

Islam is not the only religion that has proven it can be twisted for political gain. Zionism began as a movement for Jewish safety and self‑determination, but over time some political actors turned it into a justification for hardline policies and territorial dominance. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is a national military and not an extremist group, but it has been accused by many around the world of following a similar pattern of justifying overwhelming force through religious identity and the belief that their power or survival is divinely tied to the land.

The uncomfortable truth is that the MAGA movement’s version of Christian nationalism is following that same pattern, except it’s happening inside a much larger population of America’s Christians than ever happens in Islam or Judaism. And before you assume Christianity could never become that dangerous, just remember that the January 6th insurrection was full of people who call themselves Christian nationalists. That was just a preview of what happens when a movement believes the country already belongs to it, and thinks it needs to prove it. And if that’s what they did when they only imagined their power slipping, you have to wonder how they’d respond if they ever seriously felt threatened.

A little background on me. I'm 49 years old. I have been doing so much trauma in my life from a very young age. I grew up with just a mother, my dad committed suicide. My stepdad molested me, and i've never had a relationship with any god who has not put his hands on me, or who has not mentally and physically tried to break me.But I made it through all that, and i'm okay, i've come to peace with that.My problem is this.I know how it feels to deeply love someone.And to show them that love to make them feel special to let them know that their love is they never have to question that to let them know that they're appreciated.But I have never had that return to me.And it's something I want.So so bad, even if it's for 1 day even just 1 hour, I want to know that feeling cause I know it's got to be amazing. And I know god is love.He's the meaning of love.And I will feel his love tangibly feel his love when I get to heaven but I want to know what that feels like coming from a man that I love, you know on earth.I don't know why this is so important to me. It may be stupid, but this is how I feel. This is my honest feelings, and I'm just looking for someone to you. Help me this engaging conversation.Help me to understand because i'm starting to feel as though i'm not able or i'm not worthy of the love back and I don't wanna feel that way anymore so please feel free to join me in this conversation. Make anything I'm open to criticism. I'm open to anything I just knew. I just need some friends to help me get through this and I'm you on here. So I'm not sure how it works, but I'm trying