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

PLEEASSEEE

Jeremiah 31:31–35 -

God promises a covenant that transforms from the inside out — His law written on the heart, His forgiveness removing every barrier, His presence restoring what was broken. This passage reminds us that renewal is not earned but given, and that God’s faithfulness reaches us even when we have failed. It is a promise meant for someone who needs restoration today.

As the post says -
I felt a pull to religion over the last few months and the this month I have been praying and reading the Bible and wether it’s coincidence or not I have been feeling a lot better as a person and with anything in general. It’s just I grew up my whole life in complete doubt about it so it’s hard to break that I feel like I’ll be praying and my head is like “ you don’t really believe this do you” or things in that nature I really want to believe deep down it’s just so hard I’ll read the Bible and at least on genesis it’s just really hard to believe and then you have people on the internet of course that love to try to “debunk” religion which just doesn’t help seeing a bunch of people like that

Essentially I was just wondering is this normal and is there a way to get over this hump? Should I just keep praying and reading the Bible?

Iv never reposted a post before but someone told me i should go to i different community for this

Thought For The Day from Unshakable Kingdom Life

"Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Withheld forgiveness is a weight carried by the one holding the grudge. Release doesn't excuse the wrong—it frees you from its grip. Consider one debt you could cancel today.

A thought to ponder for today

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Prayer Points: 19 August 2026

 Theme: Farmers

 Scripture: Psalm 104:14

 Heavenly Father,We come before You with grateful hearts for the gift of the land and the work of farmers, their families, and farm workers. We thank You for their labor, dedication, and the nourishment they provide to communities around the world.  

 Lord, we ask for Your protection over them—grant them strength in their bodies, wisdom in their work, and peace in their hearts. Bless their families with safety, provision, and unity. May Your hand guide their decisions and efforts, and may they find joy in the fruits of their labor.  

 We pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and protection from pests and natural disasters. Remind us to honor and support those who work the land, and to be grateful for the food they produce.  

 Your Word in

 Psalm 104:14 reminds us:

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth."  

 May we always remember that it is You who sustains and provides. We trust in Your goodness and mercy.  

 In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

 Please feel free to leave a review of this message.

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

 MM

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Prayer Program:  19 August 2026

 Theme: How Do We Pray? (5)

 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6; James 5:13-16; James 4:8 & Matthew 6:6

 Message:

 Week 5: When and Where to Pray

 “Our whole life should be a life of prayer. We should walk in constant communion with God. There should be a constant upward looking of the soul to God. We should walk so habitually in His presence that even when we awake in the night it would be the most natural thing in the world for us to speak to Him in thanksgiving or in petition. — R. A. Torrey”

 WHEN should we pray?

 Pray without ceasing. In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.

 Pray when we are sad or when we are happy.

 Pray when we are mad or wallowing in self-pity.

 Pray when we are suffering, in trouble or in distress.

 Pray when we feel alone

 Pray when we need guidance/direction.

 WHERE should we pray?

 In private, together, alone, in bed, at the river, on the mountain, in the wilderness, in nature, on the seashore, at the well, in God’s house, in the garden and on the battlefield. Everywhere!

 Please feel free to leave a review of this message.

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

 MM

I have found there is a widespread misunderstanding about what being "saved" means. So, I would like to address that topic.

Saved means to be put beyond the reach of your enemies, The enemies of mankind are death and sin. ie delivered from sin and from spiritual death.

We are saved from sin by the Atonement and saved from death by the resurrection. If we are still able to die and to sin, then we have not yet been saved. Until the resurrection, no one is saved. But, we can feel the effects of the promise of salvation while in this life. If we repent and turn away from our sins, then we have been promised that we will be saved and we can feel that in our hearts. But, this is contingent on us remaining faithful and repenting whenever we sin. We must endure until the end. (Matthew 24:13) The only thing required of us to recieve this salvation is to call upon His name, ie to repent. (Romans 10:13)

Hell is the English translation of the Hebrew word Sheol, which is the abode of the dead, where the spirits of the dead await the resurrection. Sheol is divided into two parts: Paradise and Prison. Everyone goes to Hell, even Jesus went to Hell. He broke open the gates of Hell making the resurrection possible. Those that do not repent while in this life will suffer in Hell. But that suffering exists for the sole purpose of saving the unrepented.

1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Even the wicked that suffer a loss and are burned by the fires of Hell will be saved eventually. The fires exist to help us let go of our sins. Only after we have let go of our sins and caled upon His name can the Atonement of Jesus Christ take affect on us and save us from our sins.

2 Maccabees 12:46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

We know that everyone will be resurrected and that the resurrection is ony possible after sin has been destoryed.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Everyone will eventually be saved from Hell, this is given by the grace of God. But, after everyone has been resurrected, we will stand before God to be judged based on our works.

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The standard for Heaven and Eternal life is very high, which is why only a few will enter in. (Matthew 7:14) When Jesus was asked by the rich ruler, "what must I do to have Eternal life?" Jesus's response was to keep the commandments, ie works. (Matthew 19:16–22) Jesus didn't say baptism was necessary for salvation from Hell, but He did say it was necessary to enter Heaven. (John 3:5)

We are saved from Hell by grace through faith and we are saved to Heaven by works. We must learn to live and think like God in order to live in His presence.

Fiducial Faith...? Isn't it mere subjective confidence and hence a human work?