Hi all - an old friend of mine who I met whilst living overseas has been going through treatment for colon cancer. He's had to move back to the city we met in to get treatment for it and as he's been living away for such a long time, he's got little to no friend network there anymore for support and furthermore, he's got no siblings and both parents passed away some time ago. He's going through this largely on his own and having to live in a hotel while he does it. I hate to think of him going through it all alone and as strong as he is, I know it's getting him down. Would you say a prayer for him please and send him love and strength?

Hey all hope you are all doing well! I have a question as I've seen a lot of comments from Christians about times God spoke to them and I'm curious as to whether that has happened to any of you and if so, could you describe what happened and how you knew it was God speaking to you? I'm just starting a journey toward faith and let's just say the journey is meandering somewhat because I've never had a 'religious experience' that has made 100% sure that God is real for me personally. And by that I mean I do believe in a creative force far beyond my comprehension, that created the universe, but I guess I don't see God as a being or entity that hears me every time I pray or speaks to me when I most need it. So, I'm very curious as to whether this has happened for anyone and what is it that makes God so personal to you? I'm happy for anyone to DM me if you are not comfortable doing it on a public thread. Many thanks :)

Most people think Rome persecuted early Christians because Rome hated religion. That's not really what was going on. Rome had room for religion. Rome was drowning in gods. Temples, shrines, festivals, sacrifices, household idols. The issue was not that Christians had beliefs. The issue was allegiance. Rome could tolerate private faith. What it could not tolerate for long was a public people whose highest loyalty did not belong to the state. Now, to feel why that mattered, you have to picture how Rome held the crowd together. They used a rhythm. A system. Keep people fed, and not just fed, but fed for free. Grain distributions meant survival was tied to the system. Life stayed smoother if you stayed compliant. It quieted unrest without needing soldiers on every corner. Then keep people entertained. Games, festivals, spectacle. Loud enough to drown out reflection. Then keep desire active. Always something to crave next. Status, pleasure, comfort, approval. Keep people chasing. Keep them busy. Busy people do not ask big questions. And wrap all of it in ritual so participation feels normal, not forced. Altars. Processions. Public sacrifices. Honor the emperor. Not because everyone believed deeply, but because participation was the signal. It told the empire, I belong. I'm safe. I'm one of us. That's how you manage millions. Not by persuading every individual, but by shaping the crowd. Then Christ broke the rhythm. The gospel did not just give people new opinions. It moved the center. It rewired loyalty. And once loyalty shifts, it shows up in public. It changes what you do. What you refuse. What you will not say just to keep life easy. Because Rome's religion was not just spiritual. It was an economy. Temples moved money. Festivals moved commerce. Idols had supply chains. Craftsmen made statues. Vendors sold offerings. Trade groups often had ritual meals and offerings tied to the gods, and participation could affect your reputation and your ability to work. So when Christians stopped bowing, they also stopped buying.

Honey or vinegar, attraction or promotion? how are you approaching situations in your day to day? Years ago, i was talking to a friend on issues with his son. i'm paraphrasing his words in quotes: "i fell into the trap of 'no, no, bad, wrong' in my mentoring. when i saw that was what i was doing, i made the decision to start focusing on the positives. the boy hears negatives way too often and it's affecting his self image and overall outlook." I want to pay that wisdom forward, because i'm hearing the destructive voice so often in day to day. "they're all corrupt", "why do people even listen to politics? nothings going to change", "those (generic stereotype) need to be stop (insinuation of crime) against (victim status) because..." Here's my challenge. Try to look for the negative in someones assertion, when replying, don't fall into the trap of feeding them more of the same. instead, try to find the positive direction that people could take, if they had your inspiration. once you start looking for the negative in others, you'll see it in yourself. maybe stopping yourself from promoting it is the best you can do, and that's ok too. i was mistaken, the correct quote is "the only winning move is not to play." I've been accused of being a "Pollyanna" in my naive over simplifying, and that made me happy too.

Hi everyone, just want to wish you and your families all a Happy New Year. It may have been and gone for some, and for others we are still counting down to midnight. I pray that 2026 will bring us all peace and joy and that we will have the strength to handle any challenges that come our way and remain positive.