Sunday, April 6, 2025

Pope Remains in Hospital in Critical Condition

 Doctors have given Pope Francis a "guarded" prognosis as he continues to be treated in a hospital for double pneumonia, the Christian Today website reports today (April 6, 2025). 


The pope spent a ninth night in Rome's Gemelli hospital after experiencing an "asthma--like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity" on March 29.


Doctors treated the pope with high--flow oxygen and blood transfusions , and said he spent the rest of the day in his armchair,  as he remains "fatigued." 


"The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical," says a  a statement from t he Holy See press office.


The statement continued, "Today's blood tests also revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions.


"The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more fatigued than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis remains guarded." 


One week ago ,doctors said they expected the pope to remain in the hospital all of t he coming week, and that although he is not "in danger of death, he is not completely out of danger yet. "

Friday, April 4, 2025

Who and "What" Is the Holy Spirit?

 The Holy Spirit is God and part of t he Trinity, the Crossmap website reports today (April 4, 2025). 


God is in three Persons. He is a blessed Trinity, and we worship Him as Father, as Son, and as Holy Spirit. All three Persons are God. They want to love and serve the Lord with all of their heart, soul, and might.


The Holy Spirit's main work is to manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the church. 


In other words, He loves God's work in the world.


The Spirit is the One--in the Trinity -- who is most PRESENT  with us now. He is near. He is with us if we have trusted Jesus as Savior. 


The Holy Spirit purifies us and makes us more holy. 


The Holy Spirit unifies believers and churches. 


The Holy Spirit gives stronger or weaker evidence of God's presence and blessing as we respond to Him. 

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Report: 10M Christians Face Deportation from U.S. under Trump Plan

 A new report by several Christian organizations warns that up to 10 million Christians could face deportation under proposed Trump administration policies -- raising concerns for families and churches across the U.S. -- the Christian Daily website reports today (April 2, 2025). 


"One Part of the Body: The Potential Impact of Deportations on   American Christian Families" is a  multi--agency report produced by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the National Asssociation of Evangelicals, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services, and World Relief.


The report highlights that the Bible teaches that there is one body of Christ, which is "not made up of one part but of many" (Corinthians 12--13--14)and if one part suffers, every part suffers with it;" if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (verse 26). 


The authors note that immigrants that are "integral parts" of American churches, whether they have permanent legal status or not, are vulnerable to deportation. This puts millions of Christians at risk under President Donald Trump's pledge to carry out the largest deportation in history.