FIRST, A QUICK RECAP:      
 FASTDOMAIN 


In our last issue, we introduced "A Quick Recap" and one person suggested showing each headline with a link to its article and then a brief summary, so here goes. Let us know what you think of it!


VARIOUS KINDS OF CREW MEMBERS: This podcast emphasizes that the Church is not a leisure cruise but a warship. It discusses key passages from 1 Corinthians and Romans highlighting spiritual gifts and unity.

OHIO GOVERNOR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ABORTION AMENDMENT: 'IT JUST GOES TOO FAR': The governor expressed concerns that the amendment would overturn a ban on partial-birth abortions and highlighted the potential consequences if it passes. The inventor of the D&X abortion method donated $100,000 for this amendment.

ISRAEL'S DISASTER LEADS TO REQUESTS FOR POSTHUMOUS SPERM RETRIEVAL: Following the Hamas terror attack in Israel on October 7, there has been a surge in requests for posthumous sperm retrieval (PSR) procedures. The optimal time frame for PSR is typically within 24 hours. Unmarried men require a family court order for PSR, while a deceased husband's wife can request it.

OCCUPIED UKRAINE: RUSSIAN OCCUPATION FORCES CONTINUE TO DISAPPEAR RELIGIOUS LEADERS: Russian occupation forces continue to detain and allegedly torture people in occupied Ukrainian territory, including religious leaders like Greek Catholic priests and Orthodox Church priests. The whereabouts of these individuals and their health conditions are undisclosed, and Russian authorities have not provided information.

VICTORY: GA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS HEARTBEAT PROTECTIONS: The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, which includes heartbeat protections for unborn children. The law recognizes babies in the womb as part of Georgia's population, allowing parents to claim them as dependents and enabling mothers to receive child support from the beginning of pregnancy.

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT BACKS LAW ON BANNING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION TIED TO RUSSIA: Ukraine's parliament passed an initial vote on a law banning Russian-linked religious organizations, potentially affecting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate that claims it is no longer linked to Moscow. The law requires further approval.

NEW EVALUATION GUIDELINES FOR DEMENTIA: Updated APA guidelines, released in 2021, aim to help psychologists evaluate dementia and cognitive changes in older adults accurately and sensitively, reflecting changes in diagnosis and terminology.



VARIOUS KINDS OF CREW MEMBERS

various kinds of crew membersCheck out this important Podcast! The speaker really nails it: he emphasizes that the Church, the Ark of Our Salvation, is not a cruise ship where we're just passengers on vacation, relaxing and having a good time. No, we're sailors and marines who have battles to fight and various tasks to do on this warship. He explains three very important passages of Holy Scripture:

"Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as He desires. For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:4-12).

"For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy: abhor that which is evil, cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another" (Romans 12:4-10)...

[read more...]

Share THIS ↑ ESSAY with your friends. Also, click → CONTACT US.

 

Here's our next free online course: (click →) 200 - Foundations of Psychology – deadline to enroll: 2 November – it's coming up fast! (← click). So enroll today, before you forget!



 

If 5% of the people who see this would give $5 per month (just 17¢ per day!) – two cups of coffee with your favorite friend at your favorite coffee shop – we could cover our operating expenses and do much more in spreading the word, serving and providing accessible housing for the disabled. My wife and I left our careers over 30 years ago to serve in Russia as missionaries: we're now "semi-retired" – we've put on a new set of semi tires and keep on trucking! We live on our retirement income and volunteer our time: we receive no financial support from Agape Restoration Society. Our websites and ministry are funded by us and just a few friends. ...thanks in advance!

 
 
NEXT, THE NEWS:
 
 

OHIO GOVERNOR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ABORTION AMENDMENT: 'IT JUST GOES TOO FAR'
from: LiveAction News

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran (24 Oct.) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran, have released an ad urging voters to vote "No" on Issue 1, a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion as a "right" in the state's constitution. DeWine said that though he has never run an ad about an issue before, he felt compelled to take a stand because he believes the proposed amendment "just goes way, way too far." He warned against some of the ramifications that could result if the amendment passes.

"For many years, in Ohio and in this country, we’ve had a law that said a partial-birth abortion – where the child is partially delivered and then killed and then finally delivered – was illegal in Ohio," the governor explained. "This constitutional amendment would override that." The warning that the amendment would repeal a ban on D&X abortions, also known as partial-birth abortions, was mentioned last month in a legal analysis by state Attorney General Dave Yost. In his analysis, Yost noted prohibitions on D&X abortions and second-trimester D&E abortions "would both be invalidated and these abortions would be permitted."

Protect Women Ohio, a coalition opposing the amendment, also raised the issue of a partial-birth abortion repeal when it revealed that Martin Haskell, the inventor of the D&X "partial-birth" abortion, gave a $100,000 donation in favor of the ballot measure. [read more...]

COMMENTARY: In the state of Ohio, the governor has taken a public stand for the lives of unborn babies. Will you?

 
 

ISRAEL'S DISASTER LEADS TO REQUESTS FOR POSTHUMOUS SPERM RETRIEVAL
from: BioEdge.org

music festival ordeal in Israel (19 Oct.) Hundreds of young men, both civilian and military, died in Hamas’s terror attack on Israel on October 7. Immediately afterwards, embryologists and IVF specialists reported that they were being asked to perform posthumous sperm retrieval (PSR) on an unprecedented scale.

According to a report in The Times of Israel, the optimal window for PSR is 24 hours. An order from a family court is needed for an unmarried man but a wife can request it for her deceased husband.

One embryologist told Israeli media that she normally does only a couple of PSR procedures a year. Although she declined to give the specific number of procedures after the massacre, she said that it was sizable. "When you have to do this procedure on corpses, the staff finds it difficult physically and emotionally," she said.

"There is no protocol for coping with the preservation of sperm in such a large scope.," she said. "We had to figure out how to cope with the situation and assess what equipment we had to do so many procedures in parallel." [read more...]

COMMENTARY: The dreams of raising a family together were dashed for hundreds of young couples when a spouse was massacred in the horrible Hamas terrorist incursion into Israel on 7 October. We pray for the souls of those innocents killed and for their remaining families as they mourn. Let us also pray for the souls of Israel's enemies that are still seeking to eradicate all Jews in Israel.

 
 

OCCUPIED UKRAINE: RUSSIAN OCCUPATION FORCES CONTINUE TO DISAPPEAR RELIGIOUS LEADERS
from: Forum 18 News Service
Hebrews 13:3 – "Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them..."

Fr. Bohdan Heleta and Fr. Ivan Levytsky (17 Oct.) Russian occupation forces continue to disappear and in some cases torture many people in occupied Ukrainian territory, including religious leaders. Greek Catholic priests Fr Ivan Levytsky and Fr Bohdan Heleta were disappeared in November 2022, and Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest Fr Kostiantyn Maksimov in May 2023. Occupation forces repeatedly refused to answer Forum 18's questions about where they are being held, and what their state of health is. Russian-controlled Tokmak Police said it had no information about Fr Kostiantyn. "Even if we had, we wouldn't give it by phone."

Among other religious leaders seized and held earlier by Russian forces in occupied Ukraine was Fr Ihor Novosilsky. He was priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church parish of Holy Princess Olha in the village of Tokarivka in Kherson Region, and was held between August 2022 and May 2023. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented that Fr Ihor was tortured while being held by the occupation forces.

Russian occupation authorities seized two priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Fr Khristofor Khrimli and Fr Andri Chui in mid-September. A Russian news agency announced on 3 October that a Donetsk court had fined them under Russia's anti-missionary law and ordered their "deportation." [read more...]

COMMENTARY: Do not let Ukraine slip from your thoughts as it is being dropped from the current daily news cycles.

 
 

VICTORY: GA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS HEARTBEAT PROTECTIONS
from: SBA ProLife America

newborn baby (24 Oct.) ATLANTA, GA. – In a major victory for life, the Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act – heartbeat protections signed into law in 2019 by Governor Brian Kemp. The law has been in effect during litigation.

The law also counts babies in the womb as part of Georgia’s population. Parents can claim them as dependents on state income taxes, and mothers can receive child support from the beginning of pregnancy. As of 2019, data show Georgia’s pregnancy centers also provided $8 million in services and aid to more than 48,000 women, men, youth and families. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America celebrated in a statement:

"Today’s Georgia Supreme Court decision ensures that tens of thousands of children with beating hearts will continue to be protected from brutal abortions. It is the latest vindication of the will of Georgians, who have compassion for both babies and mothers, along with lawmakers like Governor Kemp and many others who heard them and acted," said SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "Twenty-five states – half the country – have pro-life protections in their law in the new Dobbs era. The majority of these states protect unborn children at least when their heartbeat can be detected, a point when science shows they have more than a 90% chance of surviving to birth.

"We congratulate Governor Kemp, Attorney General Carr, all our local allies, and the people of Georgia on a long and well-fought battle. Life is winning in hearts and minds nationwide. When you lead and stand boldly for life, Americans will stand with you." [read more...]

COMMENTARY: An unborn or newborn baby is a human being, not merely a "fetus" or "a lump of cells" as the abortion business claims. Abortion is not "healthcare" – it is the deliberate extinguishing of a human life.

 
 

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT BACKS LAW ON BANNING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TIED TO RUSSIA
from: Anadolu Ajansi

Ukrainian Verkhovna-Rada (19 Oct.) The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday passed in an initial vote a draft law on banning religious organizations tied to Russia, which could ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The law was adopted by the parliament, also known as the Verkhovna Rada, in the first reading with 267 votes in favor, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on Telegram. It has to be backed in a second reading and approved by the president to go into force.

"The activity of religious organizations in Ukraine, whose center of management is located outside of Ukraine in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine, is made impossible," said Taras Melnychuk, the Ukrainian government's representative to the parliament.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church split from Moscow in May 2022, but Kyiv authorities accuse it be linked to Russia. The UOC-MP continues to commemorate the Moscow Patriarch in its liturgies.

Also, see the article "SBU: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH RUNS PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES TO TRAIN FIGHTERS FOR UKRAINE DEPLOYMENT." It is sickening to me personally that military training is taking place at the place where my patron saint lived and served: he must be spinning in his grave! [read more...]

COMMENTARY: In some of our previous articles we have documented how some UOC-MP priests and hierarchs continue to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, so it is quite clear that its "split" from Moscow is simply window dressing.

 
 

NEW EVALUATION GUIDELINES FOR DEMENTIA
from: American Psychological Association

evaluation guidelines for dementia (1 Apr.) Not every elderly person has dementia! It's very common for people to associate old age with dementia or senility, especially if that older person has a disability such as hearing loss, poor vision or speech. Updated APA guidelines are now available to help psychologists evaluate patients with dementia and their caregivers with accuracy and sensitivity and learn about the latest developments in dementia science and practice.

New APA guidelines were released in 2021 to reflect updates in the field since the last set of guidelines, released in 2011, said geropsychologist and University of Louisville professor Benjamin T. Mast, PhD, ABPP, who chaired the task force that produced the guidelines. "These guidelines aspire to help psychologists gain not only a high level of technical expertise in understanding the latest science and procedures for evaluating dementia," he said, "but also have a high level of sensitivity and empathy for those undergoing a life change that can be quite challenging."

The new guidelines discuss changes in dementia diagnosis and diagnostic criteria reflected in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition). In particular, the DSM-5 changed the term "dementia" to "major neurocognitive disorder," and changed "mild cognitive impairment" to "minor neurocognitive disorder." [read more...]

COMMENTARY: Changing the way we speak about the terms "dementia" or "senility" is a good start to understand the process of ageing, helping to free us from unconsious biases. But it's just the beginning: we also must get to know these people as genuine human beings with hopes and dreams as well as lots of life experience they can share... if we're willing to listen.

NOW, OUR VIEWS:
 

 

ARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES SAFER THAN IN-HOME CARE?

 

 

retirement communities vs. home care CLICK THE PIC! Just this week I came across a few articles about comparing retirement communities vs. home care. The above infographic goes on to compare them in terms of nutrition, safety, connection with others, emergency preparedness, and protection from fire danger, isolation, falling. Here's an intro to the leading article:

"When it comes to health and safety concerns, seniors are an especially vulnerable group. Our safety needs and considerations evolve as we get older, which means seniors have to make changes to adapt. For seniors to thrive during retirement, they need to be proactive about their health, safety, and social life.

"Recently, there has been some concern about the safety of retirement communities in light of the global pandemic. To make an informed decision and rise above the public anxiety, it’s important to look at the real data regarding the safety of retirement. View our infographic below for information regarding the safety of retirement communities, as compared to in-home care and living alone.

"More seniors are choosing to live in retirement communities to focus on their health & wellness. From social connection opportunities, convenient meal services and on-site medical staff, senior communities truly place value on the wellbeing of residents. Connect with a Senior Lifestyle community near you to find out more about the health and wellness programs that are just a few clicks away." There's the sales pitch. You now realize that they want you to sign up for a senior community. What's the solution?

Get the full article on our ARC-News blog at blogspot.com and share it!

 

 

A Personal Note: We're finally feeling "at home," after 7 weeks of packing, loading a big U-Haul truck so our old condo was almost empty, unloading into a POD, closing and moving essential items into our new condo, installing new tile and carpeting, unloading the POD, arranging all our furniture, kitchen supplies, books into bookcases, hanging curtains, etc. Thank the Lord for a 1st-floor condo with no stairs!

 

 

PRAYER AND PRAISE. To read and pray for one article each day, click HERE and add the link to your browser's Bookmarks!

Sun. – Pray that we as Christians will each take up our role as crew members of the Ark of our Salvation.

Mon. – Thank God for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and his wife Fran taking a stand against unlimited abortion.

Tue. – Pray for the mourning Israeli wives who have lost their husbands in the recent terrorist attack and war..

Wed. – Intercede for the priests and pastors in Ukraine who have been ''disappeared'' by Russian forces.

Thu. – Praise the Lord that the state of Georgia has recognized unborn babies as humans and citizens.

Fri. – Pray that Ukraine will be able to free itself from foreign agents claiming to be religious workers.

Sat. – Ask the Lord for people to be freed from unconscious biases against older people with disabilities.

 

Who Are We?   Please remember to pray for Christians in Secularized Countries, and for...

  Your fellow-servants,

  Bob & Cheryl

  p.s. He who thinks he can fully comprehend God either has a very small god or a very large head.

 

 

This page may link to our FastDomain.com affiliate account, so when you click on a link and buy something there, a small commission is credited to that account.