Saturday, January 31, 2026

A Further Abomination.

 The new Sentencing Act will scrap most jail terms of under 12 months and allow most criminals to be freed after serving just 30 per cent of their sentence.

Blogger: please remember that the majority will have already had a 33% reduction in their original sentence starting point. This comes from a so-called 'timely guilty plea!'
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Birdie.


 

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A Time For ...


 

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Gerasenes or Gadarenes? - Biblical Confusion? - Nope!

Gerasenes, Gadarenes, Pigs and “Contradictions?”

With a little knowledge of the geography of the region, this apparent contradiction can be resolved.

Sixth-century mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy.Sixth-century mosaic of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy. (photo: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Dave Armstrong BlogsJanuary 29, 2021

I was in a dialogue with an atheist regarding what he believes is one of “many” so-called “biblical contradictions.” Odd guy that I am, I actually find this sort of thing fun. In any event, I love defending the Bible and Christianity.

He brought up the story of Jesus casting out demons and sending them into pigs, which promptly ran over a cliff into the sea. The Gospels use different names for the place where this occurred:

  • Mark 5:1 ... the country of the Ger’asenes. (Luke 8:26 is identical)
  • Matthew 8:28 ... the country of the Gadarenes ... 

This is supposedly a “contradiction.” Gerasa is (as we know) some 30-35 miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, but may have also been the name of the larger region. Wikipedia states about it: “In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity.” 

Gadara is about six miles from the sea. Its ruins include two amphitheaters, a basilica, temple, a hippodrome, aqueducts and colonnades, showing its importance and stature. “Gergesenes” is also in some manuscripts (Khersa or Gersa was a town actually on the shore of the sea). Commentator R. C. H. Lenski states:

“The distance of these cities from the lake is immaterial for the narrative since this deals with the region that is near the lake and not with the vicinity of either of the cities to the lake.”

Note that the texts don’t say Gerasa or Gadara, so they aren’t necessarily referring just to one of the cities. They all say “country of ” (in the sense of region, not “nation”). “Gerasenes” could have had a sense of reference to the entire region (as well as to a city: just as “New Yorker” can refer to the state or city), and “Gadarenes” likely was a reference to the most prominent city of the region at the time. Smith’s Bible Dictionary provides what I find to be a quite plausible explanation (not “special pleading” at all), and analogous to how we still use place names today:

“These three names are used indiscriminately to designate the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. The first two are in the Authorized Version. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) In Gerasenes in place of Gadarenes. The miracle referred to took place, without doubt, near the town of Gergesa, the modern Kersa, close by the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and hence in the country of Gergesenes. But as Gergesa was a small village, and little known, the evangelists, who wrote for more distant readers, spoke of the event as taking place in the country of the Gadarenes, so named from its largest city, Gadara; and this country included the country of the Gergesenes as a state includes a county. 

“The Gerasenes were the people of the district of which Gerasa was the capital. This city was better known than Gadara or Gergesa; indeed in the Roman age no city of Palestine was better known. ‘It became one of the proudest cities of Syria.’ It was situated some 30 miles southeast of Gadara, on the borders of Peraea and a little north of the river Jabbok. It is now called Jerash and is a deserted ruin. The district of the Gerasenes probably included that of the Gadarenes; so that the demoniac of Gergesa belonged to the country of the Gadarenes and also to that of the Gerasenes, as the same person may, with equal truth, be said to live in the city or the state, or in the United States. For those near by the local name would be used; but in writing to a distant people, as the Greeks and Romans, the more comprehensive and general name would be given.”

I think the coup de grâce is to look up the Greek word for “country” in these passages, to see what latitude of meaning it has. In all three instances the word is chōra (Strong’s word #5561). Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines it as “the space lying between two places or limits ... region or country.” The Sea of Galilee was clearly one of the limits.

In Luke 2:8 it is applied to the city of Bethlehem; in Acts 18:23 to Galatia and Phrygia. In Mark 1:5 it is used of “the land of Judaea” (KJV) and in Acts 10:39, to “land of the Jews” (KJV). In Acts 8:1 we have the “regions of Judaea and Samaria” (KJV), and in Acts 16:6, Galatia alone. Thus, it is not always used of one specific country (nation), but rather, usually to regions or areas of either small (Bethlehem) or large (Judaea and Samaria) size, including regions surrounding large cities.

All of this sure seems perfectly consistent with calling the same area the “country” (chōra) of either the Gerasenes or the Gadarenes, after the two major cities. Why is this even an issue, I wonder? Well, it is because atheists, in their zealous rush to make fun of Christians, Christianity, and the Bible, start to lose their logical rigor and rationality, leading them to contend for implausible things: as presently.

Bible scholar Gleason Archer (Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties) argues similarly, “It is entirely possible that the political control of this region was centered in Gadara as the capital city. Hence it would be called ‘the land of the Gadarenes.’”

Another approach is to note the different intentions of the Gospel writers. Matthew is habitually more oriented to a Jewish readership, and so he refers to “Gadarenes” because Gadara was the most important Jewish city in the area. Mark and Luke, on the other hand, write to more general audiences, and Gerasa was the main Greek-Roman city of the area. So they refer to Gerasenes.

I think all these attempts to harmonize what may at first seem like a contradiction are plausible, respectable, and adequate. 

Dave Armstrong
Also: The terms Gerasenes (used in Mark 5:1, Luke 8:26) and Gadarenes (used in Matthew 8:28) refer to the same general region on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus healed a demon-possessed man. Both cities, Gerasa (modern Jerash) and Gadara (modern Umm Qais), were part of the Decapolis, a group of Hellenistic (Greek-influenced) cities. 
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Prayer For Partners.


Please Pray

Eritrea


Release International supports the Kale Hiwot Church in Eritrea, which works to reach all tribes in Eritrea with the gospel and to provide for those with physical needs.


Pray that God would bring true freedom of religion to Eritrea. Pray for Evangelical Christians to remain strong in their faith and that the Lord would continue to encourage them.


Pray for Christians in prison, as well as their families. Pray for God’s protection and safety.


Pray for the effectiveness of satellite radio stations broadcasting the gospel into homes. They currently transmit in Tigre and Tigrinya, two major language groups in Eritrea.

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Friday, January 30, 2026

Houthis.

Source: Houthis Will Be Taken Out by Arab-Led Ground Force.

Houthi supporters attend an anti-Israel and anti-American rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, AOsamah Abdulrahman / Associated Press
Joel B. Pollak
9 Jul 2025

A ground force led by Arab nations, possibly including a Yemenite force, will be necessary to remove the Houthis as a regional threat, according to a senior Israeli government official.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have continued firing ballistic missiles, sporadically, at Israel despite the ceasefire between Israel and Iran that took effect last month — and despite Israeli airstrikes against the rebels and their weapons.

The Houthis have also attacked international ships again, despite reaching a separate ceasefire with the United States earlier this year. The rebels, who have fought for years against the internationally-recognized government of Yemen, say they are fighting in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, which Israel is still fighting.

The fact that Israeli pilots have been able to reach Yemen, refueling along the way, was thought of as an astonishing achievement when the Israeli Air Force first did it a year ago. But airstrikes alone have not been enough. Israel has likely depleted and degraded the Houthi missile supply — and reinforcements from Iran are unlikely.  Still, the Houthis remain committed to attacking Israel, and are a threat to the whole region.

The Houthi slogan is “Allahu akbar, death to the United States, death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory for Islam.”

Saudi Arabia once led the fight against the Houthi rebels, before the Biden administration cut off support for that effort due to supposed human rights concerns. At the time, the Biden White House also wanted to entice Iran to renew talks toward a restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The Israeli official said that Israel would not allow the Houthis to continue to threaten Israeli cities and Israeli shipping, and that it would have to lead the fight, following the American withdrawal from the conflict. But Israel could not supply the ground troops to finish the job, the official said. Rather, Israel would work with friendly Arab states to mount a ground attack.

Yemen is over 2,000 kilometers from Israel and the two countries have no common borders, though they are on opposite ends of the Red Sea. The Houthis attacked Israel with missiles and drones — and without any provocation.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News.

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Birdie.




 

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Wonderful Things.


 

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Christians NEED To Grasp The Importance of The Welsh Revival.

 What was the Welsh Revival and why should you know about it?

Neil Rees
 
7 Jul, 2025 07:00 BST
 
worship (Photo: Getty/iStock)

The Welsh Revival of 1904 was anything but quiet, leading to the worldwide Pentecostal and charismatic movements. This is the story …

Welsh Revivals.

Wales was a land of revivals. There had been many revivals across Wales at separate times of history, going back to St David. However, it is the Welsh Revival of 1904 which had the biggest impact on the worldwide Church. The Welsh Revival began at Moriah Chapel, in the small town of Loughor, at the mainland end of the Gower peninsular, near Swansea, in south Wales. The revival started at a prayer meeting held in the Moriah schoolroom on 31 October 1904. 


The meeting had 17 people present and was led by Evan Roberts, then 26 years old, who became a household name. Those people present all made a renewed commitment to God. The chapel was named after Moriah, which references the land of Moriah where Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2), and to Mount Moriah where the temple was later built (2 Chronicles 3:1). These are probably separate places but linked in the popular imagination. 

The church was part of the Welsh Calvinist Methodist movement (which since 1928 has also been known as the Presbyterian Church of Wales). The Welsh Calvinist Methodist church itself arose from a previous revival in the 18th century. The revival spread as Evan Roberts was invited to speak at other places. It was reported that within nine months some 100,000 people were converted.

Welsh Revival 1904

The Welsh Revival, under the leadership of Evan Roberts, was a transformative movement in Wales. It was characterised by fervent prayer, spontaneous worship, confessions, and a strong emphasis on the direct experience of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit cut across denominational and theological boundaries. The revival broke down the traditional theological and linguistic boundaries which had ruled Welsh church traditions. The Holy Spirit came upon men and women, young and old, ordained and unordained, Welsh speakers and English speakers. Great preachers and evangelists, both men and women, arose to continue the work.The revival energised the chapels and denominations in Wales, starting with the Calvinistic Methodists, and spreading to the Baptists, the Congregationalists (Independents), and the Wesleyan Methodists. 

Services were marked by unstructured worship, emotional reactions, simultaneous prayer, visions, healings, and prophecies. The revival swept through Welsh society, resulting in mass conversions measured in the tens and scores of thousands. Reports at the time state that it produced visible changes in social behaviour, such as decreased crime rates, lower levels of swearing, drunkenness, and violence. 

British Pentecostalism

The early leaders of the British Pentecostal movement came out of the Welsh Revival and whole new denominations arose. The Elim Pentecostal Church, started in 1915 in Monaghan, Ireland, was founded by the Welsh evangelist George Jeffreys, who had been greatly influenced by the 1904 Welsh Revival. The name "Elim" comes from an oasis and place of refreshing where the Israelites went after leaving captivity in Egypt (Exodus 15:27). Elim churches are now found across Britain and Ireland, and beyond. 

In 1916, the Apostolic Church of Wales grew out of a revival in Pen-y-groes, Carmarthenshire. The movement sent missionaries around the world. In the UK it is still strongest in South Wales where it began, but internationally it is now strongest in Nigeria.

Across the World 

News of the Welsh Revival sparked intense prayer and subsequent revival outbreaks around the world. The revival rapidly spread throughout Wales to the rest of Britain, to Scandinavia and parts of mainland Europe, resulting in large numbers of conversions and new waves of evangelical fervour.  

Revivals happened across the world in parts of China, Korea, Madagascar, and India, especially in places where Welsh missionaries were working. A notable revival happened in the Khasi Hills in northeast India in 1905, between what is now Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma). Today some of these areas particularly northeast India and south Korea are today noted for their huge populations of evangelical Christians. 

North America

News of the Welsh Revival rapidly spread internationally, inspiring Welsh and other Christians in the United States, to pray for and expect similar outpourings. Some Americans came from the US to south Wales and returned deeply influenced, and some corresponded with Evan Roberts. The Welsh Revival directly inspired the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles in 1906, which is widely recognised as the birthplace of the modern American Pentecostal movement. In 1914, in Arkansas, the Assemblies of God (AoG) arose as a new Pentecostal denomination, which is now worldwide.

Impact on Female Ministry

The Welsh Revival led to many women, as well as men, becoming singers, evangelists, teachers and preachers. The story can be read in "Carriers of the Fire – The Women of the Welsh Revival 1904/05" by Karen Lowe. At the original Pentecost, Joel's prophecy “And it shall come to pass… that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy... Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-29), was quoted by St Peter (Acts 2:16-18), which makes it clear that the Holy Spirit did not distinguish between men and women. 

As a result, most Pentecostal denominations have equality in ministry for men and women. The most famous is Aimee Elizabeth Semple McPherson, who in 1919 was ordained as an evangelist by the Assemblies of God. Her church in Los Angeles, was the first megachurch in the USA.

Legacy on the worldwide Church

Pentecostalism is characterised by its emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit, personal faith, equality between men and women in leadership, and freedom of worship. The revival’s emphasis on direct spiritual experience, charismatic gifts (1 Corinthians 12), and Spirit-filled worship has also influenced the traditional historic denominations, such as the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, where it is often known as the Charismatic Renewal. The legacy of the Welsh Revival has been a general renewed emphasis or re-discovery of the Holy Spirit in Christian faith and practice, with an impact on whole new traditions of worship.

CT.
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A Good Start.

Reform council to save £40m by scrapping net zero plans.

Nigel Farage’s ‘efficiency’ unit suggests Kent County Council should scrap electric car fleet and property renovation plans.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, pictured with Kent County Council leader, right, Linden Kemkaran in the Kent County Hall
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, with Linden Kemkaran (right), the Kent County Council leader, and Reform councillors 
Daniel MartinDeputy Political Editor
10 July 2025 2:21pm BST
Reform UK plans to save £40 million by cutting net zero spending at its largest council.
Nigel Farage’s party won control of Kent in May’s local elections and within days sent in a unit to identify cost savings.
Linden Kemkaran, the leader of Kent County Council, will pledge to save £7.5m by 2030 by scrapping plans to move the council’s fleet of cars to electric.
Ms Kemkaran will also promise to save £32m over the same period by cancelling plans to make council property net zero compliant. More money will be saved by cutting allowances for councillors.
Kent is the first council to announce cost-savings plans following Reform’s sweep of 10 councils in May’s local elections.
It comes after Reform stepped in to scrap trans training materials in Kent County Council which praised puberty blockers and said trans women could still use women’s toilets, despite the Supreme Court judgment.

The councils Reform control

Lancashire
Staffordshire
Durham
Kent
Lincolnshire
Nottinghamshire
Derbyshire
Doncaster
North Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire.Ms Kemkaran said: “My team has found these savings and streams of potential revenue in just a few short weeks and they’ve done it while undergoing essential training, getting to grips with their new roles and generally finding their way around in a brand-new job.“Just imagine what we can do in the months to come. Reform’s cost-saving unit is known as DOLGE (Department of Local Government Efficiency) – an echo of the ‘Doge’ set up by Elon Musk in the US.The team of software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors worked in Kent to look at ways to save money and reduce waste. The unit will also review Reform’s nine other councils.                         5pc cut in councillor allowances.Kent’s DOLGE team recommended scrapping the “Net Zero Renewable Energy Programme” of property modifications, saving £32m over four years.It also suggested scrapping the council’s plans to meet net zero by transitioning its vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, saving a further £7.5m by 2030.Ms Kemkaran wants councillors to take a 5 per cent cut in their allowances, which cover the cost of turning up at meetings. This will generate a sum of £202,500 which will be reallocated into grants of about £2,500 each for councillors to spend in their ward.Since Reform UK took office in May, the level of debt has reduced by some £16 million, a saving of £2,000 per day in interest payments alone.Ms Kemkaran believes that the party’s “no more borrowing” policy will reduce this debt by over £33m by next March.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage attends a meeting alongside the Head of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran
Ms Kemkaran expects a reduction in debt of over £33 million by March next year Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA
The council leader is also looking at various subscriptions to organisations to see if they represent value for money, and anticipates that giving notice on various memberships could save up £180,000.
In light of Angela Rayner’s proposed local government reorganisation, Ms Kemkaran has scrapped plans to move staff into a neighbouring building that was due to be renovated.
The council also intends to save money in children’s services by bringing children’s care homes back in-house and purchasing four properties, which will yield a saving of £1.5m over the two financial years starting in April 2026.

Taxpayers’ money vanishes in ‘black hole’

The DOLGE team, which includes entrepreneur Arron Banks, was appointed by Zia Yusuf, the head of Reform’s department of government efficiency.
When the team began their work in Kent last month, Mr Banks told the Telegraph: “For too long, British taxpayers have watched their money vanish into a black hole.
“Their taxes keep going up, their bin collections keep getting less frequent, potholes remain unfixed, their local services keep getting cut.
“Reform won a historic victory on a mandate to change this. As promised, we have created a UK Doge to identify and cut wasteful spending of taxpayer money. Our team will use cutting edge technology and deliver real value for voters.”
DT.
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Absolutely INSANE!

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