spiritual fitness – Page 2

Report: US Government “Weaponized Its Full Weight Against Christians” 2021–2024

“A review of federal departments and agencies revealed a consistent and systematic pattern of discrimination against Christians during the [years 2021 to 2024],” summarizes the US Department of Justice’s 49-page Initial Report by the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. “Where there should have been ‘equal justice under law’ there was unequal treatment—policies and practices that singled out Christian people, Christian houses of worship, and Christian convictions for disfavored treatment.”

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION ]

This “initial assessment of the harm caused when religious liberty is denied” is the first outcome of President Trump’s February 6, 2025, Executive Order, Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias, his mandate to “ensure that any unlawful and improper conduct, policies, or practices that target Christians are identified, terminated, and rectified.”

US Resolution Introduced: National Bible Day, Sept. 12

Joint resolution H. J. RES. 118, designating September 12th as the National Day of the Bible, has been introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressmen Michael Cloud (R-TX) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA).

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: How Long Does It Take to Read the Bible? ]

The date marks the anniversary of September 12, 1782, when the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, approved the first complete English-language Bible printed in America, known as the Aitken Bible—often referred to as “The Bible of the Revolution.”

By semperverus
Posted on 09/05/202510/18/2025

Expanded Observations on The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus gave his disciples what is commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer” as a model for how they (and we) should pray (Jesus’ personal prayer is found in John 17). It can be outlined in four parts: God’s Supremacy, Physical Needs, Forgiveness of Sin, and Spiritual Victory.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Free Online Educational Resources to Grow Your Spiritual Knowledge ]

[Jesus said,] “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
Matthew 6:9-13

Similar to the SemperVerus pledge, Tony Evans, in the commentary on The Lord’s Prayer in his study Bible, says, “Jesus calls his disciples to make a pledge of allegiance to the kingdom of God—to God’s rule over his creation. When Olympic athletes are awarded gold medals, they don’t get to choose the song they hear at the award ceremony. The song played is the national anthem of their country. Similarly, you are called to march to God’s tune.”

He says, “God’s will is what God wants—when, where, and how he wants it. Those who are part of God’s family are to follow God’s rules. He’s sovereign, and he’ll accomplish his purposes with you or without you. The question is, will you get to take part in it?”

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of PRAYER ]

What follows are perspectives of each phrase in The Lord’s Prayer from which we should approach God in prayer:

Sad News: Minority of American Adults Believe in Absolute Truth When Determining Right and Wrong

Fewer than half (44%) of US adults say clear and absolute standards exist for determining moral decisions of what is right and what is wrong. A majority (55%) believe in circumstantial ethics, saying that whether something is right or wrong often depends on the situation, according to Pew Research Center’s 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS).

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Free Online Educational Resources to Grow Your Spiritual Knowledge ]

Additionally, only 30% of American adults say it is necessary to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values, while 68% say it’s possible to be moral and have good values without believing in God.