A2SG said:

Wait, wait.... are you claiming that the GOP agreed to extend the ACA subsidies last November, well before the so-called Big Beautiful Bill passed? Cool. Could you please provide documentation on that, so I can save it and frame it for posterity?

-- A2SG, unless you meant something else...your post wasn't exactly clear.....

Click to expand...

it could have happened in November when it was originally scheduled and agreed upon -

it is scheduled for THIS November to be in committee. Schumer is using it as an excuse.

I literally just want better healthcare, education, infrastructure and less shootings.

o_mlly said:

You confuse morality as being equivalent to legality.

Click to expand...

And that law was there because people thought it was moral.

d taylor said:

-A person can believe in Jesus for God's free gift of Eternal Life without repenting of sin/sins. Repenting has noting to do with believing in Jesus​

Click to expand...

So a non Christian can fully accept who Jesus was, that he came to earth to die for our sins and reconcile us to God, that he told people to repent, (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:5) and that he said his blood was for the forgiveness of sins - but they don't need to repent of those sins?

d taylor said:

You believe people went to the moon, did you have to repent to believe this.​

Click to expand...

Did I have to repent of what?

No, I accepted that what I saw on television was a fact. There was nothing to repent, or change my mind, about - men couldn't get to, and walk on, the moon, and then they could.

d taylor said:

Believing is simply being convinced something is true.

Click to expand...

People can be totally certain that Jesus existed, lived, taught and died, without really and fully accepting the fact that God loves them, personally.
Christians can be intellectually convinced that the Holy Spirit exists and yet have not asked to be filled with/baptized in the Spirit so that he totally transforms their lives. The book, "9.00 in the morning" describes this; I think Colin Urquhart wrote about it too.
In Acts 19 there were Christians who believed in Jesus but "had not even heard" that there was a Holy Spirit.

The NT often has the word "know"; John said he was writing so that people would know.
The Hebrew word for "know" meant, "knowing in such a way that it transforms your life". It wasn't just intellectually accepting, it was doing something about it. I have recently read a book in which the author says the same thing; if the information you have accepted does not change your life, if you don't put it into practice - you don't know it. How many people say the Lord's Prayer but do not know God as their loving, perfect heavenly Father?

So how can a non Christian know that Jesus died for their sins and that if they accept that they are reconciled to God - yet not have to repent of their sins?

o_mlly said:

Ahh, there's the rub. What you mean based on your posts is, "I'm still left with trying to interpret it". Even in the act of rape, you need interpretation!

Is an apology forthcoming?

I ask again, are atheists who claim that even the morality of rape is in need of interpretation think that no absolute "rules exist at all". If so then by your insight that makes them closet sociopaths.

Click to expand...

I would think rape is as close to a moral absolute is you can get. But as there have been people who disagree we cannot say that it is truly absolute.

zippy2006 said:

But if there is a crime of rape between husband and wife then it would be absolute? Isn't that what you are saying?

Click to expand...

No. The fact that rape was seen as allowed at some point means that moral vary over time and are not absolute.

Apple Sky said:

That's what I said, batteries not included

Click to expand...

I have no idea why that amuses you.

keras said:

God can forgive, even for things as bad as what King David did. He sincerely and contritely asked God for forgiveness.
But we must not think we get that automatically.

Click to expand...

Where did I say that we do?

keras said:

Persecution is not the same as the forthcoming great test of our faith by fire.

Click to expand...

Isn't it?
You don't think that a Christian might be tempted to deny their faith to save their life, believing that they will be able to repent again after the danger is past?
That happened even in NT times - that's why the book of Hebrews was written.

keras said:

What 1 Peter 4:12 says - relates to 2 Peter 3:7. Same event.

Click to expand...

It's your interpretation that, "the fiery ordeal that HAS come upon you" is the same as "the heavens and earth are reserved for fire."
The word "fire" is in both verses; that does not make them the same event.

keras said:

Your imagination carries you into the realms of fantasy.
We faithful Christians are the peoples of God, scattered around the world, soon to be gathered into all of the Holy Land.

Click to expand...

Which bit is "in the realms of fantasy" - the Holy Spirit changing us into Jesus' image, 2 Corinthians 3:18, or the Holy Spirit confirming to us that we are children of God, Romans 8:16?

I didn't say anything about where God's children live, only that we ARE, now, his children.

keras said:

What God said in Exodus 32:33, is an immutable fact and is never said to be repealed.

Click to expand...

In that case you must believe that God is mistaken.
Thousands of people sin, and have sinned, against him and repent afterwards - King David, Jonah, Peter, for example.

keras said:

I simply do not believe that. There is no purpose served and it seems to be vindictive, not Gods nature at all.

Click to expand...

No, I should have said that it WOULD be living forever in the lake of fire - if it happened.
God does not send people to the lake of fire/hell.

BCP1928 said:

There are Christians and then there are Christians. For my part, I am a "Bible-hating, Christ-denying commie" (an Anglican) and an Anglican Priest who posts regularly here has had the validity of her faith, her denomination and her ordination openly denied. The Attorney General now has a committee of Evangelical Protestant clergy trying to find a legal way to deny the protections of the First Amendment to any but Evangleical Protestant Christians. The Democrats (many of whom are devout Christians themselves) aren't doing that.

Click to expand...

Is the debate now going into denomination politics and theology. Not sure thats a good idea lol. Though I think the label you have made would not be the majority of Catholics. Seems more extreme end of politics and religion using that narrative.

I am getting confused now. How does the denominational beliefs relate to health care. Or any right within secular society under the constitution or human rights. Human and constitutional rights would allow different denominations to practice their beliefs. Even if you disagree.

They are doing nothing wrong as far as secular rights and freedoms when it comes to other denominations. The idea is that all religions and denominations have the right to practice and express their beliefs.

If the Catholics disagree that women can be preists that is their right to their conscience and belief. Its not a personal attack on protestants. Its just their belief being expressed which disagrees with protestants. Diagreeing with another denominations beliefs or practices is not a denial of rights. Its a difference of belief clashing lol.

Its the same idea as some who claim that disagreeing with trans or SSM is a denial of rights. Its not. Its a disagreement of beliefs that have to coexist. Just expressing a belief that you disagree and practicing that according to your religion is not a denial of anyones rights. That is what is called a free society that allows people their human rights to hold beliefs and views according to their conscience. .

BCP1928 said:

Right, it saves a lot of work.

Click to expand...

Then why object to the suggestion that some sort of lathing was involved.

BCP1928 said:

Yes the "culture" but not necessarily the craftsmen themselves. QED, huh?

Click to expand...

Ok so we find some precision vases 5,000 years ago and its the culture and not the craftman.

BCP1928 said:

More lies. No one has suggested that they used nothing but their "unaided freehands."

Click to expand...

lol you suggested they were using a lathe or wheel. You suggested that a boring bar was used as a lathe to explain the precise synnetry and circularity.

#593
The boring bar is generally used in a lathe, where a lathe is available.

BCP1928 said:

More lies. I have never denied that some sort of wheel or lathe might have been used.

Click to expand...

Wait a minute you just literally said above that no one has suggested the ancients use nothing but their unaided hands. Now your saying they used the lathe as an aid to reach the precision.

BCP1928 said:

Because you are downgrading the ability of ancient Egyptian craftsman to use the tools that were known to be used by them or were possibly available to them.

Click to expand...

How exactly. How exactly have I said anything different to you. Make up your mind. Did they use a lathe or not. If so your saying exactly what I am saying.

Its not downgrading any craftsmans skill. I am talking about the lathe achieving the near precise symmetry and circularity that everyone recognises is caused by a lathe. Yes they are good craftsman in being able to use a lathe. But its the lathe thats achieving the high precision.

BCP1928 said:

I don't know. The lathe question is certainly up in the air,

Click to expand...

You just said you have never denied a lathe being used. You have been explaining how a lathe can answer the question of how the ancients achieved high precision in symmetry and roundness. You said even a 1950's lathe can do this as you have used one lol.

BCP1928 said:

though you have denied the possibility of any lathe that would be within the scope of their ability to construct. Their "culture" wasn't good enough for you.

Click to expand...

No this is the consensus opinion of mainstream archeology. The potters wheel and Bore stick did not come along until at least a 1,000 years after the Naqada people.

I deny that they would have had a modern CNC lathe. Obviously as computers and that level of high tech did not come in until late 20th century. But the signatures are the same as modern lathing.

I am actually saying the ancients were smart. I am praising them, highlighting their amazing ability. It is skeptics who are restricting these people to traditional ways and limiting the possibilities.

The ancients themselves claim that they had advanced knowledge that defied convention. If anything I am supporting their culture as I am not denying the possibility of this alternative advanced knowledge.

BCP1928 said:

And I am trying to explain to you why that is not necessary.

Click to expand...

Actually you explained why it is necessary. You explained how the near precise symmetry and circularity was produced by lathing. That lathing explains this signature and not unaided hands without lathing and just chisels and pounders.

BCP1928 said:

You seem fascinated with "bare hands." I would tell you what to do with your "bare hands" but I don't think they would both fit.

Click to expand...

lol my imagination is making me laugh.

Then after I posted my imagination ran wild lol. I could use my bare hands as you said and pull out a precision vase lol.

partinobodycular said:

I suppose that I'm expecting wiser heads to prevail... running like lemmings off a cliff because of some charismatic leader wouldn't seem to be an effective survival strategy. Makes for an effective plot device though, if you're looking to create conflict.

Click to expand...

Wiser heads usually prevail, but if an insane charismatic leader turns the herd against them, preying on the paranoia of the people, there will be problems.

partinobodycular said:

Why is it that behavior that I'd find unthinkable in myself, is so easily dismissed as normal when it occurs in others?

Is it true then, I could put you in GTA and you'd accept it as normal?

What's the Turing test for reality, if not the fact that it behaves in a way that you yourself wouldn't?

Click to expand...

I'm still proposing that you may be way more rational than average. It's our irrationality that can distinguish us more from AI.

prodromos said:

They are mirrors. No batteries needed.

Click to expand...

That's what I said, batteries not included

Tellyontellyon said:

Matthew 18:10 KJV
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

.....

What does this mean? Do the little children have angel in heaven that is connected to them? Do we all have an angel in heaven that corresponds to us?
Do some of our angels do something other than behold God? Is my angel less innocent/good than a child's angel?

Or does it mean that when a child dies it becomes a particularly devoted angel?
Do we become angels if we go to heav lighten?

Or is the soul actually an angel and we are in heaven at the same time as being on earth without knowing it? We are our own angel, so to speak?

Or... what does it mean?

Cheers

Click to expand...

Angels are God's messengers.

My husband died recently & I had a dream a few days ago where by my husband was alive & well, it was a fabulous dream, so I believe that when we die our souls turn into angels.

When we are born the soul is this spark of light, a star is born & when we die this star carries on as an angel to comfort us in times of grief.

The legend of the Jews by BY LOUIS GINZBERG

Between morning and evening the angel carries the soul around, and shows her where she will live and where she will die, and the place where she will buried, and he takes her through the whole world, and points out the just and the sinners and all things. In the evening, he replaces her in the womb of the mother, and there she remains for nine months.

When the time arrives for man to quit this world, the same angel appears and asks him, "Dost thou recognize me?" And man replies, "Yes; but why dost thou come to me to-day, and thou didst come on no other day?" The angel says, "To take thee away from the world, for the time of thy departure has arrived." Then man falls to weeping, and his voice penetrates to all ends of the world, yet no creature hears his voice, except the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] alone. Man remonstrates with the angel, "From two worlds thou didst take me, and into this world thou didst bring me." But the angel reminds him: "Did I not tell thee that thou wert formed against thy will, and thou wouldst be born against thy will, and against thy will thou wouldst die? And against thy will thou wilt have to give account and reckoning of thyself before the Holy One, blessed be He."

Click to expand...

rjs330 said:

How do you know? Are you at the meetings? Do you have the Intel? Show me the documents.

Click to expand...

That's like asking me to prove I don't beat my wife. An effective slanderer depends upon lies they know others are going to find difficult to disprove. It's not like anyone can interview all the millions of immigrants and have them provide evidence they were never in a prison or a mental institution.

I do know ICE has records of 104,000 criminal "non-citizens" having been arrested by border officials from fiscal year 2021 to 2024. Could be drug runners or cartel members. But I've seen no evidence of millions of immigrants coming from prisons or mental institutions.

Slander is not of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit teaches me to NOT WANT TO believe ANYTHING BAD said about others without evidence, because negative prejudice violates loving others as myself. It's wickedness TO WANT TO believe bad things said about others.

rjs330 said:

Who's he slandering?

Click to expand...

The millions of immigrants who he says are coming from prisons and mental institutions who are not coming from mental institutions or prisons.

rjs330 said:

The countries where those people are coming from?

Click to expand...

I don't believe so.

rjs330 said:

How do you know that zero illegals have been in prison or zero illegals immigrants have been in a mental hospital?

Click to expand...

I'm sure there have been illegals who probably have been in prison before. But Trump in general is slandering the millions of immigrants who are people just like you or me. Trump dislikes undocumented immigrants based upon negative prejudice. I know that because he said that he doesn't want birthright citizenship for immigrants. Trump does not want children born from undocumented immigrants to become citizens.

Apple Sky said:

Batteries not included

View attachment 371271

Click to expand...

They are mirrors. No batteries needed.

Hans Blaster said:

Sure.

Click to expand...

Are you conceding on that point; or is that your answer to my question?

Hans Blaster said:

I thought that was from job losses that people by groceries on credit.

Click to expand...

Job losses are part of the picture. When people can't afford to buy products; employers need to downsize to stay in business.

Another part of the picture is that as costs rise due to inflation; wage increases are not keeping in step; so those who manage to keep their jobs, are feeling the squeeze too.

Hans Blaster said:

And Russia's economy isn't doing well, but that has nothing to do with our economy.

Click to expand...

World economies are all connected.

Europe depends heavily on Russian energy. That energy is being cut off. That means that there is less energy on the market. Europe's people are struggling to heat their homes. Their economy is in the dumper.

As this world runs on energy, it boggles my mind that the price of oil is being suppressed in the face of short supply and rising inflation.

Wars burn a lot of energy too. I don't believe that it's coincidence that Iran, and Venezuela, have recently become sharp points of interest.

I believe that WWIII is already started; and I suspect that this ruse will soon come to an end.

However, I still pray for peace.

Fantine said:

And two days before the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded...

Too little, too late (along with all the extortion for rare earth minerals, all the immigrants sent to virtual death camps in alligator alcatraz, el salvador, sudan, etc., the zip-tied children, the hungry children losing food assistance, the children whose fathers are deported, etc., etc.,

I hope President Zelensky wins the Nobel Prize for peace.

Click to expand...

You do realize that Hamas had to agree to this peace deal, right? This is the first time that Hamas has actually accepted and agreed to a peace deal with Israel.

Hans Blaster said:

The ACA subsidy extension is not related to repealing any law. It is literally something that would look like this:

in XXX Strike "December 31, 2025" and replace with "December 31, 2026"​

Where XXX would be the location where the ACA subsidy expiration date is set in the current law.

Click to expand...

Is this all the Democratic bill does? Is it really a clean CR that merely makes the change you mention. If not, isn't this a strawman?
What you suggest SHOULD be presented on the floor by Democrats or should be presented as an amendment of the Republican bill, perhaps even by a Republican.

From all that I have seen, The Democratic bill includes much, much more. I suppose I shouldn't have called it a repeal of the law of the land. It is indeed its own law with the expect of repealing sections of the law passed earlier this year.

dogs4thewin said:

There is no such thing as free anything it is paid for one way or another.

Click to expand...

But its more fair imo that people in necessity could have access to healthcare.
I heard people have died because they were denied basic treatments if that is true, that is bad

Hentenza said:

Lunar reflectors. They are there now. On the surface of the moon. It is a man made object. It was left on the moon by the lunar landings. They still use them today

Click to expand...

Batteries not included

It has been announced that Hamas has accepted President Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, “with conditions.” The headlines, as well as Trump himself, heralded it as a turning point: hostages would come home, the war would end, reconstruction would begin. In reality, Hamas has not agreed to the plan at all, but framing their response as agreement has bought them more time and leverage as they try to retain control of Gaza.

The Trump plan is fundamentally a roadmap for Hamas’s removal: full release of hostages, disarmament, exile of leadership, and reconstruction of Gaza under moderate Arab and U.S. supervision. Its underlying logic is simple: peace and security can only come when Hamas is dismantled.

Yet in their official response, Hamas redefines the deal. They say they will “release Israeli hostages … according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions.” Meaning that they agree to the numbers of hostages and terrorist prisoners to be exchanged. As for those “necessary field conditions,” they are undefined — leaving room for negotiations and delays.

Trump’s plan demands that all hostages (living and dead) be freed within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance. Israel accepted the plan early in the week. Yet Hamas waited days and then inserted conditions. Among them: hostage release only after Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, as stated by senior Hamas figure Musa Abu Marzouk on Al Jazeera on Friday.

That demand is incompatible with the Trump framework. The plan does not call for an immediate Israeli exit; instead, it ties withdrawal to security milestones. Israel would withdraw gradually as a new International Stabilization Force (ISF) assumes control, leaving a final perimeter until stability is assured.

Here is the crucial point: the ISF has not even begun to be formed. No members have been named, no command structure agreed upon, no deployment timeline established. In other words, the security mechanism that is supposed to replace the IDF’s presence does not yet exist. Meaning that it will be months, at least, until the IDF surrenders security control of any of Gaza it currently holds. Any suggestion that Israel withdraw beyond the bare minimum needed to facilitate the release of hostages is not only premature — it contradicts the plain text and intent of Trump’s plan.

Clause Six of Trump’s proposal offers Hamas a stark choice: disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence, or leave Gaza under safe passage. Either way, Gaza must become demilitarized. But Hamas leaders have publicly rejected that premise.

Now the real test lies with Israel, the U.S., and Arab guarantors. They must refuse to renegotiate the essential terms — or risk this deal becoming yet another temporary ceasefire in disguise. There must be clarity: no loopholes, no language that allows Hamas to remain armed or in control.

Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states are especially critical. They have influence over Hamas. If they genuinely intend Gaza’s normalization and peace, they must enforce — not water down — the terms. They must insist Hamas release all hostages, lay down all weapons, and depart power.

The negotiation is not with Hamas as an equal partner. It is a demand for surrender written in diplomatic language. If we treat Hamas’s conditional “yes” as a breakthrough, we will find ourselves back at war again.

Israel 365 News