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what is Calvinism answer to how God works?

At best a discussion in a forum lke this is going to end up trading verses, not getting into the historical and literary contexts that are necessary to properly understand a document that is 2000 years old at the youngest. Especially when we get into texts that have been proof texted so often that the doctrinal gloss of a particular theological movement that didn't crop up until the 16th century has replaced the contextual understanding.
My comments about prideful egos was encompassing all of fallen mankind, which included me too. Synergistic theologies holds a lofty view of man. I am curious about something if you would indulge me. Can you give me your take on the Fall and Sin and how it affects the human race. Thanks in advance.


I beg to differ. The question Fervent, is Salvation God's Plan to save His people from their sins. Meaning it is a Covenant; a Covenant of Redemption by the self-contained, indivisible, Triniantarian God-Head who fulfills everything to save His people from their sins or is Salvation only made possible for us to make a decision to save ourselves? The latter faces some very difficult questions to address. When I was still an Arminian I ask those very difficult questions to people in the same camp, they could not answer them, they tried but failed.

Salvation is not us climbing up to God; like the attempt in Babel.

But God who descended down to us!

To save sinners from their sins! Because even our Faith & Repentance are God's gifts. But to contemplate this you must acknowledge what actually happened to us in the Fall. Your position as was mine before I understood. Is that Fallen Man's disposition before a Holy God is hostility, we're God haters, loving the darkness instead of the light. It is God who calls us out of the darkness into His marvelous light. Something Fervent must change fallen man's disposition toward God as sworn enemies to God's children. This Fervent is a Divine act of God himself. Not something we do, understand?
On the nature of will:
“In this way, then, man is said to have free will, not because he has a free choice of good and evil, but because he acts voluntarily, and not by compulsion... his will being bound by the fetters of sin”. John Calvin

Like an addict who willingly consumes their vices without coercion, but is bound by their evil desires; to will or do what they love to do. Arminius himself understood this and held a doctrine of Total Depravity.

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What are some of your guns own and use then for Hunting and target practice?

Sorry I’m old school. I have a 6.5x57 Mauser. But I like shooting jhp in it. Not lead. The old jackets they had were thin steel or something. They keep up pretty good now with modern stuff. New riflings? A cut above.
Familar with 7X57, not that caliber though
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Bill Gates Says Climate Change ‘Will Not Lead to Humanity’s Demise’

Squad" Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is keeping silent on whether she still stands by her ten-year deadline for action laid out in the Green New Deal

Back when Ocasio-Cortez first introduced the Green New Deal in the House of Representatives in 2019, she framed climate change as an existential threat that required a ten-year intensity of sweeping changes in U.S. energy policy.

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"Don't Give up the Ship"

As a civilian, what is there to do if one pays to attention to that? We talking flee to different country kind of thing? Protests? I'm honestly clueless here.
No, it's called paying attention, not running away. Start asking questions. Like, why are we down there to begin with?
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"Don't Give up the Ship"

When top military leadership start jumping ship, civilians really, really, really ought to pay attention.
As a civilian, what is there to do if one pays to attention to that? We talking flee to different country kind of thing? Protests? I'm honestly clueless here.
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anyone know anything about Gematria?

The sun shines with a colour temperature of 5778 Kelvin, which is equivalent to a good 5505° Celsius.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isa 6:3
וקרא זה אל־זה ואמר קדוש קדוש קדוש יהוה צבאות מלא כל־הארץ כבודו

Holy, Hebrew qadosh, has a gematria of 410

qadosh (Holy)
קָדוֹשׁ
19. ק Quph 100
4. ד Dalet 4
6. ו Vav 6
21. שׂ שׁ Shin/Sin 300
Σ 410

In the 5778th Fibonacci number, the number 410 appears a total of 3 times!

f5778 =
1517400986972956561197059963036709561778723906375779683331489852623635556770802664570510712363457149
3241038368011966824902666745982480378200144472701194232036868735156885675612875939961907300266375758
0877401310146702968348722201963470326260010623529393624581164793477381752118615257677392669819397127
1240911194872766393545258331050414686067234790654789281352629558186092303927712577708774887379563961
8334850284853709943661275999386718420173513123187601502815173699289084999933537906838341278936411237
9758684740073896868277529992066715046004193058458247510634072576047132958387627995870579569405582599
3000560882135819954549681692079659198845388394615772486215900126164370475160435343052181785735770679
9673671379631838502331046015375222815442913563120563605357243891613377914996816269645681532217696548
6585221822842511206609147917975431194307377424414925343977632031052076481020985601574105079431218979
5934270081819289107255167783248764271876359200214847657267591188240947026324174788202656399292054682
3062533946556473988491688855032810066586561092943931473478410353997197970037804705915657855311140822
6118284739186934138403430618006955101110666416613548403573133185788759471201090065049449959112346460
77655064

namely in the 103rd, 885th and 1059th positions.

103+885+1059 = 2047!

2047 is the gematria of the only verse in Scripture that refers to the number 284

1764956975196.jpeg


All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four. Neh 11:18
כלהלוים בעיר הקדש
מאתים שמנים וארבעה


The expression

All the Levites in the holy city

has a gematria of 832, just like erets Yisrael, meaning the Land of Israel

erets Yisrael (Land of Israel)
ארץ ישראל
1. א Alef 1
20. ר Resh 200
18. צ Tsadik 90
10. י Yud 10
21. שׂ שׁ Shin/Sin 300
20. ר Resh 200
1. א Alef 1
12. ל Lamed 30
Σ 832

This is the 12607th verse in the authorised King James Bible.

1764957316997.jpeg


The number 832 appears in π at position 12607!

1764957392323.jpeg


And what about the number 284, the number of Levites?

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord G-d Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Rev 4:8
καὶ τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα, ἓν καθ’ ἓν αὐτῶν ἔχων ἀνὰ πτέρυγας ἕξ, κυκλόθεν καὶ ἔσωθεν γέμουσιν ὀφθαλμῶν· καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς λέγοντες
Ἅγιος ἅγιος ἅγιος
Κύριος ὁ Θεός ὁ Παντοκράτωρ, ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος.

Holy, Greek hagios has the gematria 284

hagios (Holy)
ἅγιος
1. Αα Alpha 1
3. Γγ Gamma 3
10. Ιι lota 10
16. Οο Omicron 70
20. Σσςϲ Sigma 200
Σ 284

All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four. Neh 11:18
כלהלוים בעיר הקדש
מאתים שמנים וארבעה

The expression

two hundred fourscore and four

has the gematria 1215

Total = 1215
Original Text
Hebrew Value Inc
מאתים 491
שמנים 440
וארבעה 284

Starting from position 1215 in Φ, the following 5 numbers are 04444

1764957844138.jpeg


The word G-d appears (0)4444 times in the inspired King James Bible 1769!
Note: In the Hebrew number system, there is no notation for zero

1764957921914.jpeg
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KJV

Thanks for the thoughtful replies about the KJV. I wasn't thinking about that version of the bible but I can now see how I shouldn't have entitled this thread "KJV".

What I meant to bring up is how some people actually speak, or try to speak, in King James English. And the to the best of my knowledge King James style speaking is around 700 years old. What's the reason for using it?
Touching the question of who yet doth speak in such a guise, seek ye out William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope. In sooth, it doth exist.

In a more serious vein, it persists because it's in public domain and there have been some real "winners" when it comes to English translations of the bible.
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Obama care collapsing.....

ObamaCare anxiety rising among House GOP centrists: ‘To do this is buffoonery’

Frustration is mounting among moderate House Republicans as various competing health care plans appear to be going nowhere, with less than 10 working days left on the calendar before millions of Americans see their health insurance premiums spike.

A small but animated group of GOP centrists is imploring party leaders to extend the ObamaCare tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. But they’ve run into a wall of opposition from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who’s cold to the idea, and a larger group of conference conservatives, who are openly fighting to have the subsidies end.

The White House floated its own plan to temporarily extend the subsidies for two years, paired with reforms similar to those included in the various House proposals. But the leaked framework was quickly pulled after a mountain of internal GOP criticism.

Have they tried the Splunge Plan? It restores and doesn't restore the subsidies, and it isn't indecisive.
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Why Are So Many Young Priests Leaving Ministry?

[ Posting in fellowship, out of curiosity and care. I'm taking as given that we're talking about a celibate male priesthood. ]

The points raised in this article about loneliness seem like they shouldn't be new. Life in a community of monks or nuns has companionship and community, a kind of family. But a parish priest isn't surrounded by a community of peers in the same way. He has his congregation, but there's always going to be a certain distance there, because of the authority he holds. So it seems like the life of a parish priest is always a life of solitude -- caring for others without support for one's self -- and carrying the risk of loneliness and exhaustion.

Has it always been this way, or were there support systems in past centuries that we don't have now? Did people used to serve as priests in the villages where they grew up, so they had friends and family in the village? Or do most parishes have multiple priests, so they can support each other? In the past, how did priests find connection and friends and community, and what is different now?
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Americans have $1.13 trillion in credit card debt

Yup. It’s driven by materialistic wants. Stores want $$$$ so people spend money on things that aren’t necessarily needed. I’m very guilty of this.
I am a little older, but schools really need to hone on two things. The first is civics if that is still a thing. Should be mandatory. The second is just straight life schools like money, budgets, home mortgages, appreciation vs depreciation, interest rates specially compound interest rates. The other thing is congress needs to act against predatory lenders. There was a org in place that looked after consumers. Of course that got trashed by the current admin.
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Trump dispenses with trials, orders military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat (Now up to 2, 3, 4...)

So the conclusion is that no drugs whatsoever are being smuggled into the US via the Caribbean?
The point is you don't know whether they are or not. You don't even know that all the boats destroyed had drugs on them.
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Why we are not supposed to keep the Sabbath

Yes. The scriptures are indeed trustworthy. However, interpretations of scripture are a different story. One has to be very careful not to read a preferred doctrine into them.
Yes, you can spot these people who read their own philosophy into Scriptures, by the way they avoid or hide from an actual discussion about what the actual scriptures say.

Yes. And that would be an example of twisting scripture.

Yes, the Holy Scriptures themselves, expose false teachings, when ALL of them are considered. This is why Jesus told His People that man shall "live by" Every Word of God, not the philosophies, traditions and doctrines of men.

Here we agree in principle but from different perspectives, you for the law still being relevant and me for the law no longer being relevant.

Well, you must remember, I read your posts, so I know your stated religious philosophy according to your own words. According to your stated religious philosophy, God's LAW was "NEVER" relevant to the Non-Jew.
The scriptures themselves, that I posted, and you hid from even acknowledging, points out the error in this poplar religious philosophy of this world. It's not that we have a different interpretation of the Scriptures I posted. It's that I considered these Scriptures as trustworthy, and you completely ignored them, according to your words on this post.

There is a difference between misunderstanding God's instruction, and rejecting God's instruction, in my view.

Please correct me if I understood you incorrectly about your argument.

My stated position, and Paul's, is that God Inspired the Holy scriptures " for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

You stated "The God that I “profess” never gave the law to the gentiles."

I posted God's OWN Words, Inspired by Him in the Holy Scriptures, where HE says, not me, that HIS LAW was given to everyone. I posted HIS Words, that HE Inspired for correction and reproof and instruction in righteousness.

It isn't me, of some interpretation that is correcting you. It is the God who Inspired the Words I posted for your review and examination, that was written specifically to correct you.

But the law’s purpose and practical use has changed from the old covenant to the new.

I have posted for you in the past, God's Inspired Word where HE defined for you exactly what HIS New Covenant is. I pointed out to you that it was the duties Priesthood that was prophesied to change, not God's Definition of Sin, in my understanding.

It's in Jer. 31: 33 and 34 for those interested in what HIS New Covenant entails, according to HIM. You are not promoting God's New Covenant, in my view, but an imagination of your own heart. And I am instructed to test the spirits and prove all things. So I am doing as I am instructed to do concerning the teaching of the "Many" who come in Christ's Name. It's not personal.

Post God's Words defining for us His Own New Covenant yourself and lets examine it. Lets look at God's Promised New covenant together, and see what HE promised to change.

Wouldn't that be the honest, and Godly thing to do for those Seeking the Righteousness of God?

And this change came about by Him fulfilling (completing) the law and nailing it to the cross.

Let's look at Jesus' Words together, as brothers in Christ.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till "all be fulfilled".

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So has all been fulfilled that was prophesied about the Jesus "of the Bible"?? Even His Own Prophesies about Himself?

Matt. 13: 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

So how is it you promote, that "ALL" has been fulfilled?

I look forward to the honest and unbiased discussion about God's Inspired Words.
My choice to do what exactly?

It seems obvious. You are preaching to others, ""The God that I “profess” never gave the law to the gentiles."

I just posted God's Own Inspired Words that expose this doctrine as NOT Wrought in God, but in the imaginations of the heart of this world's religious men.

I am happy to enter into an honest discussion concerning God's Own Words about WHO HE created his Laws for, all you have to do is post them, and be honest.
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Does Open Carry Cause Problems?

I live in Broken Arrow, OK - one of the safest cities in

Broken Arrow Ranks #11 Safest City in America​

MoneyGeek.com recently updated their list of safest cities in the US, and Broken Arrow, OK comes in at the 11th safest City. MoneyGeek analyzed crime statistics and applied research findings to estimate the cost of crime in over 300 cities across the United States. Click the list below to see the full MoneyGeek.com report and learn how we stack up against other cities.

https://www.moneygeek.com/living/safest-cities/
We are open carry.
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"Don't Give up the Ship"

RD, that happened two months ago. It doesn't take much by way of brains to look at that video and say, "Whoa! That one was kind of marginal. If it gets out there'll be a stink for sure. What's our CYA going to be?" Two months on, the "War Department" still hasn't figured it out, they're just thrashing around and making an even bigger stink out of it.

My question (still unanswered) is, why are we blowing up those boats instead of interdicting them in the usual way, like the USCG is still doing successfully in the Pacific?
What can I say? They're not smart enough even to be effective villains.

Notice the timing of another event, though. I don't think Adm. Alvin Holsey's announcement to retire was without reference to these events.

This is reminiscent of the firing/retirement of the Army Chief of Staff and the sudden retirement of the USMC Commandant prior to the Iraq invasion after their public discord with the SecDef over the invasion.

When top military leadership start jumping ship, civilians really, really, really ought to pay attention.
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Trump promises $2000 tariff dividend to all Americans

Because you're trying to manipulate me into doing what you want. Therefore it's not going to happen, even if you spend the next five pages trying.
There is no need for manipulation in this matter. The answer is already well understood by both of us. The arithmetic calculation I am referencing cannot be completed. This fact is evident to you, to me, and to the rest of the American public. Nevertheless, you continue to defend President Trump's announcement regarding the distribution of $2,000 to every American family.
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Trump dispenses with trials, orders military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat (Now up to 2, 3, 4...)

So the conclusion is that no drugs whatsoever are being smuggled into the US via the Caribbean?
The conclusion is that everyone has a theory they can pull out of thin air. If we want intelligence to plan rational action, we need more data points.
  • Agree
Reactions: RocksInMyHead
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Why we are not supposed to keep the Sabbath

Can someone tell me why Paul would write in 2Cor3 that the Ten Commandments are done away and does not tell us that now they are written on our hearts? It seems to me that if the Ten Commandments equal the Law, as some are teaching on the form, that Paul would not have written in Gal 3:19 that they were only temporary.

2Cor3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious,... 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Gal3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Eph2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;


Now, please do not use the old Cliche that because I believe we are not under the dictates of the Old Covenant laws that I am lawless. Jesus, in John 15, makes it perfectly clear that we are under the New Law to love others as Jesus loves us. That means I won't covet, kill, or any of the other wrongs I could do to harm my fellow man. Paul makes it very clear that I am not under the Ten Commandments.
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Trump's Big Beautiful.....Gold Ballroom

None of these things should be considered bad or wrong, in and of themselves.
The question is what is appropriate for "the People's House"? A robber baron's palace that would make Hearst blush, or something less conspicuously ostentatious?
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Trump dispenses with trials, orders military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat (Now up to 2, 3, 4...)

As Hegseth said, it's being done as a deterrent. It's to scare them away. The soft passive liberal approach
Arresting the crews and sinking the boats, you mean.
obviously hasn't been working considering the escalation of drugs that have been smuggled into the US.

For them there's a simple solution. Don't want to get blown up? Don't smuggle drugs into the US.
That's sick. Corrupt, degenerate and disgusting.
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Trump to pardon Ex-Honduras President Guilty of Drug Trafficking and conspiring to import cocaine into the United States

What sense does it make at all, that Trump would pardon Hernandez, if there wasn't factual evidence that the Biden DOJ did something shady?

...A jury wouldn't know if, say, the Biden DOJ made some special arrangements with some witnesses, especially if those arrangements were kept classified.
The idea Trump would make decisions as odd as this one based on any kind of facts is not his M.O.
Trump bases pardon decisions on his opinion that, "they were treated very unfairly" with no supporting fact what so ever.
  • Agree
Reactions: Sif
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Struggling with feeling God’s presence

But how do you know the Spirit is there if you can't feel it?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Holy Spirit works in us to make us better people. The fact that you want to be better may be an indication that the Holy Spirit is already working in you.
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