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Relative of Trump Press Secretary taken by ICE

curbing the runaway inflation

Trump's 2020 CARES Act (Stimulus Package): $2.2 Trillion
Trump's 2020 Second COVID Stimulus Package: $900 Billion
Biden's 2021 American Rescue Plan Act: $1.9 Trillion
---------------------------------------------------------
Trump Total: $3.1 Trillion
Biden Total: $1.9 Trillion

Estimates from MIT and the FRED say that government stimulus accounted from somewhere in the range of 30-40% of the inflation which was experienced after the pandemic.

While I agree with you that the Biden administration should have stopped the stimulus (or, at the very least, been more targeted with it), I don't think either party can claim complete innocence here. I guess you could say that since Trump had already done stimulus Biden shouldn't have piggybacked on that. I think that would be a valid point, but I still don't think you can lay the inflation which happened entirely at the feet of the Democrats.

Also - can you explain how Trump "curbed" inflation? Inflation rates had already fallen before he took office - as shown by the graph below, which ends at CY2024. If anything, we very likely have Trump's tariffs to thank for inflation remaining sticky throughout 2025.

1764994743726.png
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Hello, beautiful people!

Hello there! Im new here myself so I am trying g to get used to being back on forums. I used to be part of a forum a long time ago, like 10-15 years ago. LOL its definitely been a while! But I came here to look for Christian fellowship and in hopes of making a new friend.
Welcome back!
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What is the true congregation?

Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you, you are Peter,[a] and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the powers of death[c] shall not prevail against it.[d] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,[e] and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” RSVCE

Jesus and the Apostles spoke Aramaic. The name given to Simon Peter by Jesus is the Aramaic "Kepha," transliterated into "Cephas." "Kepha" means "Rock" in Aramaic. This Aramaic name is preserved within the Koine Greek Biblical text. Thus Jesus said "You are Rock and on this Rock I will build my Church." That is, Jesus used Rock twice in the same sentence. Had Jesus wished to show what you contend he simply could have said "I am Jesus and on this Rock I will build my Church." God renaming someone, such as Abram to Abraham, often comes at an important moment in Biblical history.
Jesus is the chief cornerstone, Jesus was referring to himself after Peters confession that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living GOD. Its not the church of Peter. Isaiah 28:16 Psalm 118:22 Acts 4:11 1 Peter 2:6 The word used in Greek allows for the use of the word “but” Strongs G2532 . It makes no sense for anyone else but the messiah to be the rock. The church can’t be built on an ordinary man. When Jesus said, but upon this rock, he was referring to himself.
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There’s a Giant Flaw in Human History

As to what this alternative to natural science is you invoke the vaguery of "deeper knowledge" and mystical experiences with the adept gibberish of a New Age guru. Then...
Yes it is mystical. Just like how Gods spirit works. Paul calls it a mystery. But its real. The reason we humans have been preoccupied with this for all our existence and it will never fade. Is that its real. Its a real part of being human and there is some truth to this mysterious realm existing in one form or another.

All the expressions of religion, transcedent ideas, Information, Mind or Consciousness as fundemental are attempts to explain this. But its as real as the experience of a red apple on the table.
you invoke a series of *PHYSICAL* processes (acoustics, advanced machining, piezoelectric effects, chemical alterations) which are not only "material science" but as you immediately state:
The *PHYSICAL* process are just descriptions of what is happening. Nothing in that process tells us the nature of how that was caused. As some science tells us 'the *PHYSICAL* is just a reflection of something deeper such as Mind or Information. Like a Hologram or computer screen pixel.

So even what you call *PHYSICAL* may be an illusion and part of the mystery.

The point is if say there was some deeper mind state that the acoustics of the pyramid brought that gave knowledge. Or created some effect that could be used. Though you can measure the effects. How do you tell how it was caused.

If the ancients knowledge allowed them to understand how to soften or weaken stone. We can measure the softened stone. But how do you tell where the knowledge came from. Especially if it shows advanced tech that should not have been available according to the slow evolution of knowledge from simple to advanced.
As indeed it is. None of these thing are demonstrated and if you want to demonstrate them "material science" not New Age woo woo is the way to do so. Speaking of which, you conclude with several paragraphs of the alternatives to "natural science",
So if someone claimed a miracle we could measure the physical effects and results of the healing. But how can you tell that this was not supernatural. Science only describes what is or has happened. It does not tells us the nature of how those things happened.

As some say we may be living in a simulation and programed to believe and think these things are really happening. You don't know and its an assumption to say that this is all *PHYSICAL* ontologically.
that come straight of the poisoned tree of Helena Blevatsky. When you invoke these alternatives to natural science you sound less like a Christian and more like a refugee from the Theosophical Society.
Actually its also mainstream science.

Physicists Are Starting to Suspect Physical Reality Is an Illusion
They think the physical universe might be a sort of mass hallucination derived from pure information.

Reality Is in the Eye of the Beholder
Our perception of reality is a subjective lived experience, a virtual construct shaped by our senses, biology, and personal history.
I don't doubt that.
Now you claim to be able to do my thinking lol.
I see to (two) paths for you to retain a smidge of credibility with alternative Egyptology and history.
Only a smidge, gee thanks. Is this an either/or fallacy.
1. Embrace lost advanced civilization that has left few traces but did amazing things with their naturalistic advanced technology (in the same way that we have advanced naturalistic technology) and put aside all of the spiritual claims and attacks on "material science" regarding the ancient past.
Except if we accept this then the out of place advanced tech is an anomely that breaches the gradual and reductive slow process of simple to complex.

Its also a false equivelance that because few traces have been left that this negates advanced knowledge. Like I said it could be all in the mind and all we see is the physical evidence of softened or changed materials and their signatures.

The same logic would also wipe out the orthodox narrative as we have little traces of the tools claimed.
2. Embrace the theosophical esoteric cosmology and claim the lost civilization was part of the 4th "root race" of humanity that built great monuments (for later civilizations like Egypt to find) using their technologies based on psychic powers and other supernatural magic.
This is definitely an either/or fallacy. What a strange category to put the options into of all possible alternatives. Almost as though its one of your possibilities rather than one that applies globally.

There are many options for the fundemental idea of Mind or Consciousness and experiential phenomena as bringing a deeper knowledge of nature and reality. Probably as many as there are cultural beliefs in transcendent realities. .
OR, you could just accept that the professionals know what they are talking about. (I'm not holding out for that.)
No I agree with the experts. I am not doubting the science. I am saying that it only tells us so much and is not the complete picture. Like Marys direct experience of the color red.

I agree the science tells us everything about the physical processes that come along with the experience of red or any direct experience. We can scientifically measure all the nuerons and snapes firing around the optical nerves to the brain. We can know the color light spectrum.

But none of that tells us about direct experiences of nature and reality. This is just a physical description of the vessel recieving the physical effects. Like the monitoring of the electrical activity. But it does not tell us anything about the phenomenal experiences that come along with this. That cannot be measured in those physical terms.

So we have an entire realm of direct experiential phenomena that gives us knowledge and I would say more direct knowledge of nature and reality that science or the physical world cannot tell us about.

That in itself without even knowing what that knowledge is exactly tells us that science is incomplete and cannot make ontological claims about nature and reality.

At best its a commentary, a description of something happening with a specific realm of reality. But not complete reality. So logically there is a big chunk of knowledge out there that is not accounted for and it could be within this realm that the ancients gained a deeper knowledge of reality.

If todays science is even suggesting that tru knowledge is at this level and that the physical is just the superficial level knowledge. Then it makes sense that if the ancients were immersed in this deeper more fundemental level. They would have unlocked keys to how nature works. Because they are not just seeing at the surface level but whats underneath that creates that surface level physical interface.
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Had Mary guessed about resurrection ?

Mary is the woman that tells Gabriel yes, likely assents this yes is valid for her son too, at least as long as Jesus 's not given the signal for the end of her protection, when she, with Joseph, finally discover him in the temple.

I feel it like Jesus' protection switches then from hers to God's, and she tells "yes" to this change as well.

Which makes me assume she tells yes to the death of Jesus too. Actually, i'm not sure, and thus is it i have a question please :
Hadn't there been this episode of his 12 year od in the Temple, wouldn't have Mary tried and avoid the cross for him ?

And, second question :
what makes me subsequently wonder whether she'd not guessed about resurrection is this trustful yes of her, for her giving birth to the son of God, for her accepting God's protecting takeover of the 12 year old Jesus, and finally this death, is (at least in my opinion) to make sense or consistency with the plan God gives through Gabriel's initial speech.
So, do you think, please, she could have guessed about resurrection, since it seems it was the only option that could make sense for her after the cross ?
(Actually up back to recently, i considered the three days for the finding Jesus in the Temple was linked with the three days for resurrection, but i just saw this as a mean for her to not fall in despair, whereas i question myself now up to what preceeds)

Sorry i wonder whether i shouldn't have post this thread in christian apologetics..

Chicago-Area Church Nativity Scene Features Zip-Tied Jesus and ICE Agents

For those who aren’t aware: The American Baptist Church is a mainline Protestant denomination. Part of the 7 sisters Churches of mainline Protestantism.

(The seven sister Churches include The Lutheran Church-ELCA, The Episcopal Church, The United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ, The United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church-USA)

They are known to be progressive and focus on social justice.

Kamala Harris is a member of the American Baptist Church.

The American Baptist Church used to be known as the Northern Baptist Church and split from the Southern Baptist Church (evangelical) over a century ago.
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Now does everyone understand why the "right to refuse illegal orders" video was made?

The Japanese were attacked by US forces because they were at war. They were a threat to American lives and their ship destroyed. Thirty nine survived the attack. Maybe you'd say that the situation with the drug runners was the same (you'd be wrong, but we'll assume that would be your view). So their boat was destroyed and two survived. For over an hour: US airstrike survivors clung to boat wreckage for an hour before second deadly attack, video shows

'Two men who survived a US airstrike on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean clung to the wreckage for an hour before they were killed in a second attack, according to a video of the episode shown to senators in Washington.'

So this wasn't even a one-two strike. The boat was destroyed, most occupants were blown up and people watched two men struggling in the sea for over an hour. And then decided to kill them in cold blood. Trying to defend this is unconscionable.
We’re the drug runners in a life boat?
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Chicago-Area Church Nativity Scene Features Zip-Tied Jesus and ICE Agents

Why not? Don't you think that is important before judging?
Maybe they had good intentions and I don’t think they were being malicious.

At the same time, our country does have laws regarding immigration that must be respected.

I’m NOT saying all ICE officers are moral because there is a bad bunch in every group.

I do respect the immigrant and refugee and support them.

I have nothing further to add.
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Listen to and Follow Jesus

God through and in Jesus is dynamic enough to transform the hearts into submitting and doing what is pleasing and compatible to his will through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a dynamic companion and helps to work the miracle of changing the hearts. soon or later a believer becomes transformed. its a promise. IT WORKS. and the arguments become less an less ..the heart of man transitions into wanting to please the Father, nothing we can do can overpower the power of God..this is what it means..Gods will is to save you..your GOING to be saved! He wills it! and so much of man is about doubting he can do it..and that, somehow, binds us, in our doubts. and for good reason..
We can not overcome the feverish drive of our compelling will to want ..want, want..Only God has the formula to change our heart. Its our believing and surrendering to him to DO it..letting HIM..trusting him..praying in a posture of surrender..turning off the mind and letting in some HOPE ..in that time when temptation grabs hold..the praying posture of the heart. light the candle in your heart..and get real close to it..enough to feel its flame, let that flame be all you focus on..let it be a representation that you are trying to get close to him..its just about all we can do..is hold on..look to him..draw close to him..and like a candle, you can feel its flame ..even if its small..take comfort in the idea its alive...and you can still see and feel it.

Yea man can screw around and mess things up..but God shows us in our ongoing relationship with him that he is in charge of whats right for what HE wants for us.. His grace is known as to how long its going to take for us to figure that out., one on one. I know others can and do sin..they are doing it to themselves and God is right in there face about it.
No one can escape. Sometime they look like they are getting away from God, Its sad to see ..
I know God is going to bring all to his glory in the end..and what better end is that to know yea?
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Chicago-Area Church Nativity Scene Features Zip-Tied Jesus and ICE Agents

That’s still wrong putting all political differences aside! As the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right!

My opinion only!
What did this Church think when they created this display? That is what makes this right or wrong.
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Chicago-Area Church Nativity Scene Features Zip-Tied Jesus and ICE Agents

I think that it is a powerful statement by this Church. Joseph and Mary fled Israeli with the baby Jesus. They were immigrants in a foreign land. ICE is arresting legals and illegals.

Should we act as Jesus or reject what he taught. Their statement says ICE would have arrested the holy family and imprisoned them and then deported them. I don't believe Jesus would agree with this administration.
For the record, I am pro-immigration and pro-refugee. We MUST love the less fortunate.

With that said,

I think using Jesus and the holy family to make a political statement is in bad taste.

I don’t care if it’s right, left, conservative, or liberal.

It just puts a bad taste in my mouth.

My opinion only.
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Now does everyone understand why the "right to refuse illegal orders" video was made?

Were the drug runners in a life boat?
The Japanese were attacked by US forces because they were at war. They were a threat to American lives and their ship destroyed. Thirty nine survived the attack. Maybe you'd say that the situation with the drug runners was the same (you'd be wrong, but we'll assume that would be your view). So their boat was destroyed and two survived. For over an hour: US airstrike survivors clung to boat wreckage for an hour before second deadly attack, video shows

'Two men who survived a US airstrike on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean clung to the wreckage for an hour before they were killed in a second attack, according to a video of the episode shown to senators in Washington.'

So this wasn't even a one-two strike. The boat was destroyed, most occupants were blown up and people watched two men struggling in the sea for over an hour. And then decided to kill them in cold blood. Trying to defend this is unconscionable.
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Chicago-Area Church Nativity Scene Features Zip-Tied Jesus and ICE Agents

Did you say the same when Trump politicized Christianity when said that candidate Aftyn Behn hated Christians? Or when he looked to the sky and said, "I am the chosen one".
That’s still wrong putting all political differences aside! As the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right!

My opinion only!
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‘Someone Call a Priest’: Sacraments at Time of Crisis Are Not Administered as Often as They Used to Be

I
The Register contacted pastors across the country asking the question whether emergency personnel call them to life-threatening situations. For the most part, the answer is No.

When a multi-ton pile of clay covered a steam-shovel fireman in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in early December 1952, a 40-year-old Catholic priest had himself lowered upside down into a hole workers had dug to try to save the man.

“Only the tips of the priest’s heels were visible as his murmured prayers were heard above,” The Boston Globe reported the next day. Only a portion of the man’s leg was visible when the priest first got near him, and by the time workers freed the rest of Elpidio Baia, a 55-year-old father of three, the accident victim had died. But Father John Tierney’s efforts to bring him the last rites of the Church are an example of what used to be common — police and firefighters calling a priest to an accident so he can administer sacraments to the critically injured.

Priests still frequently offer confession, Eucharist and anointing of the sick at hospitals, of course, but not so much at the scenes of accidents. The words “priest called to the scene” and similar phrases appeared in many news stories in the United States during the last century until the late 1960s, when they started tapering off, according to searches of online databases conducted by the Register.

It’s not common anymore.

Continued below.
I have a card in my wallet that says that I’m Catholic and to call a priest in case of an emergency. I think I got it from Rugged Rosaries.
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