• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Labor Dept warns Immigration Policies Threaten Stability of the Domestic Food Supply

Yes it does. And thats wrong. The left supports it as much as the right and vice versa. As I said the RIGHT is the one that is wanting the illegals sent home and we recognize what that means for food prices. The left does NOT want them sent home. They want them here because it means food prices will stay lower.
The left wants them here to do the work, but they want them here free from exploitation.
What I dispute is the broad brush youve been painting with when it comes to the right and the carefully worded separation with the left. I think this is something us non-politicians could find common ground on. We could demand that the use of illegal labor be stopped. And programs be set up to allow for legal labor to take over which course would allow for migrant workers to be here for a time and earn a fair wage.
Yes, that pretty much sums up the Left's position. Now all we have to is get MAGA on board with it.
Upvote 0

Letita Jamews indicted for fraud

Justice Department indicts Letitia James after pressure from Trump


A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statement to a financial institution
AG James was indicted for falsifying financial documents. If found guilty, she should be prosecuted and punished according to the law. Although it may appear hypocritical, AG James has indicted President Trump on similar grounds: falsification of financial documents and secured 34 felony convictions.

Previously, MAGA supporters regarded President Trump’s indictment and conviction as unfounded and characterized the proceedings as a "kangaroo court." However, they now consider Attorney General James's committing similar crime to be severe and assert that it should be addressed according to the law.
Upvote 0

How is the Economy Doing Right Now?

Auto loan delinquencies on the rise: Here's what that means for the economy

Data shows more than 5% of Americans with car loans are past due


Auto loans remain the second-largest debt category for American consumers, behind mortgages. Now, more people are falling behind on their car payments, with total auto loan debt reaching more than $1.6 trillion nationwide.

LendingTree data shows more than 5% of Americans with car loans are past due. The rates vary by state, with Mississippi nearing 10%, followed by 8.4% in Louisiana and 7.8% in Georgia.
Upvote 0

Evolution conflict and division

The very first claim he makes is wrong. He says that the justification for saying humans are related to chimps is because we share 99.5% of their DNA. That's not accurate.
Quibbling? Before 2025 studies, Dr. Tour correctly states the biologist's claimed similarity:

While the genetic difference between individual humans today is minuscule – about 0.1%, on average – study of the same aspects of the chimpanzee genome indicates a difference of about 1.2%.
Upvote 0

The History of the “Two Laws” Theory in Romans 3:20

lol The ignorance. If you studied EO and Catholic doctrinal sources for yourself, along with the ECFs, then you should know enough history to make a responsible statement. Got aways to go there.
Been there, done that, have the t shirt.
Upvote 0

Letita Jamews indicted for fraud

But her wrong doesn’t absolve Trump of prosecution by revenge, vindictiveness, and possibly lawfare. Your look away from Trump’s malfeasance to Letitia’s is a common distraction technique which doesn’t address the impropriety of Trump’s conduct.
No, it doesn't make Trump innocent. It alao doesn't make her innocent either. And she should face the same things she prosecuted him for.

If a prosecutor prosecuted someone for bank robbery, while being involved in robbing banks it doesn't mean they shouldn't be prosecuted themselves.

Its not revenge. Its called justice. Its no distraction since Trump has already been through it. Now its her turn. Justice is required since it was what she demanded.
Upvote 0

Who then can be saved?

Those walking in the flesh are not subject to God’s laws Rom 8:7-8 why Jesus will say depart from Me Mat 7:23 Not everyone who says Lord Lord (believers) will enter His Kingdom, only those that do His will Psa 40:8 Mat 7:21-23 Exo 31:18 Rev 14:12 Rev 22:14

Why do you think the Holy Spirit of Truth who wrote the Ten Commandments because all of God’s commandments are Truth Psa 119:151 those who keep not His commandments have no truth in them 1 John 2:4 would be teaching people to be an enemy to God by breaking God’s laws. That’s not what it means to be in Christ walking in the Spirit where there is no condemnation Rom 8:1 because the righteousness of the law is fulfilled (keeping) in us Rom 8:4, in contrast being in the flesh is being an enemy to God and not subject to the law of God (not keeping) Rom 8:7-8 they lay it aside as to say its not for me Mark 7:7-13. Those who are walking in His Spirit are keeping His commandments (His version) though love, faith and the power of the Holy Spirit John 14:15-18

Romans 7: 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. The law of sin is death Rom 6:23 there is no death for those in Christ because one would be keeping God’s laws through Christ and not rebelling John 15:10 John 14:15-18 Rev 14:12 Rev 22:14

All will get sorted out in God’s time. It’s time for me to move on. I do wish you well.
We have already discussed these verses ad naseum. You know that in the OT verses the audience is Israel not the Christian church. You also know that the Christian is not under the law. And you are still to provide a post crucifixion verse that requires the Christian to keep the 4th commandment.
Upvote 0

Being born again and Prosperity?

What does born again mean? Born again means that we have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes when we accept Jesus into our lives. Jesus offers us forgiveness of our sins, not based upon our righteousness, we don’t work to receive the Spirit, and we don’t work to keep the Spirit, but we must resolve to repent, to leave behind our sins and the dark areas of our life.

Accepting Jesus brings with it much blessing. But we have to be careful how we present the idea of being born again, and the blessing that we receive, that it does not become a ticket for instant, or assured blessing. There are certain things we can believe God for, but equally there are things that we need to allow for God’s will.

As an example, although Jesus said things like:

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

A person may have a business, and claim that word over their business that they will make a great profit, and there is nothing wrong with claiming such a thing. With the following understanding:

James 4:13-16 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

There is a fine line between claiming Jesus promises, and boasting. We still need to allow for God’s will in all of our prayers. Although we can pray for our needs to be met, as an example, we can’t just pray prayers, for our own pleasures.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Also in the area of praying for those who are sick; Jesus would have us pray for the sick, but we can’t demand that God use us. Firstly we must be proved faithful.

1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

If we are not able or willing to present the word of God faithfully, we will not be able to perform a sign.

Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

This does not mean that if we don’t see healing “immediately” that we are unfaithful? Not at all. It is just a fact that “claiming” a promise does not mean that in all cases we will have it.

God actually assigns the gifts based upon the faithfulness and faith of the messenger.

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Note Paul gives an order “first”, “second”, “third” etc. This shows there is a level of trust God gives people. He goes on to say not everyone is a miracle worker, an apostle etc.

1Co 12:29-30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

He finishes by saying “earnestly desire” the best gifts.

1Co 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1Jn 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

However we should have great faith, and this is where verses like:

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

If we or someone else have a heath issue, financial difficulty, emotional issue; we can stand on the word of God, that He will answer us, to bring healing or provision. In many cases God will answer us because of our faith. But again we have seen we can’t demand, but we certainly should not quickly surrender. For God respects faithful, persistence, and faith.

Mathew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

I have heard it preached, that when we receive the Holy Spirit, are born again, we not only become a spiritual new creation, but we receive assured success, in healing, finances, emotions, as a part of the born gain experience. But we can not equate being born again with perfect success.

God certainly does not want us depressed, oppressed, or troubled. And we can stand on His word for personal healing. But we have to acknowledge that there are times when God’s will appears to be to allow us to walk through valleys, where things are not always perfect.

James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

If everything was always perfect, we could not be refined with spiritual patience. Some time character is more important to God than our comfort.

The bible says that all scripture is God breathed. The scripture tells us that one of the greatest prophets in the Bible died from a sickness. This shows us that being full of God’s power, and having the Spirit does not always mean we are guaranteed perfect prosperity.

2Ki 13:14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die.

I think it is dangerous not to look at the whole of scripture; my mother as an example, tried in “faith” to go off her medication, and fast for healing, she almost died. For the rest of her life she advised against such acts of “faith”. I personally, although having prayed for the sick, and seen them healed both instantly, and through fasting, had to have an operation in hospital after I was not healed after many months of faithful believing and at times painful prayer.

Does this stop me praying for the sick? No. Does it diminish my desire to believe for the mountains to be moved? In no way. But if Elisha died sick, we need to allow for such possibilities in the lives of the people we pray for, and the church.

Another look at the moon landing.

You don't think Rob Skiba would lie because he is a Christian, yet you believe that the Christian astronauts who walked on the moon are liars?

How can you expect us to accept that Rob, a Christian, is incapable of lying when you have repeatedly slandered other Christians?
Besides, Rob could be sincerely mistaken without being a liar.

I was waiting for this :rolleyes:
Upvote 0

If sins were to be ranked by how bad it is, what would be the top 10 sins?

I think of sin as something that separates us from God. If that definition holds up, how can one sin be worse than another? Separate is separate. I don't think it comes in degrees.

From a human perspective, I think wrongful acts that affect others are worse than those that affect only ourselves.
Upvote 0

Trump sends troops to the 'warzone' of Portland...

You seriously can’t imagine what someone else might be thinking?
Well, I've watched plenty of protest videos where they just yell and scream at the officers and agents telling them to go home, and calling them Nazis and such. So I guess they think they are Nazis?

Makes no sense to me since they aren't Nazis.
Upvote 0

Morality without Absolute Morality

Self-evident claims also don't have large groups of people rejecting them.
Ad populum fallacy. Do you have an argument that moral truths are reachable through the mutable thinking of materialist's human mind?
The problem from my entry to this thread onward is and has been that I see no reason to trust any of the claimants to possessing absolute morality.
Flat-earthers also don't see any reason to trust any of the claimants who claim the earth is not flat, and color blind people see no reason to claim that the sky is blue. The point is the argument that simply because you cannot see it, therefore, it cannot be so, is fallacious. Ignorance is not an argument, and absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
No one is arguing "because scientism (sic)". This is about the nature of morality.
About the nature of morality? As mentioned, handicapped materialists cannot reason to the existence of essences, the nature if things, so they claim essences either do not exist or are entirely subjective. So, there is no point in arguing with the willfully blind.
Upvote 0

Speaker Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

??? was something I said unclear?
Hmmm... the protests are still protesting things that aren't happening, rendering them moot. And the fact that rhey are still going to be able to do them, is proof of that, so I don't know. I think I've been clear as well and whatever your claim is, is also moot.
  • Agree
Reactions: Servus
Upvote 0

Speaker Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

This is just rerun of 2017 -2021 when the left went on and on and on about the President being a dictator, and protested over and over again.

importedImage170960_header
And it wasn't true then and isn't true now. I just don't get it. Everything is running like it always has. All this complaining about authoritarianism and kings or Nazis or dictatorship etc, is just a bunch of nonsense.

Suddenly the rule of law equals authoritarianism.
Upvote 0

Charlie Kirk on Mary

I confess that I had never heard of Charlie Kirk prior to his death and even now do not know much about him. What I find curious and perplexing regarding the life and death of Mr. Kirk is that he is being marketed by the Far Right as a martyr not only of political freedom of speech but of (Protestant) Christianity. From what I know, he was, assuredly, a Catholic Christian who made lengthy speeches supporting the Far Right political narrative which is tinged with elements of Christianity. That he was a martyr of any sort is open to debate and I would be quite dumbfounded if he were to be declared a Catholic saint.
Theres quite a few clips of Kirk saying why he will not be a Catholic and Maryology was one. He even debated Michael Knowles on it.

Heres a clip of kirk saying he cant be catholic and the rest of his views on Mary.

You can stop watching after the clip of Charlie speaking I just wanted to post a link to show what he said on the topic himself.
Upvote 0

中文和漢語

您說的湖南話具體是指哪種湖南話呢?
湘語有9個聲調,這是一位湖南人告訴我的。
Xiangyu has 9 tones, which was told to me by a person from Hunan(Xiang, 湘).

湘语-娄邵片-邵阳话词典 (Xiangyu)


好多古汉语用词
Many ancient Chinese words
Upvote 0

Keep a Word - Change a Word

living river

John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast(Sukkot , Tabernacle), Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water (river) will flow from within him."
  • Like
Reactions: St_Worm2
Upvote 0

Pepper Sprayed While Evangelizing

I am not talking about the Scribes or Pharisees. I am talking about the world. He said, "The world .... hates me because I testify that its works are evil." John 7:7. So, if someone reacts badly because you are pointing out their sin, then remember that Jesus did the same, and the world hated Him too.

Jesus said, 'Go and preach the Gospel to all creation". He did not say, "Go and make a connection and then preach the Gospel to all creation."
I go into the parks and share the Gospel to total strangers and it only takes me 1 minute to make that connection so that I can get to a place where I can share the Gospel.
Sadly, too many Christians have made it a doctrine that we need to make a strong connection first. This then limits the amount we can share the Gospel.

Yes. Those of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit already have the green light to preach the Gospel to as many people as possible (Mark 16:15). The Holy Spirit was given not so that we would be quiet, but so that we would speak (Acts 1:8). Many times, in the bible we see time and time again, those who are filled with the Spirit spoke and they did not hold back.

"Often individuals will say, “I am willing to go, should God call me to go, in the meantime, I am going to stay.” What we need to do is go, but be willing to stay if God calls us to stay. God has already called us to go." Mark Spence

I find it strange that believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit keep so quiet about the wonderful sacrifice their saviour has made.
Those are some really good scriptures, and points you made.
Acts 1:8 especially, shows the role of the holy spirit, in preaching urgently, and speaking boldly.

I'm reminded of the situation described for us at Acts 5.
The disciples were on fire with zeal, and 'large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number (Acts 5:14)'.
This annoyed some... chiefly, the religious leaders.
They grabbled the apostles and imprisoned them (Acts 5:17, 18).
God said, 'Really.' Sent an angel to release them, with these words...
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.”
At this, the apostles entered into the temple area about daybreak and began to teach (Acts 5:19-21).

The religious leaders grabbled them against... this time, a little less forcefully, since they were afraid the people would stone them, and they had them stand before the Council. The high priest interrogated them, saying,
“We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.”
Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:27-29)

Had Gamaliel not intervened... no doubt, by God's spirit, the apostles would be dead men, right there and then (Acts 5:33, 34), because they gave a bold witness to people who were telling them to keep quiet about the things they were teaching.
The account ends with these words...
Acts 5:40-42
40 They followed his [Gamaliel] advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.

Not only did the holy spirit infuse in them courage and zeal, but it also protected them from death... which they were willing to face, like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
God's people need holy spirit to preach... among other things.
Upvote 0

The Conjunction of Opposites

Evil is just a tool God uses to get his will done, without evil there is no freewill.
Point 1, good!

Point 2 doesn't necessarily follow. There is exactly none of us that are apart from God's Direct influences internally OR the influences of the adversary internally. Therefore freewill is, well, kind of nonsense. There are, scripturally, 3 wills in operation within mankind, which makes freewill a moot point.

Plus it's technically a Godless claim to start with. Man claiming God is not in them, in their will.

People only believe it so they have some basis to pat themselves on the back for making the right decisions to get into heaven. Sure ya did.
Upvote 0

God Worshiper or Law Worshiper?

Looking back to when I was a young Christian I believe I fell into worshiping the law rather than the law giver. Like the crippled man at the pool of siloam looking to the pool to "save" him, I looked at the law. It was a very stern master finally whipped me into dispair. It is too long of s story to share here but I came to the point of letting go of any kind of God concept and then I met the law giver and relized what He did to procure the gift He was offering me. This is how I have come to undestand where his law fits into His boundless Grace and unconditionsal love.

1. The Law’s True Purpose

Paul never said the law was bad — he said it had a specific role:


The law reveals God’s holiness and our sinfulness — it drives us to God for mercy. But once faith comes, the believer’s relationship with the law changes:


The law shows what righteousness looks like; Christ provides the power and forgiveness to live it.


2. Law-Keeping “by the Flesh” — Self-Righteousness

When Paul speaks of “the flesh,” he means human effort apart from God’s Spirit.


That’s what Paul calls law-keeping by the flesh — obeying rules to earn favor, to prove oneself righteous, or to feel spiritually superior.

This was his own past error:


He had kept the letter of the law, but he didn’t yet know the heart of the Lawgiver. Once he met Christ, he saw that all his efforts without faith were empty.


3. Law-Keeping “by Faith” — Spirit-Empowered Obedience

When we come to God by faith, the Spirit enables us to walk in obedience from the inside out.


This is law-keeping by faith: not to earn salvation, but as the fruit of a heart transformed by grace. It’s what Jeremiah and Ezekiel foresaw when they spoke of the law written on the heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26–27).

The believer’s obedience flows from love, not fear:



4. Worshiping God, Not the Law

Paul’s entire gospel defends worship of the Lawgiver rather than the law itself.

  • The law worshiper says, “I will prove my loyalty by keeping every command.”
  • The God worshiper says, “Because I love Him, I want to walk in His ways.”
Both might look outwardly obedient — but only one is inwardly free.

Paul put it beautifully:
Yes, and faith is the direct doorway to the Lawgiver who then puts His law in our minds and writes it on our hearts. By the Spirit, not the Letter; by Him, and not by ourselves. Here’s an applicable quote, BTW, from a 4th century bishop:

If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of
slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if
we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we
are in the position of children.
” St Basil of Caesarea
Upvote 0

Filter

Forum statistics

Threads
5,876,536
Messages
65,384,690
Members
276,278
Latest member
HenryJove