mutton

hoeing

Wise men

Jane Jetson

BelieveItOarKnot said:

You know, the part where Satan SINS in everyone via theft

Click to expand...

That parable is about hearing the word on good ground and therefore producing fruit because of it. It has noting to do with sin, you have added that yourself. We are all sinners but that does not mean we can't produce good fruit when walking in the spirit. Are you saying you don't? Some receive the gospel and some don't. They might later on, etc but that's what that means -hearing the word of God, which we know from other parts of the bible that produces faith and then we can produce fruit. Why are you inserting sin here?

BelieveItOarKnot said:

He did. 3 times. Cited to you how many times now?

Click to expand...

We should hear and accept every word as truth. And live by that truth. But once again, not every verse specifically applies to every individual. We have to know the context, who the audience is, what is being discussed etc. You can't seem to understand that.

BelieveItOarKnot said:

Uh, yes it was a direct statement from God in Christ multiple times.

Click to expand...

No, he specifically separated them into 4 different groups and what type of ground they receive the word upon. Wayside, stony, thorns and good ground. But keep making it up as you go along.

BelieveItOarKnot said:

I came to understand Christian Universalism because some patient people waded through the subject matter with me

Click to expand...

Yeah, I figured as much. Putting man's word over God's. We were told stuff like this would happen and people would leave sound doctrine. I had to drop some false doctrines that were indoctrinated into me at an early age. It was only later on when I got into the Word that I saw they were unbiblical.

BelieveItOarKnot said:

Have you heard the one about God actually saving sinners?

Click to expand...

Have you read there are conditions?

BelieveItOarKnot said:

You should google them some time.

Click to expand...

Why? That's probably your thing but but I have the Word right in front of me. And I've read the conditions. You are totally ignoring Christ's own teachings about repentance, etc. It's very serious and I'll choose his words over yours.

BelieveItOarKnot said:

"love your neighbors part?"

Click to expand...

Loving our neighbors does not mean we get to throw out God's Word which will not change. God is so long suffering because he himself of course does not want any to perish but to come to repentance. But yeah, let's just throw out that fact as well. According to you he doesn't have to be long suffering.

The Great Big Beautiful Bill will solve everything…. at least for those who can survive it.

Apple Sky said:

There's a firmament up above & nothing can get through & the furthest they can go is low earth orbit.

Click to expand...

Like I said, what "facts" have you got?

Hiram the help

Jerry N. said:

I'm afraid that it doesn't work.

Click to expand...

Well poo

NxNW said:

Gold ... has two significant shortcomings, being neither of much use nor procreative.

Click to expand...

Electronics and Technology​

• Gold is an excellent conductor of electricity, making it essential in electronics.
• It is used in connectors, circuit boards, and various electronic devices.
• Gold's resistance to corrosion enhances the longevity of electronic components.

Medical Applications​

• Gold is used in dentistry for fillings, crowns, and orthodontic appliances due to its biocompatibility.
• Certain gold compounds are utilized in medical treatments, including rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis.

Aerospace and Space Exploration​

• Gold is used in spacecraft for its reflective properties, protecting against infrared radiation.
• It is also employed in lubricating mechanical parts and in electronic systems within aircraft.

NxNW said:

True, gold has some
industrial and decorative utility,

Click to expand...

Use of gold nanoparticles for cancer treatment​

Colloidal gold nanoparticles are increasingly being used to help the delivery of chemotherapy. Their minute size and non-immunogenicity make their molecules ideal for targeted drug delivery systems. Drug molecules and tumor-specific ligands can be attached to the gold nanoparticles to pursue the tumour without redeploying through the body.

Here’s the interesting part for gold supply​

With gold’s use in every mobile device, the amount of gold in the world is actually shrinking each day! Each contains about 30p of gold, not a lot right? However, with around a billion mobile phones in global circulation and each one with an average of 2 years lifespan, it soon adds up. With very few phones being recycled, this gold is lost forever.

Atomic gold shield solves quantum chip noise problem without killing speed​

As AI expands at an exponential rate; the demand for gold, silver, and copper , will grow to meet production needs.

NxNW said:

Today the world’s gold stock is about 170,000 metric tons. If all of this gold were melded together, it
would form a cube of about 68 feet per side. (Picture it fitting comfortably within a baseball infield.) At
$1,750 per ounce – gold’s price as I write this – its value would be $9.6 trillion. Call this cube pile A.
Let’s now create a pile B costing an equal amount. For that, we could buy all U.S. cropland (400
million acres with output of about $200 billion annually), plus 16 Exxon Mobils (the world’s most
profitable company, one earning more than $40 billion annually). After these purchases, we would
have about $1 trillion left over for walking-around money (no sense feeling strapped after this buying
binge). Can you imagine an investor with $9.6 trillion selecting pile A over pile B?

A century from now the 400 million acres of farmland will have produced staggering amounts of corn,
wheat, cotton, and other crops – and will continue to produce that valuable bounty, whatever the
currency may be. Exxon Mobil will probably have delivered trillions of dollars in dividends to its
owners and will also hold assets worth many more trillions (and, remember, you get 16 Exxons). The
170,000 tons of gold will be unchanged in size and still incapable of producing anything. You can
fondle the cube, but it will not respond.

Admittedly, when people a century from now are fearful, it’s likely many will still rush to gold. I’m
confident, however, that the $9.6 trillion current valuation of pile A will compound over the century at
a rate far inferior to that achieved by pile B.

Click to expand...

Here is where his Keynesian brainwashing come to light.

Gold has intrinsic value, and its' quantity remains relatively fixed. Paper money has very little intrinsic value other than kindling;and its' perceived value is arbitrary. Buffett built a mathematical argument on arbitrary numbers. That was an exercise in folly.

He did however have enough insight to maker a comparison between gold and land, Both are relatively finite.

As they are both finite resources; as the population grows; the competition for those limited resources grows with them.

I would sooner trade land or gold for some arbitrary value associated with a debt note, knowing full well that the debtor will be forced to take out more loans, that he can't pay back, at an ever increasing rate.

NxNW said:

Gold gets dug out of the ground, then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. I

Click to expand...

Does Buffet not have anyone guarding his funny money? He pulled his funny money out of the market; because like the bankers who print that trash, he knows that this ponzi scheme is almost up.

“Banking was conceived in iniquity, and born in sin. Bankers own the earth.
Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money, and with the flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again.
Take this great power away from them, and all great fortunes like mine will disappear. And, they ought to disappear, for then this would be a better and happier world to live in. But if you want to continue to be the slaves of the bankers, and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let bankers continue to create money, and control credit.”
SIR JOSIAH STAMP PRESIDENT OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND

Wacky cake (no milk or eggs), water pie!

Dan Perez said:

It means that Cornelius. was not THERE. ??

Click to expand...

It's mind blowing what you sometimes can squeeze out of your keyboard.

About what is it in Acts 10?
Vs 1 says "There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius ..."
Vs 21 says "21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; ..."
Vs 25 says "And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him..."
Vs 30 says "And Cornelius said, ..."
Vs 44 says "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word..."

Just because Cornelius isn't named in vers 45 — which makes sense it wasn't about him alone, but all gentiles present — you come up with the above reply? Like I said, mind blowing.

Aristarkos

Week 2

Opening Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You with heavy hearts, bearing the weight of pain, betrayal, and shame. Lord, You know the depths of our hurt and the struggles we face. We pray for Your presence to surround us, for Your comfort and peace to envelop us, and for Your guidance to direct us. We also pray for the teachings of Your Holy Spirit to guide, direct and lead us through this difficult time in our lives.

As we journey through this devotional, we ask that You would open our hearts, minds, ears and eyes to see, hear, receive and understand your word to the fullest. May Your truth shine brightly in our darkness, and may Your love and peace bring us healing and restoration.

In Jesus’ mighty and most precious name we pray, Amen.

Restoration and Hope After Betrayal

As we begin this devotion, we acknowledge the pain and vulnerability that comes with being scammed. The feelings of shame, guilt, and betrayal can be overwhelming, making it difficult to know where to turn. But we find comfort in Psalm 34:18, which reminds us that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves such as have a contrite spirit." In the midst of our pain, God is near, offering us comfort, guidance, and healing.

In times of uncertainty and fear, it's easy to feel alone and abandoned. But Jesus' promise in Matthew 28:20 reminds us that "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This promise extends to us today, offering us reassurance that we are not alone. God is with us, always, and He will never leave us or forsake us.

As we navigate the aftermath of being scammed, we may feel like we're walking through a dark and uncertain valley. But Deuteronomy 31:6 encourages us to "be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid" because God is with us. He will strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with His righteous right hand.

In the face of adversity, it's easy to give in to fear and anxiety. But Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God." God is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Savior. He is our stronghold in times of trouble, and He will never let us down.

As scam victims, it's essential to remember that we are not defined by our experiences. We are defined by our identity in Christ, and His love for us is unwavering. Today, let's choose to focus on His presence in our lives, rather than our pain. Let's seek His guidance, comfort, and healing.

In the days ahead, we will face challenges and uncertainties. But we can face them with confidence, knowing that God is with us. Let's lean into His presence, trusting in His goodness, love, and care. As we do, we'll discover that He is our strength, our shield, and our defender.

May these scriptures be a source of comfort, strength, and encouragement to you today. May you sense God's presence in your life, and may you know that you are loved, valued, and cherished by Him. Let's journey through this devotion together, seeking God's guidance, healing, and restoration.

Scripture Readings and Meanings

1. Scripture Meanings Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

Meaning: This verse highlights God's compassion and closeness to those who are hurting. The phrase "broken heart" refers to emotional pain, sorrow, or distress. God's nearness means He cares about our pain and is actively working to help us. The phrase "saves such as have a contrite spirit" suggests that God rescues those who are genuinely repentant and humble.

Matthew 28:20: "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Meaning: This verse is part of Jesus' farewell promise to His disciples. He assures them that He will be with them always, even after He's gone. This promise extends to all believers, providing comfort and assurance that Jesus is always present, guiding and supporting us. The phrase "even to the end of the age" emphasizes that His presence is not limited by time.

1. Deuteronomy 31:6 : "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Meaning: This verse is part of Moses' farewell speech to the Israelites. He encourages them to be strong and courageous, not because they're self-sufficient, but because God is with them. The promise "He will not leave you nor forsake you" offers reassurance that God will never abandon or neglect His people.

Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Meaning: This verse is a powerful promise of God's presence and support. The command "Fear not" is followed by the reassurance "for I am with you." God promises to strengthen, help, and uphold us with His righteous right hand. This verse encourages us to trust in God's power and presence, rather than giving in to fear or anxiety.

Application These scriptures offer comfort, reassurance, and encouragement to those who are hurting or feeling alone. They remind us that God is always present, caring, and actively working to help us. By reflecting on these scriptures, we can:

• Find comfort in God's presence and love
• Trust in His power and guidance
• Develop courage and confidence in His care
• Experience peace and reassurance in times of uncertainty or fear

May these scriptures bring you comfort, hope, and strength as you navigate challenging circumstances.

Discussion Questions and Possible Answers

**These possible answers are given to help prompt you into finding your own answers to these questions.

Question 1: How can we trust God when we've been scammed or betrayed?

1. By remembering God's sovereignty and control over all situations.
2. By focusing on the scammer's wrongdoing and God's justice.
3. By trusting in God's love and care for us, despite our circumstances.

Question 2: What role does forgiveness play in healing from being scammed?

1. Forgiveness means forgetting what happened and moving on.
2. Forgiveness is about releasing the scammer from debt, not excusing their actions.
3. Forgiveness is a process that allows us to release bitterness and heal.

Question 3: How can we protect ourselves from future scams?

1. By being more cautious and skeptical of unsolicited offers.
2. By doing thorough research and verifying information.
3. By trusting our instincts and being aware of red flags.

Question 4: What does it mean to "not fear" in the face of uncertainty or adversity?

1. It means being fearless and taking reckless risks.
2. It means acknowledging fear but choosing to trust in God's sovereignty.
3. It means suppressing fear and pretending everything is okay.

Question 5: How can we find hope and restoration after being scammed?

1. By focusing on the lessons learned and personal growth.
2. By seeking support from loved ones and professionals.
3. By trusting in God's goodness and promises, even in darkness.

Closing Prayer

"Dear Lord,

As we conclude this devotional, we thank You for Your presence, guidance, direction and your beautiful peace, which surpasses all understanding. I pray, Father, that the truths we've explored today will bring us comfort, strength, and hope for both the present and the future. Help us to apply these truths to our lives in our daily walk with you, and help us to hold onto Your promises and to trust in You in all our ways, body, mind, soul and spirit.

I pray Your peace will guard our hearts and minds, and Your love will continue to heal and restore us. I ask that you will empower us to walk in freedom, hope, and confidence, knowing You are with us always and you will never leave us nor forsake us.

In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen

Hentenza said:

There is a whole universe outside of the firmament that God also created including other planets and starts. Saturn with the rings is one.

Click to expand...

They are not planets they are wandering stars.

Hentenza said:

Saturn is almost 800 million miles away from Earth.

Click to expand...

If you say so

Valletta said:

You were there? What sins do you accuse the mother of God of having committed?

Click to expand...

According to the Word of God ...

Romans 3:23
New International Version​

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

All in includes Mary

Romans 3:10-12
English Standard Version​

10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”

Luke 1:47, "And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,"( said by Mary)

Mary herself recognized she needed a Savior

Apple Sky said:

There's a firmament up above & nothing can get through & the furthest they can go is low earth orbit.

Click to expand...

There is a whole universe outside of the firmament that God also created including other planets and starts. Saturn with the rings is one. Saturn is almost 800 million miles away from Earth.

Hans Blaster said:

I never really understood what this "transcendent" business is ...

Click to expand...

Yes, we know.

Hans Blaster said:

Non-sequitur much?

Click to expand...

It would help you considerably if you understood the "non-sequitur" argument before using it incorrectly.

Hans Blaster said:

That's between you and him.

Click to expand...

I take that as a "No", ie., you have no help to offer on a definition of the "good rape". There's hope.

I have concerns about the US foreign aid cuts but I also have concerns as to what the truth of this matter is. It seems like much of the media reporting indicates that the impact of such cuts is portrayed as the worst thing to happen beyond natural or man made disasters.

Then there is the matter of the void said to be created from these cuts and which nations might try to take advantage of it. China clearly seems likely but Russia?

Even where China has extended its influence, there seems to be situations beyond their control. For ex. In Angola there has been a lot of Chinese investment but there was recent economic discontent resulting in anti Chinese riots. While there was anti Chinese sentiment in Angola over supposed exploitation, the original grievances were over Angolan government fuel price increases & subsidy decreases. Somehow the riots became mostly anti Chinese in their discontent. Whatever the shortcomings of the Chinese are here, I think the biggest negative will be more poverty in Angola.

When things like this happen & are ongoing what would seem to be way out of the scope of US dollars, it seems convenient to explain it all away on Trump whatever someone thinks of him.

Later add, the wiki I read last summer had much more info on the China factor; it seems to have been revised & deemphasized. Anti Chinese sentiment was a major element in the chaos. Pilate’s ghost should ask a lot of know it alls today what is truth?


See:

Delvianna said:

I walk in the Lord, I am obedient to his word, but when the enemy comes knocking and tries to change my mind, gives me false visions and tries to drum up whatever they can to change my mind or break my faith in Christ, I have had experiences where calling on the name of Jesus seems like it's gone, but they are still there, still whispering their influence. Just because they stop chucking things in the room, or stop giving false visions, doesn't mean they left. This is why Paul says to take every thought captive:
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

There are the possibility of having quite a few voices in your head. Gods, angels that follow God, angels that don't follow God and your own. We will constantly fight against principalities of the air until we die. This is a war and a war is won by following all of scripture, and putting on the armor of God because it's there for a reason. Influence is more powerful than their overt attacks because influence is underhanded and goes under the radar.

I once had a fallen angel come to me and pretend to be Elijah sent by God to help me with scripture. When they talk to you telepathically, it sounds like your own voice. Deception is a mighty weapon they use and they are smart and more clever than people realize or give them credit for. Through my experiences, God taught me by scripture what works, what appears to work and what doesn't.

My warning is, don't think that just because you feel peace, they aren't whispering in your ear when you think they aren't there. Be more aware of the thoughts that come into your head because there are a lot that aren't from you. You could be thinking about what's for dinner and deciding what to eat as your focus is on that, but something else comes into our mind out of no where. That is not your brain on ADD, that is a possibility if it being a spiritual influence.

The scripture teaches that followers of Christ ARE going to be attacked by the enemy. It's not always sin as Job is a great example.

1 Peter 5:8-9
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

So we need to be careful what we say and teach others because attacks are going to happen no matter what and we need to be aware, what to do and how to handle it. Paul says "resist", James says "resist", Peter says "resist" and that is what we should do. Follow the scriptures because again, there is no where in the scriptures that says we get rid of the enemy by claiming the name of Jesus apart from possession.

Click to expand...

It's very often not sin actually, and yet sin may be blamed.. Sometimes from official sources in a church. But anyway, I don't disagree with this message either.

Strong in Him said:

What "facts" have you got?

Click to expand...

There's a firmament up above & nothing can get through & the furthest they can go is low earth orbit.

The only fictional writing I do is online role playing.

Clare73 said:

Man's spirit is immortal, and is not subject to death, according to the word of God in 2 Co 5:8.

Click to expand...

salvation

deliverance or rescue from harm, sin, and death

• Colossians 1:23:
  "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard".
  
  
• 1 John 2:24:
  "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father".
  
  
• 2 Timothy 2:11-12:
  "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us".
  
  
• Hebrews 10:23:
  "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful".
  
  
• John 15:6:
  "Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a — and withers; such are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned".
• 
  
• Not so .... salvation is conditional;
• 
  
• 2 Corinthians 5:8
• • "absent from the body" is a state of not having a physical body, which is temporary until the resurrection.
    
    
  • Context is key:
    The meaning is understood by reading the surrounding verses, which emphasize the temporary, perishable nature of the earthly body and the future resurrection of the dead in a new, incorruptible body.