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Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-01T14:52:55-0600

BCP1928 said:
a plausiible low-ranking scapegoat can be found. That's what MAGA has done to us, and them.

Thankfully the scapegoat chosen is quite a bit higher than me.

FAITH-IN-HIM · 2025-12-01T14:52:35-0600

BCP1928 said:
Once upon a time blowing up a boat and then killing the survivors in the water would have been regarded as a monumental atrocity even when perpetrated against combatant enemies. Once upon a time Christians would lament the victims of such an enormity. Now all we care about is whether the action can be painted as legal or a plausiible low-ranking scapegoat can be found. That's what MAGA has done to us, and them.

It is not exclusive to the MAGA movement. President Obama authorized a drone strike in Yemen that targeted an American citizen. At that time, liberals who called President Bush a "killer" did not object to President Obama's actions.

Carmenls · 2025-12-01T14:49:39-0600

Please pray that my husband Robb is healthy and happy mind and body and that nothing is wrong. Please ask God that if it is His will He gives my husband good health, less stress and anxiety. I also please ask that you pray for my son Jakeb's health mind and body. I ask in the name of Jesus. Thank you and God bless you. Carmen

BPPLEE · 2025-12-01T14:49:11-0600

MarcusGregor said:
Trump told crews working on White House ballroom to ignore zoning conditions: report

White House ballroom project has become costlier and larger than originally anticipated

www.the-independent.com

President Donald Trump encouraged those working on the construction of his new White House ballroom project to disregard traditional permitting, zoning, and code requirements, according to a new report.

MBFC:

Overall we rate The Independent Left-Center Biased due to story selection that moderately favors the left. We also rate them Mixed in factual reporting due to several failed fact checks.

Say it aint so · 2025-12-01T14:47:29-0600

RDKirk said:
'Yes, he didn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind was blowing.

That's for sure. “Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost”

BCP1928 · 2025-12-01T14:47:10-0600

Once upon a time blowing up a boat and then killing the survivors in the water would have been regarded as a monumental atrocity even when perpetrated against combatant enemies. Once upon a time Christians would lament the victims of such an enormity. Now all we care about is whether the action can be painted as legal or a plausiible low-ranking scapegoat can be found. That's what MAGA has done to us, and them.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-01T14:45:18-0600

RDKirk said:
Yes, he didn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind was blowing.

No sharpie to show the track of this hurricane.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-01T14:42:33-0600

RDKirk said:
So, Bradley has been thrown off the sleigh to the wolves.

"I'll be home for Christmas..."

Oompa Loompa · 2025-12-01T14:40:37-0600

Maria Billingsley said:
Like for everyone else, repentance is key.
Be blessed

Genesis 4:25 NIV
[25] Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

Genesis 4:25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” | New International Version (NIV) | Download The Bible App Now

Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

bible.com

I think this verse implies that Cane eventually repented. But I cannot confirm it.

CLEEB · 2025-12-01T14:38:15-0600

eleos1954 said:
Sainthood signifies a positional status in Christ—being set apart by God for His special use and purpose. It does not imply sinless perfection, but a calling to live a life that reflects God's moral purity.

Just to clarify ...

The term "saints" in the New Testament epistles is used by Paul to address living members of the church (e.g., in Rome, Corinth, and Philippi), not just deceased individuals who have been canonized by a church.

Incorrect. Paul says, Ephesians 2:19,20. The whole building including the foundation is a dwelling place for GODS SPIRIT. Furthermore, in Hebrews 11:40 these preChrist saints of the same faith as you and I will be in the first resurrection with us, and only the church is in the first resurrection. These preChrist saints are the root of the olive tree in Romans 11:18 We, you and I are children of Abraham according to faith, the same faith Abraham and all these ancient saints had. The church did not begin on Pentecost. Pentecost was stage 2 the calling of the Gentiles. This is one reason why Paul is the dominant writer of the New Testament. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy to call the Gentiles. The church goes back before the law was even given. One reason why Christ came was to confirm the covenant, the promises made to the fathers. Romans 15:8 What the vast majority of people do not know is that the promises, the new covenant was given to Abraham but needed confirmation by Jesus Christ. This is the real reason why Jesus was baptized by John, to fulfill all righteousness. John didn’t even have the authority to baptize with the Holy Spirit, that authority belonged to Jesus as confirmed by Johns own words. Matthew 3:11 and this is further proven by Acts 19:3-7 The baptism of Jesus was also the fulfillment of the sign given to John to identify the messiah. John 1:33 Many people fail to live by every word of GOD. What I have written here is true but I can’t prove it to anyone because only GOD can open a persons eyes to see and ears to hear. The information I have given here can be used to correct many errors that exist in understanding but only the church has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD to all others it has not be given. Matthew 13:11 The one called, Loves Gods Word, has knowledge and he may know these things as well.

RDKirk · 2025-12-01T14:38:06-0600

Aryeh Jay said:
He retired to spend time with his family.

As opposed to "doing time" with a cellmate.

rambot · 2025-12-01T14:37:42-0600

Unnecessary conflict to get more oil and gas reserves.

"Tale as old as time...
song as old as rhyme....

RDKirk · 2025-12-01T14:37:26-0600

Say it aint so said:
Maybe there is a good reason why the SOUTHCOM commander basically quit.
Maybe there is good reason why soldiers were reaching out to outside counsel.

Yes, he didn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind was blowing.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-01T14:36:58-0600

Say it aint so said:
Maybe there is a good reason why the SOUTHCOM commander basically quit.
Maybe there is good reason why soldiers were reaching out to outside counsel.

He retired to spend time with his family.

eleos1954 · 2025-12-01T14:36:38-0600

Dan1988 said:
There are many opposing interpretations of the Biblical doctrine of hell. Most Christian denominations, interpret "eternal torment in hell" as "Annihilationism". They teach that Gods Word cannot be taken literally and hell is not eternal, they teach that it's an instantaneous burning up and the person's body, sloe and spirt cease to exist.

This view is a direct contradiction to what Gods Word reveals.

Hell is a place of eternal punishment for the unrepentant, characterized by both separation from God's favour and the presence of his wrath. It is not a place of rehabilitation, but a permanent state of suffering for the wicked, who will experience "weeping and gnashing of teeth" and a fire that is not quenched.

God is present in hell not with kindness, mercy, and grace, but with his "wrathful presence" and just punishment.
Hell is a final, permanent state of punishment. The wicked are not annihilated, nor is there a second chance for salvation after death.

Punishment includes positive pains of body and soul, anguish, and despair, described through biblical metaphors like fire and gnashing of teeth.
The wicked are raised from the dead to be judged and then experience the "second death," which is an unending punishment.

The biblical doctrine of eternal torment in hell, which is understood as everlasting, conscious punishment for the unrighteous.
This view, often termed "Eternal Conscious Torment" is supported by scriptural passages like the parables of Jesus that use imagery of "unquenchable fire" and "undying worms," and phrases like "everlasting punishment". To sin against an eternal God warrants a severe and everlasting penalty.

The punishment for sin is considered unending, a concept supported by passages such as Matthew 25:46, which parallels "everlasting life" with "everlasting punishment".

Hell is a place of conscious torment, not annihilation. The wicked will remain conscious and aware of their suffering for eternity.
Hell is a place of final separation from God's presence and grace, it's not an absence of God. Instead, it is experiencing God's wrathful presence.
The torment is a manifestation of God's wrath, which is a just and righteous response to sin against His holy nature.

Some scriptural examples, are found in

Matthew 25:41, 46 Jesus speaks of sending the cursed "into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" and says these will go away "into everlasting punishment".

Mark 9:43, 48 Jesus uses the imagery of a "fire that never shall be quenched" and "where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" to describe the place of judgment.

Revelation 14:11 The text says, "the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night".

Hebrews 12:29 God is described as a "consuming fire" in reference to his wrath.

Gos is NOT a tortuous monster .... full stop. To even entertain the idea that God has a eternal torture chamber is totally non-sense.

Jesus himself describes death as a "sleep", why? because one day ALL will be resurrected from the first death.

It's ultimately about eternal life or eternal death. Death is non existence and we shouldn't be confused about it. The first death is temporary the 2nd death is for eternity.

RDKirk · 2025-12-01T14:36:30-0600

BCP1928 said:
Is it correct to assume that an investigation will start by looking at the orders of the poor guy who pulled the trigger and on up the chain of command after that?

I guess they can start higher than that, from this information:

White House Confirms and Defends 2nd Strike on Boat, Contradicting Trump

Karoline Leavitt's comments appear to contradict those Trump made a day earlier about the boat strikes

time.com

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command acted “within his authority and the law” when striking an alleged drug boat a second time on Sept. 2 after the first strike left survivors.
<snip>
Speaking to reporters in the press briefing room, Leavitt confirmed that Hegseth authorized Admiral Frank M. Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, to conduct the strikes. “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated,” Leavitt said.

So, Bradley has been thrown off the sleigh to the wolves. Hegseth will argue that "the boat was totally destroyed" did not necessarily mean "kill everybody."

Say it aint so · 2025-12-01T14:34:36-0600

RDKirk said:
It would work like this: When Hegseth had the operational commander in the room behind closed doors, he might say, "Kill everybody," but his most faithful lawyers would couch that though in enough legal ambiguity that it would have to be inferred by someone who already knew what Hegseth meant to say.

If it happened at all.

Maybe there is a good reason why the SOUTHCOM commander basically quit.
Maybe there is good reason why soldiers were reaching out to outside counsel.

Warden_of_the_Storm · 2025-12-01T14:27:22-0600

RainySunflower said:
Back to flat Earth.

I also believe in secret messages in society, like this one:

View attachment 373869

And tiny bit of Simpsons.

Login to view embedded media

And I believe that I can sell you a bridge in Brooklyn because of that. And I ain't laughing.

BCP1928 · 2025-12-01T14:26:41-0600

RDKirk said:
It would work like this: When Hegseth had the operational commander in the room behind closed doors, he might say, "Kill everybody," but his most faithful lawyers would couch that though in enough legal ambiguity that it would have to be inferred by someone who already knew what Hegseth meant to say.

If it happened at all.

Is it correct to assume that an investigation will start by looking at the orders of the poor guy who pulled the trigger and on up the chain of command after that?

eleos1954 · 2025-12-01T14:26:22-0600

Bob8102 said:
I am comforted to read that others are like me with my OCD and doubt of salvation. I just read the post “Constant Thoughts of Condemnation with No Hope” by 333grace, and the responses. This makes me feel better: not that people have problems but that I am not alone in this OCD-Salvation thing. It actually gives me, at least briefly, at the moment, some hope.

I see two arguments, one for my salvation and the other against it. For my salvation: I have dozens or hundreds of times tried to turn to Christ and in sincerity say, “Take me!” That is what a Christian friend of mine (now in heaven) said ONCE, and he was saved from then on. I think I mean it. I think that possibly, in a sincere moment and action such as that, Jesus saves a person. Even if the sinner, like me, turns away from Christ at the very next moment. Even if the sinner’s faith wavers so severely that they can turn to Christ at one moment and away the next. Jesus saves in a moment and He does not waver. Ephesians 1:13 says that those who HAVE trusted Christ, past tense, have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. James 1:17 says that in God there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Against my salvation: I wonder if, in my heart of hearts, I have a death-grip on myself and will not let go. If my self has a death-grip on the throne of my life and will not give it to Jesus for REAL. In this case, all my “turnings to Christ” are pantomimes and I do not REALLY give my heart to Jesus. I just go through the motions and say the words. In this case, even though I know I am heading for hell and even though I really do want eternal life, my SELF has a grip on me that will not let go, no matter what.

One person on the thread I mentioned said that once, God interacted supernaturally with them and gave them assurance. I think it might take that to convince me of my salvation. OTOH, Satan could give someone a supernatural experience to fool them.

Can anyone relate? Please pray for me and I’ll pray for you.

Focus on Jesus: Assurance of salvation is based on faith of Jesus' finished work on the cross, not on one's own actions.
A new nature: True salvation results in a new nature and desires, but this does not mean a person will never fall into sin again.
Relationship over rules: The core of sin is a broken relationship with Jesus, not just breaking rules, so focusing on a deep personal relationship through prayer and Bible study is key.

We are to press towards the mark ... regardless.

I look at it this way ... I believe I am saved and will be with the Lord when He returns for eternity ... if not that's OK .... I don't want to be with God unless He wants me to be with Him .... I am His creation and He can do with me as he sees fit. I have no room for argument.

Worrying or being concerned about it is futile.

Rest in the promises of Jesus, continue your walk with Him

Philippians 1:6 (NIV): "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus".
Meaning: This verse assures believers that the spiritual transformation God begins in them is a process that will be completed.
What it signifies: It is a promise of God's faithfulness and a reminder that the process of becoming more like Christ is ongoing.
Source of confidence: The verse is meant to provide confidence during times of struggle or weakness, emphasizing that this assurance is in God, not in oneself.

RainySunflower · 2025-12-01T14:26:02-0600

Warden_of_the_Storm said:
....

Back to flat Earth.

I also believe in secret messages in society, like this one:

And tiny bit of Simpsons.

Login to view embedded media

wing2000 · 2025-12-01T14:24:05-0600

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN said:
People that break the law should be punished. Also, the reason religion should not be law.

The sons are being punished by the Dutch justice system.

The Public Prosecution Service demanded prison sentences Friday of up to 25 years for three suspects in the murder of 18-year-old Ryan Al Najjar, including her father, Khaled Al N., 53, and her brothers, Mohamed and Muhanad, 23 and 25. Khaled, who remains a fugitive in Syria, will be tried in absentia.

Prosecutors said Khaled orchestrated the killing, directing and instructing his sons. “He fled to Syria immediately after the murder and left his sons to take the blame. Cowardly,” the prosecutor said. “Khaled has completely destroyed his family.” The sons each face 20-year sentence demands.

“Honor killings are completely unacceptable,” the prosecutor said. “This is a form of femicide.”

Prosecutors seek 25 years for father, 20 years for sons in teen daughter’s honor killing

The Public Prosecution Service demanded prison sentences Friday of up to 25 years for three suspects in the murder of 18-year-old Ryan Al Najjar, including her father, Khaled Al N., 53, and her brothers, Mohamed and Muhanad, 23 and 25. Khaled, who remains a fugitive in Syria, will be tried in...

nltimes.nl

durangodawood · 2025-12-01T14:22:34-0600

ThatRobGuy said:
But wouldn't the same negative things impact any school if the roles were somewhat reversed?

Even if it wasn't a governor handpicking replacements for certain positions, and they were getting qualified people in there to teach and administer everything, but replacing the liberal bias with a conservative one.

A) wouldn't any school have that challenge with brand new professors coming in?
B) wouldn't students who specifically went to a college for the political leaning/culture, be more inclined to bail if all of their professors got replaced by professors with the opposing ideology?

Well the opinion piece isnt exactly a deep dive. But it does sound like the school suffers from competence being replaced by ideology at the admin level. Exactly what I expect from contemporary so called conservatives on a mission. We see this at all levels.

ThatRobGuy said:
While I think one could make a case that some mismanagement was definitely occurring here (if they're spending that much more and getting much worse results), people are trying to make it seem as if the removal of some of that stuff (that you say only makes up 5% of content) is somehow responsible for the decline. (As if a school's success is contingent upon gender studies and queer poetry courses)

Personally I think gender studies is a perfectly valid field, and gay poetry a valid type of course. My only problem is the number of people who elect to major in things like that which dont make great career launch pads for the most part. But this is hardly new. Kids "just picking sociology" has been going on forever.

Warden_of_the_Storm · 2025-12-01T14:18:57-0600

RainySunflower said:
And to that I say Matthew 24:6-8 ?

We see Earthquakes , wars and rumors of wars , we also see both of those intensifying ... We see L.A. being new Sodom and Gomorrah ? What else ? We build AI like it is literally Digital Tower of Babylon. What else ? AI will soon give us knowledge increase which is mentioned somewhere in the Bible , .... Tons of stuff is just ..... fitting in the place ?

Once again: PLEASE use the reply and/or quote buttons. You've shown you can. It's only polite to do so.

A load of crock to that I say, simple as that. Every century has thought it's the end-times. Because the exact same things have happened throughout history. End of.

And that's really all I need to say on the matter since this thread is about how Flat Earth has failed as an idea, not about end-times stuff.

CoreyD · 2025-12-01T14:17:28-0600

childeye 2 said:
"of" is still a preposition, so "will" is still a noun.

Not really. The synonym list is something I already knew. In fact, in semantics there are even more. When people start talking about free will they end up collapsing distinct categories --> voluntariness, autonomy, and intent into one synonym set. <--That’s equivocation. Some also claim free will means they could've done the other. <-- Another form of equivocation. The bottom line is it's not a stable term if not qualified.

But it doesn't matter how much the meaning of free will changes, because like I said in Genesis 3:17 God says Adam ‘hearkened’ (shāmaʿ) to the woman, which rules out voluntariness and autonomy. The only sense left is intent, which is not the case when one is being persuaded, so there is no philosophical construct of self‑determination in the text.

I didn't say free will is a noun, I said "will" is a noun in this sentence -> Thus Adam acted on his own free will.

I’m not changing my argument. I’m addressing how you’re using the phrase “free will.” You’re sliding between adverbial voluntariness (“willingly”), noun level capacity (self‑determination), and mere intent, then denying the noun when pressed.

My argument is this: Genesis 3:17 says Adam “hearkened” to the woman, which denotes obedience to persuasion. That rules out autonomy and voluntariness. If by “free will” you only mean intent, then say intent. But the OP accuses Adam using a philosophical construct of self‑determination the text does not provide.

Well, I'm glad to hear you admit you are not addressing the OP, but only an argument that exists in your head, because the OP is proving free will exists in man. Nothing else.
Since you do not have anything against this information,

The Bible says, at Hosea 14:4, in part...

I will freely love them / I will love them freely

The Hebrew expression nedabah (נְדָבָה) is rendered freewill offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary, offering, willingly, offering.
This Hebrew word comes from the Hebrew word nadab, of which Topical Lexicon says...
The verb נָדַב consistently underlines a movement of the heart that is neither coerced nor merely dutiful. It describes people stirred from within to give, serve, or step forward because they have first been moved by God. Throughout Scripture this spirit of readiness is linked to worship, stewardship, civic responsibility, and warfare, revealing a multifaceted biblical theology of voluntary devotion.

At 1 Corinthians 9:16-18, verse 17 says,

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.

Paul uses the Greek word hekón: Willing, Voluntary. Which means of one's own free will.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon...
STRONGS NT 1635: ἑκών
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκον, unforced, voluntary, willing, of one's own will, of one's own accord: Romans 8:20; 1 Corinthians 9:17. (From Homer down.)

At Philemon 1:14, Paul says...

But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will (Berean Standard Bible; NASB; Amplified Bible; Christian Standard Bible; Holman Christian Standard Bible; American Standard Version; English Revised Version; New Heart English Bible; Majority Standard Bible; World English Bible; Smith's Literal Translation; Anderson New Testament; Godbey New Testament) / according to willingness / willingly / voluntary / not something forced.

The Greek word hekousios - meaning free will, is the neuter of a derivative from hekon; voluntariness -- willingly, which is (an adjective, a primitive term) – properly, willing; "unforced, of one's own will, voluntary" (J. Thayer), i.e. acting on one's own accord. The root (hek-) emphasizes intentional, deliberate action (choice), i.e. "of free-will" (J. Thayer).
voluntary

adjective

Done or undertaken of one's own free will.

a voluntary decision to leave the job.

Acting or done willingly and without constraint or expectation of reward.

a voluntary hostage; voluntary community work.

Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition.

volition

The act of willing or choosing; the act of forming a purpose; the exercise of the will.

The result of an act or exercise of choosing or willing; a state of choice.

The power of willing or determining; will.

As well as this information
Adjective
▲
Voluntarily imposed upon oneself
voluntary

freewill

uncoerced

unforced

willing

willful

intended

deliberate

conscious

ungrudging

willingly given

intentional

free-willed

Then we have nothing else to talk about.
Freewill; Free will; Free-willed decisions are indeed a reality.
That is my point.

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