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  • 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.

Trump dispenses with trials, orders military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat (Now up to 2, 3, 4...)

Americans have different legal rights than foreigners narco terrorists cartels.

Apparently, the Trump administration thinks they have no rights.

But, if you want to continue to surrender to the narco cartels of Mexico and Venezuela, please by all means, be my guest. On the other hand, I believe that the narco cartels responsible for killing more Americans than WW1 & WW2 must be destroyed.

Ah, so either I go along with blowing up boats or I am surrendering? What kind of nonsense is that Vabram?
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Is This The New Normal?

Yet, no examples of what decisions weren't made by him... Hmm...
I suggested reading Jake Tapper’s book. Go to a library and check it out if you don’t want to buy it.

But first, why don’t you tell us all what decisions were made by Elon Musk in those cabinet meetings he attended that everyone on the left was up in arms about.
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A conversation about unity.

To me, false ecumenism is trying to assimilate everyone into a church where everyone is a cookie-cutter clone of each other.

This experiment was tried here in Canada; it was called the "United Church of Canada" and absorbed most of the Presbyterian Churches out side of Ontario, some Anglicans, United Methodists, free Methodists, EUB some Baptists, Christian Reformed, and a bunch of other free Congregationalists. This experiment is failing at an alarming rate; 40 years ago my little city had 4 UCC Churches, two were huge. Now there is only one left, and they rent it out as a performance hall while the rest of the membership gradually disappears. Same thing is happening with all of the other non denominational/Pentecostal/Baptist churches. Their membership moves from one to the other chasing personalities who tell them what they want to hear.

At least, with Conservative, Confessional Liturgical Churches, they strive to understand their differences, and recognize where their beliefs and practices align, and accept where they do not. This is true ecumenism. Not only is each Communion different from another, but within each, each congregation is different in different ways.

In the Scriptures, it Paul's Epistles, we see different Churches facing different challenges; likewise in The Revelation; each of those 7 churches is unique and facing unique issues, yet they are still in fellowship and unity with each other; yet only one of them still exists.

This thread has not been one of Christian love, but of polemic anger and hatred for fellow Christians.

I regret participating.

Sola Deo Gloria!

Mark
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Evolution conflict and division

There are billions of them doing just that. But aside from our own species...
Oh dear, again the evols Koko/Kanzi smoke. You really have to think before you post. Three conditions proposed: Wild - Apes - Talking. And you give us zoo born apes that don't talk. Well, you got apes - that's good. But sadly missed the other two. You don't need apes. My dog Fido does as much. We call that behavior conditioning. Please try again.
The great thing about debating about things like evolution is that facts matter.
Yes, facts -- not speculations -- do matter. Got any?
... we have observed cases of macroevolution ...
Early in this thread, I asked for you to enlighten us on your observation of a macro event. Your reply: <crickets>.

Let me help you out on your obvious logic failure. Evols claim that millions of micro events must (a moral word) result in an imperceptible macro event. Kindly lookup the definition of "imperceptible".
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Israel-Hamas Thread II

The Arab states have repeatedly paid lip service to the Palestinian cause. They maintain these camps and the miserable living conditions that prevail there in order to pressure Israel into granting a "right of return", which would allow millions of Palestinians to flood the Jewish state and destroy its Jewish majority and thus its very existence (Neither under the general international conventions, nor under the major UN resolutions, do the "Palestinian" refugees have a right to return to Israel). Arab leaders do not care whether the refugees live or die.

In the current war between Israel and Hamas, Egypt has kept its border with the Gaza Strip closed because it does not want "Palestinian" terrorists to enter the country and destabilize Egypt. Jordan has also refused to take in "Palestinians" caught between the fronts in the war between Israel and Hamas. In fact, not a single Arab state has offered refuge to the "Palestinians".

In short, most Arab states view "Palestinians"" as pariahs and use them as a tool to achieve their own goals. They have kept "Palestinians" impoverished and stateless, refusing to integrate them into their societies in the hope that this would support "Palestinian" self-determination.

Nevertheless, Arab states continue to condemn Israel's treatment of the "Palestinians".

As it turns out, Gazans have steadily emigrated from the Strip for years, with few political repercussions abroad.

In Gaza, a recent "Palestinian" research study noted,

Since 2007, local reports have confirmed that over 250,000 youths migrated from the Gaza Strip in pursuit of a thriving life in Europe. In August 2023, alone, there were over 16,700 Turkish visa applications submitted by young adults living in the Gaza Strip’s five governorates.

And all of this movement occurred before the war, one can only imagine today’s pent-up demand for leaving the Strip and seeking a better life elsewhere.

Arab states currently reject the very idea of voluntary relocation because they fear numerous Gazans would in fact take that option, more than their societies can absorb.

Postwar plans for Gaza on the concept of voluntary refugee resettlement could result in 40 percent or more of the Strip’s total population leaving of their own accord. If half of Gaza’s refugee population chose to relocate over a ten-year reconstruction period, that would average out to around 70,000 per year. Finding homes for 70,000 per year is not an insurmountable burden.
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Trump's Big Beautiful.....Gold Ballroom

Shouldn't the flooring be durable enough to withstand carts?

He probably got the same contractor who built the wall that fell into the Rio Grande on its own, or the one who built the wall that can be cut through with tools from Home Depot. Because illegal immigrants are unfamiliar with tools and Home Depot.

Do you truly believe that Trump will erect a golden statue of himself in a Whitehouse ballroom for worshipping purposes? If so, the statement is pure emotional hyperbole void and any reason.
AFAIK, it’s been his fans who’ve erected the idols.
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A conversation about unity.

The one who believes and is baptised will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16 NRSV-CE
You haven't answered the point I made.

Are you saying, then, that if someone is dying of cancer, hears the Gospel preached and responds, accepts Jesus and declares him as Lord and Saviour but dies before they can be baptised, they are condemned? That believing in Jesus, accepting God's Son and receiving him, John 1:12, isn't enough? That God will still say, "you believed in my Son but you died before a priest could baptise you; you're going to hell"?

Jesus alone saves - NOT Jesus + baptism, Jesus + church doctrine, Jesus + anything.
Why would Jesus have suffered such agony if all that was needed for salvation was a bit of water?
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Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (Part II)

Peace in Christ.

Do men gather…collect…grapes (literally, a cluster of grapes) from thorns or figs from thistles?

Mat 7:16-18 KJV
(16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

(18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

While the “thorns” and “thistles” should remind us of Genesis 3:18, the gathering of grapes and figs should remind us of the 12 spies sent by Moses into the “land of Canaan”….that is, the EARTH of Canaan (meaning “to bring down into subjection.” )

In Christ, we are to gather all things in heaven and in the earth (the land of Canaan) into subjection under the Head of Christ.

Moses sent out 12 spies to “spy” out the land of Canaan…but only 2 (Joshua and Caleb…the good trees) had a good report while the others the (corrupt trees) brought forth a bad report of the land of Canaan.

Let me guess who the “two” men were who were able to bare the “cluster of grapes” between them upon a staff? Could it have been Joshua and Caleb?

Num 13:23-24 KJV
(23) And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
(24) The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.


What is the response of the people of the outside world toward us…His people…today?

Are they strong or weak toward us…are they good or bad to us….are they in tents or in strong holds before us? Are they lean or fat towards us?
If we are following a false prophet, then the people of the outside world are strong against us...they are bad towards us....they live in strongholds....they are lean towards us.

A "bad tree" will always bring forth bad fruit from the outside world. You shall know that you are following after false prophets from the fruits that the world brings forth towards you.

Num 13:17-20 KJV
(17) And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
(18) And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

(19) And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
(20) And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.


The “bad trees” …the other 10 spies….bring forth bad fruit as the outside people of the world are bad towards them…they are strong towards them….they bring forth “thorns and thistles”. The outside people of this world “eat up the inhabitants”. They are stronger than them. The people of the outside world see us in their sight as "grasshoppers"...they look down at us when we are following false prophets.

Num 13:30-33 KJV
(30) And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
(31) But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
(32) And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

(33) And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

But if we are “good trees”…then the LORD delights in us and will bring us into this earth (land) and give it to us. This earth will then flow with “milk and honey” rather than produce “thorns and thistles” towards us.

Num 14:6-9 KJV
(6) And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
(7) And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

(8) If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

The people of the outside world are “bread” for us. Their “defense”…that is, their shade or darkness…departs from them and the LORD is with us. His presence is then with us…His light shines towards the people of the outside world who will then bring forth good fruit towards us.

(9) Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Num 13:27 KJV
(27) And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

Their “defense”….their darkness…shall depart as His light shine from us to them. The glory of the LORD shall arise upon us…..and the earth will then flow with “milk and honey” as the people of the outside world will come to that light. They will not treat us badly but will come to us...the forces of the nations shall come unto us.

Isa 60:1-9 KJV
(1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
(2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
(3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
(4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
(5) Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
(6) The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
(7) All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
(8) Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

(9) Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
Where Matthew 7.16-18 falls down, is in treating human nature and human motivations as though plants were good analogues for them. The analogy collapses, and fails, because even though figs and thistles lack free will, and cannot change their behaviour, human beings are capable of doing both, as they frequently show. If human behaviour were as changeless as the analogy, in order to be valid, requires it to be, repentance would be impossible, and a large part of the Old Testament would be useless nonsense; as would the preaching of Jesus Himself. His own preaching contradicts & makes a nonsense of this saying; which makes one wonder whether He ever said these words.
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Vantablack

So what do you guys think ?
I think the Ten Plagues of Egypt - as narrated in the text of Exodus - are fiction, though quite possibly inspired by disasters that could happen. It is at least remarkable that no Pharaoh is ever named in Exodus, though more than one is referred to. I think the whole Exodus-story is a tissue of patriotic theological fictions, by more than one author.
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‘Pure evil’: Christian leaders react to Minneapolis Catholic school shooting

Christian leaders are offering their reactions after a 23-year-old trans-identified individual named Robin Westman, who legally changed his name from Robert in 2020, opened fire at a mass Wednesday morning at Annunciation Church and Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, killing two children before shooting himself.

According to authorities, Westman stood outside the church building and fired into the sanctuary from the windows. The two deceased children were ages 10 and 8. Westman wounded 17 others, 14 of whom were children.

While an official motive is still pending, videos of Westman online show him expressing anti-Christian and antisemitic views on gun magazines and even calling for the killing of President Donald Trump.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a press conference shortly after the shooting that it was "an unthinkable tragedy" that occurred during the first week of school.

Continued below.
“Unthinkable” ? That is complete rubbish - anyone with a sense of reality could have foreseen that, given the gun culture in the US some such crime would be quite likely to be committed. Somebody with a record of calling for the death of others, would be quite likely to try to commit such a crime.
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Trump calls Epstein disclosures battle ‘a Democrat hoax’

None of that refutes what I said.
Seems like my intuition is defeating your candles and sage burning. Again, a "perportional" response like operation praying mantis.
That’s not what I was lighting candles and incense for, and using a destroyer against a small boat of non enemy combatants is not a “perportional” or proportional response.
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