Latest activity

Zceptre · 2025-11-18T23:07:29-0600

Delvianna said:
So when you run across instances like this, what do you do? I'm not required to engage with it. Like, there isn't quests or anything but how do you handle video games and following Christian ethical standards?

I've dealt with this situation before with a game that involved witchcraft in the actual dynamics of the game, meaning required, twice. God spoke to my heart and asked me how much I loved Him. I said done and trashed them, even being very heavily invested in with extremely competitive stance in one.

With that said, my opinion is that you said it yourself there, "I'm not required to engage with it." 1 Corinthians 10:23 says all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial, or helpful. We are also called to be in the world, but not of the world in John 17:15 and John 17:16. Lastly, Christ said we are the light of the world, and that we are not meant to be hidden away but like a city on a hill in Matthew 5:14.

Daniel lived in Babylon and was immersed in a world full of witchcraft, but he rejected particular things that he felt dishonored God like eating food offered to idols. I think the entire world is Babylon in that specific sense and we are in that situation now and so long as it is not violating your conscience, I think you are good to go (you are obviously tuned in with God that there are no-go zones from the way you speak). (Romans 14:23)

I have used a few games as platforms to spread the gospel, even posting Scripture on my profile. I say simply have a little talk with God about the games and pray about them, and during that conversation, like He has with me, I think He will guide you into what is acceptable and unacceptable. Some people will tell you it is black and white, but I don't think this is the case. We are children, Sons and Daughters in Christ, and in that we are meant to be more than robots. God made you and I don't think He wants all of us conformed to a cookie cutter shape even being conformed into the image of Christ. The image of Christ, the image of God is love (1 Timothy 1:5 - 1 John 4:7 - 1 John 4:8). We can all look like Christ in His love to others without being robots or cookie cutouts.

Just my two cents on the matter in the pot, but I've had experience in this and found that God showed me what was not ok, and what He not only didn't mind but helped me in winning the games (and yes I actually believe that, call me crazy but He helps me with everything, I wouldn't be ok if He didn't).

Do everything to the glory of God, even if it is playing a game (1 Corinthians 10:31). Love God, love people, be yourself.

Jipsah · 2025-11-18T23:06:22-0600

Servus said:
So the analogy that praying to Mary is the same as talking Bob, is obviously a false equivalency.

Your opinion is duly noted. I don't think asking the Mother of God to pray for me is entirely equivalent to asking an old Korean grandmother, but it's a matter of degree, innit? The request is the same in either case: "please pray for me".

Dan Perez · 2025-11-18T23:02:03-0600

BelieveItOarKnot said:
Common sense and the prior citing should do

I believe every Word of God applies to everyone. Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deut. 8:3

And do you believe what Heb. 9:18 says ??

It reads , Therefore. , not even the FIRST COVENANT. WAS dedicated WITH OUT BLOOD.

Do you believe verse 18. !!

Put it another WAY. the OLD COVENANT. had to be set aside , WHEN JESUS DIED on. the CROSS and his BLOOD. SHED

THEN anyone meaning GENTILES WERE GIVEN SALVATION

And says that you are BORN AGAIN and BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT. is speaking to ISRAEL in EZE 36:25

and EZE 37 :1-28 AND Israel will be BORN AGAIN !!

DAN P

rambot · 2025-11-18T23:01:10-0600

Vambram said:
My culture is based upon the Scriptures and the teachings of the LORD God.

Its a romantic thought. But the mere fact that you have the internet suggests you have been influenced by your culture. Are you Amish though? I guess you'd be getting there.

Vambram said:
There are not any ethnic or national cultures in all the world which faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Of course not. Jesus made it pretty clear that would never be the case. He told his disciples to go EVERYWHERE

GodDoesListen55 · 2025-11-18T23:00:04-0600

Please pray for me. My aunt passed away in June. I am still struggling. Thank you. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

CoreyD · 2025-11-18T22:58:19-0600

@Job 33:6 I am sorry for being rough with you.
I will be more gentle in my responses.

You probably realize that to say that Genesis 2 is a continuation, contradicts everything said before it, as well as everything you agreed with.
It says that God did not complete his works on day 6 and rest on day 7, but instead created Adam and Eve on day 7, as ell as animals.
It also says that Adam named the animals on day 7, and vegetation covered the earth on day 7 instead of day 3.

I though I should make this clear, as this is scripture we are considering, and so, what scripture says is important, and must be accurately expounded. Acts 18:24-28
The scriptures can be used to prove persons wrong, who warp the truth. It's not a matter of one opinion or another.
How sad that Christianity today which is so widely and largely divided, has so badly distorted God's word... making it of little value to people searching for God.

Leading Lady · 2025-11-18T22:57:51-0600

Amen.

bob121 · 2025-11-18T22:54:26-0600

linux.poet said:
To answer the title question, moderators. Moderators always win.

Debate or Report.

If reported, do not debate, and if debated, do not report. If reported, then letting any algorithms bury things is good until the mods show up. As far as I know, forums don’t use algorithms, but letting the thread roll along instead of responding is the wise course. You don’t want your posts to get caught in a moderation evaluation.

If the post breaks the rules of the forum or website, report, if it does not, debate. If the troll is making things off-topic, that’s usually against the rules of forum websites and merits a report instead of debate.

Thanks, linux.poet—solid, practical rule. I’ll copy it into my pocket:
Debate or report—never both, never neither.
Appreciate the mod-work you all do to keep the place sane.

bob121 · 2025-11-18T22:53:10-0600

Tinker Grey said:
Yanno, there is a sub-forum for this kind of stuff -- the Kitchen Sink.

Thanks, Tinker Grey—Kitchen Sink it is next time.
Still finding my way around the maze of boards; I’ll park meta / housekeeping stuff there from now on.

bob121 · 2025-11-18T22:52:30-0600

Servus said:
You should probably post the kinds of threads you start in the Christians Only section. When you post here in the open to all area, you're probably going to get people who are antagonistic towards Christianity. When I post in the open to all section it's because I want the input of non-christians, anti-christians and so on. People usually post here to pit Christian ethics and morality against secular ethics and morality.

Thanks, Servus—honestly I’m still learning the lay-out here.
I’ll take the cue: next time I’ll drop testimonial-style threads in Christians-Only so the encouragers aren’t forced to wade through the inevitable mud.
Appreciate the steer.

bob121 · 2025-11-18T22:51:31-0600

Thanks, Servus & Tinker—good call on Kitchen Sink next time.
Still finding my way around here—so many boards it feels like a maze!
I’ll happily take the input, bow out if it drifts, and let the thread sink.

partinobodycular said:
Just an FYI, in my opinion, asking for testimonials on a sub-forum open to non-Christians seems like a deliberate affront to the non-Christians present. If you want to share testimonials perhaps it would be better suited to a Christians only forum.

Thanks, partinobodycular—point taken. I honestly wasn’t trying to affront anyone; I’m new to the board-map and simply picked the first open space. If a mod wants to slide this over to a Christians-only section, I’m fine with that.

Vambram · 2025-11-18T22:51:04-0600

Fantine said:
Forgive me for believing world class historians like Heather Cox Richardson, world-class economists like Robert Reich and Paul Krugman, award-winning media which always requires one primary or two or more secondary sources.

Trump's falsehoods are easy to spot. As soon as he opens his mouth, warning lights start flashing around me. They are frequently outrageously ridiculous and absurd--the only things more ridiculous are generally the pained faces of the people behind him. Rubio usually looks like he wishes he could either sink into the floor or wear a cloak of invisibility.

The media who promote these blatantly obvious lies as truth are without conscience or integrity.

IMO, you are believing who you want to believe.

A2SG · 2025-11-18T22:49:37-0600

Always in His Presence said:
you keep repeating it - like suddenly it will make a difference from the facts.

What I keep repeating are facts.

The original 1989 Heritage Foundation plan

Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993

Always in His Presence said:
Yes, the line has been repeated - and yet -

not one Republican endorsed it or voted for it.

Yeah, funny how that happened, huh? They endorsed the plan in 1993, but when President Obama proposed it, they changed their minds. And the objections they raised at that time, the individual mandate in particular? Part of the plan all along.

I wonder what did change? Got any ideas?

Always in His Presence said:
The ones who wrote the final plan - endorsed it and voted it in right down party lines - are the ones who own it.

Yup. And we know where they got the idea.

President Obama admits the ACA originated from a Heritage Foundation plan

Always in His Presence said:
Here is a hint - if it had been a Republican majority congress - the plan would have never made it to the floor. If it was working well - the folks on the left would never mention anyone but themselves.

Oh, I fully agree the plan the Heritage Foundation came up with isn't a great plan. I've said all along we need a comprehensive, cost effective single payer plan like many other nations have in place. But since there are no alternatives to the ACA being proposed, it's all we got until someone figures out a way to circumvent the billions of dollars in profit made by the for-profit health insurance industry every year, and the large portion of that money that is directed toward various political campaigns.

-- A2SG, good luck with that....

Marilyn C · 2025-11-18T22:47:49-0600

The mark of the beast, the leader of the final gentile government, is an embedded chip where you have an app to give your allegiance to him.

bob121 · 2025-11-18T22:45:43-0600

Robban said:
Do you know who brought the realization to my attention, it was the late .Rabbi Sir Johnathan Sachs.

I was reading an article written by him where he wote that many say, Bibel, Law, Torah, commandments but it is not,

it is instructions. And I was like, yeah thought something was off somewhere.

Though it is common to say Commandments, Bibel, Torah, Law for it is just so,

But it gives a friendly and personal touch to say, instructions. For me at any rate.

Robban, I hear you and I value that friendly, personal touch—calling them “instructions” keeps the tone warm and welcoming. I appreciate your voice on this. Have a wonderful day/night.

Dan Perez · 2025-11-18T22:34:43-0600

pasifika said:
Hi, there are going to be many priests. In fact the bible talks about a kingdom of priests in the new kingdom 1Peter 2:9,
In the new covenant we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices which means we are to do good, proclaiming the Gospel and do the Will of God etc, Romans 12:1, Heb 13:15,16

And in. Matt 19:28 the 12 apostles will sit on. 12 Thrones judging. the 12 tribes of Israel

And in EZE 40:39-----45:17. THERE are 6 offering. !!

dan p

FaithT · 2025-11-18T22:34:39-0600

RileyG said:
Yup. That’s usually the norm wherever I go.

Same here.

RileyG · 2025-11-18T22:33:30-0600

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

A2SG · 2025-11-18T22:28:48-0600

Always in His Presence said:
The top five beneficiaries of money from the health care insurance industry are/have been Democrats - Did you know Chuck Schumer received 600,000 from them?

I don't know how much any individual politician specifically received (I'd love to know your source for that info, by the way, it'd be nice to know), but I do know that, industry wide, the money goes all around. A little more than half allocated to GOP candidates, but the for-profit health insurance industry is profitable enough to spread the wealth in a wide net.

Which is why I've always thought that using for-profit health insurance companies to fund health care (instrumental to the Heritage Foundation plan the ACA was based on) was a fundamentally bad idea. On that, we agree.

-- A2SG, just imagine if that money went to pay for the actual health needs of people who need it, huh?

keras · 2025-11-18T22:26:51-0600

Guojing said:
Thus, my simple conclusion was that Galatians 6:16, Paul cannot be calling us the Israel of God.

Then who are the Israelites of God?

Don't tout the current citizens of the Jewish State of Israel, because those Jesus rejecting people, who break the Commandments and rely on their own strength, - belong to Satan. Rev 2:9b
WE Christian peoples are the Overcomers for God, literally His true Israelite people. Any other idea is just believed in order to support the false 'rapture to heaven' theory
We all know how Jesus offered Salvation to all who would accept it. The idea that anyone who rejects Jesus, is still in Gods favour, is an anathema and a contradiction to Bible truths.

The fate of Judah, is well Prophesied in many scriptures. Only a remnant will survive; to join with their Christian brethren.

rocknanchor · 2025-11-18T22:21:16-0600

boughtwithaprice said:
Forgive me, I do not wish to make your thinking an amusement. I want to understand what you are saying.
Acts 20:29 does say that savage wolves will come in, and we can see it going on even today, but the verse does not say that the Apostles would become wolves themselves.
Would it not make sense for us, almost 2000 yrs later, to attempt to discern Apostolic teaching?

Your right on track, it would indeed make such sense. I should have worded more accurately, Apostle's prophetic soon-coming attack of wolves.

boughtwithaprice said:
I like that you rely on the word of God and not necessarily the words of men. Scripture says we are to study to show ourselves approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

As you say later on, the word itself commenting on words and traditions of men and ''every wind of doctrine''. How much the commonwealth of the Church has taken on so much baggage soundly has ''turned aside''.

boughtwithaprice said:
I came across a second century work by Iraneus, who was taught by Polycarp, who directly knew John the Apostle. It is called Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching. Are you familiar with it?
I believe that it is worth the read in light of today’s many hermeneutics.

What I got from it is that it is not outward appearances that count, but the complete denial of ourselves in following in Christs footsteps

Facinating!! No, un-familiar with that work. Only vaguely familiar with Iraneus, but not Polycarp. Did he have freedom to visit John on Patmos? Well yes, as the Gospel narrative of self-denial is repeated several times short of the Spirit's compelling remark for self-preservation, , (1Cor 11:22)

boughtwithaprice said:
I like the Assemblies of God in that they believe signs and wonders should follow those that believe. The Gospel is not proclaimed by logic alone. The problem I have is that signs and wonders alone can be deceiving. Scripture tells us that Antichrist will come with signs and wonders and be so convincing as to deceive the very elect. How are we to tell the difference and have proper discernment?

Right! SO-glad to hear. Now you do recall the Apostle John did instruct to ''test the spirits to see whether they be of God''. Now that test it goes on is in the spirit's confession. I like how Jesus put it, we know them ''by their fruits'', not just by their spoken words. Almost all our teachers of renown will remark that false teachers will consistently stray from glorifying the risen Christ. I might add what Paul said of Satan's preacher's 'righteous' over-shot from the pulpit. (2Cor 11:15).

boughtwithaprice said:
Blessings and peace to you form Our Lord Jesus Christ, and great topic for a thread. I would hope to continue a pleasant discussion with you

My-yes! Peace be multiplied to you and your's in that matchless name of Jesus Christ, to whom all glory rest. Eager to do the same. I may be a space receiving any additional as I know others as well as you do too. But thank you very much and God bless!

CoreyD · 2025-11-18T22:16:21-0600

Fervent said:
Pressing the question is not the same as making a claim.

Fervent said:
The full scope of the philosophical question is not restricted by your OP.

You were not claiming the question is a philosophical question?

Fervent said:
A dash of humility goes a long way.

Suppose I came to your house and said, I am a jeweler, and you ask, what kind of jewelry I make, or sell.
If I said I don't know what jewelry is, nor how to identify jewelry, would you consider me humble?
Would you really consider me a jeweler?

Fervent said:
The question isn't do, but how?

No. It's do, because if they do, then they know what the truth is.
If they do, and
Fervent said:
It's not a missing "the", it's the wheel that is created. If you don't know what the truth is, nor the appropriate method for making the identification, how do you go about answering either question?

Then, humility would lead one to one conclusion.
If Jesus' followers know the truth, and I don't know what the truth is, nor the appropriate method for making the identification, then I ....................
I know what I would say. What would you say.

Fervent said:
You tell me

I did more than tell you all. I showed you all.
However, I can do it again, more thoroughly.

Jesus said at John 8:31, 32

“"If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples.. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set free you."

At Luke 24:27-31, after Jesus, beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, explained to two of his followers the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures, they said...

“Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

John 7:14, 15

Jesus went up into the temple and was teaching. Then the Jews were marveling, saying, "How does this one know such writings, not having studied?"

At Acts 17:2, we read...

And according to the custom with Paul, he went in to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures

On a occasion, when Paul and Silas were in Berea, teaching in a Synagogue of the Jews, and according to Acts 17:11, those listening

received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Acts 18:24-28
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
28 For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

What Jesus taught was from the scriptures.
What Jesus' followers taught was from the scriptures.
Those who listened to, and accepted what they were taught, found the truth. How?
What is "the appropriate method for making the identification?"

The answer:
When one studies the scriptures with the help of those sent by God, the truth of the scriptures become clearly recognizable.
Being able to identify those sent by God, and doing so by means of the scriptures, which reveal the truth, is crucial.

Why it sounds circular, is, because both the message and the messenger work together... What the messenger says, agrees with the scriptures, and what he explains, he does, by using the scriptures. The scriptures provide the truth. The messenger "opens it up" for the listener.

All the scriptural examples above, harmonize with Acts 8:26-40; 2 Timothy 3:14-16
It's summed up by the apostle John in 1 John 4:6

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

One cannot know the truth if they refuse to listen to the messengers of God, who guides them by means of the scriptures from where the truth is found. The messenger is the one Jesus leads by spirit. So, both the scriptures and the message by the one sent, are a product of holy spirit.
If you do not understand this, that's okay. I will understand.

Fervent said:
It takes engaging with it to make a determination

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

Fervent said:
the thread had been ongoing for a while when I jumped in, so my response wasn't directly to the OP

That's usually a problem.
Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it - this is folly and disgrace to him.

Fervent said:
This is exactly the circularity I was referring to

I'm not sure what "This" refers to.

prodromos · 2025-11-18T22:15:59-0600

Michie said:
The ‘ultimate multitaskers’ are pretty ambidextrous.

A MATING PAIR OF WILD OCTOPUS AMERICANUS, ONE DISPLAYING THE ARM

With three hearts, blue blood, and eight arms that seem to have a mind of their own, octopuses are among the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Their signature limbs and complex nervous system help them explore, communicate, capture prey, and mate in many marine habitats. Now, scientists are unlocking some of the secrets embedded in these arms, namely whether they have some degree of “handedness.”

A new study of octopuses in the wild found that all eight arms can do multiple actions, but their front arms are primarily used for movement and exploration, while the back arms are used to support movement. The findings are published today in the journal Scientific Reports.

“Octopuses are ultimate multitaskers–all arms are capable of all arm behaviors and all arm deformations,” Chelsea Bennice, study co-author and a marine biologist at Florida Atlantic University, tells Popular Science. “They can even use multiple arm actions on a single arm and on several arms at the same time.”

Continued below.

Octopus arms are the animal kingdom's most flexible

The ‘ultimate multitaskers’ are pretty ambidextrous.

www.popsci.com

They are also delicious.

prodromos · 2025-11-18T22:03:46-0600

BNR32FAN said:
You’re going to pretend that you can’t understand a simple distance and time calculation?

I don't think she is pretending. Mention any distance over 3000 miles and her eyes glaze over.

timothyu · 2025-11-18T22:03:38-0600

jacks said:
No need to worry, it doesn't say a thing about which denomination you belong to.

If you recall, the first followers and Apostles of Jesus were not of any denomination. They weren't even Christians as we know it. Were they saved? Of course. Salvation is not tied to the religion.

Latest activity

Latest activity

Filter

Forum statistics

Share this page