Fantine said:

There is no "Schumer shutdown."

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Sure is manufacture by Schumer
Led by Schumer
Caused by Schumer

It was last March that he voted for the same bipartisan cr he voted against

I literally just want better healthcare, education, infrastructure and less shootings.

o_mlly said:

You confuse morality as being equivalent to legality.

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And that law was there because people thought it was moral.

d taylor said:

-A person can believe in Jesus for God's free gift of Eternal Life without repenting of sin/sins. Repenting has noting to do with believing in Jesus​

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So a non Christian can fully accept who Jesus was, that he came to earth to die for our sins and reconcile us to God, that he told people to repent, (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:5) and that he said his blood was for the forgiveness of sins - but they don't need to repent of those sins?

d taylor said:

You believe people went to the moon, did you have to repent to believe this.​

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Did I have to repent of what?

No, I accepted that what I saw on television was a fact. There was nothing to repent, or change my mind, about - men couldn't get to, and walk on, the moon, and then they could.

d taylor said:

Believing is simply being convinced something is true.

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People can be totally certain that Jesus existed, lived, taught and died, without really and fully accepting the fact that God loves them, personally.
Christians can be intellectually convinced that the Holy Spirit exists and yet have not asked to be filled with/baptized in the Spirit so that he totally transforms their lives. The book, "9.00 in the morning" describes this; I think Colin Urquhart wrote about it too.
In Acts 19 there were Christians who believed in Jesus but "had not even heard" that there was a Holy Spirit.

The NT often has the word "know"; John said he was writing so that people would know.
The Hebrew word for "know" meant, "knowing in such a way that it transforms your life". It wasn't just intellectually accepting, it was doing something about it. I have recently read a book in which the author says the same thing; if the information you have accepted does not change your life, if you don't put it into practice - you don't know it. How many people say the Lord's Prayer but do not know God as their loving, perfect heavenly Father?

So how can a non Christian know that Jesus died for their sins and that if they accept that they are reconciled to God - yet not have to repent of their sins?

AMBASSADOR HAT​

Friendly reminder of a Christian Forums rule:

Flaming and Goading​

• Offensive derogatory nicknames and egregious inflammatory comments about public figures may be considered goading.

I understand that you are enraged at the current Israeli government, perhaps indeed rightfully so, and you are allowed to post your opinion and evidence to back it up. However, degrading the level of discourse to name calling does not build your case well. Please refrain from using inflammatory negative adjectives to describe people in that government please.

And I do mean people specifically, you are allowed to use negative adjectives to describe their policies and actions, just please refrain from insulting people. Thanks!

AMBASSADOR HAT OFF​

keras said:

God can forgive, even for things as bad as what King David did. He sincerely and contritely asked God for forgiveness.
But we must not think we get that automatically.

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Where did I say that we do?

keras said:

Persecution is not the same as the forthcoming great test of our faith by fire.

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Isn't it?
You don't think that a Christian might be tempted to deny their faith to save their life, believing that they will be able to repent again after the danger is past?
That happened even in NT times - that's why the book of Hebrews was written.

keras said:

What 1 Peter 4:12 says - relates to 2 Peter 3:7. Same event.

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It's your interpretation that, "the fiery ordeal that HAS come upon you" is the same as "the heavens and earth are reserved for fire."
The word "fire" is in both verses; that does not make them the same event.

keras said:

Your imagination carries you into the realms of fantasy.
We faithful Christians are the peoples of God, scattered around the world, soon to be gathered into all of the Holy Land.

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Which bit is "in the realms of fantasy" - the Holy Spirit changing us into Jesus' image, 2 Corinthians 3:18, or the Holy Spirit confirming to us that we are children of God, Romans 8:16?

I didn't say anything about where God's children live, only that we ARE, now, his children.

keras said:

What God said in Exodus 32:33, is an immutable fact and is never said to be repealed.

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In that case you must believe that God is mistaken.
Thousands of people sin, and have sinned, against him and repent afterwards - King David, Jonah, Peter, for example.

keras said:

I simply do not believe that. There is no purpose served and it seems to be vindictive, not Gods nature at all.

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No, I should have said that it WOULD be living forever in the lake of fire - if it happened.
God does not send people to the lake of fire/hell.

stevevw said:

Is the debate now going into denomination politics and theology. Not sure thats a good idea lol. Though I think the label you have made would not be the majority of Catholics. Seems more extreme end of politics and religion using that narrative.

I am getting confused now. How does the denominational beliefs relate to health care. Or any right within secular society under the constitution or human rights. Human and constitutional rights would allow different denominations to practice their beliefs. Even if you disagree. They are doing nothing wrong as far as secular rights and freedoms when it comes to other denominations.

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Which they are free to do as a church. This is a hospital.

Chesterton said:

But I don't know what you mean by "the appearance of objectivity".

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I could simply say that they appear to have a physical manifestation independent of an outside observer, but I'm going to augment that to include the fact that they appear to have an agency that they may not in fact have.

In other words, it doesn't matter if they're physically real or not. If they have agency, then they're real, if they don't, then what they appear to be is simply an illusion.

BCP1928 said:

Right, it saves a lot of work.

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Then why object to the suggestion that some sort of lathing was involved.

BCP1928 said:

Yes the "culture" but not necessarily the craftsmen themselves. QED, huh?

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Ok so we find some precision vases 5,000 years ago and its the culture and not the craftman.

BCP1928 said:

More lies. No one has suggested that they used nothing but their "unaided freehands."

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lol you suggested they were using a lathe or wheel. You suggested that a boring bar was used as a lathe to explain the precise synnetry and circularity.

#593
The boring bar is generally used in a lathe, where a lathe is available.

BCP1928 said:

More lies. I have never denied that some sort of wheel or lathe might have been used.

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Wait a minute you just literally said above that no one has suggested the ancients use nothing but their unaided hands. Now your saying they used the lathe as an aid to reach the precision.

BCP1928 said:

Because you are downgrading the ability of ancient Egyptian craftsman to use the tools that were known to be used by them or were possibly available to them.

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How exactly. How exactly have I said anything different to you. Make up your mind. Did they use a lathe or not. If so your saying exactly what I am saying.

Its not downgrading any craftsmans skill. I am talking about the lathe achieving the near precise symmetry and circularity that everyone recognises is caused by a lathe. Yes they are good craftsman in being able to use a lathe. But its the lathe thats achieving the high precision.

BCP1928 said:

I don't know. The lathe question is certainly up in the air,

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You just said you have never denied a lathe being used. You have been explaining how a lathe can answer the question of how the ancients achieved high precision in symmetry and roundness. You said even a 1950's lathe can do this as you have used one lol.

BCP1928 said:

though you have denied the possibility of any lathe that would be within the scope of their ability to construct. Their "culture" wasn't good enough for you.

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No this is the consensus opinion of mainstream archeology. The potters wheel and Bore stick did not come along until at least a 1,000 years after the Naqada people.

I deny that they would have had a modern CNC lathe. Obviously as computers and that level of high tech did not come in until late 20th century. But the signatures are the same as modern lathing.

I am actually saying the ancients were smart. I am praising them, highlighting their amazing ability. It is skeptics who are restricting these people to traditional ways and limiting the possibilities.

The ancients themselves claim that they had advanced knowledge that defied convention. If anything I am supporting their culture as I am not denying the possibility of this alternative advanced knowledge.

BCP1928 said:

And I am trying to explain to you why that is not necessary.

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Actually you explained why it is necessary. You explained how the near precise symmetry and circularity was produced by lathing. That lathing explains this signature and not unaided hands without lathing and just chisels and pounders.

BCP1928 said:

You seem fascinated with "bare hands." I would tell you what to do with your "bare hands" but I don't think they would both fit.

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lol my imagination is making me laugh.

Then after I posted my imagination ran wild lol. I could use my bare hands as you said and pull out a precision vase lol.

HARK! said:

Are you conceding on that point; or is that your answer to my question?

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I thought the sardonic 500 eyerolls were implied but...

HARK! said:

Job losses are part of the picture. When people can't afford to buy products; employers need to downsize to stay in business.

Another part of the picture is that as costs rise due to inflation; wage increases are not keeping in step; so those who manage to keep their jobs, are feeling the squeeze too.

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I forgot the tarifs.

HARK! said:

World economies are all connected.

Europe depends heavily on Russian energy. That energy is being cut off. That means that there is less energy on the market. Europe's people are struggling to heat their homes. Their economy is in the dumper.

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Europe is mostly done with Russian fossil fuels.

HARK! said:

As this world runs on energy, it boggles my mind that the price of oil is being suppressed in the face of short supply and rising inflation.

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Suppressed how?

HARK! said:

Wars burn a lot of energy too. I don't believe that it's coincidence that Iran, and Venezuela, have recently become sharp points of interest.

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From whom?

HARK! said:

I believe that WWIII is already started; and I suspect that this ruse will soon come to an end.

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Good grief.

HARK! said:

However, I still pray for peace.

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Could you do less?

Tellyontellyon said:

Matthew 18:10 KJV
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

.....

What does this mean? Do the little children have angel in heaven that is connected to them? Do we all have an angel in heaven that corresponds to us?
Do some of our angels do something other than behold God? Is my angel less innocent/good than a child's angel?

Or does it mean that when a child dies it becomes a particularly devoted angel?
Do we become angels if we go to heav lighten?

Or is the soul actually an angel and we are in heaven at the same time as being on earth without knowing it? We are our own angel, so to speak?

Or... what does it mean?

Cheers

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Angels are God's messengers.

My husband died recently & I had a dream a few days ago where by my husband was alive & well, it was a fabulous dream, so I believe that when we die our souls turn into angels.

When we are born the soul is this spark of light, a star is born & when we die this star carries on as an angel to comfort us in times of grief.

The legend of the Jews by BY LOUIS GINZBERG

Between morning and evening the angel carries the soul around, and shows her where she will live and where she will die, and the place where she will buried, and he takes her through the whole world, and points out the just and the sinners and all things. In the evening, he replaces her in the womb of the mother, and there she remains for nine months.

When the time arrives for man to quit this world, the same angel appears and asks him, "Dost thou recognize me?" And man replies, "Yes; but why dost thou come to me to-day, and thou didst come on no other day?" The angel says, "To take thee away from the world, for the time of thy departure has arrived." Then man falls to weeping, and his voice penetrates to all ends of the world, yet no creature hears his voice, except the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] alone. Man remonstrates with the angel, "From two worlds thou didst take me, and into this world thou didst bring me." But the angel reminds him: "Did I not tell thee that thou wert formed against thy will, and thou wouldst be born against thy will, and against thy will thou wouldst die? And against thy will thou wilt have to give account and reckoning of thyself before the Holy One, blessed be He."

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rjs330 said:

How do you know? Are you at the meetings? Do you have the Intel? Show me the documents.

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That's like asking me to prove I don't beat my wife. An effective slanderer depends upon lies they know others are going to find difficult to disprove. It's not like anyone can interview all the millions of immigrants and have them provide evidence they were never in a prison or a mental institution.

I do know ICE has records of 104,000 criminal "non-citizens" having been arrested by border officials from fiscal year 2021 to 2024. Could be drug runners or cartel members. But I've seen no evidence of millions of immigrants coming from prisons or mental institutions.

Slander is not of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit teaches me to NOT WANT TO believe ANYTHING BAD said about others without evidence, because negative prejudice violates loving others as myself. It's wickedness TO WANT TO believe bad things said about others.

rjs330 said:

Who's he slandering?

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The millions of immigrants who he says are coming from prisons and mental institutions who are not coming from mental institutions or prisons.

rjs330 said:

The countries where those people are coming from?

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I don't believe so.

rjs330 said:

How do you know that zero illegals have been in prison or zero illegals immigrants have been in a mental hospital?

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I'm sure there have been illegals who probably have been in prison before. But Trump in general is slandering the millions of immigrants who are people just like you or me. Trump dislikes undocumented immigrants based upon negative prejudice. I know that because he said that he doesn't want birthright citizenship for immigrants. Trump does not want children born from undocumented immigrants to become citizens.

mark46 said:

Is this all the Democratic bill does? Is it really a clean CR that merely makes the change you mention. If not, isn't this a strawman?

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I don't know. Why don't you go find it and read it.

mark46 said:

What you suggest SHOULD be presented on the floor by Democrats or should be presented as an amendment of the Republican bill, perhaps even by a Republican.

From all that I have seen, The Democratic bill includes much, much more. I suppose I shouldn't have called it a repeal of the law of the land. It is indeed its own law with the expect of repealing sections of the law passed earlier this year.

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Quote it then.

Fantine said:

And two days before the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded...

Too little, too late (along with all the extortion for rare earth minerals, all the immigrants sent to virtual death camps in alligator alcatraz, el salvador, sudan, etc., the zip-tied children, the hungry children losing food assistance, the children whose fathers are deported, etc., etc.,

I hope President Zelensky wins the Nobel Prize for peace.

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You do realize that Hamas had to agree to this peace deal, right? This is the first time that Hamas has actually accepted and agreed to a peace deal with Israel.

dogs4thewin said:

There is no such thing as free anything it is paid for one way or another.

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But its more fair imo that people in necessity could have access to healthcare.
I heard people have died because they were denied basic treatments if that is true, that is bad

It has been announced that Hamas has accepted President Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, “with conditions.” The headlines, as well as Trump himself, heralded it as a turning point: hostages would come home, the war would end, reconstruction would begin. In reality, Hamas has not agreed to the plan at all, but framing their response as agreement has bought them more time and leverage as they try to retain control of Gaza.

The Trump plan is fundamentally a roadmap for Hamas’s removal: full release of hostages, disarmament, exile of leadership, and reconstruction of Gaza under moderate Arab and U.S. supervision. Its underlying logic is simple: peace and security can only come when Hamas is dismantled.

Yet in their official response, Hamas redefines the deal. They say they will “release Israeli hostages … according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions.” Meaning that they agree to the numbers of hostages and terrorist prisoners to be exchanged. As for those “necessary field conditions,” they are undefined — leaving room for negotiations and delays.

Trump’s plan demands that all hostages (living and dead) be freed within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance. Israel accepted the plan early in the week. Yet Hamas waited days and then inserted conditions. Among them: hostage release only after Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, as stated by senior Hamas figure Musa Abu Marzouk on Al Jazeera on Friday.

That demand is incompatible with the Trump framework. The plan does not call for an immediate Israeli exit; instead, it ties withdrawal to security milestones. Israel would withdraw gradually as a new International Stabilization Force (ISF) assumes control, leaving a final perimeter until stability is assured.

Here is the crucial point: the ISF has not even begun to be formed. No members have been named, no command structure agreed upon, no deployment timeline established. In other words, the security mechanism that is supposed to replace the IDF’s presence does not yet exist. Meaning that it will be months, at least, until the IDF surrenders security control of any of Gaza it currently holds. Any suggestion that Israel withdraw beyond the bare minimum needed to facilitate the release of hostages is not only premature — it contradicts the plain text and intent of Trump’s plan.

Clause Six of Trump’s proposal offers Hamas a stark choice: disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence, or leave Gaza under safe passage. Either way, Gaza must become demilitarized. But Hamas leaders have publicly rejected that premise.

Now the real test lies with Israel, the U.S., and Arab guarantors. They must refuse to renegotiate the essential terms — or risk this deal becoming yet another temporary ceasefire in disguise. There must be clarity: no loopholes, no language that allows Hamas to remain armed or in control.

Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states are especially critical. They have influence over Hamas. If they genuinely intend Gaza’s normalization and peace, they must enforce — not water down — the terms. They must insist Hamas release all hostages, lay down all weapons, and depart power.

The negotiation is not with Hamas as an equal partner. It is a demand for surrender written in diplomatic language. If we treat Hamas’s conditional “yes” as a breakthrough, we will find ourselves back at war again.

Israel 365 News

timewerx said:

I still have a desk job and a little depressed too. I did used to spend a lot of time with video games but lost interest and ran out of energy for it eventually, I think you just grow out of it. I think some if not with video games are obsessed with other silly and probably more expensive hobbies.

That's why I'm a little surprised that mid-aged men would still be hooked to video games

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We used to play a bingo game together and my mother joined in and it was fun. My daughter and I were on a team and the competitions were fierce. But it was evident by the level of time and spending the app was monopolizing people’s lives. The spending was out of hand and well into the thousands and I remembered a quote Yuval Harari made at WEF that encouraged me to quit.

He acknowledged their purpose was distraction and a method for killing time for useless people. And while that’s horrible to say he was telling the truth and I saw the same in financial circles. I told my daughter we’re supposed to invest in these tools not partake and we stopped.

I’m not opposed to board or card games or video to some degree within reason. An hour or so of play is fine. But when you’re losing most of the day that’s a problem.

~bella

Horse Hockey

I finally had a chance to work on my personal curriculum yesterday and I’m finalizing it and making adjustments. It’s a recent trend designed for edifying pursuits that improve our knowledge and person. Unlike previous iterations it isn’t dominated by aesthetics or Herculean tasks (which have their place) and the likelihood of continuance is great. I’ve included a couple of videos if you want to learn more or try it yourself.

I’m using a seasonal approach and a notion template to keep track of things. It isn’t perfect and I’ll probably buy one instead. But for the moment it’ll do. As for the rest, the sky’s the limit. You can focus on anything and grouping them in categories is easiest. I have four at the moment but six is probably best and I’ll add them tomorrow. The activities you have in mind are distributed to the groups with resources in tow and a schedule follows.

The neat thing about this is the reemergence of stimulating discourse that doesn’t involve politics, religion or debates. Not that they’re bad but they’ve become a source of contention in this space and it’s nice to see people focusing on other subjects. I look forward to reading more and challenging myself. The weather is cooling and I enjoy Russian novels in that setting and Dickens in the winter.

I’m reminded of the scene in Pride and Prejudice where Bingley is chided for his lack of discrimination on accomplished women and his sister corrects him. We don’t have a similar standard today but renaissance women are on the rise and accepting the mantle. I expect we’ll see a rekindling of cafe society and the intelligentsia. We’ve been on this trajectory for a while and we’ve found our sweet spot.

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BPPLEE said:

I have heard something similar, that those who seem to get saved and then turn away were never truly saved in the first place

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Hello @BBLEE, that seems to be true according to the Bible. Along with three of the four kinds of "soils" in Matthew 13, there is this,


And @Clare73 has already shared the following passage.

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - there are other verses/passages too, of course. A couple of Chapters in the Book of Hebrews come quickly to mind.

But so often…