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Niels · 2025-11-18T13:54:20-0600

Yarddog · 2025-11-18T13:52:15-0600

eleos1954 said:
Obamacare iis a failure ....

Yep, that's why it was so popular among Americans. People were finally able to get life saving operations and treatment, which they couldn't receive before the ACA. Republicans tried to kill Obamacare, over and over, but voters rebelled and Republicans knew they had to keep it.

eleos1954 said:
besides that the CR extends keeping the government for a short period of time .... they can fight the insurance battle then

And Republicans will answer as they did this time. NO, NO, NO. In the mean time, people will be losing their coverage.

Changes to Medicaid, the ACA and other key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Stay up to date on OBBBA implementation and related federal rulemaking with resources from the AMA.

www.ama-assn.org

HIM · 2025-11-18T13:50:58-0600

HIM said:
It is the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus. And No the spirit guides in righteous that we mortify the deeds of the body. The evil we would do, sin; is now condemned in the flesh through Christ Jesus. It has no power over us through faith. The faith the just live by that establishes the law that the spirit of the life of in Christ Jesus fulfills for those who walk in it. For the word through Christ, through the Spirit is in our hearts and mouths. That is the word of faith in which we preach.

Good night

Hentenza said:
Good morning. It actually is the Holy Spirit that now convicts us of our sins. He dwells in us and provides guidance.

“But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

John 16:7-11 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict th | New American Standard Bible - NASB

But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict th

bible.com

Condemn and convict are two different topics. We are not speaking of conviction in Romans 8 but condemnation. It says, there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Death being the condemnation. Because if we mortify the deeds of the body we shall live says Romans. For the Spirit of the Life Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and the wages of it, death that the righteousness of the Law of God that Paul delights in be fulfilled.

By the Law is the knowledge of sin Romans 3. But the Spirit working on the heart convicts, Because the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance as Romans 2 states.

partinobodycular · 2025-11-18T13:49:53-0600

Landon Caeli said:
IMO, any kind of AI use that *controls* human behavior is an abomination.

Ooooo... I don't think that you should have said that, because I can think of a few books that would by that standard qualify as abominations.

keras · 2025-11-18T13:48:51-0600

BelieveItOarKnot said:
So the antiChrist is destroyed with a large mass of sunspot activity? Is this where you want to go?

I made it clear in #11, that the destruction of the AC, is done by Jesus at His Return.
The Lords Day of fiery wrath is years before the Return and it will depopulate the Middle East, also affecting all the world; setting the scene for a One World Government.

A Coronal Mass Ejection is the only natural event that can literally fulfil the many Prophesies describing that terrible Day.
Why deny it? Many scientists warn about a big CME, something which would dramatically change all the earth.

DaisyDay · 2025-11-18T13:48:16-0600

wing2000 said:
“Things happen,” Trump said when asked about Khashoggi’s killing. Khashoggi, who was critic of the regime, was also a U.S. resident.

Well yeah, but he was also a reporter at the Washington Post, so....murdered and dismembered. Now please bring your level of rhetoric down!

chevyontheriver · 2025-11-18T13:46:37-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
I also quoted and linked the GIRM which can speak for itself.

The GIRM is a 'general instruction' but seldom slavishly requires or forbids practices. We can bow at the name of Jesus independent of the GIRM.

timothyu · 2025-11-18T13:44:23-0600

Free will was a necessary component of our human creation as it also was for the elohim, for both to be useful creative servants to the Father. Yes free will led Eve and Adam to choose self-interest but the resulting self-awareness is what became our fall as we followed our will over God”s

chevyontheriver · 2025-11-18T13:44:14-0600

o_mlly said:
In the spirit of ecumenism:

"We are all Roman Catholics, know it or not, like it or not. Admittedly, there is that qualifier "imperfect" but then who is a perfect member of any church?" (The Catholic Moment, Richard John Neuhaus, 1987).

Fr. Neuhaus wrote his book as a Lutheran minister prior to his 1990 conversion to Catholicism.

I miss Fr. Neuhaus. I was a subscriber to 'First Things' back in the day and couldn't wait to read what he wrote in 'The Public Square' in the back of that monthly.

Clare73 · 2025-11-18T13:40:21-0600

timf said:
Future tense (earthly kingdom)
2Pe_1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Which understanding of theirs he did not confirm, referring only to coming events.
The everlasting (eternal) kingdom is eternal life (Mt 25:46)

timf said:
Present tense (heavenly kingdom)
Col_1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

FAITH-IN-HIM · 2025-11-18T13:32:13-0600

Belk said:
So you support taking money from the collective and distributing it to those in need?

If President Trump endorses such an idea, his supporters appear to have no objection to socialism. There was a time when conservatives generally refrained from intervening in business affairs, adhering to the principle that government should remain as distant as possible from the private sector. Currently, however, the conservative president invites major businesses to the White House and declares that the government will claim 15% of their profits if they operate in China. His supporters affirm this approach, asserting that it aligns with the free-market capitalism they have always sought to promote.

keras · 2025-11-18T13:32:05-0600

According to the latest released data, water reserves in Tehran are sufficient for only two weeks, and rare statements were heard from Iran's president about the possibility of "evacuating Tehran within a month." This unprecedented crisis is leading Iran to growing tensions, with the public pointing an accusing finger at the regime and its failed plans.

That the regime cannot provide water to its residents raises the question: Can a regime that cannot provide a basic existential need survive? As commentators note, a regime feeling the ground shaking beneath its feet might "flee forward" and open an external confrontation or war to try to unite the angry Iranian public around it.*

Either way, the lethal combination of internal crises (water and economy) with what appears to be public calls for rebellion from within the military system indicates the Tehran regime stands at a decision point where widespread uprising is no longer a theoretical scenario but a real possibility, strengthening daily. Israel Hayom.

* Just what will happen, as Prophesied.

Lady Bug · 2025-11-18T13:31:49-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
I think the smaller churches are able to have the more intimate sense of community.

That's what they say. All the churches I've described are not small, though, lol.

prodromos · 2025-11-18T13:31:13-0600

Apple Sky said:
Yep - His kit has defiantly proved this. Watch the vid.

Are you mentally deficient? I'm the one who brought the video to your attention to highlight Rob's falsehood. (and I believe the word you intended to use was "definitely".)
Rob's kit proved he had no real understanding of atmospheric refraction, but the fact that he continued to market these after he had been informed of his error, demonstrates his true motives.

Mark Quayle · 2025-11-18T13:28:53-0600

Mark Quayle said:
—"What more is needed"? Context is needed. It is not talking about him desiring that absolutely all sapient sentients responsible to God be saved, nor even all humans.
—"What more is needed"? Reasoning use of language is needed. It is not double-minded for God to feel outrage at disbelief and to call it desire for the opposite (I say, supposing, for the sake of argument, that the verse was stand-alone, which it is not).

Fervent said:
"Reasoning use of language"? Sounds like you're trying to deny what is written in the Bible because it doesn't suit your doctrine.

That was an "as if", in case you didn't pick up on it. I'm not saying that reasoning use of language is needed, but that if one assumes what you do, they still should look into use of language, without proof-texting as though the verse was stand-alone, when plain language can mean more than just God doesn't get what he planned on and hoped for. The notion that God doesn't get what he planned on is akin to the notion that God will not complete what he began.

I notice you left the first statement completely alone. Again, read the verse in context. It is not saying that God wishes or hopes that all humanity will be saved.

Fervent said:
It is what I meant, because your "reasoning" is unable to connect with the efficient cause of your belief.

Nor yours, lacking basis for its existence —I hope you can see that.

Fervent said:
Nope, but that's because there is a straight line between my exercise of said free will and my reasoning faculties.

Continuing your confirmation bias —not to mention a circular argument. You are using your assumptions and definitions to prove your assumptions and definitions.

Fervent said:
Oh? So that we must exercise free will doesn't imply free will? Sheer confusion.

Yep, definitely confirmation bias. You take me saying "choice" as defined by "free will". Choice is not free will. Do dogs choose? Of course they do. So do robots. I'm not saying we are dogs nor robots, but compare our wills and our choices to God's. —It does not even compute. We don't operate on his level. Not even close.

Michie · 2025-11-18T13:24:59-0600

Sophie Turner fears the assisted dying bill could harm people suffering from eating disorders as she called on peers to 'pause' on plans for legislation.

The Game of Thrones actress is fronting a fresh campaign from mental health charities amid fears the law would pose a 'serious risk' to eating disorder patients.

Turner, 29, spoke out as the House of Lords continues to debate the bill which could see assisted dying legalised for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.

Continued below.

Sophie Turner issues warning over assisted dying bill

The Game of Thrones actress is fronting a fresh campaign from mental health charities amid fears the assisted dying bill would pose a 'serious risk' to eating disorder patients.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Robban · 2025-11-18T13:23:14-0600

To the posters #18 and #19 thank you for your replies,

Reminds me it takes all sorts to make a world.

Not to be taken negatively, in fact it can be fun.

eleos1954 · 2025-11-18T13:21:02-0600

ChubbyCherub said:
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

1 John 3:6-10
6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

I read this last night after a weekend of heavy drinking and eating.

This is not a habitual thing for me. I have drank less than 10 times this year but I have been struggling with overeating due to heavy restriction of calories, since the beginning of this year, in an effort to lose weight.

I have lost about 50 pounds and am only 10 pounds away from goal weight. But, the stress of it all (turning away all social engagements, business engagements, family time etc) causes me to overeat when I start to eat any sugary foods and drinking magnifies the craves and reduces all inhibition and self-control.

So, to my way of thinking, I am not only drinking to excess but then engaging in gluttony, or self sabotage or, I don't really know 100% what the exact sin would be but the action of drinking too much and then overeating seems sinful. Also, I don't view these things as glorifying God or being a light to unbelievers (my family) so it would seem to me that I am indeed sinning.

In an effort to understand, I read the above verses last night.

With regards to 1 John 1:8-10, I believe I am a sinner, have confessed my sins, asked for forgiveness and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior.

With regards to 1 John 3:6-10, sin is of the devil, and 'No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are,'

Am I truly saved then if I continue to sin? Am I sinning? I have prayed and acknowledged that I'm not sure about either of these points but, really, I am sure I am saved because I have done what the Bible says saves us according to Romans 10:9-13:

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]

Any and all help is appreciated. On one hand, I feel broken hearted. I certainly do not want to be of the devil and I want to live my life for Christ and have assurance that I will be with Him when the time comes. On the other hand, I feel like I'm misunderstanding something and overreacting. On the other hand, I feel like I could want that to be the case because the consequences are devastating and I wouldn't know what the point of anything was anymore...

If you could help me, I would be forever grateful, thank you and God bless.

Jesus didn't come to save us in our sin ... but from our sin. None of us are perfect ... but ... with the help from the Holy Spirit we can and should see progress (overcoming sin)

"Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Act 2:21. "Peter answered them, “Every one of you must repent (turn away from sin) and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift." Act 2:38.

We need to take the overall teaching of the Word of God not just a verse or two. Keep studying and keep praying

God works within believers through the Holy Spirit to both "will and to do," giving them the desire and ability to cooperate. Therefore, believers are to work out their salvation, empowered by the Holy Spirit who leads and guides them.

You have seen some progress in losing some weight ... keep up with that.

As far as drinking .... what's the purpose of that? (rhetorical question), since it seems for you it's not a daily thing (addiction) this should be a fairly easy one to overcome.

Once a person responds in repentance (turn away from sin), the guilt is replaced by the peace and freedom that comes from God's grace and forgiveness.

May the Lord bring you strength to overcome the areas in your life where you fall short. Amen.

DaisyDay · 2025-11-18T13:20:30-0600

So, nothing has come of this blatant corruption. What a surprise.

keras · 2025-11-18T13:20:21-0600

eclipsenow said:
Rebuilding some temple in the middle east would be a blasphemy!

Bible Prophecy clearly says there will be a new Temple in Jerusalem.
It will be built by people coming from far away and a world leader will desecrate it.

Denying these plainly stated Words, is to directly oppose Bible truths. You are the one in Lala land.

rambot · 2025-11-18T13:02:28-0600

Vambram said:
Do you want to be like Scandavia where the governments take about 70% of your income?

I'd rather live in a happy place like ANY Scandanavian country than the bleak hellscape of the American disposition.

You seem to think that "not being taxed" (notice: I'm not saying MONEY) is not as important as being happy.

Mark Quayle · 2025-11-18T13:01:38-0600

HolyArmor said:
Really like the book of Sirach, made a video with my own commentary talking about some specific verses.

Youtube video here

How do you refer to Sirach, in the context of Bible Study? No, I'm not going to both to look at the link.

eleos1954 · 2025-11-18T12:57:05-0600

Michie said:
A debate has erupted online and in Indian social circles worldwide. The subject is U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who has been criticized for hoping that his Hindu wife, Usha, might one day share his Christian faith.

To right-wing Hindu extremists and left-wing elites, this is exaggerated as an act of war — proselytization, cultural assault, a colonial echo. The outrage is loud and the accusations swift. Yet beneath the noise lies a profound misunderstanding, not only of JD Vance, but of Christianity itself.

At a TPUSA event and in subsequent social media commentary, Vance spoke about his spiritual journey. When asked about Usha, a brilliant attorney raised in a Hindu home, he offered this reflection: “Do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, honestly, I do wish that … I hope she may one day see things as I do."

Note that Vance has not suggested coercion or ultimatum. In fact, he has explicitly rejected force, saying, “But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me.”

This is not proselytization. It is love, the kind Jesus modeled. Conversion in Christian theology is not a human transaction but a spiritual encounter. Jesus warned against forcing faith; in the Parable of the Sower, some seeds take root and others do not. Growth cannot be commanded.

Vance understands this truth. His critics do not.

Continued below.

JD Vance, his Hindu wife and Christian conversion: Indian uproar

The contradiction is glaring Hinduism can export, but Christianity must not import

www.christianpost.com

"Note that Vance has not suggested coercion or ultimatum. In fact, he has explicitly rejected force, saying, “But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me.”

He is correct with this ... they have chosen to not make it a stumbling block ... I am certain he prays for her continuously

chevyontheriver · 2025-11-18T12:56:29-0600

Always in His Presence said:
From a cursory AI search:

Your AI may have missed a few things, being AI and all. It does not seem to be a well taught AI. YMMV.

Always in His Presence said:
No, Tertullian (c. 155–c. 240 AD) did not mention purgatory in the sense of the later Catholic doctrine—a temporary state of purification after death for souls destined for heaven. The fully developed concept of purgatory, involving post-mortem fire and satisfaction for venial sins, emerged centuries later (formalized at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274 and the Council of Trent in the 16th century).

Who is pretending that Tertullian has to have had a 'fully developed' theology of purgatory?

Tertullian's significance was that he was the first Christian apologist to write in Latin. That he brought older Greek terms and thoughts and intuitions into the Latin language. Most of his writings, all of the earlier ones for sure, were orthodox, though he later drifted into Montanism.

Always in His Presence said:
In De Anima (On the Soul), Tertullian describes the soul's fate immediately after death: the righteous go to a place of comfort (paradise or Abraham's bosom), while the wicked go to Hades for torment until the final judgment. There is no third category of purifying fire for imperfect believers.

Tertullian didn't have a 'fully developed' theology of the afterlife either. You are imposing your modern views of the afterlife on Tertullian, who thought more of 'sheol and 'gehenna' than of 'heaven' and 'hell'. Yes, he would have considered the resurrection, but that it would bring about something permanent on the last day. His understanding of 'sheol' was more a temporary place or status.

Always in His Presence said:
He mentions fire in eschatological contexts (e.g., the final judgment or hell), but never as a post-mortem purgation for the saved.

The word "purgatorium" as a noun for a place of cleansing first appears in the 12th century (e.g., in writings influenced by Augustine and Gregory the Great).

The word 'Trinity' didn't show up for centuries either. Let's get rid of it as a false teaching? Some think that's a great idea.

Always in His Presence said:
In summary, while Tertullian supported prayers for the dead and an intermediate waiting period, he provided no substantive basis for the doctrine of purgatory. Claims otherwise typically involve anachronistic readings of his texts. For primary sources, see Tertullian's works in the Ante-Nicene Fathers collection (vol. 3–4).

Tertullian did not mention the word 'purgatory', of course, but he nonetheless supported prayers for the dead. AND he supplied the Latin speaking theology which followed the language to understand why prayers for the dead mattered. He distinguished between the guilt of a sin (culpa) and the reparation necessary as a result of a sin independent of the guilt of a sin (poena). This is tied up with Latin legal terminology, and is developed more by Augustine, particularly in regard to original sin being something we suffer the effects of even after being cleansed of all guilt of original sin in baptism. Thus no guilt remains but a poena is due, a concupiescence that endures. David confessed his guilt to Nathan, and was forgiven by God, but that did not stop his son from dying. Here's where your average Protestant says "Jesus paid it all!" Augustine, and Tertullian before him, and the Greek theologians too, and the whole Catholic and Orthodox enterprise would have to differ. Jesus paid for the guilt of our sins, but reparations are due to fix the damage we have done. We do that in penances and good works and alms, in reparation for ourselves and for others.

One way we do that is in praying for the dead, not that the unsaved would become saved, but that the partially sanctified would become wholly sanctified. This was a big thing for Tertullian, who for example expected a widow to offer prayers for her deceased husband on the anniversaries of his death. Why would Tertullian think that? What rationale would that have for a 21st century Protestant who totally rejects purgatory and says it was only invented in the middle ages? Why do the Orthodox and the Catholics follow the Jews in praying for their dead, as we all still do, if purgatory were a medieval invention?

Purgatory is but an explanation for why we pray for our dead. What's your explanation of why we Catholics and Orthodox and Jews pray for our dead?

By the way, good advice to actually read Tertullian. 'On the Resurrection of the Body', 'A Treatise on the Soul', and even 'On Monogamy' (a Donatist work) are of merit to this discussion. As would be Augustine. Shoot. I endorse reading the Fathers widely. A common enough recurring theme is prayers for the dead. Not as any new practice, but as something we always did.

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