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Speaker Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

Unfortunately antifa has aligned and intergrated itself into the policies of the left. .... Veteran journalist flips script on media 'running cover' for Antifa violence: 'Anarchist communism'

Andy Ngo was one of the most prominent journalists covering Antifa violence in 2020​

....
Ngo’s family history living under communism is relevant in the conversation today regarding Antifa, the Portland-born journalist told Fox Digital, given the underlying communist beliefs espoused by radical left movements in the United States today..
"For a century now, communists and anarchists, particularly in Europe, have engaged in violent acts that have sparked revolutions and the Antifa today look to those historical examples in the acts of violence they carry out," Ngo said, adding that many "normal" and mainstream liberals in the country are confused by the "deception and misinformation" in the media regarding Antifa.
"If you read the mainstream, one can leave with the impression that these are people who are opposed just to fascism and racism. So why not come on board with that, right?" Ngo explained. "When really the ideology is anarchist communism and violent anarchist-communism a lot of them engage in violence for the purpose of nihilistic violence. They want to see things burnt down. Their own slogan has become ungovernable. So if you care about democracy, liberal democracy in institutions, civil rights…you should not. You cannot be anywhere on the side of advocating or running cover for these so-called Antifa." Veteran journalist flips script on media 'running cover' for Antifa violence: 'Anarchist communism'
You can take this fellows statements with a large grain of salt.
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Pepper Sprayed While Evangelizing

@David Hunter

Perhaps there is an attempt to lead us into darkness so as to expose our own hypocritcy and/or to mock the passion and death of our Lord?

interestingly, as I looked in the young face of a twenty year old woman threatening me, I could see myself all those years ago

and I sincerely said, " I love you."

She lost it and whipped out her phone to record me

And found she just could not do it.

She got in her car and looked horrified.

I met her hatred with love.

I thank God for using me and all of my past problems in life, to see into the heart of this young woman.

Saying I love her left her speechless and unable to commandeer her phone and get it to work.

So she left in a hurry and never returned again.

I pray that a seed got planted, as it was the images of Jesus that I was literally holding which disturbed her and got this whole personal attack going.

Perhaps she was hoping to goad me into a hate response?!
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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2

I'm glad you like the poster and have respect for them - it has zero to do with my question.

Neither are common terms - and neither have anything to do with either my question or the subject of the thread.

Which would be:
theologoumenon
Which is: : a theological statement or concept in the area of individual opinion rather than of authoritative doctrine


Which is a contradiction of the definition you said you followed.

Which again has zero to do with the topic of the thread - or my inquiry.

I'm not interested (in this thread) in information on anything other than the topic of the thread - which you still have not addressed.

Congratulations - again - what does any of that have to do with the two questions I asked, or the topic of the thread?

While I offer congratulations on your education and piety - 95% of what you have posted has anything to do with the topic of the thread. I appreciate your insight - I just wish you would give it on the subject rather than pontificating on things not germane to the topic.
Egads.
It seems obvious that my friend @The Liturgist speaks a language of which you are in need of interpretation.
(how's that for being on-topic? :) )
Earlier, in your initial question to The Liturgist you said:
Please indulge me -

Doesn't theolougoumemnon mean something that cannot be supported by Holy Scripture?
You subsequently posted the formal definition, of which there's no disagreement as far as I can see.
Which would be:
theologoumenon
Which is: : a theological statement or concept in the area of individual opinion rather than of authoritative doctrine
Yet you have said that the Liturgist contradicts that formal definition in his repsonse.
To that, I say untrue. There are areas of faith where there is little in the way of dogma but those areas can not be said to have "no scriptural support."
THis took some thought but I offer as way of example:

There is very little stated as dogma in the Orthodox Church concerning eschatology beyond the lines in the Creed which states:
He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end..
.. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

To say the study of eschatology lacks Scriptural support or lacks a Scriptural basis would be false. There are a wide variety of opinions and writings and statements of faith dealing with the subject of eschatology, yet for the Orhodox that would lie squarely in the realm of theologoumenon.
Why? because many (most? perhaps all?) statements about eschatology contain human conjecture.. post, mid, Premillennialism all have varying degrees of Scriptural support but none are reflected in the dogma of the Orthodox.
Thus, those concepts are theological statements or concepts in the area of individual opinion rather than of authoritative doctrine of the Church.

If one is intrested, a nice article on Eschatology in Orthodoxy can be found--> here
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Emergency abortion denials by Catholic hospitals put woman in danger, after her water broke at 17 weeks, lawsuit claims

I'm talking about if the market place decriminates against a particular religious belief. Should they say something. If say the government refuses funding for say a anti abortion clinic. If the government refuses funding because they disagree with the policy of promoting anti abortion. If abortion is allowed then both should be given equal funding and treatment.

That isn’t something I’d weigh on given my position. We have opinions of course and mine alleviates situations like that. I’d leave it to persons like yourself. ~lol

But it seems that pro abortion is the norm and anti abortion is seen as hateful and attacked as a belief in society. Or even if the anti abortion clinic funds itself but is descriminated against such as not having their services recognised and promoted like proabortion. Say in schools.

I don’t think schools should be promoting either. Every era has a controversial issue and abortion is ours. You’re going to have problems like that as a result.

I am a bit lost. Whats spiritual energy and government grants got to do with each other.

We have a limited amount of time and energy to expend. Why do you think lawyers drag things out? It’s meant to wear you down. Fighting it out may seem reasonable initially but it comes at a cost. Literally and otherwise. Your focus will be divided not to mention the stress. Which has a negative impact on the organization. That’s why we pick and choose our battles.

You would be amazed at how people come together and are willing to sacrifice their time and money for that matter. At the homeless hud we have music concerts to raise money and benfactors, local businesses, and individuals donating.

Not really. I did a lot of volunteering in my twenties and served frequently at church. I didn’t have the responsibilities I do today and participation isn’t always even handed.

I reckon if all Christians sacrificed like this we would set the exact opposite example of the bad examples the church set in the past and that I thionk is the level of commitment now needed to make a statement about God today. To make peoples heads turn. Anything less is just like the world.

I think it’s more important to serve where the Lord leads. For some that’s places you’ve described. Others will launch projects, serve on boards, etc.

I don't know, its just what I have heard. That church attenences have deminished and churches have become more secular. Its only natural as society has become more secular.

Church attendance was down before the pandemic and didn’t rebound afterwards. Many enjoyed watching services via stream and others were disappointed about the lack of support they received and didn’t return. I don’t know if I’d say they’re secular. That’s an easy charge. A more accurate one would be the shift in its importance in society and with believers to some degree.

Yes and thats why Christians have to help each other so they are less reliant on the world. Create their own little world within the world. Insulate the church from the world as much as possible.

In my experience the majority are content watching others do the heavy lifting while they enjoy the spoils if they get involved at all. Most churches are carried by a small portion of members. You see the same people all the time. Because it isn’t a community and church is a separate entity from their lives much like I noted above. It’s the place they gather on Sunday but the remainder of the week is spent elsewhere and most of their friends aren’t members. The uncomfortable truth is you aren’t a family. Calling someone a brother or sister doesn’t make them such. A lot of it is situational and in name only.

Well your calling is putting God first.

Putting God first is His expectation but it isn’t the reason I’m here. That’s what I’m referring to.

You'd be surprised when people start sacrificing for a good cause others do. I think its really hard today as we are so use to material things. I think in some ways when people become poor like in poor nations or those under oppression where the cannot practice Christianity they become bolder. They are tested and can achieve amazing things with nothing. Somehow God will provide and find a way.

No one wants to be poor and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who genuinely wants to part with their plenty so others may have. They look at themselves and their family and the work they’ve put in to provide and believe they’ve earned it and they have if it wasn’t done illegally.

The bible places the onus on families when need exists. That’s the first place you’re supposed to go. Not strangers or the church. Because its unsustainable. If people would look after their own the need wouldn’t be so great. But when they expect the government to pick up the slack the problem balloons.

My grandmother used to say she didn’t have extra money and chided my aunt for giving to charities. Not that she was opposed and did as well. But she believed family came first. Although they had less for a time their lives were demonstratively richer than their children’s who didn’t grasp that principle.

I’m the only one who did and she named me her successor before she died and bypassed the rest. My daughter and I were given a blessing by my grandparents and they praised me for my work. Much like her, my primary commitment is to my household and descendants. If everyone followed the proverb of leaving something behind the youth wouldn’t be struggling. They’d have a nest egg to draw from.

Heres the thing. I think there will come a time where Christians will have to make a choice between the world and Christ. If the world is the anti Christ then it will hate Christians and Christians will be forced to either go along or stand with Christ. I think this is the sorting of the wheat and chaff.

Many are preparing for that time as we speak. That’s why they’re buying land, homesteading, starting businesses and becoming more self-sufficient. But it’s a sliver of the population and even less among believers. Look at the economy. Do we have a shortage of seeds or canning jars? Of course not. Americans love their convenience and I don’t know what christians will do when that time is upon us.

Next time you go out look at your neighborhood in a two to three block radius. Look at the yards and count the gardens. That’s your reality. The more you see the less resources you’re competing for. Most stores have less than a week of stock on hand. That’s how they do things today. The less self-sufficiency the greater the unlikelihood your neighbors will have much to share unless they’re the sort to stock up as a norm. Most people don’t have 6 months on hand let alone a year.

Christians frequently repeat your comment but rarely go beyond it. They don’t ask themselves if they should be doing or learning something or preparing their families. It’s one day down the road and they’ll figure things out. But if the pandemic taught us anything it’s that the hour is unannounced. One day we were fine and the next we weren’t. Rest assured we won’t have time.

I think whenever there is great suffering or falling away from God that God provides just as great a sign that He is there and can help. Whether that be like groups volunteering to help the elderly as a church or bold Christians reminding people of the gospel when all else has failed. The greater the setback the greater is God.

We’re going to have much suffering in the coming years before 2030 arrives. Many will ask where is the Lord. Americans haven’t dealt with hardship on that scale nor has their faith been tested to that decibel. I don’t believe there will be a provision. It will be a time of trial and shaking.

But it won't be until those with will face having nothing that they will give all to God. This is our fallen nature. I am lucky I learned the hard way lol. That I had all and then nothing.

People with means don’t come to God en masse from loss and that isn’t ideal. Pain is but a season and we move beyond it eventually. There has to be a genuine desire for His presence outside of the hurt. And it‘s usually the result of needing something greater than oneself.

Yes all are capable of loving our neighbours. I think its more about who you make God. God of this world or the one true God. In that sense you may have money or things but they are not your gods. Though its a tricky line to walk as its so easy to make money your god. Christ said its hard for a rich man to enter heaven. What is rich. Is it enough that money and things are more important that God.

That isn’t as easy as most assume. Worship is a different scale of greed. If you want a good example look at the conversations on politics and the level of polarization and blindness that ensues. You had people celebrating the cuts Trump made on the poor. That’s idolatry. The people who go to WEF and laugh about Ai replacing jobs making us useless is idolatry. Their conscience is seared and only the Lord can help. You can’t reason with them. It’s more than possessions. It’s a mindset.

Have a blessed week. :)

~bella
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Men now surpass women in church attendance, especially among Gen X, millennials: Barna

So touchy on simple disagreement.

I’m not touchy and this is my last response. I see you’ve replied to an older post elsewhere too. Your behavior is odd and I don’t have time for silliness and will block you instead.

~bella
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I don't like my church - need advice

It is difficult to form a relationship between and individual and an organization. This can leave people at loose ends. It might be more satisfying to see if you can observe an individual who clearly show the love of Christ in their service and conduct. You might ask that person to help you know Jesus as well as they do.

The key would be to make relational connections with individuals on your own or finding a church so samll that you can help but have relational connections.
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Whose groceries are more Expensive?

Also, contradicting comments made by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that the U.S. farm workforce will become “100 percent American” as a result of mass deportations, the Labor Department noted that Americans are not willing to step into farm work and lack the skills to fill agricultural jobs that undocumented immigrants are abandoning.

Americans have no interest in becoming farm workers and the wages are low. An agency was recruiting for farmers in Louisiana and the rate was $11 for 9-10 hours. That isn’t a livable wage and many are losing their farms now. That isn’t only due to deportation. Their reliance on government subsidies is the problem. The farmers who didn’t are fine.

~bella
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The law, the commandments, and Christians.

What, that we are to speak truth at all times? That we are our brother's keeper?

That's what I thought. There is no scripture for being nosey.

If there are problems in my walk or anybody else's with The Lord (and I've been with Him about 35 years now), then things like that are for The Lord to address with us, not you.

I don't think it is ok for me to go asking people on here if they are caught up in willful sin, and neither should you. In other words, mind your own business. You're not my keeper and I'm not in your church.

My walk with The Lord is perfectly fine, in fact, maturing day by day towards perfection and an anointing. That's His responsibility with me.
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10/7/23 Anniversary Hamas Attacked Israel

Please answer the question I asked.
Are Palestinians of equal value as Israelis?
Are Muslims of equal value as Jews (and Christians)?

I did when I said...
Killing innocent ones world wide is wrong...and hamas is evil.
All innocent life is of value, even innocent ones growing in the womb.

Is your moral rubric just for those you can see outside the womb, but not the innocent growing ones you can't see in the womb?
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Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made...

We bless God and out of the same mouth curse men. We become in the likeness of God…becoming like Him as judge of others when we do so.

James 3:9 is mistranslated. We who judge others are the ones who become in likeness of God as Judge. We assume His position as judge of others when we curse men.

Only God can curse men…not us. We are not judges in God’s authority. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it shall eat of its fruit.

Jas 3:9-11 KJV
(9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

(11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Behold, the man is become one of us….become as God… as being a judge who knows good and evil. We become in the similitude/likeness of God when we become a judge of others. We supposedly do this in His authority when He is the only Judge of others.

Gen 3:22-23 KJV
(22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

We therefore “till the ground”…we serve the ADAMAH…we serve the people of the outside world who do not have the Spirit of God rather than them serving us.

We were taken from them and was given His Spirit….but when we make ourselves judge of others, we become their servants. We then have no power over the nations. They rule us instead.

(23) Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till (SERVE) the ground (ADAMAH) from whence he was taken.

The man of THE sin (those who are practicing the lie) is opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.

He is judging others as God ….supposedly in His authority. He has placed himself in God’s position as Judge of others. He has exalted himself above the commandments of God as he keeps the commandments and doctrines of men instead. He honors man rather than God. This is lawlessness.

The son of perdition…the son of destruction… is already there in the man-based churches…and they are many but act as one man whose end is destruction. Many are following them down to their own destruction. We must come out from among them and be separate.

2Th 2:3-5 KJV
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.


The following verse is a hint to look at John 16:1-4 .

(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

REMEMBER ....these things....remember that I told you of them. The time comes when those who will "kill you" (judging....judge, jury and executioner) thinks that they are doing God service. They will put you out of their church gatherings....judging you as "devils" supposedly in His authority.

Joh 16:1-4 KJV
(1) These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
(2) They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
(3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

(4) But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
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