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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

How common is Socianism amongst christians?

Process theism has been a problem in evangelical churches.

"The mainline churches have been heavily influenced by the impact of [process philosophy] as it has emerged into a major, if not the major, school of influence in our day." wrote RC Sproul​
For process theologian Shubert H. Ogden there is no saving work performed by Christ. His theology incorporates elements of Bultmann's existentialism into process theology.

A question needing answered is why conservative churches have been susceptible to process theism?

Classical theism and Biblical theism may overlap at some points but they are not the same. In more conservative churches a classical-biblical synthesis is often apparent. Donald G Bloesch writes:

"While it would be a mistake to try to expurgate all Hellenistic elements from Christian theology in order to get back to the simple faith of Jesus, we need to recognise that a general transformation of Christianity did take place because of a too heavy dependence on Hellenistic categories in the explication of the faith.​
In both patristic and medieval theology the Hellenistic conception of God as the impassible Absolute frequently overshadowed the biblical depiction of God as the gracious heavenly Father who condescends to share in our tribulation and ignominy. God is the all-knowing intellect or pure actuality rather than the One who loves. The God of the Bible is not Absolute Mind, not thought thinking upon thought (Aristotle), but the Acting Subject who encounters us in the moment of decision. It is the difference between the Idea of the Good, and the Living God who wills the Good." (A Theology of Word and Spirit)​
I wonder then if in these churches where there is the classical-biblical synthesis, if some of the Hellenistic elements have overshadowed the Biblical view of God, resulting in some there embracing some form of process theism? It could be the other way round - a reaction from process theism back to classical theism occurs but with the result that the Biblical view of God is partially eclipsed. These were all my thoughts at the time.
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Average consumer now carries $6,329 in credit card debt. 'People are stretched,' expert says

The cap on top of the Washington Monument is made of aluminum, and was on display for a time at (hazy memory ahead) Tiffany's. At the time aluminum was a precious metal. Napoleon had aluminum ware dining utensils for the same reason. But then came the electrolytic method of processing ore and the value of aluminum plummeted.
I read about it as a kid.
Here, in 2025, there's a start-up company that thinks it can transmute gold from mercury at a profit. The idea is to put mercury 198 into fusion reactor and transmute it to mercury 197, which decays into gold 197. We will see. If successful, it's bound to have an impact on gold prices. Not as much as the electrolytic method did for aluminum,, but possibly significant.
LOL. Is it possible to short this company, or at least anyone who invests in them.
Or people could just decide they don't like gold anymore. Like you said, it's just a shiny metal. It just happens to be a shiny metal people want.
Yep.
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The Schumer Shutdown

"Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are playing politics with the lives of real American people. He's getting accolades right now from the far left," Johnson argued. "That was the whole objective. They had to appease the Marxist base of the Democrat Party, and so they pick this fight right now. It is absurd."

Their fight will benefit those in red rural states who will lose their healthcare along with sometimes, keeping open the only hospital they have.

Little did we know those people are "the Marxist base"
That healthcare stuff that Schumer and his friends shut the government down over doesn't even change at all until the end of the year, and yet he shut the govt. down over it now.
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Immigration officials could soon reopen DACA to first-time applicants, as activist judge's nationwide injunction ends (except in Texas...)

For the first time in four years, the federal government plans to begin processing initial applications for DACA, the Obama-era program that grants deportation protection and work permits to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

The move, outlined in a proposal Monday by the Justice Department, would reopen DACA to first-time applicants in every state except Texas. The proposal was filed in response to an ongoing lawsuit in U.S. district court in Brownsville, Texas.

According to the filing, Texas residents who already have DACA could continue receiving protection from deportation* but would no longer qualify for employment authorization.

Lawsuits over DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, have been ongoing since President Trump moved to end the program during his first term.

Under the government’s proposal, DACA recipients who move into Texas would risk losing their legal ability to work, while moving out of Texas could allow them to resume qualifying for a two-year work permit. Unlike beneficiaries in other states, those with DACA in Texas “will not be considered lawfully present” in the U.S., according to the proposal.

In his first term, Trump attempted to shut down the program, but the Supreme Court concluded in 2020 that his administration failed to explain its rationale as required by the Administrative Procedure Act.

In response to the [Texas] lawsuit, [Judge] Hanen imposed a nationwide injunction on new DACA applications in 2021.

The government’s plan is intended to comply with a January order from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals — viewed as the nation’s most conservative — which upheld Hanen’s earlier finding that DACA is unlawful. But the appeals court ruled it only applies in Texas.

*United We Dream has recorded at least 19 current DACA recipients detained by immigration agents in recent months. In one case in Texas, immigration authorities have kept Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago detained despite an immigration judge saying she cannot be deported. “It’s a way of making sure she can’t renew her DACA and then she becomes deportable”
Seems weird and maybe unconstitutional to have a separate policy for Texas. Government should let these DACA children lives move forward in America. But since the GOP wants deportations, why not compromise and say that any DACA will be mode legal if the relatives that brought them over, return to their country of origin? If none are here or alive, then no future chain migration?
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Letita Jamews indicted for fraud

But her wrong while she did her own wrong is rather ironic, don' you think? She was blinded by the beam in her own eye.
I don't know if I'd consider her "wrong" and Trump's to be equal. All the DOJ seems to have, far as I know, is one minor error listing the property in question as James' primary residence on a single power of attorney form, not on a single, actual loan document. Granted, an experienced prosecutor might still be able to make a case out of such flimsy evidence, so I guess we'll just have to see how this goes. How experienced a prosecutor is Halligan, again?

Um....

-- A2SG, Norman, coordinate.....
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Cash Aid to Single Mothers Fails to Improve Child Outcomes, Study Finds

My late brother-in-law never worked a day in his life. He and his wife had as many kids as they could to get max welfare payments. Years later, he got a letter saying he had to go to work and he literally had a stroke. Then, he just went on disability. Laziest man I ever met.
Except to get disability don't you have to have 5 years of work?
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ProPublica: Noem Took Cut of Political Donations

I had thought Noem being a small town girl with a foursquare gospel background would be far more grounded. But her unbridled passion for Trumpism seems to have bogged her down. A true farmgirl would never wear a 50k Rolex. She seems to just a be a slightly smarter version of Sarah Palin. Sad that my hopes were dashed with her. So many attracted to politics for the wrong reasons. A true public servant understands one has to go the extra mile not to be corrupt and pretentious. Sadly, there are so few of those and the public marches on with their drama queens on both sides.
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THE GREAT CONTROVERSY in Baltimore, Maryland

The argument in itself is suspect. It begs the question, if the Bible alone is sufficient for a rule of faith, of what use is the SDA?
Are they not a group of men and women apart from scripture and therefore subject to error?

If we are to believe the Bible and the SDA, does that not make the claim of scripture only a slogan rather than a belief?

How does one determine error?

Scriptural discernment through the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Through prayerful study of scripture, one can know the truth.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The church.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Jesus addressed issues in the seven churches in Revelation 1:1-3. He said that any church that remained unrepentant would have its candlestick removed.

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

What assurances do I have that my denomination is not in error? I prayerfully study scripture and rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. I wouldn't remain in a church if I thought it was in error. In fact, when I came back to Christianity, I vetted every point, and I continue to do so as a member of the church.

In closing, let's revisit the questions presented.

Q: If the Bible alone is sufficient for a rule of faith, of what use is the SDA? Are they not a group of men and women apart from scripture and therefore subject to error? If we are to believe the Bible and the SDA, does that not make the claim of scripture only a slogan rather than a belief?

This would apply to the whole of Protestantism, not just SDA.

Protestantism: A branch of Christianity that emerged from the Reformation and emphasizes "sola scriptura," or the belief that the Bible is the only source of spiritual authority.
Protestantism is a major branch of Christianity that began with the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century when Martin Luther and others challenged the authority and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Key Protestant beliefs include the Bible as the ultimate authority (Sola Scriptura), salvation by faith and grace alone, and only two sacraments (baptism and Communion). It encompasses many diverse denominations, like Lutherans, Methodists, and Baptists, and emphasizes the importance of the individual's relationship with God.
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Hernando County (Fla.) appoints J6-supporting Christian nationalist chaplain for its schools

FFRF urges Hernando County (Fla.) to remove Christian nationalist chaplain

Hernando County is the first school district in Florida to appoint a chaplain under a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024. The district selected Martin, a self-identified member of the “Black Robe Regiment” — a Christian nationalist movement that seeks to mobilize pastors for political engagement. The movement’s founder, William Cook, spoke at the “Jericho March” in Washington, D.C., which occurred the night before the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

Martin has publicly defended the Jan. 6 rioters, writing: “Truth be told the crime in the capitol that day was the ratification of the theft of the presidency of the United States, but they want you to watch the shiny coin.” He has also written a song, “The Ballad of J6ers,” portraying the insurrection as a “peaceful, patriotic protest.” In addition, Martin has argued that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, has asserted that non-Christians should not be allowed to pray in Congress, and has encouraged parents to pull their children out of public schools.

But that didn't stop him from applying for a job where he could minister to public school children.

The Beast of Revelation is a Political and Religious Entity.

Amo2, appreciate your interest in this conversation. If we were discussing the prophecies of Daniel, you would see I do not ignore the chronology of those four beast. However, this discussion is on the first beast of Rev. 13. One should not ignore the descriptive details of the beast if we are to understand its true identity. In this case the beast has seven heads and ten horns bearing crowns, and upon the heads the name of blasphemy. Too, it has some resemblance of a leopard, feet of a bear, and a lions mouth, representing the final union of nations, multitudes, and languages.

I will explain in further detail what makes up this beast should you be interested, but before I do I have a question for you. The reason for me asking is I surmise you have no idea as to what world wide events will propel this beast onto the world’s stage, therefore, your understanding of what this beast represents and what Satan intends to achieve through it is incorrect.

My question. What prophetic events forces the first beast of Rev. 13., up out of the sea?

The prophecy does not say certain events forced this beast out of the sea. It simply says that this beast rises out of the sea, which I agree via Rev 17:15 includes peoples, nations, multitudes, and tongues. In Daniel 7, it was the four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea, that caused the four beasts to arise out of the throngs of humanity. In Rev 13 concerning the fifth beast of biblical prophecy, we are not given a cause or commotion for or of its rise. It is simply seen to rise out of the sea. Suggesting different reasons for its rise, than that of the four former beasts of Daniel 7.

This is in fact in direct relation to the fourth beast of Daniel 7 itself, which Daniel declares to be different than the rest.

Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.


This fourth beast does not end like the beasts before it did. As Daniel 7 points out as well.

Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

This beast will end when this world does by the judgement of God according to verses 9-11, being given to the burning flame as the beast of Rev 19:20, and 20:10 is also. That is because they are the same beast. Not identical, but both empowered by the dragon, as all the biblical beasts of prophecy were. Each tied together spiritually by paganism, and sun worship in particular. The fourth beast exists into the New covenant era, which does not rise, fall, or end like the beasts of the Old Covenant era. Being Satan's counterfeit to Christ's New Covenant spiritual kingdom, arising as a spiritual kingdom itself from within other kingdoms instead of conquering them from without, as the Old Covenant beasts did.

As the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changed everything pertaining to the establishment of His universal kingdom on this earth, so the Devil changed the nature of his counterfeit kingdoms to mimic that of our Lords, and even in His name unto confusion and deception. God miraculously established His kingdom in this world of the Old Covenant with a literal nation, who fought literal wars with their enemies, conquering all while remaining faithful or chaste unto Him. But being described as a harlot or harlot when it was not, and being defeated by its enemies.

In this New Covenant era, our Lord Jesus Christ miraculously established His universal spiritual kingdom from within the Roman Empire, the very seat of the dragons fourth beast or head. Conquering Rome from within with the complete fall of paganism. Yet the Devil learned rapidly, went right back to his old tricks, and invaded our Lord's kingdom with world acceptance and the immediate apostasy that comes right along with it. Through which paganism marched right back into the front door of professed Christianity. Mimicking our Lord's establishment of His spiritual kingdom from within, with a new apostate and paganized version of worldly acceptable "Christianity". William Durant summarized the process fairly accurately in one paragraph.

When Christianity conquered Rome the ecclesiastical structure of the pagan church, the title and vestments of the pontifex maximus, the worship of the Great Mother and a multitude of comforting divinities, the sense of supersensible presences everywhere, the joy or solemnity of old festivals, and the pageantry of immemorial ceremony, passed like maternal blood into the new religion, and captive Rome captured her conqueror. The reins and skill of government were handed down by a dying empire to a virile papacy; the lost power of the broken sword was rewon by the magic of the consoling word; the armies of the state were replaced by the missionaries of the Church moving in all directions along the Roman roads; and the revolted provinces, accepting Christianity, again acknowledged the sovereignty of Rome. Through the long struggles of the Age of Faith the authority of the ancient capital persisted and grew, until in the Renaissance the classic culture seemed to rise from the grave, and the immortal city became once more the center of summit of the world's life and wealth and art. When, in 1936, Rome celebrated the 2689th anniversary of her foundation, she could look back upon the most impressive continuity of government and civilization in the history of mankind. May she rise again.(CAESAR AND CHRIST, A history of Roman Civilization and of Christianity from their beginnings to A.D.325. By Will Durant-1944)

The papacy is in fact the revised pagan Roman Empire. Who has been conquering her enemies and nations from within for centuries now. Who is now on the verge of conquering these United States of America and consequently, the entire world. The little horn of Daniel 7 speaking blasphemies, was in fact the rise of the papacy within the Roman Empire among the nations of barbarians which invaded and subdued it. Biblical prophecy did not identify it as such in Daniel, because of God's foresight in regards to the establishment of the New Covenant in our Lord Christ, and the changes that would take place globally because of His coming. Therefore are we brought back to the four beasts of Daniel 7, in the rise of the fifth beast addressed in Revelation 13, the first beast of the book of Revelation. Addressing New covenant beasts of biblical prophecy who arise differently than Old
covenant ones, and will all end very differently as well.

The seven heads are if fact a direct reference back to the dragon addressed in Revelation 12 as well. As the dragon is the one who gives all these pagan beasts their seat and power. The dragon is the one who has seven heads, and he does not die when the fifth beast of biblical, first beast of Rev 13 receives a mortal wound to the head. The beast dies, not the dragon, the dragon simply begins raising another beast from with other kingdoms.

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Yes, the dragon of Rev. 12, has seven heads, but the first beast of Rev. 13, emerges from the sea, which represents nations, multitudes, and languages, unlike the dragon who appears from heaven, (Rev. 12:3). This beast cannot be representative of one of its heads, since it has seven, not to mention the ten horns and the 42 months it is given to power, after it appears.

I will identify this beast, but before I do, I’m interested in what you think the head that had the fatal wound represents along with the ten horns and if the 42 months are literal or 1260 years, day for a year?

I’ll be anxious to hear from you.
The dragon has seven heads and ten horns as well. The 42 months, 1260 days/years, time, times, and half a time, are all the same period of 1260 year reign of the papacy from 538 to 1798 as prophetic historicism has concluded long ago. The deadly wound has been healing for centuries now, as the political power of the papacy has been growing as well on a global scale. A national Sunday law will announce the resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire unto the final global persecuting beast of biblical prophecy. Again, Revelation verses 17:7-11 are crucial to properly understanding that the 7 beasts, kings, heads, and mountains all represent the same thing. As they are either said to be each other, or spoken of interchangeably in these verses. They are the seven kingdoms through which Satan carries on his rebellion against God and His people specifically, on this earth.

Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

I will have to do another post in a bit addressing the prophetic symbolism of kings, beasts, heads, and mountains, all of which represent kingdoms in other prophecies. Which is why I believe, they are used interchangeably above and or are said to be the same thing. This one is long enough and out is late.
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Pope Leo says faith and love for migrants are connected

If we opened our borders tomorrow and said "free housing and healthcare for all who want to make the journey, nobody will be turned away", is he going to instruct his organization kick in a couple billion to help cover the costs?
Is that what you think the Pope meant by compassion?
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The Fiction of ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’ Made Israel a Pariah

Racist? Racists see racism everywhere. I’ve seen interviews with former hostages describing the poor Palestinian people. They’re not blameless.
You did not address one of the substantive points! Instead you tried to use a Bulverism on me. A Bulverism is where someone tries to psychoanalyse WHY someone is wrong, rather than prove THAT they are wrong. It's playing the man, and not the ball.

MASTERS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - MIDDLE EAST
A friend of mine with a Masters in International Relations focussing on Palestine said of today’s 100,000 strong march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in FULL rain:
“Fabulous turn out today at the March for Humanity. End the starvation, end the occupation, end the genocide. Sanction Israel now. From 2005 Israel and its leaders have spoken about “putting Gaza on a diet” and “mowing the lawn” all the while controlling Gaza’s borders, water and electricity. If you don’t know what was happening in Gaza pre 2023, or what has been happening to Palestinians since 1948, find out. Because blaming Palestinian resistance movements, however repugnant, is like blaming the French resistance in WWII or the Warsaw ghetto leadership for the Holocaust.”


So to get back on topic?

1. How would you react to knowing 700,000 of your people got kicked off their land?

2. What about the UN allocating your people land - but the other guys go to war the next day and steal 60% of it?

3. What about decades of your people being treated as second class citizens - a true apartheid - IF they are lucky enough to work in Israel?

4. What about in more recent decades the oppressor then getting positively 1930's GERMAN about it all - and committing acts of settler colonisation, property theft, Ghettoization, and now outright concentration camps, starvation, and ethnic cleansing?

5. DEFYING 'JUS POST BELLUM'.
Even before the Hamas terrorist attacks, Israel was denying the Palestinian people a principle known as 'Jus Post Bellum' - the just conclusion of a war and letting the defeated nation rebuild without undue suffering and ongoing enmity. Israel seems to have strived to create the most enmity possible! Gaza and the West Bank are the world's largest open air prisons. The people there have suffered blockades, restricted trade, and even limited fresh water and power.
It is sociology 101 that if you occupy and persecute a people group for generations, they will retaliate. The west sympathises with the Jewish plight after the horrors of the Holocaust. We are only recently waking up to the fact that they are now perpetrating the very same crimes that were perpetrated against them just a few generations ago!

6. ECONOMIC ADDICTION TO WAR IN GAZA
Australian Jewish journalist Anthony Loewenstein was raised to believe Israel was a golden light to the world. However, when he visited there he was shocked to discover how Israel treated the Palestinian people. He has published a book and spoken in various popular Australian political forums (such as the National Press Club) about the "Palestine Laboratory". Basically - Israel tests their new weapons kit on Palestinians - and then markets them to the world as 'battle tested.' You know - because bombs that kill TENS OF THOUSANDS of innocent Palestinian woman and children deserve to be marketed that way! Some of them have enormous kill-zones. Not only that, but America sold plenty of huge bombs to Israel during this conflict - bombs with kill-zones of about 400 to 700 meters in diameter!

Gaza is the lab where the Expansionist Zionist Military Industrial Complex tests their new weapons. Israel are ECONOMICALLY addicted to testing new weapons in Gaza. They avoid using a tactical local effect smart bomb, and use such huge charges they explode lungs up to 300 meters in all directions! Women and children cough up their lungs and suffocate across this huge 600 meter diameter. That's several city blocks away from the target!

How is that not a war crime?

Lowenstein also documents how many persecuting and apartheid regimes and dictators Israel not only sold weapons to, but sold PR knowledge about how to get away with it! From Apartheid South Africa to Pinochet's Chile! The Palestine Laboratory Podcast

7. FLOUTING INTERNATIONAL LAW IN THE WEST BANK - CONDUCTING THEIR OWN TERRORISM BEFORE HAMAS!

Since October 7, 2023 Israel have proudly ANNOUNCED to the world how much more WEST BANK Palestinian land they are declaring Israel's!
Their illegal land grabs have escalated. Oh - so have their murders and war crimes!

Sorry - who's the terrorist again? This is all in the WEST BANK that did not attack Israel.
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DreamyLaLa's CF Journal

Gosh, it's been months since I've posted here! To be honest, for a while, I've been super busy preparing for the release of my anime book series La La Mermaid on Amazon. There's a lot of work that goes into that. But I wanted to let you all that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.:laughing:

I'm also currently hosting a giveaway on Instagram to celebrate the upcoming release of La La Mermaid! There are a lot of cool prizes that the winner will receive. I even made a YouTube video all about it!

Login to view embedded media
Wow that's awesome!! ^w^ A very big accomplishment creating your own book and having it on Amazon!! I wish you the best!! [Hugs] :hug::hug::hug::hug::cookie::cookie::custard::custard:
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need prayers finding a church (political triggers inside)

I’ve prayed and not gotten any type of sign or even a feeling on this. I don’t feel love from the church right now. Last Sunday I was told it was my Christian duty to vote Democrat, or I wasn’t honoring Christ (this was a sermon, not a private conversation). I’m a Republican, my cue to leave and never return to that church. I am not the bigot that the extreme left thinks I am. I love and am let down by people in the same breath. I vote Republican because I believe in Capitalism, not because I believe it honors Christ (nor do I think it dishonors him). Don’t get me wrong, I see the need for social safety nets. I am a 100% disabled veteran and if it wasn’t for my Comp & Pen I wouldn’t be able to feed my family, but there is a difference between social safety nets and handouts to everyone (this is Sloth). I have deployed to areas where Communism has destroyed society; it is not self-sustaining. Anyway, I think from a societal perspective the Republican party is better for the economy than the Democratic party. I don’t 100% agree with the Republican party on everything either. Things like Union labor is beneficial not just for maintaining fair wages, but also for protecting the integrity of the trade. Anyway, I digress, my point is I have opinions, and they are mine, and I’m allowed to have them. When politics are brought up Democrats label me as a bigot. I understand why, but I’m not. I see the countless social media posts by Right Wing Christians drunk on pride, beckoning for a war with the Democratic Party, and justifying their anger because they’re “defending their Christian values”, no love in their hearts. I have a daughter who is in the LGBTQ community. While I don’t understand and don’t agree with her lifestyle, I love her. I love her every day. I’m not enabling her lifestyle; I just love her unconditionally. Since when are sinners not allowed in the church? I have sexual sins. I’ve watched porn. I started dating my wife when she was married. She was abandoned and separated but her husband was still alive. I had relations with her prior to marriage. I got her pregnant while she was still married to her ex-husband, I’ve sodomized her, and she isn’t the only woman I’ve had pre-marital relations with. Because my wife was divorced, I didn’t even get married by a Clergyman, but then I was called by God. I repented. Her ex-husband had since passed away, so my wife and I renewed our vows in front of God, and we pray he honors this marriage. I just don’t understand. I love all people. Before God called to me, I found forgiveness in my heart for someone that murdered an ex-girlfriend of mine, and this was before the teachings of the gospel. I joined the Marine Corps to help people. I joined the fire department to help people. My politics have nothing to do with hate. Left extremists hate the right and think we’re all extremists who tote around our AR15s and long for a war with them and want to control the masses through oppression. Right extremists hate the left and think they’re all a violent bunch of radical rebels who want to destabilize the current economic system and take their rights away. And amid all this is the church. Everyone has taken a side. Isn’t there any churches that don’t meddle in politics and just help people find Christ? My wife and I were baptized Protestant so we can’t even receive the sacraments in the Catholic Church. Other denominations are very politically polarized right or left, which I’m not interested in. I don’t believe in predesignation nor do I think the Bible supports it, so there’s that. Other denominations condemn actions that aren’t even supported in the Bible and keep you chained to guilt and fear. Some denominations don’t even notice each other in the pews it’s like being a ghost; others are so cultish you’re not allowed to do anything outside of the church. Tell me, how are you going to help people find Christ without going out into the world. I am always prepared to go down to hell to get someone. I don’t care if it’s a drug house, a strip club, a rave, a casino; when my phone rings and someone needs help, I will go anywhere to get them; it’s in these moments that you sew the seeds of freedom. They may not be ready to love that day, but that seed will grow if someone is willing to put it there and nurture it. I have prayed for a church that loves all. That invites all sinners to come listen. That doesn’t require a membership, that doesn’t make me feel guilty about whatever doctrine they’ve added on to the Bible to make me feel trapped, that doesn’t view someone as hopeless because they see the world differently, that aren’t indifferent about their members or opposite, make you feel guilty or talk poorly of you if you have friends outside of the church. Don’t get me wrong, Jesus is my center, my rock, my everything, but the church is not Christ. Does this place exist on earth, or do I need to wait for the afterlife to find it? I’ve been praying that something leads me to the right church, but I feel more lost now than when I started looking at the beginning of the week. I guess if there’s room in your heart and time in your prayers tonight, I could use some help having my heart reach the heavens. Please lord lead me where I need to be, where you want me to be, this I pray.
Dear God, I thank you for this brother. I pray you help him find a church where there is the love and power of God operating. I pray that he sees himself as you see him. That he is free from condemnation. That he who is forgiven much loves much and that love will permeate his being. I pray you strengthen his family, bring his daughter to Christ and bring more joy into his life. In Jesus name. God bless you brother, I'm biased but perhaps consider attending a church like the Assembly of God? Or even a Southern baptist church seems unlikely to preach much politics, especially from the left. Some charismatic churches too are great, as long as they are not focused too much on money, or have weird end time views. Regardless of the denomination, I pray you light up and will now your place in God. It is a good place too.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
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