NxNW said:

Hard to say, but Trump Always Chickens Out.

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What does Trump have to do with senate votes?

i visited a local Assembly of God here in Sequoyah County Okla. last weeks mid week service and again yesterday morning , i saw no evidence of the Holy Ghost, no gifts of the Spirit , no prayer to invite his presence , no place to kneel and pray, the worship service had recoded music that was uninviting . what has happened to the old time Pentecostal , singing and shouting and the moving of the spirit ?

Stopped_lurking said:

What does this have to do with what I wrote? The new rule changes are done not at the bequest of trans athletes but to pander to those that see trans people competing with those of their self-identified gender as problematic, at least in athletics. I just responded to the statement that it was trans people trying to change the rules, while that is not true from what I know. When sex tests stopped in 1992 it was not because of trans competitors.

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Again, your tacit premise is that novel rule-changing is coming from the right, and that's what it has to do with what you wrote. Your idea that it is the right and not the left that is trying to change the status quo is incorrect. Sports have been segregated between males and females for a long time, and anyone who understands what sport is understands why this segregation should occur. That is the status quo. Now we have a new group (trans) that wants to deviate from that status quo and disregard the nature of competitive sport. They are precisely the ones "trying to change the rules." It is not a new rule that biological males are not allowed to play in female sporting leagues, and this remains true even if such a rule must be made explicit in light of new challenges.

Stopped_lurking said:

They say some discrimination is against the law, not discrimination in general. Anti-discrimination laws does not forbid discrimination in general do they?

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Again, there is nothing special about law. No one is disputing the fact that existing laws must be navigated. That is part of the point of arguing over whether some form of discrimination should be illegal. If we make bad law which outlaws a just and good form of discrimination, we will have to navigate that bad law for years to come. The post of yours I replied to was not primarily about law, but rather about school policies:

Stopped_lurking said:

Does the schools really put any other demands on the students than that they should treat their fellow student and teachers the same regardless of gender identity or sexuality? No disparaging remarks or slurs, everybody need to be prepared to cooperate with each other.

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You were saying, "It isn't unreasonable to demand that students and teachers be treated the same regardless of gender identity or sexuality." The point is that it is unreasonable given that people will construe that demand as requiring, for example, that biological males are able to compete in female sporting leagues.

I haven't generally made points vis-a-vis your own positions, given that I don't know exactly what they are. I have made points against "the left." I don't know whether you agree or disagree with the points I've made, but part of my point is that your notion that it is not unreasonable to demand non-discrimination falls into the broader naivete I am trying to illustrate. You are assuming via petitio principii that it must be good that zero discrimination occurs along the lines of gender identity or sexuality, and that is a symptom of the broader problem I have been trying to illustrate.

Who are the righteous? In 1 John 3:7 we read that “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous,” as God is righteous. And righteousness is God’s judicial approval, i.e. what is deemed right by the Lord, i.e. what is approved in His eyes. And what God approves is all that is holy, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, submissive to God, and obedient to God and to his commands. And this is made possible to us by God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ, whereby we die with him to sin and now walk in obedience to him.

And when it says here that the path (the way, the walk) of the righteous is “level,” it means that it is uprightness (or straightness), which means decent, honest, moral, honorable, law-abiding, trustworthy, and authentic (real, sincere, truthful). But it is God who makes straight the way of the righteous. We can only be righteous in the eyes of the Lord by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, and via death to sin and walks of obedience to his commands, by the grace of God, and empowered by God; not of the flesh.

When we, by faith in Jesus Christ, believe on the Lord Jesus, it should transform our lives. Sin should no longer be our practice, but now righteousness and holy living should be what we practice, in lifestyle. And our Lord and his commands and his will and purpose for our lives should be the desire of our souls. We should not be those who are looking out for “loopholes” in order to excuse away sin so that we can go on sinning without conscience and without feelings of guilt. We should desire obedience to God.

We should also not be people who just give God a cursory nod, i.e. a quick and superficial gesture given to him without much thought or engagement with him and with his plan for our lives. We should not be those who give God a brief acknowledgment of him before moving on to something else. But sadly that is how many people are approaching faith in Jesus Christ, as this one-time acknowledgement of what he did for us on that cross, and in his bodily resurrection, before they continue living however they want to live.

Instead, we are to be the people of God who yearn for the Lord, even in the night, and who honestly and sincerely and earnestly seek the Lord and his truth and his righteousness in surrender to his will and in walks of obedience to his commands. We should desire to know the will of God and then to do it in his power, strength, and wisdom. We should be those who are learning and who are applying righteousness to our daily walks of faith. For this is not just about what Jesus does for us, but what is required of us, in return.

And it is absolutely true that if favor is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness. And this is happening big time in the USA today. So many people have diluted and altered the gospel to make it a mere profession of faith in the Lord where obedience and repentance are either dismissed entirely or they are made optional and not required of God for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God. So many profess the name of Jesus, but many continue then in their wickedness without conscience.

So, it appears that the only way in which the Lord is going to reach the hearts and minds of those who profess his name, but who live the opposite of God’s will, is going to be through judgment. And I believe the USA and “the church” in the USA are already under the judgment of God, because so many have believed the lies and rejected the truth of God’s word, and they are living by the flesh and not by the Spirit in righteous and holy living. It is what the church and my nation need to get right with God, to obey him.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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Judgment is Necessary
An Original Work / October 6, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

orbiter said:

Peace in Christ.

Again, we…His people…Christ the firstfruits… will shine the light/manifest His presence to the outside people of the world who are sitting in deep darkness.

We …His people…are the first to HEAR the Word of Truth and believe (without seeing)….and those who are His in the outside world will then be able to SEE His manifest presence through us and believe. Blessed are those who have not seen and believe. John 20:29 .

Jas 1:16-18 KJV
(16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.
(17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
(18) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Every man in his order…that is, set or troop:

We…Christ the firstfruits… who will manifest His presence to the world (His "creatures") are made alive first…and those who are Christ’s (in the outside world) at the seeing of His presence manifest in His people are then made alive.

The believing people of the outside world will see His presence being made manifest in the Christ the firstfruits group of people and will be His also. They are Christ's IN His presence...and we manifest His presence to them.

1Co 15:22-23
(22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
(23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's IN his coming (Greek: Parousia =PRESENCE).

Christ the firstfruits are the 144,000. They are the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Every man in his order/set. We are the first to hear and believe in the Word of Truth.

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I'm sorry, but you are mistaken. Paul wrote that Christ Himself is the firstfruits (or firstfruit) of them that slept. A few translations translate the Greek word as "firstfruit" instead of "firstfruits" there. Regardless, you need to look at the verses preceding verses 22 and 23 to see the context of what "Christ the firstfruits" means.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

Look at verse 20 here. It says Christ Himself "is risen from the dead" and He "has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep". So, this says that Christ Himself is the firstfruits. The firstfruits of who or what? Those who have fallen asleep. Those who are physically/bodily dead. He was the first to be bodily raised from the dead unto bodily immortality and because of that, the dead in Christ (those who have fallen asleep) will also be raised unto bodily immortality.

Acts 26:23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

So, 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 is saying that Christ was the first to bodily rise from the dead unto bodily immortality and then at His second coming next in order are those who belong to Christ. The dead in Christ will be resurrected when He comes again, as Paul wrote about later in the chapter in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 in relation to the dead in Christ being resurrected at the last trumpet and also in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 where it talks about the dead in Christ all being resurrected when Christ comes again and being gathered with those who are alive and remain to meet the Lord in the air.

rubyshoes said:

You can get a breakdown of how your tax money is spent via the .gov website.

I just checked mine out of curiosity for tax year 22-23. On a salary of £51000, the 20% of my income tax was spent as follows:

View attachment 371165

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Aah, I think I misunderstood before. You are talking about the percentage of the taxes while I was talking about percentage of income going to taxes.

This would put the % of income going to healthcare at around .198*.236 so.. about 4,7% , rounding up.

SavedByGrace3 said:

It took me several years to even start discerning this voice within me. I am sure He intends for us to live this reality much sooner in our walk. I was likely distracted by teachings and doctrines that evoked the Hebrews 6:1-3 block. I feel I now (after 54 years) have a better sense of what is of the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth). If you are a young believer, do your best not to get sidetracked by suspect teachings and doctrines. Stay with the orthodox until you feel comfortable that you are hearing from Him.
Thank you for this post.

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Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts on this subject. I am 75 (nearly 76) years old, and I was probably 54 years old when I really began to dig deeply into the Scriptures and to hear the Spirit within me more clearly guiding me in the way that I should go. And I believed in Jesus at age 7. But these past 21 years is when I have grown the most in my walk of faith. Sue

The Federal Election Commission is down to 2 members. So its work is at a standstill​

Without a quorum of commissioners, what is the FEC able to do?​

The short answer is that the FEC hasn't been able to do any policy work for months, but some of the day-to-day functions continue.

"It takes four votes to issue any penalties, to start any investigations, to conclude any investigations, to start any audits, to issue any rules, to answer any questions — you need four votes at the FEC to get pretty much anything of substance done," [former commissioner] said. "And once the commission runs down, down below that magic number of four, it really cannot do its job."

Some core functions continue. Candidates and political groups still have to report their finances and other information to the FEC, regardless of whether there is a quorum.

"Fortunately, there are things that the staff can do without input of commissioners," Weintraub said. "They can maintain the database, which is, of course, the core function of the agency, is to make money in politics transparent to the American people so that the American people will see where the money's coming from and where the money's going."

[Campaign finance] complaints might be rolling in pretty much every day, but no action can be taken. She says this creates a situation in which people who want to follow the law will be unable to get proper guidance — and "political actors who are inclined to be aggressive in their interpretations of law are not going to get any pushback."

Brightfame52 said:

Mumble jumbo

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Only if God's Word is mumbo jumbo. But somehow I figured you wouldn't have a cogent response anyway.

Carl Emerson said:

Personally I think a big part of the problem is that Churches have lost touch with the healing grace available through the Cross and abdicated responsibility for the flock to 'professional services'.

Elders are not seen as the 'go to' source of healing prayer because of poor or little biblical teaching.

The ministry of Jesus cannot operate in fellowships that have lost touch with the reality of the healing power available through the Cross and become a social event commemorating a faith that once was.

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I agree, but there is a safeguarding risk. People can use concepts like prayer for deliverance as a means of abusive control, and people who themselves have an incorrect perspective because of their own battles can be totally wrong about who needs to be healed. Where I live there are regional exorcists availiable, but if someone in the home has a diagnosed mental health problem, it is not permitted to request an exorcism. It is difficult to see a solution, because we do not have any criteria with which to distinguish suffering from the impact of living in a home that requires stronger spiritual protection and things a doctor would call a mental health crisis.

dms1972 said:

I am going to read some more of Adrio Konig's book The Eclipse of Christ In Eschatology: Toward a Christ-Centred Approach. I am not sure how well known it is, probably less so than the books of Hal Lindsey and some of the others big names in the field of Eschatology. I am not sure if he can be pigeon-holed in any single End Times view? (Please let me know if he does align with one). He see Eschatology and Christology as inseparable and Eschatology as goal-directed Christology.

I'll not post a link, but the text of it is online and shouldn't be too hard to find in a search.

Here is a review:

Reviews

"Reviews" published on 01 Jan 1990 by Brill.

brill.com

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The review is right to criticize Konig, and praise him for what he does do well. However, from the perspective of my own beliefs, I would reject his Amillennialism and sense of a realized Kingdom, even if he leaves some room for a futurist eschatology. It seems he is just changing the meaning of words when he describes Christ's 1st Coming as "the Last???"

I agree with the criticism that though he is biblical, he is overly "systematic," and assumes that every biblical author uses a complementary language or explanation. All biblical authors are in agreement on the truths of God and doctrine, but they describe things in different ways that I don't think the kind of systematic eschatology Komig is arguing for.

And in trying to steer a "middle path" between two divergent views he ends up divergent himself. How can you claim the 1st Coming is "eschatology" while leaving room for a futurist eschatology? In my view, you can't.

Oddly enough, my favorite author on eschatology is George E. Ladd, who wrote a book called "the Presence of the Future." He had a similar inclination to say that Christ's 1st Coming had eschatological elements to it. Perhaps Konig had read some of Ladd?

Anyway, it can't hurt reading material like this because even if you "keep an open mind" and disagree with some of it, every Christian author tends to include something from the Spirit that can fill in some of the blanks in your overall picture.

Clearly, I don't mean to criticize as anything more than an inferior looking upwards to great minds. But I have a more objective perspective at times with no axe to grind and no skin in the game. And I've read enough to be informed.

Gregory Thompson said:

I recall the great disappointment was related to the Jehovah Witnesses also ..

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We had a JW round to our door, years ago, who told us that Jesus had returned in 1914.
My grandparents were only just born in 1914.

eclipsenow said:

If I had said "Trump will overthrow democracy" that would be hyperbole. But that I give it a 5% chance of actually happening?

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Radical, far Left, Antifa, terrorist, Anarchists, are attempting to overthrow Democracy.

Their chances for success approach zero.

Cooler weather is never everywhere.

day trader

soldier of light said:

Are we born again by loving God and others?

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

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And. there. some that quote 1 John 4:7 but fail to say what 1 John 5:18 that says :

We know that whosoever is BORN. of God SINNETH NOT. //. OV and. the Greek word OV , is a ISJUNCATIVE PARICLE

NEGATIVE and it. means that you will NEVERRRRR. never sin. ever again EVERRR '

what say you. ??

And when does , BORN. of God that will never SIN happen in. what time frame. , it happens during the

GREAT TRIBULATION. and not NOW. !!

dan p

stevevw said:

In that sense I think we are going through a testing time and with that not only will we see evil in its full personification. But Christ within Christians. Bold Christians standing up for Christ. In that sense CHarlies death has emarked a new era that is coming to the minds of Christians.

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Sadly, I think in most Western churches, there is little desire to go out and share the Gospel with the lost. Most believers focus on making friends with unbelievers, then inviting them to church in the hope that they might hear the Gospel there.
This approach has weakened the Church. Many people now fill the pews not because they’ve come to the foot of the cross, but because they’ve come for friendship. A few may hear the Gospel and experience a true heart change, but most simply attend, enjoy the community, and then spend the week trying to invite another friend to church, and the cycle continues. The church grows in number but not in strength.
That said, I do believe there’s a place for friendship evangelism, but it should never be our main focus. We should always share the Gospel with our friends before inviting them to church. Our primary calling is to proclaim the Gospel. When we speak boldly, and people hear and are transformed, then they will want to come to church. That’s how the Church is filled with true believers rather than unbelievers seeking friendship. And if we share the full Gospel, both the bad news and the Good, with our new friend, and they reject it, then they won’t want to come to church. In that way, we avoid filling the Church with weeds and instead keep it a gathering for those who truly desire Christ.

stevevw said:

I think there are many ways to show the gospel and truth. .....But I think there's more than one way to skin a cat so to speak......The many good Christians who help the poor in the gutters that no one else cares about have always been a shinning example. Following Christs example of humility and quietness in the background, helping and saving many.

But also across all walks of life and prfession, doctors, psychologists, the many social welfare workers who are Christians and helping practically and in some way bring God to many by their example and disposition.

I think this will all be more recognised and rise up as a good example which backs the truth of Christ.

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People are watching us, and so we should do good deeds. It becomes a good witness. But this still does not replace the fact that we need to speak the Gospel. The Gospel is a spoken message. How shall they here without someone to tell them?
Our actions substantiate what we know and believe. And we can either be a good or a bad witness.
If we do bad things, our word becomes compromised, and people will be less likely to believe what we say. The opposite of this is when we act in love; this will lend credibility to our word. For example, in a court of law, if you have 2 people with conflicting testimonies, one is a prostitute, and the other is a doctor. The doctor is the one most people would believe, as his word is not compromised by his deeds, like the prostitute's. He is a good witness.
So, your actions validate what you believe, and then, when you do say the Gospel, people will be more likely to believe what you say.
But when doing good deeds, we must not forget to share the Gospel. We need to share the Gospel by speaking it. Our good deeds are not the power of God unto salvation. They only give us an opportunity to share, and they give our words credibility. Then, when we do say the Gospel, it will give glory to God.

Another example. If I were talking to someone downtown and a passerby heard me use God's name as a curse word, that would not be very good. Then, if I were to go to a park a few days after this and say the Gospel to that same passerby, my words that I say have been tainted because of my previous conduct. He would think to himself, "This fuller does not even truly believe himself because he uses his own God's name as a curse word." So, I am therefore not a good witness. My actions did not bring Glory to God. Instead, they were a disgrace. Our actions substantiate our words. Therefore, bringing Glory to God.

So, love our neighbour by caring for their needs. But also, love them enough to warn them of the condemnation that they are under. It would be unloving to know of God, everlasting life, Judgement, death and the way out, and then not to tell people of it. Love by deed and word.

Trump sparks anger in Italy over pasta tariffs​

The US has slapped a 92pc anti-dumping duty on two major Italian pasta producers, La Molisana and Garofalo, with a dozen other companies potentially also in the firing line.

Italian farming body Coldiretti on Saturday said the 107pc total tariff would deal a “mortal blow” to Italy’s €670m (£584m) in annual pasta sales to the US.

Good!

rambot said:

Any right wingers able to help us understand why Republicans aren't as excited to get the Epstein files released suddenly?

Boy...what changes in a year.st like they

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Some Republicans are being told it's a hoax. Just like they believe COVID-19, January 6th was a Democratic hoax. So, they are being lied to.

BCP1928 said:

What alternative solution do you suggest?

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I don't have a solution, but the two-state approach has repeatedly failed over the past century, so it's unreasonable to keep pursuing it.

timewerx said:

Jesus refers to the Bible as "Scriptures"

The "Word of God" wasn't promised to be given in scriptures.

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Here's how It was given:

Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

timewerx said:

The reason I'm quoting from the Bible is because this is the only way we'll understand each other.

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No need to apologize.

Now that’s thrilling.

Perhaps with more research we can build a translator and talk to the elephants : I would like that. Indeed if elephants have the memory people say they do, which I doubt but it is possible given the enormous size of their brain, perhaps elephants could be used as court reporters and in other memory intensive roles in around 100 years due to the possible emergent problem of AI deepfakes rendering video recordings unreliable.

Note that the last paragraph was made in jest ; I imagine the elephants would recoil at the thought of having to listen to humans babble on.

Jesus's teachings help make a moral life accessible. Although accepting Christ isn't necessary to have a conscience or otherwise do the right thing, he offers wisdom. Contrast what Jesus teaches with the rat race, heavily performative religions, or the idea that you must be fortunate or intelligent enough to find the keys to a moral life on your own, and the difference becomes apparent.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

The difference isn't about whether a moral Christian is more moral than a moral nonbeliever. Both are moral. The difference is that the teachings of Jesus make it easier to arrive at the destination.