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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.

Trump promises $2000 tariff dividend to all Americans

Is there something wrong with the Trump economy? People are saying it's the best ever!

These payments are to offset inflation, which people are saying has been eliminated.
Funny how you snipped out the part where I said "Or is the left now saying the economy is doing well?". If both the left and the right are in agreement that the economy is doing well and inflation has been eliminated, then stimulus payments should make it even better.

Why is the left so against the working class getting a little money?

Is it because it's not going to illegal aliens and foreign countries?
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Why Kat Von D Will Not Get Rid of an Item in Her Home Some Christians Think Is ‘Demonic’

Grotesques on churches are purely decorative carvings, often depicting monstrous or whimsical figures, that serve a symbolic purpose of warding off evil and serving as a visual reminder of the separation between the profane outside and the sacred inside.
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Kilauea Volcano is spectacular today.

With the shutdown over, the web page maintainers at HVO are back on the job and can update with data collected by the scientists during the last 3 epsiodes:


From episode 35, my favorite from the set, taken Oct 18

1763176435644.png


There are a bunch of images of fountains, digging instruments from under the tephra, the tephra hill, but this one from Sunday spoke to me:

1763176639234.png


There is a separation between the end of the road where it falls into the crater and the fountains, but it looks like they are walking towards a gap in lava flow. (The broken road is from Summer 2018.)

The three episodes were:

34: October 1, 6 hours, 375 m
35: October 17, 7.5 hours, 450 m (highest in 40 years)
36: November 9, 5 hours, 375 m
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Do you keep the Sabbath? (poll)

It’s not a matter of reinterpreting the scriptures, it a matter of interpreting them using sound hermeneutical practices which is something that has led to your demise. Both literary and historical contexts are important. You continue to use scriptures that is outside of both.

So I guess you don’t have a verse that shows that the law was given to the church? Why not? After all, your argument relies on the church being given the law directly, right?

God does not change.
  • Psalms 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
  • Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
  • Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
  • James 1:17 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.
God's counsel is immutable (it doesn't change). It is impossible for God to lie.
  • Hebrews 6:16-20 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things [His promise and His oath], in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Conclusion: If God does not change, God's counsel is immutable, and it is impossible for God to lie, all bases are covered concerning the immutable law of God, the Ten Commandments.
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Are the Jews Israel, or is the church Israel? Or does it depend on the context of the passage?

Someone may have answered with this already...

For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.[a] That man’s praise[b] is not from men but from God.
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what is Calvinism answer to how God works?

I noticed you relented from citing examples.
We've been through it enough that I see no point in going around again and again. It's no strawman I'm 'beating up" on, it's the capricious theological monster Calvinists prop up with their word games about compatibilist "free will" that's not really free will and God who is wrathful with human beings who are just carrying out what He has supposedly decreed them to do in the first place.
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The Pharisees are winning

Politics should not divide Christians. But there is a battle between Christians and a large group right now that derives their morality from atheist secular humanist thought. That's where a lot of "woke" ideology comes from, and they place that ideology above God's. That's why Charlie Kirk was shot, they thought their morality overrode his Christian teaching.
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Congregation protests closure of Episcopal church amid sex abuse investigation, demands reopening

I prefer not to say denomination because it is no indictment of them. It could happen any number of places in a shrinking congregation. The setting was a city church in a large city's once thriving neighborhood that had gone seriously downhill and was then infested with prostitution, drugs, and all that comes with it. Most of the former members had moved out and moved on - probably for good reason - all save the diehards who refused to give up. It was sad in one way, yet a few were still doing church in the midst of squalor. So, there was that. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Ahhhh, gotcha!
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What really is "dividing the body of Christ"??

People use this phrase a lot when there are arguments but for the most part, it looks like people are using it incorrectly, so I thought I'd start off this discussion by expounding on what is, and isn't "dividing the body of Christ".

1. First, let's define the word "dividing".
Dividing means to separate. I mean, that's as plain as it can get lol. If you divide an apple in half, you are cutting into two pieces. It is no longer whole, it is divided.

2. Now, what is the body of Christ?
It's a metaphor used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 to describe the Church as a whole. All believers in Jesus, united under one head of leadership. We can get more nuanced with this but let's just leave it as, anyone who follows Christ in faith. So regardless of denomination, race, or background.

3. Dividing the Body of Christ
So instead of unity (one body) all following Christ, you have division. Examples of this are:
  • A) Breaking unity over non-essentials like: "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos" (1 Corinthians 3:4).
  • B) Promoting False Doctrine (Galatians 5:7-10, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 1:10)
  • Gossip or slander (Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 16:28, 2 Corinthians 12:20) But there is a difference between "quarreling" and debate. The motive for quarreling is often pride (James 4:1) and can be over arguments that are "foolish" in nature (Titus 3:9) because the outcome ruins "good hearers" (2 Timothy 2:14 and 2 Timothy 2:23). The Motive for a debate is restoration by correction which can have a fruitful outcome when someone is corrected.
4. So if promoting false doctrine is considered dividing the body, what is NOT dividing the body?

Rebuke: Correcting a person in error by holding them accountable, correcting behavior and correcting scripture. (Matthew 18:15, Luke 17:3, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:13)

If someone is preaching something false, that's already divided, but debating someone or even getting into a heated debate, isn't dividing, it's actually an attempt at becoming whole again where both people can agree. THAT is unity. So I think people need to be careful that just because 2 people are having an argument/debate, doesn't necessarily mean division, when scripturally speaking its a step towards unity (depending on context of course).

Denominations are already scripturally divided and we should duke it out more often so we can come together in unity of belief instead of attempting to pacify the debate with a chastisement of "dividing the body of Christ" which is only preventing us from actually being whole and keeping us divided with "you interpret it this way, I interpret it this way" and leaving it in that divided state. That's not helping, thats encouraging continued true division.

So within this context, can we stop throwing that phrase around and continue debating so we can become a unified front instead of a fractured one?

Now, within that spirit, feel free to debate me. :heart:

1Co 12:13 For by one spirit we are all immersed into one body.....

The universal blood bought body of Christ is not divided. It might have differing levels of maturity, but that is by design.
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Blue Origin's New Glenn T-20

The highlight of the mission was the booster catch (see short 90 second video). It looked like they were going to miss the droneship by a full 50 yards. But then corrected themselves for a successful landing right on the middle of the landing platform. It looked like welding sparks at the very end securing themselves to the platform.
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What is the meaning of Total Depravity?

The natures of divine life, angelic life and human life are not the same.
When discussing "eternal life" and "immortal life" they are technically identical

Your claim differentiated these states and your response didn't seem to pick up on the logic flaw
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What's on your mind? Friendship Court edition.

This might sound crazy or stupid, but I actually used to have time to do my job accurately and without the anxiety I experience now. Now, it's all about "rush, rush, rush", "meet your goal", "money, money, money". Our work is closely monitored now. I (and others) actually have to calculate when to go to the bathroom so we're not accused of taking too long on a task. Have you ever heard of such a thing happening in the workplace? This is something you would expect in a Communist country.



I've desired to do something with Linux for some time. I don't know how I would go about that. When I look for Linux jobs, they want knowledgeable people with schooling. I do not ever want to go back to college again. American colleges are scams and you can't do anything with your degree. I've tried twice to get a good job with college, it doesn't work.

If I could make money off of my writing, I would do it.

Don't resign yet, think twice before you do so, considering that the economy is not in good shape.

Did you mean you are so tightly monitored that even your bathroom times are recorded?

Writing? That might be a good idea, I wish I could write well (but I don't).
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What would have happened to Adam and Eve and Cain after death?


This is about as clear as it gets. The body returns to dust and to the earth while the spirit (soul) returns to God. You can’t deny the plain reading.
Hentenza you are so right, in that the texts is very clear. However, most of christianity get it wrong including you, sorry. I had too, early in my christian walk. Why are so many deceived on this issue, because most have been mislead from early childhood before they were old enough to study their bibles. Mislead by parents and pastors giving eulogies at funerals.

In your above statement Hentenza, after the word spirit, you insert the word soul, because you and most others think spirit is synonymous with soul. I have been trying to show you it is not, which is not easy when someone gets settled on a belief. So lets look at a few more texts for clarity on what this spirit actually is.

"The body without the spirit is dead" (James 2:26)
"The spirit of God is in my nostrils" (Job 23:3)
"The Lord formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul' (Gen 2:7)

It is not the word "soul" that is synonymous with spirit, but rather the phrase "breath of life", according to the bible.

And as I have been sharing with you in past post, a "soul" is the combination of two elements, body + breath of life. Thus a soul is a living individual. Gods Word teaches that we are souls--not that we have souls. Therefore, upon death, a living individual/souls body returns to the earth and the spirit/breath of life returns to God, and the individual/soul ceases to exsist in life and sleeps in the first death until they are called to life again in either the first of second resurrection.

This teaching is affirmed in (Ecc.9:5,6,10; Psalm 115:17)"The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing...", "The dead do not praise the Lord"

"For David did not acend into the heaven"
(Acts 2:29,34)

"Only God is immortal" (1 timothy 6:15,16) The concept of an undying immortal soul is not found in the bible, which teaches that that souls are subject to death.

Jesus called the unconscious state of the dead, sleep in (Jn.11:11-14)

I have brought you and all others who may read this thread to a cross road in your undrerstanding of a soul. Will you continue on the broad road you have been traveling or will you take the less travel road through the narrow gate? Your faith in God's Word or lack thereof, will determine your path.

Blessings
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Cursed is the heart of this people

From Wikipedia:

“No excavations are allowed on the Temple Mount, and no positively identified remains of the destroyed temple have been found.”

May I suggest to you the First temple was never in Palestine.

That is not what the thread is about, it is about Pharisees.

And I myself never use wiki.
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Please pray for Indonesia.

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For partners in Indonesia.
(Sorry for the strange formatting that appeared when I copied from email and do not know how to change.)
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Our partner in Indonesia trains and equips Christian leaders who are from a Muslim background, giving them a biblical understanding of mission and preparing them to reach out in areas where they may face persecution for the gospel.

Pray
that God will bless and protect our partner; particularly for strength to manage the heavy responsibilities carried on a daily basis.


Pray for recent graduates from the mission training as they return to their ministry locations: that the Lord will give them boldness as well as discernment in sharing Christ with those around them. Many have already experienced persecution and hardship.

Pray for Indonesia, a hugely populated country, which faces many on-going challenges. Pray for the millions of Indonesians who live in spiritual darkness, and who have never heard the gospel.

Pray for Christians from a Muslim background, who often face rejection and persecution from their communities. At the same time, they can also find it difficult to fit into the existing Christian culture and churches.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world and accounts for 13% of all Muslims globally.

In Search of Character

I am at a point where I would rather see character in any leadership rather than my political views. Here at the local city and county level, or even place of work, I can get behind someone I know and trust even if I do not agree with them.

And I am concerned about the future of our society. How do we promote the development of character in our children? Examples? Role models? Television and social media? There are so many factors and possibilities.

US Christian 'paedophile hunter' flew to UK; gets 7 years to help him find himself

In some ways the vigilante self-professed "pedophile hunters" present just as big of a public safety concern as actual pedophiles.

"Vigilante justice", while swifter and more satisfying to some than actual justice, is often prone to mistakes and rash decision making.

There have been plenty of stories about those guys thinking they got the right person (based on descriptions that aren't detailed enough to be "for sure" IDs to make sure they got the right guy), and then committing what's tantamount to a gang assault on the wrong person.

They've also publicly harassed the wrong people in stores and restaurants yelling "this guy was planning on having sex with <insert age here> girl", and then find out after the fact that smeared someone in public for no reason.


Then there's other stories where the so-called "hunters" have become the hunted.

I'll see if I can find the story....pretty sure I've linked it on here before.

But there was that one so-called "predator hunter" who "operated" in Ohio and Michigan, and was famous for uploading videos of him and his buddies cornering a person in a public place, and then slapping them on camera, and when the people would threaten to call police he'd say "that's fine, when the cops get here I'll take that charge, you take the pedophilia charge"

Well, one day they got the wrong person, that person didn't take kindly to being surrounded in a parking lot 4-to-1, being called a "pedo" and getting slapped, and decided to exercise a little vigilante justice of his own and shot the guy (I believe he ended up dying), and wounded one of his "henchmen".
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