wager, I am taking wagers here. This OP is NOT about whether anyone who has heard of Jesus and the gospel but refuses to believe before he dies will be sent to the Lake of Fire. I'm assuming you think so. This post focuses on wagering on what you believe.


Let proposition P1 = Anyone who has heard of Jesus and the gospel but refuses to believe before he dies will be sent to the Lake of Fire.


P2 = not P1.


Between 0 and 10, how much weight do you put on each of the above propositions? The stronger your belief in a proposition, the higher the weight. Your weighting scheme will determine the betting odds.

.Mikha'el. said:

Agreed. I don't believe in proselytizing either. 99.9% of the time, it just falls on deaf ears.

Click to expand...

I do agree also. There could be a slim chance that proselytizing works, but it is better to show our Christian faith through our actions instead of words.

This Court of 3rd Jewish Temple

Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple, leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Rev 11:2a but the court which is without the (3rd) temple leave out, and measure it not; for it (the court) is given unto the Gentiles:

Purpose of the Gentile Court

• Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas became bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you: but seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the you Gentiles. Act 13:47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.
• Luk 8:46 And Jesus said, Somebody has touched me: for I perceive that virtue hath gone out of me. Luk 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared to him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. Luk 8:48 And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole; go in peace.

Act 15:14 Simeon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for his name.

(Matt 14:14-20 Heb 12:23 Act 20:28 True Church)

Rev 11:2 continues

The City of Jerusalem

Rev 11:2b and the holy city (Jerusalem)

(Tribulation Jerusalem Rev 11:17:3-6, Rev 14:8 Rev 17:8 Rev 18:1-24 Rev 21:10)

Jerusalem (Rev 17:1-6, 11:8, 17:15-18, Dan 9:26,27 {Acts 7:23 1Pet 5:13 Rev 17:5 Rev 18:1-3, 18:4-8, 18:9,10, 18:11-17,23,24 18:18,19 Zech 5:5-11 Rev 14:8, 19:2, 16:19, 18:21} {Parallels Rev 2:20-24}).

The Great harlot sits identifies a parallel explaining Perverted Lucifer establishing Corrupt Tribulation Jerusalem as Capital City of the 4th World Empire (Rev 17:9-11,17,14) of Humanity (Rev 17:3,17,18,9-11 13:5-7 16:10 16:19 {Dan 7:7,8 2:40}).

Corrupt Tribulation Jerusalem (Rev 17:1-6 11:8 17:15,16 Dan 9:26,27 Rev 17:18 {Acts 7:23 1Pet 5:13 Rev 17:5 Rev 18:1-3 18:4-8 18:9,10 18:11-17,23,24 18:18,19 Zech 5:5-11 Rev 14:8 19:2 16:19 18:21} {Parallels Rev 2:20-24}).

The Great harlot (Jerusalem Rev 17:18, 11:8, 18:2c)

Hos 2:13 And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the LORD.

Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls (great wealth=riches), having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Rev 18:16 And saying, alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls (great wealth=riches)!

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Rev 17:18 And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

ev 11:2b continues

Israel=the Woman

Gen_3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden

(Tribulation Jerusalem Rev 11:17:3-6, Rev 14:8 Rev 17:8 Rev 18:1-24 Rev 21:10)

• Rev_12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
• Rev_12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
• Rev_12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
• Rev_12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
• Rev_12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
• Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
• Rev_12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
• Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
• Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
• Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.
• Rev 17:18 And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

Rev 11:2b continues

The Mark of Jerusalem, Israel (The Woman)

Rev 17:5a upon her (Great harlot-Jerusalem) forehead (frontal identification-famed position) was a name (title) written,

Note: The Forehead of the Great harlot identifies a parallel explaining recognized famed position (Jer 2:20 3:2-6 {Hos 5:7) of Tribulation Jerusalem (Rev 18:1-3 11:8 17:18 {Amos 5:2 Zeph 3:1}) among residents of Earth.

Acts 7:23 when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

Peter 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you; and so does Marcus my son.

Daniel 9:26 after threescore and two weeks will Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof will be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Rev 17:1-6 there came one of the seven angels that had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto you the judgment of the great harlot that sits upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [ I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Rev 11:8 their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, that spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Rev 17:18-18:3 the woman that you saw is that great city, that reigns over the kings of the earth. 18:1 After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lit with his glory. 2 he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Rev 18:21 a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, thus with violence will that great city Babylon be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. Continued on next page:

Rev 11:2b continues

The Marks of the Children of Jerusalem

Rev 13:4 they worshipped the dragon that gave power unto the beast: they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like the beast? who is able to make war with him?

The Mark of Perverted Lucifer Rev 14:9 the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, Rev 13:15-16 he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 he causes all, both small and great, rich, and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

The Mark of the Man of Sin Rev 13:17-18 that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Tribulation Jerusalem the Mystification of Tyranny

Rev 17:5b MYSTERY (Mystification), BABYLON (Tyranny) THE GREAT (renowned),

Note: Corrupt Tribulation Jerusalem is Mystery (Rev 2:24 12:13) Babylon (Rev 18:2,10,23,24 14:8 16:19 {Acts 7:43 1Pet 5:13}) the Great (Rev 17:1 17:18 18:10,16-19 14:8 19:2).

Babel Parallels Jerusalem Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: 2Cor 11:14,15 appears as light but speak lies John 8:44

The Mystery

2Thes 2:7-11 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 then will that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the spirit of his mouth, and will destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 for this cause God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Rev 17:7 the angel said unto me, wherefore did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads and ten horns.

Zech 2:7 Deliver yourself, O Zion (temple hill), that dwells with the daughter of Babylon.

The Third Jewish Temple (Cup-temple Rev 17:4)

Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship in it.

Rev 11:1a and there was given (Jesus by angel) me (John) reed (writing pen) like (similar) unto a rod (ruling scepter): and the angel stood, saying, Rise, *and measure the (3rd) temple (Zech 6:12-14) of God, and the altar, Psalms 73-83 of Asaph explaining prophecy

• Num 17:2 Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods: write you every man's name upon his rod. Num 17:3 And you shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
• 2nd Temple: Luk 21:6 As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down. 2nd temple to be destroyed
• Psa 74:19 O deliver not the soul of your turtle dove to the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of your poor forever. Psa 74:20 Have respect to the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
• 2nd Temple: Mat 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, (1) and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, (2) and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, (3) and the seats of them that sold doves.

*3rd Temple: 2Th 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sit in the temple (Zech 6:12-14 Rev 17:4) of God, showing himself that he is God.

*3rd Temple: Mat 24:15 When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation (man of sin), spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads let him understand

*3rd Temple: Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Psa 74:8 They said in their hearts, let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. Psa 74:1-7

Rev 11:1 continues

Future 6th Trumpet Kingdom Saints

Rev 11:1b and them (Jews Dan 11:22-28 following the man of sin {*turn from him}) that worship therein (3rd Jewish Temple Rev 11:1a).

*Zech 13:8,9 Jews remaining (war)

Mat 23:2 Saying, the scribes and the Pharisees (want to) sit in Moses' seat: Matt 23:1-12 {*Rev 12:6, 14-17 some remain to follow Moses Rev 11:3})

*Some Jews remain and do not follow the man of sin; they turn to Moses and Elijah Rev 11:3-10 they will remain under the treaty of Abraham

Covenant of Abraham

Abraham made covenants with God when he received the gospel, when he was ordained a high priest, and when he entered into celestial marriage. In these covenants, God promised great blessings to Abraham & his family. These blessings, that extend to all of Abraham's seed, are called the Abrahamic covenant

Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham for our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones (Jewish Saints=2/3rds Abraham Covenant {1/3rd 6th Trumpet Kingdom} Zech 13:7,8) to raise up children to Abraham.

Mat 23:2 Saying, the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses's seat.

Mat 8:4 And Jesus says to him, see you tell no man; but go, show yourself to the, and offer he gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. Matt Chapter 23

Exo 32:35 LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf that Aaron made.

Referencing the OP:
Last paragraph of Russell Moore's article

We take marching orders from Mount Zion, not from Mar-a-Lago. The watching world should know the difference, and so should we. We can pretend it doesn’t matter, but it does. What difference does it make who walks in to the tune of “Hail to the Chief” if our children don’t believe us when we say, “Jesus is Lord”?

BCP1928 said:

I still don't get it. Here, let's say, we have a biological woman who wishes, for whatever reason, to function in society as a man. She adopts the superficial appearance of a man--men's clothing, hairstyle, etc. and would like it if you would respond to her in social contexts (school or workplace, for the most part) as if she was a man. She knows she hasn't go male reproductive organs and thinks it likely you do too but doesn't care because she is not requiring you to believe she does.

That is the physical and lived reality. You're the one with the ideology.

Click to expand...

But its not that simple and everyone knows that. This is what the ideology does, it creates false representations to confuse and fool people. Your using one example to represent the ideology when its much more than that.

First you say the women identifying as a man "would like others to go along" as though its a take it or leave it proposition. Which would be ok if that was the case. But this is not what happens in reality. People are not given an option. For some if you don't go along, misgenered them, disagree that they are actually a male. They are attacked, some lose their jobs and often financially and emotionally destroyed.

I just explained to you that the Trans ideologues state that a Trans person should be treated like the sex their identify as. Not maybe, or you have a choice. But should be and if not you are being transphobic by not affirming them. This is a core principle of Trans ideology, that the real measure of sex is gender identity and not the physical attributes.

So its not that some may not care and be aware that they are not really the opposite sex. But that taken to its logical conclusion there will be some if not many according to the logic of the trans ideology who will want and even demand to be seen as being real women where the physical body is completely irrelevant and made invisible because identity is the new objective reality. Therefore logically they should be affirmed and treated as real women.

BCP1928 said:

How are her feelings more real than objective reality? They can't change her biology.

Click to expand...

Actually its when we apply the ideology to objective reality and real life situations. Its not just about comparing the persons own subjective beliefs to themselves within their own little world but when they want to apply that to reality outside themselves onto others.

So the trans persons subjective feelings about self trump the objective reality of say biological women when the trans persons wants to take the feelings about herself and apply it to say competing in womens sports or entering womens private spaces. Thats when the stark reality that they are not really women in reality conflicts.

If you take the logic of the ideology to its logical end then it makes sense that a person who truely believes and feels they are the opposite sex would then want to do everything the opposite sex does. Otherwise they are being denied their womenhood or manhood. Being on the outer which people would say is descriminatory and unfair.

So its not that all trans want to push their subjective reality onto the objective world and others but that the ideologies own logic states that if the situation demands it, if the trans person wants it their subjective feelings should trump biological womens reality by allowing them to live a full life as a women in every way. Which follows that biological women should accept a transwomen in their spaces. Otherwise she is not reaslly being a women and will feel excluded.

BCP1928 said:

That is a lie and you know it. After all, you have repeated it often enough and been told often enough why it is false. Let me make my point clear, since we will not be discussing this any further. A lie is an intentional falsehood, a bearing of false witness often told to hide something that the liar thinks discreditable or to discredit someone else. I don't know exactly what it is you really have against trans or why you are lying about it and don't really care to try any more to find out. because I can no longer trust anything you have to say

Click to expand...

It can't be a lie because I just explained to you above the facts and logic of the ideology itself. Its self evident. If they are not asking everyone to go along then why are trans activist pushing for trans ideology to be included in education and health.

Doesn't the law say that people cannot descriminate against others based on gender identity. So if a man identifies as a women and someone doesn't affirm that identity be perhaps denying they are really a women. Or denying that they be able to say enter a womens space or sports. Isn't that descrimination.

The ideologies own logic demands that people affirm trans identities as the real identity. If this is the case wouldn't denying those identities as real be like denying a black person is black. Which would be regarded as derscrimination and denying a persons race. You tell me. I am only going by the logic or the ideology.

johansen said:

no, did not.

Click to expand...

Then it is something else in the bible.
You just have to figure out what it is.

And it is in the bible.All over it.

I'm not a dream interpreter, but I can see some common slang depicted in your dream.

A dog is man's best friend. You may have a friend that would become like a predator/coyote/wolf when he attacks.

There's also the saying.. don't bite the hand that feeds you. This friend could become an enemy, whatever you have given in connection to the friend.. they will persist in biting your hand, until you have had enough and break off or stop being available to that friend by using the authoritative name of Jesus.

It could also be referring to a personal indulgence being depicted in the above way..

The solution to stop it is known to you. Resist it the way that you would a persistent biting dog.

Everyone's searching but nobody is hiring. That's how the current job markets can be summed up.

Congratulations! May God bless all of your endeavors!

DaveHTexas said:

Well, still working on the petition. I feel like I am writing the next great novel based on youthful stupidity. I got agreement from my ex to cooperate witht he process. IF she is truthful with them, there should be no issue. The big issue we are going to run into is they want information from marriage counselors, one by contract simply refuses to discuss counseling or patients with anyone but the patient. And the other one, oddly enough a Catholic counselor that originally told me that I was in the clear, and referred me to the parish in particular when I first looked into annulment but didn't consider it necessary at the time, well she's quite deceased now since it has been 20 years... We still h ave common friends that knew what was going on, including a good friend fo mine from high school I refused to talk to for at least 15 years because he tried warning me about her... Young and incredibly stupid on my part...
Please don't misunderstand me, I do forgove what she has done over the years, but forgiveness is not the same as restoring trust or even relationship. And I wish her well. I just want to have my life back. And this is one stone that is tripping me up.

Click to expand...

Youth, of course, there is nothing to be done with hormones. With my relatives there was a similar situation, a grandfather wanted to warn his grandchild, but another grandchild told him the groom would just end up hating the grandfather. The marriage was over in a matter of months. As to an investigation, just like any investigation it is their responsibility to try and talk to all available witnesses, that is, gather all information. Just like you or I or anyone else would do if running an investigation. If nine out of ten don't want to talk then so be it, it is the responsibility of the investigation to ask. They have run into professional confidentiality and witnesses not talking many times before.

Vambram said:

I sincerely hope that China is not really interested in waging a military war.

Click to expand...

One thing Americans need to understand about China... as a civilization, it has always been inward looking. If a war starts, it will be due ultimately to miscalculation, and that will probably come from American and European initiative, not China.

China having interests in the South China Sea ultimately makes sense, after all, the name sort of gives away its natural interest and it is no deep mystery to anybody that has studied the 19th century Opium Wars, which are known in China as part of the Century of Humiliation.

Vambram said:

There are far too many multitudes of examples in the USA of the failures of public schools in the American education system. The attempts by the Teachers Unions and the Democratic Party to improve the quality of education rarely ever prove to be successful when looking at the overall state of our American public education system.

Click to expand...

It's so blatantly an excuse to fill their pockets as well. These teacher training sessions that cost a vast amount of money and do nothing for teachers or students.

Dead men, dry bones,
Wickedness fully formed.
Hearers not, doers nay,
So they all go out and play.

Lie now, lie then,
Truth not tell then to then.
Whispers here, whispers there,
Never once do say a prayer.

“Turn now this way,
Turnabout is fair play.”
Jekyll-Hyde, double mind,
Who is who is hard to find.

Trust not. Wisdom.
Learn from past. Get the hint.
Don’t play ball on their team,
Everything not what it seems.

Test them. Do see.
They have not bowed the knee.
So stiff-necked, stubborn now,
To Jesus Christ, they’ll not bow.

Caution. Don’t play.
Bent on lies, they’ll betray.
Read the Word, bow and pray,
Call on God without delay.

An Original Work / January 17, 2022

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:19-21 ESV).

What this is teaching here is the essence of the gospel of our salvation. For Jesus Christ gave himself up for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now follow him in walks of obedience to his commands in holy living. For by his grace we are delivered out of our bondage to sin so that we can now serve the Lord Jesus Christ with our lives, in surrender of our wills to the will of God, and for his purposes, and for his glory, honor, and praise – all in his power within us.

[1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:1-23; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20]

But sadly, this is not what is predominantly being taught in today’s modern market-driven “churches” here in the USA. The “gospel” message which is permeating the church here is that we can “believe” in Jesus (rarely biblically defined), and now all our sins are forgiven (past, present, and future), and heaven is now guaranteed us when we die, but regardless of how we live. But Jesus taught if we are to come after him we must deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience to his commands (see Luke 9:23-26).

And that is what James and the other NT apostles taught, too. For if our faith in Jesus Christ is genuine God-provided and God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in him, we deny self, and we die with him to sin, not just once, but daily (in practice), by the Spirit (Romans 8:1-14). We put away all the filthiness and rampant wickedness of our sinful natures, i.e. we repent of our sins, so we can now receive with meekness the implanted word of God (Jesus Christ and his gospel message), which is able to save our souls.

And they are only able to save our souls as we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, and as we cooperate fully with his work of grace in our lives, and as we make it our practice (by the grace of God and in his power) to renounce (say “NO!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives for the glory and praise of God. We must forsake our sinful practices so that we can now follow our Lord wherever he leads us to go and to do whatever his word says we must do to be saved from our sins.

But, yes, it is by God’s grace that we are saved, through God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in him, and this is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man. There is nothing in our flesh that we can do to earn or to deserve our own salvation. But our salvation from sin is not absent of works, they are just the works which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them in his power and strength and wisdom. And he commands that we die with him to sin and that we now walk in obedience to his commands.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

So, we have to be doers of the word and not hearers only. We are not saved from our sins and promised eternal life with God on the basis of a verbal profession of faith in him. We cannot just make a profession of faith in our Lord and then just walk away and forget what we look like, and then go on living life as we choose. We don’t get to choose how we live. God does! Belief is persuasion of God, and he persuades us as to his holiness and righteousness, of our sinfulness, and of our need to repent and obey him.

And this is what it means to look into the “perfect law,” which is the gospel of Christ, the gospel of our salvation. For the gospel of Christ is the law of liberty, but not liberty to live however we want after we make a profession of him as our Lord and Savior. For Jesus died on that cross to put our sins to death with him in order to liberate us from our slavery (addiction) to sin, not to free us to keep sinning without guilt and without punishment. For it is us who are DOING the will of God, in his power, who will be blessed of God.

My Sheep

An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Based off John 10:1-30 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…

They know my voice, so they follow me.

Login to view embedded media

God has loved us with an everlasting love. He has drawn us to himself with loving-kindness. He feels our pain. Jesus went through great suffering for us when he lived on this earth so that he could become our compassionate, merciful and faithful high priest. He knows what we are going through. He knows the sorrow that we feel in our hearts at the loss of human lives in senseless and cruel tragedies, or at the deceptions propagated as truth. He knows, because they beat him beyond recognition, and then they (his enemies) sent him to the cross, although he had done no wrong.

So, he is our sympathetic and merciful high priest. He so longs for us to come to him in our weeping and in our sorrow, and to put our trust in Him to save us from our sins, to give us new lives in Christ, and to believe in all his many promises to us, including the promise and hope of eternal life with Him in glory. He longs for those of us who are his, by faith, to rest in him, to trust him, to bring our burdens to him, and to receive his comfort and joy.

Broken Hearts

An Original Work / December 14, 2012
Based off Jeremiah 31:15 (cf. Matt. 2:18)

Weeping in Ramah; her children no more.
Rachel is weeping; her comfort forlorn.
Jesus is waiting; her comforter be,
When she calls on Him down on bended knee.
He has provided our sins’ sacrifice,
When He died for our sin, paying the price.

Our hearts are broken; we’re feeling her pain;
Looking for answers and someone to blame.
Jesus is calling us; Him to believe;
Turning from our sins, so we can be free.
Trust in His promises. Lean on His grace;
Living for Jesus, eternal life gain.

Days of confusion, distress, pain and grief;
Looking for someone to give us relief.
Our God and Father in heaven above
Is looking down to us; providing love.
Call upon Him in your sadness and pain.
Trust your life with His Son; live life again.

Login to view embedded media

zippy2006 said:

Yes: I would say, "Use with care," and do not trust an LLM to the same extent that you would trust a Church authority or a well-accepted theologian.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Artificial intelligence should come with a warning label "Use with care, answers may be biased or downright false". Anyways, it is getting late here, so I hope you have a wonderful night, brother in Christ.

And yes, I hope that @BarakJon takes our advice about AI. It is a tool that can help, but it may cause more harm than good, especially to newer Christians.

Certainly there are professing Christians in this world of ours who are still living in sin, still addicted to various sinful habits, who blame God when they are tempted or when they give in to sin, as though it is God’s fault somehow that they chose to sin of their own free wills. Or they will pass the blame on to someone else rather than take the blame for themselves for the evil that they committed. But it is true that we can be led into sin by those who tempt us to sin, but we still make the choice to sin or not to sin.

Yet it is also true that not everyone who is tempted of the devil to sin is tempted because of his/her own evil desire, for Jesus Christ, who was sinless, was tempted of the devil in the wilderness. And Job, who was a righteous man, was tempted of the devil when God permitted Satan to attack him physically and to murder his children and servants and livestock. For even if we are living holy lives unto God we may still face temptation of the devil to give in to fear or to give up hope, or whatever.

But there are people who are regularly being tempted to sin against the Lord because of all the evil that is stored up in their hearts. For the Bible teaches that “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” And it is true that what is stored up in our hearts will come out in our behaviors and words and attitudes. But also the “good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good.” So store up good in your hearts. (see Luke 6:45; Matthew 15:17-20)

Now there are many professing Christians today who are convinced that they are saved, sanctified, and on their way to heaven, based on a profession of faith that they made to believe in Jesus Christ one time in their lives. And so they are still living life for themselves and for the pleasures of the flesh, believing that God’s grace covers it all. But the Scriptures teach us if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not walks of obedience to our Lord, that we will not inherit eternal life with God. We will die in our sins.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

So, do not be deceived!! God has not changed! His word has not changed. Yes, we are not living under the Old Covenant liturgical and ceremonial laws that the Jews of old had to follow. But Jesus gave his life up for us “to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” And he said that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the ones DOING the will of God the Father in heaven. (see Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus died on that cross in order to put our sins to death with him so that by faith in him we will now be crucified with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. And he shed his blood for us to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of living in slavery to sin so that we will now honor him with our bodies, and so we will now follow him in obedience to his commands in holy living, in the power of God.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

Living Water

An Original Work / November 21, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures

My people have forsaken Me,
Their Savior, who died on a tree;
Made idols, and they worshipped them;
So empty, they will ne’er fulfill.

Lord, You are the hope of Your chosen ones.
Those who turn away from You will be shamed;
The Spring of Living Water left behind.

Living Water satisfies.

The thirsty, let them come and drink;
Believe in Jesus as their King;
The gift of Jesus given them,
So they will never thirst again.

Indeed, the Living Water flows within.
It springs up like a fountain cleansing sin.
Eternal life in heaven promised them.

Living Water glorifies.

Oh people, won’t you come to Him?
Obey Him and repent of sin.
Let Jesus come and live within.
Surrender all your life to Him.

My people, won’t you turn your hearts to Me?
Forsake your idols and then you’ll be free.
Won’t you come now to Me on bended knee?

Living Water sanctifies.

Login to view embedded media

hldude said:

YouTube Channel Video Devo
Login to view embedded media
“Filled With Emotions”

The past years, several months and days have been filled with my oldest daughter preparing for graduation and now venturing off to college. Since Spring, it’s been a whirlwind of preparing for graduation, her grad party and now getting everything ready to send her off to college.

As I write this, tears are filling my eyes. I’m just filled with emotions. I’m thinking of the memories I’ve had with my daughter and watching her grow into the beautiful young woman she has become. The past few years have been quite challenging in many ways as she navigated some difficult times, but learned and persevered through them. I am so proud of the woman she is now and who God is going to lead her to be in the coming years.

As you can imagine, emotions have been all over the place for my wife and I as we navigate this new season of life. I don’t really know how all to explain the emotions I’m seeing in our home and the emotions I’m personally feeling. I’m excited for her, but also sad that I’m letting her go into the world by herself.

I’ve been telling my wife that I’ve struggled with the feelings of “Did I teach her enough? Did I instill enough Godly values in her? Did I spend enough time showing her I love her? Did I take enough time doing things with her?” The questions just keep filling my mind as emotions run through me. This is a new season of life and I’m not quite sure how to handle the emotions and……I want to be strong for my wife and, my oldest and my youngest. But, it’s okay to show emotions.

Friday, we take her to college and we come home without her for a while. It’s going to be hard and it will be a transition for us. What I know most of all is that God’s in complete control and He will guide her and we just have to trust His timing and protection throughout her life. As she experiences college, as she finds a Godly man when the timing is right and enters marriage and as she one day has a family of her own.

Lord, please protect my daughter as she ventures out on her own. I pray she will take all that we’ve taught her and develop her own faith and become stronger. Thank you for these 18 years of watching her grow and blossom. I’m excited to see what You have in store for her life and where You will lead her. Please help my wife and I adjust to this transition as well as my daughter as she ventures on her own. We give her to You and trust Your leading in her life. Amen.

Click to expand...

God bless your daughter for sticking with the Christian faith. I will pray for her right now, that she sticks to Christianity.

Vambram said:

That is a beautiful song, my brother. Thank you for sharing.

Click to expand...

You are welcome. It is a classic, that we probably sang in at my church in the early 2010s. There is one thing that I miss about nondenominational churches: The music. Yes, the Catholic hymns are good, but it would be nice if at least one classic CCM (Christian contemporary music) song from the 1970s-2014 was played.

Though, last Sunday before Mass, the pianist and choir sang Hillsong - Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail), a newer classic from 2013. That song made me want to tear up, but I could not in front of other churchgoers.

Vambram said:

AMEN!!!!
Who am I?
I am Yours, Lord Jesus.

Click to expand...

Amen brother. I am yours, Lord Jesus, King above all kings. Lord Yeshua sacrificed his life for us, nearly 2000 years ago, so we can live to praise His name, trust in Him, and stay in God's house after we pass away.

The name in the upper left hand corner is the name of Jesus in his native language of Aramaic, while on the upper right is Hebrew. In the center is Greek, while on the lower left is Latin.

ISAIAH 40:1-26

The prophet comforts Israel that their sins have been forgiven, and the punishment is over. YHVH again is compared to a father who must punish his children for sins and disobedience. The father will chastise, yet not forever. Darkness has passed and the light has come.

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of YHVVH, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Yochanan the Baptizer fulfilled these words. As we know, he prepared the way for Yeshua, his cousin, and his LORD, preparing people's hearts and minds

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young” (vs 11) Doesn’t this sound like our Savior and LORD? We are HIS flock and He feeds us with His WORD. His word guides us and leads us all.

He has sent shepherds to teach his word and to guide us. There are many “old sheep” and “young sheep” Those who are young are young in the WORD, yet through the right guidance, the young will mature into older and wiser sheep.

There are different ways we can go from being "lambs" to "mature sheep" in the LORD's fold. We can study the WORD and activate the Biblical principles in our lives. We can take advantage of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and use the gift or gifts to share God's Word with others, and minister within your congregation. We can learn the basics of the Holy tongue (Hebrew) and the basics of Greek, to better understand the scriptures from the original Hebraic context and Greek context. We can use the modern technology that we have available to share God's Word with others (online missionaries)

As a shepherd leads his sheep, allow us LORD to be led by YOUR Word, and by your shepherds who you have sent to lead, guide, and teach ALL of your people. Amen”

JOHN 6:1-71

This starts “After these things…” What things one might ask? The previous chapter talks about Yeshua going up to Yerushalayim after the feast of the Passover, and he healed a lame man at the pool of Siloam. Yes, he was criticized by many, as even many of his believers and followers were and still “are” criticized, made fun of, and even murdered, all in HIS name.

“After these things, Yeshua went over the Sea of Galilee, which is of Tiberias. I have been to the city of Tiberias. In July, it is “Hot” very much so, but the Sea of Galilee is very refreshing. This is where the crowd comes to hear Yeshua, he goes to a nearby mountain and has the people to sit down. The number was about 5000. Yeshua knew that the people were hungry, so, he turned to Philip and said; “Where shall we buy bread so that these may eat?”

Didn’t he know? Yes, of course, He was just waiting for Philip’s response. Perhaps, He was waiting for an answer such as; “We can’t possibly buy so much bread, so…YOU feed them LORD!” but he didn’t say that. It was Andrew who came with the boy who had 5 loaves of barley bread and 2 fish.

We need to know that first, the boy must have come forward to offer his lunch. Of course, the boy knew that 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish would not be enough for the whole crowd…BUT…with a little bit of faith…ANYTHING is possible. I mean, if Yeshua could heal the lame man, he could also feed this crowd.

We have the offer, 5 pieces of bread and 2 fish. We have the blessing and thanks, Yeshua lifts the loaves and fishes, (probably found a basket to put them in) and then, the distribution. There was enough for ALL. With the faith of a little boy, the faith of a mustard seed, we see a “mountain” of pieces of bread and a whole bunch of fish. The result, 12 baskets full were left over. One wonders who got the baskets of bread and fish. Probably the boy, to redistribute the blessing to his family and friends.

We look at the numbers, “5” and “2” “5” is the number of grace, and “2” is the number of a covenant. It takes “2” entities or parties to make a covenant. Yeshua shows “grace” to the people, and makes a small covenant, “blessings to this crowd, for the faith of a small boy” When we add 5 + 2 we get the perfect number “7” which is the number of God.

Yeshua, who is the “bread of Life” who has made his followers “fishers of men” has made a covenant in heaven, His life and blood for our salvation. The Word of God is also the “Bread of Life” which comes from the Father for all of us to eat and digest. Let us all go forth and be “fishers of men (and women) to reach and teach them the Words of the Master so that ALL might have eternal life through HIM who died to set us free.

Shalom

MehGuy said:

This is a thread where you can share with other members of the forum what you are currently studying. Feel free to also use this thread to post new knowledge that you've learned that you find interesting. Perhaps other people will be inspired to study what you are studying as a result. This thread can also serve as encouragement.

Click to expand...

Working on a project to create a Bible Timeline Chart from Creation to Revelation. About 80% complete, has taken almost 2 years. I'm still a little stumped on a few things in Revelation, which I haven't found an answer for yet. For example, many believe that the 144,000 in Rev 7 were sealed to protect them from God's coming wrath (I agree); however, there's a lot of teaching that their purpose was to preach the Gospel to the lost during that period and even during the time of God's wrath. I cannot find one Scripture that supports this. They were sealed and placed somewhere to keep them safe during that time (like Petra), not to go out and preach the Gospel. Also, it doesn't appear that anyone gets saved after God's wrath begins because at the end of the Trumpet judgments and the Bowl justments, it states that "no one repented".

ThatRobGuy said:

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4838749-pro-palestinian-protesters-arrested-outside-democratic-national-convention-chicago/

Numerous protesters were arrested after clashing with police Tuesday near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, according to media reports.

Most of the arrests occurred toward the end of the night after protesters had tense confrontations with police officers throughout the demonstration, The Associated Press reported. The newswire also noted law enforcement officers pinned the remaining pro-Palestinian protesters in a plaza and prevented them from leaving.



I think the DNC will need to strategize and find a way to play the tightrope game with how they try to partially appease both camps with regards to the Israel/Palestine conflict. Right now, that conflict has created something of a "no-win" situation for Democrats on this particular issue where if they drift too far toward either direction, they run the risk of alienating some voters.

Up until now, they've been able to somewhat side-step it by keeping the focus on how bad Trump is, and avoiding the subject and appealing to abstract concepts of "joy".

But pro-Palestinian protestors showing up and making trouble at the Israeli consulate and marching down by the DNC convention in Chicago probably wasn't in the script for how they were hoping the night would go.


Ultimately, I think they'll have to rip it off like a band-aid and pick a side and stick with it because conveying a non-decisive "wishy washy" position on such a hot button issue for too long, this close to election time, isn't going to work in their favor.

...the "Israel is a great ally and we stand with Israel" when speaking to one audience, and then a "the travesties in Gaza are unacceptable" when speaking somewhere else, isn't gonna fly forever.

Click to expand...

This is the problem when you run your campaign on identity politics instead of national policy; regardless of left or right. Sooner or later you will find yourself trying to appeal to two opposing identity groups. Vote for me because I'm for the blacks. Vote for me because I'm for the LBGTs. Vote for me because I'm pro-Palestine. Vote for me because I'm pro-Israel. Vote for me because for this and that identity. Being a jack of all trades makes you a master of none.

You run on appeal to division and not common ground. The only common ground seems to be attack you opponent. When that currency runs dry all you are left is nothing but disjointed groups that hate one another.

ImaginaryFiction said:

It's sick to see them making a spectacle of aborting babies in a truck at their convention like it's something to celebrate and have a party for.

Click to expand...

Agree.