New Posts

Paidiske · 2025-11-23T22:42:09-0600

I'd suggest that the most important thing in going to church, is using the gifts you've been given, as part of that community, to contribute to its life and mission.

If you never contribute or participate in any way, then no wonder it's not fulfilling. So I'd start with, what are your gifts, what are you passionate about, where are the needs in your church community, and in light of all of that, how might you get involved?

Marilyn C · 2025-11-23T22:41:55-0600

Daniel Martinovich said:
That is just a pathetic falsehood.
But you do you.

And your scriptures to back that up?

tdidymas · 2025-11-23T22:37:42-0600

linux.poet said:
A.I. that actually help the elderly or terminal patients in hospice would be great. A tireless caregiver who can always help them, as opposed to fickle and distracted humans who get tired and need to use the bathroom.

Sounds nice, but I would not have a robot attend to my medical needs, since any mistake could result in death. Robots have no conscience. I saw a video where a robot was supposed to assist a tech on a production line, but stabbed him with a screwdriver. I think AI at best is precarious at this point in time. Imagining a "perfect" AI is science fiction.

Hans Blaster · 2025-11-23T22:34:30-0600

stevevw said:
This shows how the same evidence can be seen with two different explanations. It seems to me that many examples are explained away as decoration. Like everything was for looks and no function. Thus relegating the Egyptians to artists rather than knowledgable.

The artists were artists. We are talking about the burial chamber. If you go to a tomb like that of "Tut" there are lots of fancy objects, a fancy coffin, and paintings on the walls. The burial chambers of wealthy Egyptians *were* artistic. The rest of the pyramid is structural engineering and made of rough limestone blocks.

stevevw said:
Which I think stems back to the design verses naturalistic worldview. Skeptics resist attributing any agency or design to anything humans do as it suggests design in nature or that there is such a thing as a mind capable of actually changing or creating objective reality.

You are reading things into this.

stevevw said:
From what I understand the power source needs to be connected in the proper sequence and aligned to be able to work in the first place. The piezoelectric crystals have to fall within a certain range or oscilation to generate or enhance the effect.

The quartz grains in granite *ARE NOT* wired together. That was the whole point.

stevevw said:
Thus the pyramid itself being located in a constantly vibrating location and with additional sources of activity such as siezmic activity or the natural subterrainian activities of the waterways and caverns.

With the additional effects of the pyramids internal layout with specific stones layered in ways that enhance the piezoelectric effect when is concentrated into the chambers and especially the Kings chamber.

For all this to happen I don't think it was an accident or coincident that these specific locations, layouts and other evidence of purposeful treatments to the structure such as thermal activity show some sort of experimentation was going on. I know thats a laymans explanations but it is something along these lines.

You are grasping at straws.

stevevw said:
Its funny how your side uses the same but its ok for them.

"My side"? I'm not on a side and I HAVE NEVER USED "ai" for ANYTHING, ANYWHERE. (And frankly I don't really think it is "OK".)

stevevw said:
I did not ask any leading questions. I simply put in your statement and not anything I said and that is exactly what popped out. No mention of pyramid power, Atlantis, aliens. Just the simple question (is Granite is a piezoelectric power source).

Once again it is you who keeps injecting the conspiracies of "electric pyramid nonsense". Your taking the simple question about the piezoelectric effects of granite and how it can generate electrical energy through pressure or other forces and assuming its about some conspiracy about alien power.

I have no idea what chat bot you used or what it was trained with. This is another good reason to avoid "ai" if you don't know exactly what it is up to.

stevevw said:
I am simply looking at the material involved and how it is structured and the possible activities it was subject to to show that it is ideal for generating such activity. Thats it. Step one. Not some conspiracy down the raod that you think its about.

I have never invoked "conspiracy". Not once. Even more so --- I HAVE TOLD YOU A COUPLE DOZEN TIMES THAT THIS ISN'T ABOUT "CONSPIRACY" and I AM NOT MAKING ANY "CONSPIRACY CLAIMS". Are you incapable of understanding this or of telling the truth?

stevevw said:
By the possible methods the articles have been mentioning. The premise being if the pyramid was built in a certain location to maximize potential natural energy. That the specific internal layout and material also being conducive.

These fantasy theories are built on things that the Egyptians had no inkling of. We can read what they write. We know what they did and believed. They did not know about electricity. Period.

stevevw said:
That subjecting the pyramid itself and the internal structures such as shafts and chambers through stressses of various sorts such as heat or sound. Will potentially generate certain effects that will produce desired outcomes such as a concentration of energy in the chambers.

If all the setup and materials can potentially achieve this then this is the logical conclusion. If tests can show that these setups and arrangements can produce the effects. Then its a case of whether this was actually being done. That we find evidence of that stress within the pyramid and stones seems to support this premise.

We don't need your excuse-making "explanations" for how some fantasy ancient tech worked.

stevevw said:
What, lol. Isn't it funny. When I actually link peer review its just laughed at.

At least one of those papers was a joke. Complete nonsense.

stevevw said:
The testimony from the ancients themselves that tell us they had this knowledge. That it was from the gods or for the gods.

This is the same reading of ancient supernatural claims into modern discoveries that no one connected until the scientific discovery was made. I don't think you buy the Muslim claim that they knew the Universe was expanding because of some verse about "stretching out the tent of the heavens over the Earth", do you?

stevevw said:
You don't believe them like you don't believe the witnesses of Christ who they said came back from the dead. The fundemental skepticism of all things non naturalistic is a belief and not science.

So if there is evidence for Christ and the gospels then whats stopping people from then taking up what was claimed as truth.

The only documents in the NT that are signed by their authors (I, X, wrote this) are the letters of Paul and Paul never met Jesus and did not write about his life, but only the "spiritual aspects" of the gospel and various bits of advice and theology. The Gospels are certainly not written by those whose names are attached to them now, nor by any eyewitness. Whatever information about Jesus made it into them did so indirectly after many decades.

stevevw said:
Or are you just talking about a certain kind of knowledge that can never convince that the supernatural events happened. Or there there can be such alternative knowledge and reality in the first place.

This is a either/or fallacy. Its not just about 'rock shaping' but ancient lost alternative and/or advanced knowledge and the possible tech that came from this.

Fundementally as I said and the OP pointed this out. That this is a epistemic and metaphysical belief and not just the science of specific examples. Though they may show the advanced knowledge.

Part of that is labelling good people by assumption and stereotypes of conspiracies and making up stuff simply because they believe or propose an alternative idea about what knowledge is.

That includes Christian scientists or those who are open to alternative metaphysics who can hold both the scientific causes and the alternative ones that could range from spirituality to consciousness beyond brain.

stevevw said:
Some skeptics automatically lump everyone into the conspiracy when its not and don't support the claims about the specific ideas that even Hancock have suggested. Even if I also think some like Hancock can drift into spectualtion. He also holds some pretty well accepted and verified ideas. But you don't seem to have the capacity to be able to entertain both sides at the same time. Its either all your way or the highway.

I AM NOT CLAIMING ANY OF THIS IS A CONSPIRACY. Please get this through your skull and into that bit of meat inside that is meant for thinking.

Vambram · 2025-11-23T22:30:29-0600

Review: Christian music star is doing something no one else has done

“Tonight is not about me,” said Brandon Lake. “But it is about one man — and His name is Jesus.”

www.mercurynews.com

Brandon Lake may just be the most popular concert artist in Christian music history.

Yet, he made it clear — right from the start of his sold-out concert at the SAP Center in San Jose — that he was far from being the true star of the show on Sunday night.

“Tonight is not about me,” said the singer-songwriter, who is a worship pastor at Seacoast Church in South Carolina. “But it is about one man — and His name is Jesus.”

Lake proceeded to turn the Shark Tank into a massive revival tent, leading a crowd that he announced on stage as 15,000 attendees through a 2½-hour-plus set of some of the most powerful contemporary Christian music (CCM) songs of recent years.

That all of this was happening in the heart of Silicon Valley/Bay Area — widely known as one of the least religious and most “unchurched” areas in the country — only made this accomplishment more impressive, greatly underscoring the historic nature of Lake’s trajectory as an artist.

Simply put, this 35-year-old talent is drawing attendance numbers at the box office that are simply astounding — arguably beyond anything ever seen in the CCM genre before.

RocksInMyHead · 2025-11-23T22:22:28-0600

perplexed said:
but in general he would have to be a nice guy to his household/personal staff because if he was not there would be a conga line of staff listing their woes.

Not necessarily - excessive wealth and a habit of suing first and asking questions later likely do a lot to keep people's lips sealed. As would gratuitous use of NDAs. It's not like a housekeeper would be able to afford to defend herself from a defamation suit filed by Trump, spurious or not.

RDKirk · 2025-11-23T22:21:06-0600

Yarddog said:
If a person can't read, they don't need to be in the military.

If anyone could interpret the Constitution just by reading it, there would be no need for the Supreme Court

Hey, did you know that civilians didn't have the right to remain silent (5th Amendment) until 1966?

Military had it from the moment the document was ratified, but civilians didn't have it until 1966.

That's because nobody had interpreted the 5th Amendment as including civilians until 1966.

Yarddog said:
Admiral Holsey sure knew it was illegal.

He knew he personally didn't like it, and had the option to retire.

Richard T · 2025-11-23T22:14:55-0600

Are 300,000 undocumented immigrant children missing in the US?

Some border officials say they fear migrant children are being exploited after arriving in the US.

www.bbc.com

RocksInMyHead · 2025-11-23T22:14:11-0600

Always in His Presence said:
From the link:

In one exchange, Epstein texted Plaskett: “Cohen brought up RONA - keeper of the secrets,” referring to — and misspelling the first name of — Rhona Graff, a longtime Trump assistant.

Plaskett responded: “RONA??” She added at 2:25 p.m, “Quick I’m up next is that an acronym,” suggesting that she would be questioning Cohen soon.

Epstein responded: “Thats his assistant.”

At 2:28 p.m., Plaskett began questioning Cohen and asked about Graff, along with other Trump associates he had mentioned, according to the Post.

And...?

At worst, I could fault her for not checking the info that she got from a known criminal, but that's a pretty minor quibble, all things considered.

bbbbbbb · 2025-11-23T22:07:08-0600

The Liturgist said:
Indeed, chiefly among liberal Western pastors, both Protestant and Catholic, who embrace Alexandrian exegesis based on the misconception that it provides freedom to innovate.

Quite true.

Fervent · 2025-11-23T22:04:22-0600

ThatRobGuy said:
I still oppose the idea of hate crime laws being leveraged to insulate "circumstances of choice" from criticism and/or mockery.

That aside...

If this was a group of people doing this at some Christian gathering (no matter how hostile the rhetoric), would it be getting escalated to the level of "felony hate crime"?

I've seen videos of some Christian content creators going to areas near college campuses to do demonstration and getting literally physically assaulted, and all that ever comes of it is misdemeanor charges, or the police just break it up and send both parties their separate ways.

I would perhaps be more receptive to the concept of religious affiliation being included under the "hate crime provisions" umbrella if we didn't have a large subset of the country that evaluates everything through a "punching up vs. punching down" lens.

This is the start of Islam getting privileged protected status, just like how the threats of violence led to cartoons censoring themselves and capitulating to the Muslim image ban. Next step, Islamic blasphemy laws masquerading as "hate crime" laws.

Hans Blaster · 2025-11-23T21:50:35-0600

ThatRobGuy said:
Political currency wins elections evidently... you DO want the Democrats to win, yes?

I do and nothing you have proposed regarding MTG or Georgia-14 will do that.

ThatRobGuy said:
As far as who Gabbard does or doesn't support...there are people on the democratic side who were pro-Iran, were there not?

I didn't know Iran was the subject or why we would care. You brought up Gabbard under the patently absurd notion that saying "good riddence" to a bad actor like Tulsi is some how the Dems having purist notions about their coalition. I know you know what those things are because you have discussed them ad nasueum, but none of them have a single thing to do with the politics of MTG.

Richard T · 2025-11-23T21:46:53-0600

Anonymous9090 said:
Pray that Canadian & Indian trade negotiations r guided by The Holy Spirit so that there r talks that will allow for more Christian missionaries visas:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-modi-negotiations-canada-india-trade-deal-9.6989535

I would pray too that India quits persecuting Christians. Hindu Extremists Threaten Genocide Against Christians
I pray too that Canada is careful in normalizing their trade with India until religious freedom and other human rights is obtained.

eclipsenow · 2025-11-23T21:28:21-0600

Marilyn C said:
The Lord sent His Holy Spirit to guide us into all the truth of the Lord`s character and His purposes. (John 16: 12)

Character.

Thus we read of the Lord in the midst of the churches as the Head of His Body, the one who is the First and Last, risen from the dead, He who is the word of God, (sharp two-edged sword) the very Son of God, who has the Holy Spirit (7 fold Spirit) who is holy and true the Amen and faithful and true witness. Quite a description there.

Then we move on to seeing the Lord on His own throne the Father set up, (Ps. 2: 6 Rev. 4: 2) with His body, (Rev. 4: 4) and the Lord worshipped by angels and the Body of Christ.

Purposes.

It is a throne of judgment with `lightnings, thundering and voices..` (Rev. 4: 5) Then the Father gives His Son the scroll with what will be judged by the Son. (John5: 27) From then on we read of the judgments .................till all things new.

So I don`t read as in `toughen up princess.`

You're smothering the question with other theology. Good points - as far as I can tell.

But not answering the main question I ask futurists.

Are you a futurist still? Maybe I'm speaking at cross purposes.

How has the majority of this book been relevant to the church if it's mainly about the last generation that will ever live?

John's friends in Asia Minor were being fed to lions, and futurists would pretend he says "You think that's bad - wait till you see what's coming in 2000 years!"

essentialsaltes · 2025-11-23T21:17:59-0600

The girl pleaded not to go.

She fought with her father on the drive over, screaming and crying in his truck until they arrived at the office building for Bruckelmyer Brothers, a home construction company on the outskirts of Duluth, Minnesota. She was just entering her first years of grade school.

In the office, two men were waiting. One of them was Clint Massie, who the girl had recently told her parents had touched her genitals and groped her under her shirt. The other was Daryl Bruckelmyer, a preacher and leader of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church down the road, where the girl’s family worshipped. Massie was a respected member of the congregation. Bruckelmyer had asked them all to the meeting, according to the girl’s account to police years later.

In front of the girl, her father and Bruckelmyer, Massie asked her for forgiveness. Looming over her, the three men wept. Then the girl’s dad and preacher allowed the man who had been sexually abusing her since kindergarten to hug her.

“It was one of the worst things ever,” she told police some 15 years later.

Over the course of about 20 years in two states, Massie had, according to court documents and by his own admission, sexually abused children within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, or OALC, community. He touched girls under blankets when their parents were present, in the backseat of a car with other passengers — even in the pews at church. His abuse was such an open secret among the tight-knit congregation that mothers warned their daughters to stay away from him.

[Church leaders knew] But they never reported Massie’s crimes to police, as required by the law. Instead, Bruckelmyer and other leaders in the church encouraged the victims to take part in forgiveness sessions — which allowed Massie, now 50, to continue abusing children, according to an investigation by the Minnesota Star Tribune and ProPublica.

...

The investigator now had two victims. They gave him the names of others they suspected had also been abused by Massie. Kleffman tried to contact them, but some were reluctant to cooperate. One woman told Kleffman that Massie had asked for forgiveness. The sin, she said in the recorded call, was “washed away in the blood of reconciliation.”

“It is gone forever,” she told Kleffman.

“So you’re following what the church says to do,” Kleffman replied.

“I am following what God says to do,” the woman told him, before hanging up.

stevevw · 2025-11-23T21:17:08-0600

This is partly due to social media which allows anyone to gather influence over large groups and spread their message. This has been cultivated for years now. The idea that minorities can rise up and disrupt entire cities.

But also I think how there is a loss of respect for authority which has been cultivated into recent generations. It began with making young people adults before their time. Giving them rights over their own parents. Promoting defiance of authority in the name of individual rights.

The idea being promoted that you have to stand out and make a noise to be noticed. That disruption gets you attention. That this is a legitimate form of action.

That doing the wrong thing does not lead to any bad consequences. Even rewarded. Weak on crime, policies that send the message that there is no punishment for wrong doing in the name of some good intentioned protection of the volnurable.

The inevitable breakdown of the family and fatherless children. Especially young males. The promotion of radical ideology in place of long held truths based on biblical principles.

This makes for a perfect storm of societal breakdown.

ThatRobGuy · 2025-11-23T21:06:56-0600

Chesterton said:
See, this is an example of where you need more complete information. Gypsy has/had mental illness and shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Nick. Would Nick ever refer to himself as a "gypsy"?

Gypsy is a guy who got jumped while videoing at an Antifa rally, and when he (along side of a few members of the Proud Boys fought back and messed some of them up pretty bad), he was the one who got arrested and charged with assault.

I can sympathize with his frustration... he ran 6 blocks and hid multiple times trying to avoid a fight, but when he was cornered and couldn't run and hide anymore, he put some of his professional kickboxing experience to use.

He dresses as the Juaquin Phoenix version of the joker for a reason (someone who's been wronged and had their life ruined, and then went crazy), and says "My message to all other white people, you're one bad day away from becoming me"

I'm not unfamiliar with his backstory.

He should be mentioned in the same sentence in Fuentes because they both have similar views about Jews and Black people (for the same reasons), Fuentes is just a little bit better about not using works that start with K and N to refer to them on their videos.

Chesterton said:
I apologize. I didn't mean any personal insult, but I can see how it sounded that way.

I'd like to discuss how America should behave as every other country outside of the West behaves - in its own interest.

I have no problem with an "America first" message in a pure sense.

But when that gets dovetailed into a "and this why we should be walled off from any peoples who aren't white Christians", that's where it goes off the rails.

Chesterton said:
Again, sorry. The last couple of weeks you've seemed interested in the "Fuentes phenomenon". You've written a lot about it, I thought you might be interested in spending some time listening to a clear explanation of it.

Is there something specific to which you'd like to hear a counterpoint?

I'm familiar with him...

He views himself as a "racialist" and not a "racist"

The distinction being a perceived difference in "willful malicious intent", but that's not any different in terms of practical outcomes for the policies that get advocated for.

So (by Fuentes' own definitions)

A racist would say: "I hate Blacks, Jews, and Arabs because they're different than me"

A "racialist" would say: "Sure, Blacks are generally lazy, will commit crimes against other people to get by, and Jews will try to control the money and manipulate everyone to preserve their own ethno state, but that's just because it's ingrained in their DNA, they can't help it, it's not a conscience choice...it's no different than a person being 5'2 instead of 6'0 or being born with red hair"
(which is why Fuentes will do interviews with the Hodge Twins and Candace Owens and be friendly to them)

But the friendliness comes from a place of condescension. He'll talk to them the same way a lot of people would talk to someone who's mentally retarded.

And the end result, in terms of policy conclusions, are the same, which is "the races need to be separated, white people need to have their areas, and black people need to have their areas, and we just need to stay separate and do our own thing"

essentialsaltes · 2025-11-23T21:02:02-0600

jonojim1337 said:
Let’s talk avoid how Einstein had to rewrite the laws of physics to explain why no motion of the earth was detected.

Galileo did it centuries earlier. We all experience it every day in cars or trains or planes. If you spill your coffee at 500 mph, it falls in your lap, not toward the back of the cabin.

RabbiJames · 2025-11-23T21:01:01-0600

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY? or HAPPY TURKEY DAY?

As we approach one of our favorite times to celebrate with family, friends, and in-laws, we think about this special time called "Thanksgiving." Yet we hear of some calling it "Turkey Day". So which is it? "Thanksgiving" or "Turkey Day?" Which is correct? Well, let's think about it for a bit.

We celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November, yet this was not the original date. It was set as the 4th Thursday of November by the US Congress in 1941. So, when was the first Thanksgiving celebrated in the Massachusetts Colony in 1621? No one knows for sure. We believe it was between the end of September and mid-November, when the crops were gathered in. It wasn't a one-day festival of celebration, but rather a three-day celebration.

It was similar to the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, which is celebrated between the end of September and mid-October. During this time Israel praised God for the crops and blessings bestowed upon them by God. The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot is celebrated every year for 7 days, and one extra day.

So, let's talk about the food at the first Thanksgiving late in the year of 1621. We know that the native Americans of the Wampanoag tribe were a God sent, Squanto being the mediator. After a disastrous 1620, the Wampanoags helped them farm and grow vegetables, so, besides wild turkeys, they also had venison, or "deer meat" hunted by the Indians, so, why not call it "Deer Day?" or "Pumpkin Day?" after all, they probably had those too. The menu probably consisted of: "wild turkey, deer meat, corn, squash, bay oysters, clams, and fish. But everyone seems to be focused on the Turkeys. What's with that, you turkey?

It's great to feast on oven-roasted turkeys, stuffing, and all the trimmings, and have the friends and family over, and eat pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, or whatever pie you like. (Here in El Salvador, those are nonexistent) You have to make them from scratch. Everyone sits down after dinner, watches football on the tube, and grandpa goes to sleep in the easy chair, and the football game watches grandpa instead.

It's great to have this good time, but let's give thanks to whom thanks is owed, not to the creation (the turkey) but to the creator (God).
Yes, he created the turkeys and the rest of the birds on day 5 of creation, yet HE is the creator and to HIM must we give thanks.

When Thanksgiving comes around this Thursday, a good idea might be a table discussion of why we are thankful; the football game can wait. I would probably be like grandpa, asleep in the chair while the football game is going on. Sports are boring to me, unless I can actually play in the game personally.

Well, let's see. What do we have to be thankful for? Well, we have food on the table and we have our health to eat the food. We have money to buy the food, and we must have jobs to make the money to buy the food. We thank God that we have families, which makes working and providing for them all worthwhile. We have clothing because I doubt we sit around the dinner table in our birthday suits. We have homes where we live, and even AC in some places (not here, only at the Malls, in the banks, and in the supermarkets). We have fresh air to breathe (I guess that depends on where you live), we have parks, and places for R & R (here, the ocean for swimming and surfing). We have our congregations where we go to receive God's WORD.

Yet we also have something precious we can not buy, and that is the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) and the promise of eternal life with HIM in Heaven, and a place set aside for us to live by his side for all eternity. We have the abilities through the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to serve the LORD while we are Earth-bound, and we can look forward to eternal Shalom and fellowship with God forever.

So yes, Happy Thanksgiving to all.

(best result, bake the turkey in an oven bag, that way, it won't dry out) Here. The best we can hope for is slices of turkey ham from the deli, or a small smoked, boneless turkey (that usually costs more than we care to spend).

RabbiJames · 2025-11-23T20:57:59-0600

Toggle Members Info

Posted just now
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY? or HAPPY TURKEY DAY?

As we approach one of our favorite times to celebrate with family, friends, and in-laws, we think about this special time called "Thanksgiving." Yet we hear of some calling it "Turkey Day". So which is it? "Thanksgiving" or "Turkey Day?" Which is correct? Well, let's think about it for a bit.

We celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November, yet this was not the original date. It was set as the 4th Thursday of November by the US Congress in 1941. So, when was the first Thanksgiving celebrated in the Massachusetts Colony in 1621? No one knows for sure. We believe it was between the end of September and mid-November, when the crops were gathered in. It wasn't a one-day festival of celebration, but rather a three-day celebration.

It was similar to the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, which is celebrated between the end of September and mid-October. During this time Israel praised God for the crops and blessings bestowed upon them by God. The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot is celebrated every year for 7 days, and one extra day.

So, let's talk about the food at the first Thanksgiving late in the year of 1621. We know that the native Americans of the Wampanoag tribe were a God sent, Squanto being the mediator. After a disastrous 1620, the Wampanoags helped them farm and grow vegetables, so, besides wild turkeys, they also had venison, or "deer meat" hunted by the Indians, so, why not call it "Deer Day?" or "Pumpkin Day?" after all, they probably had those too. The menu probably consisted of: "wild turkey, deer meat, corn, squash, bay oysters, clams, and fish. But everyone seems to be focused on the Turkeys. What's with that, you turkey?

It's great to feast on oven-roasted turkeys, stuffing, and all the trimmings, and have the friends and family over, and eat pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, or whatever pie you like. (Here in El Salvador, those are nonexistent) You have to make them from scratch. Everyone sits down after dinner, watches football on the tube, and grandpa goes to sleep in the easy chair, and the football game watches grandpa instead.

It's great to have this good time, but let's give thanks to whom thanks is owed, not to the creation (the turkey) but to the creator (God).
Yes, he created the turkeys and the rest of the birds on day 5 of creation, yet HE is the creator and to HIM must we give thanks.

When Thanksgiving comes around this Thursday, a good idea might be a table discussion of why we are thankful; the football game can wait. I would probably be like grandpa, asleep in the chair while the football game is going on. Sports are boring to me, unless I can actually play in the game personally.

Well, let's see. What do we have to be thankful for? Well, we have food on the table and we have our health to eat the food. We have money to buy the food, and we must have jobs to make the money to buy the food. We thank God that we have families, which makes working and providing for them all worthwhile. We have clothing because I doubt we sit around the dinner table in our birthday suits. We have homes where we live, and even AC in some places (not here, only at the Malls, in the banks, and in the supermarkets). We have fresh air to breathe (I guess that depends on where you live), we have parks, and places for R & R (here, the ocean for swimming and surfing). We have our congregations where we go to receive God's WORD.

Yet we also have something precious we can not buy, and that is the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) and the promise of eternal life with HIM in Heaven, and a place set aside for us to live by his side for all eternity. We have the abilities through the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to serve the LORD while we are Earth-bound, and we can look forward to eternal Shalom and fellowship with God forever.

So yes, Happy Thanksgiving to all.

(best result, bake the turkey in an oven bag, that way, it won't dry out) Here. The best we can hope for is slices of turkey ham from the deli, or a small smoked, boneless turkey (that usually costs more than we care to spend).

The Liturgist · 2025-11-23T20:55:17-0600

jonojim1337 said:
How is this related? The first resurrection is about the patrician families of Rome, the plebs come after. This was simply my point.

Also not Orthodox doctrine as far as I can tell, but perhaps I’m wrong, to which I would defer to @prodromos or @HTacianas or @FenderTL5 or @Chesterton .

Are you Eastern Orthodox? Because your profile indicates this.

The Liturgist · 2025-11-23T20:52:28-0600

Always in His Presence said:
Sickness, pain, disease does not imitate, nor does it honor God, because it is not from God.

The point isn’t that the sickness honors God, it is that God, having put on our humanity and having suffered with us, is alongside us and does not just understand but has of his own voilition experienced our suffering, to the point of suffering death, in order to it.

This is why on Pascha we Orthodox sing this Troparion:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!

Fervent · 2025-11-23T20:48:37-0600

fhansen said:
Well, all who claim to know the full gospel truth based on Scripture alone are asserting infalliblity, whether they acknowledge that fact or not. And then others of us do, indeed, interpret their interpretations as well as interpreting the positions of those who do not go by Scripture alone but who also point to a historic legacy of beliefs that existed before the new testament, at least, was written.

Infallibility is not the only option, nor is everyone who claims to possess a sufficient gospel understanding for salvation need not even assert indefeasibility for their own understanding.

fhansen said:
The point is that even if we somewhere possess a perfect codified body of Christian beliefs accurately reflecting God's word, that in no way guarantees that anyone will necessarily embrace it. Either way this situation is open to being a messy affair as we less-than-perfect humans have been left here on earth with this treasure, this revelation of God's nature and will, from a God who revealed himself so that His perfect will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Good thing we have continued presence of the Holy Spirit.

fhansen said:
Similiarly, even if we possessed the texts fresh from the author's pens, and spoke their language fluently, we still wouldn't necessarily know their intended meanings perfectly.

Yeah, which doesn't seem to be an issue.

fhansen said:
The bottom line for myself is in understanding that biblical exegesis alone is not at all a sure way to fully or even sufficiently know God's will for man. It's left to all of us to discern, with the help of grace, if and where we hear His voice. I certainly hear it in the bible despite any seeming contradictions, ambiguities, vagueness etc. I hear it more clearly explained in light of the historic understanding of His church. It's interesting that the apostles met in Jerusalem to discuss a matter which they did not resolve by Scripture, via the old testament, but by means of the new revelation they'd received through Christ. Related to this, the Bereans, conscientious as they were in studying Scripture, could not understand it without the still non-biblical imput of disciples who had experienced or been taught about a new Way. Likewise was the experience of the Ethiopian Eunuch with Paul.

yeah, exegesis alone certainly isn't sufficient. Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we would only be spinning our wheels in interpretation.

Valletta · 2025-11-23T20:33:51-0600

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Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!