New Posts

rambot · 2025-11-29T10:12:37-0600

Landon Caeli said:
Because there is no evidence that opposing viewpoints have ever been considered in any presentations of the theory, until after the concept was made public - by opposition groups. If the concept were balanced and forthcoming, analysis of opposing views would be documented alongside the findings, somewhere, and would be visible on the internet.

I'm not convinced you have a good grasp on what academic research looks like.

If you haven't ACTUALLY read, or at LEAST laid your eyes on the original study and have no idea what's in it, wouldn't that make all your critique of the ACTUAL work moot.

Fantine · 2025-11-29T10:12:24-0600

Higher interest rates, especially on credit cards, make it harder for people to pay debt because so much of each payment goes to interest.

We pay our credit card bills in full each month. We are retired; when we were raising three children we sometimes fell behind.

I'm not a Dave Ramsey debt snowball fan. I think it's important to pay off the highest interest debt first.

I look at the debt problems people have today as due to income inequality. The middle class is shrinking. The top 1% is socking it away. The poor go to payday lenders and pay loan shark rates when they're desperate.

In other words, it's due to Republican policies.

SabbathBlessings · 2025-11-29T10:11:46-0600

Hentenza said:
Again, which commandments, statutes, and laws did Abraham obeyed?

Hint: I posted them already.

I look to what God has showed me clearly written in our Bibles.

The law of God is owned by God, He claimed them as a unit of Ten Himself as His covenant Deut4:13 His Testimony Exo31:18 His commandments Exo20:6 His works Exo 32:16, contains His seal (name, territory, title) Exo20:11 they are not owned by Moses, Abraham, Noah they are God's and God's people keep them through love and faith Exo20:6 John14:15 Rev14:12 Rev22:14

The bible doesn’t have to quote every single commandment to know which law they are quoting from. If they quote one from then Ten Commandments, it means all of them because God, placed them Himself in a unit of Ten written in Stone. Why breaking just one of them we break them all James 2:11

Just like when the Bible only quotes one of the greatest commandments, we know Jesus said there were two of them, so it always means both. We do not go around deleting commandments when they are not repeated every single time, at least we shouldn’t and trust when God reveals something, especially written personally by God, He means just that.

I know we won;t agree to this and I am okay with that. All will sort itself out in God’s time.

stevevw · 2025-11-29T10:09:58-0600

bob121 said:
We’ve all seen it: you ask for testimonies of grace and within five posts someone’s waving Psalm 137:9 or Hitler to prove a point.
The food-fight starts, the original question sinks, and the encouragers log off.

Do we engage the detour in hopes of gospel witness, or gracefully bow out and let the algorithm bury the mess?

Any practical filters you use before hitting “reply”?

Share one sentence rule you follow when the trolls arrive.
Grace,
bob121 – Tokyo

I think it depends what the issue is. I assume you are talking about social and ethical issues mostly. Though just about everything can have a social and moral component.

I think the first thing is to recognise the overall culture in which this is happening. It is a different world to the one 50 or 75 years ago. Overall we are a postmodern society. That means the fundemental belief is all things are relative and there are not objective truths.

So already its a mindfield of decades of post Enlightened rationalisations and people are very good at articulating arguements. Rightly so as within the world context they are often sound and rational.

Taking this into consideration the first thing to note is that playing the same game by the same rules is not going to work. You more or less become another voice in a pot of voices all proclaiming a truth.

I think apologetics is important. But basically I think its a spiritual battle. Most will not even believe such a thing so you cannot get into a rational debate. But we can say that what is being objected to or claimed within the social and moral or political realm is subjective. It is a belief no different to religious belief.

But in the end all you can do is profess your belief, give testimony of the gospel and leave it at that. People underestimate testimony and we don't have to apologise for it. We use testimonial experience all the time and people believe people.

In saying that I think its by living the gospel or the teachings that is being stood upon that will show others that this is not just about words or rationalisations. But a experiencial belief that becomes reality. It has a real effect and presense in the world. Thats the evidence and its tangible in that sense. No one can argue about someone who is living the words without fault.

No matter how good the rationalisation or winning arguement is this cannot defeat such an example. Often it is not what someone said but how they said it or what they actually did that later won the arguement. We know that despite all the apologetics that it may be something completely unrelated that caused a person to hear Gods voice.

2PhiloVoid · 2025-11-29T10:09:47-0600

Always in His Presence said:
Yes - that adequately describes "The Apostles of the Lamb" mentioned in Revelation

Rev 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Which would be similar to the church being built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets - note: same terminology (foundation)

Neither was Paul.

Sure he was. That's the point that Luke was making in Acts. Paul himself attests to it as well. So, get that straight into your head.

2PhiloVoid · 2025-11-29T10:07:20-0600

Paulwat said:
Here’s what those verses actually mean, and why they aren’t about LGBT people:

1. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind.” — Leviticus 18:22 / 20:13
These verses are part of the Holiness Code, a set of purity rules given to ancient Israel.
Important context:

The laws were meant to separate Israel from surrounding cultures, not to comment on sexual orientation.

The Hebrew terms focus on male dominance, ritual purity, and idolatrous temple-sex practices, not loving relationships.

Christians today don’t follow the same code (it also bans mixed fabrics, shellfish, trimming beards, etc.).
So this is not about consensual LGBT relationships as we understand them today.

2. The story of Sodom — Genesis 19
The issue in the Sodom story is attempted gang rape, violence, and violation of hospitality norms — not sexuality.
Even the Bible itself explains the sin of Sodom elsewhere:

Ezekiel 16:49 says the sin was arrogance, greed, and neglecting the poor.

Nothing in the text condemns loving LGBT relationships.

3. “Against nature” — Romans 1:26–27
Paul is talking about idolatry in pagan temples and people acting against their own nature, meaning going against their own desires as part of cult rituals.
Key points:

The word “nature” (“physis”) in Greek doesn’t mean “universal law” — it means “someone’s individual nature.”

Paul is describing people who were heterosexual engaging in ritual acts that violated their own orientation.

Paul had no concept of sexual orientation as we understand it today.
So this isn’t a blanket statement about LGBT identity or relationships.

4. “Arsenokoitai” and “malakoi” — 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10
These two Greek words are often translated poorly.

Malakoi means “soft” and was used to describe laziness, decadence, or sometimes male prostitution — not gay men.

Arsenokoitai is an extremely rare word that likely referred to economic or sexual exploitation, such as trafficking or abuses of power.
There’s no evidence i
t refers to consensual same-sex relationships.

Also, Jesus never mentioned LGBT being wrong. And why would a god create people who are born to be naturally LGBT if he didn't want anyone to be LGBT? It makes no sense why God would create them and then hate it.

And who is your scholarly source for this information? Randal Rauser?

rambot · 2025-11-29T10:06:28-0600

Landon Caeli said:
Moderation in all things, my friend. Excessive empathy results in neglecting other responsibilities, and eventually depression.

...The trouble is in finding a healthy balance.

How come the "healthy balance" for Conservative Christians 10 years ago was "we should be helping the poor" and now it's "sometimes we should be helping the poor not usually not"?

Sodom experienced collective consequence for doing stuff like that.

Fantine · 2025-11-29T10:04:53-0600

Have you filled a prescription lately? Hasn't happened.

Danthemailman · 2025-11-29T10:04:45-0600

Protect the narrative at all costs.

essentialsaltes · 2025-11-29T10:03:19-0600

A top Republican senator, Roger Wicker, has joined his Democratic counterpart in calling for "vigorous oversight to determine the facts" of allegations that the military intentionally killed survivors of a boat strike.

"The Committee has directed inquiries to the Department, and we will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances," said Sen. Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In a post on X on Friday, Hegseth said the strikes were intended to be "lethal, kinetic strikes."

"Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command," Hegseth said.

FAITH-IN-HIM · 2025-11-29T09:56:43-0600

DaisyDay said:
How much is net?

Disclaimer: Factually uses AI and can make mistakes. Please verify important information or breaking news. Learn more.
...
2. What analysts project over the next decade — wide range of estimates

Modelers disagree sharply on decade‑long revenue. The Tax Foundation’s general equilibrium modeling (as summarized in reporting) suggested tariffs could raise $2.4 trillion over ten years on a conventional basis and increase 2025 federal revenue by $162.9 billion [3]. The Peterson Institute estimated a 15‑point tariff shock could yield $3.9 trillion before macroeconomic offsets and about $3.2 trillion after some economic feedback, but that net could fall to roughly $1.5 trillion if foreign retaliation occurs [4]. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and others note that those headline projections do not account fully for legal uncertainty, refunds, or broader economic costs [2].

3. The crucial distinction: gross receipts vs. net fiscal impact

Many sources emphasize that gross customs duties (what shows up on the Treasury’s receipts line) are not the same as the net fiscal gain once you account for: refunds and exclusions, pass‑through to higher consumer prices, reduced real incomes and taxable activity, and any costs tied to retaliation by trading partners [6] [7] [4]. For example, PIIE notes a $3.9 trillion headline could shrink dramatically after economic effects and retaliation are included [4]. CRFB and others highlight that even with the tariff windfall the FY2025 deficit remained large — about $1.8–$1.9 trillion — showing tariffs did not eliminate fiscal shortfalls [2] [8].

Presenting facts is unlikely to change their minds. Many MAGA supporters who now favor tariffs previously voted for Reagan and his support of free market capitalism; they supported W. Bush and his free trade policies; they voted for John McCain’s deregulation and open market stance, as well as Mitt Romney’s “idea of capitalism. Suddenly, these same voters who once championed free market and free trade principles are now advocating for imposing tariffs.

Either these individuals did not believe in what they supported during the first forty years of their lives, or they do not genuinely support their current choices; however, as long as their vote opposes liberals, they remain committed.

LoricaLady · 2025-11-29T09:53:34-0600

November 29, 2025 – Philippines

Pray for the growing number of former Muslims who have come to faith in Christ and are sharing the Good News in their communities. Pray for wisdom, protection and a boldness as they share God’s love.

28 November 2025 – Sri Lanka

Thank God for pastor ‘Alan’, who has expressed his deep gratitude for our partner’s programme which helps church leaders affected by persecution.

27 November 2025 – Sri Lanka

Pray for our partners as they support many pastors who have experienced persecution. Pray that these pastors would know healing, encouragement and growing resilience to remain faithful in this challenging environment.

26 November 2025 – Sri Lanka

Thank God for training seminars that equip pastors and other church leaders serving in contexts of persecution to know how to respond to violations of religious rights.

25 November 2025 – Sri Lanka

Many Christian teachers, and their students, experience significant rejection. They are often marginalised and opposed, even by other teachers in their schools. Pray that they would have resilience to persevere, and love for those who mistreat them.

24 November 2025 – Sri Lanka

Praise the Lord for an annual camp of Christian teachers run by our partners. Pray that the camp continues to offer an enriching time of fellowship and encouragement, and that those attending leave better equipped to serve.

23 November 2025 – Sri Lanka

Pray for ‘Joyce’, a Christian teacher who, along with her husband, is reaching and encouraging young people with the gospel. Pray that the couple would be encouraged, despite the opposition they face.

Warden_of_the_Storm · 2025-11-29T09:51:16-0600

AV1611VET said:
I'm not obligated to sit in a classroom and parrot what I'm fed in order to placate the system with good grades.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.

AV1611VET said:
When I go to bed at night, I'm not guilty of having misled someone by telling them the Grand Canyon was formed by the Colorado River.

No, of course not. But you are guilty of saying that it was created by something as lubricious as the world being broken apart a few thousand years ago.

... which further doesn't make sense when the San Andreas Fault Line is a MUCH better example of that happening.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-11-29T09:47:29-0600

rambot said:
The "no new foreign wars" guy is starting a "new foreign war" with someone who was, barely on American radar 3 years ago......heck 10 months ago...

It's getting a bit absurd at this point really.

Trump isn't starting anything. This was is being forced upon us by Venezuela the same way Ukraine forced Russia to defend itself from naked aggression and an unhinged unpopular leader.

Always in His Presence · 2025-11-29T09:45:03-0600

NxNW said:
I'll give you a dollar to learn how to use apostrophes.

I'll give you 100 dollar's to quit the grammar patrol.

Strong in Him · 2025-11-29T09:36:08-0600

Apple Sky said:
Am I ?

Yes.
I'm not questioning the presence, or the nature, of the pit but the fact that you said "where is a bottomless pit on a sphere?"
But as Scripture does not say that the bottomless pit is on earth; it's irrelevant what shape the earth is.

I am certain that you are bright enough to realise that. And I think you're refraining from saying "you're right; the bottomless pit does not prove the earth is flat" because you don't want to weaken your argument.

Lost4words · 2025-11-29T09:34:05-0600

Login to view embedded media

LoricaLady · 2025-11-29T09:31:19-0600

Release International’s partner in Tanzania provides resources and support for persecuted Christians. It also seeks to raise awareness about their plight.

Pray for persecuted Christians in Tanzania, with the increasing challenges they are now facing, including violence, discrimination and social isolation.

Pray for God’s protection, strength and encouragement for all those who suffer for their faith—and for Release International’s partner.

Pray for all those in Tanzania affected by the post-election violence at the end of October. Thank God for an improved situation, but pray for healing and reconciliation in the country.

iluvatar5150 · 2025-11-29T09:21:32-0600

The Casting of Frank Stone

SarahsKnight · 2025-11-29T09:19:00-0600

Andrewn said:
If my cat or my dog made a mess, how much punishment do they deserve? Very little, if at all. I would be an evil person if I tortured them.

Despite our errors and addictions, we trust ourselves and others in the loving hands of God and Christ.

Amen to that. I remember you expressing worry over hell and how you are faring spiritually the other day in one of the Singles threads, @Dreyma . I think you would do well to listen to @Andrewn 's words here.

Maria Billingsley · 2025-11-29T09:17:13-0600

Paulwat said:
Login to view embedded media
There is no eternal torture mentioned in the bible. Annihilation or (preferably) UV are the two real options

Revelation uses very strong language to describe unending punishment in fire. Revelation 14:11, for instance, speaks of those who worship the beast, stating, "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night." Similarly, Revelation 20:10 says the devil, the beast, and the false prophet "will be tormented day and night forever and ever" in the lake of fire.
Thoughts?

essentialsaltes · 2025-11-29T09:13:25-0600

Truth7t7 said:
More like removing the enemies within, better known as cleaning house

These are not enemies, they are rank and file employees with years of experience. Imagine getting a rookie postal worker delivering to your neighborhood every four years.

chevyontheriver · 2025-11-29T09:12:02-0600

Nithavela said:
Even if that is the case, that is not proof positive that EVERY EO signed by autopen was without Biden's knowledge.

Let’s see. One executive order signed by autopen that Biden didn’t even know about doesn’t PROVE that all executive orders signed by autopen were without his knowledge. Which ones signed by autopen were with his knowledge? With his consent? With his active intent as constitutional head of the executive branch as president? You can’t say “all of them” so which ones?

Nithavela said:
Besides, we are talking about end of term Biden. He probably forgot what he had for breakfast before he got lunch.

This man was made out to be fit for duty.

Nithavela said:
Anyone, this is a huge nothingburger. Trump has done nothing except write another tweet.

It’s not a nothingburger even though Trump-tweeting is generally rediculous. It’s a matter of being governed by people who are elected vs being governed by someone in the shadows. Who wrote the executive order Biden didn’t even know about? What is his or her name? Who elected them? Why were they acting like they were president when they were not?

The Liturgist · 2025-11-29T09:08:10-0600

bbbbbbb said:
As always, thank you for your excellent and very enlightening reply. It seems that virtually every branch of Christianity has had and continues to have cults that shoot off from it, Rastafarianism being one of the better-known examples.

While that’s true, the situation here is literally the opposite: the Ethiopian Orthodox converting non-Christian Rastafarians away from their decadent and indulgent false religion to the true religion of Christ our God.

To be clear, Rastafarianism didn’t consist of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who decided to reject 1600 years of Christian teaching in order to smoke massive amounts of marijuana and perform obnoxious Reggae music, but rather, consisted of Jamaicans who heard of Emperor Haile Selassie, and, contrary to the wishes of the Emperor, decided that he was God, for reasons derived mainly from the color of his skin and the connections between Ethopia and ancient Israel. Among Ethiopians the small Rasta community that immigrated there is not well regarded.

Neither the Emperor, nor the Ethiopian church, refused to take action, however - actions to evangelize the people of the Carribean, including the Rastas, were undertaken, and these have been very successful in converting many Rastas to Christ.

+

Now that being said, Ethiopia did have, for several centuries, two schismatic, heretical sects which competed with the Orthodox for control of the church, both of which had seriously deranged teachings, however, through the grace of God, the Orthodox party associated with the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and most members of the Imperial household triumphed. But the schism was probably the worst one to happen to an Oriental Orthodox church since the Maronites broke away from the Syriac Orthodox Church in (many believe this was because the Maronites opted to embrace the Monothelite heresy being promoted at the time as a means of achieving EO-OO reconciliation, which resulted in St. Maximos the Confessor losing his tongue, and which also resulted in Pope Honorius I being the only legitimate Bishop of Rome (not counting anti-Popes) to ever be anathematized as a heretic by the Roman Catholic Church post-mortem).

rambot · 2025-11-29T09:06:08-0600

Laodicean60 said:
Not really, it has helped me in reversing my Type 2 diabetes. A lot of autoimmune diseases can be reversed, did you know that? Do you have parents or grandparents taking medication? I'd like to think I can critically think problems through and I use the internet and Google Scholar for verification. I grew up in a time when most diseases were not a problem and I always questioned why cancer was so prevalent. Especially when a couple of my wife's friends and family died of it in the early 2000. I used to think cancer was genetic but now genetics has a small part of it and nutrition and environmental factors play a big role.

In my youth in the 70s, only alcoholics got fatty liver and in the 80s nonalcoholics started getting fatty liver. Since alcohol isn't the problem then the sugar content must be the problem. Today we have kids with fatty liver disease, how sad is that? I hope no one has to see their parents deteriorate like I watched mine do. My dad died of diabetes and I know I have a genetic disposition to it my mom had a stroke that ruined her life. Both of these diseases can be prevented with a lifestyle change.

While I will agree risks can be affected by lifestyle change.......

Thin fit people get strokes.
Thin, fit people have diabetes.

It's not safe to buy into the youtube message of anything can be prevented.

That is an important part, I think, of what Tropical Winds was getting at.

New Posts

New Posts

Filter

Forum statistics

Share this page