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Dan Perez said:

And you never read Rom 16:25. and 26 and you make me. AGOG. !!

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Of course I read it, but I also read Phil. 1:10, did you? I know it's easy to believe that everything is the same, but it isn't.

I know the mystery in Rom. 16:25, 26 is denied by almost everyone, but what is it actually about? It can't be about the mystery hidden in God of Eph. 3:9 which says "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world (Gr. aions) hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:"

Rom. 16:25 says "... and by the scriptures of the prophets ...", so it was in the Scriptures but under a veil, the mystery of Eph. 3:9 was hidden in God, nowhere to be found in Scripture until Paul received it's revelation.

When you read Romans it goes in chapter 5 back to the sin of Adam, it puts Adam against Christ. Note, not Eve, not Adam and Eve, but Adam alone. According to general believe, Eve must be the one who first sinned, she listened to Satan (the "serpent") — not Adam — and she plucked the apple — not Adam — from the forbidden tree and than gave it to Adam, but in Romans Adam and not Eve is mentioned. Why? We read by one man in Rom. 5:12 "... as by one man sin entered into the world ...", not one woman, not "one" woman and man, but one man, Adam. What happened with Adam — his sin — happened before Eve was even created, that is the mystery in 16:25, 26.

Aristarkos

This teaching is under the Old Covenant God had with his people Israel (Jews only). But much of it is taught to us again in the New Testament under the New Covenant God has with his people Israel (Jew and Gentile by faith in Jesus Christ), the body of Christ. And what is repeated for us under the New Covenant, we are to apply to our lives in obedience to our Lord.

Now under the New Covenant we are taught that in the last days, which I believe began with the birth of Christ, there will be people of faith in Jesus Christ who are filled with the Spirit of God (all who believe in Christ have the Spirit) who will prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams. And to prophesy is to speak God’s messages to the people. So prophecy is not always (or primarily) predicting the future. So, we should not discount prophecy, dreams, and visions, but we should test everything against the New Testament Scriptures to make certain they are not against the truth.


[Acts 2:12-18; Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:11-14; John 10:1-15; Romans 16:17-19; 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 3:2; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 1:1-25]

For we do have people among us today who profess faith in Jesus Christ and who call themselves prophets and/or teachers, some of whom claim that God speaks to them through dreams or visions, whose words are against the teachings of Christ and of his New Testament apostles. And some of them are indeed leading the people to follow after false gods of man who are lying to the people about what the Scriptures teach. And many people are blindly following them. And they are teaching that we do not have to obey God and his commands and that we can keep sinning and still have life in Christ.

But if we are of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ, we should be those who love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul, and so we want to obey our Lord and his commands. We want to do what pleases God and to not live to please the sinful desires of the flesh. Yes, obedience to God and to his commands is required of us in the New Testament under the New Covenant God has with his people who believe in Jesus Christ. We are not under the Old Covenant liturgical and ceremonial laws, but we have to obey God’s teachings to us under the New Covenant God has with us.

For, if sin continues to be our practice, and not obedience to God, according to the Scriptures we do not know God, we are not in fellowship with Christ, and we do not have eternal life with God. So, we need to take this to heart.

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


But under the New Covenant we don’t have all the laws about putting people to death that they had under the Old Covenant. We are not to kill anyone, but we are to leave all retribution to the wrath of God. Now we, as the body of Christ, though, are to exercise church discipline on those within the church who are living in sin and who refuse to repent and who are impacting and influencing the rest of the body of Christ to follow suit (1 Corinthians 5 as an example). And we are not to put up with false teaching (2 Corinthians 11:1-4), but we are to be followers of the truth who expose the lies.

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

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

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

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Caution: This link may contain ads

Test Everything You Hear
An Original Work / October 9, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

linux.poet said:

No offense taken, but I’m actually your sister in Christ. I need to edit my signature again, as I noticed the line that says as much is being cut off.

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Ok! It’s unusual for women to be interested in Linux

Romans 13:1-5 said:

Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.

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I honestly think Catholics believe that Romans 13 is the inspired Word of God, and therefore, they should follow the State of California law in how they run their hospital. As we have established, this situation is not an abortion and therefore does not violate the numerous Scriptures against abortion or Catholic teaching against abortion. If it was an abortion, they would have the religious freedom not to perform it, but that is not the case here.

Therefore, the Catholics should be free to follow their religion, by actually following their religion. I don't see a religious freedom issue here. All I see is a medical tragedy that was handled improperly as regards the law. Neither Christianity nor the law are at issue, because California laws allows for full-on abortions and definitely wasn't scaring doctors away from the correct procedure, and Christianity says, in the absence of conflict with other Scriptural regulations, you submit to the laws of the government. The hospitals need to update their procedure to better deal with this situation in the future, minor detail.

But maybe there's some other thing in the Magisterium somewhere that complicates this. I wouldn't know it because I'm not Catholic.

What I do know is that if I have a miscarriage or other nonviable pregnancy in my womb, I want it removed without having an argument. I'm anti-abortion as they come, but I'm not up for dying of hemorrhage or sepsis because of pesky ethics dithering. I'm as anti-abortion as they come, but I think I will be going to the secular hospital until things change, as part of my religious freedom to not die of preventable medical causes.

Delvianna said:

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

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I live in a small town of around 1,000 people and I go to the same church that I was born into as a baby. If I left it would be really hard. My wife and kids go to the church also. I will pray for the Lord to send someone in my life that wants to have Bible study with me. I need to maybe just focus on going to church to worship and that way when people seem to look through me without saying or asking anything about me it won't bother me as much.

Delvianna said:

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

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Delvianna said:

I understand what you mean. I don't have anyone to bible study with either really because people aren't interested. They watch youtube sermons and they act like they're well versed in scripture and when you correct them, they get bent out of shape about it. It's hard to always be the one reaching out, or interested in others and without that return, it makes you want to walk away. But listen, don't chase after people who are clearly not interested. You are well within your right to not burn yourself out on others and not get poured into too. You can't pour out to them from an empty glass. Do what you can, but also cut yourself some slack. Reach out, be there for them as we are called to be, but only when you feel you are emotionally able to and in the mean time, pray that God sends you someone that you can connect with on a spiritual level also.

Have you tried other churches in your area? Maybe you might meet someone somewhere else.

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I haven't tried other churches since it is the same church I have attended my whole 51 years of my life. It is a small town of about 1,000 people. My wife and kids attend the church also and I would feel bad pulling my kids from junior high/high school Sunday school. I appreciate your thoughts. I think moving forward I will lower my expectations. I will not expect people to pray for me or follow up with me on personal things. I will show love but focus more on worship than on friendships. I will pray for someone who will want to pray for me and have Bible study with me(that could be from another church or online). Thanks for replying to my thread. I greatly appreciate that.

GoldenKingGaze said:

I suppose to see the risen Christ you'd have to die and be resuscitated. Otherwise Jesus's Spirit can certainly manifest and be with you.

Early church fathers Irenaeus and Tertullian had an interpretation of apostolic succession.

The greater revelation of God of those who saw and heard Him in close fellowship, the 12 apostles is a firm foundation we can't match. Paul gives us hope of ability to serve despite a lack of repute or revelation of God. We can all have a revelation of God, some of us today have been taken up into the Heavenlies like Gary Oates.

Some have a remarkable impression of God in them, some who seek His hand and face, panim, at home and church, and God has filled them deeply. From King David, deep calls unto deep. And Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and He is here with us, and can reveal Himself to us in degrees.

Ephesians 4 requires apostles until Christ returns, and because of deception and wolves in rebellion to the truth, we need them as the verses say.
So there was Paul, Barnabas, Andronicus and Junias...
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

From ChatGPT:
Good question — the Biblical requirements for an apostle depend on whether we’re talking about the original Twelve Apostles, Paul, or later church-appointed messengers (the word “apostle” just means “one who is sent”). But Scripture does outline some clear qualifications, especially in the early Church.
Let’s go through them carefully:

---

1. For the Original Twelve Apostles​

After Judas died, the remaining eleven chose a replacement — Matthias — and the Book of Acts records the qualifications clearly:

So the original apostolic requirements were:

1. Personal companionship with Jesus during His earthly ministry (from John’s baptism onward).
2. Eyewitness of the resurrection — literally having seen the risen Christ.
3. Chosen by God (Acts 1:24–26 shows the apostles prayed for divine choice).

---

2. For Paul (the “Apostle to the Gentiles”)​

Paul was an exception to the “followed Jesus from the beginning” rule, but even he insisted on seeing the risen Christ and being directly commissioned by Him:

Paul met Jesus in a post-resurrection appearance (Acts 9) and was specifically sent (apostellō) by Him.
Paul’s apostolic credentials:

• Personally encountered the risen Christ.
• Commissioned directly by Jesus (not self-appointed).
• Confirmed by miraculous signs and the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 12:12).
• Produced spiritual fruit and doctrine consistent with Christ’s gospel (Gal 1:11–12).

---

3. For Later “Apostles” (Missionary Sense)​

In the New Testament, others are sometimes called apostoloi (messengers), though not part of the Twelve:

• Barnabas (Acts 14:14)
• Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7)

In this broader sense, an apostle was:

• Sent out by the church or the Spirit (Acts 13:2–3)
• Carrying the gospel with divine authority
• Endorsed by the fruits of ministry and godly character

---

4. Summary Table​

Requirement	Scriptural Basis	Applies to
Witness of Jesus’ resurrection	Acts 1:22; 1 Cor 9:1	The Twelve, Paul
Personally chosen by Christ	Luke 6:13; Acts 1:24; Gal 1:1	The Twelve, Paul
Empowered by the Holy Spirit	Acts 2:1–4; 2 Cor 12:12	All apostles
Sound doctrine and fruit	Gal 1:8–9; 2 Cor 12:12	All apostles
Blameless conduct and humility	1 Thess 2:3–6; 2 Cor 10–12	All apostles
Sent to preach or establish churches	Acts 13:2–3; Rom 15:19–20	Broader apostleship

---

5. Conclusion​

In Biblical terms, to be a true apostle one must:

• Be personally called and sent by Christ,
• Have seen the risen Lord,
• Demonstrate signs, teaching, and fruits authenticating divine commission.

After the first generation, the apostolic office ceased in that original sense (since no one afterward could meet those eyewitness criteria). Later Christian leaders could be apostolic in mission and doctrine, but not in authority or revelation equal to the Twelve and Paul.

---

Would you like me to show how early Church Fathers (like Irenaeus or Tertullian) interpreted apostolic succession next?

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Thanks for the reply, and for your offer to show me what the church fathers said about apostolic succession, which I appreciate, but I will rely on the Scriptures. Thanks again.

RileyG said:

John chapter 2

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But as I wrote in Post 6: "That is not an intercession. She would have had to have said something like, "Please give them some wine," for it to have been an intercession."

retired firefighter said:

i so glad you read Hebrew and Greek , i can't so i'll stick with the KJV

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Sorry, I don't read Hebrew or Greek. Where did you get that idea? I mainly use the NKJV.

AMBASSADOR HAT​

Friendly reminder of a Christian Forums rule:

Flaming and Goading​

• Offensive derogatory nicknames and egregious inflammatory comments about public figures may be considered goading.

I understand that you are enraged at the current Israeli government, perhaps indeed rightfully so, and you are allowed to post your opinion and evidence to back it up. However, degrading the level of discourse to name calling does not build your case well. Please refrain from using inflammatory negative adjectives to describe people in that government please.

And I do mean people specifically, you are allowed to use negative adjectives to describe their policies and actions, just please refrain from insulting people. Thanks!

AMBASSADOR HAT OFF​

BCP1928 said:

Right, it saves a lot of work.

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Then why object to the suggestion that some sort of lathing was involved.

BCP1928 said:

Yes the "culture" but not necessarily the craftsmen themselves. QED, huh?

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Ok so we find some precision vases 5,000 years ago and its the culture and not the craftman.

BCP1928 said:

More lies. No one has suggested that they used nothing but their "unaided freehands."

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lol you suggested they were using a lathe or wheel. You suggested that a boring bar was used as a lathe to explain the precise synnetry and circularity.

#593
The boring bar is generally used in a lathe, where a lathe is available.

BCP1928 said:

More lies. I have never denied that some sort of wheel or lathe might have been used.

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Wait a minute you just literally said above that no one has suggested the ancients use nothing but their unaided hands. Now your saying they used the lathe as an aid to reach the precision.

BCP1928 said:

Because you are downgrading the ability of ancient Egyptian craftsman to use the tools that were known to be used by them or were possibly available to them.

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How exactly. How exactly have I said anything different to you. Make up your mind. Did they use a lathe or not. If so your saying exactly what I am saying.

Its not downgrading any craftsmans skill. I am talking about the lathe achieving the near precise symmetry and circularity that everyone recognises is caused by a lathe. Yes they are good craftsman in being able to use a lathe. But its the lathe thats achieving the high precision.

BCP1928 said:

I don't know. The lathe question is certainly up in the air,

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You just said you have never denied a lathe being used. You have been explaining how a lathe can answer the question of how the ancients achieved high precision in symmetry and roundness. You said even a 1950's lathe can do this as you have used one lol.

BCP1928 said:

though you have denied the possibility of any lathe that would be within the scope of their ability to construct. Their "culture" wasn't good enough for you.

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No this is the consensus opinion of mainstream archeology. The potters wheel and Bore stick did not come along until at least a 1,000 years after the Naqada people.

I deny that they would have had a modern CNC lathe. Obviously as computers and that level of high tech did not come in until late 20th century. But the signatures are the same as modern lathing.

I am actually saying the ancients were smart. I am praising them, highlighting their amazing ability. It is skeptics who are restricting these people to traditional ways and limiting the possibilities.

The ancients themselves claim that they had advanced knowledge that defied convention. If anything I am supporting their culture as I am not denying the possibility of this alternative advanced knowledge.

BCP1928 said:

And I am trying to explain to you why that is not necessary.

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Actually you explained why it is necessary. You explained how the near precise symmetry and circularity was produced by lathing. That lathing explains this signature and not unaided hands without lathing and just chisels and pounders.

BCP1928 said:

You seem fascinated with "bare hands." I would tell you what to do with your "bare hands" but I don't think they would both fit.

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lol my imagination is making me laugh.

Then after I posted my imagination ran wild lol. I could use my bare hands as you said and pull out a precision vase lol.

Tellyontellyon said:

Matthew 18:10 KJV
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

.....

What does this mean? Do the little children have angel in heaven that is connected to them? Do we all have an angel in heaven that corresponds to us?
Do some of our angels do something other than behold God? Is my angel less innocent/good than a child's angel?

Or does it mean that when a child dies it becomes a particularly devoted angel?
Do we become angels if we go to heav lighten?

Or is the soul actually an angel and we are in heaven at the same time as being on earth without knowing it? We are our own angel, so to speak?

Or... what does it mean?

Cheers

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Angels are God's messengers.

My husband died recently & I had a dream a few days ago where by my husband was alive & well, it was a fabulous dream, so I believe that when we die our souls turn into angels.

When we are born the soul is this spark of light, a star is born & when we die this star carries on as an angel to comfort us in times of grief.

The legend of the Jews by BY LOUIS GINZBERG

Between morning and evening the angel carries the soul around, and shows her where she will live and where she will die, and the place where she will buried, and he takes her through the whole world, and points out the just and the sinners and all things. In the evening, he replaces her in the womb of the mother, and there she remains for nine months.

When the time arrives for man to quit this world, the same angel appears and asks him, "Dost thou recognize me?" And man replies, "Yes; but why dost thou come to me to-day, and thou didst come on no other day?" The angel says, "To take thee away from the world, for the time of thy departure has arrived." Then man falls to weeping, and his voice penetrates to all ends of the world, yet no creature hears his voice, except the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] alone. Man remonstrates with the angel, "From two worlds thou didst take me, and into this world thou didst bring me." But the angel reminds him: "Did I not tell thee that thou wert formed against thy will, and thou wouldst be born against thy will, and against thy will thou wouldst die? And against thy will thou wilt have to give account and reckoning of thyself before the Holy One, blessed be He."

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rjs330 said:

How do you know? Are you at the meetings? Do you have the Intel? Show me the documents.

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That's like asking me to prove I don't beat my wife. An effective slanderer depends upon lies they know others are going to find difficult to disprove. It's not like anyone can interview all the millions of immigrants and have them provide evidence they were never in a prison or a mental institution.

I do know ICE has records of 104,000 criminal "non-citizens" having been arrested by border officials from fiscal year 2021 to 2024. Could be drug runners or cartel members. But I've seen no evidence of millions of immigrants coming from prisons or mental institutions.

Slander is not of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit teaches me to NOT WANT TO believe ANYTHING BAD said about others without evidence, because negative prejudice violates loving others as myself. It's wickedness TO WANT TO believe bad things said about others.

rjs330 said:

Who's he slandering?

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The millions of immigrants who he says are coming from prisons and mental institutions who are not coming from mental institutions or prisons.

rjs330 said:

The countries where those people are coming from?

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I don't believe so.

rjs330 said:

How do you know that zero illegals have been in prison or zero illegals immigrants have been in a mental hospital?

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I'm sure there have been illegals who probably have been in prison before. But Trump in general is slandering the millions of immigrants who are people just like you or me. Trump dislikes undocumented immigrants based upon negative prejudice. I know that because he said that he doesn't want birthright citizenship for immigrants. Trump does not want children born from undocumented immigrants to become citizens.

mark46 said:

Is this all the Democratic bill does? Is it really a clean CR that merely makes the change you mention. If not, isn't this a strawman?

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I don't know. Why don't you go find it and read it.

mark46 said:

What you suggest SHOULD be presented on the floor by Democrats or should be presented as an amendment of the Republican bill, perhaps even by a Republican.

From all that I have seen, The Democratic bill includes much, much more. I suppose I shouldn't have called it a repeal of the law of the land. It is indeed its own law with the expect of repealing sections of the law passed earlier this year.

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Quote it then.

Fantine said:

And two days before the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded...

Too little, too late (along with all the extortion for rare earth minerals, all the immigrants sent to virtual death camps in alligator alcatraz, el salvador, sudan, etc., the zip-tied children, the hungry children losing food assistance, the children whose fathers are deported, etc., etc.,

I hope President Zelensky wins the Nobel Prize for peace.

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You do realize that Hamas had to agree to this peace deal, right? This is the first time that Hamas has actually accepted and agreed to a peace deal with Israel.

dogs4thewin said:

There is no such thing as free anything it is paid for one way or another.

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But its more fair imo that people in necessity could have access to healthcare.
I heard people have died because they were denied basic treatments if that is true, that is bad

It has been announced that Hamas has accepted President Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, “with conditions.” The headlines, as well as Trump himself, heralded it as a turning point: hostages would come home, the war would end, reconstruction would begin. In reality, Hamas has not agreed to the plan at all, but framing their response as agreement has bought them more time and leverage as they try to retain control of Gaza.

The Trump plan is fundamentally a roadmap for Hamas’s removal: full release of hostages, disarmament, exile of leadership, and reconstruction of Gaza under moderate Arab and U.S. supervision. Its underlying logic is simple: peace and security can only come when Hamas is dismantled.

Yet in their official response, Hamas redefines the deal. They say they will “release Israeli hostages … according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions.” Meaning that they agree to the numbers of hostages and terrorist prisoners to be exchanged. As for those “necessary field conditions,” they are undefined — leaving room for negotiations and delays.

Trump’s plan demands that all hostages (living and dead) be freed within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance. Israel accepted the plan early in the week. Yet Hamas waited days and then inserted conditions. Among them: hostage release only after Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, as stated by senior Hamas figure Musa Abu Marzouk on Al Jazeera on Friday.

That demand is incompatible with the Trump framework. The plan does not call for an immediate Israeli exit; instead, it ties withdrawal to security milestones. Israel would withdraw gradually as a new International Stabilization Force (ISF) assumes control, leaving a final perimeter until stability is assured.

Here is the crucial point: the ISF has not even begun to be formed. No members have been named, no command structure agreed upon, no deployment timeline established. In other words, the security mechanism that is supposed to replace the IDF’s presence does not yet exist. Meaning that it will be months, at least, until the IDF surrenders security control of any of Gaza it currently holds. Any suggestion that Israel withdraw beyond the bare minimum needed to facilitate the release of hostages is not only premature — it contradicts the plain text and intent of Trump’s plan.

Clause Six of Trump’s proposal offers Hamas a stark choice: disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence, or leave Gaza under safe passage. Either way, Gaza must become demilitarized. But Hamas leaders have publicly rejected that premise.

Now the real test lies with Israel, the U.S., and Arab guarantors. They must refuse to renegotiate the essential terms — or risk this deal becoming yet another temporary ceasefire in disguise. There must be clarity: no loopholes, no language that allows Hamas to remain armed or in control.

Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states are especially critical. They have influence over Hamas. If they genuinely intend Gaza’s normalization and peace, they must enforce — not water down — the terms. They must insist Hamas release all hostages, lay down all weapons, and depart power.

The negotiation is not with Hamas as an equal partner. It is a demand for surrender written in diplomatic language. If we treat Hamas’s conditional “yes” as a breakthrough, we will find ourselves back at war again.

Israel 365 News

I finally had a chance to work on my personal curriculum yesterday and I’m finalizing it and making adjustments. It’s a recent trend designed for edifying pursuits that improve our knowledge and person. Unlike previous iterations it isn’t dominated by aesthetics or Herculean tasks (which have their place) and the likelihood of continuance is great. I’ve included a couple of videos if you want to learn more or try it yourself.

I’m using a seasonal approach and a notion template to keep track of things. It isn’t perfect and I’ll probably buy one instead. But for the moment it’ll do. As for the rest, the sky’s the limit. You can focus on anything and grouping them in categories is easiest. I have four at the moment but six is probably best and I’ll add them tomorrow. The activities you have in mind are distributed to the groups with resources in tow and a schedule follows.

The neat thing about this is the reemergence of stimulating discourse that doesn’t involve politics, religion or debates. Not that they’re bad but they’ve become a source of contention in this space and it’s nice to see people focusing on other subjects. I look forward to reading more and challenging myself. The weather is cooling and I enjoy Russian novels in that setting and Dickens in the winter.

I’m reminded of the scene in Pride and Prejudice where Bingley is chided for his lack of discrimination on accomplished women and his sister corrects him. We don’t have a similar standard today but renaissance women are on the rise and accepting the mantle. I expect we’ll see a rekindling of cafe society and the intelligentsia. We’ve been on this trajectory for a while and we’ve found our sweet spot.

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BPPLEE said:

I have heard something similar, that those who seem to get saved and then turn away were never truly saved in the first place

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Hello @BBLEE, that seems to be true according to the Bible. Along with three of the four kinds of "soils" in Matthew 13, there is this,


And @Clare73 has already shared the following passage.

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - there are other verses/passages too, of course. A couple of Chapters in the Book of Hebrews come quickly to mind.