• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Kilauea Volcano is spectacular today.

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


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

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

1763176639234.png


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

The three episodes were:

34: October 1, 6 hours, 375 m
35: October 17, 7.5 hours, 450 m (highest in 40 years)
36: November 9, 5 hours, 375 m
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what is Calvinism answer to how God works?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings
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Cursed is the heart of this people

From Wikipedia:

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

In Search of Character

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

Eugenics was popular in the 1930s. It didn't work out well for Germany.
Darwinists like Reginald Punnett showed that the entire idea was mathematically flawed. It would take hundreds of years of Draconian control to remove harmful recessives from the population.
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Is purgatory a Biblical or extra biblical teaching?

It means EXACTLY what it says - our works - the things we do, what we say - are judged. We are saved.


We are indeed saved but only as through fire
What does being saved only as through fire mean to you?

Romans 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
What does that mean? Does it mean after we leaving this life we are judged and then might have to spend sometime in jail (purgatory) until we get our act right? or does it mean exactly what it says?

Matt 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
One time - not after a jail sentence - one time.

It means we are saved. But being saved does not mean that we will not experience God’s discipline. Isn’t the author of Hebrews writing to “saved” people when he says that when God disciplines us he is treating us like sons? Being saved does not mean we will not be disciplined by God to perfect us in holiness. Being completely sanctified is not optional.

If you leave this life and you are not perfected in holiness, not sure I would call it ‘jail’. But if you have not yet become “righteous made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23), God still has some work to do with you.

So say for example, Mr. X has held a grudge against his brother for many years due to a perceived wrong. Mr. X dies still holding that grudge. He hates his brother.

Do you really think Christ is going to say “Mr. X, you’re dead now so regardless of what sin you’re still attached to, heaven is open to you? Keep your grudge, hold on to your hatred because all the saved are welcome no matter what sin you bring with you?”

Or is Christ going to say we still have a little work to do don’t we? About that grudge….”
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When the Sacrament Bites Back: Has Communion Ever Frightened You?

Paul says some of you are sick and dying because you gulp the Supper unworthily (1 Cor 11). Share the moment the bread and wine stopped being routine and started feeling dangerous.

What happened, and how did it change the way you prepare?
I've never had a negative experience with the Eucharist. I have received miraculous healing though.
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Discussion 2: Adam...with some of Eve (God's Word to Women book)

Here's my thoughts on what I covered from the book:

  • I have heard that Adam and Eve were in one body before, but it was on Gab and they insisted that it was unbiblical, and the idea came from the Talmud and Satan. But after awhile, I do think what Katharine Bushnell says in her book, it is true, especially when you consider that Eve was taken out of Adam's side.

  • The parts about Adam having freedom to eat from the Tree of Life (before he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) and Adam having responsibilities for the Garden of Eden - it's little things like this we miss, and when someone points them out, we have to go back and look.

  • The part about Adam's condition of "good" not lasting - I'm not so sure about this. It's hard to think that Adam was sinning before he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And if it is true, why was God so patient with him and helping him? Don't we tend to view God differently?

  • In both Discussion 1 and 2, I think that Bushnell's analysis on Scripture and what Scripture says itself derails Patriarchy. Patriarchy likes to protect Adam and blame everything on Eve, but God is not one sided and will always judge truthfully and accurately.
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