Hallelujah!

We who believe in Jesus Christ are to be those who are proclaiming the truth about Jesus Christ and his gospel of salvation, and of his plans and purposes for his people, i.e. for those who fear (revere, respect, obey) the Lord, and throughout the world. And we are to be those who are talking about the Lord and the teachings of the Scriptures to one another within the family of God for our mutual encouragement and edification in our walks of faith and obedience to our Lord. And this isn’t just locally, but it is far and wide, too.

And with the invention of the internet, and with cell phones, we are able to speak with people all over the world in many nations all at once so that we can share with them the truth of the gospel of our salvation and of what God has planned for those who love and obey him. And with the invention of the internet, our language differences should no longer be an obstacle, either, for there are many ways in which we can find translations into other languages or from their languages to ours so that we can hear one another.

And we who believe in Jesus Christ should make use of this tool we have been given for sharing the truth about Jesus Christ and his gospel of salvation and in order to encourage the body of Christ far and wide in the ways of the Lord. For to this we are all called. And we should be doing this daily. And if you are on social media, right now that is a great tool for sharing the gospel and for encouraging the body of Christ in the ways of the Lord and in our walks of faith and obedience to our Lord in holy living.

And the Lord knows who is listening and who needs to hear what and when. And so this is something we should pray to the Lord about, and ask him for the messages that he would have for us to share, and be available to him to hear from him so that we know what to say and when and where. For we are all called of God to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth in sharing Jesus Christ and his word with the people of the world. And we are all to proclaim the excellencies of him who took us from darkness to light.

And what are our vows that we are to perform? Well, when we receive Jesus Christ into our lives to be Lord and Savior of our lives, we enter into a spiritual marriage covenant with the Lord Jesus, and he becomes our husband, and we become his bride. But this is more like the biblical Jewish marriage covenant between man and woman, which was more like a period of engagement where the groom went to prepare a place for his bride and then he came and got her and then they consummated their relationship.

And right now Jesus Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven, and when he returns one day he is going to take his faithful ones, those who fear him, to be with him for eternity. And that is when our marriage to him will be consummated, i.e. that is when our salvation will be complete and not until then. In the meanwhile we are more like in an engagement period with the Lord and we must remain faithful to him in obedience to his commands and in holy living and in service to him until he returns to take us home.

And a big part of our service to the Lord is in taking the truth of the gospel to the people of the world and it is in ministering to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but not just their physical or emotional needs, but their spiritual needs. And this is why the Scriptures teach us that we are to be exhorting one another daily so that none of us are hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, and why we are to be speaking the truth in love to one another so that none of us is lead astray by people in deceitful scheming.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 7:13-14; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]

And the goal of what we do and why we do it is not only in obedience to our Lord, but it is out of genuine love and concern for all who proclaim faith in Jesus Christ and for all those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus. And the goal is that we might be used of the Lord in the lives of other believers in Jesus to encourage them in their walks of faith and obedience to the Lord and so that people all over the world will turn their hearts to Jesus Christ, deny self, die daily to sin, and follow Jesus in obedience to his commands.

For this is what is required of us to have life in Jesus Christ and to be saved from our sins and to have eternal life with God. We must all be crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to righteousness. So we are not to let sin reign in our bodies to make us obey its desires, for if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if righteousness and obedience to God are what we obey, that leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God.

So, this is to encourage you, not only to make certain of your salvation, that you have died with Christ to sin and that you are now walking in obedience to his commands in holy living, but that you are proclaiming the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, before the great congregation, and that you are not hiding your light under a bushel, and that your salt has not lost its saltiness, and that you are living and teaching the narrow road to heaven, and not the broad road to destruction.

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

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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Why are we here?
For what purpose do we exist?
Why have we come into being?
Do our lives even have meaning?

Are we just here for fun?
Are we here to entertain ourselves?
Are we here just for laughs?
Or is there a purpose we exist?

Well God created us all for a purpose,
And he has a plan for our lives,
And that is that we believe in Him,
Believe in His Son Jesus Christ.

For Jesus Christ gave His life for us
That we might die with him to sin,
That we might follow Him in obedience,
And that we might now live for Him.

An Original Work / May 30, 2024

Diamond7 said:

If He cleansed all food then why are people getting sick from eating processed food.

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I think he meant food in its natural state, that is, before it's processed. It's God that makes the food and man that does the processing. (exception being poisonous plants, He wouldn't want us to eat those of course.)

More funny animals...

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Pommer said:

But that it’s seriously talked about and even occurring in some locations, means it’s a coming, how long can it be put off?

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Historically a good number of American states, cities, etc. gave all adult male residents a vote, regardless of citizenship. Not most, but they did exist.

Michie said:

We know that coffee keeps us awake, but studies show coffee impacts us in unexpected ways, including increasing our shopping habits and our tolerance to pain.

Everyone knows that coffee perks up the soul. Shortly after the nectar passes our lips, our brain is attentive, our vision sharpens and fatigue goes away.

As French novelist Honoré de Balzac states, “This coffee falls into your stomach, and straightway there is a general commotion. Ideas begin to move like the battalions of the Grand Army on the battlefield.”

Caffeine is the primary chemical in coffee, a psychoactive drug that alters how we feel and behave. Caffeine molecules resemble the body’s adenosine molecules, which accumulate in the brain the longer we are awake. And since caffeine looks like adenosine, it can block sensors and trick the brain to stay awake.

Continued below.
5 Unexpected Ways Coffee Influences our Behavior

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I wonder if it works that way for those of us with ADHD, as stimulants helps us to relax.

iluvatar5150 said:

Now the neighbor says that the flag went up before they had words:

The Alitos, the Neighborhood Clash and the Upside-Down Flag

Inside the escalating conflict on a bucolic suburban street that Justice Alito said prompted a “Stop the Steal” symbol at his home.

www.nytimes.com

ETA: both sides sound insufferable.

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This is how America does “royal family scandals”, the elites squabble about how best to rule the rest of us, like they have any business attempting that!
Good times!

tonychanyt said:

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John 3:


What is born of water?

There are at least 3 interpretations:

1. Water is a symbol of cleansing, Ezekiel 36:

2. Water refers to water baptism. John 1:


Nicodemus knew about John's water baptism for repentance. Jesus informed him that there was another requirement. Ellicott, Cambridge Bible, and Bengel agreed to this interpretation #2.

3. Water refers to natural watery birth or amniotic sac breaking (Smith's Bible Commentary, Dr. Constable's Expository Notes). John 3:


water || human flesh
Spirit || human spirit

Because of the immediate context and parallelisms, I put more weight on #3.

See also What does it mean to be born again?.

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#3

She's from Detroit, so I've met her. She's a radical for sure.

Vambram said:

As a Trekker, I would really LOVE to actually use sci-fi replicators and the Star Trek transporters.

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Same here, well for the replicators. Well, I would not want to be de-materialized in a transporter, but I would love to use the replicators. I will get fat off of desserts though, and commit the sin of gluttony. That is why I avoid buying too many sweets at the store. A replicator would be great for alleviating hunger in 3rd world countries.

A month ago, I made a post about the ethics of a similar device to the replicator named the Molecular Additive Manufacturing Unit for a sci-fi world that I am (slowly) working on, a machine that can also manufacture organisms as well, but that is unrelated to this thread.

.Mikha'el. said:

I hope you understand that being ritually unclean is not a sin. If it were, a woman being on her monthly period would be a grievous sin. I take it for men to men that there's no need for sexual release in whatever form every single day, and whether a man has sex, has a nocturnal emission, or masturbates, that he should clean up afterward by taking a shower as soon as is reasonable.

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Hey, thank you. I posted this verse, just to help those such as myself an others who jerk off and stuff. So, this might be more of a health recommendation by Leviticus 15, compared to a condemnation of an action. I shower also after this as well.

Rescued One said:

I just don't get it. Everything seem chaotic.

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Read 2 Timothy 3.

Take a moment to ponder each and every description Paul gives of people in the last days. Compare them to what we're seeing in our world today. Really think about it, don't just glance over the words. Things are chaotic and it will only get worse.

I'm not a fan of AI giving complex mathematical and scientific descriptions but ChatGPT-3 gave a surprisingly good simplified explanation of the antipodal impact hypothesis.

The antipodal impact hypothesis suggests that the effects of a large planet can cause geological and volcanic activity on the directly opposite (antipodal) side. This concept is often discussed in the context of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event and its potential connection to the Deccan Traps volcanic activity. The mathematics behind this hypothesis involves several aspects of geophysics, wave propagation, and energy transfer.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the key concepts.

1. Impact Energy and Wave Propagation.

When a large meteor impacts a planet, it releases a tremendous amount of energy. This energy propagates through the planet in the form of seismic waves.
The energy E of the impact can be estimated using the kinetic energy formula.

E = ½mv²

where:

• m is the mass of the meteor.
• v is the velocity of the meteor at impact.

2. Seismic Wave Propagation.

Seismic waves travel through the Earth’s interior and can be divided into primary (P) waves and secondary (S) waves. The speed of these waves depends on the material properties of the Earth’s layers.
The travel time t of the wave for the impact point to the antipodal point can be calculated using the wave speed v and Earth’s radius R.

t = 2R/v

3. Focusing of Seismic Energy.

At the antipodal point the seismic waves can focus due to spherical symmetry of the planet. The focusing effect can increase the energy density at the antipodal point, potentially causing geological disturbances.

4. Stress and Strain at the Antipodal Point.

The focused seismic energy can create high stress and strain in the Earth’s crust at the antipodal point. The stress σ induced by the seismic waves can be estimated using:

σ = ρv²ε

where:

• ρ is the density of the Earth’s material.
• ε is the strain.

The strain ε is related to the displacement u and wavelength λ of the seismic waves:

ε = u/λ

5. Volcanic Activity.

If the stress and strain at the antipodal point are sufficient to fracture the crust, it can lead to volcanic activity. The critical stress required to initiate fracturing can be estimated using the materials yield strength σy:

σ ≥ σy

Simplified Numerical Example.

Let’s consider a hypothetical meteor with:

• Mass m = 1 X 10¹⁵ kg (a large asteroid)
• Velocity v = 20,000 m/s (a typical impact velocity)

1. Impact Energy.

E = ½ X 1 X 10¹⁵ x (20,000)²
E = 2 X 10²³ J

2. Seismic Wave Speed.

Assume a seismic wave speed of 8,000 m/s and Earth’s radius R = 6,371 km.

t = 2x 6,6371x10³/8,000
t ≈ 1,5593s ≈ 26.5 minutes.

3. Focusing and Stress.

Assume a density of ρ = 3,000 kg/m³ and strain ε = 0.001.

σ = 3,000 X (8,000)² X 0.001
σ = 192 X 10⁶ Pa:

If the yield strength σy of the Earth’s crust is around 100 X 10⁶ Pa:

σ ≥ σy

This indicates that the focused seismic energy could exceed the yield strength of the crust, potentially causing volcanic activity.

Conclusion.

The antipodal impact hypothesis involves complex interactions of impact energy, seismic wave propagation, and geological responses. While this simplified model provides a basic understanding, detailed simulations and geological evidence are required to fully validate the hypothesis.

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essentialsaltes said:

Jury Finds Belmont Massachusetts Man Guilty In New Hampshire Of Wrongful Voting In 2016​

After a three day trial in Grafton County Superior Court, Richard Rosen, 85, was convicted Friday on a single felony count of wrongful voting after casting ballots in both communities on Nov. 8, 2016.

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But...but...but... he's a republican.

d taylor said:

-

​

We are not in the actual end times because i am still on earth, along with all the other born again children of God, When we are taken away, then the 7 year tribulation is not far away.

So for born again believers in Jesus there should be no fear, but sadly there is.

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There are many people who are pre-trib, mid-trib and post-trib, so we must be careful. I am not sure which category I am in, but that is not important in the scheme of things. But yes, we should not worry for the end times.

Not in London, but don't have to describe a region in London??

I'm from Melbourne, where Portsea to Kalkallo is over 150k, sort of feel London would be a bit the same.
If I'm in the Ninsh, you're not expecting to catch up often with people from northern suburbs.

Continued:

2). If rational principles are relied upon​

a). The meaning of relying upon rational principles​

When men measure out peace to themselves upon the conclusions that their convictions and rational principles will carry them to, this is a false peace and will not abide. I shall a little explain what I mean by this.

A man has got a wound by sin; he has a conviction of some sin upon his conscience. He has not walked uprightly as becomes the gospel; all is not well and right between God and his soul. He considers now what is to be done. He has light, and knows what path he must take, and how his soul has been formerly healed. Considering that the promises of God’s Word are the outward means of application for the healing of his sores and quieting of his heart, he goes to them, searches them out, finds out some one or more of them whose literal words are directly suited to his condition. He then says to himself, “God speaks in this promise; here I will take myself a plaster as long and broad as my wound.” And so he brings the word of the promise to his condition, and sets him down in peace. This is another appearance upon the mount: the Lord is near, but the Lord is not in it (1Ki 19:11-12). It has not been the work of the Spirit, Who alone can “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (Joh 16:8), but the mere actings of the intelligent, rational soul.

There are three sorts of lives: the vegetative, the sensitive, and the rational or intelligent. Some things have only the vegetative; some the sensitive also, and that includes the former. Some have the rational, which takes in and supposes both the others. Now, he who has the rational not only acts suitably to that principle, but also to both the others: he grows and is sensible. So it is with men in the things of God. Some are mere natural and rational men; some have a superadded conviction with illumination; and some are truly regenerate. Now, he who has the latter has also both the former; and therefore he acts sometimes upon the principles of the rational, and sometimes upon the principles of the spiritually enlightened man. His true spiritual life is not the principle of all his motions: he acts not always in spiritual strength, neither are all his fruits from that root. In this case that I speak of, he acts merely upon the principle of conviction and illumination, whereby his first natural inclinations are heightened.

But the Spirit breathes not at all upon all these waters. For example, suppose the wound and disquiet of the soul is upon the account of relapses. Whatever the evil or folly is, even if very small, yet there are no wounds nor disquietments deeper than those that are given the soul on this account. In the inner turmoil of his mind, he finds out that promise: “The Lord…will have mercy
upon him, and our God…will abundantly pardon” (Isa 55:7)—that is, He will multiply or add to pardon, He will do it again and again. Or he finds the promise in Hosea 14:4, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely.” This the man considers, and thereupon concludes peace to himself. Whether or not the Spirit of God makes the application, whether or not the Spirit gives life and power to the letter, that he does not regard. He does not hearken whether God the Lord speaks peace. He does not wait upon God, Who perhaps yet hides His face, and sees the poor creature stealing peace and running away with it, knowing that the time will come when He will deal with him again and call him to a new reckoning (Hos 9:9), when he shall see that it is in vain to go one step where God does not take him by the hand.

b). How to know when this is the case​

I see here, indeed, various other questions about this arising and intervening themselves. I cannot apply myself to them all: I shall speak a little to one.

It may be said then, “Seeing that this seems to be the path that the Holy Spirit leads us in for the true healing of our wounds and quieting of our hearts, how shall we know when we go alone ourselves, and when the Spirit also accompanies us?”

Answer 1). God will let us know. If any of you are out of the right way in this regard, God will speedily let you know it. For besides, you have His promise that “the meek he will guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psa 25:9). He will not let you always err. He will, I say, not suffer your nakedness to be covered with fig-leaves, but will take them away and all the peace you have in them, and will not suffer you to settle on such self-satisfaction. You shall quickly know your wound is not healed; that is, you shall speedily know whether or not this is your situation. The peace you thus get and obtain will not abide. While the mind is overpowered by its own convictions, there is no hold for disquietments to fix upon. Stay a little, and all these reasonings will grow cold and vanish before the face of the first temptation that arises.

Answer 2). This course is commonly taken without waiting; which is the grace and the peculiar acting of faith that God calls to be exercised in such a condition. I know God sometimes comes in upon the soul instantly, in a moment as it were, wounding and healing it—as I am persuaded was the case of David when he cut off the lap of Saul’s garment (1Sa 24:5). But ordinarily in such a case, God calls for waiting and laboring (Psa 130:6; 128:2), attending as the eye of a servant upon his master. Says the prophet Isaiah, “I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob” (8:17). When they have run from His house and are so ashamed that they dare not come to Him, God will have His children lie a while at His door, and not instantly rush in upon Him (Isa 28:16), unless He take them by the hand and pull them in. Now, self-healers, or men that speak peace to themselves, do commonly make haste; they will not tarry. They do not hearken what God speaks, but on they will go to be healed.

Answer 3). Such a course does not sweeten the heart with rest and gracious contentment, though it may quiet the conscience and the mind, the rational part of the soul. The answer it receives is much like that which Elisha gave Naaman: “Go in peace” (2Ki 5:19). It quieted his mind, but I much question whether it sweetened his heart or gave him any joy in believing, other than the natural joy that was then stirred in him upon his healing. “Do not my words do good?” says the Lord (Mic 2:7). When God speaks, there is not only truth in His words, which may answer the conviction of our understandings, but also they do good. They bring that which is sweet, good, and desirable to the will and affections. By them the soul returns unto its rest (Psa 116:7).

Answer 4). Which is worst of all, such a course amends not the life, it heals not the evil, it cures not the distemper. When God speaks peace, it guides and keeps the soul so that it turns not again to folly (Psa 85:8). When we speak peace to ourselves, the heart is not taken off the evil; nay, it is the readiest course in the world to bring a soul into a continual practice of backsliding. If, upon your plastering yourself, you find yourself animated to the battle again, rather than utterly weaned from it, it is too probable that you have been at work with your own soul, but Jesus Christ and His Spirit were not there. Oftentimes nature, having done its work, will come for its reward after a few days, and, having been active in the work of healing, will be ready to reason for a new wounding.

However, in God’s speaking peace, there comes along so much sweetness and such a discovery of His love as is a strong obligation on the soul to deal perversely no more (Luk 22:32).

3). If we do it slightly​

We speak peace to ourselves when we do it slightly. This the prophet complains of in some teachers: “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly” (Jer 6:14). And it is so with some persons: they make the healing of their wounds a slight work. A look, a glance of faith to the promises does it, and so the matter is ended. The apostle tells us that “the word preached did not profit” some because it was “not…mixed with faith” (Heb 4:2)—that is, it was not “well-tempered” and mingled with faith. Healing is not from a mere look to the word of mercy in the promises, but it must be mingled with faith until faith is incorporated into the very nature of the healing. Then, indeed, it does good to the soul.

If you have had a wound upon your conscience that was attended with weakness and disquietness of which now you are free, how did you come to it? You might say: “I looked to the promises of pardon and healing and so found peace.” Yes, but perhaps you have made too much haste: you have done it overtly, you have not fed upon the promise so as to mix it with faith, to have got all the virtue of it diffused into your soul—you have done it only slightly. You will find your wound, ere long, breaking out again; and then you shall know that you are not cured.

4). If you ignore an equal sin​

Whoever speaks peace to himself upon any one account, and at the same time has another evil of no less importance lying upon his spirit, about which he has had no dealing with God, that man cries “Peace” when there is none. Let me explain my meaning: A man has neglected a duty again and again, perhaps, when it was due from him in all righteousness. His conscience is perplexed, his soul wounded, he has no quiet in his bones by reason of his sin. He then applies himself for healing, and finds peace. Yet, perhaps in the meantime, worldliness, pride, or some other folly wherewith the Spirit of God is exceedingly grieved, may lie in the bosom of that man, and they neither disturb him nor he them. Let not that man think that any of his peace is from God! It shall be well with men when they have an equal respect to all God’s commandments. God will justify us from our sins, but He will not justify the least sin in us. He is a God “of purer eyes than to behold evil” (Hab 1:13).

5). If there is no humility​

When men of themselves speak peace to their own consciences, it is seldom that God speaks humiliation to their souls. God’s peace is humbling peace, melting peace, as it was in the case of David (Psa 51:17)—never such deep humiliation as when Nathan brought him the tidings of his pardon (2Sa 12:13).

c. When to take comfort from a promise of God​

But you will say, “When may we take the comfort of a promise as our own, in relation to some peculiar wound, for quieting the heart?”

1). When God speaks the promise to you​

We may take the comfort of a promise for our own, first and in general, when God speaks it—be it when He will, sooner or later.95 I told you before, He may do it in the very instant of the sin itself, and that with such irresistible power that the soul must receive His mind in it. And sometimes He will make us wait longer. But when He does speak—be it sooner or later, be it when we are sinning or repenting, be the condition of our souls what they please—if God speaks, He must be received. There is not anything in our communion with Him that the Lord is more troubled with us about, if I may so say, than our unbelieving fears, which keep us from receiving that strong consolation He is so willing to give to us.

But you will say, “We are where we were. When God speaks it, we must receive it, that is true; but how shall we know when He speaks?” I would we could all practically come up to this, to receive peace when we are convinced that God speaks it, and that it is our duty to receive it.

There is, however, if I may so say, a secret instinct in faith whereby it knows the voice of Christ when He speaks indeed. As the babe leaped in the womb when the blessed virgin came to Elisabeth (Luk 1:41), faith leaps in the heart when Christ indeed draws nigh to it. “My sheep,” says Christ, “hear my voice” (Joh 10:4, 27)—that is, they know My voice; they are used to the sound of it. They know when His lips are opened to them and are full of grace. The spouse was in a sad condition, asleep in security; but yet as soon as Christ speaks, she cries, “It is the voice of my beloved” (Song 5:2). She knew His voice, and was so acquainted with communion with Him that instantly she discovers Him. And so will you also. If you exercise yourselves to acquaintance and communion with Him, you will easily discern between His voice and the voice of a stranger. And take this criterion with you: when He speaks, He speaks as never man spoke. He speaks with power, and one way or other will make your “heart burn within” you as He did to the disciples (Luk 24:32). He does it by putting “in his hand by the hole of the door” (Song 5:4)—that is, putting His Spirit into your hearts to seize on you.

He that has his senses exercised to discern good or evil is the best judge for himself in this case, being increased in judgment and experience by a constant observation of the ways of Christ’s communication, the manner of the operations of the Spirit, and the effects it usually produces.

2). If the Word does true good to your soul​

If the Word of the Lord does good to your souls, He speaks it: if it humble, if it cleanse, and if it be useful to those ends for which His promises are given—namely, to endear, to cleanse, to melt and bind to obedience, to self-emptiness, etc. But this is not my business, nor shall I further divert in the pursuit of this direction. Without the observation of it, sin will have great advantages towards the hardening of the heart.

Mr. M said:

Mark 7:
20 And He said, What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

One of many disturbing facts about the world is the taking of ideas from the Bible and applying them
in a contemporary way that clouds the truth. The evil eye is not a stare or giving someone a dirty look.
Consider this statement by the owner in the parable of the vineyard for insight.

Matthew 20:
14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?
Or is your eye evil because I am good?

Now, hear the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

At a most basic and essential level, every believer must address the carnal tendency
to see every fault in others, while making every excuse to downplay or own shortfalls.
A fine example from the teachings of Paul to elaborate.

Romans 14:
4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.
Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this,
not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

This becomes a critical issue when we understand that an evil eye clouds our ability
to perceive and follow the Spirit in every area of our Christian walk.

Luke 11:
34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good,
your whole body also is full of light.
But when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.
35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.
36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark,
the whole body will be full of light,
as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.

The “good eye” receives the light of Truth, and the Lord’s discipline

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

This is central to receiving the “sure mercies of David”.

Psalm 132:17 There will I make the horn of David to bud:
I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

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John 3:19-20 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Is the Soviet plot about to unfold?

As Ukraine war rages, Russia activates sabotage plans in Europe: Experts​

Russia is accused of putting into effect psychological, economic and military operations planned by the USSR.

Intelligence experts have warned that Europe is under a growing threat from Russian sabotage operations, and believe those operations aim to secure concrete military results in Ukraine, political and economic costs to Europe, and nuisance value.

“We are experiencing the early stages of a systematic activation of Russian sleeper cells worldwide,” Joseph Fitsanakis, professor of Intelligence and National Security Studies at Coastal Carolina University, told Al Jazeera. “This is an unprecedented phenomenon in Western post-war history.”
The Financial Times this month cited intelligence of imminent Russian hybrid operations in Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and a report from Chatham House, a London-based think tank, detailed incidents across Europe that “match predictions of what Russia would attempt to do in advance of an open conflict with NATO”.

The author of that report told Al Jazeera that Russia has a scattershot of aims, including causing trouble just to see what will happen.

“Russia has this view of security where anything they do to damage us is relatively speaking good for them because it makes them stronger,” said Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House. “That in itself is an incentive to do things which are disruptive.”

In late April, two Finnair flights were forced to return home after GPS jamming prevented them from landing at Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city. The airline suspended flights for a month to find an alternative landing system.

The Finnish transport agency blamed Moscow.

“It is possible that the interference observed in aviation currently [is] most likely a side effect of Russia’s self-protection. In practice, self-protection interference is used to prevent the navigation and control of drones controlled by [global navigation satellite systems] or mobile frequencies,” it said in a statement. “The interference has not only remained within Russia’s borders, but has also reached Finnish territory.”

Giles explained, that the GPS jamming “may have started with absolutely nothing in mind with regard to disrupting air traffic across Europe … But once it became clear that those disruptive effects are substantial and there’s no downside to Russia for doing it, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t expand.”

This nuisance approach may not sound alarming for European security, but at the very least it suggests that Russia feels no constraints against performing any disruption of which it is capable."

As war rages, Russia activates Soviet sabotage plans in Europe: Experts

Russia is accused of putting into effect psychological, economic and military operations planned by the USSR.

www.aljazeera.com

Nuisance Bear??

Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis barred from practicing in Colorado for three years​

Colorado legal officials on Tuesday approved an agreement with Jenna Ellis, a onetime attorney for former President Donald Trump, barring her from practicing law in the state for three years after she pleaded guilty to helping Trump try to overturn the 2020 election.

[previously she got a slap on the wrist for violating professional ethics by lying about the 2020 election.]

tonychanyt said:

See What is the best Bible translation?

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As my guy, @pgp_protector said, the best Bible translation is the one that you read. For me, I use multiple online Bibles (NIV, ESV, NRSV-CE and NKJV).

Isaiah prophesied an economic slump for Tyre in 23:

15 In that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute:

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This was the only reference to the song of the prostitute.

16 “Take a harp; go about the city, O forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, that you may be remembered.”

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The prostitute symbolized Tyre. The prosperity of Tyre would decline.

17 At the end of seventy years, the LORD will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.

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Tyre would do commerce with other kingdoms and restore her propensity, but then for a new purpose:

18 Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the LORD. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the LORD.

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Tyre, the prostitute, would turn to God.

Centuries later, Jesus visited the region of Tyre in Mark 3:

7Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

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Many became believers. Paul visited Tyre in Acts 21:

3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

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Tyre, the prostitute, turned to God and would be remembered.