BobRyan said:

Interesting how both Republicans and Democrats now , all agree, that the Democrat senators' vote to reopen the government,a vote to end the shutdown, is what actually ENDs it, since all the republicans were ALREADY voting to open it under the clean "CR" these 14 times.

MSN

www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/which-8-senate-democrats-voted-with-republicans-to-end-the-government-shutdown/ar-AA1Q7wmX?ocid=BingNewsSer

Prior to this moment of unity, the "spin" was that "we have a Republican President, Republican Congress, Republican Senate - so then it is Republicans that are keeping the government shut down no matter how many times they all vote to open the government and resume negotiations".

Air Traffic related Labor unions were not confused by the Democrat talking point rhetoric. They were all asking the Democrats to reopen the government.

I wonder how many , laid-off, out-of-funds victims of that 40 day shutdown were actually "confused" by the "it must be Republicans shutting down the government, blame them" song and dance. Only to see in the light of today that it was Republicans voting to restore funding, and avoid having people go without paychecks and until we see 8 democrats vote with them, it was simply "not enough" to budge the bolder Democrats were creating.

The more Democrats pour contempt on their fellow Democrats that voted relief for the victims of the Schumer Shutdown, the more blatantly obvious they make it that it was in fact Democrats that were victimizing Americans by the shutdown.

And why those "Eight"? Because they were immune from the threat of being primaried/bullied in the next election.

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Apple Sky said:

It is round but it is like a dish shaped disc, it is not spherical.

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Apple Sky said:

Because it's not a fact it is a made up story.

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Apple Sky said:

Yes I do as orbiting satellites are not up there.

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A satellite dish is an antenna type commonly used to receive TV broadcasts, satellite signals, and internet signals. Satellite dishes play an essential role in our TV viewing experience. By focusing satellite signals, satellite dishes enhance signal quality. They are used for various purposes, and in this article, we will cover what satellite dishes are, how they work, their types, and installation steps in detail.

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Say it aint so said:

Of course. Fannie as an agency exists without employee conduct guidelines.

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fhansen said:

It's not about His limitations, it's about man's reluctance. And 2 Pet 3:9 is not about just the elect, either, but about all men, as Paul understood as well:

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:22-31

You’re not wanting to understand. The arguments I've submitted are sound. God provides the ability to come. You’ve determined that the drawing is decisive as in necessarily completing its job, God’s intention. But God can certainly fail if He chooses to associate man with the work of His grace, as has been taught, if man’s participation to one degree or another is desired, IOW.

And even if I conceded your point regarding John 6:44, it only means that Jesus was focused on the elect there, those He knows will come. I know the gospel and Scripture too well to be unable to flesh out the meaning of such a concise, isolated statement with all the other concepts and criteria involved in coming to God, and remaining there. I know that many are called and few are chosen while the elect are simply those who’ve been called and shown themselves to be good soil by the end of the day. And until then I know that people can deceive themselves all day along as to whether or not they’re even among those who’re called, those who are drawn and have come, and will remain, rendering the criteria a somewhat academic point until we receive the definitive verdict in the end.

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ViaCrucis said:

If I know someone is going around committing burglaries, and I say "Just don't burgle my house", that isn't much of a moral slam dunk.

-CryptoLutheran

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CoreyD said:

Don't fall, you hear... I don't want to see you get hurt.
The problem there is that everyone has God. Every single believer in God... or at least 99% will claim to have God, so that claim will fall on deaf ears, really.

Not only skeptics death ears, but religious people's deaf ears.
Even as you and @timothyu say that, some here will be saying that you don't have a clue what truth is, and you imagine you have God.

The truth need to be examined with a scientific approach.
Even Jesus demonstrated this, when he said...

• You will [p]know them by their fruits... Matthew 7:16
• By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.... John 13:35
• that you bear much fruit, and so [g]prove to be My disciples... John 15:8

etc.

Getting to know the truth is not a matter of having a belief that one has God, and therefore one knows the truth.
People are not going to count that as evidence.
This was demonstrated in the book of Acts 17, very profoundly.

Paul was speaking to people who felt they knew God, but they?
Paul stood up in their midst...
The account in Acts 17:1-4 reads...
1 ...they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul’s custom, he [a]visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 [b]explaining and [c]giving evidence that the [d]Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the [e]Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, [f]along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and [g]a significant number of the leading women

It was the scriptures that Paul skillfully used, to point out the truth.
Only then did some believe, and accept what Paul showed them.

A people that were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, were the Bereans, [l]for they received the word with [m]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Again, it was the scriptures... studying it, and being able to see for themselves that what Paul was saying, was actually scriptural.

It was through investigation - a scientific approach.
Having something by which to measure the evidence.
Was it because God was with the Bereans? The scriptures do not say that.
The scriptures say, these were more noble-minded, and they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

That is the key. Being able to examine the scriptures, and know the ring of truth, because of seeing it.
Yes, It takes an honest and humble heart, but that depends on each individual, doesn't it.
Is that not why when Jesus sent his disciples out, he said to them, "Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town" Matthew 10:11


Jesus did not tell them search for who has God, because they could not possibly know that, but they could discern who were humble enough to listen and be taught, and honest enough to accept, and inquire for more, because they were hungering and thirsting for truth.

All of this is true, isn't it?

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Belk said:

A half trillion payout? We will see how many people are fooled by being paid off with their own money.

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Hentenza said:

Even the moon is round.

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Michie said:

Rich Tidwell, a Missouri pastor, is arguing that the Bible allows for polygamy after announcing his marriage to a second wife, who is expecting his eighth child.

Tidwell, the pastor of Ormond Church in Canton, argues extensively in a sermon titled “David’s Two Wife” and a long-form article titled “On Plural Marriage” that the Scriptures nowhere prohibit men from marrying multiple wives. In fact, he argues, polygamous marriages are “divinely ordained.”

Ormond Church describes itself as a place “to hear God’s Word, to grow strong in faith, and to serve Jesus together in love…as we draw closer to the Resurrection!”

Continued below.

Missouri Pastor Defends Polygamy After Taking Second Wife

Rich Tidwell, a Missouri pastor, is making his case that the Bible allows for polygamy after announcing his marriage to a second wife.

churchleaders.com

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reddogs said:

Well, looks like the new Pope wants to get closer to the Protestant denominations. He puts out a decree that firmly rejects the claim that Mary is Co-Redemptrix...

"Pope Leo Declares Jesus Alone Saved the World, Rejects Title of Mary as 'Co-Redeemer

A decree from Pope Leo's office firmly rejects the claim that Mary, Jesus' mother, helped save the world from damnation, settling a debate that has baffled the Catholic community by stating that Jesus alone redeemed humanity by his crucifixion and death.

In a lengthy note titled "Mater Populi Fidelis" or "Mother of the Faithful People of God," the Vatican's doctrinal office instructed Catholics to no longer give her the title of "co-redemptrix" or "co-redeemer" as it "carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ" as the Savior.

The October 7th document was approved by Pope Leo XIV and signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández and says the previous title creates confusion to the "truths of the Christian faith."

"She is the mother who gave the world the author of redemption and of grace, who stood firm at the foot of the cross (cf. John 19:25), suffering alongside her son and offering the pain of her maternal heart pierced by the sword (cf. Luke 2:35)," the document said. "From the Incarnation to the cross and the Resurrection, she was united to Christ in a way that is unique and that far surpasses any other believer."

"Mary's incomparable greatness lies in what she has received and in her trusting readiness to allow herself to be overtaken by the Spirit," it continued.

The note claims that Mary was the first and perfect disciple of Jesus, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

(link: Mary, mother of Jesus and all believers, is not co-redeemer, Vatican says)

According to the Catholic News Agency, the title of "Co-redemptrix" has been a point of debate for decades, as some Catholics have called for Mary's "title" to be declared dogma, while opponents say it exaggerates her importance and could isolate Catholics amongst other Christian denominations.

The late Pope Francis also strongly opposed granting Mary the title of "co-redeemer," and according to Reuters, he suggested the idea was "foolishness." "She never wanted to take anything for herself from her son," Francis said in 2019.

Additionally, Benedict XVI, Francis' predecessor, also opposed the title. However, his predecessor, John Paul II, supported the title until the mid-90s when the doctrinal office began to voice skepticism.

"Everything comes from Him – Christ – as the Letter to the Ephesians and the Letter to the Colossians, in particular, tell us; Mary, too, is everything that she is through Him. The word 'Co-redemptrix' would obscure this origin," Benedict once said.

Fernández presented the document during a conference at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome last week and said its teaching becomes part of the church's "ordinary magisterium" and must be considered authoritative, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reports.

"Any gaze directed at her that distracts us from Christ or that places her on the same level as the Son of God would fall outside the dynamic proper to an authentically Marian faith," the note said in part." Pope Leo Declares Jesus Alone Saved the World, Rejects Title of Mary as 'Co-Redeemer' | CBN News



"A decree from Pope Leo's office firmly rejects the claim that Mary, Jesus' mother, helped save the world from damnation, settling a debate that has baffled the Catholic community by stating that Jesus alone redeemed humanity by his crucifixion and death."

"In a lengthy note titled 'Mater Populi Fidelis' or 'Mother of the Faithful People of God,' the Vatican's doctrinal office instructed Catholics to no longer give her the title of "co-redemptrix" or "co-redeemer" as it "carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ" as the Savior."

"The late Pope Francis also strongly opposed granting Mary the title of "co-redeemer," and according to Reuters, he suggested the idea was "foolishness." "She never wanted to take anything for herself from her son," Francis said in 2019. Additionally, Benedict XVI, Francis' predecessor, also opposed the title. However, his predecessor, John Paul II, supported the title until the mid-90s when the doctrinal office began to voice skepticism."

Source: Cindy Wooden, "Mary, mother of Jesus and all believers, is not co-redeemer, Vatican says," United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 4 November 2025.

"In a lengthy doctrinal note titled 'Mater Populi Fidelis' ('Mother of the Faithful People of God'), the dicastery said the title co-redemptrix or co-redeemer 'carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ" in salvation. And, regarding the title co-mediatrix or co-mediator, it said that Mary, 'the first redeemed, could not have been the mediatrix of the grace that she herself received.' However, it said, the title may be used when it does not cast doubt on 'the unique mediation of Jesus Christ, true God and true man.'"

"The church believes that those in heaven can pray and intercede for people still on earth, and, among those chosen and glorified with Christ, first and foremost is his Mother,' the note said. 'Therefore, we can affirm that Mary has a unique collaboration in the saving work that Christ carries out in his Church. With this intercession, Mary can become for us a motherly sign of the Lord's mercy.'"


Mary No Longer Called Co-Redemptrix – La Vista Church of Christ

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Michie said:

In some progressive circles of Christianity in the United States, the term "Kin-dom" has become increasingly used in recent decades as another name for "Kingdom," as in "God's Kin-dom" or "the Kin-dom of Jesus."

At the United Methodist Church General Conference held last year, for example, openly lesbian Bishop Karen Oliveto preached a sermon to delegates that referenced the phrase.

In an article published last month, Presbyterian News Service, the news outlet of the Presbyterian Church (USA), quoted a pastor who spoke of "standing on the kin-dom side of history."

But where does the term come from, and why was it created?

The first confirmed use of the term came from Catholic modernist theologian Ada Maria Isasi Diaz, a theological liberal who spoke of the concept in a 1996 book titled Mujerista Theology: A Theology for the Twenty-first Century.

The phrase has gained popularity among those who seek what they believe is a less patriarchal or imperial description of the Kingdom of God.

Continued below.

What is God’s ‘Kin-dom’?

A look into the origins of the term Kin-dom and the dispute over its validity

www.christianpost.com

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The Barbarian said:

Back in the 1960s, when I took a class in Abnormal Psychology, homosexuality was listed as a mental illness. That ended when researchers found that homosexuals scored pretty much like everyone else on every inventory of mental illness. Someone should do the research on trans people.
I suspect the results will be different.

Not to beat up on those who are trans, but it might make such a decision possible only for the individual involved after he or she is an adult.

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Hawkins said:

Humans lack the ability to access truth directly. More often they acquire truth indirectly.

In terms of truth, there are roughly two camps of humans, one with extrememly small amount while the other the mass majority.
When you trust your own five senses, you joined the first camp of humans deemed as the eyewitnesses. When you are unable (as limited by human inability) to contact truth directly. You joined the second camp of humans deemed as the believers.

Even science works so. Do you know that black holes exist? You do. Do you have the evidence? You don't. Information (truth) functions as a piece of human testimony from eyewitnesses which we call them the scientists. There could less than 100 such scientists dedicated and specialized in researching black holes, versus the 8 billion humans on earth. That is to say, the 8 billioin humans need to put faith in the 100 scientists to indirectly get to such a piece of truth. That's how reality works.

Now how do we know the the truth of black hole with its characteristics are truly from scientists other than swallowing with faith? Subconsciously we rely on evaluating the legitimacy of what this piece of testimony is conveyed. From the authorities behind the testimony who authenticate the information, and from the consistency of how information are conveyed (if I said the in center of a black hole, there's a large stone, you shall not believe because this is inconsistent with information (a testimony) flowing). We get to the truth of black holes from journals we deemed reliable, TV channels we deemed reliable, education entities we deemed reliable. Subsequently these entities we deemed reliable are authenticated by the central government. One of the government's duty is to remove untrustworthy media conveying falsehoods. You may need to overthrow it if you don't think that it enforces the conveying of truth.

As for the Bible, the intangible media conveying its information are the physicla churches (you might choose to read the Bible by yourself though, yet in terms of a media in a larger scale of conveying information the churches are the role). The situation is governed by an intangible Church which utimately refers to the Temple built by Jesus in three days. It is somehow linked to God Himself (Jesus is the head of legitimate churches), in terms of authority and authentication.

Other than this "business as usual" flow of conveying truth, God the Holy Spirit is also poured upon Christians to guide them through. However, this is tied to basically two factors, which are 1) where your faith is, and 2) your distance from the sin-incompatible God.
As Jesus put, you can move mountains if you have enough faith, while He also put that His direct disciples' faith is smaller than the smallest seeds in the world. So you still need the authenticated Church to maintain a standard (though intangible as well).

Distance to the sin-incompatible God matters as well. How close you are to God? In 60s there could be less than 1% Christians can actually get in touch with pornography, but today the opposite may be true that less than 1% Christian haven't get in touch with it. To a certain extent, this measures distance from God of today's humans. Again, I don't think that you can rely on this factor alone without the intangible standard from the intangible Church. No worries yet, the final statement is that if you are His sheep you will hear His voice. Those endure to the end by doing the will of the Father shall be saved at the end. Not a single sheep will be left behind! That's the promise.

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Michie said:

Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York, the USA’s most populous city. Mamdani, 34, is a self-professed Democratic Socialist and a Muslim. He was elected with just a shade over 50% of the vote in a 3-way race with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

How did New York City, arguably the world capital of capitalism, elect a Democratic Socialist (on a good day) and a Communist (on a bad day) mayor? If one takes issue with the word Communist, I would submit as evidence Mamdani’s statement that “you must seize the means of production” (emphasis supplied).

Mamdani ran on a platform including free childcare up to and including age 5, a rent freeze on the city’s over 1 million rent-controlled apartments, free (and “fast”) bus service, and government-run grocery stores.

When you break the race down by income groups, the results are surprising and informative. Mr. Cuomo won among the lowest income group (under $30,000 by 50% to 42%) and the highest income group ($300,000 or more, 62% to 38%). However, the former governor lost everywhere in between to the young Socialist. Among the $30,000 to $49,999 group, Mamdani won (52% to 40%).

Among the $50,000 to $99,999 group and the $100,000-$199,999 group, Mamdani won 58% to 38%. Among the $200,999-$299,999 annual income group, Mamdani won 56% to 42%. So Mamdani won decisively among all but the lowest and highest income groups.

When broken down by age groups, Mamdani won 18 to 29-year-olds 77% to 20% and among the 30-44 age group, 70% to 27%. Cuomo carried the 45-64 age group 49% to 47% and those 65 and over voted for Cuomo 54% to 38%.

Continued below.

Why Zohran Mamdani won and New York will pay a terrible price

How did New York City, arguably the world capital of capitalism, elect a Democratic Socialist on a good day and a Communist on a bad day mayor

www.christianpost.com

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Clare73 said:

So we are to obey all his Levitical commandments?

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2PhiloVoid said:

How do I determine "truth"?

............... the truth is, I don't determine it. Rather, what I do is gather and analyze various evidences regarding the Reality which God has placed me in, and I do my best to make rational sense of it all, both historically and prayerfully, like St. Luke did.

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Always in His Presence said:

No - it is just as accurate an opinion as yours is..

Speaking truth to power is seldom comfortable - they held their constituents hostage - openly saying they were using their suffering for leverage - millions of people effected and in the end got ZERO - nothing.

That's a fail in my book

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ChubbyCherub said:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Personally, I'm a very open book and have no fear of judgment because I know that we are all sinners and I do not judge others for their sin but try to instruct them in the ways of Christ.

That being said, I am reading that many are embarrassed or ashamed so this once popular action is not very popular, anymore?

I'm not sure it was ever popular in Protestant churches but I haven't lived since the beginning of when they were formed so am not an authority on this point.

Furthermore, is this why Catholics confess to priests?

Thanks, as always, for helping me! I know I always have lots of questions but you all are very good to me with your assistance.

God bless.

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Jeesuspelastaa said:

Jesus' teaching will be known by remaining in Jesus' word. John 8:31. It is unthinkable that a person should strive for truth but never be able to find it. Such thinking is not in harmony with Jesus' words: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " John 8:32.
Furthermore, we have been given the task of teaching everything that Jesus commanded his disciples to observe. Matthew 28:20. If the teaching could not be known, all missionary work would be nothing more than Pilate's questioning. John 18:38.

My writings: In English

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Phil G said:

Again, it's not about whether satellites exist or not. It's about where do the satellite signals come from?

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