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GodDoesListen55 · 2025-11-25T23:00:04-0600

Wine.

JohnB445 · 2025-11-25T22:57:21-0600

It taught me not to fear death, that death is not the ending but will be a beginning of an eternity in paradise.

And that a gruesome end doesn't mean that God wasn't with us. God doesn't promise us a peaceful death in a hospital bed surrounded by loved ones, we could be eaten by a shark for all we know, or get into a bad car accident.

Vambram · 2025-11-25T22:56:01-0600

I'm not shocked that scandal is happening in a blue state like Minnesota.

Mark Quayle · 2025-11-25T22:50:48-0600

bling said:
God's omnipotence, sovereignty and omnibenevolence can allow humans to make some autonomous free will choices out of a Love for humans which can allow them to become like God Himself with Godly type Love.
God is wise enough and powerful enough to be the first cause in the creation of a free will human, who can be the first cause to a very limited number of mental choices which do not negatively impact others.
You're the one limiting God's power to making only robotic type beings.

"Robotic" is a poor designator for the result of Creation's pervasive cause-and-effect.

If you can explain how God causes self-contradictory things to happen, be my guest. Don't just assert that it is so. We do not produce anything 'ex-nihilo'. Nothing happens in a void, expect by First Cause himself.

Anne69 · 2025-11-25T22:50:08-0600

Reluctant Theologian said:
Her birthplace/hometown is very close to mine in NL - my accent would be similar I aspire to grow in faith to be similarly faithful ..

That is wonderful to hear - what a special connection to Corrie ten Boom’s story. Her faithfulness in the midst of such trials continues to inspire so many of us. I love that you aspire to grow in faith as she did; her testimony reminds us that God’s grace can strengthen us to be faithful wherever He has placed us.

RabbiJames · 2025-11-25T22:42:19-0600

Here's an idea for this coming Thursday's Thanksgiving time.

You're around the table, either for lunch or dinner. Your guests are there, and who knows what they will want to talk about. But YOU are the host. You get to pick the "table topic." When everyone has had their share of roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and corn, before serving the dessert, have them read and share their take on "10 Bible verses" connected with "giving thanks." What do these verses tell you? How do you personally relate to these verses?

If you have 10 guests, each guest gets a verse. If there are 5 guests, each one gets 2 verses. Do the math, divide up the verses, and let that be the "Table Talk" before dessert.

1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 100:4; Psalm 9:1; Psalm 7:17 1 Chronicles 16:34; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:15; 4:2; James 1:17;

2 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:57

RabbiJames · 2025-11-25T22:39:13-0600

PARASHAH: TOLDOT (generations) GEN 25:19-28:9

This study starts out with the generations of Abraham and Sarah. After years of waiting and praying, they finally had Yitzchak. The legacy continues, the promise of YHVH is revealed once more, but not without testing of faith. Yitzchak and Riv'kah also had to wait, about 20 years, yet they prayed and entreated the LORD to have a child. “The prayer of the righteous prevails.” The following is from the Talmud (B. Yevamot 64: a): “Why were our ancestors barren? Because the Holy One (blessed be He) longs to bless the prayers of the righteous.”

Since Yitzchak and Riv’kah (Isaac and Rebecca) were righteous, and part of the covenant promise, YHVH (in HIS timing) answered their prayer. Does that mean that ALL prayer is answered? Yes, it is, but not always the way we want Adonai to answer it. The answer comes in three forms: Yes, No, and “later on.” The sick are prayed over, and many are healed; others are prayed for, and YHVH takes them home. It doesn't mean to stop praying or pray once; God likes “continuous prayer.” The birth of Jacob and Esau came as a surprise, “twins inside,” and the battle ensued. Yet the LORD speaks to Riv'kah, saying:

“Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people will be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.”

When we look at this today, we see prophecy revealed plainly as day. From “Ya'akov”(Jacob), we get “Am Yisrael (The Nation of Israel) and from “Esav” we get the name “Edom” which is almost the same as “Adam” except for the “o” or in Hebrew the letter “Vav” (v) If we look at the paleo-Hebrew, one could get the symbolism of “Esau” who was made of “Blood and spirit” was connected (Vav) to “chaos” Esav was a “man of the earth, disinterested in spiritual things, he was materialistic, he related more to the “red” earth than the things of God. From “Esav/Edom” we get Haman (the Agagite), and from Haman, the nation of “Rome” came into being. All nations hated Rome, as Rome was a conquering empire and took control of many lands. Many nations hate Israel, as Israel is the "anointed" of God, and the recipient of HIS blessings. (jealousy?)

Israel was under the yoke of Rome, YET today, we look at Israel, it has the strongest and one of the most advanced and modern Military in the world. And it was indeed an honor to serve under the IDF ten years ago, and I would gladly do it again.

Jacob and Esau, twin brothers, but two separate nations, two brothers, yet worlds apart, one spiritual, interested in the things of God, the other, interested in the things of the world. Esau and Jacob represent the world of today. We have the “lost” “unrepentant man,” and we have the “born again believers,” which include ALL who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah as LORD and Savior, doesn't matter if we are a Sabbath observing messianic believer, or a Sunday church going believer, we are ALL part of God's family.

Yet we see that Jacob exhibited “carnal behavior” he wanted things “his way” yet when God sent Jacob to uncle Laban's “school of hard Knocks” he came out different... (but that is in the next Torah/Bible study). Jacob symbolizes “all believers,” both carnal and spirit-filled. We ALL have growing and maturing to go through on this side of heaven.

I would like to examine three names: Adam, Esau, and Jacob/Israel. How are we like these names? Adam and Edom are spelled almost the same. Adam was the first man made in the “image of Elohim.” he was made from the earth, “Edom means “red” perhaps the earth with which Elohim made Adam was a reddish color. Esau was a carnal man, and gave in to his hunger and ate of Jacob’s “red” lentil stew. Adam was made perfect in all ways, yet sin broke fellowship between him and God, thus, sin was passed down to all generations. Esau and Jacob, one could say were like “twins”. Yet one sought after spiritual things and the other, after carnal things. Jacob and Esau symbolize the spiritual man and carnal man, yet we can decide which “man” we want to follow and emulate

Esau despised his birthright for lentil stew. We can see the same today, many people will prefer a life of sin, money, fast cars, drugs, fame, you name it, and reject the gift of God, “Salvation” (YESHUAH), and then “perish” for all eternity. That's kind of like “exchanging” Eternal life with God for a “temporary life” of comfort and ease, riches, etc. Just doesn't make sense, does it?

We can also see this in believers. In believers, we have the “Esau” nature and the “Jacob” nature. The “Esau” nature is our carnal sin nature, which responds to the flesh, but the “Jacob” nature is our “spirit-filled” nature, which is attracted to the things of the spirit, the things of God. It is our choice which “nature” governs our lives.

The time of blessing comes, Isaac is old and blind, and there has been a family “division.” Isaac loved” Esau (because of his wild game) yet Rebecca “loved” Jacob. Does that mean that Isaac didn't love Jacob and Rebecca didn't love Esau? No, only means that there were “family favorites” which is a big NO, if we are to live in peace with our children today, even between “students and teachers” no favorites, please!

We see in Chapter 27 that Jacob passes for Esau, and Esau gets the shorter end of the stick. Taking advantage of poor Isaac's blindness, yet there is a saying “The chickens come home to roost” and “What goes around, comes around.” We will see LATER what happens, Jacob is the younger, and pretends to be the older. When Jacob gets married, he thinks he's getting the younger daughter, but gets the older daughter. Jacob deceives Isaac in his “darkness” (blindness), and Jacob gets deceived, being in the “darkness” (night time, dark tent), and maybe he had too much to drink to know who got in bed with him.

Esau doesn't change; he marries a “Hittite” woman and then gets another wife from his uncle Ishmael, all to “get back” (maybe) at Isaac for giving away his birthright, but didn't he already sell it? Hello?

So, the question is: “Jacob or Esau,” who do we resemble most? It might be a thought-provoking question, but it is a question we must ask ourselves. We may be born-again believers, yet if our thoughts are earthly, and God’s Word doesn’t fill our minds daily. If our daily life is more carnal than spirit-filled, and our words are less than kosher, then we would have to be honest with ourselves and say, “We are Esau!” Yet it doesn’t have to be that way.

If we say, “I take after Jacob!” then does God’s Word, his Spirit, guide us? Remember that his name was changed to “Israel” (Yashar-El), “Straight to God.” Do our thoughts go “straight to God?” Are we living our own lives, or are we living the “God-in-us” lives? Is it really our life or God’s life that is within us?

BCP1928 · 2025-11-25T22:37:03-0600

ThatRobGuy said:
Which politics in particular?

Certain left-leaning political moves are drawing quite a bit of backlash in Europe right now (at least on the immigration front)

Things like universal healthcare are obviously popular in Europe and Asia, but those aren't things that are decided at a Mayoral level.

Those two issues aren't coupled together as tightly as you think, either. I notice that Orban takes a hard line on immigration and gay rights, but Hungarians still have affordable housing and education, universal health care, outstanding public transportation infrastructure and the toughest gun laws in the EU. In many ways the place is a model of Democratic Socialism.

RDKirk · 2025-11-25T22:30:06-0600

Oompa Loompa said:
I agree. Yes, retired officers can be recalled to face a military court. However, this is usually only the case when a crime occurred while the individual was on active duty. I don't think any jury will convict. However, this may send a clear message that such rhetoric, which disrupts the good order and discipline of the military, will not be tolerated.

True enough that usually happens when it's discovered that a retiree had committed a crime while on active duty.

But a fairly recent federal law prohibits a sitting member of Congress from going into military active duty. In order to go back into active duty, Kelly would have to resign from the Senate.

If Kelly refuses to resign and refuses to report to active duty, in one technical sense he would be in violation of the UCMJ. Members of Congress are not subject to the UCMJ, however.

So, basically, as a Senator he can tell the Pentagon to pound sand.

Also, in three months Kelly will be beyond the statutory age of being recalled back to active duty.

Not to mention that the case itself would be laughable. Both the UCMJ and US Code require use of force to be a component of a sedition charge. Before they even consider recalling Kelly to face a court-martial, they've got to invent a charge that won't be laughed at by any military judge.

I don't think anyone in uniform in the Pentagon wants to harass Kelly. This isn't a matter that will make them look good or feel good. They've got to tap dance for their boss, but I wouldn't be surprised if they tap dance very, very slowly for the next three months.

RocksInMyHead · 2025-11-25T22:27:51-0600

Valletta said:
FACT: 70% of ICE arrests have involved illegal aliens convicted of, or charged with, crimes. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, 35.7% of the illegal aliens in ICE detention have criminal convictions, 30.5% have pending criminal charges, and the remaining 33.8% are “other immigration violators” — while nearly 70% of those removed from the country have criminal histories. As a result of this unprecedented effort, scores of gang members and national security threats have been taken off our streets.

Tom Homan Annihilates MSDNC’s Smears, Lies on Border Security

This morning, the Trump Administration’s legendary Border Czar Tom Homan delivered a clinic in beating back the endless smears and lies from the Fake

www.whitehouse.gov

Pending charges are meaningless - under our legal system, people are assumed innocent until proven guilty. And, given CBP's involvement in the various enforcement operations throughout the country, that article's assumption that persons arrested by CBP are solely border encounters is flawed.

RileyG · 2025-11-25T22:27:14-0600

The Liturgist said:
If we interpret the Scripture literally, than yes. It would be the case that those members of the household outside of the nuclear family would definitely be incentivized to believe in Christ our God.

Also the history of the early church has many cases where servants embraced the faith of their employers, and slaves that of their master, and in many cases became co-martyrs.

Yup. That’s my understanding as well.

RileyG · 2025-11-25T22:26:39-0600

The Liturgist said:
Amen to that. it’s very frustrating when people assert things about our faith which isn’t true. As an Orthodox, I am tired of being told my church worships on Sunday because Emperor Constantine ordered this at the Council of Nicaea, which is patently false (also the Orthodox churches haven’t been in communion with Rome since 1054 in the case of the EO, 451 in the case of the OO, and have never been under the control of the Pope of Rome.

But since some leaders of 19th century churches did not discuss our church in their writings, this creates a conundrum and it seems the easy way out for some is to just classify us as Roman Catholics in denial, similar to the manner in which our Lutheran friends like @MarkRohfrietsch @ViaCrucis @Ain't Zwinglian and our Anglican friends such as @Jipsah are treated.

Yup. They simply don’t KNOW what the Church teaches, rather it’s based on a misconception.

The Liturgist · 2025-11-25T22:15:54-0600

Always in His Presence said:
I never said anything about Paul being married, not sure where that came from.

But I did demonstrate exegetically that he new how to abound and how to suffer lack of

I used his own words to demonstrate.

We will have to disagree.

What do you think he meant by “abound”? Are you suggesting he was living luxuriously, with abundant wealth? I would assume not. I am not claiming that St. Paul engaged in the kind of self-abasement one associates with some, but rather asceticism from the perspective of moral restraint and living only for Christ. Even a monastery has its beautiful portions, and I have never seen one devoid of creature comforts.

My primary objection is of course to the Word of Faith / Prosperity Gospel view that suggests the Apostles enjoyed great riches.

The Liturgist · 2025-11-25T22:09:45-0600

BobRyan said:
Christ was confronted with it and responded "on the contrary"

That’s a distortion.

Firstly, Mariology is the subset of theology dealing with the person of St. Mary, and does not refer specifically to Roman Catholic beliefs about her; that, rather, would be Roman Catholic Mariology. But all religions that believe Christ to have been born of Mary have some form of Mariology, even those heretical cults which deny the Virgin Birth and believe that our Lord was conceived out-of-wedlock have a form of Mariology, albeit one which is entirely wrong.

Secondly, what Christ said, if interpreted exegetically, that is, in a manner consistent with Luke ch. 1, which is inspired Scripture, is that His mother was blessed because she was the one who kept His commandments. For this reason, in the Orthodox Church, we read Luke 11:27-28 on most feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and have done so since antiquity (because of course, we do not read Luke ch. 11 in a manner that contradicts Luke ch. 1 or the rest of the New Testament; it is established that all generations will call the Mother of God blessed, and Luke 11:27-28 provides clear guidance as to why it was that the Theotokos received a blessing to become the Mother of God.

Passages such as this doubtless explain why most Christians historically venerated the Theotokos, including Martin Luther, who venerated her using one of the ancient Orthodox Theotokion hymns, the Angelic Salutation.

I would think someone as pro-commandment as you would embrace that.

The text in question, by the way, is not translated by the KJV, the NIV or most other Bibles as “On the Contrary” but as “Rather” or “Yea, Rather”, which along with “Indeed,” are valid translations of Μενοῦν.

Of course even if we used the translation “On the Contrary” the Lutheran / Orthodox / Catholic / High Church Anglican interpretation would still remain viable, which is probably why the NASB used this translation despite RCC influence.

pasifika · 2025-11-25T22:07:14-0600

Is the Pope visit to Turkey might be a significant event in regards to Bible prophecy? Turkey is where the 7 churches in Revelation. Any thoughts?https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-...urkey-lebanon-first-overseas-trip-2025-11-25/

pasifika · 2025-11-25T22:02:02-0600

Is the Pope visit to Turkey might be a significant event in regards to Bible prophecy? Turkey is where the 7 churches in Revelation. Any thoughts?

Always in His Presence · 2025-11-25T22:00:21-0600

The Liturgist said:
I’m not summarily dismissing them; I am stating that, exegetically, we have no evidence of St. Paul living post-conversion in a manner not consistent with Christian ascetics, or of him failing to encourage asceticism, even expressing the idea that virginity is superior to the married state.

I never said anything about Paul being married, not sure where that came from.

But I did demonstrate exegetically that he new how to abound and how to suffer lack of

I used his own words to demonstrate.

We will have to disagree.

The Liturgist · 2025-11-25T21:56:36-0600

Always in His Presence said:
You cannot summarily dismiss the preceding verses.

I'm not saying Paul did not have hardships - but he also had times of abundance. He learned to be content in both.

I’m not summarily dismissing them; I am stating that, exegetically, we have no evidence of St. Paul living post-conversion in a manner not consistent with Christian ascetics, or of him failing to encourage asceticism, even expressing the idea that virginity is superior to the married state.

Additionally we have no evidence of St. Paul being married, for he does not mention a wife, nor of him living in a manner that could be described as oriented towards personal comfort.

Asceticism can be defined as a celibate life towards the service of God, and all indications are he lived in this manner. Indeed, the only woman who he is mentioned as having closely worked with, St. Thessa equal to the Apostles, is clearly not his wife, for there is no Patristic or even heretical apocrypha from antiquity suggesting as much.

Always in His Presence · 2025-11-25T21:54:42-0600

durangodawood said:
Basically Im here to get the AIs to change their minds and see things my way.

That wasn’t happening before ai.

Reluctant Theologian · 2025-11-25T21:52:43-0600

Anne69 said:
Thank you for letting me know this. Corrie ten Boom’s story is a testimony and inspiration for many people. Her faith, courage, and forgiveness in the face of such suffering are a powerful reminder of God’s grace. Even without the movies, her testimony continues to speak deeply to my heart.

Her birthplace/hometown is very close to mine in NL - my accent would be similar

I aspire to grow in faith to be similarly faithful ..

essentialsaltes · 2025-11-25T21:52:37-0600

Thousands of immigrants could be eligible for bond hearings, striking down DHS policy: Judge

A federal judge has struck down a Department of Homeland Security policy implemented in July that forced most immigrants who entered the United States without inspection to remain in detention throughout their removal proceedings.

The decision could potentially allow thousands of immigrants who have been subject to mandatory detention to be released.

On Tuesday, Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes in California certified a class granting relief to migrants who “have entered or will enter the United States without inspection” and those who were not initially detained when they came into the country.

[Class actions can still trigger nationwide effects.]

The Liturgist · 2025-11-25T21:49:16-0600

bbbbbbb said:
Households in the first century included not only the nuclear families with which we are familiar with in modern society but the extended family as well as slaves, bond-slaves, and hired servants. Do you believe that all of these individuals were routinely baptized even though some, being adults and of sound mind, had no particular interest in Jesus Christ?

If we interpret the Scripture literally, than yes. It would be the case that those members of the household outside of the nuclear family would definitely be incentivized to believe in Christ our God.

Also the history of the early church has many cases where servants embraced the faith of their employers, and slaves that of their master, and in many cases became co-martyrs.

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