prodromos said:

Still doesn't explain why everything rotates around a South Celestial pole in the Southern Hemisphere, how people looking due South from Cape Town in South Africa and people looking due South from Punta Arenas in Chile both see the Southern Cross while looking in directions almost 90° apart.

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Yes it does.
Think of the sun, moon and the stars as one giant time piece.

essentialsaltes said:

We have not been offered any evidence to justify a conclusion that we "know" there were drugs on the boats. It was stated, but we do not know this.

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Yet we have all these people making absolute claims based on fake news.

Here is a critical view of Alligator Alcatraz. Detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facing ‘harrowing human right violations’, new report alleges.

Don't know what is true but I am pretty sure it might be hard to get a prisoner to a hospital if they needed it. I read some have been airlifted. I have to laugh at being able to handle just 115 MPH winds. So a low cat 3 can be handled by these tents? Hope I dont see that on the news.

As to the facility, it is subpar because of the lack of plumbing. All toilets are portable potties. To me that is unacceptable. I think American can do better especially at the price we are paying.


Alligator Alcatraz detention center are portable. Since the facility lacks permanent structures and plumbing, portable units are used for restrooms "and showers.

Details regarding the portable toilets:

• Sewage Removal: The waste from these portable toilets must be collected and trucked off-site, which has led to logistical challenges.
• Reported Issues: Detainees and former guards have reported that the portable toilets routinely back up, sometimes overflowing with fecal waste and contaminating the sleeping areas.
• Conflicting Reports: The Florida Division of Emergency Management has denied reports of issues with the portable toilets, claiming that the facility is in good working order.

The estimated cost to house a detainee at the
Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility is approximately $245 per day"

Folks that is about 94k per year. Fl;orida's average is around 40k for their state prisoners. Here is a state by state breakdown of prison costs.

How much do states spend on housing prisoners? | USAFacts

States in the South spend the least per inmate and have some of the highest prison incarceration rates in the nation.

usafacts.org

Rescued One said:

PLEASE don't forget to pray for Andrew!

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Thank you, Pop D.

Kjelete said:

Why is so much nonsense coming from America?

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Because in America there are mean people. But not all are like these people. And, because America traditionally is "democratic" with freedom of speech, mean people use their freedom of speech to say things that are not nice.

But it can be right to criticize people who really are wrong. And people try to encourage us to use our freedom for good criticizing, and not for mean stuff.

Kjelete said:

Everyday, something new and mean stuff is coming from American online.

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Yes, mean stuff is coming from ones who do not know how to love. In America, we have a number of people who do not know how to love. Ones can be conceited, and they will look down on other people, and criticize others so they can make their own selves look good. And we see how they can have very mean emotional problems, very mean to their own selves >

The Bible says each of us will reap what we have sown > Galatians 6:7-8.

Right now, then, the mean ones are already reaping emotionally what they have been sowing against others. In their weakness for pride and pleasure, they also are deeply weak so they can keep suffering in various emotional and personality and relational problems and torment.

However, Jesus does have humble people in America, who love any and all people, and who have hope for the ones who do not know how to love > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7). Jesus uses their good example to help others.

Kjelete said:

Now it's like your dream of a society where everyone works will never happen, a kind of utopia.

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In practical life, in America . . . many do work, yes, but this is not the dream. Plus, ones do work without getting paid > there are ones who stay home to home-school their children, and to care for their families and places where they live. And there can be even homeless people who do things voluntarily to help. And there are church members who do things to serve through their churches to help people. And there are people who are caregivers to relatives and friends who are younger disabled or elderly and disabled.

I will offer you, how being a nonprofessional caregiver is work. It can take a person from early morning until close to midnight, and not being paid by your friend or spouse or other companion or someone else you know.

One person was so busy, that he lost ten pounds in maybe a couple of months. He thought he had lost fat, from not eating. Then he passed out while walking . . . dehydrated, it seemed > he perhaps had not lost fat, but *water*, what with having constant end-to-end things to do all day so he was not eating and drinking.

But love is the reward, in us, while we do things God's way.

So - - may be you should not spend too much time paying attention to what mean people are doing; but learn how to take care of people, in case you will need this.

Kjelete said:

The reason I'm writing is because my mother worked in a factory for 32 years or something, and got a medal, and my father has worked for about 30 years also in different places, woke up to the same alarm every day for 30 years, yet they are treated degradingly when we are out because they "just" go there.

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Indeed, there are people who do not know how to love. They have a major problem and are in big trouble, now and for the day of judgment. So, we are wise not to allow them to have power over us to control our attention to their nonsense and failure. But trust God to have us discovering how He has us become and love like Jesus. And then God uses our prayer and example to help each other but also to reach those who are enemies of love.

Kjelete said:

It's fun to be mean perhaps, I never understand it, but americans have to kinda weirdos to put all this nonsense out there.

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While I was in the seventh grade, yes I found it entertaining to make another child cry and make kids squeal when I did mean things to them. Well, my parents were educated and seemed quite proud of themselves, so they could look down on others; from that, perhaps, I got some of my encouragement to be a bully looking down on kids and being cruel to them. And there were ones not so popular with other students; this also encouraged me . . . to go after the ones others did not like, even hoping I could get praise from more popular kids, by bullying the ones they did not like.

Kjelete said:

I'm always treated well because I've sung so much, but I think it's a bit the opposite of what it should be, maybe then, I've learned a lot on my own, worked hard, but I think 30 years in a factory is tougher

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Yes, I would say to honor your parents.

And yes people can be popular because they give some kind of pleasure to others. Good singers can be a pleasure. And there is a lot of beauty discrimination . . . meaning ones more beautiful can be more loved and considered more desirable for marriage and certain jobs.

So, be wise to how people might "love" you because of the pleasure they can use you to get. With Jesus, we love without requiring that people give us what we want. And we are in America, too

I've just re-dedicated my life to God. I know this might sound a bit odd, but for some reason, I've never been charged with a single crime in my life. I feel like, God is responsible for that. Like he's watched me over the years. Like, my devotion to Christ, even if I fell away later, God kept me there. He's the only Reason I'm here to be anything. Thank you Lord God. Thank you, Immaculate Womb. The Pope, I haven't even begun to really grasp the Pope yet. Yes, but, God bless you. edit- When I say I re-dedicated my life to God, I mean, I had some things happen during the 'Protestant' version... and however it went, God was proud of me. God came to my life with those events you can't explain lately. I just woke up suddenly.

Bradskii said:

It's exactly the opposite of what you think.

From here (albeit from 12 years ago):

'In fact, over the course of the last two decades, warfare has been quietly disappearing from the planet. The world in 2012 is a less violent, less belligerent place than at any time in recorded history.

Although it may seem counterintuitive to those whose historical perspective has been warped by the twenty-four-hour-news cycle, levels of conflict, both in terms of number and magnitude, have been dropping steadily since the end of the Cold War. A series of empirical analyses done in the United States and Canada have consistently shown that the number of wars of all types—interstate, civil, ethnic, revolutionary, etc. —declined throughout the 1990s and into the new century. The risk for the average person of dying violently at the hands of enemies has never been lower.'

And as regards Israel's attack on Iran, from here: https://www.reuters.com/world/middl...es-hit-site-iran-abc-news-reports-2024-04-19/

'Iran's foreign minister said the drones, which the sources said Israel launched against the city of Isfahan, were "mini-drones" and that they had caused no damage or casualties.'

If that's what you want to propose as a definition World War III then maybe you need to look up the word 'hyperbole.'

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Statistically you right, I think the elevated status of war is because nearly everyone is spending more and there are far more rumours of war going on now. Let's hope the causualties go down instead of ramping up.

Bradskii said:

This one thinks it's excellent. My wife and I made a point of putting a little extra into our super fund over the years via what is called Salary Sacrifice. That's where part of your salary goes into your super and you don't pay tax on tax on it. So we retired with quite a decent amount. And we don't pay tax on the super fund when we access it.

Employers contributions are mandatory and you can pick your own fund managers or DIY. Our fund manager is doing a great job. We live very well on it. We've been drawing on it since we retired 7 years ago and there's actually more money in the fund now then there was when we retired. Not being able to spend it fast enough is just the sort of problem you want.

The federal pension is not accessible to us as it's means tested. So a decent super fund means you're totally self sufficient. That seems fair. If people do spend most of it (maybe I'll get that Harley and we'll start flying everywhere first class) then the government eventually steps in.

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Wait. So you never have to pay tax on it? Good grief that is much better then our system. As a government employee I have a Pension and a tax deferred 457B but I have to pay taxes on any money I get from them.

samaus123456789 said:

Assuming 457 is correct then it is using 365 day years, and the crucifixion was 27 AD.

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personally i find the 360 day year to be high strangeness.
as for 27 ad crucifixion, it doesn't match the fairly well known start of john the Baptist's ministry in ad 29

Aside from the differences between Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants, things that divide the Protestant denominations seem not so egregious that I cant worship with them. I practically abhor calvinistic doctrine, but I do love and fellowship with the Calvinist friends I know. I am very dogmatic about most of my beliefs, but I still talk and can share a bible study with those whom I disagree.
The things that divide most denominations are trivial when compared to all the things they agree on.

The few things that divide us aren't worth the dividing of believers into separate denominations and buildings. Most people in my neighborhood wouldnt dare go to a neighbors church, sometimes even if its just another non denominational(!). So sad, all the other believers you may never get to know, simply because we are taught 'those others' believe differently, yet most persons in a denomination have little understanding of what it is they believe differently. Sometimes people in a denomination are taught to look down on think less of the other denomination. That is a real evil - the inability to reason over simple views of doctrine, and the idea that talking with another believer who has a different take on a verse is going to lead you into hell, or something.

That is the smokescreen of denominations, and it all comes from the hierarchical structure to keep you in your seat, and get your tithe. Rather believers should be able to reason thru their beliefs with others. bible study should give you a chance to show understanding, grace and self control as you and your friends wrestle through scripture together, and with someone who has a different understanding on something. Bible studies should be growing us all to be well versed in scripture - educating and building you up so you are confident in your beliefs, where you can learn to have a friendly debate instead of huddling in some group think cult...

.Mikha'el. said:

I have been feeling sick lately, dealing with a stubborn cold.

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Feel better soon!

Multifavs said:

I love it! I don't like hot weather either! Nice to have snow at Christmastime too - most years we don't get a lot of snow until January.

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You can have my share of the world's snow all to yourself if you want.

Yikes!
Forgive me for the double post glitch via my device --I think it was an angry Jimi Hendrix! LOL

Why are people trying to justify this in a totally pathetic way ?

• Adriana Smith was declared brain dead in February, but kept alive to deliver her baby in June due to Georgia’s strict ban on abortion
• After nearly four months, Smith’s baby, Chance, is still hospitalized in the NICU
• Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, asked for prayers and said baby Chance’s lungs are still underdeveloped

Mark Quayle said:

Do you believe that being born again ("regeneration") is the result of the Spirit of God taking up residence within one (which is what I take you to be referring to as "spiritual baptism"), or is it the cause of the Spirit of God taking up residence.

In other words, do WE generate valid faith, or does God (the Spirit of God) generate it within us, fully valid? (The amount of faith is another question, not related to its validity).

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Derf said:

Do you not think God set out to destroy Nineveh in 40 days? If not, why did He tell them He was going to destroy them in 40 days? Does He have to lie to get them to repent?

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It was not a lie. It was a threat. And, indeed, if they had not repented, he would have destroyed them. (By the way, if he had not intended that they repent, why would he go to all that trouble to send Jonah in the precise way that he did?

Derf said:

Correct, God did not set out to redeem all mankind, but He is not happy about the result that all mankind will not be saved.

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That's a side issue. I'm not saying he's happy that most will perish.

Derf said:

Are you saying God is not capable of making us entirely free to choose without being caused/compelled to do so?

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No. I'm saying that it is a logically self-contradictory notion. (Nobody but God is entirely free). So why would he even consider it? It's not that he can't. It's that it is a non-thing.

Derf said:

If one chooses to repent, from a corrupt spirit, is it not still a valid choice to repent, even if the power to accomplish perfectly it is lacking? Were the people of Nineveh then not really repentant, and God's mercy not the right response, since it was a corrupt and faulty repentance?

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The story of Nineveh and Jonah is not about salvation, by the way, so it is not the same sort of repentance. I can go to the fridge to get cream cheese for my bagel, go to the living room where my bagel is, and when I open the cream cheese, it has gray hair growing in it. I repent of my course of action. I go back to the kitchen for something else. The people of Nineveh were wicked, God demanded they change their ways or else. This is not repentance concerning their sinfulness. It is simple repentance of what they were doing. Would you claim they loved God after that repentance? It was still corrupt. But, at least, and for a time, they stopped what they were doing.

Derf said:

So God can't make a being that can make a free choice. God can't do it at all, since only He is the first cause?

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Define free choice. Uncaused choice? That makes no sense. Only God chooses, uncaused to do so. If you like, we can into the details of that. Can you show me how anything happens uncaused to do so? Only God is uncaused.

Derf said:

Why not? What prevents God from making a person that can then reject His will? Yet you are saying that no one can reject God's will--it is impossible for God to make such a creature.

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Does the capability of rejecting God's commands, and even God's offer of forgiveness and salvation, imply free will? Demonstrate to me that there is anything we do entirely spontaneously. For starters: Is there anything we do that we don't most want to do at that instant of decision?

Derf said:

Which means that no one ever has acted against God's will, right? So everyone, for all time, has been completely within the will of God, and therefore God punishes people for doing His will, exactly as He wants them to do.

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Here and above, you consider "God's will" as only one thing. The implication is that God fully intended that we all be holy as he is holy; yet, somehow, only Christ Jesus has been able to do that.

The law —all of it God's will—was given to demonstrate our sin and our need for him, because we are unable to obey it perfectly, and so we deserve death. We need his mercy. Even you don't believe that is all that his will is. He also wills for things to happen quite apart from his law. And those things are a little harder to know. So there are at least two things that are called/considered the will of God. The one thing is not the same as the other. If you think God never intended for Lucifer to rebel and Adam to sin, then why did he bother to make us? He made us to be the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, the Children of God, the Dwelling Place of God, his People with Him in a way the angels can never be. And THAT would not happen, but for Redemption.

So everyone has acted against his command (his revealed will), but none of us can ruin his plans (his hidden will). He doesn't fly by the seat of his pants to accomplish some general end. Read the prophets where repeatedly God used foreign kings to punish Israel —even refers to one of them as a tool— and then punishes them for doing so. They were not obeying. They were only accomplishing what God had planned for them to do. Do you think that Satan will not have to pay for what he did to Job? Yet God put him up to it, fully intending that that beautiful book would be read by his people.

Valletta said:

"All" scripture, not "only" scripture.

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Can you expand on this please.

Doesnt seem to make logical sense. Like saying all apples, not only apples. What else is there

ViaCrucis said:

If we end up with Trump as a forever president, as dictatorships go (though at his age "forever" is a stretch) don't worry you'll probably get your dream of imprisoning political opponents and dissident voices.

And all of us anti-Trump folk will get to live out our lives in concentration camps and reeducation centers.

Daddy Trump will make the "leftists" pay for exercising their constitutional guaranteed free speech. Because in Trump's America, dissent is the same thing as treason.

MAGA utopia at its finest.

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Why is it that people on the left didn’t bat an eye when Obama broke the law and spied on his political opponent, or when Biden unleashed the power of the federal government against his political opponent, but when those very same people are being held accountable for their crimes, all of the sudden Trump is the dictator with nefarious plans for the country when he did absolutely nothing similar to all that nonsense in his first term?

Projection at its highest.

Bob S said:

Actually, SDAs and many other churches have another modified commandment, tithing. The New Covenant does not command that those who raise crops and animals tithe. No other Israelite was commanded to pay a tithe except the Levites. SDAs levy a tenth of income from all the members, thus not even following the old covenant guidelines.

We are to give as the Lord has blessed us, out of Love.

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This seems to be standard practice in corporate church models, where the 10% rule is more of a loose tithing concept and thematically OT than it is following the exact system. Different systems will have various levels of requirement, and often, lower than 10% is frowned upon. The corporate church model basically assumes this model while factoring in their sustainability, framing questions like "how many people need to give 10% to meet our budget?" and that budget is mostly consumed by salaries and building costs.

NT concept is around the language of "giving" not "tithing" and I think the church needs to actively discourage the latter or related concepts while promoting the NT model of giving, which is more based on needs around you and how God has blessed us/called us. The rule of 10% doesn't encourage us to critically approach how God is calling us or for that matter 90% also doesn't do this. God doesn't really care how close we align to a pertentaged, what he cares about is our heart and how we respond to his call. I think churches should decouple this idea that 10% aligns with our faith responsibility for giving, reframing it as a membership responsibility (lest we confuse the two).

I don't go out of my way to correct people's language because it is such a steeped concept, but I am careful never to use the word "tithing" for myself. At the very least, the term is irresponsible and sends mixed messages about alignment, but deeper than that, it builds a tension between an expectation of the church vs being able to actively listen and respond to God. The church is telling us we need hierarchical mediation and we can't go directly to God to get this answer, unless of course it's over 10%, but anything lower than 10% must not be from God. This magic number also doesn't seem to care about our givings to each other outside of this structure which can discourage giving freely to others because based on their needs because we have already checked that box. I often approach the 10% ask as membership fees, not a checked box for giving, regardless of voiced church statements to the contrary. This is so that I can continue to listen to God's voice and check myself without this tension that I've already done it, permitting me to shut down that persistent call I keep hearing to help those in front of me while I stand in Walmart with my 75" flatscreen.

Ellesmere said:

Even before Trump took office, the U.S. was producing more oil and gas than any nation on the planet

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Yet everyone is praising China for its progress in renewable energy. I could probably say that the US is responsible for all the pollution in the world with no need for reference.

A recent article in the Maoist leftist Nation magazine tells us China is the world’s climate champion. Yet, right in the middle of their article they admit China is the largest emitter of carbon gases in the world and responsible 90% of the growth of CO 2 emissions since 2015.


Per the Maoist Nation article:


China’s advances are especially good news, because China is the world’s biggest emitter of carbon gases—and by a long shot: The country is responsible for 90 percent of the growth in CO2 emissions since 2015. Today, its share of total emissions is 32 percent, far ahead of the US (13 percent), India (8 percent), and the EU (6 percent).



Maybe China can mine 99% of the coal in the world in its transition to “clean” energy. If Trump mines less than 1% of it, the anti MAGA, international federation can blame conservative Americans for the next natural disaster that can only be a result of maga induced “climate change.”

I wouldn't be surprised if he's seen as a hero, by many within GenZ, who since the killing of Charlie Kirk, have taken the stance that politically motivated violence is "acceptable".


Gen Z is headed down a path that could threaten the future stability of American democracy and society," said Jordan Schwartz, student chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project.