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

There’s a Giant Flaw in Human History

Hum dictionary meaning of metrology (the scientific study of measurement).

They are math, numbers and science. You cannot speculate about a measure like that shown in the last post on a guage sensor. It is what it is.
This might be the most inane comment you've written. It was in response to this statement:

"Measures themselves are not science, they [sic] speculating on the skills of egyptian artisans is not science."

The vase people are measuring things. They are not studying how measurement works and the mechanism of measuring tools. It would be really good if they knew how those tools worked and what kind of data can and cannot be extracted with them, but their measurements of objects are studies of the objects not the measurement tools and methods.

Let's think of an analogy for a moment -- a simple wrench turning a nut on a bolt. The wrench (and the threaded bolt/nut combo) is built on simple physical principles and machines -- the kind students learn about in primary school. Knowing some of those principles will likely improve your utilization of a wrench, but using the wrench is not studying simple physics it is using a wrench to do a task.

Your vase people are using scanning tools to measure objects and analysis tools to extract information from the measurements. Neither of those is "metrology". An awareness of metrology is useful to know when a tool is appropriate just as a knowledge simple machines is useful for understanding the limits of ones wrench. After all a wrench makes a lousy hammer and a hammer makes a lousy wrench.

Given what others have posted here, some of the measurements and analyses seem to be inappropriate. This is the kind of thing that a methods section of a formal paper would clear up and a peer reviewer would raise questions about if any bits of it were missing. Important questions like "how was this setting set?" and "how was it calibrated?" and "how did you determine the reference value (mean,median, etc.)?".

Finally, measuring stuff isn't science. Science is hypothesis testing. The hypothesis seems to be "did predynastic Egyptian stone artisans have advanced tools not found in the extant archeological record?".

"The science" is testing that hypothesis including designing and documenting experimental protocols, using appropriate materials for the experiments, cross checking against alternative hypotheses, etc. This is where the vase people seem to be lacking the most.
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Men now surpass women in church attendance, especially among Gen X, millennials: Barna

Deep culture governs how we approve of new information (epistemology).
The same reason we often feel out of place when in foreign countries. As tourists we can be just as guilty of wanting things to be like at home, likewise do some migrants, and if their former lifestyle was less than appropriate in behaviour, it will remain. This will often be the case as upbringing in less civilized areas will determine behaviour out of basic survival and it sticks. Often takes a couple generations to leave it behind unless the cultures remain isolated.
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Hell doesn't exist and there is no eternal suffering, instead bad peolle just cease to exist

There you go. Universal reconciliation was declared anathema in the Fifth Ecumenical Council.

“If anyone says or thinks that the punishment of demons and impious men is only temporary, and will one day have an end, and that a restoration (ἀποκατάστασις) will take place of demons and impious men, let him be anathema.” Page 465 section IX.”


This is from the bogus canons which were inserted illegally into the council by Emperor Justinian. He had NO BUSINESS doing this and was interfering for political reasons.

Here's more information on this, if you are so inclined to read. Unfortunately, those who have made up their minds are usually impervious to facts:

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Can we talk about ADHD... and such ?

Is anyone else concerned about the rise of 'modern' conditions that grip lives and ensnare them in pharmaceutical dependence at great expense ?

Am I the only one concerned about this ?
Late to the discussion but I am concerned that the medical establishment has replaced Christ for a lot of people.

My own mother talks more about conditions than she does about Jesus Christ. She is obsessed with 'health' but does nothing to improve it beyond asking for pills. I have witnessed her trying to convince doctors that she has diabetes and has found reasons to ask for medications e.g. diuretics because she wants no accountability for her own conditions. In the meantime, she scours the internet for medical information so that she can find a way to fear it or make it pertain to her. It's disgusting to see.

People don't seem to see how nefarious the medical system is and assume that everyone who is in the field is in it for good and honest reasons. It is a business that society has put on a throne.

In short, yes, I'm concerned and beyond disgusted.
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The law, the commandments, and Christians.

It strikes me as the epitome of arrogance to place oneself on the level of Ezekiel and Paul.
There is no I in Christ.
None the less Paul said to the Church.
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men].
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
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Should Trump have been banned from running for president?

Do you think Donald Trump should've been banned from running for president?

I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Donald Trump was allowed to run for president again after everything that happened on January 6th, 2021. The Capitol riots weren’t just a random protest that got out of hand they were a direct result of months of Trump spreading lies about a “stolen” election and pressuring officials to overturn the results.


A sitting president encouraged his supporters to march on Congress during the certification of an election he lost, and people died because of it. That alone should’ve disqualified him from holding office again under the 14th Amendment (Section 3), which literally bans anyone who engaged in or incited an insurrection from serving in government.


On top of that, there are his criminal indictments... from trying to interfere in Georgia’s election results to mishandling classified documents. Any one of those cases would’ve ended most politicians’ careers, but somehow Trump’s using them as campaign fuel.

I
Whether you’re left, right, or independent, how does this not set a terrifying precedent? If someone can try to overturn an election and still be allowed to run again, what’s stopping future leaders from doing the same — maybe more effectively next time?

It's dangerous to allow a man like hin to have power.

What do you think?should the courts or Congress have acted to enforce the insurrection clause?
It is obvious that you are a liberal and you have an agenda. The election was stolen, and we have PROOF that this happened. Pictures of people stuffing drop in vote boxes on the streets. Closing the voting polling places and then boarding up the windows so that no one could see what was taking place inside. Changing the rules of balloting in Pennsylvania so that it favored the Democrat Party. The list goes on and on and on.

In addition to this, the quotes from President Trump were taken out of context to make it look like he was advocating violence. The FBI placed over 200 agent provocateurs in the crowd who incited the violence. Nancy Pelosi and the mayor of DC both refused Trump's request for National Guard troops to keep the peace.

Honestly, a professing Christian should not engage in lying. You need to take a while to think about how you are promoting the LIES of the Democrat Party and the Communists who are running it and who hate America.
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Sept 23rd Rapture

I watched Watchman River for a little while but then something really seemed off, so I stopped watching. My discernment tells me before logic does. Many of these watch people are just plain cookoo are doing it to grab attention and fast youtube money. Jimmy Evans I always felt like he's got a bad attitude about him. Now that the Daystar scandal has been revealed, I know why.

Agree, I hate YouTube money grabbing , but their news picks are really good. I mean I watch news every day, to prove a end-of-the-world-stuff, but those guys seem to find way better informations then me. That's the reason why I watch them. But agree, it's end times, you don't need money.
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Church meeting with minister - can you help?

Hi all,

I've secured a meeting with the minister and director of ministries at my church to go over some of the issues I have regarding their teachings or, rather, lack of with regards to sin, in the main.

I have tried to be very diplomatic and understanding in our email correspondence, so I hope that they will see that I am acting in good faith as a concerned member of the congregation.

Further to this, I just wanted some advice from you with regards on how/if to address certain points.

My issues are as follows:
  1. Sin, the definition, how it pertains to our world, avoidance of, engagement in and why Jesus was/is needed to save us from sin, is and has not been addressed in the year I have been attending
  2. Sermons are only about 'love' and historical information in the Bible with no mention of how any of it pertains to modern life
  3. Sermons are 20-30 minutes long following 30-45 minutes of torturous 'praise worship' sprinkled throughout requests for donations, volunteering, charity and 'upcoming events'. I liken this time to the trailers before a movie starts
  4. There is no call to the alter. People who want to talk about being saved are invited to 'find a member' to discuss this with after the sermon concludes. How can a new person find people they don't know?
  5. The format for services seems to follow a US theme so is very commercial in nature. I was raised in 'megachurches' where the pastors ran the church like a business instead of like a church and I feel this church is using the same trainers. I did, in fact, mention to this in passing to the lead minister who didn't confirm or deny that there was an influence from the US
  6. The 'lead' pastor didn't respond to my initial email to the office regarding above and has instead, I assume, asked another minister to deal with my emails and raise a meeting request. I find this offensive. I intend to clarify why this is with the attendees but does this seem strange to anyone else? Happy to reconsider being baffled or offended in light of alternate views
  7. The church continually references being multi-national but I feel like the sermons are watered down due to English not being the first language of many so I am missing out on learning, spiritual growth, as a result
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading.

I want to ensure that the discussion I have with those in attendance is Christ led. I am praying about this, almost daily, as meeting with a church to question their approach is not something I have ever done. I would value advice on how/if to address the points above.

If I am not convinced of their sincerity/motives, it will mean that I will leave the church and seek a new one but I wanted to make sure that the current church had a chance to address some of these things before I abandoned ship.

Many thanks for your help in advance and God bless.

John the Revelator

The apostle John (also known as John the Evangelist) was one of the four gospel writers as well as an author of two other main books, including Revelation and his epistle, that became the final chapters of the New Testament. John covers several areas in his gospel that speak about the life, teachings, and truth of what Christ did to redeem his people within the events, death and resurrection that took place on earth.

In John’s Gospel

He tells how you must be born again to inherit the kingdom that God opened up for us through his son. Whoever is born of the flesh is equal to flesh, John states in chapter 3, when Jesus replied to Nicodemus, saying, “ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born of water and spirit” (v. 4-5). How one can enter through the spirit is taught by examples of what Jesus did and explained in his teachings.

When Jesus healed a man born blind, he proved that he was about to give sight to others who have been blinded — those who could not see spiritually. Jesus came into the world to die for them so that they may have light. But judgment also came into being for those who could see would become blind. Jesus was able to heal the blind man because he wasn’t able to see physically, but spiritually, he believed in him as the Messiah.

It’s important to realize that those who do see spiritually and understand that he is the way, the truth and the life, will be hated for his name’s sake. But it is also important to keep his commands, as stated in John’s gospel:

“For if you love God, he will give you another helper, and that is the holy spirit which dwells with us, of whom the world does not receive, because they cannot see him until he is discovered” (14:15-17).
Already have we been made clean because of his word, so if we abide in him as one of his branches, ask whatever you need, and it will be given to you, for he is the vine who holds authority, that we may also bear fruit. However, since we have been called out of this world and are no longer of it, you will be persecuted and reviled against. As long as we continue in the spirit of truth, the helper will come for our aid. By bearing witness to his name, even in front of one another, he will protect you from the wrath of the enemy.

1-john-3-23-this-is-his-commandment-that-we-believe-beige.jpg


Before Jesus had ascended into heaven, he said to his disciples: behold, the hour is coming that you must believe and not question me, for in the world you will have tribulation, but in him you will have peace. And be sure to take heart that the father is with you because he has overcome the world for us. Many false prophets will rise up in the end times, and we are to test the spirits to see if they are from God.

In John’s Epistle

Anyone who does not confess Jesus as lord is of the Antichrist, and they will fall into destruction because they have not received the true gospel that has been given to us. They have followed after their own pleasures — involving a passion and desire for the world — because they have preferred the things that are within it: This could be drugs, sexual immorality, satanic music, or anything else that is from the occult.

These are instrumental ways that can either pull people away or deceive them from the necessary means of truly believing in God. But if we choose to trust him, we do not altogether refrain from practicing what is sinful, but learn to avoid the implications and consequences of what they can do to our lives, physically and mentally, and even spiritually.

Since He overcame our deeds for us, take heed that you are under his wings through the spiritual direction that’s been given to us. If you do not love the world, you can have victory in Christ through having faith. God is pure, but we cannot manifest anything holy in life without being made perfect through the propitiation of our sins. So we are protected on the day of judgment by what he did for us because of his grace and our desire to live with him. For whoever loves God remains in the son, but those who prefer the world instead, do not hold the truth of the father in them, and therefore, they will not see life. The word of God is greater than men, and this is the testimony that John gave to us:

We who know the father will keep his commands; for those who are in him do not love sin that leads to death . . . so do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed into the renewing of your mind, having faith that leads to life in Christ our Lord.
Our faith continues through knowing him, not by carrying a heavy weight because of what we’ve done, but by what he did at Calvary. Do not be eerie on what you’ve done in the past or present time, or what you will do in the future, but look forward into his plan for your life to come. Time is running out until he is coming again, very soon!

In the Book of Revelation

John was also given a vision that speaks about the scrolls which open up into seven seals:

  • The White Horseman — Its rider comes out to conquer wearing a crown and carrying a bow
  • The Red Horseman — Its rider who removes peace from the earth, having people slayed by his sword
  • The Black Horseman — Its rider holding a pair of scales in his hand
  • The Pale Horseman — its rider’s name was death to kill one fourth of the earth with famine and pestilence
  • The Fifth Seal — the souls who are slain for becoming Christians at Armageddon
  • The Sixth Seal — representing a great earthquake that falls upon the people awaiting refuge
  • The Seventh Seal — representing the second coming
The Seven Trumpets

These events can be compared to the seven trumpets that will take place during the 7-year tribulation period. The first trumpet represents hail and fire mixed with blood falling upon the earth. A third of it will become burned to ashes, much like what took place in the book of Exodus. This trumpet causes agricultural chaos in the earth, while the second trumpet brings destruction upon the seas, turning its oceans into rivers of blood. During the third trumpet, wormwood will have fallen from the sky, causing the water to be polluted, almost undrinkable, where famine will begin to occur more rapidly.

Then there was the fourth and fifth trumpet where the sun and moon become darkened, and locusts will have been released from outer space. At the sixth trumpet, there will be four angels released from heaven who kill over a third of mankind. Final judgement will then occur at the seventh trumpet, when the second coming of Christ has been revealed, and the destruction of evil has taken place, to set up his kingdom against those who did not repent of their works (Revelation 9:20-21).

bibleoutlook.net

Single Mom of 2 Isn't Working Because of Government Shutdown and Says She’s Terrified and ‘Not Sleeping’

I blame those people who would rather shut down the government to sack lots of government workers instead of letting the worse off getting health care.
I read a news story, that a lot of people on Obama care live in Red States. So, I don't get why they vote against them selves.
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Faith/Works

Paul and James on Justification

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The book of James is one of the most important topics to cover when it comes to faith and works. James is believed by many people to contradict Paul, especially in the book of Romans, making the case that works are an essential component to be the evidence of our faith.

While James writes that faith without works is dead, just as the body without the spirit is dead, Paul states that he who does work will not be made righteous; however, those who do not work but believe in him who justifies the ungodly, their faith is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:4-5).

Both Paul and James become clear that they do not contradict each other but how do they agree without excluding one of these two concepts? Since both of them believe that grace comes through faith alone, works would not add to that according to James, who writes:

“You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

He presents the point that even demons believe in the existence of God, so how can works apart from faith be useless? Depending on how you interpret the context of what James says and how Abraham was justified by works, we can settle to a point with Paul. Whereas faith without works is dead only in the eyes of men, not in the eyes of God.

If that is the case, how is faith made evident according to what other parts of scripture says about the fruit of the spirit? Most people believe that the fruit of the spirit (or works) means to gradually abandon sin or, by having corresponding actions, to go along with our faith.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man viewing his natural face in a mirror.
James 1:22-23
One of the most common reasons why people believe you must still abandon sin is told in John’s epistle: “No one who abides in him makes a practice of sinning; for whoever is born of God does not sin; you cannot keep on sinning by being in him.” Since he appeared in order to take away our transgressions, there is no sin in our new creation that’s within us, but as for our mortal body, sin still exists daily; it’s part of our natural human tendency.

So works never involve deeds of the law as evidence of faith. Whether good works can signify our faith is another matter to look at further. As for our sinful nature, which has broken the laws of God, that is what the cross was for—to replace us from dying in the flesh—by his work alone, so we can live free according to the spirit.

If Christ’s righteousness is applied to us, then how can the law itself ever negate self-righteous effort? For if you mix the law together, what grace could you receive if Christ didn’t cover it fully? By his atoning sacrifice, his death, after living a perfect life, was sufficient enough to cover the full penalty. What works can add any value to that establishment for us on earth? We were called to be like him through only one way that can grow. Therefore, we should always look to spread his word through the willingness of the holy spirit.

In free grace theology, contrary to lordship salvation (where one must submit to God), opposes that we must gradually obey the law through the process of sanctification.

We are to allow him to save us from those consequences. But in order that he will, how must we prove our belief for his word to reside in us?

No works ever lay the foundation of our faith; all works are as filthy rags, as stated in the book of Isaiah: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment” (v. 64:6).

However, those without corresponding actions may have denied him by not living according to the heart of the gospel teachings. Only by the fruit of this spirit — love, peace, joy, kindness, patience and forbearance — can faith become evident (Galatians 5:22 etc.). Those are the corresponding points to what Paul and James taught on the doctrine of justification.

Who then can be saved?

The only problem with that is, 100% of believers fail to persevere or abide in Him. Because we are fallen creatures, we don't have the power to persevere. Our lust still cries out to be satisfied and it never stops crying out, until we die. This is why Jesus paid for the past present and future sins of His people.

We are not saved by keeping the law, we are saved because Jesus kept the law on our behalf. The good soil are Gods elect, whom He chose to save before the world was created. Each and every one of them will be saved not not a single one will be lost, no matter how much they sin.

It sounds like your still under the "covenant of the law" which they observed under the old covenant. But we are under a new covenant known as the "covenant of grace"
No, we must continue to covet that grace, the heavenly gift we've tasted, and to desire it more and more; we must overcome our lusts to whatever degree He deems appropriate as per Rom 8:12-14. We can't possibly do it alone and yet He doesn't want automatons so He's structured salvation such that we must at least cooperate, we must at least do our part even if it only represents .001% of the effort necessary to begn with. Because in that way we're truly on board and in that way He's truly creating something grand, something greater than He began with, something that has chosen, and grown nearer in likeness to, the Ulitmate Good, not without the help of grace.

That willingness, opposed to the unwillingness of Adam, is exactly what He's after-what He's cultivating- in us. That's where our justice/righteousness lies. To put it another way, to sum up God's purpose, He's cultivating love in us, a love like His own, a love identified by the greatest commandments. And love requires freedom, in order to be love. Salvation is not just about making it to heaven by the skin of our teeth but about fulfilling the purpose that humans were created for. And at the risk of over-repeating a favorite quote:

“If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children.” St Basil of Caesarea
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Evolution conflict and division

I don't think the creationists here fully appreciate how, after seeing your above opinion, the reaction from just about every scientist would be something like "So?" Kind of the same reaction you'd get after showing geographers some of the flat earth threads in here.

Of course the reality is 99.99% of scientists will never even know about your opinion in the first place. I guess I'm mostly wondering if you think your opinions on this matter are noteworthy?
So
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7 reasons for the trans conflict with Christianity

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Investigators say 23-year-old Robin Westman, who opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, was obsessed with killing children. The attack during the school’s first Mass of the year left two children, aged 8 and 10, dead and 17 others injured. Westman, a former student, fired 116 rifle rounds through stained-glass windows. Police uncovered chilling writings, videos, and a manifesto revealing violent fantasies, regret over gender transition, and plans to target kids.

10:12
God has judged him justly.
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White House, Pfizer Announce Deal for 'Most Favored Nation' Drug Pricing

Trump unveils deal for AstraZeneca to cut Medicaid drug prices and join "TrumpRx" site


Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will offer U.S. patients discounted prices for some prescription drugs, President Trump announced Friday, the second major drug company to strike a deal with the Trump administration in recent weeks.​
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