I

DaisyDay said:

The defense claims it was also before the attack. Although it shouldn't matter, the victim was about as unsavory as the stabber (previously convicted of child rape, but the jury would not have heard about this during the trial). According to the article, the victim continued to use the slur while telling the police his side of the story. Juries do judge the victim.

Click to expand...

I would say that the jury didn't care because it was a couple of homeless guys but I don't think that's the case considering where it happened

SabbathBlessings said:

Hi WS!

I am glad we can agree on some things that's always a good start.

Lets actually look at these verses a little closer. I think this is a very important teaching of Jesus.


Mat 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

What was prophesied on the law that Jesus is fulfilling?

Click to expand...

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets!

"Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, which refers to the entire Old Testament. This means he completed the purpose of the law by embodying its true meaning and achieving what it pointed towards, particularly in terms of salvation and reconciliation with God." - cbtseminary.org

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, meaning His purpose was to bring the Old Testament scriptures to completion through His life, teachings, and sacrificial death. This fulfillment involves perfectly obeying the law, embodying the prophetic messages, and providing a way for believers to be saved from their sins through His sacrifice. - Google AI

probinson said:

So, no logical explanation as to how someone can "track trends" in data that is riddled with lies and misinformation? I didn't think so, but just wanted to confirm.

By the way, if you don't want to discuss something, you can just not reply.

Click to expand...

Or, conversely, I can reply and tell you I have no interest in discussing it with you.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, former secretary of Pope Benedict XVI, said he hopes the beatification process will begin soon for the German pontiff, who died on Dec. 31, 2022.

“Personally, I have great hopes that this process will be opened,” the archbishop and current apostolic nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia said in an interview with the television channel K-TV, which aired Dec. 7.

According to current Church regulations, a potential beatification process for Pope Benedict XVI could only begin five years after his death unless the current pope grants special authorization before then, as Joseph Ratzinger himself did with John Paul II, waiving this waiting period.

In the excerpt from the interview, published by the German Catholic media outlet Katholisch, Gänswein emphasized that one of Pope Benedict’s essential qualities for understanding the faith was joy.

Continued below.

“Domestic Terrorism”: Leaked DOJ Memo Targets “Anti-Americanism, Anti-Capitalism, Anti-Christianity”​

A leaked memo by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi directs the Justice Department and FBI to compile a list of groups that may be labeled “domestic terrorism” organizations based on political views related to immigration, gender and U.S. policy. The memo was obtained by independent investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein, who joins us to discuss how it expands on President Donald Trump’s NSPM-7 directive following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which ordered a national strategy to investigate and disrupt groups the administration claims could incite political violence.

The investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein published a copy of Bondi’s memo on his Substack page on Saturday. Klippenstein notes Bondi’s language echoes a National Security Presidential Memorandum issued by President Trump, known as NSPM-7, to target nonprofits and activists. Trump signed the directive in September in the wake of the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

AMY GOODMAN: So, the memo targets organizations, not only, what, formal NGOs, but also book clubs, community mutual networks, mutual aid networks, online forums?

KEN KLIPPENSTEIN: Yeah, that’s exactly right. And it uses the phrase “organizations and entities,” which can mean individuals. So, again, it can’t be overstated how sweeping a directive like this is. This isn’t targeted. And to the extent that it’s being reported as directed at antifa, I think it’s important to remember, you know, antifa may not exist as such, but it includes a lot more than that.

Here is the great circle route for Taiwan to Los Angeles. Emergency landings in Alaska makes perfect sense.

I can do this for all the flights listed in that book. All of them match the globe.

MarcusGregor said:

They jumped through all the hoops and it wasn't enough for this administration. Some of these people have been in the U.S. for 20+ years raising families and contributing to the country. Now they will possibly be deported back to countries they haven't been to in decades and have no ties to anymore. What is this really about?

Click to expand...

What should be the procedural cut-off for when an executive branch makes an administrative change to rules and prerequisites?

Is it when certain paperwork is filed?, when someone is X% of the way through the process?


So as an example:

If "Joe Smith" decided he wanted to go through process and red tape to be able to legally acquire a NFA-title 2 restricted class of firearm. He paid the tax, administrative fees, does multiple background checks, pays to get the fingerprinting and all of the paperwork done... Now he's just waiting on January 3rd to roll around which was the ETA the ATF gave to make everything official and legally do the transfer.

His state passes a new rule stating "Starting January 1st, there will be no new private sales or transfers of this type of firearm in this state"

Joe's already completely the procedural stuff, and is 95% of the way through the waiting period. Would that be fair to Joe and should they just let he run with it anyway since he was so close? Or is it more of a "rules are rules" and unfortunate implementation timing?


The reality is:
In fiscal year 2024, USCIS naturalized ~ 818,500 people
That translates to roughly 2,240 naturalizations per day


So given that, there's never going to be a good "implementation start date" that isn't going to come across as "mean" because no matter which day you pick, it's always going to impact some people who were right at the finish line of the process.

It's sort of like the people who were 2-3 days away from turning 18 when the new laws officially went into effect to raise the legal age to 21. Their buddies who turned 18 last week are able to enjoy the privilege and are grandfathered in. They're the victim of unfortunate timing.

The Liturgist said:

Here we go, the question asked using your preferred phraseology, using a fresh chatGPT 5.1 session:
So now, we’re not getting the LCMS, WELS and ELS - which further demonstrates my point.

Click to expand...

I don't mind multiple AI engines returning consistent results for the same query.

Coriovallum said:

Hi everyone,
I Studied Judaism at a religious seminary in Jerusalem, Israel between 2007-2012.
And became a Non-Denominational / Baptist Christian in June 2023.


Looking forward to become member of this online community.

Click to expand...

What a unique combination - certainly for the Limburg area

What did you take from those studies into Baptist circles? It would bring more flavour in your understanding of the Bible I presume. Welcome .. !

Alina Habba resigns as New Jersey US attorney after appeals court defeat​

She announced her resignation as U.S. attorney in a social media post on Monday. She will remain serving as "Senior Adviser to the Attorney General for U.S. Attorneys."

The resignation comes after a protracted legal fight about whether she could serve in the U.S. attorney role without Senate confirmation.

“Following the flawed Third Circuit decision disqualifying Alina Habba from performing her duties in the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of New Jersey, I am saddened to accept Alina's resignation," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will seek further review of this decision, and we are confident it will be reversed."

The Trump administration has faced growing headwinds over its efforts to install Trump loyalists as top prosecutors in U.S. attorneys' offices across the country, suffering a string of court defeats as judges raise concerns they're actively disregarding the law.

Tom D said:

I studied The Crucible when I was in high school.

Click to expand...

It's a great play. Though, I forgot that Arthur Miller was such a diehard atheist. Some of his commentary is highly critical of religion.

essentialsaltes said:

Trump mobilizing up to 1,700 National Guard troops in 19 states to widen crime and immigration crackdown​

The apparent expansion in operations comes as President Trump threatened to send the “regular military” into Chicago for a similar crime crackdown, as well as potentially send troops to New York City.

Click to expand...

New York City ties its record for longest stretch without a homicide​

During the first 11 months of the year, New York City saw its lowest number of shooting incidents (652) and shooting victims (812) in recorded history, according to NYPD data.

For the month of November, murders were also at the lowest level ever, with 16 murders, tying the previous record set in 2018.

The record-tying milestone comes after the Trump administration considered sending members of the National Guard to New York City streets.

[I guess Mamdani got rid of the billionaires and crime has come down.]

Yes

timothyu said:

Much in the way kids stamp their feet and say that is not fair? True but there is a difference between self-entitlement and genuine love for others.

Click to expand...

yes, genuine love for others manifest itself in giving of one’s own person, time and energy to helping those around them who are in need. Genuine love for others, does not express itself in coursing others to follow their agenda or use public money to minister to others.

Genuine love for others can only come through us from Christ, and it is not self aggrandizing, nor is a virtue signaling. Genuine love for others causes us to do things for others while any private meaningful way while not letting our left hand know what the right hand is doing. That way, your father who is in heaven will see what you’ve done and you’ll get your reward from him and not from the accolades of others.

martinlb said:

"Come back when you can walk on water"

Is this your idea of Christian behavior?

Click to expand...

To me, it appears you want to create your own authority/priestly class, using old English or not using old English. This is wholly unscriptural.

CoreyD said:

Thank you for expressing how you view Christian ethics and gaming.
I'll like to leave you with this article, and this scripture.
My hands are clean from any blood spilled.

Click to expand...

Ok but this doesn’t negate the fact that God has ordained both royalty and clergy. This is clearly stated in the Bible and I shouldn’t need to back it up.

We don't believe in common ancestry; we believe in common design.

From AI Overview:

Same similarities (DNA, anatomy) are interpreted as evidence of a common blueprint, not common descent.

The New York Times

How Biden Ignored Warnings and Lost Americans’ Faith in Immigration​

US NEWS

Biden was warned his soft-on-immigration proposals would cause ‘chaos’ — but he ignored it, damning memo reveals​

President Joe Biden was warned by advisers that his immigration plans could lead to “chaos” at the US border — but he ignored them, a newly uncovered memo reveals.

His team doled out the advice to Biden when he was still campaigning against President Trump back in 2020, the New York Times reported.

“A potential surge could create chaos and a humanitarian crisis, overwhelm processing capacities and imperil the agenda of the new administration,” Biden’s advisers wrote.

Dan1988 said:

No, God commands all men to repent, so they are without excuse, when they stand before Him on judgement day

Click to expand...

But now commands all men everywhere to repent Because He has appointed a day in the which they will be judged.... And has given assurance unto all in that He raised Christ from the dead.

If it was not possible for them to repent, then they have a very good excuse for judgement day, can you understand that?

Oompa Loompa said:

I wish liberals would show the same level of empathy and compassion for an unborn child that they do for murdering rapist drug smugglers.

Click to expand...

I wish people that call themselves Christian would remember that we all deserve a death sentence. It is only the love and compassion of God that Jesus died so we might live. If we can't show compassion, we shouldn't call ourselves Christian.

Oompa Loompa said:

If so, abortion would be completely banned.

Click to expand...

I am pro life but being pro life I must put all human life at the same level. The mother's life is just as precious as the baby. There are times when the mother may need to be saved, as horrible as that may be.

Oompa Loompa said:

But here is an interesting question, if you had the chance to kill the 9/11 hijackers before they boarded the planes that killed 2,977 people, would you? But every year, 72, 776 people in the US die from fentanyl, and 29,449 with cocaine. That is over 34 9/11 attacks in the United States every year! So yes! I celebrate the deaths of every single one of these monsters so that innocent people can live.
So who is more "pro-life?"

Click to expand...

Our laws do not call for the death penalty for drug traffickers. These people can be stopped and have the drugs confiscated and get information from those arrested.

Killing, indiscriminately, is murder. There is no difference between a missile strike and stopping the boat and shooting each person in the head. It's an execution.

keras said:

I regard your 'charts' as wrong and the end times cannot happen as you portray.

Click to expand...

So you don't think these events will happen ?

Matthew 24:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

MarkRohfrietsch said:

Scripture says, in the twinkling of an eye. No second chances, your name is either in the book as one washed white in the blood of the Lamb, or it is not. Why did John tell us to prepare, why are we to make sure that we are like the wise virgins, dressed and ready, with oil in our lamps, to meet our Lord?

Click to expand...

So you must believe that Revelation 11 is very figurative. I don't say it has anything to do with second chances, just that it is real, rather literal not figurative, such that the devil has little option but to try and hide and mask the fact when those two prophets arrive.

The lake of fire is real, as you allude to, indeed some will go straight to it when they 'wake up' from death. But it is not some outerspace place or some other dimension. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17. The two prophets do the initial kindling of the lake of fire, literally, they will show and demonstrate that the Messiah also will literally breath divine fire.
And in that manner must anyone who hurts them be killed Revelation 11:5, the beast and false prophet indeed hurt them and therefore must be killed by the fire they start, and we know that the beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire Revelation 19:20, these passages must both be true, and therefore also we clearly see that indeed it is the prophets that first kindle the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the result of this current world destroyed by divine fire. Started by the two prophets then the Messiah and then the Father sends down the final fire that destroys the sky land and sea Revelation 20:9- 21:1 2 Peter 3:8-12

CLEEB said:

I am aware that in the population of modern day Israel has many are Khazars . The number of true descendents of the ancient nation is unknown to me. Have you considered that in the second resurrection GOD will raise up the nation to flesh again and in that day keep HIS promise to Abraham regarding carnal Israel ? Paul did say that GOD has not written off these people but at some future time they can be grafted back into the olive tree if the do not remain in unbelief. Ezekiel 36 describes this time of restoration. The physical resurrection of carnal Israel may be described in Ezekiel 37 Since it is said that David will be king over them this must be at a future time after David’s resurrection. Romans 11:11-15 speaks of this life from the dead in the second resurrection. When discussing prophecy we should know that prophecy is like being in a dark room with very little light but as the light level increases more can be known. Doctrine is prophecy that has been fulfilled, like the prophecy of the first advent is now doctrine. Until more light shines or as more things are fulfilled the pieces will come together. This is one reason why Jesus told us to watch and we watch for the signs he gave us to come to pass. We also hear the words of the prophets and Apostles about these things. We must be careful to not go beyond what has been written.

Click to expand...

The judgment of the sheep and goats, (white throne judgment) will begin shortly after the second resurrection. This second resurrection will be at the end of time when Jesus descends to earth with his angels and saints. These saints receive their resurrected bodies before they accompany Jesus to earth. The people still on earth will receive their resurrected bodies as they rise to meet Jesus in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

The unbelieving Jews have already had 2000 years to become Christians. Many of the remnant Jews have become Christians during this time period. More will come into the Church before Jesus' second coming.

David's earthly kingship ended when he died. Jesus Christ is now king and he will be king forever in heaven and on earth. Revelation 1:4-5

Wolseley said:

The Islamic Caliphate of Britainistan (formerly known as the United Kingdom) is a cautionary tale for all of us.

Click to expand...

No, this country is still the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Wolseley said:

You’re looking at a country that doesn’t exist anymore.

Click to expand...

Yes it most certainly does.

Wolseley said:

England didn’t fall with tanks and smoke.

Click to expand...

England is a region of the United Kingdom, which still exists. It always did, although it was never really the fairytale version that some people from elsewhere in the world thought it was.

Wolseley said:

Black cabs sliding over wet cobblestones.

The smell of rain soaking into old stone.

The ding of a double-decker bus pulling to a stop.
Real accents — Cockney, Midlands, Yorkshire — drifting through the air like a soundtrack.

Click to expand...

We changed the cobblestones because they are hard on the horseless carriages, and buses no longer have dinging bells because we have modern electronics in buses nowadays. Islam is nothing to do with it. It still rains a lot.

Wolseley said:

If you’ve ever wandered London, even once, you know exactly what I mean.

Click to expand...

Londoner DNA for over a thousand years speaking. I do not know what you mean.

Wolseley said:

Big Ben rising over the Thames like a cathedral tower.
The Changing of the Guard — boots hitting pavement in perfect time.

Click to expand...

The Guards are fine, so is Big Ben. Please all stop trying to pet and pose with the horses though, they are trained army horses, they will hurt you.

Wolseley said:

Red phone booths so iconic they looked painted onto the street.

Click to expand...

Two of which stand right outside my front window, now. They are an art gallery, and we only got to keep the red outsides because I live in an area of historical architectural importance. The red phone boxes died because everybody got a smartphone. They are in heaps in corners, some places you can buy one if you can think of a use for it.

Wolseley said:

Fish and chips wrapped in paper, vinegar sharp in the air.

Click to expand...

Still happens. I see it every day.

Wolseley said:

A place where history wasn’t something you read —
it was something you walked on.

Click to expand...

We are as as old as we always were.

Wolseley said:

England had too many manners and not enough nerve.

Click to expand...

No such thing as too many manners, and we are more often seen as arrogant rather than cowardly.

Wolseley said:

In 2016, a government-commissioned investigation — the Casey Review — confirmed that Sharia councils were operating in parts of England, handling civil and family matters outside British courts.

Click to expand...

Yes, they are legal here, they always have been. They have no legal power though, they are not UK law.

Sharia: are fears of a parallel legal system unfounded? - Religion Media Centre
Islamic Law in the United Kingdom - Talk About: Law and Religion

Wolseley said:

It faded in a million tiny silences —
every time someone noticed a change, felt uneasy, and told themselves not to say anything.

Click to expand...

We have a guy called Nigel Farage, the Reform Party, the Daily Express and Mail all loudly moaning about immigration all over the place. There is no silence.

Wolseley said:

A country that wouldn’t stop apologizing eventually forgot who it was and what it was apologizing for.

Click to expand...

We are still here saying "sorry" "please" and "thank you" so often that those witnessing it for the first time are initially totally confused, and usually if we are sorry it is in case we bothered you. No one has forgotten.

Songs you never forget, Lolita sings the original text,

Login to view embedded media