Aldebaran said:

Once we stop subsidizing the health insurance companies, costs can go down. But Schumer wants the insurance companies to have our money so badly that he shut the government down to (fail to) make that happen.

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While I agree that we shouldn't be supporting the for-profit health insurance industry, and the billions of dollars the industry rakes in every year in profit greatly contributes to the rising cost of health care, the fact remains: Americans get their health care through that same health insurance industry. If there were a better way to obtain health care, say through a single payer system like many other nations have, that would be far more cost effective and a lot more comprehensive, I'd fully support it.

But we're not getting one any time soon. Because of those billions of dollars in profit.

Until that changes, if people want health care, insurance companies will get their money.

-- A2SG, the GOP certainly hasn't offered any alternatives to that idea....do you have any?

bob121 said:

Thanks, Servus—honestly I’m still learning the lay-out here.
I’ll take the cue: next time I’ll drop testimonial-style threads in Christians-Only so the encouragers aren’t forced to wade through the inevitable mud.

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Yes, there’s a reason why we have the Christians’ Only subforums.

But the content you placed in the OP as what trolls would do

bob121 said:

you ask for testimonies of grace and within five posts someone’s waving Psalm 137:9 or Hitler to prove a point.

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seemed like it would be more commonplace on Facebook or Twitter than here. Psalm 137:9 and Hitler would be off-topic, since you asked for testimonies of grace, and people who post off-topic posts like that repeatedly just get banned. (Calling political leaders Hitler is explicitly banned in the political sections too.)

By the way, a testimonies of grace thread would belong in the Deeper Fellowship area here, in case you were wondering about that.

In broader social media, debate or report does still apply, but after awhile you have to ask yourself whether it’s worth your time to do the debate. The problem with doing nothing is that the slanderers will drown you out if you don’t post at least one counter argument, they will come to define your message for you. You cannot let yourself be defined by your harshest critics. Still, dealing with abusers/slanderers is exhausting work, even when you have the positional and spiritual authority to manage them. I would never oblige someone to debate themselves into exhaustion over some triviality.

The way I manage my energy is just to stay off social media (aside from YouTube) and put my time into forums where I either rely on other moderators or I have mod tools to deal with rule violators myself and I don’t end up having to fight reputation battles all the time. Authority actually saves a lot of energy in comparison to expensive emotional reactions of fear and anger. But that may not be for everyone.

Instead, I would advise to pick your platforms and your battles, and learn their best practices one at a time. You do Facebook? Learn the best practices there. Twitter? Same. YouTube? Ok. TikTok? Whatever. Forum like this one? Not too hard.

eclipsenow said:

And.... you've just made that chapter irrelevant to anyone before the invention of the modern microchip.

So - what has the church got out of Revelation for 2000 years?

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And why does it have to relate to those who first heard the prophecy? All prophecy is about the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes. They are not always to be understood by those who first heard them.

Batfink

Mark Quayle said:

Well, no. I was not saying an unborn baby rejected God, but that at whatever point that baby is a responsible (by God's assessment) human, he rejects God, unless he has been born from above by the work of God.

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This is about as clear as mud. lol

Are you saying babies go to Hell or Heaven man, come on, fess up your personal conclusion.

mark46 said:

If Trump could kill his most troublesome critics without serious consequence, I don't think that he would hesitate.

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And he probably wouldn't lose any voters.

-- A2SG, forgiveness is fundamental to MAGA...only for Trump, though....

FaithT said:

Same here.

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Especially after the updated translation in 2011.

FAITH-IN-HIM said:

Consider the potential outcomes had the minority group opposing both legal and illegal immigration to America been successful at the time of your arrival. How might this have affected you or your family?

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Irrelevant. The discussion is about what immigration policy is appropriate today.

This is very good news!

Why didn't the Biden administration embarrass Steve Bannon by leaking his connection to Epstein? He is a Trump ally.

Always in His Presence said:

House Democrat exchanged texts with Epstein during 2019 congressional hearing​

“During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents and the public at large offering advice, support and in some cases partisan vitriol, including from Epstein,” Plaskett’s spokesperson, Angeline Jabbar, said in a statement to CNN. “As a former prosecutor she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth and took on the GOP that was trying to bury the truth. The congresswoman has previously made clear her long record combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her disgust over Epstein’s deviant behavior and her support for his victims.”

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I'm sorry, maybe I missed something. Is there a problem here?

-- A2SG, maybe the insinuations are just too vague for me....

Delvianna said:

So when you run across instances like this, what do you do? I'm not required to engage with it. Like, there isn't quests or anything but how do you handle video games and following Christian ethical standards?

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I've dealt with this situation before with a game that involved witchcraft in the actual dynamics of the game, meaning required, twice. God spoke to my heart and asked me how much I loved Him. I said done and trashed them, even being very heavily invested in with extremely competitive stance in one.

With that said, my opinion is that you said it yourself there, "I'm not required to engage with it." 1 Corinthians 10:23 says all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial, or helpful. We are also called to be in the world, but not of the world in John 17:15 and John 17:16. Lastly, Christ said we are the light of the world, and that we are not meant to be hidden away but like a city on a hill in Matthew 5:14.

Daniel lived in Babylon and was immersed in a world full of witchcraft, but he rejected particular things that he felt dishonored God like eating food offered to idols. I think the entire world is Babylon in that specific sense and we are in that situation now and so long as it is not violating your conscience, I think you are good to go (you are obviously tuned in with God that there are no-go zones from the way you speak). (Romans 14:23)

I have used a few games as platforms to spread the gospel, even posting Scripture on my profile. I say simply have a little talk with God about the games and pray about them, and during that conversation, like He has with me, I think He will guide you into what is acceptable and unacceptable. Some people will tell you it is black and white, but I don't think this is the case. We are children, Sons and Daughters in Christ, and in that we are meant to be more than robots. God made you and I don't think He wants all of us conformed to a cookie cutter shape even being conformed into the image of Christ. The image of Christ, the image of God is love (1 Timothy 1:5 - 1 John 4:7 - 1 John 4:8). We can all look like Christ in His love to others without being robots or cookie cutouts.

Just my two cents on the matter in the pot, but I've had experience in this and found that God showed me what was not ok, and what He not only didn't mind but helped me in winning the games (and yes I actually believe that, call me crazy but He helps me with everything, I wouldn't be ok if He didn't).

Do everything to the glory of God, even if it is playing a game (1 Corinthians 10:31). Love God, love people, be yourself.

Servus said:

So the analogy that praying to Mary is the same as talking Bob, is obviously a false equivalency.

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Your opinion is duly noted. I don't think asking the Mother of God to pray for me is entirely equivalent to asking an old Korean grandmother, but it's a matter of degree, innit? The request is the same in either case: "please pray for me".

BelieveItOarKnot said:

Common sense and the prior citing should do

I believe every Word of God applies to everyone. Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deut. 8:3

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And do you believe what Heb. 9:18 says ??

It reads , Therefore. , not even the FIRST COVENANT. WAS dedicated WITH OUT BLOOD.

Do you believe verse 18. !!

Put it another WAY. the OLD COVENANT. had to be set aside , WHEN JESUS DIED on. the CROSS and his BLOOD. SHED

THEN anyone meaning GENTILES WERE GIVEN SALVATION

And says that you are BORN AGAIN and BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT. is speaking to ISRAEL in EZE 36:25

and EZE 37 :1-28 AND Israel will be BORN AGAIN !!

DAN P

Vambram said:

My culture is based upon the Scriptures and the teachings of the LORD God.

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Its a romantic thought. But the mere fact that you have the internet suggests you have been influenced by your culture. Are you Amish though? I guess you'd be getting there.

Vambram said:

There are not any ethnic or national cultures in all the world which faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Of course not. Jesus made it pretty clear that would never be the case. He told his disciples to go EVERYWHERE

Please pray for me. My aunt passed away in June. I am still struggling. Thank you. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

@Job 33:6 I am sorry for being rough with you.
I will be more gentle in my responses.

You probably realize that to say that Genesis 2 is a continuation, contradicts everything said before it, as well as everything you agreed with.
It says that God did not complete his works on day 6 and rest on day 7, but instead created Adam and Eve on day 7, as ell as animals.
It also says that Adam named the animals on day 7, and vegetation covered the earth on day 7 instead of day 3.

I though I should make this clear, as this is scripture we are considering, and so, what scripture says is important, and must be accurately expounded. Acts 18:24-28
The scriptures can be used to prove persons wrong, who warp the truth. It's not a matter of one opinion or another.
How sad that Christianity today which is so widely and largely divided, has so badly distorted God's word... making it of little value to people searching for God.

Amen.

Fantine said:

Forgive me for believing world class historians like Heather Cox Richardson, world-class economists like Robert Reich and Paul Krugman, award-winning media which always requires one primary or two or more secondary sources.

Trump's falsehoods are easy to spot. As soon as he opens his mouth, warning lights start flashing around me. They are frequently outrageously ridiculous and absurd--the only things more ridiculous are generally the pained faces of the people behind him. Rubio usually looks like he wishes he could either sink into the floor or wear a cloak of invisibility.

The media who promote these blatantly obvious lies as truth are without conscience or integrity.

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IMO, you are believing who you want to believe.

Always in His Presence said:

you keep repeating it - like suddenly it will make a difference from the facts.

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What I keep repeating are facts.

The original 1989 Heritage Foundation plan

Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993

Always in His Presence said:

Yes, the line has been repeated - and yet -

not one Republican endorsed it or voted for it.

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Yeah, funny how that happened, huh? They endorsed the plan in 1993, but when President Obama proposed it, they changed their minds. And the objections they raised at that time, the individual mandate in particular? Part of the plan all along.

I wonder what did change? Got any ideas?

Always in His Presence said:

The ones who wrote the final plan - endorsed it and voted it in right down party lines - are the ones who own it.

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Yup. And we know where they got the idea.

President Obama admits the ACA originated from a Heritage Foundation plan

Always in His Presence said:

Here is a hint - if it had been a Republican majority congress - the plan would have never made it to the floor. If it was working well - the folks on the left would never mention anyone but themselves.

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Oh, I fully agree the plan the Heritage Foundation came up with isn't a great plan. I've said all along we need a comprehensive, cost effective single payer plan like many other nations have in place. But since there are no alternatives to the ACA being proposed, it's all we got until someone figures out a way to circumvent the billions of dollars in profit made by the for-profit health insurance industry every year, and the large portion of that money that is directed toward various political campaigns.

-- A2SG, good luck with that....

Robban said:

Do you know who brought the realization to my attention, it was the late .Rabbi Sir Johnathan Sachs.

I was reading an article written by him where he wote that many say, Bibel, Law, Torah, commandments but it is not,

it is instructions. And I was like, yeah thought something was off somewhere.

Though it is common to say Commandments, Bibel, Torah, Law for it is just so,

But it gives a friendly and personal touch to say, instructions. For me at any rate.

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Robban, I hear you and I value that friendly, personal touch—calling them “instructions” keeps the tone warm and welcoming. I appreciate your voice on this. Have a wonderful day/night.

pasifika said:

Hi, there are going to be many priests. In fact the bible talks about a kingdom of priests in the new kingdom 1Peter 2:9,
In the new covenant we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices which means we are to do good, proclaiming the Gospel and do the Will of God etc, Romans 12:1, Heb 13:15,16

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And in. Matt 19:28 the 12 apostles will sit on. 12 Thrones judging. the 12 tribes of Israel

And in EZE 40:39-----45:17. THERE are 6 offering. !!

dan p