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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.

Yes, Democrats Support Ending The Lives of Babies Who Survive Abortions

The question is what about the 1/3 of the angels that were under his command?
They chose to take part in the rebellion. Could they have refused?
They could have refused, but decided to follow. Just as some people follow or gravitate towards evil. Or maybe the devil forced 1/3 of the angels to follow evil.
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4 human trafficking victims rescued from residential brothels in California

A local community helped the San José Police Department rescue four women from residential brothels in the California city, resulting in the arrest of three men in connection with the human trafficking operation.

Officers with the San José Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force executed three search warrants at three homes located on Palacio Royal Circle, Bonita Avenue, and Gifford Avenue. Before searching the homes, the police received multiple tips from members of the community, which resulted in a two-month investigation.

The SJPD's Human Trafficking Task Force revealed in a statement last Thursday that it arrested 34-year-old suspect Naisong Tong and 60-year-old Guihua Tao on Aug. 28 in San Francisco. Police booked the pair into Santa Clara County Main Jail for human trafficking. Police arrested the third suspect, 53-year-old Zhiqiang Liu, on Sept. 3 in San José, and he was also booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for human trafficking.

Continued below.
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Did David kill Goliath twice in 1S 17:50-51?

David fought Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him.
The giant's body was flat on the ground motionless, as good as dead. The Philistines were wondering: Goliath, get up.

Was he clinically dead?

I don't know. I don't think David knew either, and he was not going to check Goliath's pulse.

There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it.
David cut off his head to demonstrate to everyone that Goliath was dead.

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
Ya, Goliath was dead alright.

Did David kill Goliath twice?

No. It's common for Hebrew parallelism to describe a thing twice in different aspects. The first "killed" might mean "mortally wounded". The second "killed" could be understood as "finished off" to confirm the kill.

See also

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Swiss Politician Shoots at Images of the Virgin Mary for Target Practice.

There is no doubt in my mind, Catholicism is under attack.

Something must be going on (?) in the diocese within which I live. (Or maybe everywhere?) Catholic churches here have begun notifying parishioners that the church doors will be locked, 5 minutes after the Mass begins. No one will be able to enter the church for Mass, after that time.

I haven't yet seen armed security at the churches here, but many churches do seem to be working towards tightening up their security. I think this is a very good idea. And hopefully there are armed parishioners within the congregation, who can 'help' should the church come under attack.
No surprises here.

Yet the left still says Christians are being hated or persecuted.

They're hypocrites.

Lord, protect us.
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Quit Smoking

Daily Propane is my old account on CF and completely forgot my login details. After a year back in the UK taking care of things I moved back to Guangzhouto resume my career in education (I don’t want to hear anyones input about where I live unless you have something nice to say otherwise don’t bother saying anything negative). I am now living a very clean life and im straight edge (without the punk music as it’s a terrible genre) and I have settled down with my girlfriend with whom we reunited. I only look towards to the future as a good christian and hard working man whos goal is to make a more than comfortable living. My strongest drink is a pepsi and my indulgence is going for nice days out and enjoying lovely food. My hobbies are keeping fit and playing video games. I love god, family and all the great things in the world xxx
God bless you

Did you move from China to Italy?

You can speak both languages fluently?

Take care.
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Not Quite Calvinist.

I don't know that. But I'm not the one making a claim about him being on a horse. And if you can't get a basic thing like that right, it shows you are listening to tradition over what scripture actually says.

Brother, save yourself the frustration in this instance. There's a good reason why you can and why you should (for your own peace of mind).
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Do you feel led to pray?

Both. There are things that cross my mind and other times when I'm directed to pray specifically about an issue. It may pertain to me or someone I know. But the latter is usually a person I'm close with or fond of. There was a time when my intercession was more outwardly focused. Countries, missionaries, etc. But He doesn't mention them anymore. It might have been a season and my focus was directed elsewhere.

I used to write my prayers down in the past. He still dictates them on occasion but I follow along verbally instead. We discuss things throughout the day or when He gets my attention if I'm engaged. He'll interrupt if needed and drop a nugget. An instruction for the day so to speak. Whereas an assignment, usually involves a lengthier discussion and I'm taking notes so I won't forget. There's typically a prayer directive included.

~bella
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Someday by Disciple

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There are days when all the color turns to gray
And it feels like there's no solace from the pain
And I'm on my knees asking for a reason why
But the answers all seem miles and miles away

We are all designed to hope
Built to long for something more
So I will hold on, hold on
Cause we will overcome

Someday we will rise above the pain of this world
Someday the grave and death will lose their sting
There'll be no more tears and no more shame
And all our scars will fade away
Only love will remain, someday
Someday

Well they say that You make beauty out of ash
But something has to burn before You can
So I will trust You while I am
Somewhere in the shadowlands
You won't leave me, You see me
This is not the end

Someday we will rise above the pain of this world
Someday the grave and death will lose their sting
There'll be no more tears and no more shame
And all our scars will fade away
Only love will remain, someday
Someday

Someday we won't call this home
Someday death will lose it's hold
But until then we will hold on, hold on, hold on

We will rise above
We will rise above

Someday we will rise above the pain of this world
Someday the grave and death will lose their sting
There'll be no more tears and no more shame
And all our scars will fade away
Only love will remain, someday

Someday we won't call this home
Someday death will lose it's hold
But until then we will hold on, hold on
Someday

Göbekli Tepe

I am not too interested in the specific of whether these were pre or post flood peoples. Well I am but not as much as understanding where they fit into our history. Göbekli-Tepe certainly throws a spanner in the works for hujman civilization pushing it back a few thousand years.
It is a double whammy. Although Jericho does go back the same amount of time. People have to build with what they have to work with. The Bible says people used animal skins to keep warm. I am surprised that we find people this far north. They would need to be more resourceful to deal with the colder climate.

Mostly people were interested in Egypt because of all the glitter and gold. They studied ancient Mesopotamia but now as much. They talk about the Semitic and Sumerians that lived at the time.

In High School we used James Breasted book for our text book. Even though it is 100 years old now everyone pretty much just copies him. Esp with the whole hunter gather food producer thing. His cradle of civilization was the land given to Abraham. He had so walk all the way round his land. What will become the new Jerusalem. Then all the nations will have to send a representative one a year to Jerusalem.

It is interesting that Moses tells us where the gold mines were. If you go there today they are still mining gold after all of these years. Gold is heavy so in a molten state it goes deeper into the earth. That makes it more rare today.
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Someone by Disciple

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All I see inside is a longing for something that's outside
This understanding of the sun breaking open
And it shines over me, shines over me

I can see the order in the way
That the oceans rise and roll out again
I can see the order in the way
That the flowers die to bloom again

And I know that there is Something out there
Watching everything
I know there's Something out there
Even if I can't see
I know that there is Someone out there
Watching over me
I know there's Someone out there

Silence in this night
A million ballads to something far from sight
With an unspoken name
And my reflection, image from some other time
Some other time

Even though I can't see
The fingerprints are everywhere
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God Is With Us by Disciple

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Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us

This desert is a wicked place
I'm weary from this wretched chase
Oh where does my help come from
My enemies are strengthening every hour like a plague
Oh where does my help come from

Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us
Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us

Their armies charge and storm the gates but
when I call upon the Name
That's where my help comes from
Victory is in our hands
The strongest darkness can't contend
with where my help comes from

Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us
Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us

We won't be afraid through the flood and flames
we'll never give up for God is with us
We won't be afraid through the flood and flames
we'll never give up for God is with us
Our God is with us...

Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us
Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us

Their words can not stand against us
For God is with us, God is with us
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2 cents

For some anyone chosen other than a white man is affirmative action. She is an incredibly intelligent person who happens to be a woman of color. But some people can never get over judging others by appearances.
nope I do not care if someone is a man or woman if they are white, black or purple, but when someone says their pick will be a woman of color then I have an issue. If there are quotas at businesses I have an issue and frankly I am a woman and disabled though I am white, but if I were to get a job ( which my limitations male that hard which is why I am on my father's disability benefits, but supposed I did decide to risk working I would not WANT someone to hire me based on my disability or gender (or any other factor for that matter other than the fact that I was the most qualfied person for the job.

In fact, even as someone who has "benefited" from both the IDEA and ADA I would not mind if the latter disappeared because I am not sure who on Earth judges things to be ADA complianable or not, but I swear a LOT of places that meet those requirements ( whatever the heck they are) are not very acciessiable as such I would whether them drop the laws and do like Europe where it is on US not them to check that they are acciable before going to their business. I would whether a business ( and this applies to schools as well be legally permitted to tell me outright "look Miss P we do not offer services to people with your limitations" than be forced under the law to try come up short and I STILL am unable to benefit from their services.

I am MUCH more forgiving if I know ahead of time that x y and z are not accessiable than I am of wanting to do something and being unable to for lack of access
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How to win against terror . . .

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." (1 John 4:18)

"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

"'He who loves his life will lose it," (in John 12:25)

"nor give place to the devil." (in Ephesians 4:27)

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

"fear of death" > this helps to maintain people in deep weakness so they keep worrying about terrorists, so that terrorists can have power over them.

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

"Be sober," not intoxicated by fear. Do not allow fear to devour you.

And if we are ready to first react with unforgiveness against terrorists . . . how can we become because of this? We are letting terrorists have power over us to keep us deeply weak, if we give in to unforgiveness, instead of first loving and praying for evil people.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (in Luke 23:34)

"'But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,'" (Matthew 5:44)

In Genesis chapter one we see that God blessed creatures that He made. And we now see how so many of His creatures still are alive and even thriving . . . possibly because of how He blessed them, way back then. So, yes blessing does work ! ! ! Jesus who made all things and blessed, way back then, should know :)

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)

By being strong in Jesus and how He is blessing, this keeps us safe so Satanic people can not have power to make us suffer in the "torment" (1 John 4:18) of fear. But there are ones who keep living for their own lives; and so they are deeply weak so they can be made to worry and suffer about troubles of this evil world. And so, ones are helping terrorism, by staying so deeply weak.

Satan is the one who "weakened the nations", we have in Isaiah 14:12. Just by keeping our attention away from God, Satan can keep us weak. Plus, there are ways to keep our attention busy with stupid nonsense so we are not staying alert against terrorist attacks.

For one example, before "9/11" Al Qaeda was operating on American soil for about ten years, getting ready . . . according to the televised testimony of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. And the intel community, she said, had pieces of information which could have been used to detect and stop Al Qaeda; however, the pieces of the puzzle were in different hands which were not sharing their information so they could put the pieces together and get the picture.

But were there not both Republican and Democratic politicians on committees in charge of monitoring the intel community and spotting problems like that?

And in the United States there is supposed to be free press, so investigative reporting could have put the spotlight on how the intel family possibly was dysfunctional. It seems Condoleezza was saying there was a cooperation problem between parts of the intel group. If that were the case, investigative reporting could have helped push intel to work better, so they then would have discovered the Al Qaeda operation in time to stop it.

But where was the news reporting taking the American people's attention???? Wasn't there that under-the-desk thing of Bill Clinton, for one example of what could have gotten so much attention - - of Democratic and Republican Congress members and reporters and the American public? Yes, right while Al Qaeda was preparing for 9/11, they were being enabled by how Bill's thing was getting such attention, so much more than how intel's dysfunction was a national security problem.

But who helped that? I would say the American public in general helped to make sure Bill would get more attention than a threat to American security. Because TV watchers do not want to spend years following how there are family troubles in intel. They would much rather prioritize a sexual scandal! And so, advertisers are not going to use their money to support real investigative reporting of real issues which can take time and attention . . . away from a sex scandal. So, advertisers and the general public helped give Al Qaeda cover instead of needed coverage.

And, of course, people likewise do not want to look at how their selfish ways of loving help to keep us weak so we are sure to keep on suffering, even for decades tormented by how evil has gotten the better of us. Only in God's love are we safe from the fear and the "torment" which are caused by terrorism >

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." (in 1 John 4:18)

So, yes we need to have compassion for various victims of terrorists and abusers and others. However, if the victim stays weak in what is not God's love, that person can suffer endlessly.

"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)

God's love is able to keep us immune against howsoever Satanic people would spiritually and emotionally harm us, according to this scripture, I would offer. So, if we are compassionate for troubled people . . . isn't it wise to help people to become strong in Jesus Christ's way of loving?

"if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" Jesus says in Matthew 5:46.

In God's all-loving love we have His own immunity almighty so we can win against cruel people and not allow them to have power to decide if we love and forgive and if we keep on deeply suffering or not. But if we love only those who love us . . . and only those we can use for what we want . . . this is deeply weak so we are sure to get hurt and frustrated and unforgiving!!

Therefore, be all-loving with God in His love's praying > Paul says to do this "first of all" >

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Love in prayer for any and all people, then. Pray with hope for all that is possible with God for any person > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7). Blessing works. And God uses example >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)
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Harris once boasted of 'behind the scenes' work to get 'every' trans inmate access to gender surgeries

An "alternative fact", perhaps in MAGA reality. Over here in regular real reality it's just called a medical procedure.

That's just patently false. Ask some good Southern, Christian men in Alabama about it. They'll tell you all about how "you can't even tell!" based on their adult entertainment internet habits.

Circumcision is as much "genital mutilation" as any other surgical procedure a qualified medical doctor\surgeon might perform, but it's an accepted practice for "reasons." What about breast augmentation on young, straight boys who have weird hormones that give them enlarged breast tissue? Is that "mutilation" as well? It's as much gender-affirming care as it is for a trans person, but you guys don't poo-poo that procedure even though it is the most common procedure performed on kids under 17.

So, the deciding factor in whether a medical procedure is deemed a-okay or "mutilation" just seems to be whether the person having it is trans or not.
This has nothing to do with MAGA or adult entertainment. Nice try though.

I believe this issue must be studied further.

I have nothing else to add.
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On hacking Planned Parenthood

I suppose the name of Planned Parenthood should be changed to Parenthood Denial since the bulk of the organization’s work consists not only of preventing pregnancy but of terminating pregnancy, that is, of preventing birth. The organization’s traffic in embryonic tissue has also been well-documented. There is, of course, a great deal of money involved in its operations, and even if many Planned Parenthood employees and promoters are sincere in their misguided convictions, the organization has to be one of the most cynical on the planet. However, the flight from parenthood in the West is nearly as strong a trend as the desire for “sexual experiences”, and so the organization continues to prosper.

For these reasons, I think most pro-life readers will take a certain pleasure in the recent announcement that Planned Parenthood has been hacked. RansomHub, a relatively new “Ransom-as-a-Service” (RaaS) organization that has recently emerged as a leader in the field, announced last week that it had stolen 93GB of data from Planned Parenthood through the Intermountain Planned Parenthood branch in Montana. RansomHub threatened to leak the stolen data this week if the ransom is not paid. Stolen records may include “health” records as well as donor information.

Hacking as a new job

Continued below.
Oh man I hope they release the data.
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anti-Catholic or not?

ADMIN HAT ON

I am shutting this thread down. Come on guys, be better than this. We are all Christians here, and we could all act like it a lot more, try to be kinder, less snarky, less judgmental about one another. We are all trying to do the best we can and grow in our walk with Jesus, we would do better to help one another on that walk rather than try and knock one another down.

ADMIN HAT OFF
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