Dave... said:

A public testimony. An outward expression physically that symbolizes a spiritual reality inwardly that has already taken place the moment we first believe. That inward reality was not available for believers until after the cross. Some were due that Promise, some were predestined to believe the Gospel as True OT believers, and only then receive the promise. Thus we see that play out in Acts.

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I do not think we only Christian water baptize to be just a "a public testimony", but it can be a good witness and a visual sermon. Witnessing someone turning control of themselves over to another person (the person doing the baptism), reminds us of what we did with God, the going down under the water reminds us of our being cleansed from sin and burying our old self, being lifted up letting the water wash down over them should remind us our sins flowing away and finally falling into the arms of other believers restores our feelings of being in a new and greater family. God has provided a way for us to physically experience what is Spiritually happening to us.

Desk trauma said:

Welcome to the standard post shooting debrief.

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Devine nailed it in her article. "Unchecked antisemitism, cowardly appeasement, lax policing and foolish immigration decisions half a century in gestation have coalesced in multicultural southwestern Sydney, an hour’s drive from Bondi.
Add to the mix strict gun control — for law-abiding Australians, but not for the homegrown Islamist terrorists and gangbangers who only last month were shooting 50 rounds from an AK-47 at a house in the suburb of Casula, just 6 miles down Cowpasture Road from Bonnyrigg, where the alleged gunmen lived. ... It was the perfect recipe for violence to erupt."

Remaining silent against bigotry and hatred is not the answer. We need to discuss, not shut down discussions. You'll find these words at the Holocaust museum:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller

Servus said:

What if it was Anthrax? Remember the post 9/11 terrorist anthrax concerns? Fentanyl is a lethal chemical. An amount that fits onto a sharpened pencil tip will kill you. So lets compare it to lethal chemical weapons, which is the category it falls under the most. Rather than making ridiculous comparisons.

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Has anyone ever made fentanyl into an actual WMD?

What I see is people dying from it one at a time just like they do with gunshots - which are just as lethal as fentanyl.

ViaCrucis said:

Funny how if a Christian commits an act of extremism isn't not an indictment against Christianity. I can point to a long history of extremism and violence committed by self-professed Christians. Does that mean Christians are violent--that Christianity is a religion of violence? I certainly don't think so, I'm a Christian, I'm committed to following Jesus who commands that I love and exhibit peace and abstain from violence. Yet the majority of Muslims, the world over, who follow and practice Islam without engaging in acts of violence, are still bundled together with every act of religious extremism committed by a Muslim somewhere, or with the most extreme, hyper-authoritarian expressions of Islam that can be found.

Should I, as a Christian, be judged because of the actions committed by the Kingdom of Castille during the Reconquista or the Spanish Inquisition?

No no, perhaps it's a difference in our respective holy texts. Christians have the Bible, and Muslims have the Qu'ran. And surely there aren't Christians who have used things written in the Bible to justify acts of cruelty. I mean could you imagine?

Okay so then maybe it's a difference in what happens when a religion becomes a super-majority and tries to enact a theocratic or near-theocratic form of government, and creating blasphemy laws or legislating beliefs and morals based on a particular interpretation of a religion--oh right, Reconquista, Spanish Inquisition, Crusades, Jewish ghettos, pogroms, the English Commonwealth, Tyndale being burned at the stake, Salem witch trials....hmm.

And we have all sorts of people calling themselves Christians who want to enact Christian Sharia, it's called Christian Nationalism.

Don't worry, I'm sure we'll hear all kinds of excuses for why Muslims, specifically, are really bad. And it won't at all be hypocritical, double standards, or double-speak at all.

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The world is different today with the rise of terrorism, where an individual can use a car or a bomb or another type of weapon and murder large numbers of people. As to immigration, the reality is that the majority of individuals tied to terroism among those seeking to enter our country are radical Islamists. We can identify the countries that have a lot of these individuals and Trump has taken the responsible path to at least temporarily ban immigration from these countries.

Vanity projects? How dare somebody make DC look beautiful again. Unless you think homeless camps are a much better impression you want to give to foreign visitors when they come to the nation's capital?

GoldenBoy89 said:

If Dem candidates don’t start running campaign ads wearing a hard hat and promising to tear down these vanity projects to the current president, then they might as well just not run for office.

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1Tonne said:

By that method:
-“Lost” sheep must be annihilated sheep (Luke 15)
-“Perishing” food must cease to exist (John 6:27)
-“Dead” believers must be non-existent (Ephesians 2:1)
-God must literally be a rock, a fire, and a bird (Psalm 18; Deut 4:24; Psalm 91)

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Again, you are bringing up instances where the second death has not taken place yet. And of course food has nothing to do with the second death. Verses like Matthew 10:28 and John 3:16 are about the second death. Where, yes, the primary meaning fits.

I've never stated the second meaning doesn't fit in some verses. So we then have to take in context and the context of the verses I posted fit the primary meaning. Especially when we are told about the fate of the wicked many many times which would also fit with "destroyed fully/utterly, etc. The secondary meaning fits into other verses I'm sure but I am only talking about verses were I see that the primary fits. You on the other hand believe the secondary fits every verse with apollumi apparently. I mean, according you it would seem that you believe the secondary should be the primary.

1Tonne said:

Until that question is allowed, the conversation can’t move forward, because the conclusion has already been decided before the text is read.

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So you can't come up with any verses where apollumi does in fact mean "destroyed fully"? Even though that is the primary meaning. You bring up context. What context would "destroyed fully" apply?

1Tonne said:

You sound as though you tell the Gospel to a lot of people outside the church

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I actually don't go to a church anymore. I've yet to find one that teaches verse by verse and chapter by chapter. One that only teaching God's Word, not man's. I sadly feel the like the churches of today are far removed from those early ones. I feel led in other ways as we are all led in different directions in the body of Christ. Some we know teach, witness, heal and so on.

I was raised in a baptist church. My parents even drove a church bus and I was thankful for that experience because it's part of the reason I came back over and over to God when I would backslide through my lifetime. But over the last 20 or so years after reading the bible in it's entirety I dropped many doctrines (pretrib rapture, ECT) that I was led to believe. So these days I feel more led in that direction towards other Christians. Especially the pretrib rapture because I feel it's a very dangerous doctrine that can lead to apostasy at some point down the line. When I read about Christ telling people to depart and that he never knew them to those who claimed to have cast out spirits in his name it tells me to take notice. And the foolish virgins who are waiting on the bridegroom but didn't have enough oil. We aren't talking about non believers we are talking about people waiting on Christ. Those are the ones I worry about just as much as the unbeliever at times. So I plant seeds just as someone did for me back in the day. That's how I feel more led these days. But I commend those that are out spreading the gospel more than me. But as I said- hopefully it will drive them into seeking not only the milk and foundation but the meat of God's Word after receiving the gospel.

jas3 said:

Please don't misunderstand my pointing out your fundamental error as support for the OP's esoteric view of what should be considered Scripture.

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Like I said, go argue with someone else. The Holy Spirit is right, it's a forgery.

fhansen said:

Sure it does, and it's already been done, to the benefit of the world IMO.

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What plan is that? Is everyone in the world fed, housed, and clothed?

zoidar said:

What do you think? I heard that some guys used coke and cookies, when they were out camping.

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and there are TO0 LORD'S SUPPERS !!

# 1 IS in. Matt 26:12 and Christ said that he will NOT //ME. is a DISJUNCATIVE PARTICLE NEGATIVE. and it means

NEVERRRR. EVER DRINK WITH YOU ONLY. IN MY FATHERS KINGDOM. and it is for ISRAEL ONLY. , PERIOD !!

The other. is n. found in 1 Cor. 11:22. and the Greek text says BREAD //. ARTO. a Noun is in. the ACCUSATIVE CASE

in. the SINGULAR. see G740. and bread used. 72 times LOAF used 23 times. and this Lords SUPPER

is ONLY for the BODY of CHRIST . PERIOD. !! It does not say WINE BUT SAYS THE FRUIT of the VINE !!

dan p

essentialsaltes said:

4 Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies​

Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed on Wednesday morning, pushing it to the magic number.

[Vote could come in January.]

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It is almost like moderate Republicans are getting tired of being sacrificed for the extremists view of governance.

They are called, "Preacher's stories".

truthuprootsevil said:

Not sure what you're saying. You seem to be saying the Lord will send his wrath "like a thief" and the return of Jesus will not be like a thief.

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Correct. That IS what the Bible Prophets tell us.

truthuprootsevil said:

Are you speaking of the thousand year the people will spend with Jesus.

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No, that comes after Jesus Returns.
The 3 points I said in #335, will happen soon after the Lords Day of fiery wrath. At least ten years before the Return.
Many Prophesies tell about the holy Land being lived in by Gods faithful peoples. How God will destroy a huge army that attacks them, [Gog from Magog] And how the Lord will take them to a place of safety on earth, for the 3 1/2 year period of Satanic control. Rev 12:14

I have said and I say again; it is somewhat disgusting to compare the glorious Return of Jesus, to the actions of a thief.

eleos1954 said:

All of Mankind inherits a rebellious nature because of the fall and because we are born into a sinful world ... ALL will indeed sin.

Humans didn't receive a "sinful desire" directly implanted by Satan; instead, they were tempted to choose sin, and the consequences of that choice the sinful nature and became part of their heritage ...

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All mature adults will sin, but that does not require any change in our “nature”, since we had, from scripture, a change in knowledge and not nature, so are you defining this change in “knowledge” as a change in nature?

Scripture does not even suggest man “inherited a new rebellious nature”, but we did gain knowledge of good and evil, so is knowledge itself bad?

Adam and Eve with the nature they had and only one way to sin, sinned, so why would our nature have to change with knowledge of tons of ways to sin, for us to sin?

Eve had a desire to eat from the tree without the serpent speaking up, so now do you want to add Adam and Eve with satan to your list of what caused you to sin?

eleos1954 said:

the desire to sin will be gone in heaven because glorified believers will be completely transformed to be like Christ, free from the sinful nature, and in God's presence where sin cannot exist; we will have free will but only to choose what is right and holy, with no temptation or internal pull towards evil. Our nature will be purified, our wills aligned with God's, and the ability to sin will be removed as part of complete redemption, similar to how God Himself cannot sin (no we will not be gods, not suggesting this)

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Is sin the problem or is it unforgiven sin, which is the problem?

What is your answer for why God allows people to sin and why He allowed satan into the Garden?

Everything that is happening and God is allowing to happen seems to be in order to help willing individuals (including Adam and Eve) in fulfilling their earthly objective.

eleos1954 said:

God gave Adam and Eve a clear warning and a choice (free will) .... if you eat of the tree you will die ... satan said you will not surely die. Eve believed a lie (deceived). Eve allowed Satan's lie to overshadow God's truth, believing Satan that she wouldn't die but become wise like God. There won't be any lies in heaven.

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Specifically, the Bible gives us the reason Eve ate and it was not because she believed satan, look: “6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.”

It was all what the woman desired and not because she believed satan, but satan did help her carrying out her sinful desire.

eleos1954 said:

John 1
8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

We are constantly being sanctified by the Lord, with His help we can do much better but we will never be perfect (without sin) until Jesus returns

True sinless perfection is only achieved at the Second Coming when believers are glorified, but this doesn't negate the present call to grow in Christ by the Holy Spirit, striving for character transformation, and being "perfect" (complete) in Him now*,* through faith, even while acknowledging our ongoing struggle with sin until the end. It's about a present, empowered process of sanctification, not a future, human-achieved state, emphasizing dependence on Christ for completion.

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Read further: 1John 2: 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Yes! All mature adults do sin, but John talks about in the future and is writing this so they might not sin again and makes future sins strictly contingent with “but if” and not “but when”.

eleos1954 said:

** Imputed Righteousness: Through faith in Jesus, believers are clothed in His perfect righteousness, making them legally perfect in God's eyes.

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I do not believe Adam and Eve’s sin was imputed on us (we all sin) and I do not see Christ’s righteousness being imputed on us.

eleos1954 said:

Philippians 1:6

AMP
I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].

"Jesus was “tempted” while here on earth, so why can we not be tempted in heaven and not sin like Christ avoided sinning?"

True .... tempted by who? Satan .... Satan (the tempter) will be destroyed and God does not tempt anyone. Jesus was the only one who did not fall unto temptation that's why he is our savior ... He never sinned.

Again, satan is the tempter ... NOT God and satan will be completely destroyed and when we are glorified we will have a complete sinless perfection

Now think about this ... If Adam and Eve had never been tempted ... would we be in this mess? No we would not.

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If the whole problem is with satan in the Garden, then why did God allow satan to be there?

We can see satan’s purpose for being in the Garden and roaming the earth, if we understand man’s objective, so what is man’s objective?

French Toast

Larniavc said:

Specifically. Choose your best. I’d bet I can show it’s inaccurate.

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I'll bet your obvious distain and vitriolic dislike for the President of the United States is so deep - well....​

King Charles praises Trump’s role in seeking peace, reaffirms ‘closest defence relationship ever known’ between US and UK​

US economy flashes warning signs in new data, some analysts say​

A retail sales report on Tuesday also sounded a cautionary note about consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Retail sales were left unchanged in October from September, meaning performance remained flat despite the ramp up of the holiday season, U.S. Census Bureau data showed.

"October was supposed to be the big holiday shopping kickoff," Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, told ABC News. "About half of holiday shoppers planned to begin making purchases before the end of October, but consumer pullbacks elsewhere left October retail sales right where they were in September."

"Retail sales seem to be losing momentum at a crucial time of year," Rossman added.

Church attendance still rising in the UK - Christmas churchgoing surges as nearly half of Brits plan to attend, according to new poll - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis

Apple Sky said:

The late Rob Skiba read some FOIA documents from the Soviet Union that described research studying the brilliance of the firmament.

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Claims made, but strangely no evidence offered. Poor Rob, no one will let him rest in peace.

Apple Sky said:

The dome of earth is lowest around Antarctica.

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On other occasions you've claimed that the 'dome' extends way beyond Antarctica, and that there are habitable lands beyond the 'ice wall'. At least you are consistent in not being consistent.

Apple Sky said:

it is extremely cold there with, we are told packed ice from two to three miles high. Antarctica is a ring of ice on the periphery of flat earth. The dome of earth, aka the firmament, springs from the Antarctic ice ring. It is here on Antarctica blue ice is found.

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Apple Sky said:

Joseph Nazzaro
Ph.D. from University of Wales (Graduated 1978)Jun 21

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Apparently, having a Ph.D in Psychology doesn't translate into expertise in other fields.

Mark Quayle said:

I hope you meant, "novice astronomer"!

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Still trying to figure it out. Trying to find ways to prevent dew on my EP's. Are you into Astronomy?

Larniavc said:

Americans killing each other really isn’t news.

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Yeah, the recent, 11/29 mass killing at a kid's birthday party didn't rate a mention here (until now).

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