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eleos1954 · 2025-12-14T12:02:35-0600

lismore said:
Hello!

I was talking with a lady who has recently lost her husband, she reports being under intense peer pressure, which she thought was a form of legalism, to do silly stuff she doesn't want to do. Specifically regarding trees/decorations/turkeys and the like. She said she hates this time of year, wishes it was over and that people would stop pressurizing her. I agreed with her, at this time of year there is pressure to do things you don't want to do from other Christians. Maybe well meaning people, sometimes maybe trying to make conversation, but I find it rather wearing. Pressure and competition, I detect a lot of people are trying doing this stuff as a form of oneupmanship. Like the guy who needs a bigger tree and more glowing gnomes and Odins in their garden than the person next door.

Leaving aside the possible pagan origins of much of this stuff is it Biblical to pressure people to do something they don't want to do? There's no biblical command telling us to put up a 'Christmas Tree', or to take a present from a man dressed as Santa aka Odin at a church party, or to sings songs about flying deer. Or forcing someone to wear a Santa hat or an Elf hat when they don't want to (yes, in a previous year I was forced to wear an elf hat to participate as a helper at a church event). Why then are people pressured into doing this if they don't want to? Isn't it a form of legalism? Being forced to partake in possible Paganism in Church? I detect churches are more likely to have a Santa and a tree than a nativity scene.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

I have been told that's it's a form of legalism to tell people not to engage in certain activities, so why then isn't it legalism to compel people to engage in those activities?

I have been told that it would be legalism to acknowledge various Old Testament Biblical Feasts or to encourage others to do so. Why then isn't it Legalism to compel others to revere a flying fat all knowing midget from the North pole?

For those who don't think churches could revere demons or compel others to do so, there's 'Tuesday' for example. A day of the week named to honour a pagan god of war. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are the same. Living in a pagan world aren't we meant to be aware of the devil's schemes, rather then going along with anything and everything, afterall Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

God Bless All and happy Christmas. Hope you find a time of peace and joy in remembering the Saviour's birth and please don't take my post as critical or judgemental. I'm asking Qs from a place of frustration is all.

The church is supposed to be 100% about Jesus always ... if it isn't find another church.

eleos1954 · 2025-12-14T11:58:21-0600

Michie said:
A gunman who opened fire on students at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two and injuring nine others during a final exam review, remained at large late Saturday as hundreds of officers searched for him. Police said the suspect fled on foot.

The attack began around 4:05 p.m. EST inside a first-floor classroom during a final exam review for a large economics course, according to The New York Times. Law enforcement described the suspect as a man dressed in dark clothing, possibly in his 30s, last seen leaving the area without his face visible on security footage.

Authorities released video footage showing the man leaving the engineering building, but said his face was not clearly captured.

Investigators asked anyone who might recognize his gait or outfit to come forward.

Continued below.

Brown University shooting: 2 students killed, 9 injured, suspect at large

A gunman who opened fire on students at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two and injuring nine others during a final exam review, remained at large late Saturday night as

www.christianpost.com

They need to have armed security (and/or staff) on site ... instead of making the schools a "no gun zone" .... the assailants know they are easy targets. It's been reported the school has over 800 cameras .... cameras should be placed at all entry/exit doors and constantly monitored. They could also make it school policy that when in the school faces and the head can not be covered up (ie hoodies up while inside the school) they need onsite persons.

jonojim1337 · 2025-12-14T11:53:12-0600

linux.poet said:
It is a presumption to assume that the Canaanite governments Joshua destroyed were not instituted by God. God is fully capable of ordaining the governments he intends to destroy.

Sounds counter productive.

linux.poet said:
Did God not ordain the Babylonian government, and Jeroboam’s government He destroyed with it? Did God not ordain the Medes and Persians, whom He ordained to destroy the Babylonians? Did He not predict all this via the words of the prophet Daniel?

I take it Jeroboam was a wicked man.

linux.poet said:
Did God not also ordain Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire as well, and their destruction? This argument is flawed.

That was more of a prophecy, because a blasphemer would be in their ranks.

RocksInMyHead · 2025-12-14T11:51:13-0600

Factotum said:
Yes, I agree with that. As it is the sole point I was trying to make... that Tish likely sat up, imagined that Trump might be committing the same bank criminality she's been committing for decades, created a campaign around the goal of prosecuting him, then... charged him, just like she promised to if she won.

Just a reprehensible and corrupt woman.

This presumes that James committed a crime. Given the lack of success in even obtaining an indictment against her, that seems a very dubious presumption to make.

eleos1954 · 2025-12-14T11:50:12-0600

peter2 said:
Hello, eleos and other forumers.

I deeply thank samaus for his search with chatgpt, but i'd like to see if there's no other reply to the last of my observation, just before this search,

and i'd like to add a few another questions, please :

Since she revealed herself so protective, together with Joseph (see 12 years old finding in the Temple, see fleeing to Egypt), she likely admitted Jesus could die. Let's suppose so..

For the fleeing to Egypt, God intervened through Joseph's dream. He asked for this fleeing. Let's forget it !
But for the finding in the Temple :

Is Jesus' reply to her mother (he had to stand in His Father's house) the true and magistral reason why they should never have worried for him ?

I mean :
About the fleeing in Egypt, even if it's been conducted with a protective intention from Joseph and Mary, should it have been done from this reason ?

Again from my meaning, two collateral questions :

Had he died in Herod's massacre, wouldn't God have resurrected him then ?

Or, could we make the assumption the reason why God wished the sparing of Jesus' life at this massacre is : He wanted first and foremost the planned death on the cross to happen ?

well no ... because all prophesy must be filled ... and it was. We have the more sure word of prophesy.

Isaiah 53:5-6 (The Suffering Servant): "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed".

Psalm 22:1: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Jesus' words on the cross).

Psalm 22:16: "They have pierced my hands and my feet" (referencing crucifixion).

Psalm 22:18: "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots" (fulfilled by Roman soldiers).

Zechariah 12:10: "They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him".

Psalm 16:10: "You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will you let your holy one see decay" (predicting resurrection after death).

PloverWing · 2025-12-14T11:44:59-0600

JimR-OCDS said:
As a former Marine, I tried to watch "Boots," on Netflix. Sure enough, it promoted homosexuality with graphic scenes. I had to shut it off.

RileyG said:
That’s ridiculous! Ugh!

In fairness, Wikipedia tells me that Boots is a TV series based on the book The Pink Marine, which is apparently a memoir written by a gay man who joined the Marines at a time before "Don't ask, don't tell". I haven't watched the series, but given that description, I would expect the show to have some gay stuff in it.

I see also that Netflix's description on its preview screen is "This coming-of-age series follows a closeted gay Marine recruit through the ups and downs of boot camp -- and the even tougher journey of self-discovery." It's rated "TV-MA: language, nudity, smoking". I'd say Netflix did its job in telling the viewer what the show was going to be about.

stevevw · 2025-12-14T11:41:07-0600

Philosophy sounds like a slippery little critter lol. Just when you thought you know the truth someone asks "but how do you know" lol. How do you know you know.

I agree there is a method to the madness and with a lot of contemplation you can find some philosophical truths I think. You can make good and rational arguements for certain philosophical conclusions to answer the questions mentioned in the video and others.

Its really a different paradigm of assessment if you could call it that. But like other paradigms such as empiricle science has its language and criteria for determining facts and realities. I think philosophical inquiry done properly is the tool for finding some truths and rational support for answering lifes big philosophical questions.

But I also think that each paradigm or domain of assessing the world is not exclusive. They should converge with each other. For example how we order society should at least loosely align with empiricle sciences. Though not dependent on it. But I don't think it should contradict it either.

The premise being that if God is the God of everything then His moral laws and order for the world should also produce good order in reality. Gods laws and order align with Natural laws and are not just arbitrary rules for the sake of rules to control people or the world.

Warden_of_the_Storm · 2025-12-14T11:28:59-0600

Argument from incredulity mixed with Dunning-Kruger... and it makes this thread.

PloverWing · 2025-12-14T11:25:37-0600

An odd article, which makes some good points but mixes in some anti-feminist stuff. Sigh, not worth arguing about. But I will correct what he's implying about the Pew Research statistics.

His statement is "According to Pew Research, women now account for record shares of chief executive and board positions, but nearly twice as many high school girls as boys say not enough women are in the workforce." It's true that Pew's graphs show the percentages of women in these roles has been going up. What Stonestreet skips over is the numbers: 10.6% of CEOs are women, and 30.4% of Fortune 500 board members are women. By his omission, Stonestreet invites us to think that these roles are now majority female, so what are girls and women even complaining about?

It is possible to be happy that the number of women in these executive roles has climbed to 10.6% and 30.4%, and still believe that women are underrepresented in these roles.

(Source for Pew numbers: The Data on Women Leaders . It took a couple of layers of hyperlinks to find it.)

ARBITER01 · 2025-12-14T11:24:55-0600

Dave... said:
That's one reason why the baptism with the Holy Spirit had to wait for the cross.

Correct.

It's also why John the baptist stopped Jesus and said "I need to be immersed by you, and yet you come unto me?" He wanted that born from above immersion that Jesus was going to give.

John's immersion of repentance was symbolic of The Holy Spirit immersion that would take place after the cross, when Jesus was seated to the right of The Father and granted The Holy Spirit to pour out.

Larniavc · 2025-12-14T11:23:31-0600

mindlight said:
There is a deep spiritual crisis in Europe and a mental health crisis that is a symptom of this.

Don’t be silly.

GoldenBoy89 · 2025-12-14T11:09:10-0600

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bystander-who-tackled-armed-man-bondi-beach-shooting-hailed-hero-2025-12-14/

SYDNEY, Dec 14 (Reuters) - A bystander captured on video tackling and disarming an armed man during Sunday's deadly attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach has been hailed as a hero whose actions saved lives.

Footage circulating on social media shows a man, named by local media as 43-year-old fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed, in a car park wearing a white shirt charging at a man in a dark shirt who is holding a rifle.

RileyG · 2025-12-14T11:07:48-0600

JimR-OCDS said:
It doesn't matter. It it was the wrong thing to do or it wasn't. The Bishop told the pastor to remove the ICE
sign and the pastor refused. That's disobedience and grounds for removal from public ministry.

I see.

Then it’s fair to remove him then!

Hans Blaster · 2025-12-14T10:58:23-0600

sjastro said:
Didn't your president with the IQ of a gnat suggest at one time injecting bleach was a possible cure for COVID?

Yes, and remarkably Ron Johnson is even dumber. (And not even the dumbest one in the Senate, so long as Coach Paid-not-to-coach and Marsha-Marsha-Marsha are in the Senate.)

Michie · 2025-12-14T10:57:45-0600

Do you have a politically obsessed friend? You know, the person who always brings up politics? Is it a political obsession disorder? Read on for some great suggestions on what to do

I have a friend who is the person who always brings up politics. And, i bet we all know someone who has an unhealthy obsession with politics. Its such a manic love, I’m beginning to think we have a new world with political obsession disorder (if there is such a thing). So what do we do about your politically obsessed friend?

Political ideology can corrupt the mind, and science.
E. O. Wilson

Update: Since I first wrote this article, I have fielded many questions, been confronted with many more politically obsessed people, and forced to return to this piece. I have spoken to many of you who described a family member with an unhealthy obsession with politics. And lots of conversations started with “my friend is obsessed with politics, what should I do?” As a result of these many conversations, I spent more time trying to grasp this topic better. As a result, I have added some material to clarify and better help you understand and navigate these complex relationships. Let’s see if we can give you some tools for how to deal with someone who is obsessed with politics. Further, check out my recent piece on four questions that change the way I decide how to spend my time and where to engage here: Four Questions That Decide What Deserves My Time (And Why You Need a System Too)

You have run into people who are obsessed with politics. Right?

They can be pretty annoying, and after a few attempts at a logical argument, you probably shifted to trying to avoid getting them started on their political views.

But what do you do when it is a close friend?

Do you have a politically obsessed friend?

If you are wondering how to deal with someone who is obsessed with politics, read on.

No matter which position of the political spectrum you are on, you doubtless have a friend on the opposite side and attached to their position.

It’s natural to become passionate about a political issue or another. But what happens when your friend becomes so consumed by a position they have taken and becomes obsessed? What happens when they are blinded to logic, unable to engage in ordinary discourse, and are even obnoxious to others?

Continued below.

How to handle an obnoxious politically obsessed friend, you know the person who always brings up politics - Shivamber

Do you have a politically obsessed friend? You know, the person who always brings up politics? Is it a political obsession disorder? Read on for some great suggestions on what to do

shivamber.com

Jerry N. · 2025-12-14T10:55:56-0600

pgp_protector said:
Honistly, how often do you really wash them?

I try to wash them once a month, but always before Christmas.

jonojim1337 · 2025-12-14T10:52:54-0600

Benaiah468 said:
Israel, the lost tribes, are Modern Europeans. It includes Germanic tribes (Saxon, Franks, Goths, …) Celtic people (Breton, Gauls, Iberians,…) Romans (except the Italic people) and Ancient Greeks (except the Ionians).

Last but not least

BCP1928 · 2025-12-14T10:48:21-0600

mindlight said:
Leftists, Muslims and Nazis all seem to be teaming up against Jews right now.

The attack at Bondi is symptomatic of this larger trend.

Bondi Beach: British-born rabbi among 11 killed, as police investigate attack on Jewish community

Eli Schlanger was a father of five, his family tells the BBC. At least two dozen people were also injured in the attack.

www.bbc.com

What can be done to address the haters and overthrow their agenda?

Stop pretending that the current state of Israel is the fulfillment of God's promise to the Jews.

Strong in Him · 2025-12-14T10:47:44-0600

Kathleen30 said:
Stonginhim no need for a more detailed reply I have already ascertained that there has simply been a big misunderstanding on the whole matter and that Apple should never have been accused of what has been claimed.

She hasn't been accused of anything.
I just pointed out that it didn't make sense to quote AI's view of something, when that view actually contradicted what she believed.
That was it.

Next time I'll leave it - why should I care whether she contradicts herself or not?

Anonymous9090 · 2025-12-14T10:44:25-0600

God help us!!! It's scary The Canadian C9 bill amendment that Attacks Freedom of Religious Expression passed in Canada's House of Commons:
Please pray that by some miracle it does Not become law:

Bill C-9 was meant to curb hate. Why is it drawing controversy?

iPolitics explores what C-9 does and why it's causing a storm.

www.ipolitics.ca

Michie · 2025-12-14T10:32:08-0600

'Grown Ups' actor, podcaster warns of rising 'anti-Christian feel' in US

Comedian and podcaster David Spade says he’s getting tired of the rising “anti–Christian feel” over Christmas.

The 61-year-old SNL alum and “Grown Ups” actor called out a local mall for "consciously" omitting any mention of Christianity during a recent Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

“I will say that Christmas is taking a little bit of a beating lately,” said Spade in theDec. 7 episode of the "Fly on the Wall" podcast with fellow former SNL alum, Dana Carvey. “... I saw the other day, there was a tree-lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree in some dopey mall, but it said tree-lighting ceremony, and they were careful not to say the word ‘Christmas' during the whole ceremony.”

During the podcast, both Spade and Carvey acknowledged that even non-Christians have traditionally enjoyed Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies, “I’ve never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree,” added Carvey.

Continued below.

David Spade slams mall for omitting 'Christmas' from tree-lighting ceremony

Comedian and podcaster David Spade says he s getting tired of the rising anti Christian feel over Christmas

www.christianpost.com

Dale · 2025-12-14T10:30:02-0600

Sir Joseph said:
You've presented an interesting, diverse case against the Bible's historicity and authority - too much for anyone here to want to read actually. After glancing at 5 of the articles, I'll offer this response:

Your secular articles and sources are naturally going to oppose any Biblical world view of timelines.

The articles make a lot of date assumptions without actually supporting those assumptions with evidence.

Date evidence that is provided, such as DNA, is based upon debatable assumptions - unlike pottery dating.

Your statement that " Everything we know about the history of humans on earth contradicts the claim that the earth could be only 6,000 years old." is patently wrong. I've been reading books and articles and watching videos for 25 years that support a human history of 6-10,000 years. Perhaps everything YOU'VE read and learned negates a 6000 year old earth, but in no case does it represent everything WE KNOW. Everything I know suggests the exact opposite.

The truth is, each side can find abundant evidence to support their young versus old earth world view. Sources matter though, as does one's biased world view in interpreting the evidence.

Concerning your conclusion that "The Bible is a source of moral and spiritual truth, but it is not a history text." I understand that many people believe that, but know that Jesus, James, Peter, Paul, John and Jude didn't. Were they liars or wrong to reference the Genesis scriptures as real historical events? If so, then one would best dismiss whatever else they said or taught. In other words, if one rejects the historicity of Genesis, one rejects the credibility of Moses, Jesus, the apostles, the Bible, and the entire Christian faith.

Any serious Bible scholar knows through textual criticism that the Bible's inspired authors wrote what they beleived to be historical accounts or revealed knowledge from God. The fact that 40 authors in 3 continents, writing over a period of 1500 years, wrote thousands of specific names, places, and event details that we can now verify through archaeology, written records, fulfilled prophesies, and scientific insights demonstrates that the Bible's historical reliability and authority is as valid and true as its moral and spiritual truth.

Consider, either the whole Bible is to be trusted, or none of it is - as 2 Timothy 3:16 says:

"All scipture is God Breathed ..."

Sir Joseph: “ I understand that many people believe that, but know that Jesus, James, Peter, Paul, John and Jude didn't. Were they liars or wrong to reference the Genesis scriptures as real historical events?”

Jesus did not make the age of the earth an issue. Why are you making it an issue?

I don’t believe that Jesus ever said that the first chapters of Genesis are literal events. The same goes for the Apostles. You are reading your own view into the Gospels.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
John 1:1 NIV

The Book of John opens with “In the beginning …” the same as Genesis. Yet the first chapter of John does not mention Adam, Eve or the Garden of Eden.

As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the
Lord, make straight paths for him.’
Luke 3:4 NIV

I once quoted this verse to a Biblical literalist and he put me on ignore because he thought I made it up. A phrase like “book of the words of Isaiah” sounds like newfangled revisionist nonsense to a strong literalist. I find that literalists know surprisingly little about what is really in the Bible.

NewLifeInChristJesus · 2025-12-14T10:27:08-0600

WordSword said:
I know we're never judged by God but "chastened" (Heb 12:6, 7), unless you can judge the Lord Jesus! I don't know why I didn't understand what you meant by "the lack of condemnation for those who are in Christ." Of course it means absence of judgement to believers.

I had a feeling we were on the same page.

WordSword said:
I'm trying to let others know that believers are always forgiven, it's not like we go in and out of His forgiveness. He knows we want to please Him as much as possible, because He always "works" (causes) this in us (Phl 2:13). I thank God for His forgiveness all the time.

I do too. I learned a long time ago that when I fall on my knees at the feet of Jesus for His forgiveness, I should stay there.

WordSword said:
Under the Law, Christ gave the Jews a model prayer that involved asking for forgiveness when they pray, because "It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Heb 10:4). They still had to offer up sin sacrifices because the sin was still present, since the blood of animals could not "take away sin"; but "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).

Forgiving all unrighteousness means permanent forgiveness, so we don't need to continue asking (unless we don't understand permanent forgiveness), but thanking Him. God can do this because the Lord Jesus' expiation for our sin permanently "took away" all our sin, past, present and future. Taking away "all unrighteousness" is the same as saying all our sin!

The concept of permanent forgiveness for all sins (past, present, and future) is hard for some people to grasp. I have wondered what is at work in their hearts and minds that causes the resistance. For some, it may be as simple as never resting all their hope in Christ (Heb 4:10). For others, it may be that they hear their flesh's desire to abuse their liberty (Ga 5:13) more than they hear the Spirit's command to stand fast in their liberty (Ga 5:1). Whatever it is that is holding them back, trusting God is their way out from under condemnation.

WordSword said:
Though we ignorantly sin (Num 15:24-29), God does not see us as after the old man or sin nature, because "You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit" (Rom 8:9). To be in the flesh (sin nature) means your sin is yet with you! The word "flesh" in the NT almost always refers to the sin nature of man's spirit:

the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God. -Strong's G4561 - sarx. G4561 - sarx - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

Romans 8:9 is certainly a key verse. We need to understand that we have new life in Christ Jesus, that we have been joined to Him and are one spirit with Him (1 Cor 6:17). Our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3). If a person does not want to gratify the lusts of the flesh (and everyone with His Spirit in them wants this), then all they must do is harken to the Spirit's desires instead of the desires of the flesh (Ga 5:16-17).

durangodawood · 2025-12-14T10:24:39-0600

Sign language viewers must think the signer is barely literate as they try to convey Trumps aimless loopy word salads.

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-14T10:21:17-0600

Valletta said:
Side with? I have tried to explain that Trump simply took the initiative in the negotiation process. Ultimately it will be Ukraine and Russia that will have to come to an agreement or not.

But Ukraine needs US help which Trump can reduce or eliminate . He is capable of anything.

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