New Posts

Mark Quayle · 2025-11-19T00:22:10-0600

Fervent said:
What is the context that is supposed to change "who wants everyone to be saved and return to knowledge of the truth" into something other than desiring all to be saved?

The larger context is the whole of scripture, in which we find that he made each for his purposes, which include those who he made, knowing they would end up in Hell. The nearer context is the whole of 1 Timothy and all of Paul's writings which focus much on the un-Jewish notion of God saving whomsoever he will, and the close context is the chapter 2 preceding and following verses in which Paul calls for prayer for all people, including even rulers and authorities (that the Jews wanted off their necks) in which he mentions himself being the apostle to the Gentiles. The focus of the context is exactly that Jesus is come for all people —not just the Jews.

Fervent said:
You presume that God cannot make free will possible, you think too little of God in your assessment.

No. I presume that God has no interest in doing whatever silly self-contradictory conjurations humans come up with as though their thoughts represented a possible reality. I don't say that God can't make a rock too big for him to pick up. I say that it is a bogus notion.

Fervent said:
It's not confirmation bias, it's reality. Nor is it "circular' since its not 2 propositions dependent on one another, simply a fact that the determinist must exercise free will to make a denial of it.

No, he only exercises choice.

Fervent said:
you don't seem to know what that word means.

Which is why I asked you what YOU meant by it. But now, I see my guess was right. You think humans choose uncaused, even when you contradict it by claiming God gave us [libertarian] free will.

CelticRebel · 2025-11-19T00:10:06-0600

RileyG said:
He hasn’t been active on here for several years.

Thanks. I was hoping he had come back here.

A2SG · 2025-11-18T23:55:10-0600

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

Gee, I dunno. Maybe President Biden had better things to do?

-- A2SG, there was a few other things on his plate, as I recall....

linux.poet · 2025-11-18T23:44:27-0600

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.

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.

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.

Konnie King · 2025-11-18T23:35:46-0600

Batfink

A2SG · 2025-11-18T23:25:07-0600

mark46 said:
If Trump could kill his most troublesome critics without serious consequence, I don't think that he would hesitate.

And he probably wouldn't lose any voters.

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

RileyG · 2025-11-18T23:25:03-0600

FaithT said:
Same here.

Especially after the updated translation in 2011.

SoldierOfTheKing · 2025-11-18T23:18:54-0600

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?

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

Vambram · 2025-11-18T23:14:18-0600

New Arctic discovery could deal massive blow to Chinese dominance of rare earth minerals

Alaska's GraphiteOne project near Nome discovers massive rare earth mineral reserves, potentially breaking China's 90% market dominance in critical materials.

www.foxnews.com

This is very good news!

A2SG · 2025-11-18T23:10:29-0600

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.”

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

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

Zceptre · 2025-11-18T23:07:29-0600

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?

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.

Dan Perez · 2025-11-18T23:02:03-0600

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

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

rambot · 2025-11-18T23:01:10-0600

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

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.

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

GodDoesListen55 · 2025-11-18T23:00:04-0600

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

CoreyD · 2025-11-18T22:58:19-0600

@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.

Leading Lady · 2025-11-18T22:57:51-0600

Amen.

bob121 · 2025-11-18T22:45:43-0600

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.

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.

Dan Perez · 2025-11-18T22:34:43-0600

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

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

RileyG · 2025-11-18T22:33:30-0600

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Hans Blaster · 2025-11-18T22:23:45-0600

Fervent said:
I'm not sure how tax burdens are determined, quarterly?

You file taxes quarterly? (and we're not talking about any tax burden. Just an annual form of accounts.

Fervent said:
It has an inhibitory effect that could easily qualify as a restriction on free exercise.

It isn't.

rocknanchor · 2025-11-18T22:21:16-0600

boughtwithaprice said:
Forgive me, I do not wish to make your thinking an amusement. I want to understand what you are saying.
Acts 20:29 does say that savage wolves will come in, and we can see it going on even today, but the verse does not say that the Apostles would become wolves themselves.
Would it not make sense for us, almost 2000 yrs later, to attempt to discern Apostolic teaching?

Your right on track, it would indeed make such sense. I should have worded more accurately, Apostle's prophetic soon-coming attack of wolves.

boughtwithaprice said:
I like that you rely on the word of God and not necessarily the words of men. Scripture says we are to study to show ourselves approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

As you say later on, the word itself commenting on words and traditions of men and ''every wind of doctrine''. How much the commonwealth of the Church has taken on so much baggage soundly has ''turned aside''.

boughtwithaprice said:
I came across a second century work by Iraneus, who was taught by Polycarp, who directly knew John the Apostle. It is called Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching. Are you familiar with it?
I believe that it is worth the read in light of today’s many hermeneutics.

What I got from it is that it is not outward appearances that count, but the complete denial of ourselves in following in Christs footsteps

Facinating!! No, un-familiar with that work. Only vaguely familiar with Iraneus, but not Polycarp. Did he have freedom to visit John on Patmos? Well yes, as the Gospel narrative of self-denial is repeated several times short of the Spirit's compelling remark for self-preservation, , (1Cor 11:22)

boughtwithaprice said:
I like the Assemblies of God in that they believe signs and wonders should follow those that believe. The Gospel is not proclaimed by logic alone. The problem I have is that signs and wonders alone can be deceiving. Scripture tells us that Antichrist will come with signs and wonders and be so convincing as to deceive the very elect. How are we to tell the difference and have proper discernment?

Right! SO-glad to hear. Now you do recall the Apostle John did instruct to ''test the spirits to see whether they be of God''. Now that test it goes on is in the spirit's confession. I like how Jesus put it, we know them ''by their fruits'', not just by their spoken words. Almost all our teachers of renown will remark that false teachers will consistently stray from glorifying the risen Christ. I might add what Paul said of Satan's preacher's 'righteous' over-shot from the pulpit. (2Cor 11:15).

boughtwithaprice said:
Blessings and peace to you form Our Lord Jesus Christ, and great topic for a thread. I would hope to continue a pleasant discussion with you

My-yes! Peace be multiplied to you and your's in that matchless name of Jesus Christ, to whom all glory rest. Eager to do the same. I may be a space receiving any additional as I know others as well as you do too. But thank you very much and God bless!

prodromos · 2025-11-18T22:15:59-0600

Michie said:
The ‘ultimate multitaskers’ are pretty ambidextrous.

A MATING PAIR OF WILD OCTOPUS AMERICANUS, ONE DISPLAYING THE ARM

With three hearts, blue blood, and eight arms that seem to have a mind of their own, octopuses are among the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Their signature limbs and complex nervous system help them explore, communicate, capture prey, and mate in many marine habitats. Now, scientists are unlocking some of the secrets embedded in these arms, namely whether they have some degree of “handedness.”

A new study of octopuses in the wild found that all eight arms can do multiple actions, but their front arms are primarily used for movement and exploration, while the back arms are used to support movement. The findings are published today in the journal Scientific Reports.

“Octopuses are ultimate multitaskers–all arms are capable of all arm behaviors and all arm deformations,” Chelsea Bennice, study co-author and a marine biologist at Florida Atlantic University, tells Popular Science. “They can even use multiple arm actions on a single arm and on several arms at the same time.”

Continued below.

Octopus arms are the animal kingdom's most flexible

The ‘ultimate multitaskers’ are pretty ambidextrous.

www.popsci.com

They are also delicious.

chevyontheriver · 2025-11-18T22:03:47-0600

Always in His Presence said:
No, it’s the truth. Anyone who thinks they can speak for an entire people group, let alone three is either delusional or a megalomaniac

Thank you, I think, for calling me either delusional or megalomaniacal. Or did I misread you?

Always in His Presence said:
I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. Still have my scapula and Bible. My dad was a seminarian before he met my mother. I can still sing Christmas carols in Latin.

None of which impresses me at all. Sorry. Plenty of people can sing Adestes Fidelis in Latin even if they are not Catholic.

Always in His Presence said:
We prayed for the dead because that is what tradition told us to do. I can only speak for myself

Thank you for that answer. Kind of what I expected.

Always in His Presence said:
Can I ask a favor. Please stop treating me as an enemy or someone attacking you or your religion. Asking questions is how we learn.

Asking questions to learn is fine. Did you really learn anything in all of these posts or was your conclusion predetermined? My hunch is that you asked the question as you did to get a predetermined answer. The word 'purgatory' isn't in the Bible, so you could be comfortable in concluding the whole thing is 'extra-Biblical'. Leaving no need to even address the issue of why Jews and the Orthodox and the Catholics bothered to pray for their dead. Except that's what tradition told them to do, as you now say.

I guess you could convince me that your thread was not intended as an attack on the Catholic Church. It would be a little bit of an uphill slog though to convince me.

New Posts

New Posts

House Democrat exchanged texts with Epstein during 2019 congressional hearing​

Filter

Forum statistics

Share this page

House Democrat exchanged texts with Epstein during 2019 congressional hearing