Duane Elgin is a New Ager who has been on my personal radar since discovering the Movement and its direction in 1981. John Earl Fetzer was then the owner of the Detroit Tigers and a vast network of radio and television stations in mid-size cities such as Kalamazoo, Michigan where he was headquartered. Fetzer was a former Seventh Day Adventist who completely apostatized from any semblance of orthodox forms of Christianity. He was one of the New Agers of whom Marilyn Ferguson wrote in
The Aquarian Conspiracy (1980).
Duane Elgin was the author of
Voluntary Simplicity and has been a continuous and contiguous force in the "Sustainable Development" and environmental movements, including but not limited to "overpopulation" concerns.
John Earl Fetzer may have very well been a primary financier of the April 25,1982 newspaper ads run globally proclaiming "The Christ is Now Here."
At any rate, Fetzer was thoroughly on board for the "cleansing action" the 1980 through 1982 era when New Agers were prophesying doom for their Christian opposition. Files I have downloaded from the Fetzer websites conclusively prove that and I have them multiply backed up in many places in case they go back to their usual game of "now you see us, now you don't" is again played,
There has been a close working relationship between the Fetzer Institute and Duane Elgin for a very long time.
Also,interesting to my research and wonderings why Hitler's mysticism was so long concealed from all is the fact that John Earl Fetzer was in charge of media censorship during World War II. He was, per his writings, one of the first persons to enter Joseph Goebbels office after the allies took Berlin.
Duane Elgin has made two of his books available for free download from his
website. I took full advantage and downloaded
Awakening Earth (1992) and
Choosing Earth (2020).
I suggest you read the following from his Awakening Earth (pages) very carefully and with prayerful reflection on what it means to our future should the Fetzer Institute and Elgin forces get their way:
Religious Fanaticism—Because so many of humankind’s wars have been
fought between people with differing religious views and because the world is entering
a time of growing compression and proximity among people, religious differences will
present enormous challenges for humanity. Under conditions of great planetary stress,
different historical religions could coalesce around charismatic spiritual leaders and
come into conflict. The planet could then descend into religious wars, perhaps with a
new era of crusades intended to liberate the world from unbelieving infidels. Religious
fanaticism could lead to spiritual tyranny and undermine trust in a compassionate and
broadly shared spiritual ethic that can bind humanity into a single family.
Another possibility is that a significant fraction of the world may view extreme
planetary distress as a sure indication of a coming apocalypse and feel relatively little
concern for starvation, pollution, and resource depletion. If these are seen as the last
days before a miraculous spiritual transformation, then people may assume that “God”
will intervene and clean up the mess. Instead of mounting a vigorous and creative
response to the challenge of sustainability, people may simply wait for the apocalyptic
end, or abrupt transformation, of the world
Stay tuned!
Constance
1,287 comments:
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1:35 AM
Keep comforting your conscience by conjuring up your twisted and contrived loaded questions and you may one day succeed in completely convincing yourself.
A goal to strive for, surely! LOL
This is how banning the Bible begins:
Did you know that Jesus Christ was a racist?
https://www.mrctv.org/blog/californian-pastor-brandan-robertson-claims-jesus-christ-was-racist
8:24 p.m.,
If anyone were to look up, 'moron', in a dictionary, they would indubitably find a description of you.
Moreover, Moron at 8:24 p.m., I should not be surprised to discover both the etymological and philological phenomena of the word, 'moron', hearkens all the way back to your ancestors.
Love and care.
8:24 p.m.,
If anyone were to look up, 'moron', in a dictionary, they would indubitably find a description of you.
Moreover, Moron at 8:24 p.m., I should not be surprised to discover both the etymological and philological phenomena of the word, 'moron', hearken all the way back to your ancestors.
Love and care.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Not to mention...
"I see in you the poison of bitterness and the bondage of unrighteousness!” Acts 8:23
"Jesus said: "Think not that I have come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill.""
How come most who quote this do not finish the statement?
"For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." Or if someone quotes the latter they leave off the former.
destruction would not be doing away because of no use once fulfilled.
Jesus said they wouldn't pass UNTIL FULFILLED and that He CAME TO FULFILL THEM.
Now the big thing about The Law was details on keeping the Mosaic covenant indicators - circumcision, passover, food laws, etc. etc. There WAS a moral code evidently before or you wouldn't see the issue of good and evil regarding cause of the Flood or Noah being righteous or Abraham figuring people who didn't know YHWH would kill him and take his wife.
The Mosaic specific laws are what Galatians is all about being not relevant now and note Col. 2:16. Its all about circumcision and the rest of the law that is encoded with that. Abraham was given circumcision but not a food law, you see him give meat and milk mixed food to the visiting angels, but this food was not in Moses' code to be made.
Clean animals in Noah's time were clean for sacrifice, but he was told he could eat of everything that moves, just pour out the blood. This is continued in Acts chapter 15.
These laws also served to isolate the people from others, but now the move was to infiltrate and recruit new citizens for the Kingdom of Heaven of which we are sort of expats until it comes in full power, stopping the great tribulation.
So the laws and judgements that have to do with morals and being loyal toGod are still in force, and can be reduced to two core laws, love God with all your heart and souland strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. An case in point of the latter is giving to the poor. another would be putting a cover over a pit sono one falls in it, or building a parapet around your roof so no one falls off it. Precedent for safety codes.
Speculation about lack of arrows on first horseman - a bow implies the arrows, cqarried over the shoulder in a container. The wreath type crown was given to winners in sports and conquerors. Possibly the rise of empires that used a lot of mounted archers incl. later tangles with the Persian empire, as late as 600s AD, and the mongol and islamic empires. Persians and mongols both had female mounted archers BTW. and islamic. Someone suggested we are in the time of the third horseman, because black is the color of oil the fourth horseman is on the way.
This can have another layer of meaning, a cycle of conquest and large empire that brings peace, then factors that bring chaos and war and finally economic issues then war and plague and famine. I the dieoff inducement plan of elites comes to pass (reduction of human population to 500,000,000 this could refer to this. Or something else. The islamic antichrist theory (serious flaws) notes that 1/4 of the world is technically islamic. probably irrelevant.
Of interest is the bleeding icon of Our Lord Jesus Christ with the crown of thorns in Jerusalem, which bled about 5 months before the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, which outrged and radicalized the Calvinists, set the stage for the 30 years war (or 100 yer was?) and elevated the idea of individual conscience from rank heresy context to respectability contaminating many lines of thought. Subjectivism rather than objective fact.
An icon of the theotokos started weeping bloodlike tears of myrrh recently, from its eyes in Russia I think. Hope nothing horrible is on the way.
Do put that mirror down, 11:48 p.m. Even so, you are right about yourself: now repent!
Craig 5:49 PM,
I believe that the book of Revelation was written for us but not to us. I believe it was written to seven churches in Asia Minor in the 1st century AD. Solving the 666 gematria was more important for them than for us.
I believe that these ancient peoples of Hebrew ancestry, including the ten scattered tribes in Samaria and elsewhere, did not find Revelation as mysterious as we do. I believe they understood its Old Testament prophetic language and they knew how to decode the gematria.
I do not believe that a good and benevolent God, as He revealed Himself to us to be in his ministry on earth, would tell us that He has taught nothing in secret, that we are saved by grace through faith; but then He would leave us hanging, wondering if our salvation depends on solving a riddle that nobody has yet been able to solve (in our contemporary times).
As Constance has pointed out, those who love the truth are those who are saved from antichrist. What does this mean, "the truth"? Scripture is always confirmed by other scripture, and the language of "the truth" is found in the phrase, "I am the way, the life and the truth".
He told his followers of the time to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves because He knew they were in for times of severe persecution. Part of being wise as serpents was that they didn't name Roman authorities in their writings.
It is strange in a way, I suppose, for me to have such strong faith about this for the very first time in my life, at the very time that the Great Reset is being openly planned. Yet if I give scripture the highest authority and believe what it says, I can come to no other conclusion. If I don't believe what it says, then the alternative is not futurist Christian eschatology. The alternative is humanism.
I am not going to argue back and forth a lot about it, but I have personally decided to reject what I view as a form of gnosticism that inverts the good news of the true gospel.
I'm just going to state my belief and then let others respond and read their responses but say no more about this, myself.
P.S. Craig I should mention that I appreciate your careful and precise approach to the language of the Bible, and I learn from you. Your response regarding "corona" was only the most recent example. My diatribe wasn't aimed at you personally. I was just stating my belief after having accumulated some frustration with the many false prophets in recent North American history. Before my current belief gelled I was less careful and precise than yourself, and often I found false prophets randomly entertaining. Right now I think I will just try to behave better than a dog that returns to its own vomit (speaking of myself personally).
Christine 4:01 AM,
Yes, Jesus said the law can be summed up in two commandments. People who know the most can simplify things the most elegantly, too. Jesus was God so He knew the most and knew how to express the truth with the most elegance. (It's kind of like comparing Common Core math assignments to Pi.)
The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?
34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Anonymous 8:40 PM,
The RCC already banned the Bible historically. That didn't work out too well for them.
Anybody in the future who bans the Bible will either not succeed, or will only succeed temporarily.
If you believe in the Bible enough to care about it being banned, then believe what it says. It tells us that Jesus is currently reigning with the Father on His throne (heaven). It tells us He must reign until all his enemies are under His feet.
As Catholics frequently quote, the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church.
What is less frequently quoted is that Jesus said He bound the strong man (Satan) to enter his house and spoil his goods (his souls in bondage and under the penalty of the second death).
Revelation said that after Satan was bound he could no longer deceive the nations (prevent the Gentile nations from drawing near to God).
Do we believe Jesus? He bound Satan already when He was casting out demons openly in the midst of the Jews of the 1st century AD. He told us plainly and clearly that He could only do so if the strong man was first bound.
Note regarding "the gates of hell". To an ancient audience, the "gates of hell" would carry rich associations that don't come to the modern mind. Ancient city gates had gate houses. Gate houses were heavily armed. Gates were used to display public information and warnings about everything from taxes, to legal texts, to standards of measurement, to the heads of beheaded enemies or criminals.
Christine 4:01 AM,
Of interest is the bleeding icon of Our Lord Jesus Christ with the crown of thorns in Jerusalem, which bled about 5 months before the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, which outrged and radicalized the Calvinists, set the stage for the 30 years war (or 100 yer was?) and elevated the idea of individual conscience from rank heresy context to respectability contaminating many lines of thought. Subjectivism rather than objective fact.
For the record, just because I agreed about Jesus' hanging all the law and the prophets on two primary commandments, that doesn't mean I agree with the above.
This is a rather careless and random way of bringing up this kind of a huge historical, ecclesiastical and theological subject.
I think your main point is that you are worried that bleeding icons portend impending war, so you think an icon currently bleeding in Russia portends bad things. As a Protestant I worry about two things with the signs and wonders pertaining to icons. I worry about hoaxes, and I worry about spiritual deceptions. I wonder if the perception is in the mind of the deceived, kind of like a hallucination. Not so much that I think that spiritual entities exercised a material power over the icon. But I guess I can't rule out that possibility.
Christine 4:01 AM,
The islamic antichrist theory (serious flaws) notes that 1/4 of the world is technically islamic.
The Islamic Antichrist theory became popular after it looked like the EU may not, after all, fulfill prophecy as a revived Roman empire.
Dr. Charles Dorothy, of Herbert Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God, may be have been the first person who proposed the revived Roman empire theory about the EU beast.
Herbert Armstrong called himself God's Last Prophet for the End Times. He borrowed heavily from Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists.
Interestingly, a large fraction of each of these sects regards themselves as born again Christians. It's a reminder that God's true church is spiritual and the temple of the Holy Spirit is each individual.
God is merciful and full of grace, and he works patiently with believers who seek Him, even if they are in a sect. He prefers for us to learn the easy way, but He is willing to be patient with us if we learn the hard way.
The Islamic Antichrist theory is already waning in popularity as ISIS looms smaller and seems less likely to become an Islamic beast empire.
I believe God wants every bit as much to save Islamic individuals. He is not willing that any should perish. In our day many are being converted.
I the dieoff inducement plan of elites comes to pass (reduction of human population to 500,000,000 this could refer to this.
The elites have been trying to make Africans die off, but they have not been succeeding. The Africans are fertile. We are not, because of feminism and birth control and abortion. All that plus economic factors. We have a much more high maintenance lifestyle with much more expense in childrearing.
Feminism was the best depopulation plan until LGBTQ. I think the cultural suicide that individuals choose have so far proven to have an effect in aggregate that has been more depopulating, on net balance, than any vaccine or plague.
To be clear, every Christian woman does not necessarily need to be fertile under the New Covenant; because by evangelizing and witnessing, a Christian woman can bring more born again Christians into the church. The church is the bride of Christ and is thus, in a sense, the mother of the born again Christians.
God said in the OT that what He wanted out of families was godly offspring.
6:51 AM,
You are a sick individual loaded with venom and in denial about it.
You couldn't even address 10:27 PM.
Repent.
J said (in part) @ 12:44 PM:
"He is not willing that any should perish."
J,
I'm sure you didn't intentionally quote the above out of context, which implies that God is not Sovereign. Here is the entire verse:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
Note a couple of very important items regarding this verse. First, the epistle was written to believers, and most certainly not to unbelievers; this is the meaning of Peter's reference of "us-ward." It is the elect that are the objects of God's grace, via God's Sovereignty, which leads sinful men and women to "come to repentance." Due entirely to the Fall, the spiritually dead cannot come to Christ and "repent" without a purposeful act of sovereign grace.
"No man CAN COME TO ME, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
In verses 37 - 39 in the same chapter, Christ describes His mission here on earth:
"ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVETH ME SHALL COME TO ME; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of ALL OF WHICH HE HATH GIVEN ME I SHALL LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day."
Another point to consider is this; If God wants "everyone to be saved," why is it that Jesus never prayed for all men to be saved? In fact, in John Chapter 17 (often referred to as Christ's "High Priestly Prayer"), not only does he NOT pray for EVERYONE, but exclusively prays only for those that the Father had given Him:
"I PRAY FOR THEM: I PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD, BUT FOR THEM WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN ME; FOR THEY ARE THINE."
Note: Had Jesus prayed for the entire world, the entire world would most certainly been saved! Many, many more verses and passages, both from the OT & NT, can be cited to prove God's Sovereignty, along with fallen man's inability.
RayB 1:55 PM,
I have heard Calvinism before, although I have not attained mastery over my comprehension of it.
I will just say this. I have observed even some Calvinists asking others how they justify the great commission ... but also stating they are glad that it continues and that they like to hear the reports from the missionaries who come back.
I noted that nobody had an answer about why or how they, as a Calvinist, could justify the great commission.
Another time I noticed nobody could answer why they, as a Calvinist, would ever pray to God. Even though they noted that they still prayed, anyway.
I don't have it all figured out just yet, and I probably never will, but it seems there must be some missing pieces in the picture (either my picture or Calvinism's picture).
P.S. Somebody who has studied the Bible his entire life told me that God only calls people when they are ready, and by being ready, He means they need to be humble.
J,
Read Romans Chapter 9. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
By the way, the Apostle Paul wrote Romans. Many passages and verses that Paul penned also deal with Election, God's Sovereignty, etc. Maybe we should be calling it "Paulism," instead of "Calvinism?"
Also, Augustine predated Calvin by about 1,000 years, and he wrote extensively about God's Sovereignty & Election.
RayB,
Okay, I will read it carefully and consider what you said.
I just finished reading it, and I need to think carefully about the audience to whom it was written. It was written to them and for us.
The ancient Israelites had always been told that eventually they were supposed to be a light unto the Gentile nations. When it was time for it to happen, they didn't exactly welcome it.
They had been told that eventually the goal would not be physical but spiritual. Yet it was hard to accept that their Messiah would not be a physical, geographical king ruling from Jerusalem. And later they followed false messiahs who convinced them that they could make war on the Romans because God would back their war.
Those from Judea and Jerusalem didn't even feel welcoming toward the ten lost tribes scattered in Samaria. Once John wanted Jesus to call down fire on them! That was before the Holy Spirit came on the apostles at Pentecost and before Jesus came back and spent forty days instructing the apostles in the ways of His kingdom.
Their generation was the transitional generation spanning the change from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
We in the twenty-first century are well into the New Covenant.
I have no final conclusion, but that is the context in my mind at this time, according to my knowledge and understanding.
If I made any mistaken assumptions about the audience or the history, please point it out. I am still learning.
Yesterday Sidney Powell said Kelly Loeffler's young staffer (who was dating Gov. Kemp's daughter) was MURDERED and was likely "vaporized," by thermite
https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/068/542/583/original/418734d66ea54f84.mp4
J,
I was actually referring to the verses that deal precisely with the doctrine of Election:
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
(more)
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
RayB,
Regarding Jacob and Esau, my thoughts are that their example demonstrates that God doesn't care about human traditions. His will is sovereign over them. In human tradition Esau was older, but God didn't care about Esau's birthright. God saw Jacob as more suitable for His purpose. God is not bound to follow human traditions.
RayB,
How do you harmonize Timothy 2:4 with Romans 9?
Pray for All Men
2 Therefore I [a]exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [b]authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and [c]reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth [d]in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
J,
The verses you cite are not dealing with salvation, but rather, that of having a peaceful attitude with all men. If you are faithfully obeying the command to make "supplications, prayers, intercessions," etc. "for all men," including "kings" and those in "authority," your prayers and your attitude may very well result in living a "quiet and peaceable life" here on earth. In conjunction with this, Paul also wrote: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
The statement referring to God, "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" is a statement that is referring to all TYPES of men, including those that are in "authority," which were often held in disdain by common people. That is the reason for the mentioning of "kings" and those that are in "authority" (tax gatherers, Roman soldiers, etc. The Gospel should not be neglected to be declared to people because of their high position in life. God knows His elect, and calls men out of all types of situations and vocations. It is not up to man to decide who it is that are the elect. It is man's duty to declare truth to all men.
Also, in effect, God does make a universal "call" to all people, however, although God "calls" people, He, and He alone, is the One that makes that call effectual. "Many are called, but few are chosen." Without God overriding the natural instinct of the spiritually dead, fallen man cannot answer the "call." The reason for this is that, although fallen man has "free will," that will has severe limitations and is bound to his fallen nature, and is so corrupt, that it cannot receive the things of God.
I Corinthians 2:14 declares: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
RayB,
I can live with this: "It is not up to man to decide who it is that are the elect. It is man's duty to declare truth to all men."
Absolutely J @ 9:39 PM.
I can live with this too.
The call is universal, and the call is individual. Faith is a gift (from God), but that gift actually only becomes mine upon my receiving it, God's intent is for me , for you, for all to have it, but only when I act upon it does it belong to me or anyone else, and what obedience to the call is, it is by faith and a gift I, or you, or anybody, in turn give back to the Lord. Repentance is not separate from true belief, it is a gift included in the package.
God knows those that are His.
He is no respecter of persons, because He loves all...for God so loved the world, this world full of individual souls..but for all that love and compelling by His Spirit, not all will love Him back by believing, by faith receiving.
Romans 11: 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.
Repeat: "It is not up to man to decide who it is that are the elect. It is man's duty to declare truth to all men."
Crisis = Opportunity
Pope Francis Calls for ‘New World Order’ After the Pandemic
We can heal injustice “by building a new world order based on solidarity, studying innovative methods to eradicate bullying, poverty and corruption,”
Calls for "radical personal and political choices" ...
“If we don’t roll up our sleeves and immediately take care of the Earth, with radical personal and political choices, with an economic ‘green’ turn by directing technological developments in this direction, sooner or later our common home will throw us out the window,”
Calls for "international harmony" while condemning "nationalism" ...
“Against this planetary discord that is nipping the future of humanity in the bud, we need political action that is the fruit of international harmony,” he declares, urging for an end to “short-sighted nationalism” and other forms of “political selfishness” in favor of multilateral solutions.
https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2021/03/15/pope-francis-calls-for-new-world-order-after-the-pandemic/
This servant of satan 'pope'francis, obviously has never read the Bible, nor does he know the Lord!
RayB,
What do you think of this type of understanding of the devil? He was said to accuse God's people before God day and night before Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. As long as the Old Covenant was in place, he would always be able to continue to accuse and slander day and night. The result was all were under penalty of the second death.
But once the transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant took place, the power of the law to put everybody to death was broken. This is an important sense in which the devil's power was broken forever. He could no longer use accusations of broken laws to sentence all people to the second death. God would no more hear his accusations day and night.
In this sense he became a defeated and judged, but not an annihilated, foe.
He was the one who tempted people to break the law, deceived people into breaking the law, and then accused them of breaking the law. It was almost as if he was waging a non-stop sting operation on the human race.
J,
Quite frankly, I've never heard that theory. Having said that, it does not represent, IMO, the Biblical view. Just a few points to consider:
First, all of mankind, be it in the OT & NT, inherited a sinful nature, along with spiritual death, as a result of the Fall. We are all born sinners. That spiritual death, along with its physical aspect ("the wages of sin is death), did not end with the "transition from the Old Covenant to the New". And Satan's power was certainly not "broken forever" as a result of that "transition." Consider these two New Testament verses, which gives us instructions as to how we are to declare the truth to individuals:
"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, WHO ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY HIM AT HIS WILL."
-- 2 Timothy 2:25,26 (Caps added for emphasis)
Notice of course that Satan has been given power to "take captive" those that are outside of the truth, and has the power to take them captive at "his will." The requirement for these people to repent and acknowledge the truth is for God to grant them the power to do so.
J,
I noticed in one of your posts that you have a previous background in Armstrongism.
The theory that you posted above has an Armstrong ring to it. Could it be that you came to this theory while you were under the Armstrong delusion?
RayB 4:00 PM,
I didn't learn much theology in childhood. My childhood concept of the devil was a monster in the dark, under the bed, or in the closet.
These are the scriptures I was considering today.
1 Corinthians 15:56
New King James Version
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
Revelation 12:10
New King James Version
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
John 12:31
New King James Version
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
John 16:11
New King James Version
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Hebrews 8:13
New King James Version
13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 9:8
New King James Version
8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
2 Corinthians 4:4
New King James Version
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Matthew 24:3
New King James Version
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Luke 10:18
New King James Version
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Romans 16:20
New King James Version
20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Attention Constance:
https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-post-correction-trump-georgia-votes-election
You and a good number of other people rushed to judgment over lousy, biased reporting......
"A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on."
Don't know who authored that quote but how true it is!
RayB,
The legacy of Armstrongism in my childhood family was and is all too real, and it is deeply personal; I don't mean to minimize the consequences of its false beliefs. The fallout for the eldest child in our family was pretty severe because he bore the brunt of Garner Ted Armstrong's teachings regarding child rearing.
That child was not myself. That child considered me babied in comparison to him. That kid was my oldest brother. He had a very tragic and short life. I didn't fully appreciate how terrible his childhood was, until I became a mother; and then I was aghast when I realized how terrible it would be to treat my son the way my eldest brother had been treated.
As for the theology of Armstrongism, I would sum up the worst theological features as: 1) Legalism, and 2) An obsession with apocalyptic expectations, and 3) Exclusivism.
Some of the splinter groups mainly want to fellowship with other believers who like to celebrate the ancient Israelite holy days. They have a strong tendency toward forming their own Bible study groups in homes. My parents belong to one of these splinter groups, while I do not.
RayB,
The significance of the celebration of the ancient Israelite holy days is of utmost symbolic importance, and sometimes I feel it involves magical thinking. It is quite ritualistic. In old age I see it producing significant anxiety and OCD. It grieves me at times that my folks sometimes seem to me to have cold comfort, anxiety and OCD at this time of their life.
J,
I was very sorry to hear about the tragic life of your brother.
Have you personally made a complete break from Armstrongism?
RayB,
I think so. I think it just happened, when I made a complete break with futurism. Futurism had been my last vestige of Armstrongism, I believe.
I have read from cover to cover a thoroughly bad Qanon book called LOVE JOY TRUMP. It is a combination of the very worst of NAR (New Apostolic Reform/Manifest Sons of God) and straight out New Age. Trump per it is ushering in the Age of Aquarius, the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth, is God's chosen instrument for "The Great Awakening" and ruling the Whole Earth. The book has a very blatant attach on God our Father (referring to Him as ANU, head of the Annunaki) and as an evil being blocking the true era of worship of Gaia. The author/collator calls herself Bethanon. Mike Lindell wrote the Foreword. Mike Lindell is the owner of MY PILLOW. I rather suspect he may have paid for the book's publication. He said it was an indispensable reference book for their Qanon Movement. Too bad! I liked his pillows and bed pad! He is obviously totally deceived
With Lindell's deep involvement, I have to assume that Trump knew and blessed the project. Nobody should permit such adulation around oneself. This makes Trump at least an anti-Christ! I'm politically done with Trump. Between January 6th and this book, there's not much to excuse, let alone respect.
Constance
To 11:30 asking is Trump the antichrist?
I composed my piece immediately before reading yours. With Trump permitting adulation of himself as he has, that makes him at least an antichrist! Not so sure he's the main event.
Constance
J,
I've been following the conversation and don't have a lot to add other than it's interesting. Thank you for sharing your journey through some confusing issues. I hope I can figure it out myself someday.
I liked Ray's posts and tend to fall in the Calvinist camp, but I found comfort in NOT resolving a few of these issues in the words/videos of Mike Winger. His final conclusion was he doesn't feel it necessary/mandatory to come to a final decision on every Calvinist vs Arminianism vs ???? issue (at least that's what I recall -- it's been awhile and I haven't watched the whole playlist).
Maybe you've already seen him and dismissed him. He's about as liberal a teacher as I'll watch when studying the bible and try to understand this non-qualifying issue from all sides for apologetic purposes where it can be a distraction. He is certainly not reformed but I like him. Here's a link to his videos about Calvinism - maybe one of them will interest you.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mike+winger+calvinism
Or videos regarding futurism:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mike+winger+futurism
X
p.s.- Why Calvinists continue to share the Gospel? -- This is off the top of my head, but while God surely knows the elect, someone has to bring the word to such brothers and sisters while modeling Christ's love as He modeled it to us --- for all KNOW God (even those that may be set for destruction??) and are without excuse.....and time is of the essence.
X,
Thanks, I'll take a look at Mike Winger's videos.
I have learned a lot from Calvinism. I don't struggle with being saved by faith through grace, and not by works, if works = legalism. I struggle to understand obedience in the absence of any kind of will or ability to obey.
I know my son can't obey me all the time; there are times he will lack impulse control. But I have to hold him to a higher standard than I would hold a baby.
Jesus told his apostles He was only feeding them spiritual milk because they could not yet take meat. Paul said that once he thought as a child, but he put aside childish ways.
I struggle to understand Christian maturity and sanctification without being able to grasp the nature of obedience if it is obedience in the absence of will or effort.
God said through one of the OT prophets that our righteousness is as filthy rags. When I think of it, I think if we start out with dirty rags we can never possibly wash ourselves clean.
This implies to me not that we are absolutely incapable of righteousness to any degree, but that only perfect righteousness is capable of washing us clean.
Maybe the part of Calvinism I can't believe is absolute depravity. I believe human nature is flawed alright. But some people were drawn to Jesus, while Jesus himself said that others didn't want their evil exposed by the light and so could not be drawn to Him. Doesn't this mean that everybody Jesus encountered in the generation of Jews He repeatedly warned and excoriated, was not equally and absolutely depraved?
Constance 1:17 PM,
It makes it easier to empathize with the Jews who wanted to follow a fleshly messiah. QAnoners seem to want the very same thing. Who could want their land or country to decline. It's not in human nature.
I would worry more if before casting a vote for Trump, Republicans had to worship a little golden statue of him at the polls. I don't think that all who voted for Trump cast a vote for Love Joy Trump.
But the cult of personality that surrounded Trump seemed to morph and metastasize into a variety of QAnon spin-offs and false prophets.
I haven't met anybody who is a devout QAnon cultist, but my father developed disturbing behavior. He saluted his Trump calendar every morning after he woke up. He called Trump his leader. He carried a gold half shekel of King Cyrus/Trump in his pocket everywhere he went, and he proudly showed it to many people. He eagerly looked forward to the dream of Trump ushering in the rebuilding of the ancient Old Covenant temple on the Temple Mount.
He is suffering from early stage dementia, but he remains lucid about intellectual and theological and political issues. His main problem is struggling to be organized in his daily living such as remembering to take medication and remembering where he puts things. His mind remains sharp regarding theology and politics.
He became devastated when Trump was not re-elected. He became ill and had to go to the emergency room. He told me himself from his hospital bed that the main thing that hit him so hard was that Trump didn't get re-elected. He was doing okay before that.
Trump truly had a powerful magnetism and charisma. He was nearly constantly the center of attention. I was addicted to news about Trump, from both sides. It was endlessly sickening and fascinating at the same time.
But I have a worry from another angle. I worry that QAnon and "Christian Nationalism" will be used to beat the bush and scare people into a rabbit trap. The rabbit trap will have much more powerful backers than Mike Lindell.
Constance,
When did Donald Trump ask for, or demand, adulation of himself? That is, any more than Schumer, Pelosi, Schiff, or Nadler, for instance.
I must have missed that.
Donald Trump had to deal with the fact that the Media in power openly HATES HIS GUTS and hates anyone and everyone who even mildly supports him.
I've never met anyone who worships Donald Trump.
Contrast that with Hitlers' regime wherein he had complete control of the media; all newspapers, all radio.
Xi Xingping has complete control of his media.
Kim Yung Il has complete control of his media.
The Iranian regime has complete control of their media.
Ditto every totalitarian state.
Paul 9:17 AM,
But if Trump had been able to have it the way that Hitler, Xi Xingping, and Kim Yung II had it -- would he have resisted the temptation? Was it virtue or necessity that was stopping him?
Paul,
P.S. On the other hand, it is not beast-like behavior to protect freedom of religion.
As a partial preterist, I believe the beast of Revelation was historical, anyway.
I hesitate over January 6th because of the very great media bias. I wish I could trust it would be properly investigated and reported. I wish I could trust anything would be properly investigated and reported.
I don't know how to take a moral stand regarding uncertain facts.
At the very least I think as Christians we should take a stand against the QAnon cults that seem as if they will likely outlive Trump.
Speaking of "cults" ... there's nothing "anti-christ" about this (wink, wink):
Elton John Calls out Vatican ‘Hypocrisy’ over Homosexual Unions
https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2021/03/16/elton-john-calls-out-vatican-hypocrisy-over-homosexual-unions/
Vatican Invests $1.1 Million in Steamy Elton John Biopic
https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2019/12/06/vatican-invests-1-1-million-in-steamy-elton-john-biopic/
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
" Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit."
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."
"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." - Matthew 7: 16-20
J @ 10:11 AM
That is really a ridiculous question!
Did you just HAVE to weigh in? Just cuz
Paul,
Every word you wrote is exactly what I would have written.
I don't get it that Constance and others can gloss coat the swamp to take accountability off of them because somehow better than Trump and that the attention should be off of their egregious actions and actual incitements, and scandalous election tactics, and the radical agenda now carried out by Puppet Biden, so all blame lands on the former President Trump? While these folks are so busy making it about him, the swamp has gotten the upper hand and they're okay with that because I don't hear their grief over all that putridness?
I don't worship him either, and don't know anyone who does. But I do understand that going after him was really about coming after our freedoms and rightful, reasonable liberties, and it is on them, the ones who hate and/or make it all about Trump, that they are part of how the swamp (in America and across the globe) won after all, after 4 years of bare knuckle, down in the trenches, fighting it..(QAnon not withstanding)..
Seriously, that was a pathetic insurrection planned ahead by attention seekers from extremes on left and right, who do not in the slightest represent regular hard-working Americans (yet we now bear the brunt (labeled as terrorists), went into the Capitol totally unarmed, but for Pelosi, etc, accomplished the mission to lay blame where it did not belong, on Donald Trump.
So how soon before Constance no longer has a blog? Because taking out Trump took out our freedom of speech, and every other fighting chance we had to be and behave as free people, and say and stand where we should, against tyranny of globalists. Those folks took their eye off the ball while it was in play....when the whole game was at stake.
There is no friend (or enemy) quite like a frenemy is there?
Constance 11:17 AM
You voted for Trump knowing full well Trump has a hyper inflated ego! Most politicians do. Obama probably had the most WORSHIP of any modern president, and he basked in that WORSHIP!
How is Joe(that can't even read from a teleprompter) doing? The most popular president ever! Who won by an enormous landslide.
Several years ago you proclaimed you were joining the Republican party. Big mistake. Your heart has never really been in it. You seem to have, euphemistically speaking, a distaste for bible believing christians, but you rarely speak out against the pope's blatant New Age beliefs. Several years ago, when Islam was a topic in the comments, Old Man of the Ski asked you if you thought the Muslins worshiped the same God as Christians? I can not remember your reply verbatim, but you answered yes!
It seems obvious your of the ilk that strains at a gnat and swallows a camel!
You have the same degree of credibility here as X.
Important Vaccine Info Plus...
Monday, March 15, 2021 post
endtimesforcaster.blogspot.com
11:01 AM,
J @ 10:11 AM
That is really a ridiculous question!
I would like to hope so. Perhaps it could have been a mute point, because it is a moot point.
J at 10:11 AM,
Every leader has feet of clay, but some are decidedly evil, and that is who won the last contest, by hook and by crook, by scam and by sham...
I ask you, does that really matter what you question about the man Trump in the face of the knowns we had to contend with from the left (on steroids)? Because I looked at his actions to make my decisions, so perhaps spending too much time questioning the wrong person at this point, because something bigger than Trump was on the line?
I voted for what I believed in rather than a man to believe in, and that is what I am responsible for. The rest is God's department.
I thought we the nation mattered, not personalities, but our freedom loving principles.
The whole world is now going to suffer immeasurably for letting that slide. That horror in the making is taking off like a shot. All of that should have mattered much more, but was thrown away with both hands. That is answerable before God.
At least there was some pushback with our former President that we would never have with the Biden crime family, who he represents, the radicals he bows to.
So many people rolled over so easily. What does that say about this nation that we have settled for this? I think that is the real question.
Oh God help us as persons, more than as a nation because we have fallen so far...in my book, fitting God's end time plans while we are at it...
I voted for a party platform, not a man or woman. That way of looking at an election made it very easy for me.
The Republican Party stands for the nuclear family as the most important unit in the nation. The Republican platform stands against abortion in general. The Republican platform is not Pro LGBT, though it is quite tolerant in many cases and many ways. It does not advocate arresting or persecuting sodomites, but rather living and let live. The Republican Party is for smaller government, and sees government as incompetent in most things which it attempts to control; such as business, agriculture, education, and medical things, and finance. Big Government always screws up these things when it gains control over them. The evidence from history is overwhelming. The Founding Fathers of The United States where unanimous in their belief in as small a government as possible.
Whereas, the Democrat Party wants BIG GOVERNMENT ( Socialism ) The Democrat Party wants to control your children's education. The Democrat Party clearly wants your children to be educated by and for the State. They really like the idea of both mom and dad working their butts off and paying that much more taxes, while the kids get brainwashed by the State.
The Democrat Party wants to control business of all kinds. In fact they never seem to have enough control and they always want more. The Socialist State ALWAYS spells the end of productive agriculture. It removes incentive from the equation for farmers, for instance.
The Democrat Party wants not only legal abortion, but legal abortion even after birth!, which is also known as murder. It's a "womans right to choose" don't you know...
The Democrat Party LOVES Lesbianism, Gayism, Bi-Sexuality, and Transgenderism, all of which the Bible calls sodomy. Even pedophilia is merely winked at. These people are not so much tolerated as held up to be heroes. They are lionized.
The Democrat Party already does control the media, which essentially ruins their role as a check and a balance on the branches of the government.
And for alll these reasons and many more the Democrats LOVE TAXES. The more the merrier. Expect yours to double this year.
_Not that any of it will go towards all the wonderful programs that they claim it will go to.It will not. It will line the pockets of the Pelosis and the Schumers and the Schiffs of the world, in a million different very clever ways.
I didn't vote for Trump. I voted for the Republican Party and Trump delivered, big time. I didn't like him at first but I decided to judge him as Jesus told us to judge people; BY THEIR FRUITS.
BTW, I still haven't heard of a single law that he broke while in office. He was accused of every crime known to mankind, but nothing landed or stuck.
He's a tough guy. He shoots from the hip. But he's smart and he loves America, and he did more in four years than the Democrat Party has done in forty years.
11:58 AM,
I hear you about the election choices.
I wanted to speak to this part:
Oh God help us as persons, more than as a nation because we have fallen so far...in my book, fitting God's end time plans while we are at it...
I can't say that I know authoritatively what the correct Revelation beliefs are. But my hope and prayer is that Christians don't let a focus on a future rapture cause them to stop being the salt and the light of the earth here and now.
I also hope that Christians will now allow futurist views to cause them to de-esteem Christ. I hope futurism does not cause people to minimize Christ and minimize his work.
I don't think you are doing any of those things.
In regards to the MAGA movement, I do know that American Christians did not subscribe to futurism very much until after WW II. And I don't see how God can bless America if the MAGA movement is infected by a QAnon apostasy that American conservative Christians tolerate.
J said (in part) @ 8:30 AM:
"God said through one of the OT prophets that our righteousness is as filthy rags. When I think of it, I think if we start out with dirty rags we can never possibly wash ourselves clean."
"This implies to me not that we are absolutely incapable of righteousness to any degree, but that only perfect righteousness is capable of washing us clean."
J,
The "filthy rags" verse is found in Isaiah 64:6 ...
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
This verse is describing the depravity of mankind, along with the mankind's inability to establish his own "righteousness." Just as grace is necessary today, it was also necessary in the Old Testament days as well. No one ever gained acceptance with God by establishing their own righteousness via strict adherence to God's Law. Faithful people were always dependent upon, and objects of, God's mercy. Obedience, without the reliance upon God's mercy, will never produce "righteousness.' THAT is why God perceives such MAN centered efforts as "filthy rags."
Regarding your statement: "This implies to me not that we are absolutely incapable of righteousness to any degree, but that only perfect righteousness is capable of washing us clean."
In our natural state, we are incapable in achieving "righteousness" through "religious" acts in God's eyes. The "perfect righteousness" is provided through Christ alone, often referred to as "Christ's imputed righteousness." Christ perfectly and righteously fulfilled the Law and was nailed upon the cross as our substitute.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
"Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"
"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3: 5-7
This is a VERY important point; God ALWAYS knows what is best for us, and His word is written to us a guide which to live a joyful life in Him: "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." I John 1: 4
You mentioned that one of the snares of Armstrongism is "legalism." When I have more time, I am going to write a post describing my own, personal experience with "legalism," which led to a VERY serious "crisis of faith" in my life, and how God, in His mercy, rescued me.
J ... I would like to recommend a source that I think you would find immensely helpful: Nave's Topical Bible
Here is a link for the free online version: https://www.naves-topical-bible.com/Topics-D.html
You can search theological topics, etc. Multiple Bible verses are quoted, in full, on that subject .... without comment. So you will be able to readily see what the BIBLE says about a subject you are interested in researching. True theology is established by using Scripture to interpret Scripture ... all written by the same person; the Holy Spirit.
"The White Law School Report" Says There Are TOO MANY White Law School Students
https://vdare.com/posts/the-whitest-law-school-report-says-there-are-too-many-white-law-students
RayB 12:49 PM,
Beautifully put. Thank you.
For those concerned with our religious freedom. Here's an interesting viewpoint from a John MacArthur sermon Jan 17th 2020:
"....faithful preaching must not be concerned with religious freedom, he declared.
“The new administration will uphold religious freedom? I don’t even support religious freedom. Religious freedom is what sends people to hell. To say I support religious freedom is to say I support idolatry, it’s to say I support lies, I support hell, I support the kingdom of darkness. You can’t say that. No Christian with half a brain would say, ‘We support religious freedom.’ We support the truth!”
He linked this belief to his end-times theology, motivated by the belief that church is destined to lose its earthly battle before the reign of Christ.
“We don’t win down here, we lose. You ready for that? Oh, you were a post-millennialist, you thought we were just going to go waltzing into the kingdom if you took over the world? No, we lose here — get it. It killed Jesus. It killed all the apostles. We’re all going to be persecuted. … We don’t win. We lose on this battlefield, but we win on the big one, the eternal one.”
Religious freedom actually will lead to more persecution of the true church, MacArthur asserted. “If the new administration supports religious freedom, get ready; persecution will be ramped up because the more supportive they are of the devil’s lies, the less they’re going to tolerate the truth of Scripture.”
He added: “We will proclaim the exclusivity of the gospel, the unique revelation authority of Scripture. We’re not going to lobby for freedom of religion. What kind of nonsense is that? We are in the world to expose all those lies as lies. So this is just part of what’s been on my mind.”
https://baptistnews.com/article/neither-democracy-nor-religious-freedom-are-biblical-concepts-john-macarthur-declares/
X
Interestly --- John MacArthur continued discussing politics and democracy in his January 24th sermon:
"But he started by attacking Catholicism and Pope Francis. Citing Vatican City as the world’s only “true monarchy,” he called the pope “a former bar bouncer and janitor who likes the tango by the name of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the name Francis.”
Yet MacArthur appeared to make a case for monarchy as a more biblical idea than democracy.
Americans typically “celebrate the end of monarchies, the end of dictatorships, the end of kings,” he said. “We hail democracy. In our country we have spent countless dollars, countless lives, countless years trying to turn other countries into democracies like us. Now it may shock you. The Bible doesn’t advocate democracy. The Bible doesn’t mention democracy. The Bible doesn’t comment on democracy. The Bible doesn’t define democracy. There is no place in all of the Bible where you even find democracy. There is no country revealed in Scripture where it existed; it is never affirmed by God.”
He added: “The ancient world had kings. No other form of government appears either in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Kings were a common grace. We talk about God giving common grace; and government is common grace to bring order to society, we understand that. But do you also understand that the most common common grace of governmental character is a monarchy; in fact, so common were kings that we find in the Old Testament no nation under any other kind of government. So normal was it to have a king that the epic tragedy of Israel in the Old Testament was that they wanted a king like all other pagan nations.”
He linked this statement to the previous week’s sermon where he spoke against religious freedom. Religious freedom, he reiterated, violates the First Commandment, to have “no other gods before me.”
“You say, ‘Well, doesn’t the church need freedom of religion to move forward?’ No. In no way does any political law aid or hinder the church of Jesus Christ. We are a separate kingdom. Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight.’”
Therefore, “the church does not need help from Washington or any other government,” he said."
https://baptistnews.com/article/neither-democracy-nor-religious-freedom-are-biblical-concepts-john-macarthur-declares/
x
X 1:17 PM,
The ancient Israelites had judges, who were ad hoc leaders. They asked God for a king like the heathen nations so they could have a leader to help them wage war.
X 1:17 PM regarding freedom of religion,
That doesn't make sense. God revealed in Revelation that he considered a beast kingdom / empire a Satanically inspired system that persecuted His people.
Does he believe the Christian purpose for being on earth is have our butts kicked until we go to heaven after we die?
The blood of the martyrs watered the olive tree of the church, but some of us have to be the salt and light of the earth, too.
If the great commission succeeds, then the secondary effect over time is to affect the systems of the earth.
Does he think the great commission is supposed to prove an utter failure two thousand years later?
In fact it's not a failure. Christianity is spreading in Asia and Africa, even while it's declining in America. It's re-awakened in Russia even while it's falling asleep here and in Europe.
Good reply, J.
Sadly the apostate church found in the denominations, as chaff is growing with the wheat (in full swing now, falling away from Christ as we speak) will concentrate on social injustices (by following cancel culture's view of injustice calling evil good and calling good evil) rather than truly and simply just be His disciples, talking as well as walking the Gospel out in our shoe leather, being salt and light as Jesus instructed, salty truth to cut through the lies of hell coming against God and shining light to expose the deeds of darkness in the hearts and actions of men against God in this depraved, fallen world...but is to be done all by the compelling love of Christ that constrains us (for I was once as they but saved and forgiven, redeemed by His Blood). We must walk humbly and wisely before Him, loving His truth and loving His appearing is all wrapped up in His statement to "occupy till I come"...whenever that actually is.
So I know it is still, and will always be about submission to God, surrender of my freewill to His perfect one till I leave this world by dying or rapture...whenever that is to happen before the final wrath comes down, and I can only speculate somewhat though I do not dwell on that topic for none of us really knows the exact timeline.
I do believe that will be sooner rather than later. Better to have my faith sharpened in anticipation rather than dulled in weariness that looking so long at evil tends to do.
Real disciples will fix our eyes on Jesus, to worship, wait, work, witness, and live in the wonder of it all...for He will come in Glory.......He is the Lord!!!
The Lord sure knows how to write a story doesn't He?
I'd also point out Republicans and Trump have long alliances with "religious freedom" seekers via their Opus Dei friends at Becket Law Firm (named after Catholic Saint Thomas Becket of Canterbury who was executed by King Henry II while defending the roman catholic churches claims of power over the monarchy) and Leonard Leo (opus dei member, head of Federalist Soceity and winner of the 2017 Becket Center for Religious Freedom's "Canterbury Award" have been using various religious causes to pretend "ecumenically" fight for religious freedom, who assisted Trump in finding Trump's 3 roman catholic supreme court appointees and hundreds of other federal court appointees. The also kindly assisted the Bush's with other judicial and governmental appointments.
This is an excerpt from a critique of the Becket Law firm's founder, Kevin Hasson's book on Amazon:
"Of course, there is nothing wrong with a pursuit of truth. But religious liberty in our great Republic has NOWHERE been connected with the pursuit of truth, if we take the legal ramification of it as any kind of guide. And what else would we take??? We allow others the right to be utterly disconnected from truth, as we see it, in their religious beliefs. But Hassom' notion is just one more tired attempt to smuggle in the Catholic (Thomistic) notion of "pursuit of truth" as the foundation of polity. In this the desire is essentially theocratic. That this clever and ambitious man sought out court cases to defend a grab bag of diverse religions -- the more colorful the better -- was just window dressing. Because the point was always to bolster his own essentially anti-American notion of religious liberty. Namely, as some sort de facto Thomistic search for truth as a Catholic would understand it, not as a private matter of belief, but as something surreptitiously used as the basis for policy generally --- even if he is defending a Sikh or a devotee of Shiva! If he could not allow Charles Curran even the very unthreatening latitude to discourse in the hallowed academic shrine of academic liberty you can be sure his commitments were quite opposite from what he publicly professed all along. The Jesuits defined these aims centuries ago in a casuistical morality of action and intent, and of course, most importantly, mental reservation. Shame on this man for updating it."
I'm reading now about Thomism (Aquinas) and how this all ties together with an enlightened rome.
Martin Luther (while a hunted "heretic") warned us:
"In 1523, shortly after Martin Luther had split from the Catholic Church (and while his life was still in danger), he published a passionate defense of toleration. Luther cited “the well‐known saying, found also in Augustine, ‘No one can or ought to be constrained to believe.’” He then summarized this time‐honored argument: “it is useless and impossible to command or compel any one by force to believe one thing or another. It must be taken hold of in a different way; force cannot accomplish it.” Luther thus proclaimed the inability of persecution to accomplish its intended goal: “Heresy can never be prevented by force.” If God’s word (the Bible) and persuasion do not correct heretics, then “the end…will remain unaccomplished through secular power, though it fill the world with blood.”
1:42 PM,
The Lord sure knows how to write a story doesn't He?
That He does!
"In fact it's not a failure. Christianity is spreading in Asia and Africa, even while it's declining in America. It's re-awakened in Russia even while it's falling asleep here and in Europe."
Is it? Or could it be the "Satanically inspired" system you mentioned being gathered by a false Christian charismania spreading like "FIRE"?
NAR false teachers in open ecumenical partnership with the roman catholic church (who, for now, lends them credibility and audience with the pope) spread their false teachings and "God's new voice" throughout the world. "Old dusty churches" have largely hitched a ride on the charismatic train to remain relevant and attractive to the next generation that wants entertainment and child care more than scripture. They all want the all-to-american short-cut to God through their emotions, rather than their intellect and the actual word of God.
I pray for a real revival and do believe deep faith is growing with our brothers and sisters in faraway lands that are, in pockets, reading God's word versus just trying to experience God. The elect will be found.
X
p.s. - Neo-Gnostic Kris Vallottin meets the Pope - a critique: https://youtu.be/VW0mBHnQ8w0
X 2:18 PM,
The last beast empire in Daniel is Rome (ancient Rome). After that the rock (Christ) crushes the composite beast. The rock becomes a mountain that fills the whole world.
Every 500 years historically there has been a momentous change in Christianity.
New Christians today don't prefer cessationism. Cessationism is not explicitly stated in scripture.
I haven't made up my mind about cessationism. I know Pentecostal type denominations are usually represented by critics by the critics parading the worst examples. I have barely begun to study this whole topic. I believe Craig has studied it more than I have, so perhaps he will chime in. Pentecostal type faith is not in my comfort zone but that doesn't matter. All that matters is what is in God's comfort zone.
In regards to ecumenical efforts, I agree with RayB that we should seek, "Truth at all cost; peace if possible," as opposed to, "Peace at all cost; truth if possible."
J,
Justin Peters in his seminar, Clouds Without Water famously says: "if you want to actually hear from God - read your bible out loud."
Here's an 11 minute clip of Justin Peters with Costi Hinn (Benny Hinn's nephew who walked away from Charismania several years back) talking about cessationism: https://youtu.be/NnAc2ZoacDI
Is not 1 Corinthians 13:10 cessationist?
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [c]prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [d]became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror [e]dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the [f]greatest of these is love.
x
p.s. - I'm just offering some people up that were helpful to my discernment versus debating the issue with you. Justin Peters's whole Clouds Without Water seminar is fantastic.
X 3:00,
I really hope Craig will chime in about the Greek in the verses you cited.
I just read about that very thing last night but it is too raw and green for me, so I'll keep my silence.
I read a strong case about the Greek in those verses translating poorly into English.
j,
"Every 500 years historically there has been a momentous change in Christianity."
With respect, that sure sounds like Phyliss Tickle post-protestant emergent church double-talk for the coming New Age religion's "Great Emergence". Notice how deliberately Satan uses this new age spirituality to take the focus off Jesus and onto a {falsified] "holy spirit" who will do everything for them OTHER THAN DRAW THEM TO SCRIPTURE while denigrating traditional church experiences as just old, dusty, intellectual garbage.
It's a complete denial of the sufficiency of Scripture. It isn't new either, it's just recycled heresy and Gnosticism.
Here's an interview with Trickle published by the Vancouver Sun in 2010 prior to her death in 2015:
https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/christianity-undergoes-revolution-every-500-years-including-now
I, too, look forward to Craig, RayB and Constance's thoughts on this matter.
X
X 4:10,
That felt withering, but I dared bring it up, so I won't complain.
I have never heard of Phyllis Trickle before.
I was reading this guy last night:
Cessation Theology - 14 Classic Objections, by John Noe
https://www.prophecyrefi.org/about-us/cessation-theology/
He quotes at the beginning: "Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 4:18-21, KJV)
I literally just became aware of the cessationism controversy in Christianity.
The Washington Post confessed to a big lie
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/03/the_washington_post_confessed_to_a_very_big_lie.html
X, Just like you voted in a known evil leader to be president of this country to fight the good fight since Trump is too evil in your estimation and stated beyond that you would love to see a third party form (because as you said, "but I can dream"), in reality you talk out of both sides of your face. You seemed to want (you say) a righteous nation yet did the opposite to support that as even a possibility.
You made your choice known in the process of selecting the type of governing
that will choose (has chosen already) what our religious freedom (the lack thereof) will be from here on. I agree that the Church (the wheat not the chaff) will lose the religious freedom we were blessed with back at our founding (like the rest of the world is more and more accustomed to already) because that is the end times scenario...allegiance to Christ alone is a hallmark of our faith, and at tremendous cost (the end like the beginning).
Nations that abandon that are nothing new, what went around is back again. But for us to abdicate a responsibility to choose and uphold every opportunity to let those freedoms continue means we ceased to be good stewards of the grace that afforded that blessing to us (as long as possible) so with good conscience we do our part and leave the results with God. The testimony of loving Jesus and not this world system is necessary..and even more compelling because of the cost to do so, again not new, but what a way for the Church to exit this world that gives God alone the Glory. Is all on the horizon now.
So up until that time, as Christians, we should promote and support anyone who treasures the freedoms that we were given in honor of the One who gave these blessings in the first place. Obviously your choices are the opposite and there is no honor for God in the choice you made (and still excuse as you try to affix blame to justify yourself in such an ungrateful and frankly evil stance). Makes your religious talk nothing but talk, and why I honestly believe it is your type of "christian" who will be the very ones who bring it on to persecute us for standing up when the government says we have no right to preach and teach Jesus Christ and swear our only allegiance to Him. You threw us under the bus already, you will do it again.
It is you that has a much bigger problem than the ones who love Jesus enough to count the cost of loving Him (losing all for His sake) against the very ones you aligned yourself with.
It's not a worry (a concern but not a worry) to me since this world is not my home anyway, but sad for you that won't be your testimony for all your talk...unless you leave the darkness. Better get that heart check done soon, as time waits for no one.
J,
I have no intention to make you feel humiliated.
It's a big rabbit hole I've poked around in that is full of false teachers lurking around every corner trying to make a buck revealing the next big revelation of God.
The quest for truth humiliated and humiliates me.
John Noe seems to be trying to force blend/"synthesize" varying eschatologies into a single coherent one by picking and choosing what he finds good with each of the main branches. To me that sounds a bit ecumenical. The word divides. We shouldn't be shocked by that and there is no emergency to fix it in my view.
Dr. Noe claims to have a Ph.D. from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary. Trinity College is a non-accredited, mostly online, college for adult continuing education.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_College_of_the_Bible_and_Theological_Seminary
At least Dr. Noe pursued higher education which I presume he had to study and actually work to achieve (there are some online schools that hand out "masters in theology" degrees like candy so beware). A Ph.D., even online, is 20 times more effort than many of the emergent church "teachers" put into their theology educations. For example, I don't believe Bethel's Bill Johnson ever went to any college whereas Joel Osteen went to Oral Roberts briefly and studied radio and television broadcasting and never sought any divinity education or degrees. There are also now thousands of "graduates" from Bethel or Global Schools of Supernatural Ministry [unaccredited] creating fake religious materials.d
I did watch few videos of John Noe with Lynn Hiles. I don't know what to make of his synthesized eschatology other than my initial guess is that he finds/found too much "good" in the "Kingdom Now" replacement theology being espoused by men like Lynn Hiles.
I haven't read the book.
I know Craig would be upset with me attacking the messenger versus the substance of his writings but the new age, NAR, "emergent church" has unqualified charlatans proliferating the world with what I see as garbage theology. You just can't pick apart the content line by line to see what is true and what's not. So one way to be careful is to research any author before you read him/her to know where they are coming from before you ingest it.
There are a lot of discernment ministries online, including Craigs, that have covered a lot of subjects and persons.
I do not claim to be a discernment minister myself.
X
X 7:57,
Thank you, I'm not offended. I brought up a controversial subject and an unfamiliar proponent.
I don't believe in eclectic eschatology.
I was interested in the paper regarding cessationism. I read the whole paper twice, but I won't reach a conclusion until I study the topic much, much more.
7:28 pm says: "So up until that time, as Christians, we should promote and support anyone who treasures the freedoms that we were given in honor of the One who gave these blessings in the first place."
First off -- that's what I did...I voted against an authoritarian leaning reprobate, pretending to be a Christian whom even Constance Cumbey believes to be an "anti-Christ" in favor of a more experienced politician who, though a roman catholic, does not appear to be on the pope's payroll nor is he beholden to foreign interests like Trump. Biden has lost a wife, daughter and son and is uniquely positioned to help our country heal after the loss of way too many to Covid 19 (the Trump Virus).
Second - "we should"??? Chapter and verse??? Where in scripture does it say we as Christians MUST vote for a lifelong unrepentant adulterer who kind of gave a nod in support of our beliefs while enriching himself and his properties and surrounding himself with roman catholic money as well as false teachers like unrepentant adultress Paula White.
Biden won --- such victory was predetermined and destined by God. We as Christians must pray for him.
X, you voted against Trump, a man, but voted for an agenda that is totally anti-Bible, anti-Christ, anti-God's ideas of freedom.
And you seem to be able to completely deny the crimes of Joe Biden. What a reprobate that poor unrepentant soul is.
You have bought the crimes and the lies hook, line, and sinker, of the left and pretend you are a christian doing so.
I did not say anyone must vote for Trump. But any christian who loves the right things of the Bible that were built into our founding documents should promote, and support, *candidates* who promote and support godly principles. That is what you did not do. If you were as righteous as you pretend to be you should have sat that one out. That would have been more reasoned and righteous that what you pulled.
You are the one needing prayer.
You have romanticized Biden's character, the man's record and career, and the agendas of twisted leftists to the point of sickening.
Your hate is glaring.
You support and promote the murdering, perverted, debauched left agenda or you would have not have voted for it.
What are you hiding?
Is X some type of hidden gender or lifestyle moniker for you by chance? Because hating has a bitter root and you stand with haters.
Whatever in the world is making you hate so much needs a heart check.
And there's no time like the present..
I’m still extremely busy, but I’ve skimmed through comments. Quickly…
@Constance:
Though I’ve largely been in agreement with you and your work, I must disagree re: Trump. I can mostly echo paul’s statements @ 12:34 PM above.
------
Re: cessationism vs. continuationism:
This isn’t necessarily a debate over the Greek. It’s mainly on interpretation. Though I’d begun as a cessationist, for me, doing an intellectually honest look at the Scriptures, I’ve come away a (cautious) continuationist. Some cessationists use the “perfect” (“completion”—the same verb is used by Jesus as His final words on the Cross) in 1Cor 13:10 to bolster/hinge their interpretation, claiming this was either the finalizing of the Biblical canon or the end of the Apostolic era. But I find such interpretations dubious (eisegesis instead of exegesis), as these are nowhere in the context. We must ask what/who will we (or, did we) ‘see face to face’ or ‘know fully’ (v 12)? This can only refer to the eschaton—the end of all things: thus, continuationism is in force until the eschaton.
And, going back to 1Cor 12, why would the gift of distinguishing between spirits (v 10), e.g., cease?
------
@J:
And speaking of the eschaton, as a partial preterist, by definition you must adhere to some form of ‘futurist’ eschatology, minimally, the return of Jesus. Yet, Revelation begins with the words “for the time is near” (1:3), providing the first part of an inclusio (bookend), the other being “Yes, I am coming soon” (22:20). I say this in reference to your statement, “I don't believe in eclectic eschatology” (though I may misunderstand your intent, as I haven’t followed many of the recent links). Moreover, look at Peter’s words in Acts 2:17-21, noting v 20: “…before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord” (NIV 1984). That is, some of Joel 2 was fulfilled when Peter spoke those words, and some are yet unfulfilled—even though he spoke them as though all were fulfilled or were imminent.
All that to support my previous statement about some things fulfilled and some yet to be fulfilled (and possibly some with dual fulfillment).
"I do not claim to be a discernment minister myself."
Chalk one up for x, finally, got that right at least.
Since I'd recently exegeted the first portion of Revelation as part of a blog post, I'll post it here. The first two verses are one long sentence, but I'd broken it up (minimally) for readability:
---
1:1 [This is] the apocalypse/revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must come soon. He delivered it through His angel to His servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ in all he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep the things written in it, for the time is near.
---
Now that I've posted this, I see the inclusio (bookend) begins at verse 1 (the bold above)--see my 11:12 PM comment.
Craig 11:12 and 11:37 PM,
I appreciate your comments. Your precision helps me sharpen my understanding. I have no further comment but a few things to study and contemplate.
X 9:16 PM,
Biden won --- such victory was predetermined and destined by God. We as Christians must pray for him.
Be careful about assuming how news headlines line up with the working out of God's will and providence in this world.
Does God Pick National Leaders?
The Bible records that Nebuchadnezzar, a powerful ruler over the Babylonian Empire 600 years before Christ, received a vision from God. The prophet Daniel interpreted this dream. Daniel explained that God gave Nebuchadnezzar this vision “in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men” (Daniel 4:17).
“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”
Few developed countries have experienced such a violent ruler in recent times. Yet, the Bible clearly shows that at times God will place terrible leaders in positions of great power for the explicit purpose of fulfilling His plans. As implied in Daniel’s words, Nebuchadnezzar was not a nice man. He threw people alive into hot furnaces if they didn’t bow to his idol. He threatened all of his advisors with mass murder if they didn’t interpret his dream.
This was certainly true of the pharaoh of the Exodus, whose heart God hardened time after time until Egypt was humbled for its evil treatment of God’s people, Israel. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).
God at times has been directly involved in elevating individuals to very prominent positions. He inspired the prophet Isaiah to announce far in advance the rise to power of Cyrus the Great to fulfill His purpose (Isaiah 45:1). It was a century and half later when God gave Cyrus power over the Persian Empire.
At another time, Daniel stated, “Praise the name of God forever and ever . . . He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings” (Daniel 2:20-21, New Living Translation 2013). The apostle Paul, writing to Christians living in the capital city of the Roman Empire, wrote, “All authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1, NLT 2013; see also Psalms 75:6-7; John 19:10-11).
So does this mean that God somehow “endorses” America’s new president or any other leader with all of his or her flaws and foibles? No. What it does mean is that God has a purpose for humanity, a purpose for current events, and He will accomplish that purpose through the leadership that He either puts in place or allows.
The Scriptures show that while God sometimes does indeed decide who will be the leading official of a nation, He also allows people to pick national leaders whose values are not those taught in the Holy Scriptures, even to their detriment. He once criticized His own anciently chosen people with these words: “Israel has rejected the good . . . They set up kings, but not by Me” (Hosea 8:4). The lesson is plain: God only approves of those rulers who have not “rejected the good” as He defines it.
The apostle Paul gives this superb advice for Christians who wonder what to think of the governments they find themselves living under: “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” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, emphasis added).
Praying that God will provide leaders who will work to make it possible for believers to live “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” is commendable and proper in God’s eyes. But first it is critical to learn and practice His will before expecting Him to hear those prayers (see 1 John 3:22). Even Jesus, having complete faith in God’s decisions, prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). And it is in God’s Word, the Bible, where we can find His will revealed.
9:48 AM,
Thanks for that exposition.
My understanding is that God allowed heathen empires and leaders to judge His people and then judged the heathen empires and leaders, too.
My question is, does God still operate this way under the New Covenant?
God Doesn't Change
Malachi 3:6
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/god_doesnt_change
10:54 AM,
Thank you, those are important scriptures to remember.
I still wonder: What does judgement of the nations mean for geographical nations after the New Covenant?
Under the Old Covenant, the geographical nation and ethnic people of ancient Israel formed the only olive tree. Albeit a few Gentile individuals became "adopted" even in Old Testament times.
Under the New Covenant, the Gentile nations became branches grafted onto the olive tree that contained the very first Jewish converts to Christianity, who had accepted their Messiah during that generation.
I struggle to understand the judgement of one big multinational olive tree, although I suppose I can understand judgement of one national branch of an olive tree. That would be consistent with what Paul said.
So many questions ... so many mysteries ... IF ONLY GOD COULD ACTUALLY SPEAK TO US !
Do you want to actually hear God speak to YOU personally ? All you have to do is ...
READ THE BIBLE OUT LOUD !
(I saw this quote yesterday, but can't recall where I saw it. It's one of the very best I've ever seen)
God has both, a perfect will and a permissive will.
What He permits has a perfect time and reason in His planning, it's twists and turns only end up useful to Him anyway. An 11 day journey just out of Egypt into the Promised Land for Israel but became 40 years of wandering for them because of their choice, but God still got them to His planned destination.
That is Him, who raises up kings and brings them down too, all according to His foreknowledge and good purpose behind it. Kings are answerable, but so are the subjects in how they conduct their lives by faith, or not...honor Him or not.
When we look from the human perspective we (if we are believers) we can take whatever and whomever as it comes, in any era, in any circumstance, since God works all things together for good to those that love God (Romans 8:28)...but there is something important in our choosing and answerable if we are in keeping with God's will, or if we are not, because if we are actively going against what He has called good and try to justify ourselves in our own willful ways and plans, He may allow that thing or person with the hardship, punishment, or discipline that goes with the choice...and still His good plan continues...but our consequences will come back to haunt us if we do not choose well. God does no trifling things..He is never not on point.......but are we?
Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.
X trying to sound so high-minded but failing, needs to get a clue about whatever hoping for in the choices made, because God can and will call that to the carpet. There's much for you to answer for X. Good will come in general, from God regardless, but not necessarily for your circumstances in individual willfulness against Him. God even uses hate to corner us and show us many ways to be free of it because His purpose is higher, much higher, than human vices and leanings and the things that pertain. The devil is only a tool in God's toolbelt. Hating is never blessed by God. It is judged. That serves His purpose too. Coming against the Lord's good and His people is regrettable, but God can restore if willing.
https://donsurber.blogspot.com/2021/03/being-president-cost-trump-700-million.html
Unlike the politicians that reek of the swamp (of which Trump is not) he sacrificed for his country while Obama, Clinton, Biden, McConnell and hosts of others profited off of the people.
3:31 PM
In general I liked your post except when you overstated the case when you said:
"Hating is never blessed by God."
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:6
While we are instructed to love OUR enemies, we are not instructed to love GOD'S enemies:
David speaking in regards to God's enemies:
"For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain."
"Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?"
"I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:" - Psalm 139: 20-23
Do you want to actually hear God speak to YOU personally? All you have to do is...
HEAR THE BIBLE READ OUT LOUD!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHZp_z2RSv22iNN3VGCR0x_EzqCPvUU2n
(A tip of the hat to RayB)
Dear 3:46 PM
What you commented on would be of the righteous sort.
There is hating that is not of God. That is what I was commenting on.
God never has to apologize for how He feels and acts...we on the other hand...
Addendum to my 3:57 PM post:
I should mention that that link is not to just somebody reading The Holy Bible aloud but to a DRAMATIZED reading to a nice visual effect!
And...
Music!
Sound Effects!
And (not just one but) Various actors voicing the various people!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHZp_z2RSv22iNN3VGCR0x_EzqCPvUU2n
RayB,
You said: “(I saw this quote yesterday, but can't recall where I saw it. It's one of the very best I've ever seen)”
Did u really forget or not notice that I posted that quote???
I posted it to J as a paraphrased quote Justin Peters uses in his “Clouds without Waters” discernment seminar
Here is a link to the seminar session called “How to Hear Gods Voice Today”
If u want to hear/share the exact “read your Bible out loud” quote advance to 44:04 as it’s kinda in his conclusion to that session
https://youtu.be/JItLcIFL2F8
X (even a stopped clock is right twice a day)
Happy Ronaversary!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToIYCOExWbM
RayB 3:56 PM,
Regarding loving enemies, I prayed to God to reveal to me how I can help Him do his will on earth. Immediately after I got done praying, I had a strong impulse I've never had before, to aid in the conversion of Muslims. So far I've only contributed money to Christian Aid Mission, which brings Bibles to Muslims and helps persecuted Christian converts.
I sometimes wonder why God did not give me an impulse to convert my fellow Americans.
I don't know yet how and when I will do more besides contribute financially, but I intend to study so I'm ready to answer questions and point to scriptures when the opportunity is there and the time is ripe for me to do more.
I know it's not my imagination or my feelings. Immediately after prayer my own imagination and feelings made a U-turn. I'd never in my life dreamed of doing any such thing before.
I didn't hear any voices. I didn't see any visions. Impulse isn't the right word, because it was more lasting and less mindless than an impulse. It was the sudden formation of a goal that I had never before dreamed of and that was contrary to my thoughts and feelings.
P.S. An anonymous poster here brought up whether Muslims worship the same God. Testimony from one terrorist leader who converted to Christianity: he was boldy told to his face that he does not worship the same god and his god is not the true God! He was furious and almost killed the Christian who told him so. But something held him back and he thought about it and changed his mind. It could only have been a miracle of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit was working through God's providence with the Christian who boldly spoke to him under inspiration.
You can see pictures of him before and after his conversion. His eyes look completely different now than they did before. His eyes have peace and joy. I believe before his conversion he likely was in bondage to sin -- as well as the emotions of a vicious cycle of pain, shame and anger -- with anger ultimately coming out the winner repeatedly. It's in his eyes before his conversion.
I'm not saying I intend to confront a terrorist and say these things to his face.
Right now, I only intend some day to help answer questions that come from individuals who have already expressed interest in learning more about the Bible.
I guess I know how and when I will help more. I didn't think I did. I just contradicted myself. How funny. How: answer questions. When: once I have studied enough.
X,
Yes I really did forget where I saw that. The reason? I am a voracious reader and often do not pay enough attention as to where I read something. After reading so much material, I more often than not can't recall where it is that I saw whatever I am quoting.
I apologize for wounding you so deeply for unintentionally failing to give you the credit. Consider yourself now getting all the credit you deserve.
X describes himself: " X (even a stopped clock is right twice a day)"
I think you're being too harsh on yourself. I've seen days where you have been right more than twice, "like a stopped clock." (By the way, the saying actually is; "even a BROKEN clock is right twice per day"). Don't worry, you don't have to give me credit for that, I didn't originate it.
J
I remember over 12 years ago when I was in Jerusalem, being proselytized by a muslim man. He had a brief case with booklets and such to give me to read. I can't remember our back and forth conversation back then, but he had the same air as the Jehovah's witnesses going door to door with their literature.
I worked for two Iranian men a long time ago, and I had good favor with them. They gave me a position of trust in the company handling their bank deposits, and training new employees. Middle eastern people can be really sweet. Some of them will slice your head off, and some will be very kind, and loving!
You don't need a formal degree in reaching out to people with the good news. Just share with them what you do know. Don't enter into anything that leads to debate. This may be your biggest challenge.
J,
Just a couple of thoughts ...
The "enemies of God" that David is referring to in Psalm 139 are those that have made a conscious decision, and are committed, to hating God. Note too that part of what identifies God's enemies is the fact that they use His "name in vain." Using God's name in vain is an indication that the person committing this sin has no "fear of God."
Certainly, there are multitudes that, out of ignorance, live a lifestyle that are in opposition to the things of God. While they may appear to "hate" God, they are acting out of ignorance, and have not made a conscious decision to be His enemy. Then again, there are those that have "seared" their consciences ... "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind ..." Romans1:28
Here is the key thing to keep in mind, IMO ... although we are to do "good" for those that are OUR enemies, we are not to help His sworn enemies in any way that would aid them in their God-hating activities.
Also, I'd like to encourage you to pursue your desire to "convert Muslims," with this caveat; be "wise as a serpent" in doing so. Such personal activity must rely heavily on the Holy Spirit's leadings.
Pot calling kettle black
Biden calls Putin "killer", "has no soul'"
Such hypocrisy from a pervert baby murderer, and a supporter of genocide!
I want to see a quote from Putin stating the obvious, "Biden has NO BRAIN"
https://nypost.com/2021/03/17/biden-says-killer-putin-will-pay-a-price-for-election-meddling/
J & All,
I believe that you'll find these of great interest:
https://www.duckduckgo.com/allah-is-the-moon-god
https://www.duckduckgo.com/jesus-appearing-to-muslims
POPE CALLS FOR ‘NEW WORLD ORDER’, says ‘wasting’ COVID crisis would be worse than pandemic
In true globalist phraseology, Pope Francis has called for a “new world order” following the COVID-19 “pandemic.” He also advocated for global change on “green” issues, warning that “we cannot waste any more time.”
Just yesterday, Vatican News published an excerpt of the Pope’s book length interview “God and the World to Come,” giving an insight into the content of the full work, which will be available in book stores starting tomorrow. Speaking to the Italian journalist Domenico Agasso, Francis stated, “The world will never be the same again.”
In language apparently drawn from the globalist playbook, the Pope called for “a new world order,” built upon his concept of solidarity, which in turn is drawn from his comments and publications on irreligious fraternity. He called for an eradication of “bullying, poverty and corruption.” At the same time, he emphasized the importance of universal healthcare, which would come about through the practice of “social cohesion.”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-calls-for-new-world-order-says-wasting-covid-crisis-would-be-worse-than-pandemic
Putin to Biden After ‘Killer’ Insult: ‘It Takes One to Know One’
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-18/biden-must-apologize-for-putin-killer-claim-russia-says
What a SHOCK !!! Who could have ever, in their wildest imaginations, ever expected that the "Judge" was involved in child pornography?
Milwaukee County Children's Court Judge Charged with 7 Counts of Child Pornography
LGBTQ+ Activist was also the former President/CEO of the Cream City Foundation, a LGBTQ+ organization which is known for hosting ‘Drag Queen Story Hour‘, which is an event where men dressed as women in drag attire read out stories to little children.
Blomme, running as a "progressive," became Children's Court Judge by winning the election against an incumbent, conservative GOP Judge.
https://www.opindia.com/2021/03/usa-milwaukee-local-judge-brett-blomme-drag-queen-story-hour-arrested-possessing-child-pornography/
PS: This won't stop the Lunatics on the Left from continuing to poison our youth with their LGBTQ+ perverted indoctrination.
RayB,
And this won't stop x from defending what he voted for plus defending the mail fraud that guaranteed all this perversion and degradation would become the law of the land either.
This comment was written by "Trumark" on LifeSiteNews, regarding the COVID vaccine:
The Questions to ask:
●”If I get vaccinated can I stop wearing a mask(s)?”
Government: “NO”
●”If I get vaccinated will the restaurants, bars, schools, fitness clubs, hair salons, etc. reopen and will people be able to get back to work like normal?
Government: “NO”
●”If I get vaccinated will I be resistant to Covid?”
Government: “Maybe. We don’t know exactly, but probably not.”
●”If I get vaccinated, at least I won’t be contagious to others – right?”
Government: “NO. the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission.”
●”If I get vaccinated, how long will the vaccine last?”
Government: “No one knows. All Covid “vaccines” are still in the experimental stage.”
● “If I get vaccinated, can I stop social distancing?”
Government: “NO”
● “If my parents, grandparents and myself all get vaccinated can we hug each other again?”
Government: “NO”
● “So what’s the benefit of getting vaccinated?”
Government: “Hoping that the virus won’t kill you.”
●”Are you sure the vaccine won’t injure or kill me?”
Government: “NO”
●”If statistically the virus won’t kill me (99.7% survival rate), why should I get vaccinated?”
Government: “To protect others.”
●”So if I get vaccinated, I can protect 100% of people I come in contact with?”
Government: “NO”
● “If I experience a severe adverse reaction, long-term effects (still unknown) or die from the vaccine will I (or my family) be compensated from the vaccine manufacture or the Government?”
Government: “NO – the government and vaccine manufacturer’s have 100% zero liability regarding this experimental drug”
So to summarize, the Covid19 “vaccine”…
Does not provide immunity
Does not eliminate the virus
Does not prevent death
Does not guarantee you won’t get it
Does not stop you from passing it on to others
Does not eliminate the need for travel bans
Does not eliminate the need for business closures
Does not eliminate the need for lockdowns!!!
RayB,
It's tough to catch nuance and sarcasm in the written word so I just wondered if you were trying to be funny...kind of. I don't care about credit. It wasn't even my quote. Since you enjoyed it...I thought you might could appreciate actually hearing Justin Peters himself.
J,
I spent a couple hours investigating "Christian Aid Mission" without finding a absolute final answer. Since they have been around since the 1970's and long adopted an "Insider Movement" strategy I assume they were involved in "contextualization". I did see some personal and business associations between Wycliffe Bible Translators (via relationships between Christianaid.org's President, David Bogosian and Wycliffe Global Alliance). I bring this up because for discernment. I think you MIGHT want to investigate who you are donating your money to and what they are spending it on. Their tax returns are private...but as a legacy charity whose founder, Bob Finley is deceased (in 2019 age 96) I'm guessing much of their "income" from donations is wasted on exorbitant salaries for their large 35 employee staff and paying Bob's (30 years his Junior) widow.
I could be wrong and welcome correction but I presuming they MAY BE OR WERE, to some extent, a C5 contextualization ministry. I had no idea what that meant until a few years ago but it's a bit of a rabbit hole in itself.
If so...you may be paying for and they may be producing and sending very heretical but Islam-friendly Bible overseas to their culturally embedded ministries.
Here's some info on the differences and perhaps then you might investigate further and figure out what's true TODAY with anyone you choose to assist bringing the Gospel to Muslimes throughout the world (a very important mission - I am not discounting...we all just want to support ministries that actual spread the real Gospel).
Wycliffe's Islam-Friendly Bibles: The Abomination of Cultural Contextualization
http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/?articleid=78433&blogid=5450
Heartbroken over what is happening in Bible Translation Part 2: Wycliffe and the WEA
https://biblicalmissiology.org/2017/05/15/heartbroken-over-what-is-happening-in-bible-translation-part-2-wycliffe-and-the-wea/
Below is a link to a video by Abdu Murray (a convert from Muslim to Christianity himself) described as -"Misguided Mission: How the Insider Movement Robs Converts of the Blessings of Persecution" IM attempts to prevent the persecution [and extraction] of converts from Islam to Christianity. But persecution actually strengthens Christian witness and encourages bold evangelism in other communities as well. Accordingly, IM may actually prevent converts from experiencing God-given blessings that lead to kingdom advancement.
https://youtu.be/MmiNerlBqJ8
The following is an excerpt from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Matthew 10:
But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes. (10:23)
Persecution is never to be sought or endured for its own sake; nor should we intentionally bring it on ourselves, supposedly for Christ’s sake. We have no right to provoke animosity or ridicule. And Christ here urges escaping persecution when doing so is expedient and possible. We are not obligated to stay in a place of opposition and danger until we are killed, or even imprisoned. Whenever they persecute you in this city, Jesus says, flee to the next.
That is the pattern Paul followed throughout his ministry (see Acts 12–14, 17). When persecution became so severe in one place that he could no longer minister effectively, he left and went to another. He was not afraid of persecution, and many times he was severely beaten before he left a city. At least once he was stoned and left for dead. But he did not try to test the limits of the opposition. He endured whatever ridicule, reviling, beatings, and imprisonment were necessary while he ministered. But he left a place when his effectiveness there ceased.
That is the pattern that every faithful minister and missionary is to follow until the Son of Man comes. Even during the Great Tribulation, Christ’s faithful 144,000 people will preach all over the world and keep moving from place to place as they are persecuted and afflicted.
Despite their many misunderstandings, shortcomings, failures, and boastings, the disciples knew that Jesus was their only resource, that without Him they could do nothing (John 15:5). They hung close to Him and huddled around Him whenever there were problems or difficulties. He continually turned nature into one grand parable of God’s sovereignty, power, and love. Every field, mountain, tree, flower, animal, leaf, and threshing floor became a picture of Spiritual truth. He not only taught them, but He cared for them, loved them, and provided for them. When they finally realized He was actually going to leave them, they panicked.
The Lord would indeed send the twelve out among wolves into dangers they could never have imagined while they were with Him. But just as He promised to send them out among wolves, He also promised to send His own Spirit to indwell, empower, and encourage them. If the world persecuted the Master, it would certainly persecute His servants (John 15:20), and a time would soon come when those who killed His followers would actually think they were “offering service to God” (16:2). It was therefore both advantageous and necessary that Jesus go away, in order that the Holy Spirit, the divine Helper and Comforter, could come to them (v. 7). “These things I have spoken to you,” Jesus told them, “that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (v. 33).
How much is Christian Aid’s Chief Executive paid?
Christian Aid’s Chief Executive, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, earned $184,000 last year. We recognise that this is a large sum of money.
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/about-us/how-christian-aid-pays-its-staff
There are a number of choices to pick from:
https://www.duckduckgo.com/christian-outreach-to-muslims
And (oddly) more choices yet if you enter the strung together words (Christian outreach to Muslims) at...
https://www.duckduckgo.com
(This principle holds true for any search with DDG BTW.)
Re: "This won't stop the Lunatics on the Left from continuing to poison our youth with their LGBTQ+ perverted indoctrination."
https://nworeport.me/2021/03/03/watch-woman-makes-little-boy-read-the-gaybcs-a-childrens-book-that-teaches-about-terms-like-coming-out-trans-queer/
And let's not forget such things as...
'Roseanne' Revival:
The Conners Feature A Dress-Wearing Little Grandson
https://www.inquisitr.com/4744753/roseanne-revival-the-conners-dress-wearing-grandson-sets-social-media-on-fire/
Video Anomalies?
https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-03-17-absolute-proof-the-biden-presidency-is-faked-video-green-screen.html
Marvel Comics’ Latest Captain America Is a Gay LGBTQ Activist
Marvel Comics is preparing to introduce a nose ring-wearing, gay Captain America for the character’s 80th anniversary.
He will also be an LBGTQ activist.
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2021/03/17/marvel-comics-latest-captain-america-is-a-gay-lgbtq-activist/
Don Lemon — Traditional marriage ‘is not what God is about’
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2021/03/16/don-lemon-traditional-marriage-is-not-what-god-is-about-n1432844
CNN ratings collapse…
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2021/03/15/trump-slump-forces-cnn-make-tucker-carlson-current-hate-object/
X's "I Love Abortion" Biden Strikes AGAIN !
This time ... Extreme Anti-Christian, No Holds Barred Pro-Abortion RADICAL Takes Over at the Department of Health and Human Services ... Planned Parenthood is "ecstatic" !!
With the confirmation of Xavier Becerra (all Democrats voted FOR, as well as one GOPer, Sen. Susan Collins) Pro-Abortionists feel like they are in dream land. They now have the most radical pro-abortionist in US history running HHS.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/03/18/reaction-to-xavier-becerra-confirmation-americans-must-be-prepared-for-what-is-coming/
PS: recall "X's" enthusiastic, fanatical support for Biden as his "pro-life" candidate? During the campaign, X made the unsupported claim that Biden would return to his "Catholic" roots, and would work to overturn Roe v Wade. How's that working out Mr. X ?
At least Biden is consistent; virtually every appointee is a rabid anti-Christian radical.
Pro-life Evangelicals For Biden say they feel 'used and betrayed' by President on abortion
https://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-evangelicals-for-biden-say-they-feel-used-and-betrayed.html
Video: Absolute PROOF the Biden presidency is faked
https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-03-17-absolute-proof-the-biden-presidency-is-faked-video-green-screen.html
Emergency vaccine alert ~ video
A top vaccine scientist named Geert Vanden Bossche, who has worked with numerous vaccine corporations and organizations including GAVI, is sounding the alarm over the mass vaccination of populations around the world with covid-19 vaccines.
https://beforeitsnews.com/health/2021/03/situation-update-march-16-2021-emergency-vaccine-alert-edition-mike-adams-must-video-3038437.html
A COMING COVID CATASTROPHE
https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2021/03/a-coming-covid-catastrophe-3744703.html
Canadian Man Jailed For Misgendering His Daughter
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2021/03/18/canadian-man-jailed-after-misgendering-his-daughter/
For months, as America was torn apart by riots and 19 innocent Americans were killed, the deceitful mainstream media repeatedly referred to the death of George Floyd as a "murder." The police officers at that scene were all "convicted" by the same media.
Now, the evidence is mounting that Floyd wasn't "killed" at all by the LEGAL police maneuver of the "knee on the neck." Rather, according to the official autopsy, Floyd died from an "enlarged heart along with severe blockage in his main arteries.' He also had "HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF FENTANYL," along with traces of methamphetamines. The autopsy also revealed that Floyd was not "choked to death," and "DID NOT HAVE ANY BRUISES ON HIS NECK."
According to the Mayo Clinic, fentanyl is known to cause "confusion," a "fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat," along with "DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING," along with many other serious side effects. Hence, the "I can't breathe," which Floyd repeatedly stated, ON VIDEO, PRIOR to having Chauvin's knee placed upon his neck.
The MEDIA has very effectively raised the expectations of the MOB to such an extent that they have been primed to be severely disappointed; no matter what the outcome is of the trials, it will not be enough. Count on this: we are in for another "burn it to the ground" summer.
Read: "Who and What Killed George Floyd?" by Patrick J. Buchanan
https://buchanan.org/blog/who-and-what-killed-george-floyd-142867
Problems trying to relate to your misgendered child, bunky?
DON'T DESPAIR
Kellogg's has the solution!
The gay site PinkNews reported:
"If you're a fan of breakfast and being gay, we have grrrrreat news for you - Kellogg's is launching an LGBT-themed cereal so you can start your day with maximum gay!"
www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/alexa-moutevelis/2019/10/18/start-your-day-maximum-gay-kelloggs-launches-lgbt-cereal
It's not possible that the White House is faking Biden press moments, is it?
March 18, 2021
By Andrea Widburg
AmericanThinker.com
Almost two months into the Biden administration, it's an open secret that Joe Biden won't take spontaneous questions from the press. That's why it was peculiar on Wednesday for a clip suddenly to appear purportedly showing Joe answering questions from random reporters somewhere in America. What was even more peculiar was that Joe's hands magically passed through the microphones. In other words, the weird hand illusion (combined with other oddities) in the video suggests that the White House is disseminating fake videos to make it look as if Joe is talking spontaneously to the media.
At first glance, the Bloomberg Quicktake video looks normal. We see Joe walking along as a muffled voice calls out a question to him. We don't see any reporters. Instead, Joe simply walks up to a bank of what are obviously handheld mics. So far, it looks like any other president stopping for a moment to meet with the press. But watch Joe Biden's hands at the microphone around the eight-second mark. That's not supposed to happen:
https://youtu.be/g0139UytcR8
Things get really interesting, though, when you watch the same footage at one-quarter speed!
A few things should have popped out at you when you watched the video slowly. First, Joe himself looks as if he's walking against a green screen. His image is remarkably crisp, yet the scene behind him is very blurred. Still, this could be a trick of the light, the way the camera is focused, or a matter of perspective.
Second, as Joe nears the mics, the top of his head vanishes. This could be how the sunlight hits the white hair, but the top of his head flickers off like a bad computer image.
Third, watch Joe's right hand partially disappear as it swings in front of the green lawn. Again, that could be a trick of the light or perspective. However, it's also a common effect of green screen manipulation.
Most importantly, there's no getting around the impossible atomic magic of his hands passing through the microphones.
Here's another version of the same video, both at regular speed and at quarter speed. It's taken from a different angle, this time showing the back of some reporters' heads along with a possible Secret Service agent:
https://youtu.be/qAPYk1XjwhU
This video doesn't look any more real than the first one, especially if you notice the peculiar shadowy quality when the pale gray fuzzy microphone appears in front of Joe's dark suit. That is the look of something in front of a green screen in a poorly made movie. It doesn't mean that's what's happening. But it's what it looks like.
I'm not the only one noticing this. Stephen Green said Twitter went mad with the story on Wednesday morning. He first assumed it was an ordinary Twitter conspiracy theory, but he changed his mind when he too looked at the video:
Watch President Porchlight's plugs as he approaches the microphones. If that's not a poorly-done greenscreen, then Insanity Wrap doesn't have a clue what might be going on up there.
But then it gets worse.
Watch Biden's right hand pass in front of both microphones in defiance of perspective. Look at the mics again, and they have that not-quite-there appearance of objects green-screened into a video without the proper lighting.
Maybe this is all just some bizarre trick of the light. As Green points out, both Bloomberg and The Hill ran the first clip and they are "two publications, that, whatever their actual merits, pass for reputable."
Nowadays, though, "reputable" is a loaded term when it comes to the American media. Many consider the Washington Post one of America's premier newspapers. But it was the Washington Post that cavalierly admitted that, two months ago, it published a blatantly false article that purported to show Donald Trump bullying and trying to bribe a Georgia investigator into identifying fraud in the election whether or not any existed. This charge was so egregious that it showed up in the second impeachment the Democrats brought against Donald Trump. And it was a lie.
The fact is that we are in an age of increasingly successful fake videos. A recent deep fake of Tom Cruise went viral because it was so eerily good. Flipboard, a technology outlet, has an entire section dedicated to articles about the spread of deep fakes and the difficulty attendant upon determining the truth. It's apparently possible to tell a good deep fake by analyzing reflections in the corneas, but that's not going to help with the type of video purportedly (or really) showing Biden talking to reporters.
It's easy to imagine a future time when Joe Biden is propped up in a corner of his office, Weekend at Bernie's fashion, while a man who looks vaguely like him is deep faked into multiple scenarios and interviews. It's even easier to imagine today's media being complicit in that kind of fraud on the American people. I am not saying that's what's being done now; I am just saying it is not hard to imagine.
UPDATE: A reader with extensive professional experience in creating and editing videos wrote me with his opinion about the video. His opinion, of course, makes more sense than mine, while still casting shade on the administration:
The two fuzzy mics were put in post. It's very hard to pull a clean matte for fuzzy objects. Usually, you simply create them in CG and put them after the fact. These look like they were shot against a blue or green screen and not backlit as you would normally do to intensify and sharpen the details of the edges. The spatial geometry is absurd. The mics go underneath than [sic] over Biden's hand. Real amateur job. They appear in the foreground on both camera angles, allegedly from two different cameras. How would that be possible?
It was a very poor job on all fronts. I could write a full page of criticism but it's so obvious why bother. My son does better rotoscoping on his school film projects.
The question is why on earth would some news organization go to the trouble? IMO, the rest of the image is real. The hot light on the top of Biden's white hair is simply a photographic anomaly that clipped the image and made the top of his head look cut off.
To answer my own question — asking "Why bother?" — the only answer I can come up with is that the sound man was eating a donut at craft service and missed Biden's appearance. The boys in post-production tried to cover for him and took the sound feed from some other news organization and haphazardly comped in the mics. But that sounds preposterous so who knows.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/03/its_not_possible_that_the_white_house_is_faking_biden_press_moments_is_it.html
RE: 11:22 AM post: Jordan Peterson's testimony regarding Bill C16 is what initially brought him to my attention. He called it.
In times like these, it's comforting to know that we have such a strong, sure-footed leader that has both hands on the wheel of State:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UfsqZ1T6E8
Obviously, the Trump Administration is responsible for those faulty stairs.
Meanwhile ... back at the White House ... on the back stairs ....
"Mr. President, let's go over this again. First you grab hold of the railing with your right hand .... no, not that one, the other one. Trust me on this Sir, that is your right hand."
Then, remember me saying before .... "right foot first, then left foot, then right foot then left foot"? I agree, Sir, it is a lot to remember ...."
You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!
You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!
Constance & Co.
This bears reemphasizing:
Nowadays, though, "reputable" is a loaded term when it comes to the American media. Many consider the Washington Post one of America's premier newspapers. But it was the Washington Post that cavalierly admitted that, two months ago, it published a blatantly false article that purported to show Donald Trump bullying and trying to bribe a Georgia investigator into identifying fraud in the election whether or not any existed. This charge was so egregious that it showed up in the second impeachment the Democrats brought against Donald Trump. And it was a lie.
I WANT REPARATIONS
BLM can have...
REPARATION H
More abortion & LGBTQ+ action from X's Main Man:
New White House ‘Gender Policy Council’ will promote abortion and LGBT ideology throughout gov’t agencies
"U.S. President Joe Biden has issued an executive order establishing a new White House Gender Policy Council that will PROMOTE ABORTION and GENDER IDEOLOGY throughout ALL government agencies. ABORTION GROUPS APPLAUDED THE DECISION."
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/biden-establishes-white-house-gender-policy-council?utm_source=featured&utm_campaign=standard
RayB,
How on earth can a real Christian abide coming alongside such ungodliness? Throw their weight behind this out and proud wickedness?
I know your thoughts on this and it is baffling to think that someone calling their self a believer can actually attempt to justify this so I don't see how either.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/03/kamala_harris_exposed_as_a_phony_again_once_again_over_weed_marijuana_pot.html
Smokin' Camel Harris personally preferred weed not cigs..
RayB said: "How on earth can a real Christian abide coming alongside such ungodliness? Throw their weight behind this out and proud wickedness?"
Maga Insurrectionists claiming the Christian faith have twisted themselves in knots over this for years now trying to reconcile their faith and their support of, as Mrs. Cumbey refers to him, an Anti-Christ Trump. I've seen some even recently justify they were just voting for the Republican platform, but that old platform is/was gone -- having been replaced completely by whatever paranoid narcissistic thought or feeling anti-christ Trump had in the moment (which party loyalists were bound to support 100% at risk of censure and/or being blameshifted upon).
I don't idolize Biden. He's not even a Christian. He was the simply the better candidate over an anti-christ Trump.
RayB said "PS: recall "X's" enthusiastic, fanatical support for Biden as his "pro-life" candidate? During the campaign, X made the unsupported claim that Biden would return to his "Catholic" roots, and would work to overturn Roe v Wade. How's that working out Mr. X ?"
Mischaracterization again of my position. Presidents don't "work to overturn Roa v. Wade". Only the Republican-controlled USSC can overturn Roe v. Wade. My position, remains that they are more likely to do so after a Biden victory than a Trump victory. Once Roe is reversed, then it's a REAL political wedge issue to be fought in all 50 states as a states rights issue.
You might have noticed, many Republican-controlled state legislatures are now, as a result of the Biden victory, actually pushing abortion legislation through. These pro-life laws should generate legal cases that should eventually work their way up to the Courts of Appeals and the USSC. Had Trump stolen another election and won, these states would have remained like Oklahoma a few years ago and tabled these laws in committee or watered them down to a political compromise. Had Trump won, his Federal District & Appellate court judges would have continued protecting Roe v Wade by finding these new state pro-life laws were unconstitutional under Roe thereby not forcing the USSC (Roberts) to take up the matter. The USSC would have just continued passing over taking up any abortion cases. Why would Opus Dei Republicans have chosen to rock the wedge issue that is working so well for them?
Republicans were NOT making real progress on abortion. A re-elected lame-duck termed Trump would have even done even less for abortion than he pretended to do his first term. He wouldn't have needed Christians anymore after he won reelection other than for continued worship and idolatry. Unsuccessful and feigned incremental progress towards outlawing abortion is not better than Democrats documented history of successfully reducing the number of actual abortion procedures - either way it's just politics while babies are being murdered.
Politics do not work. It's not a political issue, it's a moral one. There is no gray area within which any political party can claim to be "incrementally" moving towards a political resolution or compromise. Even if (and when) Roe gets overturned, the "political" circus will just continue. In the end, only God, prayer and the Bible are sufficient for ending abortion.
x
RayB: "The truth about crimes that are committed against Asian Americans. Who is it that is "singling" out Asian Americans?"
Using random crime statistics doesn't excuse or justify the recent explosion of Christian Nationalist MAGA insurrectionist Sinophobia.
Here's a couple articles that might help you understand it's not about isolated crimes in various communities; but, rather, the fabric, cohesion and core strength of our multi-cultural multi-ethnic melting pot nation as a whole.
https://isaacweb.org/god-bless-mr-truman-christian-nationalisms-impact-on-anti-asian-hate/
https://faithfullymagazine.com/asian-hate-christian-nationalism/
x
X states:
"RayB said: "How on earth can a real Christian abide coming alongside such ungodliness? Throw their weight behind this out and proud wickedness?"
X,
Try to read a little more carefully. I never said that. The statement was addressed to me by "Anonymous." LOL
X's post @ 4:12 PM is so full of outright lies, misrepresentations, and disinformation that it doesn't even warrant a response.
Does ANYONE actually take this convoluted, twisted poster seriously?
X calls this "random crime statistics" ....
FBI Crime Stats Prove “White Supremacy” Not Responsible For Hate Crime Threat to Asians
https://summit.news/2021/03/19/fbi-crime-stats-prove-white-supremacy-not-responsible-for-hate-crime-threat-to-asians/
FACT: Blacks commit crimes against Asian Americans at a rate of FIVE TIMES the rate of White crimes against Asians. Yet, what gets the play in the media? WHITE HATRED OF ASIANS !
AND ... the Black on Asian crime wave is not a recent phenomenon.
Here is a news account dated May 2, 2010 regarding crime statistics for San Francisco, where there is a relatively large contingency of Asian residents.
The news story refers to the Black on Asian crime wave as "SF's dirty little secret."
Astonishingly, in 85% of the crimes against Asians, Blacks were the perpetrators! Of course, there can't be any "racism" involved here, because we all know that it is impossible for Blacks to be racist.
Here's the link to the story:
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/nevius/article/Dirty-secret-of-black-on-Asian-violence-is-out-3265760.php
"roof Koreans"
"Mischaracterization again of my position"
No it isn't x. You made yourself very clear that you voted, promoted, and supported godlessness. Several posts over many threads by now tell us what you are about. (your hate is showing)
"It's not a political issue, it's a moral one"
You must have checked your morals out at the voting booth then.
Your morals are extremely compromised to throw your weight behind the godlessness of Biden, because he really is your main man, x.
Your morals are not rooted in the Lord's word the Bible. That means you do not hold to, nor act upon, biblical faith. You should have not voted at all if you had that conscience about voting for Trump. That would have been understandable since you claim you are a Christian.
But you are all talk....and no walk. A mere pretender.
And talk all you want but leave the Lord out of it since nothing you stood for, still defend and continue to stand for, represents Him...if you will be at least that honest.
Symbol Definition Of The Day
x = Defacto Democratic Party Operative + Antipathetical Paranoid Delusions About Alternative Media & Opus Dei, Etc.
RayB said: "FACT: Blacks commit crimes against Asian Americans at a rate of FIVE TIMES the rate of White crimes against Asians. Yet, what gets the play in the media? WHITE HATRED OF ASIANS !"
Ummm - that's not even a fake fact from the British-based "summit news"* story you linked.
That article reported upon Table 14 from FBI statistics from 2018. It indicated there were 182,230 "violent incidences" against Asian victims that year.
Of those incidents:
27.5% were by Black offenders = 50,113 incidents
24.1% were by White offenders = 43,917 incidents
24.1% were by Asian offenders = 43,917 incidents
7% Hispanic, 14% others, 3% multiple offenders
How in the world do you get "FIVE TIMES THE RATE"???
That same 2018 FBI table they used also indicates 70% of violent incidences upon Black persons were by other black persons with only 10.6% of such violent incidences upon black persons being by white persons --- I guess you feel that proves that it's really blacks that are the racists towards blacks and why does anyone have any issue with MAGA white supremacy groups and hate crimes when clearly it's the blacks who are the violent racists towards blacks at "SEVEN TIMES THE RATE"???
The point is not all "incidents of violence" by and/or against any particular minority is a "hate crime". This NY Times article does a good job balancing that fact and assesses some preliminary numbers of a recent uptick in hate crime upon Asians while acknowledging it will be several years before any national numbers can be reviewed for 2020. Personally, I don't know see how it's so hard for you to understand or accept that MAGA was largely (not totally) a white nationalist (tribalism) failed hate movement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/nyregion/asian-hate-crimes.html#commentsContainer
*Summit News -Launched in March 2019, Summit News is a far-right conspiracy website. Like most questionable sources this website does not have an about page nor disclosure of ownership. The primary writer appears to be Paul Joseph Watson, who is a former editor for the conspiracy website Infowars. Although not disclosed, Paul Joseph Watson appears to be the owner and editor of this website. Further, Summit News has been banned on Facebook. Overall, we rate Summit News Questionable based on Extreme Right-wing bias, promotion of conspiracies, misleading and unproven stories, and a complete lack of transparency.
Top Conservative News Sites To Read In 2021
The results are in! Who makes it into the top 20 this year?
By: Liberty Nation Staff
January 01, 2021
We want to welcome you to Liberty Nation’s Top 20 Conservative News Sites to read in 2021. For the last two years, LN has generated the most wildly successful list of news sites conservative folks are actually reading. Our list remains the number one DuckDuckGo search result for Top Conservative News sites.
And 2021 looks to be even better.
This is not simply a list of Alexa rankings or a pick of favored sites by LN; it’s a whole lot more. Our methodology includes extensive polling of conservative readers that has been running in the countdown to 2021 coupled with input from select Liberty Nation authors.* To keep our list as representative of the conservative community as possible, we have used an algorithm that factors in last year’s results. We believe this Top 20 represents the most accurate reflection of the top news sites being read by conservatives on the internet.
Unlike many lists out in the Wild West of the web, Liberty Nation’s is not based purely on how many hits the site receives. Without sounding too imperious we like to say “clickbait factories” need not apply. Instead, our Top 20 represents sites with a combination of talent, style, readability, analysis, and provocative thought. We believe conservative readers are an intelligent group, where spin is not necessary.
As a bonus, we’ve once again included a list of the very best Conservative News Aggregator sites for those who like to get all their news from one source.
Without further ado, we proudly present our countdown of Liberty Nation’s Top 20 Conservative News Sites to Read in 2021!
TOP 20 CONSERVATIVE NEWS SITES
#20 Red State – Redstate.com
Unapologetically right-wing, this site offers hard-hitting news aimed at leftist media outlets, politicians, and culture rot.
#19 The Daily Wire – DailyWire.com
The Wire offers solid commentary and the occasional analysis piece that sheds light on unexplored areas – an excellent place to get the initial take on breaking news.
#18 Reason – Reason.com
This libertarian site tied to the Reason Foundation covers politics and culture – and a good deal of comedy in their videos – through an ideologically consistent lens of individual liberty and the free market.
#17 The Washington Times – WashingtonTimes.com
A tried and true lifeline for the few conservatives living in and around D.C., WT has rightly been recognized as a stalwart of contrarian opinion and solid journalism. Its slogan says it all: Reliable reporting, the right opinion.
#16 The Conservative Treehouse – TheConservativeTreehouse.com
An interesting mix of reporting, passion, and analysis, described as The Last Refuge, the Treehouse offers insight and opinion that is lacking in much of the media world. It has a growing audience and is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with on the political right.
#15 The American Spectator – Spectator.org
A longtime leader in conservative thought, The American Spectator offers up content that is at once strikingly original, thought-provoking, plain-spoken, and often satirical. Its new design is particularly user-friendly.
#14 Just The News – JustTheNews.com
Flagship of the award-winning investigative journalist John Solomon, Just The News lands with a huge bang. Great reporting, excellent coverage, and a fast-growing media presence all in a tidy site that is easy to navigate and up-to-date.
#13 Media Research Center – MRC.org
After 30 years of filling a crucial and previously unfilled role – documenting left-wing media bias – MRC has rightly become a giant in conservative circles. Their website offers skillful reporting and analysis of how the media characterizes and responds to the day’s big stories.
#12 New York Post – NYPost.com
With hard-hitting coverage, the Post pulls no punches and goes against the grain in a 90% liberal city – kudos for breaking the Hunter Biden laptop story and for having the strength to stay the course.
#11 One America News Network – OANN.com
A first-time entry on the LN list, this news network is already a firm favorite with conservatives and even President Trump himself. Offering thoughtful television programs and a companion news site, its growth over the last year has been nothing short of phenomenal.
#10 The Daily Caller – DailyCaller.com
Incredibly readable, a great news source, and, drawing upon the Daily Caller News Foundation’s work, it brings in-depth coverage of significant political developments barely covered – if at all – in the establishment media.
#9 American Thinker – AmericanThinker.com
A triumph of substance over style, going well below the surface and hype to examine the heart of American politics and the players in the game, with no-holds-barred deep dives into interactive topics of national security, diplomacy, economic policy, and more.
#8 PJ Media – PJMedia.com
Moving two spaces up the leaderboard, PJM is a casual, entertaining, and thought-provoking site that covers not only politics and culture but also delves into subjects such as faith and parenting. This site doesn’t hold back in going after the left – and it does so in an entertaining and often humorous manner.
#7 Townhall – Townhall.com
A longtime favorite of conservatives, Townhall offers a wide variety of content from notable free-market figures and is thought to be a must for conservative news junkies seeking reliable coverage of the big issues. It is a classic oldie, but goodie.
#6 The Epoch Times – TheEpochTimes.com
This is the highest-ranked new addition to the list. Epoch offers the whole package, breaking news, analysis, opinion, and some exclusive shows with a lot of potential. Very informative when it comes to international news with a great layout.
#5 Judicial Watch – JudicialWatch.org
Once again, in the number five slot, Judicial Watch is perhaps best known for its aggressive pursuit of official wrongdoers and offers a superb example of a site that does not necessarily attract the most viewers but offers exceptional content that our writers and readers value and therefore rate highly.
#4 The Gateway Pundit – TheGatewayPundit.com
Moving up four places from last year, Gateway Pundit has a well-earned reputation for offering fresh angles on old news and unveiling stories hard, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. It’s a go-to site that is certainly one to watch out for in the future.
#3 Liberty Nation – LibertyNation.com
Moving up yet another spot since 2020, Liberty Nation presents as a full multi-media site, expanding its offerings beyond articles to an extensive array of high-quality videos, podcasts, and a nationally syndicated radio show. Liberty Nation offers original conservative and libertarian content not found elsewhere by employing a bodacious, entertaining, and informative writing style.
#2 Breitbart – Breitbart.com
Breitbart is the go-to site for voluminous coverage of all things political and cultural. It has built a well-earned reputation for its brash style and out-of-the-box conservative and libertarian thought and is the flagship of in-your-face conservative commentary. Breitbart pulls few punches, earning it the eternal contempt of the left – which its writers and editors consider a badge of honor, no doubt.
#1 The Federalist – TheFederalist.com
Its third year in the top five and first year in the number one spot, The Federalist is a powerhouse of conservative thought with superb writers. Rather than focus on breaking news, this site is a bastion of depth, breadth, and analysis. If you’re looking for rational and logical refutations of the leftist worldview, this is a good place to start.
BEST CONSERVATIVE NEWS AGGREGATORS
News aggregators are fast becoming a staple in the conservative media diet. With the fall from grace of The Drudge Report among those on the political right, which aggregators are up to the task? In 2021, you have a range of options. We present Liberty Nation’s Top Three Best Conservative News Aggregators:
#3 Conservative News Direct – ConservativeNewsDirect.com
Easy to use and displaying only stories from top-rated websites, this aggregator is for those who only want the cream of the crop in terms of their news diet. Regularly updated, it’s a fantastic site for keeping up on the latest news.
#2 ConservativePlaylist – ConservativePlaylist.com
This site is easy on the eyes, simple to navigate, and doesn’t suffer from the cluttering aspect inherent in so many other aggregators. CP has a solid range of links from good quality websites.
#1 WHATFINGER – Whatfinger.com
The WHATFINGER juggernaut goes from strength to strength. It offers news and video aggregation and is fast becoming a real alternative to Drudge. Whatever you are looking for, you will likely find it on WHATFINGER.
Honorable Mentions
Rantingly – Rantingly.com
Rantingly is a relative newcomer. The site provides a good layout, is easy to navigate, and hosts some quality content – one to watch in the future.
Rense – Rense.com
Jeff Rense’s eponymous site is a treat for those who like things a little bit different.
AllNewsPipeline – AllNewsPipeline.com
Offering a mix of regular news and alternative, ANP is simple to use and regularly updated.
* LibertyNation.com authors participating in this survey: Tim Donner, Mark Angelides, Scott D. Cosenza, Jeff Charles, and Graham J. Noble.
Liberty Nation Staff
We consider ourselves genuine patriots — the kind of people who get chills when fireworks go off on the Fourth of July, who reflexively stand up when the National Anthem is played and believe America is still the greatest nation on earth. And we believe this nation is filled with others like us who have not been afforded the opportunity to be heard.
https://www.libertynation.com/top-conservative-news-sites
https://www.libertynation.com/top-conservative-news-sites
-------------------------------------------------------
Yet more good resources:
PreppersDailyNews.com
CitizenFreePress.com
WorldNetDaily.com
Censored.news
3:14 AM,
You are leaving out one very important statistic: percentage of total population.
X posted that Summit News is a very bad place to get news.
I immediately thought "Wow, that's probably a pretty good site for news then."
It is.
Just check it out for yourself to see now just how trustworthy X really is:
https://summit.news
HILARIOUS
Comedy Break: The Biden stair memes are flowing like milk and honey!
https://disrn.com/news/comedy-break-the-biden-stair-memes-are-flowing-like-milk-and-honey
I'm soooo shocked, you could knock me over with a feather:
Leader of Atlanta's Black Lives Matter is indicted for spending $450,000 in "donations" on his own home, guns and prostitutes.
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/black-lives-matter-leader-in-greater-atlanta-indicted-for-spending-donations-on-a-house-guns-and-prostitutes/
RayB,
What a dishonest way to use statistics. Again, violent crimes isn't a measure of hate crime and general discrimination and being treated like crap by "conservatives".
There are two errors with your math.
1. Interview any particular Asian victim of violence from 2018 and according to these statistics it will not be 5 times more likely that the perpetrator was a black person versus a white person. It's fairly equal in 2018 (27.1% that it was a black, 24% it was white)
2. Without population statistics regarding where these crimes actually took place other than somewhere in the united states (we don't even know if they US citizens), general racial population statistics offer very little statistically information. For example, if 90% of such reported crime upon Asians occurred in urban populations, the ratio of the white/black population would be significantly different around that particular Asian person. Why not just consider the WORLD racial population which estimates there are about 1.2 billion white and 1 billion black individuals right now, again...equalizing your "rate" statistics??? I mean, a black person living in central America lives a lot closer to southern California than the caucasions of the Northern Plains and rural Northeast.
I'm not being all "critical race theory" on you. I'm not advocating you and other MAGA insurrectionists need sensitivity training. Just take ownership of what your nationalistic political movement means:
"Nationalism: having or expressing strong identification with one's own nation and vigorous support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations."
and realize that kind of movement has a long history of categorizing peoples as US versus them, even within it's own population, which naturally leads to smaller and less represented minority citizens experiencing bullying, ostracization, violence and fear.
Instead of denying it...work to be the Christian light who speaks out against such while promoting the sharing the Gospel with all.
It's going to be OK. God is sovereign.
x
The Biden memes won’t stop…
https://twitter.com/i/status/1373054952159993856
X,
I'll offer no comment on the way you interpret stats (though I certainly could provide critique), but let me pose two questions to you:
1) Do you believe China should be considered a country espousing Nationalism?
2) More neutrally, do you believe Japan should be considered a country espousing Nationalism?
I'll critique x's comment.
That post at 10:34 PM was posted by a self-righteous, amoral, ingrate.
x, You're on the wrong-side of everything when you speak and live christianese.
If you really knew the Gospel you would be ashamed at aiding and abetting sin (anybody's) for which Jesus died.
"US versus them" is your game X.
Own it.
Craig,
Please do everyone a favor and go right ahead and critique X's way of interpreting statistics.
If X can't understand simple math then that has to be addressed.
First things first.
"The last beast empire in Daniel is Rome (ancient Rome). After that the rock (Christ) crushes the composite beast."
you are confusing the beasts with the sections of the statue earlier. that was the first coming, but books are opened and saints judge and the other three beasts are allowed to continue after the fourth that conquered them is destroyed. THIS IS THE SECOND COMING. the four beasts are now or near future. NOT ANCIENT.
CESSATIONISM IN SCRIPTURE I Cor. 13: 8-10 Gradual and what was specified as passing away were spectacular gifts not the practical building up and maintaining the churches.
"WHAT MUST COME SOON." By God's time not ours. a day is as a thousand years with Him and a thousand years as a day.
DISCERNMENT MINISTRIES MISNAMED discernment OF SPIRITS is what this gift is called. dot connecting and recognizing sin and evil and heresy and being streetwise is another thing.
"This is a rather careless and random way of bringing up this kind of a huge historical, ecclesiastical and theological subject."
I am allowed ONE WEEKLY POST system only allows 4,000+ characters. red horse rider might be relevant.
as for bleeding icons, this is very physical, I have a little vial with a trace of the rose scented myrrh that streams from the Iverin Icon. It is possible that when bleeding statues in the west were found to have no blood in the fluid, what it was was myrrh which is reddish.
deception is a possibility, it is called plani in Greek and Prelest in Russian, and the latter at least covers the range from a personal "fancy" or odd belief to flat out possession.
As for the strong man being bound, yeah, he is CRIPPLED but not fully bound or there would be no need for exorcists and no spiritual warfare.
Also, efforts to reduce Revelation to symbolism only begin in bad company. The fact is, that Revelatio shows this event is AFTER THE SECOND COMING, and that the devil will be so bound he can't tempt the nations, believers or unbelievers as it is he tempts both. At present he is crippled. That's bound enough for most purposes.
Good info about gates, people seem to think that the gates of hell would be attacking the church, nope, gates are DEFENSIVE this is about the church on the offensive defeating the forces of hell.
Each time the JErusalem icon bled it was farther down the body the last time was on legs, five months before 9-11. Which was a staging trigger for much misery in the Middle East, which is where prophecy centers, and elsewhere.
OT and NT have free will support stuff also. This is a Mystery. However in Ephesians chapter one Paul refers to us and we as predestined etc. then you who believed at our preaching are told they have the same advantages as he and his group. So some are predestined and some are catch as catch can.
Augustine overreacted to Pelagianism. and helped make several problems down the road, such as the filioque. At one point he reduces description of The Holy Spirit from being a Person to the love between the Father and the Son, a state of mind so to speak.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IS NOT AN ISSUE. that is a given. and it has no bearing on free will vs. predestination. God in His Sovereign power might have decided to make it all depend on free will or all o n prevenient grace, or on a mix. Whatever His sovereign decision, He is sovereign.
RATE - probably issue is percent of population that is black vs. percent of them doing stuff.
Christine Erikson (aka Justina)
You always reply that "I am allowed ONE WEEKLY POST system only allows 4,000+ characters" when your lack of fully and consistently coherent writing is brought up.
You don't get it.
(It's not like you were a second Shakespeare before your restriction was imposed, you know.)
Coherence is NOT a matter of quantity.
It's a matter of QUALITY.
You see, you quite evidently simply don't currently HAVE the understanding to write coherently and your excuse of putting too much in inadequate space to express it properly ISN'T the main problem. That apparent lack of understanding in making whatever you are saying reasonably well said in whatever amount of space that you have to work with IS.
Please spare us our weekly headache and get it:
List of Free English Composition Courses and Classes
https://study.com/articles/List_of_Free_English_Composition_Courses_and_Classes.html
Christine,
Given your stance RE Cessationism, I must ask:
Who/what is the "perfect/complete" in v 10 and when did it/she/he come (v 12)?
Monopoly For The Woke: Hasbro Enhances Its Community Chest
March 21, 2021
By Sarah Cowgill
LibertyNation.com
The Hasbro toy company’s self-flagellation has gone from mildly amusing to downright irritating and, frankly, it seems somewhat irrational. On the heels of last week’s declaration that Mr. Potato Head was now just an androgenous tuber instead of a masculine spud, the toy company has clearly upped their game or lost their collective minds. On this week’s woke upheaval, the Hasbro standard-bearer of board games is undergoing a few cosmetic changes. Monopoly, the capitalist game that everyone has on a shelf somewhere, is getting a boob job.
Read more: https://www.libertynation.com/monopoly-for-the-woke-hasbro-enhances-its-community-chest
NAACP to NFL: "Rethink" relationship with Fox because Fox News spreads "hatred, bigotry, lies, racism"
https://disrn.com/news/naacp-asks-nfl-to-rethink-its-relationship-with-fox-because-fox-news-spreads-hatred-bigotry-lies-and-racism
X,
In an effort to help you understand, I'll attempt to break this down into the simplest of terms:
Let's apply purely hypothetical "statistics" involving dog breeds and dog bites. One group (Beagles) represents a HUGE majority, coming in at 62% of the entire dog population. The other at 13% (Pit Bulls), represents a SMALL minority. Comparatively speaking, Pit Bulls are outnumbered by Beagles at a ratio of 5 (4.8) to 1.
While representing 62%, Beagles are responsible for 24% of all dog bites.
Pit Bulls, while representing ONLY 13%, are responsible for 27.5% of all dog bites, which computes to a 3.5% increase over the MUCH smaller group of.
Now, it's time to put your thinking cap on X. If given a choice of entering a dark room full of Beagles or Pit Bulls, which would YOU choose to enter?
You've given some awesome advice for MCE there, 9:13 AM, though I doubt she'll thank you for it.
I really don't want to enter into this Cessationism controversy, but would like to make the following observations:
First, the Apostolic age was unique. People were instantly healed, the blind were given their site, and the dead were raised back to life. Tongues were KNOWN LANGUAGES that were spoken by people that were not of that dialect, among various groups of people, which were understood by them to be a miracle. WHERE is any of that taking place today?
The RCC promotes itself along the same lines of Cessationism. Catholicism promotes itself as the true Apostolic Church, beginning with Peter as their first "pope." I often ask Catholics this question: if the Papacy is the continuation of the Apostles, and Peter was the first pope, why is it that succeeding "popes" cannot, and, do not, raise people from the dead as Peter did? Nor do "popes" perform provable miracles, such as giving sight to the blind, healing people of severe impairments and disease, etc.?
I once heard Joni Eareckson Tada give an account regarding her experience with "faith healers." Joni had become a quadriplegic due to a diving accident in 1967. Out of desperation, Joni attended a healing crusade put on by the famous "faith healer" Kathryn Kuhlman. While Kuhlman claimed to "heal" many in attendance of "ailments," such as bad knees, arthritis, hearing loss, etc. those in wheelchairs, like Joni, were left in a hidden holding area and never made it on stage. Why? Because Kuhlman's inability to "heal" those bound in wheelchairs would expose to the "believing" crowd that Kuhlman was an absolute fraud.
More on tongues; the "tongues" that are commonly practiced in charismatic churches today are not done in accordance to the Biblical mandates. Read this:
"If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret."
"But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." - 1 Corinthians 14:27-28
NOTE: I have personally witnessed "tongues" in a charismatic church. It is utter chaos, with many in the congregation all "speaking" at once, and there is no interpreter.
Also, I've known personally "tongues" speakers. In each and every case, those that I have personally known lived very ungodly lives! Just three for illustration; one was an unrepentant homosexual, another was an admitted serial adulterer, another was a vulgar, blasphemous, lying individual that constantly used God's name in vain, and yet, all of these "spirit filled believers" "spoke in tongues."
Kenneth Copeland Music Video
"Tongues, They Are A-Waggin!"
https://youtu.be/GBIDsFeGESc?t=2
Christine,
Sometimes you seem so rational and then some other times you bust out with bleeding icons.
Are you even serious at all?
RayB,
If the nazi-Beagles were all wearing MAGA hats and Kevlar vests, it's safe to say if I were Asian, I'd choose the pit bulls. At least I have a better chance knowing one of them personally seeing how my neighborhood is full of pit bulls and I haven't seen a nazi-Beagle in years.
In an effort to help you understand, I'll attempt to break this down into the simplest of terms:
1. Well over 90% of Asians live in Urban Areas so your population numbers are arbitrary and misleading (they include a huge number of whites completely removed from Asians, blacks and related violence upon such populations). Consider this quote from 2004.
"Asian Americans are now the most urbanized U.S. population, with about 95 percent living in urban rather than rural residences. Asian Americans continue to be geographically concentrated in the West Coast and Hawaii. More than one-third of single-race Asian Americans (4.1 million) live in California, and an additional 538,000 call Hawaii home, but sizable numbers live in other large states such as New York (1.2 million), Texas (649,000), Illinois (481,000), and Florida (316,000). There are almost 800,000 (single-race) Asians in New York City alone — this is more than twice the number in Los Angeles. Like Latinos, many Asian Americans are also migrating into interior states with growth in the South, Midwest, and mountain regions." - https://www.prb.org/asianamericanchildrenaremembersofadiverseandurbanpopulation/
2. About 30% of the 18.64 million Asians in the US (5.6 million total) live in either the LA Area, New York City Area or in the San Francisco bay area.
3. LA County alone is 1.5 Million of the 4 Million Asians living in California and it's about 26% white (non-hispanic white), 24% Hispanic, 10% Black, 14% Asian and 26% "other". LA County is a huge place so how many whites actually live in "immigrant" neighborhoods is probably a lot less than that.
4. Your "5 times more likely" racist excusing statistic also doesn't hold water if you look at ALL US Urban County populations by race breakdown while considering around 95% or so of the crimes versus Asians would have occurred where they live, as follows:
44% White
27% Hispanic
17% Black
about 8% Asian
about 4% other
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/05/22/demographic-and-economic-trends-in-urban-suburban-and-rural-communities/psd_05-22-18_community-type-01-08/
5. These are violent crime stats, not hate crimes. Of the 7,120 U.S. hate crimes reported to the FBI in 2019, California reported 14% of those (1063 incidences). Our most racists states, surprisingly, had very few reported hate crimes. Alabama reported ZERO, Georgia had 35, Mississippi had 5, Louisiana had 45, Florida had 141.
X
p.s.- Craig - we are a predominantly Christian nation that should be seeking to be better than both China and/or Japan and their history of nationalism. Our diversity could remain our strength absent all this neo-nationalism and hatred upon some of our own American citizens. Trump's unnecessary "nationalism" has reinvigorated nationalism throughout the world (including China and Japan where Makoto Sakurai is being referred to as Japan's Trump and the rise of the anti-Korean "Zaitokukai"). As a result of MAGA, the world and the US are now more dangerous places to live. Further, other than the Indigenous American Indian populations, our nation is, on average, probably two-generation removed from a foreign land - we are nearly all immigrants, children or grandchildren of an immigrant ancestor. This differs greatly from China and Japan which have culture(s) that have been in place for over 1000 years.
"Figures don't lie, but liars figure."
-Mark Twain
Question: "What does the Bible say about demonic/satanic miracles?"
Answer: You will be hard pressed to find someone who has never heard of some kind of religious miracle. Many Catholics are convinced of the validity of various sightings of the Virgin Mary, stigmata, weeping or bleeding statues, and even “incorruptible bodies.” There are reported miracles in other religions, as well—Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam all claim to have documented miracles.
Satan has the power to perform miracles. While his power is limited, he can and does perform miracles in order to deceive. John 8:44 says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Satan can make himself appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He does this to draw people away from God.
When Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, they performed a miraculous sign to confirm their message from God (Exodus 7:8–10). The magi of Egypt were able to perform the same miracle “by their secret arts” (verse 11). God’s miracle was shown to be greater (verse 12), but the fact is that the magi were able to perform a satanic miracle in the king’s court.
During the tribulation, the Antichrist “will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). These miracles are explicitly said to be empowered by Satan. Jesus warned that the end times will be characterized by the treachery of counterfeit prophets who “will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive” (Matthew 24:24).
The existence of demonic miracles is one reason why we must test all spirits: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Any time we are in doubt, we are to make sure that what is being taught lines up with what Scripture says. If the miracle worker is teaching something contrary to God’s Word, then his miracles, no matter how convincing they seem, are a demonic delusion.
Examples of convincing demonic miracles today are the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in different countries. These appearances of Mary seem legitimate; indeed, they are believed by millions of people. But when we compare what the apparitions say to what Scripture teaches, it is not even close. Over the course of several Marian apparitions, we are told that God wants to establish worldwide devotion to Mary’s immaculate heart, that souls will be saved if devotions to her immaculate heart are established, that she is the mediatrix between man and God, that praying the rosary is required to enter heaven, that she receives and answers prayer, that taking communion makes reparation for sins committed against her, and that blessed objects should be worn and placed in homes.
None of these messages are of God. Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6). Mary does not have an “immaculate” (sinless) heart. Devotion to Mary is not necessary, and the Bible never instructs us to pray to anyone but God. Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1).
The message of the Marian apparitions clearly contradicts Scripture. Did the people who claim to have seen Mary experience a real miracle? Yes, possibly. However, the entity calling itself “Mary” is not working for God’s glory or pointing people to Jesus Christ. Rather, Mary is being glorified.
Demonic miracles are real and they do occur. It is our responsibility to make sure that we do not give in to them. We must keep our Bibles open and put God’s revealed truth ahead of any miracle we see.
https://www.gotquestions.org/demonic-satanic-miracles.html
How to make a weeping statue:
In his book "The Unexplained," Doctor Karl P.N. Shuker, mentions a paper by Dr. Luigi Garlaschelli from Pavia University published in Chemistry in Britain. It describes how to make a statue weep.
An except from the book is: "What is needed is a hollow statue made of a porous material such as plaster or ceramic. The icon must be glazed or painted with some sort of impermeable coating. If the statue is then filled up with a liquid (surreptitiously, through a tiny hole in the head, for example), the porous material will absorb it, but the glazing will stop it from flowing out. If the glazing, however, is imperceptibly scratched away on or around the eyes, tear-like drops will leak out, as if materialising from thin air. If the cavity behind the eyes is small enough, once all the liquid has dripped out there are virtually no traces left in the icon. When I put it to the test, this trick proved to be very satisfactory, baffling all onlookers."
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_stat.htm
The extreme you call "nationalism" is not at all what national sovereignty is, x. Falling quite short of extreme versions, are regular people who just love their country and defend it, all for one, one for all. My own son, who served his country, is not extreme as you would brand him, nor myself, but your progressive aims are targeting us and the millions just like us.
Trump was protecting our sovereignty as a nation, like all the nations can do. Globalism is a liberal progressive cancer to eliminate all the cultural differences and diversities that make up the world to produce a one size fits all uniformity, not unity, like our country was designed to be..the beautiful concept of out of many, one.
You progressives, in your religion and your politics, screw up every opportunity for God given freedom to spread all across the world because you people are so damned "righteous" in your humanism, with great religious fervor, targets and cancels the very Gospel for your "better" ideas of ruling the world while enslaving people to that upcoming world system as you tear down God's grace that builds righteous nations. Sadly, America is no longer a nation that would identify as Christian because it has left it's founding principles that came from the Bible. So in vogue now is your beliefs, that cram godless uniformity(for that ungodly brand of "justice") and must do it ultimately by violent means. We only need look at your main man Biden and see the endgame in a full out globalism (there's the real "ism" for the world to be afraid of) just up ahead. America is now for the history books. No surprise to God, or to me, as I read His Word.
Your brand of religion/politics fixes what is broken till broken beyond repair.
(Thankful I am not stuck in your household)
You and your people aren't God as you think you are, and will be held accountable.
Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
This is you and your people, x. Offensive to God, to all things noble and decent.
Above and beyond the very idea of the nations God has allowed to see the light of day throughout all of time, is His plan for every tongue and tribe and nation to be represented in His heaven, so you can have this dump (by comparison) down here, x. Have a nice life as long as you can before your desired global dream (nightmare) kicks in.
P.S. Like most of what you post, your math doesn't add up either..
I am deeply encouraged by the work of Adam Kinzinger (Republican - Illinois) and the courageous stand he has taken to restore the Republican Party to where it should be. Trump giving an enemies' list including the whole Supreme Court, Adam Kinzinger, Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, et al was alarming and disgusting. Recently, Trump requested people stopped donating to the Republican Party and send to his PAC instead. No way,no how!!!
Constance
TDS Test
https://www.gotoquiz.com/trump_derangement_syndrome_quiz_test
Adam Kinzinger
After the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump was defeated by Joe Biden, Kinzinger denounced Trump's 'false' claims that the election was "stolen" and criticized Trump's attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. In December 2020, after Trump repeated his baseless claims of fraud on Twitter, Kinzinger tweeted that it was time for Trump to delete his Twitter account. He also criticized the Texas Republican Party, and called for the firing of its chairman Allen West, when the party floated the idea of secession, after the Supreme Court rejected Texas v. Pennsylvania, a bid by the state of Texas to overturn the presidential election outcome.
On January 7, 2021, the day after the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a violent pro-Trump mob, Kinzinger became the first Republican member of the House to call for Trump's removal from office via the 25th Amendment. In a video message, Kinzinger said that Trump had "abdicated his duty to protect the American people and the people's house," and his behavior made it clear that he had become "unmoored" from both his duties as president and "reality itself." He urged Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, saying that Trump was "unfit" and "unwell." Five days later, Kinzinger announced that he would vote in favor of the Trump's second impeachment. He stated that there was "no doubt" that Trump "broke his oath of office and incited this insurrection." He also accused Trump of using the power of his office to launch a direct attack on Congress. He asked, "If these actions–the Article II branch inciting a deadly insurrection against the Article I branch–are not worthy of impeachment, then what is an impeachable offense?" On January 13, he joined nine other Republicans in voting for impeachment. In response, some Republicans have vowed to support a primary challenge to Kinzinger. Kinzinger received a letter from eleven members of his family asserting he had joined "the devil’s army" for publicly turning against Trump. Kinzinger said the family members suffer from "brainwashing" from conservative churches that led them astray.
Country First PAC
In early 2021, a few weeks after the 2021 Capitol riot, Kinzinger launched the Country First PAC, as a means to reform the Republican Party and distance itself from far-right 'conspiracies'
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Kinzinger
(This guy's a real prize package we should all get behind, lol)
correction
In December 2020, after Trump repeated his 'baseless' claims of fraud on Twitter, Kinzinger tweeted that it was time for Trump to delete his Twitter account.
Trump Drafting 'Enemies List' of Republicans to Challenge in Primaries
By Rick Moran
PJmedia.com
Jan 24, 2021
Until about five years ago, Donald Trump’s political donations skewed heavily toward the Democrats. This isn’t that surprising, given his New York roots.
But even after getting elected president, Trump never considered himself a “party man.” He used the Republican Party as a springboard and a platform to run for president.
Now, he’s in the process — wittingly or unwittingly — of destroying it.
Trump is apparently making a list of Republican lawmakers who, he feels, didn’t back him strenuously enough or actually voted against him during the impeachment fight in the House. He will almost certainly add to that list when the Senate trial is concluded, as there could be as many as 10 Republicans voting to convict. His plan is to make their lives miserable by threatening to oppose their reelections.
The problem for Republicans is that, if Trump is serious about primarying all these lawmakers, he’s likely to dislodge at least a few of them and weaken others so they’d be vulnerable when they run for reelection. Instead of seeing a path back to power in the House and Senate in 2022, Trump’s plan to weaken the Republican Party might hand the Democrats a 10-year pass on maintaining a majority.
Trump’s plan to form a “Patriot” party or a “MAGA” party would be extremely difficult. But using the threat to form a new party may prove to be very useful when the Senate impeachment trial starts on February 8.
Daily Mail:
Trump has told people that the third-party threat gives him leverage to prevent Republican senators from voting to convict him during the Senate trial next month, people in his orbit told the Washington Post.
Since President Joe Biden took office, Trump has been ensconced at Mar-a-Lago, remaining publicly cryptic about his plans except to tell a reporter on Friday: ‘We’ll do something, but not just yet.’
But behind closed doors, Trump is already drafting an enemies list of Republicans who opposed his baseless claims of election fraud, instructing aids to prepare primary challenges against them, sources told the Post.
Creating a new political party would necessarily involve destroying one of the existing parties. Trump may be perfectly willing to do that, but is it even possible? Ross Perot tried it and failed. There has been talk for years of forming a hybrid GOP-libertarian party, but the differences have been impossible to bridge.
Trump may want to form a new party, but unless it’s radically different than the Republican Party, the effort is not likely to succeed.
‘This is a time for choosing for Republicans. Are we going to be the conservative party?’ said Kirk Adams, a former state House speaker and chief of staff to Ducey. ‘Or is this a party … that’s loyal to a single person?’
It´s a question of Republican identity that party officials and activists are facing across the country following Trump´s 2020 loss, and particularly after a mob of his supporters laid siege on the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
For Republican lawmakers, the choice is not easy. A friendly Trump could help them immensely, just like an unfriendly Trump could destroy them. In that sense, the question is moot. It’s Trump who brung them to the dance. It’ll be Trump who’s number one on the dance card.
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2021/01/24/trump-drafting-enemies-list-of-republicans-to-challenge-in-primaries-n1408023
And speaking of list-compiling...
Leftists, Never Trumpers Begin Compiling Lists of Trump Supporters
By Joel B. Pollack
Breitbart
11/6/20
Left-wing Democrats and Never Trump Republicans appealed Friday for assistance in compiling lists of Trump supporters to they could be held “accountable” for supporting President Donald Trump after the election.
“Democratic socialist” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted: “Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity in the future? I foresee decent probability of many deleted Tweets, writings, photos in the future.”
Michael Simon, who describes himself as a former staff member in Barack Obama’s administration, replied in the affirmative, linking to what he called the “Trump Accountability Project”:
Yes, we are.
The Trump Accountability Project
Every Administration staffer, campaign staffer, bundler, lawyer who represented them — everyone.
— Michael Simon (@mbsimon) November 6, 2020
The database at the site includes a list of federal judges appointed by the president.
Others also tweeted to announce the project:
We’re launching the Trump Accountability Project to make sure anyone who took a paycheck to help Trump undermine America is held responsible for what they did.
Join us and help spread the word.
— Emily Abrams (@emabrams) November 6, 2020
Jennifer Rubin, a Washington Post columnist and Never Trumper, tweeted that anyone challenging the 2020 election results should not only be disqualified from holding public office, but ostracized from society.
“Any R now promoting rejection of an election or calling to not to follow the will of voters or making baseless allegations of fraud should never serve in office, join a corporate board, find a faculty position or be accepted into ‘polite’ society,” she tweeted. “We have a list.”
Prior to the election, some left-wing commentators called for a South Africa-style “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” for Trump supporters.
The original Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealt with gross abuses of human rights, primarily by the apartheid regime, which imposed racial segregation and tortured and murdered political dissidents in custody.
Update: Others appear to be assisting the effort:
Calling my more technical friends to aid this important project
— Jenna Lowenstein (@just_jenna) November 6, 2020
Hari Sevugan
@HariSevugan
You better believe it. We just launched the Trump Accountability Project to make sure anyone who took a paycheck to help Trump undermine America is held responsible for what they did.
Of the above, Sevugan and Abrams are both former staffers for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign. Buttigieg is a member of Joe Biden’s presidential transition team, in the event Biden is ultimately certified as the winner of Tuesday’s election.
Update II: MSNBC’s Chris Hayes has joined those calling for “thousands” of Republicans to be held accountable. Others continue to promote the “accountability” project.
Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post columnist and Never Trumper:
“We have a list.”
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/11/06/leftists-never-trumpers-begin-compiling-lists-of-trump-supporters
JUST LIKE STALIN’S GREAT PURGE
‘Trump Accountability Project’ Hit List of Trump Supporters
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/11/just-like-stalins-great-purge-democrats-creating-trump-accountability-project-hit-list-pay-back-trump-supporters
Anon @ 12:50 & 12:51 AM ...
Very interesting. Many of the RCC's "miracles" are centered upon the RCC's created version of THEIR Mary. Weeping statues, apparitions, etc., etc.
Years ago, I read quite a bit of "The Glories of Mary" by ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI. LIGUORI was canonized as a "saint" due to his writing of this book, so, the RCC obviously holds this work in very high esteem. It is still being printed and promoted by the RCC. For those that don't think Mary is "worshipped" by Catholics, they are sadly mistaken. For an abundance of proof, just spend some time reading this "classic" RCC book.
Here is just one brief paragraph from the book. Notice that Jesus Christ is not "our hope," but rather, "Mary" is !
"MODERN heretics cannot endure that we should salute Mary in this manner by calling her our hope. Hail, our hope, spes nostra salve." They say that God alone is our hope, and that he who places his hope in a creature is accursed of God. Mary, they exclaim, is a creature, and, as a creature, how can she be our hope ? Thus say the heretics, but notwithstanding this, the Church requires all the clergy, and all religious daily to raise their voices, and in the name of all the faithful, invoke and call Mary by the sweet name of our hope, the hope of all: "Hail, our hope!"
https://www.ecatholic2000.com/liguori/glories.shtml
The Catholic Jesus – A Fake Jesus
A Counterfeit Jesus And An Impotent Savior
The Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church is a fake Jesus, far from anything like the real Jesus of the Bible.
Why can we say that the Catholic Jesus is a fraud, a weak, useless and imaginary savior?
Here's why:
He needs an imaginary goddess named Mary to help save you.
He needs your penance to help save you.
He needs the merits of dead Catholic-designated saints to help save you.
He needs you to recite repetitious prayers (like the rosary and novenas) to help save you.
He needs you to be sprinkled by a man in a religious costume to help save you.
He needs the imaginary place called Purgatory to help save you.
He needs the “stations of the cross” to help save you.
He needs masses for the dead to help save you.
He needs the “sacrifice of the mass” to help save you.
He needs the “last rites” to help save you.
He needs “extreme unction” to help save you.
He needs you to attend mass on Catholic-designated holy days of obligation to help save you.
He needs you to fast during “Lent” to help save you.
He needs you to avoid eating meat on certain days to help save you.
He needs “miraculous medals”, rosary beads, scapulars and other superstitious trinkets to help save you.
He needs you to genuflect (bow down) in front of plaster statues to help save you.
And lastly, he needs you to confess your sins to a (quite possibly) gay pedophile priest to help save you.
The REAL Jesus needs NONE of those useless rituals, traditions, or acts!
"alarming and disgusting"
Actually X is alarming and disgusting!
Apart from possibly Clarence Thomas, what good are the supreme court injustices? They are good for subversion, and glorifying Lucifer.
Trump's actions are alarming and disgusting. BUT, it's fine that the place holder for KH, brain dead Biden, calling Vladimir Putin a killer, and having no soul, is not AS alarming and disgusting? Has sleepy Joe done even one thing that isn't alarming and disgusting?
Your nearly as muddled in your thinking as X.
Please go back to your old political party, you fit in there!
Confusedshus say, "yellow man good, orange man bad"
Yeah, recent anons, I agree completely with all your comments.
I'm afraid that it looks like a certain someone has post-election Trump Derangement Syndrome.
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