The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil injunction lawsuit against Dr. Joseph Johnson, a serial entrepreneur whose latest venture is the Christian company Life Surge. The DOJ’s lawsuit pertains to a former company of Johnson’s, The Welfont Group, and accuses him of for more than a decade orchestrating a multi-state tax scheme involving inflated property appraisals and improper charitable deductions.

Federal attorneys say Johnson was the “architect” of “as many as 190 abusive bargain sale transactions” and claim the conduct might have caused “as much as $46 million” in “total tax harm.”

The DOJ lawsuit, filed Aug. 5, describes the same alleged patterns of misconduct that were related in at least five previous lawsuits filed against Welfont by property owners in different states that were litigated in federal court from 2020 to 2024.

In an extensive statement to ChurchLeaders, Johnson denied all wrongdoing and said the IRS has targeted him for years because of his conservative Christian views.

What the DOJ Is Alleging Against Dr. Joseph Johnson​

Continued below.

I'm considering using Amazon Renewed to find a good quality cheap refurbished iPad. I am wondering how reliable a refurbished device would be, because one time a friend bought a refurbished Samsung Galaxy phone from Walmart and it had severe charging problems. So I have a distrust of buying refurbished, and wonder if I want to go with a brand new device. I have a brother who has autism and lives at a care center, and I can FaceTime him if I have an Apple device, and the care center is overly restrictive on not allowing any cross platform apps (not allowing Zoom or WhatsApp for Windows or Android).

Studyman said:

as this is where the righteousness of God is revealed

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And the righteousness of man is revealed in our following His will alone and putting no other gods before Him, including ourselves.

What if other myths of origin were also taught and kids could take their pick? But then I suppose at some point actual science will have to be involved if students want to be trained for careers that actually do something.

One-hour conversation to focus on 'faith, grief, perseverance and the memory of her husband'

Erika Kirk, the widow of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, will take part in a televised town hall with Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, the network announced Thursday.

Set to focus on Kirk’s “life, loss, the state of political discourse and more,” the one-hour event will be filmed before a studio audience in New York City and “feature Kirk fielding questions from young Evangelicals, prominent religious leaders, and figures across the political spectrum.”

Prospective attendees who used a now-static sign-up formreportedly were asked about their faith and other questions, including whether they identify as Evangelicals, if they consider themselves to be a conservative, or if they were “grieving the loss of a loved one.”

Continued below.

Michie said:

I don’t know any Catholics that believe the way this poll states. Maybe if they were polling Catholics in name only…

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Sometimes the way the question is posed can have a muddling effect on the response, wording is important. But overall I think that's the state of play. I have been saddened in the past in discussions by what Christians of all denominations believe. I have often thought of this question Jesus asked:

"However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

One thing that shocked me was the number of 'believers' who celebrate Eid, for whatever reason.

God Bless

Democrats are having existential meltdowns over RFK's department issuing revised recommendations for Hepatitis B vaccines in children. Instead of the current recommendations that have Hospitals as a matter of course inject all infants with Hepatitis B vaccines on the day of their birth, the new recommendations are that infants whose mothers have Hepatitis B be given the vaccine for protection at birth, but the others who have no risk getting the disease, instead delay until 2-3 months after birth before getting the vaccine. Apparently this will cause all sorts of death and destruction according to dems. The reality is there's nothing wrong with the recommendations at all, and there's no reason we should be injecting newborn infants who are not at risk, with something that they don't need, on the day they're born.



https://ground.news/article/us-vaccine-advisers-say-not-all-babies-need-a-hepatitis-b-shot-at-birth_014461

CLEEB said:

All human ministers have been eliminated from this process as they are the main tool used by Satan to deceive.

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What is your basis for believing this? Although I agree that clergy who are not authentic are a bad enough thing.

CLEEB said:

Only GOD and Christ control the church and its members have no need that any man teach them.

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So if God called someone to lead a church, that is not a man teaching instead, they can be called to nuture faith among a group of people while God teaches the gathered people what they need to know.

CLEEB said:

In this way deception cannot enter, it’s not possible to deceive the elect. Do you the church you belong to is the one true Pentecost church, if not, then why are you there ? If you do believe it is then all other churches are not. There are many churches to choose from, which one is the true ?

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There are true, false and sincere seeking believers in most Christian gathering, I would expect. I am not about to quit church just because there is now more than one variety. I was born almost 2000 years after Pentecost, Jesus can cope with this fact, I go to the same denomination as the people who inspired and guided my faith in the first place, that was what put me in with Pentecost. I am not losing sleep over other Christians connecting to the same Holy Ghost in some other place, I am too busy being delighted that they found Him too.

Servus said:

Obama had a lot of people killed. Including the done strike on a wedding taking place.

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Obama did not order, "Destroy that wedding." That was a case of mistaken targeting. We thought--honestly--that it was something else.

And mistaken targeting happens. It happened more than once in my time in service where I was able to observe later, "that was not what we thought it was." Even an Iraqi wedding party in one case in the 90s. I was even myself involved in the targeting in one case of the Persian Gulf War "that was not what we thought it was" to the deaths of several hundred women and children. "It was not what we thought it was."

No it's not opinion ... it's from scripture .... look them up yourself

1. 1 Deuteronomy 31:16: “The Lord said to Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.”
2. II Samuel 7:12: “When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.""
3. I Kings 1:21: “When my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers.”
4. I Kings 2:10: “David slept with his fathers.”
5. I Kings 11:21: “David slept with his fathers.”
6. I Kings 11:43: “Solomon slept with his fathers.”
7. I Kings 14:20: “Jeroboam...slept with his fathers.”
8. I Kings 14:31: “Rehoboam slept with his fathers.”
9. I Kings 15:8: “Abijam slept with his fathers.”
10. I Kings 15:24: “Asa slept with his fathers.”
11. I Kings 16:6: “Baasha slept with his fathers.”
12. I Kings 16:28: “Omri slept with his fathers.”
13. I Kings 22:40: “Ahab slept with his fathers.”
14. I Kings 22:50: “Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers.”
15. II Kings 8:24: “Joram slept with his fathers”
16. II Kings 10:35: “Jehu slept with his fathers”
17. II Kings 13:9: “Jehoahaz slept with his fathers”
18. II Kings 13:13: “Joash slept with his fathers”
19. II Kings 14:16: “Jehoash slept with his fathers”
20. II Kings 14:22: “The king slept with his fathers”
21. II Kings 14:29: “Jeroboam slept with his fathers”
22. II Kings 15:7: “Azariah slept with his fathers”
23. II Kings 15:22: “Menahem slept with his fathers”
24. II Kings 15:38: “Jotham slept with his fathers”
25. II Kings 16:20: “Ahaz slept with his fathers”
26. II Kings 20:21: “Hezekiah slept with his fathers”
27. II Kings 21: 18: “Manasseh slept with his fathers”
28. II Kings 24:6: “Jehoiakim slept with his fathers”
29. II Chron. 9:31: “Solomon slept with his fathers”
30. II Chron. 12:16: “Rehoaboam slept with his fathers”
31. II Chron. 14:1: “Abijah slept with his fathers”
32. II Chron. 16:13: “Asa slept with his fathers”
33. II Chron. 21:1: “Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers”
34. II Chron. 26:2: “The king slept with his fathers”
35. II Chron. 26:23: “Uzziah slept with his fathers”
36. II Chron. 27:9: “Jotham slept with his fathers”
37. II Chron. 28:27: “Ahaz slept with his fathers”
38. II Chron. 32:33: “Hezekiah slept with his fathers”
39. II Chron. 33:20: “Manasseh slept with his fathers”
    
    In Job, believed to be the oldest book in the Bible, death is again referred to as sleep:
40. Job 7:21: “Now shall I sleep in the dust”
41. Job 14:12: “They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep”
    
    In the Psalms, death is a sleep:
42. Psalm 13:3: “Lest I sleep the sleep of death”
43. Psalm 90:5: “Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep”
    
    Daniel promises a resurrection of the sleeping dead:
44. Daniel 12:2: “Many of they that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake”
    
    Jesus described death as “sleep”:
45. Matthew 9:24: “The maid is not dead but sleepeth.”
46. Mark 5:39: “The damsel is not dead but sleepeth”
47. Luke 8:52: “She is not dead but sleepeth”
48. John 11:11: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth”
    
    At Jesus’ crucifixion:
49. Matthew 27:52: “Many bodies of the saints which slept arose”
    
    Luke reiterates I Kings:
50. Acts 13:36: “David...fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers”
    
    Paul describes death as sleep:
51. I Cor. 15:20: “Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that sleep”
52. I Cor. 15:51: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed”
53. I Thess 4:13: “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope”
54. I Thess. 4:14: “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus”

The corresponding scriptures are noted ... ignore them if you want.

BCP1928 said:

I think that is very perceptive of you. I think it applies to much of what is erroneously called "racism" as well.

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Islam isn't a "race" though. While there is an argument to be had about there being a "culture" that ties to it, just like Christianity, you can't be called "racist" for being anti-islamic. That by definition makes no sense. There are lots of white people that follow the Islamic faith. Heres research that breaks Islam down by race just in the US. Link Which shows 60% of Muslims in the US, are white.

wing2000 said:

And you know this how? Have you ever met and spoken with an immigrant?

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Yes, through several groups. Several I have met from a particular belief system expressed an interest in bringing the UK under Sharia Law, which would be a huge displacement to the current system. The first I met (from Pakistan I recall) many years ago through a group at the public library later travelled covertly to Afghanistan and made the newspapers fighting against British and American forces. Sadly I believe he may have been killed there. I just don't believe the system here can accommodate large numbers of persons with extremely different and radical world views. Stability needs integration and integration needs common ground. Kind Regards.

When Emperor Constantine brought Christianity out of hiding and prison in the fourth century, the Church faced an empire-wide debate between the Egyptian theologians Arius and Athanasius over the divinity of Jesus. Followers of these two literally rioted in the streets against each other. The issue, brewing for some time, was supposedly settled in 325 at the Council of Nicea, source of the Nicene Creed prayed at Mass today. But the struggle over this doctrine of Jesus’ divinity continued for decades.

There is an apocryphal story that Archbishop Nicholas, at the Nicene Council, was so infuriated at the Arian bishops who denied Jesus’ full divinity that he slapped one in the face! He was censured, the story goes, until the same bishops had a dream in which God told them to reinstate Nicholas. They reinstated him. This story, true or not, put Nicholas squarely on the side of those who proclaimed Jesus as “one in being with the Father” in the struggle to capture the minds and hearts of Christians of the day.

We can thank Saint Nicholas, and others like him, that the acceptance of Jesus’ full divinity carried the day as the Church grew.

The Real St. Nicholas | Franciscan Media

Hoping everyone is blessed on the real St Nicholas Day.

Hans Blaster said:

I skimmed it on my phone. The score she got seemed generous. Read more like a faith statement for a Sunday school student. Didn't even cite the Bible.

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I do see a citation of Genesis in the second paragraph of the essay, along with some analysis of the Hebrew text. Now, imagine if that paragraph had been an analysis of a portion of the assigned reading instead...

This is such a tough one something I have struggled with, I always feel no matter where I try something not right but that could be me, I agree with sabbath blessing pray on it .

Newly released video appears to show eight Christian religious leaders being transported by armed men in a Colombian river shortly before they were executed and buried in a mass grave. The footage was found on a mobile phone belonging to an alleged dissident of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, who is now charged in connection with their killing.

The video retrieved from the phone showed the leaders, identified as Isaid Gómez, Maribel Silva, Carlos Valero, James Caicedo, Jesús Valero, Maryuri Hernández, Nixon Peñalosa and Oscar García, being transported along the Itilla River to La Ojona farm, not far from where their bodies were later exhumed, the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported.

The footage reportedly also captured armed men photographing and interrogating the victims.

Continued below.

Larniavc said:

More than malaria? Or climate change? Or the surprise arrival of a catastrophically large meteorite impact?

Do you mean ‘biggest threat to Christianity’?

I know a bunch of Muslims and they are no different to Christians insofar as they believe in a version of the Abrahamic faith.

They are certainly not shouting ‘Death to the non-religious’ down my way.

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Muslims aren't even the biggest threat to Christianity, we are, because we reject their god and religion.

Good for him! Stick to your guns no matter what happens! He shouldn't have to apologize for what he said. Was it a lot? Sure... but children are involved. I can understand the outrage. Forcing him to apologize, is forcing him to go back on his religious beliefs and for a country that is supposed to be freedom of religion, that's pretty anti-religious. The Pastor didn't cause harm, he just said stuff people didn't like and peacefully protested.

Hentenza said:

Show me how I am taking quotes out of context. Present evidence to that effect.

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They are isolated quotes without context by their nature. There's nothing to prove, because it is the nature of quoting that the words are taken out of their original context.

Hentenza said:

But councils used the scriptures as the litmus test to evaluate and interpret doctrines that were heretical. Their responsibility was one of interpretation of scripture.

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Sort of, but their treatment was as Apostolic tradition and didn't embrace a sola scriptura approach, simply treated the texts as the normative element of a wider tradition.

Hentenza said:

I believe that tradition is dependent on scripture not at equal footing to scripture. Even if we take just the inspiration quality of scripture tradition does not raise to the same level.

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So how do you determine what qualifies as Scripture?

Hentenza said:

It is. You deny the sui generis of scripture but this quote refutes that. Particularly in this portion: “these alone is proclaimed the doctrine of godliness. Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these.” Traditions change while scriptures do not.

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No, it supports inspiration not that the Scriptures are wholly distinct as if they descended from heaven one day fully intact in their present form. They hold a special place in tradition, but cannot be removed from tradition without doing violence to them,

Hentenza said:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness | New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020) | Download The Bible App Now

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness

bible.com

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That is a post-Origen translation, and doesn't establish what the contemporary meaning of the word was when Paul used it.

Hentenza said:

It just means of Devine origin. God breathed (actual definition of theopneustos) out through human authors who used their own personalities and writing styles but were supernaturally guided by the Holy Spirit to convey His message accurately, making it authoritative for teaching and guidance. It's God's direct speech through people, not just a human idea or construct like tradition, ensuring the text's divine source and truth.

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No, its not about the origin at all. God-breath is about life-giving power in its present form which is why Paul goes on to list the ways it is useful.

Hentenza said:

How can your definition be any different? And if it was then why did you not post it but demanded that I post it first? I smell you playing games but correct me if am wrong.

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Because I am drawing my understanding of the words meaning from texts that pre-date the shift towards understanding it as inspiration that began with Origen.

What about Jan 6?

And if they dont make it free, you should just break in.

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, we praise You for Your greatness, Your goodness and Your faithfulness. Thank You for giving us Your Word, which is the living word of God. Thank you for the assurance it brings to our hearts. As we read and study this devotional, we ask You to open our spiritual understanding, eyes to see, ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the truths of Your word, and Your promises with faith. We seek Your guidance, direction and leading through Your Holy Spirit, as we read and study this devotional. In Jesus’ Mighty name, Amen.

The promise of Eternal Life is made to all those who believe in Jesus Christ. The assurance of eternal life brings a deep sense of peace and joy to the believer and calms the hearts of many believers. We know by God’s own words: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son”, that this promise stands true for all those who believe. We no longer are fearful about our future, nor do we wonder about it anymore because we know our future is safe with God, and that He has promised us, all those who believe in His Son will never perish but will live forever with Him.

John 3:16 God’s promise of everlasting life brings deep peace and hope. Joy flows from the certainty of reunion with Christ.

1 John 5:11–13 (NKJV) “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

This assurance is not based on our feelings or circumstances, but on the unshakable truth of His Word and the finished work of Christ. Eternal life means we have already passed from death into life, held securely in the hands of the Father and the Son, with no one able to snatch us away.

John 10:28–29 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

God’s Holy Spirit now lives within us and He now “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” We are looking forward to the place our Savior, Jesus Christ has gone to prepare for us, where we will be with Him always. This certainly fills our hearts with joy, confidence and thankfulness in knowing that our salvation is secure, and our eternity is promised.

Romans 8:16 (NKJV) “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

John 14:2–3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

God wants to assure all believers that their future is safe and secure with Him, and to know that their faith is genuine. He wants them to feel secure in knowing they belong to Him and have eternal life through Christ. Assurance of salvation is the knowledge and confidence that we belong to Christ. Christians find assurance through many means, including their faith.

1 John 5:13 (NKJV) “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

John 3:16 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

These last two verses reveal the fullness of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus is assuring us that those who hear His word and believe in the Father who sent Him already possess everlasting life. This is made possible because we have already passed from death into life and freed from judgment, through the acceptance of Jesus Christ, and God’s promise of Eternal Life to us. Paul echoes this truth by declaring that believers are set free from sin and made servants of God. We now bear fruit leading to holiness, with the ultimate end being Everlasting Life. These scriptures remind us that eternal life is not merely a future hope but a present reality, grounded in faith and evidenced by a transformed life of holiness and obedience to God.

John 5:24 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Romans 6:22 (NKJV) “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Questions to Ponder

How does knowing that eternal life is a present reality, not just a future hope, change the way I live each day?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In what ways does the assurance of salvation bring me peace and confidence, even when circumstances feel uncertain?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How can I bear fruit leading to holiness, as Romans 6:22 describes, in my daily walk with Christ?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of thanksgiving, as we rejoice in the promise of eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for the assurance that we are held securely in Your hands and freed from fear and judgment. Thank You that you have given us everlasting life, and the assurance that when we leave this world, we will be taken home to be with You forevermore. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Fantine said:

Personally I believe that any and all "carry" makes us less safe, and I think that all those who read the Gospels with an open heart and mind would heed Jesus' message about non-violence.

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Peter carried a sword -

Fantine said:

Broken Arrow seems like a great place to live, and I would guess it's an affluent suburb of Tulsa. I think that it's a great place to live because fewer people are carrying--not because they carry.

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Pretty much everyone has the ability to carry - it is not uncommon to see people exercising their rights daily. It's a great place to live for a number of reasons - but lots of people carry - you are incorrect in your assumption. There are some affluent area's but the vast majority is middle income. Just like me.

Fantine said:

I once read that people are mourning the end of the "gun 'culture?'" T'hey are growing up in suburban and urban areas and aren't going hunting.

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In Chicago perhaps? - oh, wait - they have more guns - just not legal.

Fantine said:

Fewer college educated people own guns. Fewer suburbanites and urban dwellers own guns. People who grew up in a gun-free atmosphere don't own guns. Gun ownership is least prevalent in the northeast.

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Got proof for such a statement?

Fantine said:

I'm proof positive. Grew up in the northeast, had a dad who never fired a gun after WWII ended, grew up in the suburbs (was born in the city), college-educated and married someone who is also a college grad. My children never owned guns, either (although they did fish a little as children, they never hunted.)

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I'm proof positive - Grew up in NY - I've carried concealed since 1981, college grad, Married to a beautiful woman (college grad) who carries occasionally - I have six children with the exception of one - we all have the ability to carry - (no Hunters).

Fantine said:

And so Broken Arrow, although (I'm sure) Republican and located in the south, has lots of demographics indicating non-gun ownership. How fortunate you are to live there.

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I am fortunate to live here. Low Taxes - strong family values - strong conservative area - four Christian Universities - great schools where they still pray with the kids. And freedom to carry openly.

Sure there are some who do not carry - but I'd suspect they are in the minority.

Fantine said:

The demographics of gun ownership

Understanding gun ownership in America is not as simple as knowing who does and does not own a gun. Some Americans who don’t personally own guns live with

www.pewresearch.org

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HARK! said:

Grand jury proceedings in the United States are traditionally conducted in secret. This secrecy is designed to protect the integrity of the investigation, encourage witness cooperation, and safeguard the privacy of individuals involved.

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Yes, and? We know this already.

There's a reason why Paul didn't want leaders to be "new". A child in this case is no different. They should be influencing their friends (other kids), not preaching to adults.

stevevw said:

Actually the thread is on alternative forms of knowing. Its actually about philosophy and metaphysics and behavioural sciences which includes cultural and mystical beliefs lol.

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Then what is it doing on this forum, Steve?