Welcome Claire!

The world will always pick the wrong choice

Jabberjaw

Two Christian families in India’s Chhattisgarh state were denied the right to bury deceased relatives in their native villages. In both incidents, locals blocked access to burial plots and insisted on Hindu rites as a condition for entry, forcing the families to travel elsewhere to perform final rites.

In the first case, a man from the Kodekurse area in Kanker district died on Nov. 5 after a long illness. The man’s family attempted to bury him in their ancestral land within the village but were blocked by other residents who objected to the family’s Christian faith, the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported.

Attempts to resolve the issue through police intervention failed. The officers reportedly declined to confront the villagers, leaving the family unable to proceed with the burial. With threats escalating, the Christian community placed the body in front of the local police station in protest.

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Christsfreeservant said:

Yes, kindness is not selfishness but it considers what is best for others even if it means being rejected by those we love.

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Kindness is of the Kingdom. Selfishness is of the world we have made in our own image. Because we reject the world of man, its institutions, its politics, doctrines, the national way, etc, all based on selfishness, we set ourselves up as enemies, in churches and even within homes.

partinobodycular said:

But how does one differentiate balanced from imbalanced? Surely you aren't suggesting that any attempt to override emotions with reason amounts to the introduction of imbalance. That would suggest that all reason amounts to imbalance.

I would suggest that balance occurs whenever emotions are tempered by reason, and that's all that stoicism attempts to do. It's not meant to 'snuff out' emotions, it's simply meant to temper them, so that the better of me can hopefully rise above the lesser of me.

It's a work in progress.

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Not everything needs to be balanced.

You are not going to get many responses to your posts because most can see through your legalistic teachings. Christians are no longer under the law. I posted this for you a while back and you just ignore it. Maybe you can address it now.

The moral commandments of the Jewish law including the Ten Commandments were summarized in Jesus’s two commandments.

“Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭40‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Which law and which prophets do you think Jesus is talking about? It says ALL of it not just some of it.

“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬


The WHOLE LAW was fulfilled (completed) in ONE word. All of the law is now one word in the one commandment. Pretty cool that Jesus can put all 613 laws including the 10 commandments into one word. I guess that is what happens when Jesus is the only one that was ever able to keep it perfectly therefore nailing all of it to the cross.

If you want to stay in the law then go right ahead but the rest of us will live by the Spirit which is now the one that convicts us of our sins.

Tell me BroT, are those under the law able to confess their sin in order to be forgiven? Were the Jews under the law able to do that? Let me explain to you how is done after Christ sacrifice for the propitiation of our sins. It’s simple really.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

With Jesus we still sin but ALL we have to do now is just confess our sins and He is faithful and forgives us. Can people under the law do that ? Of course not. But, you ask, how do we know that we are sinning without the law? Well, Jesus tells us of course.

“But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬


Look the Helper that Jesus is sending, the Holy Spirit, will take the responsibility of convicting us of our sins. Why? Because we still sin just like you do and I do, but the good news is that we no longer LIVE in sin because of the guidance of the Spirit. Why would we need the law if we have something much better? So what happened in the past has been wiped clean by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ who died in the cross for the propitiation of our sins.

Ave, María, grátia plena,
Dóminus tecum.
Benedicta tu in muliéribus,
et benedíctus fructus ventris
tui, Iesus.
Sancta María, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.

November 23, 2025 Day 2

Woe to me, unhappy being, so many years have I already spent on earth and have earned naught but hell! I give Thee thanks, O Lord, for granting me time even now to atone for my sins. My good God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Send me Thy assistance, that I may apply the time yet remaining to me for Thy love and service; have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Saviour for the Holy Souls in Purgatory below

Prayer to Our Suffering Saviour for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemani, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions here)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

Andrewn said:

In Orthodox theology, the Ancient of Days is understood as the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity.

In Daniel's prophecy, the Son of God appears as a distinct figure who approaches the Ancient of Days.

However, they are actually meant to be the same person.

How does Orthodox theology clarify this interesting situation?

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Why would the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man as appearing in Daniel be the same person? God the Father is not a human being, so I would never use the word 'person' for Him in this day and age (that would cause confusion given the definition of 'person' in any English dictionary). The ancient of Days and the Son of Man in this passage obviously are two distinct beings/identities though - and that's fully Biblical; one can see the same pattern in Psalm 110:1, and several others ..

Michie said:

In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.

During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.

The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.

Judicial processes at the service of truth​

Continued below.

Pope Leo XIV warns against ‘false mercy’ in marriage annulment proceedings

In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

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One brick in repairing the wall.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

I see it differntly.

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OK.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

Maybe it's just semantics.

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Maybe so. Because I don't see us light years apart.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

But I think the correct response to God when He leads, guides, directs, teaches, corrects, and comforts us from the intimacy of our own hearts is to believe what He says and respond as He directs.

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But of course.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

If He tells us to change denominations, then we should trust His voice and do what He says. If He tells us to not change our denomination, then we should trust His voice and do what He says. If He doesn't say anything to us about changing denominations, we shouldn't concerned about it.

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I would agree.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

There is no Bible verse that says, "Let your consience be your guide".

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There are, nonetheless, verses about conscience in the Bible

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

On the contrary, there are many Bible verses that say things like "Trust in the Lord" (Pr 3:5), "Believe me" (Jn 14:11), and "Walk in the Spirit" ( Gal 5:25). Verses like these point point us to God as our leader and guide and confirm that everyone who places their trust in Him will not stumble or be put to shame (Rom 9:23).

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OK. I know those verses.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

We have an intimate personal relationship with the Lord. He lives in our hearts.

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Hopefully for someone calling himself or herself a Christian this is true.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

There is no substitute for hearing Him and doing as He says. But doing so is not about proving ourselves to be faithful so that in the end we will obtain eternal life. It is about living out the eternal life that He has already given us. And it is about bearing fruit that enriches us and brings Him glory. Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up well...

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,​

And lean not on your own understanding;​

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,​

And He shall direct your paths. (Pr 3:5–6)​

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OK. Not disagreeing one bit.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

You might be saying the same thing in a different way, but it seems like informing our conscience and letting it be our guide creates a little distance between us and God.

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I should have been clearer. If you hear God speak to you, You say 'Here I am, Lord, ready to do your will'. But you also, as soon as you can after that, inform your conscience. Conscience is that guide for the times you don't hear God telling you in the moment, for example, 'Adultery is wrong'. You know the commandments. You also have this interior scruple that nags you, called conscience. And sometimes God will directly tell you. Conscience is not God. Conscience is not God talking to you. It is your own possession, one that you coordinate with what you know about right and wrong, as learned from Bible and Tradition and prayer. And if well formed it is an invaluable adjunct to living a moral life.

We might not disagree. Or maybe we do. But I think that would be you disagreeing with me more than me disagreeing with you.

bling said:

Sorry Mark, but my computer or CF website was having problems when I posted and posted just one line.
Everything can be understood by man's earthly objective which should drive everything for humans.
As far as God having perfect knowledge of our free will choice before, in our time frame, our making those choices we need an understanding of time.


Lots of things are predestined by God since that is what He will do and sometimes when He will do it.

For over 100 years now scientists have been trying to disproof the relativity of time and have only shown time to be relative. Since science is also saying: space, time and matter came into exist, something outside of space, time and matter had to create them.

If God’s omnipresence includes not only man’s present time, but also man’s past and man’s future time, then God is outside of time and not limited by time.

God expressing himself in anthropomorphically to humans shows why God would use our understanding of time in communicating with us. We know the results of God’s miracles but not how the miracle was done. God would not have to talk about the relativity of time or his existence outside of our time and would keep it simple and with excellent communication, talk about time from a human perspective. Time in heaven might also have their own time separate from man’s time.

If you know today historically a free will choice, I made yesterday, that choice cannot be changed, since history cannot be changed even by God (it happened). The fact you historically know a free will choice does not mean it was not a free will choice.

If God is outside of human time then God at the end of time knows perfectly historically (history cannot be changed) every autonomous free will choice man made at any and all times. God at the end of time would be able to send that information to Himself at the beginning of time before there was a known universe.

If God at the end of time knows what Adam and Eve did in the Garden, He can provide thatinformation to Himself before Adam and Eve were created, so God knows exactly what Adam and Eve are “going to do”, since they have “already done” it (God is in both places at the same “human” time).

It is difficult to think about what it is like to be outside of time and existing throughout time.

My theory would have this:

1. God perfectly knows all human future from some beginning point or before time began.

2. God knows all possible scenarios for the future that would result from His actions and man’s autonomous free will choices.

3. God has predestined in detail most of what man will experience, but this predestined set up scenario by God is to assure every mature adult has a truly independent autonomous free will choice to accept or reject His pure charity as charity, which is the individual’s choice.

4. God predestining the scenarios of man to make this free will choice would be limited to the point an individual could still chose to accept and not harden his/her heart to the point there is nothing more God could do to help that individual.

5. God knows perfectly from the beginning of time what choice every mature adult made throughout man’s history from God’s presence throughout time, but God did not make the choice for the person.

6. God predestined “before” anything was decided to be made that those humans who accepted His charity He would save.

God exists throughout human time at the same time, so there really is no past or future for God, so when we talk about the future, it is only future for us and not God.

It is not that God knows what future you will chose in the future (suggesting the future, is also God’s future), but God knows the free will choices you did make in the future (it is history for God).

The free will choice to humbly accept God's Love as pure undeserved charity and complete the transaction is need or we are nothing more hen robots programmed to accept charity and be charitable, without it being our choice.

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If I take this as an answer to my question, then you do indeed depend on CHANCE to cause things. Your notion of Free Will depends on it. And it is self-contradictory. Chance can cause nothing.

But, maybe you think that man is a 'little' first cause. That too is self-contradictory, if God, THE First Cause, created man and the universe in which man lives.

Further, your notion of Free Will puts God as a reactor to fact, and not the beginning of fact.

Further, or to say what I have already said, but differently, your notion of Free Will diminishes God's Sovereignty and Omnipotence.



Further, your notion of Free Will

jonojim1337 said:

It’s hard to kick against the pricks.

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I suppose that means something?

Pray societies around world are guided by The Holy Spirit to sincerely debate what aspects of gene-editing human babies are Biblical or Unbiblical:

essentialsaltes said:

Government employees asked a federal judge Wednesday to block the Trump administration from encouraging job applicants to demonstrate their loyalty to the president’s agenda.
In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, a group of federal labor unions argues that the White House’s “merit hiring plan” violates applicants’ First Amendment rights. The plan, put forth by the Office of Personnel Management, includes the following short essay question:

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The "Merit Hiring Plan" looks great, long overdue!

MAGA Vance/Trump 2028

Clare73 said:

See Ro 9:22-23.

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Romans 9

Paul uses two teaching methods throughout Romans even secular philosophy classes will use Romans as the best example of these methods. Paul does an excellent job of building one premise on the previous premises to develop his final conclusions. Paul uses an ancient form of rhetoric known as diatribe (imaginary debate) asking questions and most of the time giving a strong “By no means” and then goes on to explain “why not”. Paul’s method goes beyond just a general diatribe and follows closely to the diatribes used in the individual laments in the Psalms and throughout the Old Testament, which the Jewish Christians would have known extensively. These “questions or comments” are given by an “imaginary” student making it more a dialog with the readers (students) and not just a “sermon”.

The main topic repeated extensively in Romans is the division in the Christian house churches in Rome between the Jews and Gentile Christians. You can just look up how many times Jews and gentiles are referred to see this as a huge issue.



The main question (a diatribe question) in Romans 9 Paul addresses is God being fair or just Rms. 9: 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!



This will take some explaining, since just prior in Romans 9, Paul went over some history of God’s dealings with the Israelites that sounds very “unjust” like “loving Jacob and hating Esau” before they were born, but remember in all of Paul’s diatribes he begins before, just after or before and just after with strong support for the wrong answer (this makes it more of a debate and giving the opposition the first shot as done in all diatribes).



Who in Rome would be having a “problem” with God choosing to work with Isaac and Jacob instead of Ishmael and Esau? Would the Jewish Christian have a problem with this or would it be the Gentile Christians?



If God treaded you as privileged and special would you have a problem or would you have a problem if you were treated seemingly as common and others were treated with honor for no apparent reason?



This is the issue and Paul will explain over the rest of Romans 9-11.



Paul is specific with the issue Rms. 9: 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?”



Who is the “one of you” is this Jewish Christian (elect) or Gentile Christian (elect) or is this “non-elect” individual (this “letter” is written to Christians and not non-Christians)?



Can Jews say they cannot be blamed for failing in their honored position or would it be the Gentiles that would say they cannot be blamed since they were not in the honored position?



Is it really significant when it comes to what really counts, if you are born a gentile or Jew in first century Rome?



Are there issues and problems with being a first century Jew and was this a problem for Paul?



The Jews were created in a special honorable position that would bring forth the Messiah and everyone else was common in comparison (the Gentiles).



How do we know Paul is specifically addressing the Jew/Gentile issue? Rms. 9: 30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.



Paul is showing from the position of being made “common” vessels by God the Gentiles had an advantage over the born Israelites (vessels of honor) that had the Law, since the Law became a stumbling stone to them. They both needed faith to rely on God’s Love to forgive them.



Without going into the details of Romans 9-11 we conclude with this diatribe question: Romans 11: 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!



The common vessels (gentiles) and the vessels of honor (Jews) are equal individually in what is really significant when it comes to salvation, so God is not being unjust or unfair with either group.



If there is still a question about who is being addressed in this section of Rms. 9-11, Paul tells us: Rms. 11: 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

Rm 9: 22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?

This verse is not saying all the “vessels” created for a “common purpose” were created for destruction (they were not made from the start by the Potter “clay pigeons”). Everything that leaves the potter’s shop is of great quality. Those vessels for destruction can come from either the common group or the honor group, but God is being patient with them that will eventually be destroyed. The vessels God does develop great wrath against, will be readied for destruction, but how did they become worthy of destruction since they left the potter’s shop with his mark on them? Any vessel (honorable or common) that becomes damaged is not worthy of the potter’s signature and He would want it destroyed.

To understand this as Common vessels and special vessels look at the same idea using the same Greek words of Paul in 2 Tim 2: 20. There Paul even points out the common can become the honored vessel.

2 Tim. 2: 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Important to note is the fact: the dishonorable vessel can cleanse themselves and become vessels of honor.

That is a short explanation, since you really need to study all of Romans especially chapters 9, 10 and 11. Also please look at individual laments in the Psalms and diatribes in general, I really cut those short.

Nebraskans lament Tyson decision to close Lexington plant with 3,200 workers


In a blow to the local economy of Lexington, Nebraska, Tyson Foods announced that it is closing the town’s longtime Tyson beef plant that employed about 3,200 people.


The Arkansas-based Tyson said in a statement that changes were designed to “right-size” its beef business and position it for long-term success.


The Lexington plant is to close on or around Jan. 20. The statement did not elaborate on why the plant in the town of about 11,500 people was targeted.

Someone should write a song called "2025". It's been a great year so far.

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eleos1954 said:

The "rapture" is the first resurrection .... there is no "secrete rapture" ... personally I don't like or use the term. There are two resurrections.

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You seem incapable of addressing all rebuttals to your theological theories above. Why is that?

childeye 2 said:

Yeah, I don't believe in that. I believe were either serving righteousness or unrighteousness.

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Okay. Thank you.
What you don't believe is what is.

I will freely love them / I will love them freely​

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For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.​

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But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will (Berean Standard Bible; NASB; Amplified Bible; Christian Standard Bible; Holman Christian Standard Bible; American Standard Version; English Revised Version; New Heart English Bible; Majority Standard Bible; World English Bible; Smith's Literal Translation; Anderson New Testament; Godbey New Testament) / according to willingness / willingly / voluntary / not something forced.​

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These works are not beliefs. There are facts - works of academia.
The definition of the words here, are not subject to change based on one's belief.
They describe free will, voluntary, willful, deliberate, and intentional action.
You cannot accept them... so you claim, but at the same time do not believe them.

I cannot continue this conversation with you, as it would be similar to talking with someone who says they don't believe seas and oceans exist, simply because of their beliefs., and opening works of academia and showing that person that what they are denying is actually proven knowledge makes no difference to them.

So, thank you for the discussion, and you do have an enjoyable day sir.
Good day.

Well I hope it’s better than this:

Thank you, Mark, for your helpful and encouraging reply. As an update, I decided to remove the time limits for texting, not wanting to be in a situation again where I am glued to my phone feeling severely restricted in what I can do. The result is that the only reliable strategy I have to try to control my smartphone use is to turn the phone’s power off when/before I get home. One of the inconveniences is two step verification where I have to get a code texted to my phone for certain websites/accounts I have to use. In the future I am thinking of getting an authenticator app or password manager on another device for this purpose, but for now, if I have to receive the 2FA code, I could power my phone on only for a few seconds and power it off immediately after inputting the code. However, needing to have the phone for 2FA makes the next phase of my plan a hassle. In the future, I want to obtain a special time lock safe (or use a safe with the combination saved in the timelock online lockbox) to lock myself out from the phone for certain periods of time. One of the timelock safes I researched is bypassable by removing the batteries I think, so it might not be an option.

So because I disabled the time limits for texting in the Lock Me Out app, and I may not consistently turn my smartphone’s power off, I am back in the situation where I could waste entire evenings after work spending time on my phone, which seems like a problem to me, but I do not want to be on a smartphone where I am severely restricted. If the phone is powered off, and not locked up in a safe, if I really want to text, I can just get the phone and power it back on.

I also struggle with the inconvenience of powering my smartphone off. It is really convenient to listen to the relaxing music stations on my phone with my bluetooth earphones to block out outside sound in the apartment I live in. With turning off my phone, if I wanted to listen to music with my wireless earphones, I would have more of a hassle of having to turn my laptop on to stream the music, and I think if I run the laptop all the time when I am at home that it wears on the battery so that the laptop gets more worn down sooner in time. I may want to get an iPad or alternate device locked down with restrictions in the future where I can stream music. And there is also an inconvenience where if the laptop connects to the bluetooth earphones, it will always take precedence over connection to the phone, meaning I will have to remove the earphones in settings on the computer if I want to connect them to the phone.

Another inconvenience with powering off the phone is I cannot easily look up phone numbers and make calls, so if I want to call with my landline, I have to use the laptop to look up phone numbers. This inconvenience has sometimes resulted in me deciding to keep the smartphone turned on when I get home to make the call.

soldier of light said:

Jesus can teach anyone. That's what my eyes see in scripture

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The only teacher is GOD through Jesus Christ the mediator. We are taught of GOD. If anyone learns from the FATHER they must go through Christ. This eliminates deception, GOD cannot lie, neither can Jesus.