SabbathBlessings said:

How does one profess to believe Jesus but not His sayings (Teachings) enough to do them. Jesus asked this same question....

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was [j]founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it [k]fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Guess it will get sorted out soon enough.

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The foundation is Jesus. Paul explains how our works are judged and the outcome. The foundation is the key.

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Say it aint so said:

What does one expect to happen when cocktail of antivaxxers and conspiracy theorists are in control?

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Anti-vaxxers existed before the current administration.






It's not as if Philly, California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest were "conservative strongholds"


Hopefully people remember that prior to the whole Covid situation, a lot of the Anti-MMR sentiments were a "hippy"/"everything has to be natural from mother earth man!" sort of thing right?


If there's ever another pandemic, hopefully people will be wise enough not to "oversell" and "overpush" a brand new vaccine and make it a wedge issue and become so insufferable that they create new "spite anti-vaxxers" (people who were okay with the flu shot and MMR vaccine prior, but became anti-vaxx in a broader sense simply to oppose the people who were becoming rather annoying)

I don't attend church much anymore. Partly it is because I have to work on Sundays. But I also have lost patience for it. It's difficult for it to hold my attention.

I think part of it is because the sermons, while good, tend to stay at a very basic level. There is nothing new or deeper. I've also become annoyed and bored with the performative nature of the services.

As far as going for what you can give or serving, I've done that, too. It got me used up without getting refilled. It was also frustrating because there was no overall growth for the congregation. It was all just a regurgitation of the same sermons and formulaic worship service making a few look good and making the rest feel good.

I LOVE indepth Bible studies and prayer meetings. Sunday "services"? No thanks.

d taylor said:

-

​

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

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And you BETTER be right as we ONLY go around once and hav e been one any forums and I see that you did not leave a verse for your BORN AGAIN nor have you ever EXPLAINed with a verse how you are BORN OF WATER. and of the SPIRIT

NOR. if you are BORN. OF GOD YOUN CAN NOT SIN in 1 John 5:18. !!

And explain how you NEVER EVER SIN AGAIN ??

dan p

You are correct.
Jesus is the only way to the Father. All other "ways" lead somewhere else.

In the Bible words alone is much better, then anything I could explain.

• Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 2:11
• Hebrews 5:9
• Mark 13:13
• John 3:5
• John 3:16
• Matthew 28:20 and 1 John 2:3-6
• 2 Thessalonians 1:8

If anyone has another scripture that is related to salvation or everlasting life please let me know.

Years ago they used to recommend using a torniquet, but that restricted blood flow to the limb below the binding.

This sometimes led to other medical problems, so they devised the pressure bandage idea.

On a morbid note, the former OIC of our local ambulance station said the most emotional fatality for him was due to a snake bite when he was stationed in Townsville years ago.

A young girl had been playing in the backyard (on a swing maybe) when she jumped off and landed on a Taipan which was hidden in long grass.

It struck her on the chest about five times. She died in minutes.

On a happier note, I heard a Baptist pastor say that when he was a young chap following his father in long grass on their farm he suddenly found he just could not take another step. He said it was like being held in a giant hand - he couldn't move, no matter what he did.

His father came back to see why he was just standing there in mid-stride. As he did so he saw a death adder in the exact spot where his son would have taken his next step.

They're the fastest striking snake in the world.

Obviously God had plans for the son to become a pastor, and protected him. As the pastor said he literally couldn't move.

Why God protected him, and not the young girl was God's choice.

Bro.T said:

So if you say that you know God, but you don’t keep his commandments, lets see what the Lord had specially written for you. It says in (1John 2:3-4) (v.3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (v.4) he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Then the book says in Revelation 21: 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

These are hard words coming from the word of God, I would take heed and start keeping these Commandments. But of course it's your choice.

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Well, I guess that leaves Rahab out.

Indianapolis —
The Indiana Senate on Thursday voted down a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts to produce two more GOP-friendly seats, rejecting President Donald Trump’s months-long campaign to pressure the Republican supermajority in the deep-red state to bend to his will.

The 31-19 vote saw 21 Republicans join 10 Democrats in voting down the proposed map that would have positioned the GOP, which currently holds seven of Indiana’s nine US House seats, for a sweep of all nine seats in next year’s midterm elections.


I wonder how much of this "Hoosier defiance" from the Indiana state GOP could be a little bit of payback for the way Trump treated (presumably) their former friend, and pretty popular GOP governor, Mike Pence.

Dikaioumenoi said:

You still have yet to address my refutation of this position. Who does the "him" refer to in the clause, "and I will raise him up on the last day"? There's no disputing that it refers to those who actually come to Jesus. But who comes to Jesus? Grammatically, what is John saying here?

οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐλθεῖν πρός με ἐὰν μὴ ὁ πατὴρ ὁ πέμψας με ἑλκύσῃ αὐτόν, κἀγὼ ἀναστήσω αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day."

The αὐτόν who is raised on the last day is the same αὐτόν who is drawn. Grammatically, the pronoun in ἀναστήσω αὐτόν must refer back to the nearest suitable antecedent, which is the οὐδεὶς δύναται… ἐὰν μὴ ὁ πατὴρ ἑλκύσῃ αὐτόν clause. In other words, the "him" who is raised is the "him" who is drawn. The text itself makes no grammatical space for subdividing the referent into two groups -- those enabled to come, versus those who actually do.

Your reading requires precisely that distinction -- that some of the "him" drawn are not the "him" raised. But the syntax does not supply a second referent for αὐτόν to latch onto. You must therefore import an unspoken category. In other words, you're making an interpretive move that presupposes the very point you want to prove. Meanwhile, the surrounding context (vv. 37, 39, 65) consistently grounds coming in sovereign initiative, which strongly argues against any basis for that presupposition.

Again, consider the contrapositive.

Let p = "one can come to me"
Let q = "the Father draws him"
Let r = "I will raise him up"

The verse, as stated, reads: "not p if not q, and r," which, stated formally in symbolic logic, is (-q --> -p) ^ r

The contrapositive of this is (p --> q) ^ r, which reads:

"If one can come to me, then the Father has drawn him, and I will raise him up."

Who does Christ promise to raise? The one drawn. Who is the one drawn? The one enabled to come.

"If Sam is able to come to me, then the Father has drawn Sam, and I will raise Sam up."

This is a promise of final salvation based on the Father's sovereign act in drawing/enabling individuals. The natural implication of this is that this act of enablement leads effectually to coming to Christ. It is a transformation of the heart. This comports with John 6:37: "All that the Father gives me will come to me."

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You're trying to get way to much distance out of a single verse which was only meant to serve as a concise summary of the Way, of how one is saved. One must come, and no one can come unless enabled. Salvation is directly related to one's nearness to God-union with Him-that's why Jesus came, to reconcile and restore broken relationship between man and God.

Sam was enabled to come. Sam came. God will raise him up.

Nothing conflicts there with the fact that Sam must meanwhile remain in Him, Sam must persevere, Sam must overcome sin, Sam must make effort to be holy-or else Sam won't be one of those who are raised simply because he once responded and came. And that's all consistent with Scripture, early church teachings, and the ECFs.

Bro.T said:

It’s starts off with repentance, that’s one of the first thing Jesus says when he got started in his ministry, Jesus says in Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Stop sinning is the first forms of repentance, that's a lot work on it's on. Learning how to get self out the way. Now, Grace is nothing more than a free gift. And that free gift is our access back to the tree of life (Jesus) which Adam caused us to lose by disobeying God. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5: 12) But to maintain your grace you must keep the law. (1John 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Now we have just read the biblical definition of sin, the transgression (breaking) of the law (commandments.) It doesn’t matter what you or I think sin is, it’s what God says sin is that counts.

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And per your belief and admission those that don’t keep the sabbath are sinners and if they don’t repent will go to hell. So much for salvation by the free grace of God through faith in the Son. You are a legalist and promote a works salvation.

durangodawood said:

I think you mean incompetence drives the bus. (Because, generally, competence has a lot to lose signing on to this corrupt clown show.)

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This was all strategic by the Trump DOJ, in order to beat the statute of limitations deadline on charging Comey. Kalligan beat it by 36 hours I heard.
Now that Kalligan is disqualified, the Court gives them several weeks to replace her and reinstate the charges.

It was very clever, by Bondi.

Dale said:

Where did Jesus ever say that Genesis is a literal historical accvount? I don't see where He ever said this.

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We often refer to fictional characters as if they were literal historical. Someone out if context could think we mean them that way.

The Church isn’t (to be)


[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5]

The Church is (to be)


[Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

Therefore, when we gather together as the church, the body of believers in Jesus Christ, by God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in our Lord, it is for the purpose of our mutual encouragement and edification where each part is able to do its work, as we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit in spiritual gifts, and as we have been given our assignments by God as to our specific body parts (roles, ministries) within the body of believers in Jesus Christ.

So, this is not a “one man show,” where one man does all the preaching, and leads every gathering, and whose sermons are never tested to see if they are of God or not… And where the “pastor” is treated more like a CEO of a corporation, or more like a cult leader who is surrounded by a faithful few who are protecting him and his position, regardless of whether he is right or wrong, or if he is living the Christian life, or not, which is all about running a business. And it is not about a show, period, where a few gifted and talented people (in speaking and in music) put on a stage production intended to draw in large crowds of people from the world into their gatherings.

Yes, the early church had overseers, but they were overseers of the entire church (the body of believers in Christ) within a particular city, so they were not the singular pastors of all these gatherings, which usually met in people’s homes, which is where the people were able to share their gifts and mutual encouragements. And since the body of Christ was to meet daily, and to encourage one another daily, and they met in people’s homes, it may be that there wasn’t always an overseer at every one of their gatherings.

Now, the body of Christ cannot function as the biblical body of Christ in large gatherings where a few people put on the show while the rest of the people largely sit in pews or chairs as spectators, and then they go home and live their normal lives until the next week. The Bible, in fact, teaches that we are to be speaking the truth of God’s word to one another in love, and we are to be speaking to one another in spiritual songs, and we are to be admonishing and teaching one another, and exhorting one another EVERY DAY.

Do we need overseers? Yes! But the shepherds of the people are not to be the only ones doing the talking and the preaching and sharing of gifts. But they are to be those who are leading the sheep in how they are to live and operate together as the body of Christ, who are training and equipping the saints of God in the work of the ministry. For all of us are to be ministers, not just one person. And those who are overseers need to meet the spiritual qualifications of an overseer, and they need to be accountable to the church.


No Less

An Original Work / March 19, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I can do no less than praise You,
Lord, for all You’ve done for me.
You died for my sins to save me,
So I would be set free.
I adore You! Lord, I praise You!
Jesus, Savior, King of kings!
You provided my redemption.
Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You.
Lord, Your witness I would be,
Telling others of Your love,
And why You died on that tree.
Tell of how You gave of Your life,
So from sin we’d be set free,
So we could worship You forever,
And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,
Lord, for You have first loved me.
You gave of Your life so willing,
Because You cared for me.
Turn from my sin! Obey freely!
Live for You each passing day.
Read Your word, and follow Your lead,
Lord, as I humbly pray.

Login to view embedded media
Church is, Church isn’t
An Original Work / December 11, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

DaisyDay said:

ICE agents tackle, arrest American citizen in Minneapolis

Federal immigration agents tackled and arrested a Somali American man in Minneapolis on Tuesday and detained him for about two hours for no apparent reason other than his ethnicity.

www.mprnews.org

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Federal immigration agents tackled and arrested a Somali American man in Minneapolis on Tuesday and detained him for about two hours for no apparent reason other than his ethnicity. The man who was arrested said that the agents had trouble finding the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Ft. Snelling while driving him there.​

​

The 20-year-old was not suspected of any crime, and described his ordeal during a Wednesday news conference alongside Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who each denounced the agents’ actions.​

​

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​

This is state sponsored terrorism.

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I’ve heard this referred to as a “Kavanaugh Stop”. CF

Wow, this thread has become incredibly boring all of a sudden.

HARK! said:

Yes behold. Right out of the gate, the disinformation from your uncited source

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Uncited?

The citation is right at the bottom of the image!

HARK! said:

View attachment 374337

One year after the gold confiscation in 1933, the value of gold was set at $35 per ounce following the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. This was an increase from the previous value of $20.67 per ounce at the time of the confiscation.

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As you can see, the chart is by decade.

HARK! said:

Ooops! The price is still climbing; and the demand is higher than what is being mined. Aside from it being categorized as a strategic metal, what is being used to create the growing solar panel market is unrecoverable.

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Not sure how this is relevant, or that it refutes the chart.

stevevw said:

I think the body of Christ reigns today even more than ever because theres too many wolves. Now more than ever is the world open to turning a truth into a lie and a lie into the truth. The postmodern age where words, narratives and feelings make relaity and there is no way to tell the truth.

So we need a clear and truthful example in among all that white noise of Enlightened relativism that will be different and stand out as worthy and without fault. One that is above reproach.

As Christians we know this is Christ. But we have often failed to differentiate ourselves from the culture wars and the church has become just another identity among many even divided among itself. In a never ending war of words and alternative truth claims.

So that means the only way to stand out from all this is to actually be like Christ. To become part of the body of Christ. Which means actually living like Christ and not just speaking the words. This means actually doing what the bible says. Not half doing it but doing it all the way. Just as they did in the early church.

That means being willing to lay down your life literally. Put God above world desires and wants. Not having those material goods and doinging everything as Gods will and not our own.

When we see how even churches don't live to much different to the world then its no wonder people hate the church and God. Most people today do not do what they say. They are good at pointing out the wrongs of others or how people should live. But don't actually live that way themselves.

People are more respected when they live what they preach or teach. In fact for the early church and for Christ they were fairly silent when it came to their own opinion and getting into culture wars. They lived the gospel and example and the few words they did say were well respected. Because people seen that they lived what they preached and it was the truth.

This is all about embodying the gospel and Christ. This example speaks volumes and is power. People cannot argue against it because you are what you say.

But the important thing is that no human idea could ever be good enough that it would make a person untouchable and above reproach. Because we are weak.

So when people embody and like as Christ and actually putting others above themselves, loving their enermies and dying for them. Thet see God without one word being spoken. This is the power of Christs example. People do not even have to say where the truth and power of this testimony comes from. They immediate see it is from God as Christ is God and we are reflecting that to others.

I think the body of Christ is rising again because the world strayed so far away from God. When this happens God reminds people and Christs light shines in the darkness so that people can know Him when the chaos and darkness becomes too great in the world. Bold and pure Christians will restore Gods truth in among all the lies and wolves and Pharisees who are hypocrites.

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And most here will never believe that the LAW has been set aside AS is written. in. ACTS 28:25-28 and in. ISA 6:1-13

and 2 Tim 2:15 will not believe >

and HEB 9:18. is the MOST POWERFUL verse that says why the LAW HAD TO BE SET ASIDE !!

dan p

essentialsaltes said:

Can Tish cheer yet?

2nd grand jury refuses to indict New York AG Letitia James: Sources​

For a second time in recent days, a federal grand jury in Virginia has refused to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud, sources said.

The grand jury rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to refile the case after a federal judge dismissed an earlier case based on the unlawful appointment of the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The charges were presented to a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia's Alexandria branch after a grand jury in Norfolk, Virginia, last week rejected the charges.

"This unprecedented rejection makes even clearer that this case should never have seen the light of day," James' attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement. "Career prosecutors who knew better refused to bring it, and now two different grand juries in two different cities have refused to allow these baseless charges to be brought. Any further attempt to revive these discredited charges would be a mockery of our system of justice."

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As New York Judge Sol Wachtler said in 1985, “If a district attorney wanted, a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich.”

That is how incompetent the Trump DOJ is.
In fact in one case, the ham sandwich won.

Bible distribution continues in Pakistan despite devestating floods.

While flooded rivers and fields have made travel difficult in Pakistan, some Christian teams continue to carry on the important work of distributing Bibles there. Devastating floods have led to the deaths of more than 800 people and forced over 1 million Pakistanis to evacuate their homes and villages. “Please pray for them,” said a front-line worker. “It is very difficult, and they need to know where they can go because of the many flooded areas and also because of ongoing security threats.” Around 2% of Pakistan’s population, roughly about 4 million people, are believed to be Christians. Even during dry seasons, Christians must use care in distributing Bibles, knowing the opposition they could face at the hands of fanatical Muslims.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Pakistan and learn how to pray.

Commitment to prayer counters fear.

For Christians in Buddhist-dominated Bhutan, fear of the government and the reaction of neighbors to Christian witness runs deep. Anti-conversion laws can bring punishments up to life imprisonment for carrying out the activities of the Christian faith. However, many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ remain committed to him despite the risk. A front-line worker shared the example of one Christian woman dedicated to praying continuously. Seven days each week, she comes to the church to pray, returning home only to sleep. “Her trust and passion for the Lord was humbling,” the worker said. Pray for Bhutanese Christians to have strength and courage to persevere in the face of fears and pressure. Pray also for protection and encouragement for those who are facing opposition, imprisonment or family rejection.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Bhutan and learn how to pray.

Sentenced for practicing their faith.

Eleven Christians in Libya have been sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison for practicing their faith. The 11 were arrested in March 2023 and sentenced in April 2025. Members of the group, which includes 9 Libyan men, one woman and one Pakistani national, were sentenced on several charges including “insulting Islam” and “calling for the establishment of a banned group,” according to various reports. They also faced charges of apostasy for converting from Islam and could have been sentenced to death, but the court did not pursue that penalty. Pray that our imprisoned brothers and sister will stand firm in their faith amid the challenges of prison; that they will have opportunities to share the gospel with their fellow inmates; and that they will be released. Pray also for their families to experience God’s comfort and provision.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Libya and learn how to pray.

Off topic, I was able to livestream an entire episode of Better call Saul in the time it took to load this page. I suppose I should be watching Narcos.

Dave... said:

Hi Arbitor

All the gifts are from the Spirit. Local, corporate? I'm not sure what you mean that. The Body of Christ, yes. Alistair Begg said it best. "Anything good that comes from us for the Church is an undeserved gift from God".

Dave

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Well you seem also to be saying that people are using the Spiritual gifts incorrectly. What do you mean by that? Exactly how?

Wow. Praise the Lord!

essentialsaltes said:

Santos’ exclusive guest list for the party included several members of Congress, including Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

“I’m glad he’s out of prison,” Rep. Burchett told TMZ outside the event. “The party was rocking, man.”

He recalled, “I saw people getting turned away while I was coming in. I’m not used to that,” adding, “They had caviar, which I’ve never actually seen in real life… They had these humongous shrimp and then they had that chocolate fountain.”

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lol wut? The guy's a 61yo congreeman, has never seen caviar and gets excited over a chocolate fountain?