I'm old fashioned!

Secular - I love White Christmas and Walking in a Winter Winderland.

Christian - I like nearly all the carols, especially O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. The words "born to raise the sons of Earth, born to give them second birth" are wonderful. Also Mary Did You Know and O Holy Night. But my favourite has to be:

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The search for the shooter continues.

Factotum said:

I don't think Exxon Mobil nor Shkreli showed up to sit at any defendant's table, in this similar circumstance:

"Trump and his lawyers said his financial statements weren’t deceptive, since they came with disclaimers noting they weren’t audited. The defense also noted that bankers and insurers independently evaluated the numbers, and the loans were repaid... Trump’s lawyers argued that many of the case’s allegations were too old... The defense also contends that James misused a consumer-protection law to sue Trump and improperly policed private business transactions that were satisfactory to those involved." Trump's massive civil fraud penalty for exaggerating financial statements is thrown out by appeals court


You can do better research next time, to avoid excluding vital info.

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That's completely irrelevant. You claimed New York had "never...experienced this type of crime until Trump was charged with it." I showed you the law, and two recent examples of prosecutions based on that law. Neither Trump's defense in that case nor that the judgment against Trump was tossed changes anything, Trump was still found guilty of fraud under New York Executive Law § 63(12), just as Shkreli was.

New York Executive Law § 63(12) is not some obscure law that has not been used in 105 years, as you asserted.

-- A2SG, nor has that law anything to do with the failed indictments of Letitia James....

This one priest gives a homily at the Vigil Mass and then in the morning Mass he practically gives the same verbatim homily, but he's not reading from anything - he is reciting out of his mouth (while "walking around"). It's no small homily either, yet the words seem practically identical to the one the evening before. I find that puzzling, how he can achieve that.

Double

Pain

ThatRobGuy said:

I linked a few of the articles before discussing it from Canadian news outlets (one of which being the CBC), here's another

24 Sussex is 'our line in the sand,' say restoration supporters | Heritage Ottawa

heritageottawa.org

Noting, that no Prime minister as lived in it since 2015 because it doesn't accomplish certain needs.

Ironically enough, the CBC and Ottawa Citizen articles I linked before made mention specifically about having the ability to hold larger events.

The author of the latter piece referred to the fact that the Prime Minister not having better house with better amenities (and having to actually live somewhere else) was a "national embarrassment"

There was nothing controversial about Michelle Obama's "modernizations" to the State Dining room and Family Dining room.

Times change, residents want a different look, or some more modern amenities, etc...

The "historical preservation groups" still complained (they always do), but republicans did the same pearl clutching when she did that. Pretending to have a profound respect for preserving the history, when we all know it wasn't really about that.


This current iteration about "preserving history" also comes across as a little hollow due to the fact that the people complaining the loudest about tearing down the east wing, were the same people who were advocating for tearing down other historical things.

A DC city commission (in conjunction with Mayor Bowser) was pitching things like this in 2020:
View attachment 374521


Where was the progressive ire when ideas like removing or relocating the Jefferson Memorial or Washington Monument were being floated?

"We need to rip down a Ulysses Grant statue, because he married into a slave owning family" (Despite being a Union general)

Yet, making alterations to a building (that was built with slave labor) is suddenly "whoa, this is history, you can't change that!"

C'mon, isn't it a case where sometimes the most obvious answer is the right one? Which is, it's Trump doing it, so that's why they're pretending to be all bent out of shape about it?

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It is a preservation society that has brought forth the suit. Personally, I find the proposed interior looking tacky and the size ludicrous (compared to the main house and the west wing). I guess at least some other do as well, regardless of any political leaning.

Wolseley said:

Hollywood Director Rob Reiner, 'All in the Family' Star, Dead at 78

Acclaimed actor-director Rob Reiner, maker of such timeless classics like "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," was reportedly found dead in his Brentwood home at age of 78. Police are investigating it as a possible homicide.

www.breitbart.com

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They are suspecting their son Nick.

Valletta said:

Y

You need to remember that the Biden administration insisted that the border was safe, secure, and closed, one of the biggest government hoaxes in American history. Some, such as Victor Davis Hanson, would put the number at the lower end of the range I provided, 10-12 million while others at the higher or even higher. We really don't know how many totally evaded detection but it is reasonable to assume that those are not people likely to fill out surveys. I understand the effort to downplay the numbers, be aware that much of it comes from the same people who were participants in the Biden administration hoax.

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10 million hoplites?

VD Hanson is an ancient historian (retired I think), not an expert on immigration or any other subject in the last 2 millennia.

SabbathBlessings said:

Of course, the notion we can disobey God and thats an example of faith is not found in our Bibles. So no one should be teaching we do not have to keep God’s commandments- and let Him be the one to sort out who is doing it for the right reason because He only taught if you love Me, keep My commandments, never once taught if you love Me, don’t obey Me.

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When Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15), He is not reducing love to rule-keeping, nor is He singling out one commandment in isolation. In that same conversation He goes on to say, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Love, expressed in a life shaped by Him, is the center.

The New Testament consistently teaches that love for Jesus is first a matter of trust and allegiance, not perfect observance. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our obedience flows out of grace; it does not create it (Ephesians 2:8–10).

Regarding the Sabbath specifically, the early church wrestled with this question. Paul writes, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). He also warns against judging one another “with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath” (Colossians 2:16–17), saying these were a shadow pointing to Christ.

Jesus Himself reframed the Sabbath: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” and “the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27–28). He consistently showed that mercy, restoration, and life are at the heart of God’s commands (Matthew 12:7).

So, do Christians who do not keep Saturday holy love Jesus? According to the New Testament, yes—if they are trusting in Him, receiving His grace, and seeking to follow Him in faith and love. Love for Jesus is not proven by flawless law-keeping, but by abiding in Him (John 15:4–5), walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), and growing in obedience over time.

At the same time, Scripture allows room for conviction. If someone honors Saturday unto the Lord, that can be an act of love and faith. If another honors Christ without observing that day, that too can be an act of love. The warning is not to turn either practice into a measure of salvation or a test of genuine love (Romans 14:10–12).

We love Jesus not because we perfectly keep every command, but because He has loved us first—and that love, over a lifetime, teaches us how to obey.

The word of their testimony is their martyrdom. Their death is the "word" by which they conquer.

For who "they" is go back to verse 10; "our brothers and sisters," in context, those who have been martyred.

civilwarbuff said:

Sounds as if the D's are willing to partner up with criminals in order to win elections. Isn't that something that can be prosecuted under RICO statutes?

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Gee, remind me again, in the last election, which party ran a convicted felon and which ran someone who prosecuted criminals?

-- A2SG, so easy to forget these things....

NxNW said:

DOGE found so much fraud that nobody was indicted for fraud.

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Remember at the Musk voter money give away rally where he announced impending fraud indictments?
He even stated while on stage, "Yes. In fact, I believe someone is going to be arrested tomorrow,"
That never happened either.

It's sad the lies some are telling about Charlie Kirk. It's sad also that they are say unkind things about Erica too. She lost her husband, let her grieve. I feel bad for her. People are coming to Jesus because of Charlie's death, he was a true Christian just trying to lead people to Christ and show them a better way and the lies about wokeism.

mark46 said:

"Each other" means other Christians for so, so many.

Many don't believe that is what Jesus taught. Many do.

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I don't know what you mean to say.

The whole thing appears to be AI generated, including the photos.

We need to pray and write our politicians. Taking away freedom of speech, saying parts of the Bible are hate speech, will not be able to post scripture..
Bill C-9 represents an unacceptable assault on free expression in Canada. (it is especially targeting religious groups) use link provided to send a message to your member of parliament, this link is good for all over Canada.
This bill would give the government the power to criminally prosecute Canadians for their opinions, lower the bar for what legally constitutes “hate,” and strip away vital safeguards that keep authorities from weaponizing laws against dissidents. It risks turning controversial memes into crimes and silencing open debate through fear of prosecution.

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ThatRobGuy said:

I mentioned why that could be the case.

Another poster mentioned "ASL is it's own language" (Like Spanish, Japanese, French, etc...)

Trump heavily leverages things like alliteration, "play on words", rhyming, and hyperbolic rhetorical devices.

Things that don't translate well between languages.

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Sure - so we ban all translation of Trump's words to languages other than English? Lol. Furthermore, text is very bad at conveying tone, and Trump also heavily uses tone of voice to emphasize his points. Simply reading the words that he says doesn't convey the full meaning either. But ASL does have ways to express tone.

ThatRobGuy said:

The other aspect (and yes, I'll just say the quiet part out loud so we can all stop beating about the bush), there are times where it can be a distraction from the actual content.

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This seems like it would be a very easy problem to deal with from the government's perspective. If an ASL interpreter goes "beyond linguistic necessity," then they're fired/not used again (not sure if they're government employees or contracted). Easy-peasy. "We're not going to do ASL interpretation at all because some ASL interpreters can get a bit extra," is a really weak excuse.

My son Jakeb has a doctor appointment tomorrow. He is not doing well mentally at all. Please pray for God's healing love and to protect him. Please pray that God keeps him safe tonight. Calms his mind and no bad thoughts please. A mother's greatest fear is to lose her child. Please pray that won't happen. That God will get him through this and guide us and his doctors. Please ask God to give him some joy and keep him safe. He's crying. Please Dear God give him some happiness. I ask in the name of Jesus. Thank you and God bless you.

Hello everyone

John told the difference between his own baptism, in water, and this of Jesus in spirit and fire

I make the hypothesis part of Jesus's consists in admitting the powerful Messiah could be defeated, and his life depend on men's good will.

According to this hypothesis, the first Jesus baptized would have been John the Baptist, when the latter, after opposition, finally consents to baptize Jesus. Then, the Holy spirit appears, a voice is heard, from God, and John is made able to bear testimony to Jesus.

Indeed,
JB thought and told it was him, JB, that was in need of the christian baptism, and not Jesus of his.
May be was JB in search of a Messiah that wouldn't be in need of him, JB
Because, actually, a Messiah in need of men wasn't fitted to be a Messiah, they thought.

Yes, may be, but
what do they think of a Messiah that'd let men think He is, or He's got the solution of their problems ?

However unbearable might be the question, i wonder yet whether such a Messiah wouldn't mean conforting men into demobilizing themselves ?


It's a deed JB will not follow Jesus, nor will the latter let JB follow him : After Jesus' baptism, JB still looks mobilized with his baptizings in water. Nothing new for him : An ordinary man, diminishing as he himself foretold ; Still no miracle happens through him ; as first baptized and convert (according to my hypothesis), the so called greater of prophets by Jesus will end up preceeding Jesus in death, beheaded, escaping to fall in oblivion in Herod 's prison thanks to Jesus' resurrection. The latter king whose name is only famous thanks to him, John..

Similarly to JB's unwillingness, they could analyse Simon's reproaches to Jesus as Jesus announces his death on the cross, and go on with this analyse up to the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Acts, that looks a bit like the coming of the Holy Spirit at Jesus baptism.


Finally, to conclude
the valuable questions of this thread are :

Is admitting one's oblivion by the world the mark they are true christians (see the anonymous diminishing of JB, from his not following Jesus up to Herod's prison ; see also the pagan share of Jesus' last stuff (his clothes), through their gambling, anonymous as well) ?

Might it be as well, the mark of a frustration of the world ? (chatgpt's answer admitted )

Mark Quayle said:

SuperCow said:

Which is it? A or B?

A. I have a choice whether to follow God.
B. God already knows whether I will choose to follow him or not.

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C. You will choose because you must. You cannot avoid it. And God knows what you will choose— knew it before the foundation of the world. Argue against the Bible, if you will: Have you not heard of the Biblical term, "the elect"? Do you think the "Bride of Christ" is a haphazard compilation of indeterminate members?

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Actually your (C) answer is actually choice (B), which makes sense because we established your belief that God causes sin, and you admit again I choose because I must, cannot avoid it, and God knows what I will choose, which negates (A).