• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Report: Joe Biden’s Close Aides Hid Him from Others Inside the White House

The former deputy White House director of photography, Chandler West, appeared to criticize Biden’s inner circle in an Instagram post after the debate, according to Axios.
“It’s time for Joe to go,” West wrote. “I know many of these people and how the White House operates. They will say he has a ‘cold’ or just experienced a ‘bad night,’ but for weeks and months, in private, they have all said what we saw last night — Joe is not as strong as he was just a couple of years ago.”
Remember also that the major media has helped conceal the truth.

Los Angeles Synagogue Attack: Everything We Know


Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a press release that the violence there was "abhorrent."

"I want to be clear that Los Angeles will not be a harbor for antisemitism and violence. Those responsible for either will be found and held accountable," she said.

She added that she has asked the LAPD to provide additional patrols in the area.

In videos posted on social media, protesters from both sides can be seen shouting at and physically confronting one another. Palestinian and Israeli flags were on display, and some people wore yarmulkes and keffiyehs.

In one video, an egg was thrown at a pro-Palestinian demonstrator and bear spray appears to be deployed.

In another, protesters can be heard shouting "long live intifada," using the Arabic word for an uprising or resistance movement.

Police in riot gear cleared the area in front of the synagogue, and officer Im told CNN that the situation was "pretty calm" hours later.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the clashes in a post on X: "There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship. Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California."

Australia Gets a New Boss

Australia gets a new boss



Australia has today appointed Samantha (‘Sam’) Mostyn as its new Governor-General (aka ‘the GG’). To those of you who don’t live in a British Commonwealth country the idea of a GG may need explanation.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy.

This means that, while King Charles is our head of state, he does not have absolute power. He must follow the Australian Constitution. The King delegates his powers to the Governor-General of Australia. The GG is appointed (unelected) by the King, on the advice of the Prime Minister. In practice Australia has minimal direct connection with the British King and, despite having a King-in-Common, Australia has no official legal, political or governmental ties to the UK Government.

The GG’s role is scrupulously non-political and exercises a limited range of constitutional, traditional and civic powers.

The GG’s role includes;
  • Signing bills into law
  • Convening Parliament and setting meeting times
  • Approving Federal elections
  • Acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force
  • Appointing or dismissing Prime Ministers under clear constitutional limitations

The role also has a range of ceremonial duties including;
  • Administering the oath of office to Ministers, judges etc.
  • Awarding national honours
  • Acting as official patron to various organisations
  • Welcoming foreign heads of state

Unlike the US, the role of Australian Head of State and Head of Government are split between the unelected GG and the Prime Minister (‘the PM’). Australia does not have a position of President where the roles of both Head of State and Government are combined into one position. To confuse things even more, the Prime Minister (‘the PM’) is not specifically elected as PM in a public election. He or she is an ordinary, elected, member of Parliament who is selected as PM by the political party with a Parliamentary majority.



OB

Threshing Floor of Atad?

Goren haAtad - "Threshing Floor of the Thorn", ("the threshingfloor of Atad", KJV and most translations).

Genesis 50:7-11 KJV
7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.

If you read the majority of the commentators on the location of Goren haAtad there is one primary thing they prove altogether as one: the location cannot be known for sure by the wording in the text because one cannot tell for sure even which side of the river the place is located.


This may actually be an account written by a firsthand witness, such as Yoseph himself, or perhaps he had a personal scribe, (being Pharaoh's Vizier this is likely). In such a case the "other side of the Yarden" may indeed be from the perspective of the writer, and the funeral procession surely went around the Salt Sea, on the eastern side, the long way around, so as to approach the land of Kanaan from the eastern side of the river. Then we read that the Kanaanites saw this wailing at Goren haAtad and therefore they called the place Abel Mitzraim, the mounring (place) of Egypt (or the Egyptians). The Kanaanites witnessed this great occasion? The Kananites dwelt on the western side of the river, in Kanaan, not on the eastern side of the river.

Recently, while looking up the general location of "Bethany beyond the Yarden" and its surrounding topography, on Google maps, I took a look southward in the area of Qumran. I was immediately stunned by what I saw on the satellite map.

Do you see what I see?

Goren-haAtad-1.png


Could this location, now known by the Arabic name Khirbet Quran, actually be Goren haAtad?

The Threshing Floor of the Thorn?

Goren-haAtad-1a.png


Hmmmmmm ......................................... ???
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Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin

Hello folks. Today's study is on how Jesus forgives us of our sins, but does not condone our sins. Habitual sins will also be covered in this devotional.

Date
June 30, 2024 | Forgiveness ≠ License to Sin​
Verse
Romans 6:1-4 (NIV): "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Romans 7:21-25 (NIV): "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

1 John 3:9 (NIV): "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God."

John 8:10-11 (NIV): "Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’"​
Explanation
These four passages from the Bible discuss the relationship between sin, grace, and the Christian life.

In Romans 6:1-4, Paul is addressing the idea that because of God's grace and mercy, Christians might think they can continue to sin without consequences. However, Paul strongly asserts that this is not the case. He explains that believers have died to sin and have been raised to new life in Christ. Being baptized into Christ means being identified with Him in His death and resurrection. Therefore, Christians should no longer live in sin but instead strive to live a new life in Christ.

Romans 7:21-25 comes from Paul's personal struggle with sin. He acknowledges the desire to do good, but the presence of sin within him. Paul confesses that he is a slave to God's law in his mind but a prisoner of sin in his sinful nature. He expresses his wretchedness and seeks rescue from his sinful nature. However, he ultimately finds hope and deliverance through Jesus Christ. This passage emphasizes the ongoing battle against sin and the need for God's grace and mercy.

1 John 3:9 states that those who are born of God cannot continue to live in sin. This passage highlights the transformative power of the new birth and the reality that true followers of Christ will produce good fruit and turn away from sin.

In John 8:10-11, Jesus encounters a woman caught in adultery. He neither condemns her nor excuses her sin. Instead, He tells her to leave her life of sin. This passage illustrates Jesus' compassionate approach to sin and His call for repentance and transformation.

Regarding forgiveness and avoiding a license to sin, these verses teach that God's grace is not an excuse to continue living in sin. Instead, it is a call to live a new life in Christ, transformed by His love and power. Christians are to strive for holiness and obedience, but they are not saved by their own effort or perfection. They are saved by God's grace and mercy, and that same grace empowers them to live a life worthy of their calling.​
Societal Relevance
Strategies to avoid habitual sins and the trap of excusing sins in the modern world:
  1. Pray for the strength and wisdom to recognize and resist temptation.
  2. Cultivate healthy relationships that encourage and support your spiritual growth.
  3. Seek accountability through small groups, mentors, or spiritual friends. For instance, an alcoholic or drug addict could go to an an Alcoholics’ Anonymous group, or Narcotics Anonymous respectively.
  4. Regularly reflect on your thoughts, words, and actions to identify areas of growth and repentance.
  5. Practice forgiveness towards others and towards yourself.
  6. Surround yourself with positive influences and avoid those that encourage or enable sinful behavior.
  7. Memorize and meditate on Scripture that speaks to your specific struggles and provides encouragement and guidance.
  8. Live a balanced life, prioritizing physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
  9. Seek professional help if necessary, such as counseling or addiction recovery programs.
  10. Remember that you are not defined by your struggles or sins, but by God's love and grace.
  11. Focus on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and lean on His strength in your daily life.
  12. Cultivate a heart of gratitude and obedience to God, recognizing that your salvation is not based on your own effort but on His grace.
For myself, habitual sins can be a struggle. For instance, beating my plantain is my vice. While I have always stayed away from inappropriate visual content, the feeling of jerking off can be very addicting. However, I pray almost every night about this, and try my best not to. Another struggle for me is being quick to judge, and has been since middle school or so. Sometimes, my thinking can be in black and white, without viewing both sides of the argument. Recently though, I have been slowly getting better at more nuanced thinking, but have a long way to go. Jesus will always continue to forgive us, but we must try our best to repent of our sins.

Lust Month is finally over

Hello folks. Today is a great day, cos Lust Month is finally over, or it will be in around 4 hours.

RailFanning

I do consider myself a railfanner and will try to get a Christiansburg, VA site up and running once the Christiansburg Amtrak station gets up and running. My current favorite is the LaPlata station in Mo. Looks like they are awaiting an Amtrak this evening. I watch this on two monitors. The East on the left screen and the West (second link) on the right screen...

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Finally!!....The truth is coming out on MSM.

This is the youtube promo of a program that I watched last night on Television called After Covid.
What was amazing was the fact that they quite openly discussed the so called side effects of the covid 19 vaccine , with one woman standing up and saying we have a society that is chronically ill and it is not the unvaccinated , and that is in the promo as well.

This is just the begining folks , the truth is finally coming out.

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Why did Jesus not pronounce "I am God" in the four gospels?

Let string G1 = "I am God".

Why did Jesus not say G1 in the Gospel?

Jesus knew he was God but decided not to proclaim it at the time. Why?

Paul explained in Philippians 2:

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
He gave us his example of servant humility.

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The phrase "I am God" is a loaded statement. In Jesus's time, people would have misunderstood its implications when applying to the man Jesus. Jesus did not want that extra hassles to mess up his timing. Just calling himself "the Son of God" already caused trouble with the religious authorities. Even today, the statement "Jesus is God" is divisive among Christians.

Why did Jesus not say "I am God" in the gospels?

For humility and logistical reasons.

The apostles had used the keys of the kingdom/government of heaven to bind this commandment upon us...

Peace in Christ.

Whosoever wants to come after Him must deny themselves….that is, we must deny their own religious thoughts and ways. We must hear Him and not go about seeking to defend our own works of “righteousness” that were done in the keeping of our denominational commandments and teachings in the ignorance of the truth of the gospel.

This is what Saul/Paul did….he denied himself by counting all of the previous religious thoughts and ways as a loss in order to gain the “excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” that the Lord spoke to him. Paul lost his life (soul) in order to save it.

He was not found by the Lord trying to defend his own righteousness which is of the law. We also must not be found trying to defend our own church doctrines and commandments of men to the Lord when we hear His voice. We are to be found with FAITH instead in what we hear Christ saying (His knowledge) which supersedes man's private interpretations of the Scriptures.

Php 3:7-10 KJV
(7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;


We are to “take up our cross” also because if we are to follow after Him, we must leave our denominational churches where the truth of the gospel is not being preached. Count all of those previous things as a complete “loss” in order to gain Christ.

They…the churches of earthly-minded men… will persecute you for doing so….but we must die to sin….not rendering evil for their evil by “taking up our cross”. We are to have “fellowship of His sufferings” by being made conformable unto His death on the cross.

We are to suffer their persecutions by not rendering evil for their evil nor threatening them when they threaten us. This is what is meant by “taking up our cross” when we go to follow Him out of the man-based churches. They will think it “strange” that we shall no longer run with them in their church things and will persecute us for leaving them. Remember Lot's wife....and not look back.

Mar 8:34-35 KJV
(34) And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

The truth of the gospel is not being preached in the denominations of men.

This is why Jesus mentions leaving them for the sake of the “gospel” here in Mark 10:29 .

We are to lose our “life”…that is, our soul…for His sake and the GOSPEL’S. We leave the churches of men for the true gospel….leaving their erroneous “another gospel” that they have been preaching to us behind.

(35) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

And again in Mark 10: those who leave their church family for His sake and the GOSPEL’S….the true gospel’s sake….shall receive persecutions by them. But we shall then receive another church family of true believers who believe in the words of Christ they hear as He speaks the truth of the gospel.

Mar 10:
(29) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

The translation should be here in Mark 10:30 : “and in THIS AGE the coming age-lasting life”.

When we leave their churches for Him and the true gospel’s sake, we can expect to receive an age-lasting life …to live throughout this age mortally. Those who are called to leave are to “lay hold” on age-lasting life to come for them when they do leave.

(30) But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the (this) world (age) to come (the coming age -lasting) eternal life.

This is said to the “rich in this world”: they are to lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the TIME TO COME….taking hold of the expected age-lasting life. In this age, they are to receive the coming age-lasting life of which they are to take hold of now. They who believe can expect to continue to mortally live in the "time to come"...the duration of the rest of this age.

1Ti 6:17-19
(17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(18) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
(19) Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal (age-lasting) life.


The understanding of the” glorious gospel of Christ” is being hid from the minds of those that are PERISHING (mortally dying). We must leave them.

If they had knowledge of it, they would not be mortally perishing away to the grave but would have age-lasting life in this age to the very end of this age. They would never mortally die.

The fact that they are perishing means that they do not have the truth of the gospel. No mortal flesh is being saved in any man-based church where the truth of the gospel is not being preached.

2Co 4:3-5
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (PERISHING):

The “god of this age” (the belly that they are “preaching themselves” for) has blinded their minds. They are Satan’s ministers for doing so.

(4) In whom the god of this world (age) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Their “god is their belly” that they are “serving” for rather than serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Their “end is destruction”….destruction of their mortal flesh. They mind “earthly things” : what to eat, what to drink, what to wear. They are only preaching for these things and so the gospel is being hid from their understanding.

Php 3:17-19 KJV
(17) Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(18) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
(19) Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)


All of this is comes to an important message.

The keys of the kingdom/government of heaven were given to the disciples….and they did use those keys to “bind” something on earth and so that it was bound in “heaven”….in those who have their citizenship in heaven now in this earth.

Mat 16:19 KJV
(19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

What did the original apostles of Christ “bind”?

The original apostles did forgo the “power” to eat of the gospel….that is, they gave up the right to preach for a pay check in order to get their earthly needs met. They did work with their own hands to support their own earthly necessities.

This is now BINDING upon all of us (as they COMMAND it) after them. They did this (work with their own hands to support their own earthly necessities) in order to make themselves an example unto us TO FOLLOW THEM in this.

There is no more option/right/power for preachers to preach and get paid from those they preach to as they (the original apostles) did BIND this on the earth….and so it is binding upon all of us who have our “citizenship in heaven” now in this earth.

They now COMMAND (with the keys of heaven binding it): we who preach must work with our own hands to eat our own “bread”….for they command and exhort by the Lord Jesus Christ that we with quietness (not by using our voice to get paid for “preaching”) work and eat our own bread.

2Th 3:12 KJV
(12) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

They original apostles of Christ did not eat any man’s bread for nothing. Instead, they worked with “labor and travail” night and day so that they might not be chargeable to any.

2Th 3:7-11 KJV
(7) For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

(8) Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

They did forgo this “power” to preach for a paycheck….and now it is BINDING upon all of us after them for we must “follow” them in their example.

(9) Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

Again, it is COMMANDED (binding) that if we (who preach) do not work (with our hands to support our own earthly necessities), then neither shall we “eat”….that is, to eat of the gospel with UNDERSTANDING. The gospel is then hid to our minds so that we cannot understand it.

This is not about a non-working brother sitting in the back pew but a brother who is in the pulpit preaching for a paycheck (minding earthly things). The apostles have used the keys of the kingdom/government of heaven to bind this commandment upon us.

(10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

They walk “disorderly” and not after the COMMANDMENT of the apostles who did shut down this option to preach for pay. They are not “working” at all….as the gospel has been hid from their minds as a result. Their "preaching" is not doing anything productive as it is absent of the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.

(11) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

This letter (2nd Thessalonians) is the AUTHORITY upon all of us. If any man does not “obey”…that is, to subordinately hear (by doing it), we are to have no company with him.

2Th 3:13-15 KJV
(13) But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
(14) And if any man obey (subordinately hear) not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
(15) Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.


Again….in the keys of the kingdom of heaven…in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…we are to withdraw ourselves from every brother (preaching in the pulpit) who walks disorderly and not after the “tradition”…that is, the TRANSMISSION of the apostles (the commandment of the apostles handed down to us to follow after) that is to be received by us. The "transmission" of the apostles means this commandment is to be passed down to us to keep.

2Th 3:6 KJV
(6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition (transmission)which he received of us.

The truth of the gospel is being hid from those who are “preaching themselves”…who are not following after the commandment of the apostles who did bind us all to work with our own hands to support our own necessities. They have become Satan’s ministers because of this.

How so? They follow in the footsteps of Judas who did receive the “sop” (meaning a “mouthful”…crumb…morsel)…and by doing so…Satan had entered into him. The “sop” was “dipped”….as it was hard earned bread (that another has worked by the sweat of the brow for). When we who preach and receive another's bread for nothing, we become a minister of Satan who mind the things of men only and not of God's things.

Joh 13:26-27 KJV
(26) Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
(27) And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.


Having received the “sop”….eating another’s bread for nothing…”IT WAS NIGHT” . “It was night” means that those who preach for pay (eating another’s bread for nothing) have the truth of the gospel HID from their minds.

Joh 13:30 KJV
(30) He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

‘The God Delusion’ Author Now Says He’s a ‘Cultural Christian’?—Justin Brierley Explains the Decline of the New Atheism

Remember when a group of prominent atheists were telling the world that God was a delusion and that religion was harmful to society? In the mid-2000s, a movement developed called the “New Atheism,” represented by figures such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett, who were known as the “Four Horsemen.”

“New Atheism was really a phenomenon…around the mid-2000s, kind of very much on the coattails of 9/11 [that conveyed] the sense that religion might be bad for us,” said broadcaster and author Justin Brierley in a recent interview on “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast.”

Brierley hosted the “Unbelievable?” podcast for many years and had a unique opportunity to observe and engage with the New Atheism. In his recent book, “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again,” he explains why he believes the movement failed and describes a new openness he sees in people when it comes to faith.

The New Atheism After Its Heyday


Continued below.
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Presidential Debate review - that brings up the game-changer question

This news outlet gives us a lot of the "Joe is sharp.. best ever..on top of his game" promos coming from left wing media prior to this debate.

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Then the video above follows with all the urgent "houston we have a problem" clips coming from some of those same left-media sources - after the debate.

And some very interesting Joe montage showing that very little has "suddenly changed".

So here is my question after watching that for 5 or 10 min.

Who was/is gaslighting who?

Do they think Joe suddenly aged 25 years in a 90 min debate?
Do they think it happened in 5 days?
Do they think it is "coincidence" that Joe appeared exactly as the Right had been announcing for the past few years?
Do they think they were gaslighted until suddenly they came-to on Friday?
Are we to think that they were actually gas lighting us for the past few years?

How are they going to re-position this new agenda that they have now that some details are so far out in the open even they can't claim not to see them?

Racist Woman Writes Racist Article


Summary...black women "started the WNBA", so black woman need to be the future "face" of the WNBA.

Which is pretty revealing. No calls for diversity, no complaints of overrepresentation, no talk of percentages, no punching up or punching down.

Nope. That was always nonsense. These people are just racist now.

Identity politics 101.

"The Least of these my brothers"

Matthew 12:40
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Look around today. Who is Jesus identifying with?

Is it the homeless? The undocumented immigrant? The drop outs? The panhandlers?

Who?

And how are we to respond? Without limit? Without qualifications?
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Specific Gut Bacteria That Triggers Compulsive Eating Identified by Scientists Who Also Found Bacteria to Prevent it

Compulsive eating and obesity may be triggered by a specific gut bacteria, suggests a new study—and the breakthrough may lead to new treatments to address the problem of food addiction.

The bacteria identified by an international research team is associated with both humans and mice developing an addiction to food that can lead to obesity. They also identified bacteria that play a beneficial role in preventing food addiction.


“A number of factors contribute to food addiction, which is characterized by loss of control over food intake and is associated with obesity, other eating disorders, and alterations in the composition of bacteria in the gut microbiome,” said Professor Elena Martín-García, of Pompeu Fabra University, Spain.

“Until now, the mechanisms underlying this behavioral disorder were largely unknown.”

Professor Rafael Maldonado, who leads the university’s Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, said: “These results from our study may allow us to identify new biomarkers for food addiction and, most importantly, to evaluate whether the beneficial bacteria could be used as potential new treatments for this obesity-related behavior, which, at present, lacks any effective therapeutic approaches.


“Potential new treatments could involve using beneficial bacteria and dietary supplementation.”

Continued below.

Orthodoxy's theological tensions and scholarship

Within the Orthodox Tradition, theological tensions have emerged from various perspectives on post-7th Ecumenical Council theological reflections. Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy lacks a mechanism within its ecclesiology to resolve these tensions, particularly because holding an Ecumenical council has been impossible since the schisms of 431 AD and 1054 AD. As a Catholic reading the Orthodox Study Bible's notes on the Holy Eucharist, I am struck by the apparent separation from both Catholic and Protestant perspectives. While it is reasonable to distinguish from Protestant symbolic interpretations and spiritual-but-not-physical real presence views, challenging the use of Transubstantiation terminology seems unwarranted. Orthodox scholarly precedent exists for employing such language, indicating that the tradition of transubstantiation is present in Orthodoxy, alongside other Eucharistic traditions that differ from Catholic views. I would like to see these issues addressed and corrected in future editions of the Orthodox Study Bible, along with textual enhancements.

Another Fact-Checking on the Presidential Debate


If you care about truth, you better had not listen to anything that Trump says.
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Pray that politicians(and bureaucrats) responsibly leave office if they have very poor mental, physical &/or spiritual health for their nation's sake

Pray that politicians(and bureaucrats) responsibly leave office if they have very poor mental, physical &/or spiritual health for their nation's sake:

What to do, since the gaslight is over?


The white house, and the media, constantly told you not to believe your eyes. The mask is off, now what happens?

Beyond Hope?

Hi everyone. I’m not a Christian, but I became one of my own accord when I was 15. I didn’t get baptized but I fully put my faith in Christ. However, over time I fell down a rabbit hole and eventually came to find myself unable to feel guilt for sins. I think at some point I felt guilt for sins, but I can’t really remember, as I hadn’t realized that guilt for winning was a requirement for repentance. Eventually, I fell out of the faith and became an atheist. However, I’ve always had a fear of hell, and I think that’s the only reason why I’m coming to this forum, rather than guilt for sins, though I know this is not enough for true repentance. I know a genuine and heartfelt disdain for sins is a sign of the holy spirit dwelling in you, since I’m an apostate, it would seem that I’m beyond being given a second chance for salvation, according to Hebrews 6. I made a very foolish decision years ago (I’m 22 now), and now I just want honesty regarding my situation. Can I pray and receive forgiveness, or am I too far gone?

Thanks for any guidance you can share

French Election 2024 - Key Issues

Macron called an election in France (30th June - 7th July) after being soundly defeated by the populist right in the European elections. Most commentators are a little bemused and confused as to his reasoning on this as it is unlikely that his centrist party will benefit much and it is very likely that the hard right will grow their presence instead. At the moment he cannot get anything through the French parliament and it is unlikely that he will be able to afterward either. Current poling indicates that the hard left and hard right will dominate the new parliament with Macron's alliance of centrist parties marginalized.


1) Is this the end of the Fifth French Republic - its institutions and old party structures shattered beyond repair and a new extremist debate between commies and fascists now takes its place. Is the new reality a sclerotic economy married to unrealistic expectations and political paralysis regarding wise decision-making and action plans?

2) What will this mean for Europe? With the shift to the right in European electorates in all the large EU countries of Germany, Italy and France the dissatisfaction with the European project is being openly expressed. This at a time when external issues and threats e.g. Ukraine, Chinese trade policy, and the scramble for energy sources are threatening the peace and prosperity of Europe.

3) Is this a passing phase in French politics that France just needs to work through its system or something more sinister? Maybe this question contradicts number one. But the only way that Macron's strategy makes any sense is with a view to the longer term. If the French elect the extreme parties now while there is still a moderate president in charge will they be heartedly sick of the paralysis and infighting in parliament by the time the presidential elections come along? If so could this be a preamble to a big shift to the center then? Let the extremists kill each other in a divided parliament and then swoop in to save the day when it matters is the strategy here.

Question for Sweet Comfort Fans

I hope this doesn't offend anyone. I have a question, and I get the impression that this is a sensitive topic, since I can't get an answer from anyone. And nothing comes up in a google search. Probably some time in the early '90s, Kevin Thomson had a back injury that paralyzed him. No one ever says what the injury was. I just find it very strange that no one explains what happened, and I find it hard to believe that such an accident could be somehow 'personal.'

Does anyone know how Kevin injured his back? If he fell off the roof of his house, do you know what he was doing? Roof repairs? Why would this be 'sensitive,' and secret?

Pastor Jack Hibbs urges Christians nationwide to join Tennessee's month of prayer, fasting


A prominent megachurch pastor is calling on all Americans to follow in the footsteps of the state of Tennessee by participating in a month of prayer and fasting.

During a sermon delivered on Sunday at the California-based megachurch Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, Pastor Jack Hibbs shared with the congregation that Tennessee's Republican Gov. Bill Lee had approved a resolution urging the state's residents to pray for the state and the nation during the month of July, and to “seek God’s hand of mercy [and] healing on Tennessee.”

Hibbs then shared a screenshot of a LifeSite news article reporting that Lee had signed the bill calling for 30 days of prayer and fasting beginning July 1.
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