The Guardian
3 June 2024


Minimum wage workers in Australia to get a 3.75% pay rise over the next 12 months

Australia’s lowest-paid workers will collect a pay rise of 3.75% in the coming year, a result likely to please the Reserve Bank but dismay unions who sought a 5% rise.

The Fair Work Commission announced the 2024-25 decision for minimum and award wages on Monday. The increase affects about one in four employees from 1 July.

The increase will raise the minimum weekly wage to (Aus)$915.90 (up from $882.80). Hourly wages will increase to (Aus)$24.10 (from $23.23), the commission said.

The commission president Adam Hatcher argued it was “not appropriate at this time to increase award wages by any amount significantly above the inflation rate, principally because labour productivity is no higher than it was four years ago, and productivity growth has only recently returned to positive territory”.

Minimum wage workers in Australia to get a 3.75% pay rise over the next 12 months | Wages growth | The Guardian

Some Background:

• Around 25% of Australian workers receive the minimum wage.
• The minimum wage is reviewed and reset annually by the independent Fair Work Commission (FWC).
• The review is based on submissions from employee and employer groups along with the Federal government. The FWC is required to factor possible inflation effects into its decision.
• The FWC minimum wage decision sets a mandatory minimum for all wages across Australia
• Australia has had some form of annual minimum wage review since 1907.
• In 2023 the minimum wage was increased by 5.75%. In 2022 the minimum wage was increased by 5.2%.
• Based on 2022 data Australia has the fourth highest minimum wage in the OECD. UK is eighth highest and US sits at 21.

OB

What are some ways in which the Lord disciplines those of us who are his by genuine faith in him? He allows us to go through trials and tribulations to test our faith so that we can see whether or not our faith is genuine. And he allows us to be mistreated by other people, to be abandoned, sinned against, betrayed, lied about, rejected, and cast aside as worthless. And people will treat us this way because we don’t conform to the standards of the world and because we live holy lives, pleasing to God, and we serve him.

But we are not to grow weary and fainthearted when disciplined by the Lord, no matter what forms of discipline we must endure for the sake of our walks of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord. For God is treating us as his children. And discipline, though painful, is necessary in our lives to keep us on the right path and so that we do not stray and get off the path that the Lord has us on, which is the way of righteousness and holiness and walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands. For discipline strengthens us in our faith.

For the discipline of the Lord is for our good, even though it doesn’t feel good when we are having to endure it. But this is so that we may share in God’s holiness, becoming like him in thought and deed and character, by the grace of God, and in His power. And the discipline of the Lord is painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. But if you are not having to endure the disciplines of the Lord, then perhaps you are not his legitimate children by genuine faith in him.

For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, then we have the hope of eternal life with God. For he also said that not everyone who professes him as Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven.

[Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; cf. Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14]

Therefore, we are to lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees. And hands are usually symbolic of our deeds (works), and knees are generally symbolic of our submission to God and our prayer lives. So if our deeds are drooping, they are sinking. They are not going in the direction of holiness and righteousness, but they are going in the ways of the flesh and of sinful practices. And if our knees are weak that means that our submission to the Lord is failing and so are our prayer lives.

And the only way that we can strengthen these drooping hands and weak knees is through submission to Christ as Lord and through surrender of our lives and our wills to the will of God for our lives. And this involves dying daily to sin and walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power. And this engages us daily disciplining our own lives and us renouncing (saying “No!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions, and us living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return.

For we must now make straight paths for our feet, and straight paths are the ways of God which are righteous, holy, disciplined, morally pure, honest, faithful, and obedient to the Lord and to his commands. This is the way in which we are to walk if our faith in Jesus Christ is genuine faith. For if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands, and not dying daily to sin, then regardless of what we profess with our lips, we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

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Judge blocks key defense evidence and witness on eve of Hunter Biden gun trial​

The federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s gun trial dealt his defense two setbacks Sunday, on the eve of jury selection, by blocking one of his expert witnesses and excluding a key piece of evidence the president’s son hoped to use.

The rulings from Judge Maryellen Noreika resolved some of the sticking points that were still simmering before the trial begins Monday. Taken together, these decisions could make a tough case for Hunter Biden even more challenging to win. President Joe Biden’s son has pleaded not guilty to illegally buying and owning a gun while abusing illicit drugs.

Today at church, our pastor told us that one of our readers, Shirley, has gone to be with the Lord.

Our church is getting smaller and smaller. I think this is the lot many mainline Protestant churches. We've only had two other person join the church in the past year, and several inquirers have disappeared off the radar.

Listen hard. Not one says he didn't do the acts for which he was convicted.
Instead, they say:
He shouldn't have been charged.
The crimes were committed too long ago (2016).
He has not been convicted of federal election fraud. Not yet!
They quibble about NY state law.
They say the trial should have been in Staten Island.

But not one says, "He never did those things."

And let's face it, those things were 110% immoral and unethical.

Parasha: B'Chukotai (In my statutes, ordinances) Leviticus 26:3-27:34


This is the last study in the Book of Leviticus. So, Let's take a look at what it is about.

Basically, Adonai is giving conditions as to blessings or, curses. Any time scripture starts with "If.....then...etc" it is conditional.
Blessings if you adhere to my commandments and ordinances, or curses if you abandon my commandments and ordinances. It is that simple.

"Commandments" come from the word "Mitzvah" and from the verb "Tzvah" (to command) or to act on a command.
"Ordinances or statutes" come from the word "Chok" a condition, a requirement, or a limit.

Adonai is telling us to "Walk in my statutes, guard my commandments, and put them into practice. We could say that the statutes and ordinances are the fine details of the commandments. When we say "Shema" (listen) it means "listen and obey."

We can see the Torah as a "Fence" The fence has a "limit" beyond the fence we should not go. So, as long as we stay within those limits imposed by God through His commandments, we are good. Yet going beyond the fence, and ignoring HIS warnings, what else can we expect but retribution?

The rabbis in "Pirke Avot" (Ethics of the Fathers) say: Study to learn, and we learn to do. Also, "Study is not only to acquire knowledge but to gain understanding and wisdom to put what has been learned into action.

We see in these final chapters that Israel is being promised material blessings connected to the land and wellbeing in response to obeying God's commandments and ordinances, yet curses and punishment for turning their back on God's commandments and ordinances—both material/physical and emotional curses.

It is said that when Israel received the Torah, a sword came down with the Torah as well. Israel saw and heard the Torah, but didn't see the sword. The Torah symbolizes "God as a friend" (Elohim HaChaver) and the sword as "God as a foe" (Elohim HaCherev) Using only the consonants, "Chaver and Cherev" have the same letters, yet two consonants are reversed. (the "v" and the "r")

God will be with us and will bless us IF we obey His teachings and commandments, yet will be Against us IF we disobey and walk in rebellion.
This is very easy to understand since God acts like a Father who disciplines his children when they act contrary to his commandments.

We are HIS children, and we are part of HIS family through faith in Yeshua/Jesus as our LORD and Savior. That is a fact, yet there are consequences when we act contrary to his WORD. Wayward saints often suffer a lot until they return to the sheepfold.

They abandon the Good Shepherd, yet the Good Shepherd always waits for their return. Yeshua said; "If you love me, obey my commandments" I believe that our parents expected nothing less from us when we were living under their roof. We can see a good example of blessings or curses in our everyday life walk. IF...you stop at the red light, you are blessed and you will not get into an accident or get a ticket. IF..you do NOT stop at the red light, THEN..you might get a ticket or worse, get into an accident.

The last part of chapter 26 talks about Israel being cast out of the land and scattered amongst the nations, yet Adoani will NEVER reject His people, even being in other lands. We see Y'Hudim in all parts of the world, especially in East Europe, in the Americas, North, Central, and South America. Even though we are away from the Promised Land, we are still part of HIS people.

We see in the Book of Acts, in chapter 2 when the theme is Shavuot/Pentecost, there were Y'hudim from many different areas of the nearby world, but they were all there to celebrate Shavuot (this year, June 12th and 13th).

Chapter 27 is about "vows" and the cost connected to vows. A vow is a serious matter in the eyes of God, especially if we mention HIS Holy name. A vow is a promise to do something. The money (in silver shekels) is like "Ernest Money" which is paid when a person is serious about buying some property. If the person changes his or her mind, the money is lost.

However, Yeshua tells us to let our YES be YES, and NO be NO. Instead of "vowing" just say "If the LORD permits..." Since the LORD is Master of our time on earth and only HE knows if we will be alive to fulfill a said promise or desire to do something.


HAZAK, HAZAK, V'NIT CHAZEK (be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened)

Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, released a statement in response to new data showing that an unprecedented 17 million new business applications have been filed under the Biden-Harris Administration.

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I have tried to shake this but I can not seem to.

• As the Earth rotates, different parts of the sky become visible or hidden by the horizon, creating the beautiful transitions from night to day and vice versa.

The event horizon of a black hole is a cosmic boundary where even light cannot escape, while the morning horizon is a natural consequence of Earth’s curvature

3And God said, “Let there be light,”a and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.b

So day begins at the horizon when the Sun begins to "rise".

Under the forum rules, we're not allowed to debate the morality of homosexuality, just it's political & cultural influence. So the assumption behind this post is, homosexual actions are inherently wrong, but the people who commit them are still (like us) sinners in need of redemption, sinners who are loved by God & should be loved by us, too.

With that in mind, "Pride Month" has begun, and my Facebook feed is filling up once again with posts about homosexuality--either posts about love & acceptance of these people & their actions, or posts that speak out against these actions, with little regard for the inherent dignity of the people who commit them.

What I want for this thread is things from a truly Christian, "hate the sin, love the sinner" perspective, things I can share on my wall that call out homosexuals as people who should be loved & accepted, while acknowledging that some actions are right & others are wrong.

The challenge is, I want things formatted well for social media, visually appealing with just a couple sentences. I'm attaching an example here of the pro-LGBT posts I see; I want something that matches the love & acceptance (and visual appeal) that it has, but with the Christian perspective, so it can't be confused with supporting the homosexual actions, too.



My contribution is a link to Courage International, a ministry dedicated to accepting the LGBT community, without seeing their actions as "good". Website links aren't the best for social media, but perhaps someone here will appreciate it.

Courage

[Admins, if this isn't the right subforum for this post, please move it where you see fit]

Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz is among those who have called the facts of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case against Trump an "absolute joke." He warned on Friday that if Trump can't get justice in New York through the appeal process, it'll be open season for Republican prosecutors to target Democrats in deep-red districts.

"This is the beginning of a war of weaponization of the criminal justice system," Dershowtz said on "Mornings with Maria" on FOX Business. "The legal system failed. Our system of checks and balances, which is the great contribution that the American Constitution made, failed yesterday."

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But Staten Island criminal defense attorney Louis Gelmorino said Bragg and other Democratic officials who made campaign promises to prosecute Trump should never have been allowed to move their cases forward.

"Letitia James, Fani Willis and Alvin Bragg all campaigned on the fact that they were going to get Trump. They all got elected and they all went right after Trump. And they all should've been recused, everyone in their offices, should've been recused because of the statements they made on the campaign trail," said Gelormino, referencing New York Attorney General Letitia James and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in Atlanta.

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My dad was barking again today about me going to church and not liking that I'm talking to Christians. Meanwhile, there are people whose faces I haven't seen in over a year (people from a nearby parish) - back then they were only a couple, now I see a child between them and I'm like - -

At the rate my dad hates that I go out to "meet with the people" even on a platonic level, a relationship with anyone in this sick environment I'm in would be d@mn near impossible. Hence, no relationship = no marriage = no children (I'm getting old for the latter now, but still), while I see others having children that didn't exist about a year ago. The frustration I see is not quantifiable. I know what people are going to say but it's not black-and-white.

Bible - They shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. Hosea 4:10-11

1. Whoredom (sexual issues)
2. Wine (feel good solutions)

Berkshire - “Avoid crazy at all costs. Crazy is way more common than you think. It’s easy to slip into crazy. Just avoid it, avoid it, avoid it.” - Charlie Munger
What exactly constituted “crazy,” in Munger’s estimation? “My partner Charlie says there is only three ways a smart person can go broke: liquor, ladies and leverage,” - Warren Buffett

1. Liquor
2. Ladies
3. Leverage (debt)

Almost a parallel here! These ethical standards are important issues here in 2024!

Link to Table of Contents Hebrews 1:3 (The Tri-Unity and Messiah, a Deep Scriptural Dive)​

This OP continues directly from OP 3c of this Series <- Link Here

here we are still headed, as prescribed by list and continuation of thought.:

• We are interested in cracking the spiritual nut that we have found within Job 19:26 per the Paleo Hebrew rendering to go beyond Exegesis. We are going to have to Exegetically Extrapolate a matter of scripture that will literally run us All through scripture!.
• The word TRICOT is specifically in reference to knitting, but, now to retain theological accuracy, we are forced to go back to the word KNIT (WOVE) etc, etc..
  
  We will lead this further Sub-Textual Study with the following verse.
  Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”
  Remember back here when we discussed the very BEING of God? PT 2... <- Link Here We KNOW that God is the Groom and We are Brides The Groom is bound to the Brides SOUL by Faith that KNITS their Heart's directly to His.

7. We will pictorially evaluate just how sacred and revered Mal'akh Ha Panim the Effulgence is
8.As always, you the reader will note that I move as the Spirit moves me through this opinionated flesh and I may or may not address these points in specific order.

To Be Continued Tomorrow! See you ALL there. <3
It is a new Day, Hooray. Op Continued.

We are going to look at the matter of Man + Woman = Life
Patriarchy isn't used in scripture to SUBJIGATE woman. It is to distinguish God from Creation. God is the Creator, giver. Nothing about this is to be taken in a CARNAL sense! This is a spiritual revelation found within the Carnality of creation.

First we start with GOD. The Son (Visible Physical/Spiritual Substance of God), The Holy Spirit (The very Soul of God also known as the HOLY GHOST), The Father (The very infinite Substance, SPIRIT, INVISIBLE BEING of God that transcends understanding and comprehension, Creation, Physical Comprehension).

Now, before we do this, it MUST be known that at no time has God NOT been "A Three Fold Cord", so though the very book of Creation sets up specifically to metaphorically resonate what we are about to see, it is "Metaphor" to help us understand the very motivation of Infinite God creating Creation.

We will start with Genesis 1

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.​

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?​

What was God's PURPOSE of creating the Angels? Angel's were always created as Minister's of God to Mankind. They were "GUARDIANS" of mankind.​

Full disclaimer... this particular Angel is a fair snapshot of an Angel as they were created, initially. This particular angel did not maintain his initial station of God granted Position. But, he started out just like all of the other angels.​

Ezekiel 28:12 You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. .... You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you.​

Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.​

​

Remember the Equation I was discussing? I refuse to start showing it's repetition until we Show GOD FIRST! Now, here is where it BEGINS.​

​

THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS HOVERING ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATERS.​

​

The Hebrew word 'merahefet' (HOVERING) comes from the verb, meaning to hover, or move above something. Another example of the use of the word is in Deuteronomy 32:11, describing an eagle hovering over its young.​

Deuteronomy 32:11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.​

​

The actual Hebrew rendering of Genesis 2 is NOT the EARTH as in PLANET EARTH. It is to denote our entire UNIVERSE. This verse is written from God's Perspective! Certainly, God looks INTO the Universe, excited to Create Mankind and Angel Kind, but... He hasn't done that, yet. The very rendering of the Hebrew is saying that God is Hovering over Creation as a MOTHER Eagle spreading her wings out to PROTECT and GUIDE her YOUNG!​

​

Another aspect of this verse that will be missed by folks that don't by Faith BELIEVE that there is a LITERAL SPIRITUAL Realm that is unseeable, Dimensionally Speaking, to us, is that the WATER is signet of the Veil between Heaven and ALL Creation! Two separate Realms! Our UNIVERSE consists of 2 heavens, to us. The Heaven that makes up the Sky and the Heaven that we refer to as OUTER SPACE. The THIRD Heaven refers to a Dimension that is separate and NOW, unseeable to us.​

​

REMEMBER when Jesus was WALKING on Water? All of Atheism sure does! Whenever books or movies are made, it's not uncommon to see a reference to this moment! Some may be a secret nod to our Creator, while others are intended to poke fun at Christianity. Only God knows the heart on those matters.​

​

Why is that an important passage? Because it's not the first time we've seen this imagery! When John the Baptizer Baptizes Jesus, The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit of God) appears above Jesus, in between the VOICE of the Father from Heaven and Jesus.​

​

This is a 3 fold occurance!​

​

1: The Spirit of God is Hovering above the Water​

2: The Dove is inbetween The Father and The Son​

3: The Son is now HOVERING above the WATER of Earth, yet in a Hover that makes physical contact with THE WATER.​

​

Do we need Pictures to show what God is trying to SHOW us? It may help! I'll go see if I can find some and place them side by side.​

​

​

​

Father + Holy Spirit = The Son (Not Created, Just taught in Metaphor, not denoting Gender to the Holy Spirit or the false idea that the Son is Created, BECAUSE HE IS NOT A CREATION, just pointing this out to help grasp what scripture is SHOWING US!​

​

I am a Man and I have no DESIRE to be a WOMAN, yet SPIRITUALLY, I am Gendered "Female" as the BRIDE of God that is Part of the MANY BRIDES that Make up the ONE BRIDE. God is Always Spiritually THE MAN in ALL of Scripture, unless HE Spiritually Genders as FEMALE to teach a LESSON. Example: The Maternal MOTHER EAGLE, A HEN GATHERING HER CHICKS.​

​

Why is this so important that we are discussing it in the midst of a Hebrews study? We are still anchored to Hebrews 1:3 which states that The Son is the very "Effulgence" of the Father's Glory. God Desires to be KNOWN as deeply as HE desires to KNOW us. God isn't a Helicopter Parent. He Hover's in a way that awaits our beckoning unto Him. He REPONDS. Now, when all terribleness breaks out where Creation is headed for Global Calamity, God swoops down as that MOTHER Eagle and INTERCEDES. We see this pattern from Genesis to Revelation. God does this for individuals off and on throughout all history, but we aren't God, we don't know Human HEARTS (I'm not talking about the thing that palpitates our very blood throughout our MORTAL BODIES). God does what God does for ONE reason and ONE reason ALONE. We know this, because throughout ALL scripture and especially via HIS Pre-Gospel moment of INCARNATION where HE lays the very FOUNDATION of the GOSPEL, HE reveals that HE, GOD is LOVE! That is the core characteristic of HIS PERSONALITY. It's so CONSUMING to HIS very BEING that Everything that HE does Flows from HIS storehouse of Love. You will find that God's JUSTICE and LOVE aren't Separate ASPECTS of HIS Being. God's Justice is a subset or branch of HIS LOVE! God brings Justice out of LOVE.​

​

Now, in respect to the repeating equation we see within the Genesis account, we see that Darkness is a metaphor of the absence of God. God is LIGHT (LIFE), DARKNESS is a METAPHORE for the ABSENCE of God. Does this mean that DARKNESS is a place that God can't go within? NOPE! It means that DARKNESS is a metaphor for that which is actively seeking to be outside of the presence of God. How can we be sure of this? Wherever God is not, there is DARKNESS, wherever GOD is there is LIGHT and LIFE.​

​

We start the first 2 verses of Genesis Chapter 1 seeing God within INFINITY. God then Creates! Where there was NO-THING, or to be more specific, a PLACE that hadn't ever existed yet, suddenly EXISTS because of GOD! Infinity becomes Designated Heaven, while What has a BEGINNING and is subject to God's Infinite Being, by being Dependent on God to Exist, becomes an IMMORTAL CREATION self contained within itself, yet MORTAL to it's Creator.​

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This is What Genesis 1:2 Reveals.​

​

Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.​

​

Here we see two subsets of Theological, Scripturally revealed Theorems.​

​

God wants us to understand that He is Loving and Nurturing, with NO-THING but Good Will towards MEN... and more specifically ALL OF CREATION. By seeing that God, TRIUNE God, Body, Soul and Spirit GOD, HIMSELF is KNIT together as a 3 fold Cord of LOVE.​

​

The Son Loves His Father and the Father Loves His Son. The Father and Son Love their HOLY SPIRIT, As the HOLY SPIRIT Loves HIS FATHER AND SON. Notice the intentional Gendering to denote that ALL are GOD!​

​

Now, because we are VISUALLY SHOWN that the SPIRIT of God (The Father) is HOVERING above the "Waters" (Veil) that Separate Literal Heaven from Earth ... we aren't SEEING the FATHER, but THE HOLY Spirit of the Father and the Son. This is how the Gendering get's Spiritually given as a MOTHER EAGLE to the HOLY SPIRIT in this particular place!​

​

Creation is currently DEAD and VOID of the PRESENCE OF GOD.​

​

Finally! The extrapolated Theological Theorems!​

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Father + Mother = Son (Spiritual Metaphor of Romantic Love that Creates)​

Need a proof verse?​

Colossians 1:16 For by HIM (The SON) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created BY HIM (THE SON), and for HIM (THE SON):....​

​

What was CREATED FOR HIM?​

Heaven and ALL CREATION!​

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What was the motivation?​

LOVE and the Giving of LOVE (Relationship)​

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Why was creation allowed to CHOOSE to be independent of God, upon INCEPTION?​

LOVE​

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Does LOVE FORCE ITSELF?​

NEVER!​

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Second Theorem:​

Creator + Creation = LIFE​

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Proofing the Theorem:​

Creation - Creator = Death​

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Now we are ready to follow through into Genesis to see how this plays out and proofs itself!​

​

OP Pt. 3d concluded! To be continued on OP Pt. 3e! The Theorems will be placed into Theological Action.​

It seems nobody had control of this maga movement either lol.


I mean this is funny and ironic. It was only a couple days after Mr Trump was convicted in NYC. This reminds me of that driven fly that couldn't get enough of Mike Pence during his debate. I think this crash is an ominous sign of things to come for Donald Trump. And an appropriate metaphor for the entire Trump charade. It's OK to laugh if you get the urge. That "Trump: law and order" sign on the bus definitely cracked me up lol.

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
- Matthew 24:21-22

We see here Jesus describing a time that will be worse than any other time previously, and worse than anything that ever will be. This does not describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 or any other event in our history. According to this, it will even be worse than the flood. And these are the days that could very well be not too far ahead.

Luke 21:24-28,
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Here we see a specific shift from the Destruction of the temple and the scattering of the Jews among the nations, to a time when Israel should return to their land, which was 1948 for Israel becoming a nation once more. We are now in that portion of time before the return of the LORD, the Son of Man who will come in a cloud with power and great glory. We should most certainly be looking up because these things have been "beginning to come to pass" for awhile now. The convergence and escalation of things is upon us.

Daniel 12:1 also speaks of this time, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

Isaiah 24:1-6 is an ominous warning, and not to be taken lightly, nor as an allegory, or anything symbolic. This is plain language of the prophet speaking the Word of the LORD Yahweh concerning what will be fall in the last days:
"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.
The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."

Isaiah 24 happens to coincide with 2 Peter 3, and I'm going to give the whole chapter here, as it is all applicable to this subject. I will highlight the relevant parts that coincide with Isaiah 24:
"This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

We see these days fast approaching. We do not know when all this will go down, but one thing is certain: it could come up on us overnight, just like a Pearl Harbor in 1941, or a 9/11 - without warning. It'll be a surprise to many. I won't be surprised at all. Every time I hear a siren and there's no storms I say "Nuclear war! We have 28 to 30 minutes!" But I'm calm about it. And so far the sirens have been either a noontime thing, or a test.

Luke 21 is excellent. I go to Luke as much as I do Matthew 24. Most folk go to Matthew 24 for Jesus discussion of end times. All Scripture on end times is important, and there's lots of it. Look at Luke 21:34-36,
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

See that? A snare. It will be a surprise, especially to unbelievers. And where it says you be counted worthy to escape all these things may or may not mean we are taken before. It could mean we will be delivered from these things whether by divine protection or even by death, as we are delivered unto the LORD and shall be in His presence. Here is where I would admonish from mark 13, which is the only one of the 3 gospels that records this in detail,
Mark 13:32-37,
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Jesus says Watch. He says Watch again. He says Watch a third time. He don't say speculate about when, but says Watch. I'll be the first to admit I have no clue when the rapture is, if it's before the great tribulation Jesus talked about, or during it, or towards the very end of it. And no one knows. If you say you know, the Bible says here you don't know!

Best to hope and pray Jesus come soon, and He most surely can, but it's also wise to be strong in the LORD and the power of His might, and to be prepared in the event real serious persecution arises and Jesus tarries. One thing we know, He has promised to shorten those days for the sake of His elect.
Romans 9:28,
"For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth."

Revelation 1:7-8,
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 22:7, 12, 20,
"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Protect me from a bully at work

Hello folks. This devotional will cover how weapons for hunting food are perfectly okay to own as a Christian, as long as people are responsible with them. I do not hunt or own guns myself, but it is a good hobby for those who are not squeamish with blood and want to provide food for the family or community.

Hi OBOB!

Yesterday I was going through the last few duffle bags of things that used to belong to my father, who passed away about four years ago now. As I believe I've posted before (but long ago), my father was raised Catholic in the pre-VII church, but as he used to say, it "never took". So I was surprised to find this little card about the "Miraculous Medal" associated with the Theotokos among his things. Maybe he retained more of his Catholic formation than he thought he did!







I looked it up online via the website listed on the back (www.amm.org), so I know the basic outline of how the medal itself came to be, but my question is: What should I, a non-Catholic, do with this little card now? I always make it a priority to be respectful of the artifacts belonging to other churches to the extent that I come into possession of them (e.g., my aunt's pocket missal from the 1930s has its own space among my other prayer books on my bookshelf), but this one isn't like a book that I can reference for comparative purposes or what have you. It seems like a little devotional card. Is this the sort of thing I should find a Catholic friend to give it to, or donate somewhere?

Thank you!

...needs a new origin story.

Apparently Trump never said that Hillary Clinton should be blocked up.

We all remember it. It's pretty clear he said it...and said it many many times.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...HcAZl0EbDu1brbfN5Is-hvM&utm_source=reddit.com

So...anyone have any suggestions for new origin stories? Trump isn't a liar in the face of recorded evidence to the contrary so whatever you see is just stuff your eyes are lying to you about.


I'm going to say that Trump was actually talking about Sia because he was soooo displeased with her This Is Acting album release.

When a believer dies, will he be with God as a sentient being right away?

Assume that when a believer dies, his soul-spirit will immediately be present in heaven as a conscious person.

Does this 'dead' person experience time like a living person?

No. Living people experience time within the four-dimensional space-time framework. Further, people living in the International Space Station technically age slightly slower than people on Earth due to the effects of time dilation, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity. Their passage of time slows down compared to that of people living on Earth. When P1 died 2000 years ago, time stopped with respect to P1. He could not sense time or space since then.

Jesus resurrected Lazarus in John 11. When Lazarus died, I don't think he went up to heaven to be with God as a conscious acting being. If he did, then Jesus would have to pull him away from God and return him back to his earthly body.

What about a wicked person who is destined for eternal condemnation? Will he be sent to hell to suffer before the last day of judgment?

If yes, then a wicked person who died 2000 years ago would have been tortured for 2000 years in hell according to some Christians.

No, he will be treated like anyone who has just died. When a person dies, he becomes unconscious, and his soul is stored in a secure place.

When a believer dies, will he be with God as a sentient being right away?

I doubt it.

See also

• What is our state of being after we die?
• Did God resurrect Moses and Elijah already?

2 Corinthians Verse 3:3 tells us we are the epistles of Christ ministered by the Spirit. Written, not with ink or even engraved in stone. But epistles made by the Spirit of the living God writing in the fleshly tables of our hearts.
We the Epistles of Christ were ministered by the Spirit which made us abled ministers of the New Covenant, whose sufficiency is of God and not of ourselves.

So what was written in the fleshly tables of our hearts? Or what is of the Spirit that has made us the epistles of Christ? Abled bodied ministers whose sufficiency is not of ourselves, but of God's Spirit? Why has God given us His Spirit?

As to why Ezekiel through God is pretty clear. He says that we will have God's Spirit to walk in God's statutes and keep, guard His ordinances and judgments. So where we walking? If not in the statutes for which the Spirit was given, then what spirit do we have?

Ezek 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezek 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezek 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.


We know that there are two spirits in this world that govern the hearts of men. David through God said the Spirit of our Lord and God will make His words known unto us. So what if what we think we know in respect to His word doesn't align but contradicts with what has already been revealed? Like was seen in Ezekiel. We are given God's Spirit to walk in His Statutes and guard, keep His judgements and ordinances. What if we think differently? Who spirit is causing that?

Prov 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Isaiah through God speaks of a covenant to which God's Spirit is upon us, and He has put His Word in our mouths and it shall not depart. But because of most departing from which has already been revealed His Word is no longer there, their own words are.

Isa 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Moses through God in Deut29:1 speaks of this Covenant that Isaiah was moved to share. But in Speaking, God through him gives us more information. He says He will circumcise our hearts to Love the Lord our God that we may Live. With this circumcision, cutting away of our hearts He will put His Word in our mouths and hearts that we do it by His Voice, His Word. To which we are commanded to hearken unto. And this voice is saying that we are to keep His commandments and statutes contained in the Book of the Law. And turn unto Him in which have our do with our heart, and with all our soul. And His Voice, His Word is not in heaven or in the depths of the sea that we need send someone like Moses to get it. But as was said and confirmed by Paul in his paraphrase of these text in Romans 10:6-8. His Word, His voice is in our hearts and mouths that we do it.

However Take note in Deuteronomy 30:10. THE JUDGEMENTS are not mentioned as being that we keep in the hearkening unto His voice, His word that is in our hearts and mouths that we do them and Love Him with all our being.

Deut 29:1 These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
Deut 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
Deut 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deut 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deut 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deut 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.


Deut 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.


So when we get to Jeremiah and His giving of the New Covenant, we should take note that in Deut 29-30 it was already given. Just in different words. And in these words we see what Law God has put in our hearts and our inward parts, minds that we need not teach our neighbor and brother to know the Lord. And that law is the Book of the Law with the statutes and commandments of our Lord and God.



The issue was and is today. Most do not accept it or keep in it. Therefore when Jeremiah speaks it through God, He states it as something in the future. In reality it was manifested in the future more so in Moses' ministry in Christ and in His disciples through His death and resurrection. But as was said most don't believe and stay within His guidance so here we are teaching our brother.



Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Was there violence? no
Was there rioting? No

What did Trump supporters do en mass?

If the Jews had not changed the Name of God to Adonai, they would know that YHWH is a prophecy of Christ. The Muslims, too, would know, if they didn't change it to Allah. I suppose alot of western believers, I'm counting all those false gospels as well, would know that YHWH is Christ, if they had known the meaning of the Name.

So, what is this saying? By simply not knowing the Name of God - YHWH - and not understanding it's meaning, you can be derailed off into the wrong religion.

But for us who know the Name, how can we avoid getting derailed as those outside of the faith, and get into the fold we are supposed to?

On May 25, 2011, I was sitting on the sofa in the evening, spending some quiet time alone with God before I went to bed, and I was asking him to speak to my heart whatever he might want to say to me.

The words to one of the Psalms began going through my mind about praising God, so I walked over to the (piano) keyboard, sat down to play, and the Lord gave me this song about praising our awesome God.

As the Lord gave me the words, I sang them back to him in worship and in praise. The words read just like a conversation, which I was having with my Lord in which I was thanking him for who he is and for all that he has done for us in saving us and in providing us with the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and our counselor.

Our Awesome God

An Original Work / May 25, 2011

I praise and adore You, Father,
I worship and praise You, Lord.
You are such an awesome God,
Who loves us so much, You implore
Us to follow You each moment
Of the days we have on earth,
So that we might live forever
With You, ‘cause of our new birth.

I praise and adore You, Jesus.
You died on a cruel tree,
So that we might be forgiven
Of our sins; You set us free
To love and obey You only,
While we bow on bended knee,
As we humbly walk before You,
Serving freely; You to please.

I praise and adore You, Spirit,
You came in to live with me.
Jesus sent You to abide
Within us, and our comfort be.
You guide and direct and counsel
Us in all of our God’s ways,
So that we can live for Jesus,
To follow Him all our days.

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Well, I guess Republicans are back to calling Biden a criminal mastermind instead of a senile old man.
Pence is the latest.
Eye roll, please.
The purported mastermind orchestrated the NYC courts to prosecute Trump. Really?
And they claim this will make Americans distrust the courts.
No way.
In order, I distrust the courts because of:
Thomas' millions of dollars in patronage and his wife's coziness with conspiracy theorists
Alito's gifts and disrespect for the flag, fair elections, and our institutions
Their failure to recuse themselves on upcoming cases
Roberts' shielding his justices from accountability
Aileen Cannon's derailing a case which is unwinnable for Trump.
It disgusts me to hear sycophants denouncing a fair trial when they should be supporting a judicial accountability law with teeth.