Some of you probably remember his accident with his eye which we are still dealing with. Last evening, he was chopping and splitting wood and his foot got caught in some branches and he falls. Heard a loud pop when he fell. He was in pain but wanted to wait so we are in ER now. I think he might of broke a rib. He is in a lot of pain. So prayers appreciated.

Video of Sikh leader’s killing shows coordinated attack ​

At least six men and two vehicles were involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside his place of worship, according to video reviewed by The Washington Post and witness accounts, suggesting a larger and more organized operation than has previously been reported.

In a bombshell announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canada’s House of Commons last week that authorities were pursuing “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing. The allegations were based in part on information gathered by one of Canada’s partners in the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes alliance.

The Khalistan movement [which aims to establish a Sikh state within India] is outlawed in India; in July 2022, India’s National Investigation Agency accused [Nijjar] of conspiring to murder a Hindu priest in Punjab and labeled him a “fugitive terrorist.” But the government of Narendra Modi has rejected claims that it had any role in his death as “absurd.” New Delhi says Trudeau’s comments were intended to draw attention from what it says is the real problem: Canada harboring people that India views as terrorists.

Canadian authorities have drawn on human and signals intelligence to support their claims of Indian government involvement, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. has reported. That intelligence includes intercepted communications of Indian diplomats, some of them on Canadian soil.

Hey, I need to create connections with one or a few believers of the Holy Bible. The college campus is a lonely place, spiritually speaking. Making friends is not the issue but making friends with fellow christians and like-minded individuals is what I need. I think resorting to online communication is a great medium to form deep enough relationships with others to have healthy and intelligent conversations. I hate the promotion of homosexuality I see spread throughout the hallways and pouring out my professors' mouths. I need to talk with one or a few people to encourage me to be courageous and stay strong. Remind me to not hate the sinner but hate the sin.

A coworker harasses me with some regularity and my higher-ups are more concerned about money than they are ethics. Please say a few words for me. Thanks in advance.

For several years I have seen this number everywhere. It’s on receipts, phone numbers, bill boards, my trash can, my realtor service number and many other things.

This summer on three occasions I’ve had the number come up on the meter where it shows how many gallons pumped, while getting gas. I know this could just be coincidence, but three times ! How likely is it for your gas gallons to be exactly that amount ? The 666 is coming after the decimal, so that is very precise and highly peculiar to just be random.

What should I make of all this? It freaks me out and feel like I should do something, buy I don’t know what..

There's no such thing as theistic evolution. There's either evolutionary theory or intelligent design. Because they are opposing theories, it does not make sense to mash them together. Evolutionary theory is an explanation for how life came to be what it is through natural, unguided processes. No guidance. No plan. No creator.

Intelligent design is exactly as the name says. An intelligent, purposeful mind is the explanation. Even if you believe God could have coded a program to cause evolutionary change over billions of years, that is still not evolution. That is intelligent design. But, listening to the way people talk, I get the feeling that they call it theistic evolution because it's safer than calling it intelligent design. You don't want to be that kind of Christian. Those kind of Christians tend to get ridiculed. And, it can get quite personal.

That's not hyperbole. I had an atheist tell me that he genuinely believed it was not only okay, but good, to ridicule Christians because reasoned arguments just don't work on them. The ridicule is like being cruel to be kind. They'll realize later, once they snap out of it, that it was for their own good. There's a good deal of people out there doing that kind of thing without being aware of it.

Calling it theistic evolution seems to cut down on at least some of that ridicule. At least you're getting the evolution part right. Most atheists seem to be happy with that trade off. But, I think it's time to stop being afraid to call it what it really is,; intelligent design. Give credit back to the creator where it belongs.

Years back I posted the link to this essay. But now I have let my payment to the web host end as it has become much more expensive.

But here is the link to the archive copy.

You can find many things using the Internet Archive Way Back Machine

"Your Child and Your TV" (and other Screens) Here:

Your Child and Your TV | Back to the Word

Ephesians 1:15-18 ESV


1. Who is this speaking to?
2. What was their faith in the Lord Jesus?
3. What love did they have toward all the saints?
4. What wisdom and revelation do we need?
5. How can this be applied to our lives?

If we go back and read verse one, we realize that this is speaking to the saints of God, to those who are God’s holy people, called of God to live lives which are separate (unlike, different) from the world because we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. We are also the faithful in Christ Jesus who are full of the faith gifted to us by God, which is also God-persuaded faith, which is not of our own doing, not of the will of man nor of the will of the flesh, but according to God’s will and purpose for our lives.

[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44]

Now the Apostle Paul wrote these words of encouragement to those who had chosen to leave their lives of sin behind them to walk in the ways of the Lord. He wrote these encouraging words to those who were living lives which were different from the world because they were being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. These were people who were of the faith that is persuaded of God and is gifted to us by God and is not of our own doing. They were not perfect people, but they were followers of Jesus Christ.

So, if we are to apply these words of encouragement to our own lives, then we need to be people who are of the faith which God provided and which he authored and which he persuaded us to have. And he persuades us to forsake our lives of sin and to follow him in obedience in holy living in submission to his will for our lives. He persuades us to bow to him as Lord and to surrender our lives to him as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him, which is our acceptable worship of him.

[Romans 1:18-32; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Acts 26:18; Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 4:17-24]

Not only had Paul heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but he had also heard of the love they had toward all the saints. And the Greek word for “love” is “agape,” which centers in moral preference, and which means to prefer what God prefers. And what God prefers is what is holy, godly, righteous, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to him and to his will for our lives. So if we love others with this kind of love we are not going to sin against them deliberately and habitually.

But we are going to love our fellow Christians, and all people, really, with this kind of love. And so we are going to seek for them what is for their good, as God defines good. And we will want to see them forsake their sins to follow Jesus in obedience, and so we will speak the truth in love to them to save their souls from hell and so that they can have deliverance from slavery to sin and so that they can live holy lives different from the world and unto God, and according to his will and purpose.

And we will pray for them and encourage them in their walks of faith, and we will pray that they are given the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. But this really comes through us surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, through us walking in obedience to his commands, and by us feeding on his word daily and by us putting his word into practice in our daily lives. For we aren’t going to be given wisdom if we are still floundering in sin. We will not get to know God if we are still living for self.

And what are the eyes of our hearts? I believe this has to do with spiritual discernment to know right from wrong and to discern truth from lies so that we don’t end up following the lies and not the truth. For liars and deceivers abound within the gatherings of what is called “church” today here in America. So we need spiritual insight so that we can separate the lies from the truth so that we are following the truth of God’s word and not the lies which are so popular today which are permeating the church.

Thus, knowing the hope to which we are called is not just the hope of heaven when we die. For we are called of God to die to sin and to live to him and to his righteousness. We are called of God to forsake our sins to follow him in obedience to his commands. And if we are, by the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, and if we are walking in obedience to our Lord, then we have the hope of eternal life with him. But if sin is still our practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Rom 2:6-8; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; 1 Co 6:9-10; 2 Co 5:10; Col 3:5-11; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 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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Should there be a Slavic Disney princess?

The story of Desmond Doss is a wonderful witness. Wish I had known of it years before.

How strong is the Christian pacifist witness among Adventists today?

About | christianpacifism

unable to sleep for eight days

suffering from anxiety

keith

I want to start by saying I don't follow the prosperity gospel. But I have a couple of questions about God and suffering.

My family and I are going through a tough time. Both of my elderly parents spent 2 months each in hospital (at the exact same time) which was stressful and difficult to deal with. During that time, we had issues with a toxic family member which resulted in a lot of trouble. (and a lot of stress)

Then today a major client pulled their business, resulting in a lot of stress and worry from a financial side and also looking forward.

The list of things working against my wife and I is longer, but this is not intended to be a pity party.

Instead, we have prayed throughout all of this and yet things still go wrong. Previously, my wife went to Bible study 4x a week to try to feel closer to God, and yet feels nothing.

We have watched countless videos from The Bible Project and follow the Bible Recap and yet over the course of the last year everything we have ever had (which wasn't much) has been stripped away from us bit by bit. So, this is not in isolation but a lifetime of problems.

So, how do you try to carry on when you cry out to God to just help you to have food on the table and to pay the basic bills to survive? How do you continue when you ask for help to provide for your family but then something else is stripped away from you?

When you are already on your knees, what else do you need to do?

Another photo-op for trump:


Trump is expected to address around 500 former or current union members at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Drake Enterprises at 24800 Capital Blvd., in Clinton Township. Details about public access have not yet been released.

Trump's expected visit was first reported by the New York Times and later confirmed to the Free Press by an unnamed source close to the Trump campaign on Sept. 18, on Day 4 of the strike.

My view is “mansplaining” isn’t a thing as it’s from a misandrist mindset. Do you hear any man say to stop “womansplaining”? Nope because it’s not a thing except to show you don’t value the opposite sex explaining their different views on average it’s used only when a woman disagrees with a man’s opinion.

What are your thoughts?

I’m curious about how the term "Christian" is defined. I’ve been told by Christians that in order to be a Christian one must believe in God and in the divinity of Christ. I’m agnostic in the sense that I have no personal belief as to whether there is or is not a God in the traditional sense of the word, but I respect religion as an important aspect of human civilization. I also believe that Jesus was worshipped as God, and to me, by my definition of Divinity, I would say Jesus was Divine, if anything was or is. I do not reject or condemn his death on the cross, but I also consider it a myth. I am not sure if it is historically accurate or not.

I do not claim to have the answers, nor do I explicitly deny any of the essential doctrines of the Church. My views are not very sophisticated or based on rigorous study. I’m open to other perspectives, even beyond the question of whether or not I am a Christian.

I am not a follower of Christ, because I’m not sure that it’s possible to be one, but I admire his life and message. I acknowledge that Christianity has been used for both good and evil throughout history; I am influenced by Christian Democracy as a political philosophy to be clear, and for me, Christianity as it has developed seems to have deeply humanist views, at least comparatively.

Christianity is a beautiful and complex religion that I do not fully understand, but respect.

I believe that religion is a deeply rooted aspect of human civilization, and that our very understanding of the world itself as well as relation to others depends on it. A system of beliefs and practices, worship, adoration, beauty. community, and virtue; there seems to me a deep human need for these things at least in some capacity. Christianity stands out to me because of Jesus; his death on the cross for our sins, and his call for us to repent and turn away from the evil in the world - the evil that we stare at in the mirror, and the evil that has plagued every empire, every region, every city, and every person since the beginning of human civilization. I strongly condemn this evil as I admit I have no choose but to try and fight it within myself and within the world, I cannot choose not to speak out against things like the humanitarian crisis in North Korea.
I cannot sit idly by when I know that members of my extended human family are suffering because of our own sinfulness.

Please, whatever responses I receive, no matter how critical and no matter how honest and serious, please respect me and yourself as a result of extending such grace and profound understanding, thank you, my friend.

Does Christian Forums Lift you Up?

When Jeff Duncan left his "Faith and Freedom BBQ" at the end of August, after calling Melody Duncan his loving and supportive wife, he then went "directly to the home of his paramour."

Melody Duncan, wife of U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-SC 3rd District, filed for divorce Friday at the Laurens County Courthouse. In the filing, she accuses the 13-year conservative representative of having multiple extramarital affairs, and leaving their marital home to live with a woman he's having an ongoing sexual relationship with.

"[Duncan] has admitted this adulterous relationship to many other people, including the parties' sons and members of his staff," the complaint said.

The following multimedia poem shows how (at least an aspect of) faith involves the mental skill of matching a positive faith-building experience to new life situations, via appreciation of, and use of, meaningful metaphors (in this case, the faith-building experience of climbing a mountain).

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Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV


1. Who are “we”? What inheritance have we obtained?
2. Define “predestined.” Define “according to the purpose of him…”
3. What does it mean to “believe” in Jesus Christ?
4. What is the truth? What is the gospel message, in truth?
5. What does it mean to be sealed? Guaranteed? On what basis?

Keep going back to verse 1 so you know who “we” are here. “We” are not all people who have only made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. “We” are not those who have only prayed a prayer “to receive Christ.” “We are not those who have only confessed Jesus as Lord with their lips and who have proclaimed that they believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. And “we” are not those who only claim that they have received God’s grace.

“We” are those who have been crucified with Christ in death to sin, and who have been raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness (see Romans 6:1-23). So, we are the saints of God, his holy ones who have been set apart by God from the world and unto God, different from the world because we are being conformed by God to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

We are God’s faithful ones who are full of the faith which God originated and provided and persuaded us to have, which is not of our own doing, not of the will nor of the flesh of humans. So we don’t get to determine what that faith should look like. God does. His word does. And his word teaches us that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might live for him and no longer for ourselves.

And he died to deliver us out of our slavery (bondage, addiction) to sin so that we would now walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh, and so that we would obey his commandments (New Covenant) and live holy lives, and no longer walk in sin. For he died not just to free us from the punishment of sin but to free us from enslavement to sin so that we would now serve him with our lives, by his grace and in his power.

[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

This is the “we” this is talking about here when it says that “we” have obtained an inheritance, for “we” are those who have been predestined of God according to his will and purpose for our lives. And predestined isn’t just about our Lord marking out beforehand what his will is for our lives, but it includes him setting limits and boundaries for us, which we can read about all throughout the New Testament.

So, those who have this inheritance in Christ Jesus are those whom God predetermined should be conformed to the purpose of his will, adhering to his set limits and boundaries he put in place for us to adhere to. For it is God’s express will that all who call him, “Lord,” should be those who have forsaken their lives of sin to follow Jesus in obedience to his commands and who are living holy lives separate (different) from the world.

They are also those who heard and who received the truth of the gospel that Jesus taught and that his NT apostles taught. And they all taught that we must die to sin, not just once, but daily (in practice) and that we must be following our Lord in obedience to his commands, in practice, in holy living, and no longer in sin. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord, and not righteousness, we will not inherit eternal life with God.

So we only are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, and we only have this guarantee of our inheritance with God if we have died with him to sin and if we are living to his righteousness, and if daily by the Spirit we are putting sin to death and we are walking in obedience to our Lord in practice. It doesn’t mean we are perfect people, but the Scriptures are clear that if we walk in sin, we will die in sin, and we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

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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The Romeike family fled Germany back in 2010 approximately, to escape persecution and threats from the government to take custody of their children because they were home schooling, and home schooling is illegal in Germany. They fled to the United States, and were given refuge. However, without warning they were told that they are being deported back to Germany, and no explanation or reason was given.

Pray for this family.

I keep telling ya's this is the stuff upsetting the Pope. Divisions and hate going on.



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*Title: Unveiling the Fabrications: Jesse Duplantis and His Tall Stories of Visits to Heaven

Introduction:

Jesse Duplantis went to heaven in his physical body on a cable car and a great angel to guide him the trillions light years to heaven

1. Varying Descriptions:
Duplantis has provided inconsistent descriptions of the physical appearance and mannerisms of the biblical figures he claims to have encountered.

((No one has seen God other than the Son Jesus Christ ))

He describes a biblical figure such as Almighty God about foot tall (God and a Spirit not a man) having a specific physical feature, while in another account he gives an entirely different description.

2. Conflicting Conversations:
Duplantis' accounts of the conversations he had with biblical figures often lack consistency. The details and content of these conversations can vary significantly from one retelling to another. In some instances, he may attribute specific statements or teachings to a biblical figure, but in other instances, those statements or teachings may be absent or contradictory. These inconsistencies cast doubt on the accuracy and reliability of his recollections.

3. Differing Personalities and Characteristics:
Duplantis' descriptions of the personalities and characteristics of the biblical figures he claims to have encountered can be inconsistent.

For example, in one account, he may portray a figure as being gentle and soft-spoken, while in another account, he may describe the same figure as being stern or authoritative. These inconsistencies raise questions about the veracity of his claims and the reliability of his perceptions. Which any thinking person would know as a lie.

4. Contradictions with Biblical Accounts:
In some instances, Duplantis' descriptions of encounters with biblical figures can contradict established biblical accounts.

These contradictions can involve the portrayal of events, conversations, or the nature of the figures themselves. When there are discrepancies between Duplantis' claims and the biblical record, it raises concerns about the accuracy and authenticity of his alleged encounters.

Jesse Duplantis has made claims of encountering several significant figures from the Bible during his alleged visits to heaven, including Almighty God Jehovah, King David, and Father Abraham.

1. Almighty God Jehovah:
Duplantis has claimed to have encountered Almighty God Jehovah during his visits to heaven. However, his descriptions of these encounters lack consistency and often appear to be influenced by preexisting religious beliefs. Duplantis provides minimal specific details about these encounters, making it difficult to assess their veracity. The lack of independent witnesses or supporting evidence raises doubts about the authenticity of his claims.

2. King David:
In his narratives, Duplantis has spoken about meeting King David, a prominent biblical figure known for his role as a psalmist and the second king of Israel. King David told honest Jesse that he regretted writings all those gloomy Psalms

3. Father Abraham:
The moment Jesse arrives in heaven Father Abraham is there to greet him with a nice glass of water
Father Abraham, a key figure in the Bible and the patriarch of the Israelite people. Similar to his other alleged encounters, Duplantis provides limited details about his interactions with Father Abraham. The lack of specific conversations, shared experiences, or corroborating testimonies raises doubts about the truthfulness of these claims.


1. Varying Descriptions of Heavenly Landscapes:
In different interviews and sermons, Duplantis has provided inconsistent descriptions of the landscapes he claims to have seen in heaven. In some accounts, he describes lush gardens and picturesque scenes, while in others, he mentions vast expanses of golden streets. These divergent descriptions raise doubts about the accuracy and consistency of his claims.

2. Inconsistent Encounters with Heavenly Beings:
Duplantis has shared encounters with various heavenly beings in his narratives. However, the descriptions of these encounters often differ from one account to another. For instance, in some instances, he claims to have interacted directly with angels, while in other instances, he refers to encounters with deceased loved ones or biblical figures. Such inconsistencies cast doubt on the reliability of his testimonies.

3. Contradictory Chronology of Events:
Duplantis has shared multiple versions of the sequence of events during his alleged visits to heaven. The order in which he claims to have experienced certain occurrences, such as meeting specific individuals or witnessing particular events, varies across different interviews and sermons. These conflicting chronologies raise questions about the accuracy and authenticity of his claims.

4. Conflicting Details about Heavenly Attributes:
Details regarding the nature of heaven, such as its size, dimensions, and divine attributes, have been inconsistent in Duplantis' accounts. In some instances, he describes heaven as a tangible place with specific dimensions, while in other instances, he portrays it as an ethereal realm beyond human comprehension. These conflicting portrayals undermine the consistency and reliability of his narratives.

5. Lack of Corroborating Witnesses:
Despite sharing his alleged visits to heaven with a wide audience, Duplantis has failed to provide any credible witnesses who can independently verify his claims. The absence of individuals who can corroborate his experiences raises doubts about the veracity of his accounts and suggests a lack of external validation.

These examples highlight the inconsistencies and contradictions present in Jesse Duplantis' narratives of his visits to heaven. They contribute to the skepticism surrounding his claims and raise important questions about the authenticity of his alleged experiences.

1. The Elusive Details:
One of the glaring aspects of Duplantis' narratives is the lack of specific and consistent details about his visits to heaven. While he paints a vivid picture of celestial landscapes and encounters with heavenly beings, his descriptions often lack coherence and fail to provide substantial evidence. Duplantis' inability to provide consistent details raises doubts about the authenticity of his claims.

2. Commercial Exploitation:
Duplantis' alleged visits to heaven have been accompanied by commercial endeavors, such as books, DVDs, and speaking engagements, all designed to monetize his experiences. This raises questions about the sincerity of his motivations and whether his accounts are fabricated to capitalize on the public's fascination with the supernatural.

3. Contradictions and Inconsistencies:
Over the years, Duplantis has shared multiple versions of his supposed visits to heaven, each containing contradictions and inconsistencies. These discrepancies include variations in the description of heavenly landscapes, encounters with specific beings, and the overall chronology of events. Such contradictions undermine the credibility of Duplantis' claims, suggesting a lack of authenticity or a tendency to embellish his stories.

4. Lack of Corroborating Testimony:
When individuals claim extraordinary experiences, it is common to seek corroborating testimony from others who may have shared similar encounters. However, in the case of Duplantis, there is a notable absence of independent witnesses or credible accounts supporting his claims. This absence raises doubts about the reliability of his narratives and their foundation in reality.

5. Similarities to Existing Myths and Beliefs:
Many aspects of Duplantis' descriptions of heaven bear striking resemblances to preexisting religious and mythological beliefs. From the depiction of celestial beings to the imagery of heavenly landscapes, these similarities beg the question of whether Duplantis drew inspiration from existing religious texts and stories rather than truly visiting a divine realm.

Conclusion:
Jesse Duplantis' alleged visits to heaven captivate audiences with their vivid details and captivating narratives. However, a closer examination of his claims reveals a series of tall stories, lacking consistency, corroboration, and authenticity. Duplantis' commercial exploitation of these accounts further raises doubts about his motivations and sincerity. As discerning observers, it is crucial to approach such claims with skepticism and critically evaluate the evidence presented to us. Only through a careful analysis of the facts can we separate fact from fiction and discern the truth behind Jesse Duplantis' alleged visits to heaven.*

Hi all,

So months before my ex and I broke up, he took over the apartment I was living in and I went to live with friends (we never lived together fyi). I am still on the lease at that place. It costs $250 to do a lease change to get my name off the lease. My ex and I are not talking to each other. We broke up 4 month ago, and I want to go down to the office and sign the forms, and then tell them to just put the fee on the account and make him pay for it. But I'd already told him don't worry about changing the lease if it costs money. It would be no skin off his back to pay for it, but it's a lot of money for me.

The other issue is, when I moved out of the apartment, I left a lot of my stuff there for him to hold on to while I lived with friends. And then in May we broke up, and in July I moved to a new apartment. It took him TWO TRIES to figure out what was my stuff vs what was his, and he still has my over the door coat rack. Again, I'd told him, whatevers left, don't worry about it. But then 4 months later I found his expensive water bottle in my car; I returned it to our mutual friends and I said I wanted my coat rack back in return. My friend gave him the bottle at church, but apparently he said he's not going to bring the coat rack to church. I never said to do that; how hard is it for him to drive up to their house and drop it off by the door or something? Not sure how many days passed between them telling him and him actually getting the bottle back, but I still don't have my coat rack back.

I feel like I just need to let it all go; just ignore the lease and count my coat rack as long gone. But it's just frustrating. How do you stare at something that's NOT YOURS for months and then not give it back when you gather up all the stuff to return?

Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV


1. What is redemption? How is it through the blood of Christ?
2. What is forgiveness of sins? How is that accomplished?
3. What is the grace of God? What all does that entail?
4. What is God’s will and purpose and plan for our lives?

We who believe in Jesus Christ, who have been crucified with him in death to sin, and who have been raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness (see Romans 6:1-23; Ephesians 1:1-6), we have redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of our trespasses (sins). So, what does that mean exactly? What all does that entail?

Well, the word “redemption” means “buying back from, re-purchasing (winning back) what was previously forfeited (lost); emphasizes the distance (safety-margin) that results between the rescued person, and what previously enslaved them” (source: biblehub.com interlinear).

So, what does that mean? It means that when Jesus Christ died on that cross, he took upon himself the sins of the entire world so that when he died our sins died with him, and when he rose from dead, he rose victorious over sin, hell, death, and Satan, on our behalf. He shed his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery to sin so that we will now serve and honor him with our lives.

For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He died that we might now live for him and no longer for ourselves. And he died to rescue us out of our lives of slavery (addiction) to sin so that we will now follow him in obedience to his commands (New Covenant) in living holy lives, pleasing to him, according to the will of God for our lives, and so that we will no longer walk (in conduct, in practice) in sin, in disobedience to God.

1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:1-23

And what about forgiveness of sins? What does that entail? The word means “release, pardon, a sending away, remission, to let go.” It means to be released from the punishment of sin, but it is more than that. It has to do with us forsaking our lives of sin to follow Jesus with our lives in obedience to his commands, for when God forgives our sins it includes him releasing us from our slavery to sin so that we can now serve him with our lives. For when Jesus forgives, he says, “Go and sin no more.”

And, again, we need to go back to verse one and read who these promises are written to. They are the saints (those who are living holy lives, different from the world because they are being made to be like Jesus in character), and they are the faithful in Christ Jesus who are full of faith, a faith which is authored by Christ, gifted to us by God, and persuaded by God, which is not of ourselves and not of our own doing, not of the will and flesh of man.

[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44]

So, forgiveness of sins is not for everyone who merely gives lip service to God. And forgiveness of sins is not a free license to now continue living in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord. For when God forgives, he also delivers us from our slavery (addiction) to sin, and he empowers us to now live for him in righteousness, holiness, and godliness, in his power and strength, according to his will and purpose for our lives.

And what about the riches of his grace? What does his grace teach us? His grace, which is bringing us salvation, instructs (trains) us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (see Titus 2:11-14).

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Words by Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907
Music by George C. Stebbins, 1907

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

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There's a western on HBO, i believe with Kevin that is going to be playing on cbs starting after 60 minutes tonight. I don't remember the name. It sounds like it will be a regular on cbs after being played out on HBO. I know men like westerns so...i might watch it cuz i like kevin