How about the three levels of the bible? A freemason at the pool told me about the bible being written in three levels. One tells a story of a garden with a serpent; this is for common folk. Second level tells a story of sex for adults; third story tells of a jealous, insecure GOD (i say this respectfully).

This is what this man has said. He is from Alabama and he served as a judge for many years.

Does anyone know about these levels?

Thanks.

The revelation of the Mystery.

An exposition of Eph. 1:3-14.


I. God’s secret concerning the allotted joint-heirship of the image: the creation, call, and mission of the corporate one New Man; having now been made known. The Apostle Paul’s Post Acts. 28:25-28 Ministry.

INTRODUCTION.

The Adamic vocation:

When we come to the first chapter of Ephesians the Apostle Paul quotes PS.8:6 in refence to the exceeding greatness of Gods’ power that works in us who believe according the mighty power, which He worked in Christ, having raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His right hand[1] (see all notes on post below), far above all the wicked celestial powers and “He has put all things beneath His feet[2]and has given Him as head over all things to the church which is His body the fullness of him that fills all in all” (Eph.1:19-23).

When we turn to Psalm 8:5-8; it links us to the creation account of Genesis 1-2; where God creates the[3] Adam as His Priest-King image, and places him in the Edenic sanctuary, giving him dominion over the works of His hands; God instructing the Adam to work and guard the garden as sacred space, and to expand the Edenic blessing out to the rest of the earth[4] and humanity;[5] were the entire earth was to be subdued[6]unto God.

Adam certainly needed the knowledge of God’s wise-order to perform this task, which knowledge he would gain from walking in fellowship with God in the garden[7].

We also have another link to the creation account of Genesis, in Eph.1:4 “before the disruption of the order”[8] (cosmos). When we do a word study of the Greek word used here for foundation (katabole); it has the meaning of breakdown, or overthrow. The use of this word, along with “cosmos” (translated world); meaning “the order”, brings us to when the devil[9] influenced Adams disobedience; thus, disrupting, or overthrowing the order of creation. Satan’s crafty deception[10]causing the Adam to disobey Gods voice, which resulted in the disinheriting of the image from his rightful position as heir over all the works of God’s hands; not fulfilling the vocation given to him; who’s failure, is the result of the present condition of creation, and humanity; this resulted in the present order, now being in a chaotic state; controlled under the dark foolishness of the wicked elohim, causing a disbalance (of disorder) in the equilibrium of the cosmos (Gen.3:1-6; 17-19; Rom.8:20-22; Ps.82.1,5).

Looking at other uses of “cosmos” in Ephesians 2:2; we see that the ones who rule the order (cosmos) of this present age, are the evil spirits in the heavenly realm (6:12); the heavenly realm is the sphere of our inheritance (1:4); which sphere is currently occupied by the enemy, and the forces of darkness. Just as in the Old Testament, when Israel had to trust in God to overcome their enemies, which occupied the land of their inheritance, in order to gain possession of it (Gen.1:28; cp.Num.32:22,29; Josh.18:1).

If Adam had fulfilled the commission given to him, he would of ascended the Edenic mountain of the Lord, where he would be crowned with glory and honor, having receive His first-born inheritance for his sacrificial service, God subduing all things under the headship of His lowly, trusting, faithful image (Phil.4:4-11). The Adam would of then be given the authority to destroy all the enemies of God, God’s glory would of then filled the entire creation (Gen.1:28; Eph.1:23; 4:10). These latter conclusions are drawn from the similarities of inference found in the Genesis account; in comparison with the work of Christ, and His mission, who the Adam is a figure of (Rom.5:14). This motif also runs throughout the O.T. regarding Israel’s relation to Gods purpose, in using them as a light to the rest of humanity, as a kingdom of royal priests, and the channel of blessing in His Kingdom to all creation.

Keeping all these things in mind, lets now read the text:

3 Praise be God (hallelujah[11]), and the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the blessing in our spiritual union with Christ in the Heavenly realms[12],
4 in as, He has, decreed us in Him before the disruption of the order, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love; having determined us for entrance into the inheritance as His glorious ruling sons[13], through Jesus Christ,

God has blessed us in our union with Christ as joint heirs to the allotted promise of the preeminent first-born inheritance over the order of all creation in the heavenly realm (Eph.3:6; Ps.8:5-6); and by our spiritual co-enthronement with Christ, we are imparted through the spirit, with the authority of Christ’s exaltation; God having decreed in Himself, before the disruption of the ordering process; that we, the members of the church, which are the body of Christ, would be victorious over the forces of darkness (Eph.6:10-16). In order that He may righteously redeem us into His inheritance, as His first-born glorious image, far above all the rebellious heavenly spirits. Enthroning us as His ruling sons for our faithful sacrificial service, for fulfilling the stewardship that He gave to us (Eph.4:11-16).

This can only be accomplished by our staying connected in dependence to our Head; for Knowledge, wisdom, and holiness; His love working through our faith, producing the fruit of righteousness, and a well pleasing walk before God in sacrificial service (Col.1:10-12; Eph.5:1-3).

We will be an offering to God, by our walk and love of service (Phil.1:29; Col.1:24; Rom.15:16); “He will be made manifest, and we with Him” as the body of His glory, at the right hand of God (this is not the hope of the rapture)[14]; we will have then received the reward of the inheritance (Col.3:24), the prize of the high calling, for our faithful sacrificial service, sharing in the exalted glory of Christ’s firstborn inheritance over all creation, as God’s glorious overcoming corporate image (Eph.2:15; 4:24; Col.1:15-18; 3:10).

according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He has highly favored us in the Beloved.
The good purpose of Gods will, is His partnership (with His lowly trusting imager) in establishing the order of His kingdom over the powers of chaos (the high rebellious spirits), He does this by the wisdom He gives to His imagers to perform this task; in righteous sacrificial service, for the restoration, love being the bond of perfection. He rewarding them with the inheritance of firstborn right, which grace and victory gives praise to His glory (Eph.1:12;14;18; 3:19-21).

The Greek word translated “highly favored” (G5487) is only used in one other place in the N.T. and is the same word used of Mary, she being lowly (Lk.1:28, 48), was the channel that God chose to bring in the appearing of Christ upon the earth, providing the lowly tent of His dwelling (Jn.1:14; Phil.2:7-8). Likewise, God has chosen to use us as the channel for the appearing of Christ in the heavenly realm, who is presently hid in the light of the glory of God (Col.3:3-4;1Tim.6:16), we, being the body of His flesh, are the glorious temple of the dwelling of God (Eph.2:22-23; 5:30). The temple garment of His priestly glory (Phil.3:22-23).

7 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, Christ paid the price for our sin, freeing us from the realm of death; to now empower us to overcome the powers of darkness, that He may deliver us unto our inheritance on the day of redemption, as His purchased possession (Eph.1:13-14; 4:30).

8 with which He has been abundant toward us in all wisdom and understanding, (making us competent to perform the service of God’s stewardship)

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He has purposed in Himself,

for a dispensation[15]for a corporate task given to us (for the investiture of Christ’s heavenly kingship, i.e., to head up all things in Christ), for re-establishing the ordering process of the creation,

of the fullness of the appointed seasons from which God’s glory will then fill up the appointed seasons, to head up all things in Christ by subduing all things under the supremacy of Christs headship, filling all the cosmic geographical locations with all the glory of God’s presence, those both in Heaven and on Earth (i.e., God’s presence establishing order to all creation through His image). This is what God has decreed in the hidden counsel of His will; for the investiture of the corporate one new man, for Christ to be made manifest in the heavenly realm and we with him(at God's right hand); which is first necessary, for Him to then later appear to every eye, as He heads up all under His sovereignty during the appointed seasons, God’s glory filling the all creation as His holy temple, extending the Eden blessing.

11 in which also out from the heirship we have, out from the decree of His determination (from which we are to be holy and without blame before him in love, for entrance into the inheritance as His ruling sons, vv.4-5) according to the purpose[16] of Him who works all things according the counsel of His own will

By His power God works all out all the trails of this world, and the enemy to our perfection, empowering us by His love in the spirit through faith, to overcome the corruption, persecutions, and afflictions of the enemy, and evil order of this present age; that Christ be made manifest, and we with Him, in glory, as Gods conquering image, at His right hand (Col.3:1-4;Tit.2:11-14).

12 that we who first trusted in Christ, (before the fullness of the appointed seasons) should be to the praise of His glory, Our reward, and function as His image, to manifestation to all creation, all the power, grace, and kindness of God’s person.

13 in Whom also, you, having heard the word, that of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and after having believed, you were marked with the Spirit of the holy promise,14 the earnest of the inheritance, for our redemption as Gods acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. The Spirit of God empowers us, by testifying with our spirit, that we are the children of God, assuring us, of God’s love for us, and the hope that lies before us (cp. Rom.8:15-18, 23-24). The Spirit of God is the seal of our inheritance as God’s paid possession; and is the power of God toward the perfecting of us, for the day of redemption (Eph.4:30).

The function of the image is to reflect the glory of God to all creation, which function is to summons the praises of creation to God, and this will be the function of the corporate New Man in the ages to come (Eph.2:7). In how God has not only favored us in allotting us such an inheritance, but also what He has chosen to accomplish through us now, for the ages, and we will forever be the emblem of the glory of His praise in what not only has done for us, but also what He has accomplished through us which will result in His glory filling the earth (Eph.3:9-11, 20-21)

---

Paypal.com is fining members thousands. I was a Paypal member for fifteen years. Like many corporations in these end times, they went woke. They have made statements warning members of posting anti-left-wing comments on the internet. When I confirmed this, I deleted my account with them. I will not rejoin their left-winged banking just to subscribe on here. I guess I need to tolerate the ridiculous pop-up on here since that is the only way to pay on here. Login to view embedded media

I'm not sure if this is the right area but need to vent. I did not grow up in a normal household . my mother would always bang pots and pans, my dad would always yell and scream. neither taught me anything. I grew up very reserved and shy, and am untrustful and shy to this day (speaking at all would result in me getting yelled at). But the point of this is that I don't lash out like my parents by yelling or banging pots and pans. I've trained my mind to have no reaction anything : a christmas present, or good news or bad news, my face is blank because I've had to conceal my thoughts as a defense mechanism

While Gospel focused, my impression is that Tim was always willing to explore different viewpoints and let his study take him to the conclusions he found.He lived his life trying to find true answers to questions. He knows all those answers now. Tim, enjoy worshiping in the presence of our Savior

Replica of Noah' Ark built.
I have read many designers state the Ark as described in Genesis could not float. I would like to see if this man can float this.

How about the three levels of the bible? A freemason at the pool told me about the bible being written in three levels. One tells a story of a garden with a serpent; this is for common folk. Second level tells a story of sex for adults; third story tells of a jealous, insecure GOD (i say this respectfully).

This is what this man has said. He is from Alabama and he served as a judge for many years.

Does anyone know about these levels?

Thanks.

And the value of human life continues to tumble. Your local nurse practitioner can perform it.
Over 10,000 in Canada in 2021.
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Hungry, Poor, and Disabled Canadians Now Seeking Assisted Suicide
One third of Canadians fine with prescribing assisted suicide for homelessness
'Disturbing': Experts troubled by Canada’s euthanasia laws
Homeless man seeks to end life through Canada's assisted suicide program

Jonathan Papanikolaou, a social studies teacher at Manatee Middle School ... created and showed the video to students during the morning announcements on April 12.

“Every year our state celebrates and memorializes that valiant, brave fight and the countless sacrifices by our men and women during that known as the Civil War, but may be more correctly titled the War To Prevent Southern Independence,” [he narrates]

“After careful consideration and evaluation of the facts and evidence, the decision has been made that there is no just cause for discipline,” said the district’s Employee Review Committee (ERC) in a decision delivered on April 27.

This is what we get now that wokeness has been defeated in Florida.

Oh, the teacher's suing that the school investigated him at all.

I have a question, specially for those who travel for lengths of time or live in another country. For me since covid, I have traveled quite often to Canada and once to Portugal and once to Greece. What I have noticed and again, it's only four countries I compare, that only in the US is pharmaceutical advertisement shown on television. What about other places? I know for a fact it's illegal in Canada. I didn't see any in Greece. In Portugal because I got covid and had to stay an extra week stuck in a hotel till negative, I didn't see any there as well. For those who don't live in the US, we are inundated with drug commercials both prescription as the "ask your doctor if ____ is right for you" commercials go; along with a heavy dose of non FDA regulated drugs in the Dietary Supplement category and claims to help you with everything under the sun. I love sports and watch them all the time, and it's bombarded with erectile dysfunction commercials. Not only that pharmaceutical companies, unless something changed that I missed, are free to work out monetary rewards with doctors to push their products. Why I ask is this. The US is a drug dependent nation, and I look at this whole system of where drugs are being pushed and how hard they are pushed, and think to myself, well of course we're drug dependent. It's not a causation claim, but it just makes me wonder.

I had first heard of this on the TYT podcast a few days ago (I consume some media from both sides, so this was a progressive take on the situation)
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Not only did Prowda escort Feinstein around Capitol Hill last week, she was again at her side yesterday, helping aides surround the senator in a Capitol hallway as a reporter tried to speak to her. Multiple people familiar with the arrangement say it’s only the most visible part of a quiet but critical role the Pelosi family has played in helping to take care of the ailing senator, both in Washington and San Francisco.


By all accounts, the arrangement is rooted in a long and friendly relationship between Feinstein and the Pelosis — twin pillars of San Francisco politics. But among some of those who are aware, it has also raised uncomfortable questions about whether Nancy Pelosi’s political interests are in conflict with Feinstein’s personal interests.

The intrigue surrounds the future of Feinstein’s seat. Pelosi has endorsed Rep. Adam Schiff, her longtime protégé and former hand-picked House Intelligence Committee chair, to succeed Feinstein after her sixth and final term ends next year. Schiff (D-Calif.) is a household name in California and already has a $15 million campaign cash advantage over his nearest competitor.

But if Feinstein were to bow to pressure and retire early, Schiff’s advantage could disappear. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) has pledged to appoint a Black woman to serve out her term, and one of Schiff’s declared opponents, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), would fit the bill.

“If DiFi resigns right now, there is an enormous probability that Barbara Lee gets appointed — thus, it makes it harder for Schiff,” one Pelosi family confidant told Playbook, adding that the relationship between Pelosi, her daughter and the senator is “being kept under wraps and very, very closely held.”

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told CNN yesterday he’s “monitoring her medical condition almost on a daily basis” due to her pivotal vote on judicial confirmations. Added Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), “As a friend, you can see she’s hurting.”

I've been seeing a lot of people talking badly about Christianity...but why?

This week, a book publisher — the largest in the world — entered the fray. A lawyer for the publishing conglomerate Penguin Random House told The Times it was suing to stop “one of the most unsubtle attempts at viewpoint discrimination” ever seen.

“For many instances there’s not even the attempt at a pretext,” Dan Novack, Penguin Random House vice president and associate general counsel, told The Times. “These are being removed because there are depictions of [LGBTQ+] characters, there are depictions of racial identity, and that’s the reasons why they are being flagged by individuals for removal.

“And on top of that,” Novack continued, “when these titles do get flagged, what we’re seeing is that there is a committee that it’s supposed to go to that’s filled with actual members of the community, experts, etc., and they’re saying these are educationally appropriate. And then the school district is just overruling their own people. So it’s one of the most eye-popping fact patterns we’ve seen, and we think that when the court sees it, and certainly the public sees it, they’ll understand the strength of the case.”

According to the lawsuit, the majority of the book bans in the county, which encompasses Pensacola in the Florida panhandle, stem from a single Northview High School language arts teacher, Vicki Baggett, who embarked on an aggressive campaign to remove student access to 116 books, stating the books “should be evaluated based on explicit sexual content, graphic language, themes, vulgarity and political pushes.”

But apparently, the district is ignoring these evaluations and banning them anyway, at least with respect to one title detailed in the article. The story that community standards and local parents would determine suitability is just a sham in this county.

Ted Cruz says he’s opening an investigation into Bud Light

According to a letter Cruz and Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee sent to Brendan Whitworth, the Anheuser-Busch CEO and chairman of the Beer Institute, Bud Light might have violated existing guidelines that prevent beer companies from promoting their products to younger audiences.

“We would urge you, in your capacity at Anheuser-Busch, to avoid a lengthy investigation by the Beer Institute by instead having Anheuser-Busch publicly sever its relationship with Dylan Mulvaney, publicly apologize to the American people for marketing alcoholic beverages to minors, and direct Dylan Mulvaney to remove any Anheuser-Busch content from his social media platforms,” the far-right senators wrote.

At least he's on top of the important issues.

According to Wikipedia:

A canyon ... is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales.

SOURCE

If the Grand Canyon appeared in Peleg's lifetime, then I submit "Grand Canyon" is a misnomer.

Thoughts?

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

When I first came to Christ, oh what a fool I was. I was so excited thinking that I was now going to sit back and be made perfect while eating chips and salsa on the veranda in the cool of the evening. It turns out that God's grace is a mean dog. Once you allow it into your heart it goes after sin Fang and Claw. The only way to stop it is to reject Christ and I couldn't do that.

I tried to tame it, leash it, send it to obedience school. But in the end it continues to drag me kicking and screaming toward holiness found only in Christ. The weird thing is that once I get to my next level of relationship with God I'm filled with indescribable Joy and throw my arms around that dog. It's not that God wants to crush us but he wants to crush sin in us and the more it is entwined within us the more painful it is to extract. We can get pretty squashed in the process but in the end it's all worth it and more.

I remember an old song My Father used to sing while strumming his guitar. It was called “Just a Closer walk with Thee” and one of the phrases went like this:
"Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be"

God either sends or allows the whelming flood to Encompass us to drive us to him and burn away the earthiness in us--or perhaps I should say drown it--and I remember after one such an occasion I was singing this song to myself and it turned into a prayer and I said Lord please grant me just a closer walk with thee and the answer came as a thought to my mind almost immediately, “well then, son, then walk closer!”

He was walking close all the time it was me that was holding parts of myself back from him, afraid that he would change them in ways I didn't want. But when the overwhelming flood is threatening to drown you and all you can do is throw one long arm of love and one long arm of faith around his neck and hold on for dear life you are more than willing to let all that nonsense go and be purified by it.

Yes, God hurts the hell out of us and how beautiful that is. It is our stories and our witness that count and not our knowledge of theology. May God fully Express himself to all of those who love him more than their own lives and desire to be his servants. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.

An excellent article, setting out some principles which all of us in ministry should bear in mind (not just for abuse of children, but more generally too).

In discussing some of the moral issues facing society such as gender, sex, race, Rights, identity politics ect relating to how we as a society should structure ourselves I have found that a polarisation is happening between two broad worldviews. On the one side the Left which I think is more likely to be athiest or more pluralistic about belief and on the other is the Right which are more conservative and traditional and more likely to be Christain. Though I think there is degrees of variance where some will also be open to opposing views to some degree.

But it seems things have become more polarised is recent times deue to society moving away from a Christain worldview to a secular one. In the past there was more middle ground and basically people I think were more traditional had belief and progressives were seen as out of step. I think today the Left has gained a lot of ground mainly due to a reaction to percieved past injustices by traditionalist or Christains and being more open to alternative ideas.

In the past Western societies were based on Christain values but in the last few decades God and Christainity has been rejected and in its place the State has become the arbitor of societal morals and infringed more on peoples private lives. Of course a lot has happened in that time with social media which I think has had a profound impact on thinking undermining truth and has given individuals and groups much power to push their views and influence governments and society.

But the result of all this is that there is a growing division between the Christian Worldview and the Secular Worldview to the point that they clash even violently like people want to destroy Christains aned opposing views and it seems the State is actively siding with the a secular position with the help of certain lobbyist. They have been actively dismantaling Christainity and taking God completely out of the picture in our institutions and public life generally, I should say its not always just Christains but also traditionalist and others who believe in the Truths that the West was built upon such as Enlightement and Democracy. Many on the Left also seem to support some sort of Marxism so this polarisation seems to be political and religious.

I guess our present situation is also the result of Postmodernism the idea of tearing down the old truths and archetypes of the West and society has become more individualistic and relative. Its a complex combination of factors but the thing that stands out for me is that there seems to be a showdown brewing between Christain and traditionalist and the Secularist and the Left and I think the Left is winning at the moment. I can see this continuing where Christainity is pushed to the fringes.

So we are at a point for the first time in a long time in our history where societies efforts to rid themselves of God and Christainity will see secularist and non believers outnumbering Christains and completely rejecting God from society.

But is this new World completely devoid of belief or is society replacing God and Christainity with some new religion, a secular religion which has been able to grow disguised as something else like some new utopia that promises to do away with injustice and inequality and bring people true happiness. I think so as it seems that peoples reaction to Christainity and God today isn't just about a new way but is tied to their identity and debates are often full of feelings even to the point of wanting to destroy others who disagree,

So I think this is a fight for Truth and there can only be one Truth. But today truth has lost all meaning and personal truth has become the only truth. But I think the Truth as in the one Truth we all know is real will shine through in the end, but its going to be a fight in the meantime where many false ideas will seem to win out and may fool many.

I was recently confronted by a deacon who told me that, since my husband is the spiritual head of our family, he should be the one to decide where we go to church. As the wife, I should go where he chooses, rather than deciding for myself whether to attend that church or a different one. Agree or disagree? Or somewhere in between?

Also, what would be some valid reasons for changing churches? Please note, I am not talking about switching to a different denomination or a different set of beliefs. Both churches involved here preach Scripturally sound messages from the pulpit. The difference is in the dynamics of the congregation. And then, oh boy is that different.

I attended Church A with my husband for roughly 15 years. I didn't like it, almost from the very beginning, but my husband is change-resistant by nature and didn't want to go through the process of searching again. I have always felt strongly that husband and wife should go to the same church. The deacon, who by the way is from Church A, agreed with me on that point. He simply feels it is the husband, not the wife, who should decide which one it is. Essentially, for 15 years I was going to Church A because hubby was going to Church A, despite the fact that I was getting little to nothing out of it. Then he took a job where he would be out of town a good part of the time. I would be attending services alone at least every other week, possibly more. Suddenly "I'm going there with him because he wants to" was no longer a good enough reason. That being the case, we both agreed that it's better to find a church I do like, if I'm going without him.

Enter Church B. I felt at home from the very moment I set foot in the door. I told Hubby how much I loved it. The following week he went with me and gave it his "it's Biblical" stamp of approval. Yet he still has a few good friends in Church A, and he's still change-resistant. Hubby and I worked out an agreement. If I'm going to church alone, I go to Church B. If we're going together, we go to Church B. This, he proposed as a way to reward me for getting up and going to church, since I did have an attendance problem at Church A. He'd rather see me go to Church B than to no church at all. But if for some reason I don't attend services, maybe I'm sick or working, and he goes alone, he'll go to Church A. Twice a year, Church B doesn't hold services; instead they go out into the community and do charitable work for places that need it. When that happens, if I'm not part of it, I suppose I could go to Church A with my husband. But I ain't setting foot in there again, unless the Lord Himself comes down from Heaven and tells me to. Here is why.

1.) In those 15 years, we have watched Church A dwindle from a congregation of about 60 to 70, which is not large to begin with, to maybe 25 on a good day. Say what you will, but "tiny and shrinking" is never a good sign. Many of our most beloved members have either passed away or retired and moved out of state. There used to be children's and youth programs; there no longer are, because there are no longer any children or youth. In our late 50's to early 60's, my husband and I are consistently among the church's *youngest* members. (On paper I am still a member of Church A even though I haven't been there in over a year.) The average age of the congregants is well over 70+. It's increasingly rare to find anyone who is still working, as opposed to retired. I can understand, when I was 19, being celebrated on Mother's Day as the youngest mother present. I should not, at my current age, still be the youngest mother present. Yet I am. Young visitors and families with children tend to not come back a second time. By contrast, at Church B there is a sizeable enough congregation of all generations, from senior citizen to infant, that we have a full and active children's and youth ministry.

2.) In fact, I am part of that children's ministry at Church B, whereas at Church A there was no place for me to fit in. Everything I attempted to do or to join, "Oh, no thank you. We've got it covered." Even when I had full-blown depressive episodes over not contributing and not feeling useful, and if we're all part of the body, I must be the appendix or something else completely unnecessary, the only response I got was, "Oh, you're not useless. I enjoy seeing your smile. That's a blessing by itself." Is that all I'm good for? To sit there like an ornament and keep the pews warm? Do I have nothing better to contribute than that? The Church A deacon's wife is nominally head of the now nonexistent children's department, and she remarked, "Well, I could use help with children's church too." I then asked if they ever actually get any children, and she replied no. Sorry-not-sorry, but if I have a choice between doing nothing and participating, I want to go where I can participate.

3.) On a more personal note, I have been the "new kid in class" too many times in my life. It's ironic, I think, that I feel less of that open-and-exposed feeling at Church B, which I have been attending for a year, than at Church A, which I attended for 15 years. At Church B, they are friendly and welcoming while allowing people their personal space. In fact, on my first visit I was chatting so comfortably with one lady as we walked through the door that people thought we had arrived together. No, we'd never seen each other before. I simply felt that much at home. At Church A, they're friendly too, but.... well, there's friendly, and then there's friendly. I will be bum-rushed at the door and asked the same questions at least 20 times. Yet, even though they have me under an uncomfortable microscope, they don't seem to really know me. My name has only four letters in it, but a good many of them have never learned to pronounce it even though I have pronounced it for them dozens of times. Once I got to the point where I finally gave up on correcting them, one member said joyfully, "Oh, good. She's finally learned to accept it!" Accept what? The fact that people who claim to love me can't be bothered to get my name right?

4.) Also personal, and also evidence that they don't really know me at Church A. Years ago I was injured in a car accident and it took me a long time to recover. That's largely thanks to God providing me with a husband who saw to it that I got the medical attention I needed. Since then I have learned to drive, something I was late in doing for complicated reasons. I have become increasingly stronger. Whereas I was on disability when my husband and I met, I am now able to work. In fact, I am in classes to regain my nursing assistant certification. That's a job that, after the accident, I thought I could never do again. Praise God! This said, nothing makes me angry faster than someone assuming I'm still stuck at a hurdle I cleared a long time ago. One day Hubby and I attended Church A in separate vehicles because we were going different places after church. When he left without me, two people approached me separately and asked me how I was getting home. Both of them were surprised by my answer. "Oh! You can drive? I didn't know!" At that point, I had been licensed for five years. "But they remember when you couldn't," said the deacon's wife. I don't give a hangnail if they do, I answer. Let's replace driving with any other life skill. Let's say I come up to you and ask you if your diaper is wet, and do you need help changing it? When you indignantly explain that you are well able to go to the bathroom for yourself, I act surprised and delighted. "Oh! I didn't know you had learned how to use the toilet! I remember when you couldn't! I'm so proud of you!" Now, wouldn't you feel just a little bit belittled? Nobody at Church B bats an eyelash when I drive into the parking lot by myself. Nobody gets flustered at any mere mention of me getting a job. Nobody asks doubtfully if I'm suuuuure I can handle this or that. I suppose I must say I am still disabled, since diabetes is a disability, but I no longer even walk with a cane. I still have trouble on stairs sometimes, or a steep curb, but that too is improving. You know what I did today? Several times, in fact? Actually bent my knees to pick something up. I didn't used to be able to squat. Now I almost can. Church B doesn't treat me like I'm "handicapped" and needlessly fuss over me. Maybe it's because they never saw me in that condition, but still, if Church A has me under that microscope, you'd think they'd have noticed the improvement. I don't need reminders that I used to be weak and defective, as I felt.

5.) Finally, the only political discussion I have heard at Church B is that it is perfectly fine to disagree with our leaders, or even disapprove of them, but we should not disrespect them. The pastor gave as an example Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When confronted with King Nebuchadnezzar, they didn't gather in groups and chant whatever the equivalent of "Let's go, Brandon!" would have been. Instead, they kept their language and tone respectful as they politely declined to obey. "No, your majesty, we will not bow before your gold statue. We will worship God alone. He outranks you." At Church A, I have heard more discussion about how much people hate Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi than about how much they love Jesus Christ.

These are the reasons I have chosen Church B. I do fully accept that my husband is the spiritual head of our household, and in that capacity, he has told me to go to the church of my choice. That, I can easily accept and submit to. But the Lord gave me a wonderful husband. What if a wife really, really disliked a church that her husband really, really loved? Should she shut up and go with him? Also, given the above, do you think they are valid reasons for choosing Church B over Church A? Even after going to Church A for 15 years?

It all goes down to this - saving our souls. The bait of converting people to Christianity.

But I don't think this isn't what Christians should be going crazy about. They quickly jump into action out of extreme fear their loved ones might go to hell tomorrow if they die or they go to hell or lose their heavenly mansions if they die without leading a single soul to Christ.

The panic to jump into action to try to save souls from hell is what makes them miss the more important things - the Truth, the knowledge that sets free. And if they have no truth, doesn't it make them a false teacher, spreading false teachings and not even knowing it.

How Jesus said it simply, the Truth will set you free. The knowledge of it, the words of God.

On the other hands, He gave us a stern warning - whoever tries to save their life will lose it - Luke 17:33 and I don't think this message only encompass our life here on Earth (flesh) but our desire to have eternal lives.

Because both the desire of keeping ourselves alive or the senseless fear of losing our lives, including forfeiting eternal salvation can blind us to the truth. This senseless fear, the lack of courage, cowardice, will make us open to false teachings.

Does anyone realize how very corruptible even the most devout Christian if their lives and the lives of loved ones are threatened? That we are prepared to accept any solution without checking or testing it as long as it saves us from death?

I think this is what Christianity has become. Too afraid to look back to see what we have missed too paralyzed by fear to even check if the path is leading to a cliff. Or too blinded by the reward of eternal life, it has become a false god.

I fear we are still no different from the Pharisees. They try to gain salvation with works while we try to gain salvation by accepting God's Grace. They're both salvation-centric delusions. No care for the truth. Which is the irony because if you have no truth, you have no salvation as well.

Thus, if you seek to save your life (both this life and your soul), you lose it - Luke 17:33. Because you're setting your priorities wrong, very wrong.

Traditional - contemporary - rock - jazz

Opinions?

Socialist politicians teach people to covet what isn't theirs. They actually lead people away from faith in the Lord because its God who supplies our needs not a politician. God never said tax the rich and they will supply your needs. No, He said that He will supply our needs. When was the last time a Socialist taught that? Socialism has no place in the church. If we look at James chapter 4 we can see what true faith verses fauthlessness looks like.

James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[c]
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

These brave whistleblowers are attempting to show the public that the FBI has decided to put politics ahead of justice. It is becoming increasingly clear to the American people that the FBI has become a politicized body that is seeking to protect its own interests rather than those of the people it is supposed to serve.
Congress needs to defund the FBI.

Please help me gain some wisdom in this matter. In looking for a good job, what is most appealing? A higher hourly rate but minimum benefits, or a lower hourly rate with excellent benefits all around? What about looking for a retirement savings plan, is it worth it to have a lower hourly rate but a better retirement savings?

Can we discuss this important topic.

For background I suggest viewing this video that presents the issue quite thoroughly.

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Your considered comments most welcome.