At least that's what this guy believes: Blacks are systematically oppressed in America because that's the way the Whites want it.

I'm not going to bother to address his beliefs, but I will say that I've heard a lot of this type of drivel from various sectors of the Black community in the last 10 years or so, and it always boils down to the same thing: Blacks will never have a chance in America, because the whole system is designed to repress them.

My question remains: If the Blacks who feel this way truly believe that they can never rise above the second-class status they supposedly suffer from in America, then ***WHY IN HEAVEN'S NAME DO THEY STAY HERE?!??*** If I truly believed I could never better myself in a certain country, you can bet I'd be moving heaven and earth to get out of that country. Why would I stay in a place that was so detrimental to me, and live in such conditions, all the while whining and moaning and complaining about how rough I had it?

If every last American Black who feels this way about America were to sell everything that they own and pool their money, I have no doubts that they could probably purchase a homeland for themselves somewhere in the world. They might have to pioneer it, but wouldn't it be worth it for them to be out from under such a repressive system?

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Context: Jesus Christ called together his twelve disciples. He sent them out to the lost sheep of Israel, but not to the Gentiles and not to the Samaritans at that time. And he instructed them to do much of what he did during his time of ministry on the earth, which was to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to cast out demons, etc. And he told them that he was sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so they were to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. And he told them that they would be persecuted.

Matthew 10:21-22 ESV


Later on down in this passage of Scripture (vv. 34-39) Jesus taught basically that he did not come to bring peace to the earth. He came to bring peace to the individual hearts of those who trust in him as Lord and as Savior, but his mission was not world peace. He came to bring a sword, and that sword truly is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, the gospel, which does turn family members against one another. For when one believes in Jesus with genuine faith and another does not it, the nonbeliever may turn against the believer, in many different ways, including some things mentioned here.

And then with regard to this last sentence here in v. 22, what Jesus said in vv. 34-39 also fits, for he said that if we love our family members more, meaning we give preference to them over our Lord Jesus, then we are not worthy of him. And if we don’t take our cross and follow him in obedience, meaning if we don’t die daily to sin and to self and follow him in obedience (see Luke 9:23-26), we are not worthy of him. For if we hold on to our lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity. But if we die to sin and to self and follow Jesus in obedience, then we have life in Christ for eternity.

So, a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ does not secure heaven for us when we die. We must die with Christ to sin and deny self and follow Jesus in obedience to him and to his commands (New Covenant). And we must walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh, in practice. Sin must not be our practice, for if it is, and if righteousness and the forsaking of our sins and walking in obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, then we do not have eternal life with God. And if we do not continue in Christ until the very end, we will not be saved in the end.

Matthew 10:26-28 ESV


Now, going back to the subject of persecution, those of us who are following the Lord in obedience and in walks of righteousness, and who are daily dying to sin and denying self are going to be persecuted, especially if we are sharing the gospel of our salvation with others and if we are refuting Satan’s lies. And that persecution may come from family members, and it may come from others who profess faith in Jesus Christ, too. But we are not to fear what others will do to us or say about us, but we are to honor God with our lives and keep on speaking the truth for all to hear.

[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]

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If That Isn’t Love

By Dottie Rambo

He left the splendor of heaven
Knowing His destiny
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha
There to lay down His life for me

And if that isn't love
Then the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky
And the little sparrows can't fly
Yeah if that isn't love
Then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this
If that isn't love

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Pray that my cousin Rommel won't get accused for something he didn't do Amen

US States Fail to Protect Children’s Rights

(New York) – United States state laws overwhelmingly fail to meet international child rights standards, with the vast majority failing to protect children from child marriage, hazardous child labor, extreme prison sentences, and violent treatment, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch gave 20 states a failing “F” grade, and 26 a “D.” Not a single state received a “B” or an “A.” New Jersey, Ohio, Iowa, and Minnesota were the only states to receive a “C” grade.

A new Human Rights Watch interactive scorecard assessed 12 specific state laws in all 50 states against standards set by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the primary international treaty on the rights of children. The laws address four issues: child marriage, corporal punishment, child labor, and juvenile justice. The United States is the only country that has failed to ratify the Convention, ratified by 196 countries.

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The lack of protection and an upholding of rights of BORN, sentient children feels like it should be disconcerting to EVERYONE.

It was expected and one of those cases that we were glad in a sense, but still death is hard

pray please

I just want to introduce myself. my name is Gavreel from Ireland and im new to this forum and relatively new to the Christian faith however i was born and raised Catholic. Hope you're all having a good day.

Recently in Sunday school, a teacher made the distinction between OT prophets and the "gift of prophecy" with NT prophets (such as Agabus). Because Agabus' prophecy (Act 21:11) wasn't "literally" fulfilled (my term which the teacher meticulously avoided using) he claimed that a NT prophet (other than apostles), wouldn't be "proclaiming an infallible word from the Lord" per se -- that in fact "the gift of prophecy in the NT may be somewhat distorted and impure" (the teacher's words). In his mind Agabus' prophecy fits the bill because the Jews did not [literally] bind Paul's hands, nor did they [literally] deliver Paul over to the Roman soldiers (Act 21:27-33).


The teacher is clearly implying that the NT gift of prophecy is inferior to the prophetic utterances of the OT prophets and the prophecies of NT apostles. But I have a problem with this on two counts: All true prophecy comes by the Holy Spirit -- the same Spirit who inspired the OT prophets and the apostles and presumbably NT saints gifted with prophecy. Moses provided two tests which Israelites were supposed to apply to all prophecies (Deut 13:1-4; 18:21-22). Since Agabus' prophecy was "distorted and impure" (according to the teacher), how can we not conclude that the prophet spoke "presumptuously" and that the message he spoke was not of the Lord, according to the latter passage? Huge problem. Did not the NT church receive the same Spirit as the OT prophets and the NT apostles?

Moreover, it certainly seems that the vast majority of the OT prophets did far more forthtelling (admonishing, exhorting, rebuking, warning, moral/spiritual instruction) than foretelling (making future predictions). Therefore, Deut 13:1-4 would apply. But also in the NT, Paul's instruction about the gift of prophecy seems to have more to do with forthtelling, as well (1Cor 14:3, 6, 18-19). I'm wondering, then, how the early Church would have "tested" such forthtelling. Would they have used Deut 13:1-4 as a test? If so, when a NT prophet (other than an apostle) predicted something, I'm thinking the Church would have used Deuteronomy 18 as the litmus test.

I personally view Agabus' prophecy as being fulfilled in principle -- fulfilled fundamentally, since the Jews were the ones who rioted and caused the great commotion that led to the Roman soldiers intervening. If it weren't for murderous Jews who wanted to kill Paul, the soldiers would not have intervened and bound the apostle, nor would they have come to Paul's rescue (an unintended consequence of the Jews' action), which could be viewed as their "delivering" Paul to the soldiers. The Jews, therefore, were DIRECTLY responsible for both acts -- Paul being bound and winding up in the hands of the soldiers. In a real sense, one could say Agabus' prophecy was fulfilled in "spirit" as opposed to "the letter". But...is there any precedent for this type of fulfillment with the OT prophets or the NT apostles?

I'm personally convinced that not all prophecy has been literally fulfilled, e.g. Daniel's 70 weeks, even the 70 years captivity (but I do not want to debate these here). But these prophecies have to do with numbers being used figuratively; but I can't think of any along the lines of the Agabus' prophecy. So, my question to this forum is this: Does anyone know of any prophecy in scripture by any OT prophet or NT apostle that wasn't fulfilled literally but "in principle"? Of course, typological fulfillments or eschatological fulfillments wouldn't count.

A great spiritual awakening is erupting just now at a Kentucky University among college students, an awakening that is attracting pilgrim visitors from across the USA:

Christian university in Kentucky draws pilgrims nationwide amid spiritual revival: 'Gives me so much hope'

I have spent a bunch of time compiling many of the passages that speak about The Angel of The Lord. Reading these has left me in awe many times and I'm so grateful that our Lord God Christ is shown so clearly. These are all of the passages that through Bible Dictionaries and cross referencing I have been able to find. It has been a bit hard because due to the nature of The Angel of The Lord (pre-incarnate Christ) some are deductive and it's not just listing Scripture where it's immediately overtly explicit. Though it is explicit but as you will see words like "an Angel of The Lord" do not inherently mean "The Angel of The Lord", though some "an Angel of The Lord" references are referencing The Angel of The Lord (who is God). I figured I would share some of my study notes as well as the list of scriptures as I have benefited greatly from it and I thought maybe it might help someone else either currently or in the future. Also if I have missed any I would be tremendously grateful if you could post them as personally this subject is of immense importance and value to me. I really didn't expect it to be a mammoth of a task, I only thought there were some Christophanies. I had no idea there were so many. It was a very welcome, great and awesome surprise.

The references to arguments against "accretion" will become clear in the study notes I post in the second post of this thread. It had to do with something I came across while researching that is quite honestly in my opinion, obscene and insane argumentation that makes little sense in light of Christ. If you're just looking for the passages then please ignore them.

The List does not reference the full chapters in which He is mentioned. So when reading specific references in order to get the context of the Christophanies/Theophanies it would be best if you read the surrounding verses or chapter that is listed. Or not, do whatever you want xD. The list itself also has the specific names that are referencing the being of The Angel of The Lord. All research was done with the NASB1995 and therefore the references and language used will be congruent with that specific translation. God bless you all and all glory to our awesome and loving Lord God. I pray that this subject of the awesome gift that is The Scriptures strengthens your faith and reverence for God as it did mine.


Genesis 16:7, 9, 10, 11 (The Angel of The Lord)

Genesis 17:1 (The Lord)

Genesis 18:1 (The Lord)

Genesis 21:17 (The Angel of God) [Here God hears and the Angel of God responds, which again argues against an accretion (from literally Genesis it argues against it lol)]

Genesis 22:11, 15 (The Angel of The Lord) [Genesis 22:12 He calls Himself God]

Genesis 31:11-13 (The Angel of God) [He calls Himself God here again] (God of Bethel; cross reference Genesis 35:1 & Genesis 28:12-19)

Genesis 32:24-30 (a man) (God) (Peniel is “face of God”) (Cross reference Hosea 12:3-4 “the angel” and “God”) (Cross Reference Hosea 12:5 “The Lord”, “the God of Hosts”, “The LORD” [i.e., the divine name])

Exodus 3:2-6 (The Angel of The Lord) [He Calls Himself God here again]

Exodus 14:19 (The Angel of God)

Exodus 13:21 (The Lord, though this is an Angel according to Numbers 20:16, so the same being)

Exodus 14:19 (The angel of God, Cross reference: Ex 13:21, Num 20:16, 1 Cor 10:1-4)

Exodus 23:20-21 (An Angel, but “my name is in Him”)

Exodus 23:20-23 (an Angel, My Angel)

Exodus 32:34 (My Angel)

Numbers 22: 22-27, 31-35 (The Angel of The Lord)

Joshua 5:13-15 (Commander of The Army of The Lord)

Judges 2:1, 4 (The Angel of The Lord)

Judges 5:23 (the angel of the Lord)

Judges 6:11-12, 21-22 (The Angel of The Lord)

Judges 6:20 (The Angel of God)

Judges 6:22 (the angel of the Lord) (v22 Gideon thinks he will die for doing so & in v23 The Lord assures him he will live)

Judges 13:3, 13, 15-18, 20-21 (The Angel of The Lord)

Judges 13:6, 18 (Man of God, Manoah was confused as evidenced by 13:16) [Isa 9:6 cross reference to the name which prophesies about our Saviour: Wonderful]

Judges 13:9 (The Angel of God)

2 Samuel 24:16 (the angel of the Lord)

1 Kings 19:17 (The angel of the Lord)

2 Kings 1:3 (the angel of the Lord)

2 Kings 1:15 (The angel of the Lord)

2 Kings 19:35 (the Angel of The Lord)

1 Chronicles 21:12, 15, 16, 18, 27, 30 (the angel of the Lord, v.27 the angel)

2 Chronicles 32:21 (an angel, it’s The Angel of The Lord: 2 Kings 19:35)

Isaiah 37:36 (the angel of the Lord)

Isaiah 63:9 (the angel of His presence)

Hosea 12:3-5 (the angel) (The angel is called God in verse 3 and this is the Angel that Jacob called God and named the place Peniel [the face of God] in Genesis 32:30) (“The Lord”, “the God of Hosts”, “The LORD” [i.e., the divine name])

Zechariah 1:11-12 (The Angel of The Lord) (v.12 distinctly Trinitarian like Christ’s baptism and His prayers, The Angel of The Lord who is Elohim asks Elohim a question)

Zechariah 3:1, 5-7 (The Angel of The Lord) (v.7 is Trinitarian as The angel of The Lord who is Elohim speaks for Elohim as if He is distinct)

Zechariah 12:8 (The Angel of The Lord) [Wow what an awesome prophecy] [This also proves that the Israelites saw Him as distinct, just like they did in judges with Manoah. So it can’t be argued as an accretion]


Genesis 24:7 (His Angel, the Angel is being sent from God. The Son was sent too.)

Genesis 32:30 (Genesis 32:29 cross reference Judges 13:18? “Why do you ask my name?”)

Genesis 48:15-16 (The Angel is equated with God “Redeemed him from all evil”)

Numbers 20:16 (The Angel here is the being who was called the Lord in Exodus 13:21)

Daniel 3:25

Daniel 6:22


Psalm 34:7 (The angel of the Lord)

Psalm 35:5 (the angel of the Lord)

Psalm 35:6 (the angel of The Lord)

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 [Paul states here explicitly that the being who followed the Israelites in Exodus was Christ]

• V. 1 reference b (Exodus 13:21)
• V. 4 reference a (Exodus 17:6)

I am a 21 year old man who was raised in the Church of God. My girlfriend was raised in the Methodist church. We have been in a great relationship for a little over two years and plan to spend the rest of our lives together. I plan to marry her and eventually raise a family. Recently, I’ve gained a very strong interest in the Catholic faith. I’ve spent hours studying the faith and have decided that I want to take the next steps. This has been very strong on my heart and I’ve expressed this to both her and my family. This was a big shock to everyone being that they are all Protestant. Regardless of this, they continue to support me. However, my girlfriend has a few issues with this decision.

We recently had a discussion around the topic of me converting and what that would bring. She knows very little about the Catholic Church but has outright stated that she is comfortable in her church and has no plans of converting. I never implied that she must convert nor commanded her. She has issues regarding certain beliefs in the faith. Regardless of this, she told me that I am a free person and can make my own choices. She does have an issue with the raising of children in that she wants them to be able to make their own choices and does not want me to influence them. She began to get angry with me when I stated that I would love my future children and her to go to mass with me. She stated that she would only take them once and would let them make the decision if they ever wanted to go back. This upset me very much because of this newfound love for the church. I’m unsure of what to do. I’m in need of advice for how to balance my love for the Catholic Church and my relationship.

Psalms 119:57-60 ESV


If we are in genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, the word of the Lord should be the delight of our hearts and lives. We should long for his word, and we should be those who are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. We should love to sit at the feet of our Lord and to drink in his words. And if for some reason we get away from that, even for a short period of time, it should bother us that we are not in fellowship with the Lord as we once were. For we should never see time spent in the word as a chore.

We should love to obey the Lord, and we shouldn’t see obedience to Christ as a drudgery or as something not to be desired. And we should want to do what pleases the Lord, not to be seen as some legalistic requirement, but because we love him. For if we love the Lord we will want to obey him. We should want to turn our feet to his testimonies and to do what he says we must do as his followers. And if for some reason we get away from that, even for a short period of time, it should pain us until we get back on track.

Psalms 119:61 ESV


Now the wicked are those who are not walking in the ways of the Lord, but they are those who are walking in sin, regardless of whether or not they have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. They are those who are acting contrary to the will of God and who are opposing the Lord and his work. Now, a genuine believer in Christ can fall back into sin and need to be brought back to repentance and obedience, but if they never return to the Lord, then they are among the wicked, and they will not inherit eternal life with God in the end unless they return and obey the Lord.

I was at such a place in my life quite a few years ago, and I had returned to the Lord, and I was walking in his ways again, yet I was very broken and hurting but still but I was moving forward. And I had joined a “support group” to help me to regain my spiritual strength in the Lord, and I was in the process of working through some issues when a friend who was in the support group with me asked for my help. She had trouble speaking in front of people and so she wanted me to encourage her in this, and so I said I would, and I did, but then I got reprimanded for it by the leadership.

And then I got invited to the office of one of the pastors, LK, who had never met me before, and I had never met him before (this was a large church congregation). And he began to chide me and he called me “autocratic,” I think was the word, but that was so far from the truth. And so I sat in his office bawling my eyes out, but he didn’t care. He had no sympathy for me whatsoever. He didn’t care that I was a broken vessel in need of healing. He just went after me like a bulldozer just rolling me over because he could. And so I broke again for I let his words impact me.

But then the Lord restored me, and he brought me back, and he healed me, and then I learned that I could not let other people’s words destroy me. I learned that, though the cords of those acting wickedly toward me hurt me, I must not let them destroy me. I must continue in Christ and in his word despite all opposition against me and despite all hateful and unjust words spoken against me. And the Lord used those experiences in my life to make me strong so that I will not retreat but so I will persevere despite all opposition against me. And then he called me to this ministry.

Psalms 119:62-64 ESV


The Lord Jesus has me on his schedule. I am 73 years old, and living off retirement, so I am able to serve him full time. So, my schedule is not always the same from day to day. And my sleep schedule is not always the same, either, although I am getting adequate sleep. So sometimes he does get me up at midnight or in the very early hours of the morning when it is quiet and free from distractions, and that really is the best time because it is quiet and not much else is going on at that time.

And I do so much enjoy the fellowship of like-minded believers in Christ who also love the Lord and whose desire is for him and for his word, and who long to obey him and who do not see obedience as something to be avoided. But I have found those mostly on the internet and not much in person, at least not at this present time. But I am very thankful for the fellowship I have with fellow believers in Christ online and for whatever I can find in person, too. And I love my fellowship with my Lord, and I desire for him to teach me his statutes that I might obey them.

Anyway, I hope this finds you all walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus, longing for his word and loving your times with him. And I hope you are walking in obedience to his commands under the New Covenant, and that you are not being disheartened by the unkind words of others. I pray for your encouragement and strengthening in the Lord so that you continue in him and in his word and in walks of obedience in holiness and in righteousness. For there is no better place ever to be than right there. And then we have the hope of eternal life with God. No fear!

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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Some theologians and historians dispute today whether the belief that everyone will be saved (“universalism”) was condemned by the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople. Nevertheless, the fact that universalism might not have been condemned by that council constitutes nothing more than an interesting historical tidbit for orthodox Christians. Even if some great saints or a significant minority in certain ages of the Church held universalist beliefs, historical orthodox Christianity definitively came to reject universalism. But, given the interest in universalism today, it is helpful to say a few words on that point.

Let us be clear about our terms. Universalists think that all will be saved. Universalists are not saying that everyone will end up in heaven just by good luck; people who believe in the possibility of hell can believe that.[1] Universalists instead want to argue that it is not possible for anyone to end up in hell for eternity. Many defenders of universalism assert God would not be good if he allowed even the possibility of hell. More technically, then, universalists hold that it is a necessary truth that all are saved. This sets universalists apart from theologians like Hans Urs von Balthasar or Jacques Maritain who thought we might legitimately hope and pray that all people end up saved. These theologians are not universalists—although they are sometimes called “soft universalists”—because they held it was possible for people to end up in hell, and their views would not be implicated in what I am going to argue against, which is sometimes called “hard universalism.”

If it is a necessary truth that all will be saved, something makes it so. The only way it would be impossible for anyone to go to hell is,

1. that God could not do otherwise than cause human beings to love him or
2. that human beings could not do otherwise than love God.
3. There is no third option.

Both of these options, however, entail heresy. This is why universalism has been seen as heretical by mainstream Christianity for millennia, for good reason.

Continued below.

The cost of a high altitude balloon large enough to carry enough payload for a modest / miniaturized spy equipment is up to $1,000.

The cost of surveillance package given China's ingenuity to improvise and make things at ridiculously cheap cost could be had for only $5,000 or even less. Total balloon cost: ~$6,000

The cost of the Aim-9x heat seeking missile to shoot it down is ~$600,000 if you include licensing and taxes.

Hourly cost of flying the F-22 is ~$44,000. Total shoot down cost: $644,000 is well over 100x the cost of Chinese Balloons, assuming a 100% probability of hit but the missile sometimes miss because the missile tracks heat and weather or spy balloons emit very little heat.

The Chinese could simply send swarms of civilian weather balloons over the American continent and force USA to commit valuable resources and you can't accuse China of wrongdoing because civilian weather balloons aren't legitimate targets. But you can't really distinguish one from a spy balloon until after you shoot it down and recover the wreckage.

Even the F-22 is far from the ideal tool for shooting down balloons at high altitude. With recent experiences gained, they'll need a high flying aircraft that can remain aloft at much slower speeds to make it possible to shoot the balloons down with guns or even possibly to rip the envelop open with a sharp blade extending from a boom. Such methods would also make it possible to recover the payload more or less intact for further investigation and research. Fortunately, there already exists a UAV like the Boeing Condor that can fly slowly at those altitudes and could shoot those balloons down if it had a gun. UAVs would be vastly cheaper to operate than F-22.

In ancient times, in Bethlehem fair,
A child was born with love to share,
A star shone bright, a sign of his birth,
A Savior sent to heal the earth.

He grew in wisdom, love, and grace,
And taught with kindness, his words a balm,
He healed the sick, and gave hope to all,
And showed us how to answer the call.

He spoke of love, of peace, and of truth,
Of the Father's mercy, and of eternal youth,
He walked the path of sacrifice and pain,
To redeem us all, and make us whole again.

He faced the cross with courage and love,
And conquered death with power from above,
And now he reigns in heaven's light,
Our Savior, our King, our Lord of might

(this text is generated by chatgpt)

In the first dream a month ago, I was told my wife is not from this world.

In last night's dream, completely different dream, in some government office they told me that I'm married but they don't have any information about my wife. Like zero. No name, no address, no picture, nothing. Like her records have been totally erased from database. It's so unusual to find yourself married but no records exist about your spouse and she's nowhere to be found either.

In reality, I'm still single and never been married. And I'm no longer interested in getting married. Not for a long time already so I haven't been thinking nor even fantasizing of getting married for a very long time so it's a little bit surprising for me to have dreams about already married.

Raquel welch died today at 82. She was well known for being one of the most beautiful actresses of her time.
R. I. P.. May God accept you with open arms.

I am currently studying biology for my bachelors. I applied for a software engineering conversion course for my Masters, however I received an alternative offer for Computing. I was declined because I didn't have the relevant experience at the time, but now I do. I sent an email to the admissions department appealing to give me a place on the software engineering course.

I am asking for prayers that the department accepts my appeal, and gives me an offer for the course that I want. Fortunately, for the course I would only need a 2:2 compared to another university demanding a 2:1. Also, at the university I am appealing to, my girlfriend will be studying there so I would love to be in the same city as her.

Thank you to everyone that prays for me, it is really really appreciated. God bless

...

An increasing number of Christian books, podcasts and blog posts tell us that we shouldn’t believe in a God who judges and punishes sinners—especially on the Cross of Jesus or eternally in Hell. Sooner or later, they assure us, everybody will be saved.

Here are 10 questions to ask when you encounter such theology:

1. Does it take God’s holiness seriously enough?​

Sin creates all kinds of problems for us with ourselves, with the world and with the devil. But the biggest problem it creates for us is that it makes us unable to approach God himself. Our sins separate us from our holy God (Is 59:2) and he responds to them by barring our approach: with flaming swords (Gen 3:24 c.f. 4;16); with storm and darkness (Ex 19); with curtains and smoke (Lev 16). If none of that deters us he is likely to kill us (1Sam 6:19-20).

Sin creates all kinds of problems for us with ourselves, with the world and with the devil. But the biggest problem is that it makes us unable to approach God himself.

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Some writers recoil from this. Heaven forbid that we should need to be saved from God. Isn’t God always close to us? (c.f. Ps 139:7-8; Acts 17:27) Didn’t Jesus come close to sinners without destroying them? Indeed. But these are modes of God’s presence where his radiant glory is concealed so that he can show us other aspects of his nature—namely, his mercy and patience (see more below). If we want to endure in God’s presence—if we want to survive when he reveals himself in his glory—then we need atonement. We need the sacrifice and blood of Jesus to secure our eternal redemption (Heb 9:12); to forgive our sins (v 22); to enter the holy presence of God (Heb 10:19-22).

2. Does it take sin seriously enough?​

Continued below.

Teddy Joseph Von Nukem, one of the most prominent faces lit by the glow of tiki torches in what became the lasting image of the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, killed himself as he was due to face criminal trial last month.

The 35-year-old skipped out on his first day of trial for a drug trafficking charge in Arizona on the morning of Jan. 30, according to court records. At the very moment a federal judge was issuing a warrant for his arrest, Von Nukem was actually still at his home in Missouri, where he had walked out in the snow behind the hay shed and shot himself.

[Von Nukem] glorified the violence, and researchers of domestic extremism suspect he was a key figure in a brutal beating of a black man [at the Charlottesville rally].

[In March 2021] Customs and Border Protection agents discovered 15 kilograms of fentanyl pills hidden behind the seats and floor compartment of his 2019 Nissan Pathfinder.

According to law enforcement records, Von Nukem quickly admitted that he had been paid 4,000 Mexican pesos (around $215) to smuggle the pills into the country.

• dietary restrictions,
• sabbath observance,
• sacrificial system,
• and the 10 commandments"

NOTE:The above is a quote from someone from this forum, please don't take it as I am believing or saying this.


You can find similar words like this all over this forum, but this was a most recent declaration that brought all kinds of questions to me.

So if everything in the Old Covenant or the Torah was cancelled then why...

Do we still see Rainbows in the sky, a great sign of a promise the LORD made to all mankind? Found in Torah in Genesis 9


That sign is so important that, Did you know? there is one in heaven. Rev 4

So when the LORD GOD uses words like 'perpetual, everlasting we need to understand that he means it.

---

The LORD had a conversation with a man named Job or Iov and spoke of the rulings he gave to other parts of his creation (which is part of Torah) and asked him

Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,
or can you guide the Bear with its children?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
that a flood of waters may cover you?

---

Now you say that it isn't what you are talking about, instead the words spoken by the LORD to Moses for his People. The first we see that HE tried to speak them to the people but they were too frightened and asked Moses to go for them. To make sure there was no mistake that is was from the LORD HE wrote them himself , carved in stone. These (the second set) he told Moses to put into the Holiest of Holy places on earth, HIS throne, the Ark which is called the 'Ark of the Covenant' because that was the Ketubah made between the LORD (and Yeshua/Jesus as nothing was made that was made without him) and his chosen people.

This was to complete the instructions given to build the articles of the Tabernacle. They were accompanied by two witnesses, one of Priesthood (the rod of Aaron) and the provision by the LORD (the pot of manna).

Now through history the ark was stolen, returned, stolen again and today we don't know where it is (Ethiopia, likely a replica made by Solomon to accompany his son back with the Queen of Sheba) on Earth, but there is another place where it was seen where no one could steal it, make it disappear so no accounting can be made. That witness of the Ketuban/contract/Covenant made resides in heaven,


People have come against them on earth, especially in the US and demanded that they be torn down, why if they are no longer valid? Could it be guilt for not keeping them?

And you know whats really interesting is that the Ark of HIS Covenant is in his Temple and surrounded by that other covenantal sign, the Rainbow.

Rev 10 hints to us that it's still important to know who the creator is (what Shabbat is all about).

6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

The King's Singers says Christian college axed gig over sexuality​

The King's Singers, founded in Cambridge, UK, said it was given just two hours' notice of Pensacola Christian College's (PCC) decision to axe the gig last Saturday.

PCC said a performer "maintained a lifestyle that contradicts Scripture".

The group has performed at the college in the past.

Per Wiki:

The King's Singers are a British a cappella vocal ensemble founded in 1968. They are named after King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars. In the United Kingdom, their popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s. Thereafter they began to reach a wider American audience, appearing frequently on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the United States. In 1987, they were prominently featured as guests on the Emmy Award-winning ABC television special Julie Andrews: The Sound of Christmas.

I know them primarily for classical, Renaissance, religious and English songs.

Over and over on this forum I have seen certain people say that the verses that UR use to make the claim that Jesus is the savior of the world and not a potential savior are out of context . I submit that they are the ones who are taking verses or specifically words or word out of context, but they must do so as to not destroy the foundation of their tradition. Lets look at some verses for example; 1John2:2" and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins , and not only for our sins but also for the whole world. " We in UR say that the context is that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for all sins not a potential savoir , for Jesus to be a potential savior you must read that into the text, and just incase someone would miss it John again stated the same thing again 1John4:14" And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." Notice he did not say potential savior of the world that would be taking the verse out of context. The only reason that the ECT tradition can say its out of context is because they believe all verses that show that Jesus is the savior of the world are out of context because it goes against the foundation of their faith ECT. 1 Tim 4:7-11 Paul is telling Timothy to reject myths then in vs 9 it says " This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance . vs 10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle , because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers' 11 Command and teach these things," what's the context Paul is telling Timothy that the myth is those saying God/Jesus is not the savior of the world, notice he never says potential savior . Mater of fact Timothy is commanded to teach that God is the savior of the world, that's the context. Next look at Romans 5:12-21 this whole section of Romans is comparing what happened because of Adam to what Jesus did, vs12 " So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned." vs 15 " But the gracious gift is not like the transgression , For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many" The context is that the gift Jesus gave is greater that the Sin that Adam brought into the world. Paul is saying that Jesus's gift is greater, had grater effect than the sin of Adam not less. For ECT to be true the Paul would have had to say that Jesus's death would be less powerful that the sin of Adam . The idea that Jesus's death is more powerful then the sin of Adam undercuts the bedrock of ECT , they must have either sin is more powerful than Jesus or our will is more powerful that Jesus, they cant read these verses in context. Romans 11:11-33 vs15 "For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world" not a reconciliation of part of the world but the whole. vs 32 "For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all" it doesn't say to show mercy on a few but all, and if anyone is eternally punished I don't see how that is mercy, but we are the ones who are taking this verse out of context? Col 1:19-20 "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross-through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven" The context is that Jesus is firstborn over all creation ,all things were created by him and for him, he holds all things together in him, and he will reconcile all things to himself. It makes no sense to say he made all, holds all together, but the all in reconciling is not rally all its only some, but they must say that again to uphold the foundation of what they believe. /Is45:22-24 /Phil 2:9-11 the " every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord " In the Greek the word for confess is happily and joyfully not a forced action. the plain reading is the context God exalted Jesus above everything created and all will bow to him, not sum but all. There are many more but this is not a book , The reason they must use believe these are out of context is because anything that goes against ECT or Annihilation has to be out of context because even if it sounds like the passage is saying Jesus is the savior of the world if it goes against their foundation its out of context . I think we can play that game also, We know Jesus is the savior of the world and any verse that seems to say otherwise its out of context , our foundation is on Jesus and his accomplished work of the cross. WE also have a trump card which they reject we know that the word they used for eternal doesn't mean eternal its pertaining to the age, so any verse that says eternal torment is out of context because we know the context of the Bible its Gods love letter to the world of how he is redeeming the world to himself and just as it says in 1Cor15:28 " And when all things are subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all "

This attitude concerns me because big money is going to influence media outlets despite what they say.