He who scattered Israel, will gather them Jeremiah 31:10
The House of Israel [the Northern 10 tribes] then the House of Judah [the Jewish people] were sent into exile because of their sins and the Lord “hid His face from them’. Deuteronomy 31:17-18, Ezekiel 20:23 However, this ‘hiding of His face’, is neither rejection or replacement. It is their discipline and preparation for eventual rejoining, restoration into the Land that will enable their spiritual renewal. Ezekiel chapter 37, Ezekiel 11:19

There is no change to God’s plan to regather the descendants of the Patriarchs, but as has always been the case: foreigners can join Israel and a great number will be grafted in, all those with the faith of Abraham; Galatians 3:26-29, so they can all finally be what He wanted His people to be; ‘a light to the nations’, and spreading the good news of the coming Kingdom to all the world, by the 144,000 missionaries, 12,000 from each of the 12 people groups. Isaiah 49:7-8, Isaiah 66:19, Revelation 14:1-7

Deuteronomy 30:3-6 The Lord will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you. He will gather you again from all the distant parts of the earth, from there He will bring you back to your own soil. He will circumcise your hearts, so you will love and obey Him, then you may live. Isaiah 43:1-7

There are over 40 separate passages of prophecy that deal specifically, in great detail, with this theme of the full restoration of all Israel. They have never been fulfilled in the past – not in 515BC when a few thousand Jews returned, nor yet in our day. The State of Israel [Judah] is a ‘firstfruit’, as prophesied. The budding of the fig tree.
The complete gathering of all the descendants of Jacob is as sure as the sworn testimony of God Himself. The prophets indicate when this will happen; Hosea 11:8-9

Hosea 3:4-5 For the Israelites will live for many days without a king, without sacrifice, without ephod, etc. [with no Temple] After that, they will again seek the Lord and their King, and turn with reverence to His blessings in the last days. Zech 6:15

Jeremiah 16:14-19 The time is coming...... when I shall bring the Israelites back from a Northern land and all the lands of their dispersion and I shall give them the Land of their forefathers. I will send for fishermen and hunters, who will fish and hunt them from every place. For they are not hidden from My sight....To you, the nations will come saying: we inherited a sham, lies and worthless things. Isaiah 44:9
This is not the glorious Return, it must happen at least 10 years before then. .

Ezekiel 20:34-36 ..I shall bring you out of the nations....I shall bring you to the Meeting place in the desert....as I did with your forefathers, I shall judge you. Amos 3:9

Isaiah 11:11-12 On that Day, the Lord will exert His power for a second time; another Exodus of His peoples from all the world…..and the islands of the sea.

Jeremiah 31:27-34 The days are coming.. when I will plant Israel and Judah, I will watch over them to prosper them....in those days, I shall set My Law within them ......
All will know Me and I will forgive their sins. [known, not by His presence, as yet]

Ezekiel 36:22-38... All Israel regathered... I shall give you a new heart, I shall put My spirit within you...you will prosper in the Land...The nations still left around you will know that it is I, the Lord, who has done this. [again, not by His presence] Ref, REB,NIV



This is all part of the Plan, that through the new nation of Beulah, Isaiah 62:1-5, every faithful Christian, all the world will have an example of how we should all live.

Jeremiah 33:6-9 I will bring Judah and Israel back to the Land and will rebuild their places. I will cleanse them.... then it will be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth.

So I'm just telling some of my personal experience. Especially two scenarios that happened to me when I was young between the age of 18-26. The first I would say is the most dissapointing of the two: I had gone to a Lutheran church for most of my life age 0-17, the pastor changed while I was away for academic reasons from age 18-22, when I returned home there was a new pastor who didn't know me. I went to talk to him for his advice on some family issues and he starts telling me about the 10 commandments, acting like I'm not saved because I didn't go to church from age 22-26 , even though I told him that I should still be considered by him a member since I had gone for my whole life. So you're basically treated as not having existed if a new pastor takes over and maybe you didn't go to church for a few years or you were busy working or going to some other church, they'll just assume you're not a christian and start from square one.
The second scenario was the fact that I had been a member of some campus christian club for years and some friends just ghosted me because I liked some musical videos from some bands that might for a christian be too secular and worldly, which is pretty much anything nowadays unless you listen to only christian musicians, according to 1 Corinthians, if you profess to be a Christian and do certain things, Paul actually recommends that you be ghosted or kicked out of the church whereas if you just don't go at all, people continue to associate with you and can't judge you that harshly because you don't profess to be a member. In your formative years, especially as an introvert awkward shy person, getting hate from everyone including your peer and pastors will just put you in a negative spiral / or hole that you won't be able to dig yourself out of. So what I learned was, you shouldn't profess to be anything as a introvert, you shouldn't talk about anything and just stay secular until financially secure and able to take care of yourself entirely and definitely don't go to church , those friends are not real and a waste of your time. If you're older, married and have a family, everyone will assume the best of you and there's no risk or negative assumptions made about you by the pastor usually. If you need to be "of the world" to be yourself then do that, it honestly is necessary for your mental health and survival, church can wait.

Disclaimer: I don't want anyone trying to manipulate me into straying into unbelief, away from Christianity, or whatever.
Wednesday evening this week, I have a distress episode, about feeling ugly, and wanting stretch my face to make it better. Today, I had another distress episode about my height, ethnic ancestry, and a few other things. Ever since 2021, I've been hating my height and my ugliness, almost every day feeling insecure about one thing or another, along with intrusive sexual thoughts. I have a strong desire for companionship, but I feel my that height (between 5'7 and 5'9) and probably ugly face, along with how I act, admittedly, would restrict me from getting one, especially if it comes to certain kinds of women that I like. In April of 2023, I started to want to get into Eastern Orthodox Christianity. And now, I really want to stray away from technology and social media (I know it's ironic that I'm posting here, but I don't know what to do.) Unfortunately, I've never been able to feel God's presence, and I do pray every now and then. But I can't help but resent God for making me this way. And unfortunately, my mother who claims herself to be spiritual just keeps saying the same thing over and over again. I resent the fact of her marrying my dad, for a number of reasons, including the fact that she's Russian, but I was born only half-Russian, American raised and such. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, and I've never really felt that attractive, even now as a soon to be 20 year-old soon-to-be failure. I'm beginning to lose faith in God, especially with what I've become, and how I am now. And I don't know what to do. My mother would just say the same thing, and we'd get into another fight about my insecurities, if I went to her right, her claiming I can just turn them off and whatever. Well it ain't so easy, is it?!?! Not to mention the fact about how much we fight about my college, and how much I slack at school, even if I'm breaking personal barriers!!! I admit, I haven't really read the bible that much, plus I still struggle with my faith, but I don't know if God really is there. And if he is, but he made me this way, ugly and short, why couldn't he have just made me Asexual and Aromantic, so that I would never have a strong desire for a relationship? I know I shouldn't focus on that solely, and focus on him, but with what I've been dealing with, I'm really beginning to lose it. And sometimes I wish I could just die already, so that I can get over with this life. I don't know about getting therapy or a psychologist, either, because I don't want to have to use my money trying to fix something that wasn't completely my fault, especially in the economy so-called "greatest country in the world," aka America. Please, somebody pray for me, or tell me something sent by God, if he truly is there. I don't know what it is, whether I'm just a bad person, possessed, or whatever... Please help me, someone, God, or whatever!!!...

A friend asked me why his mother died of covid. She was a true mother after God's heart. Her face glowed when she talked about the Gospel. When Mike came to me and said my mom believed and told everyone that God would protect her for she quoted Psalm 91 everytime someone asked her if she had the vaccine.He has been suffering for so long over his mother's death and then this morning he told me this. I am at a total loss of what to tell him. Here is Psalm 91.
My Refuge and My Fortress
Psa 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
Psa 91:3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
Psa 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psa 91:5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Psa 91:6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Psa 91:7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
Psa 91:8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
Psa 91:9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
Psa 91:10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
Psa 91:11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
Psa 91:12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
Psa 91:13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
Psa 91:14 The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
Psa 91:15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
Psa 91:16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

NYT: Arizona Refuses to Send Murder Suspect to New York Over Bragg’s Policies

Is someone running for office?

It's one thing when your country is affluent and has more than enough money to spread around. It's another thing entirely when your own citizens can't buy groceries because of inflation and your national economy is one disaster away from total catastrophe.

MSN

Hi,

Is cooking, baking and boiling prohibited on the Sabbath? I ask this question because of Exodus 16:23 which says, "then he said to them, "This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning."

The Hebrew word for "bake" is "אָפָה" which means to cook or to bake.

Does this verse mean we can't cook, bake and boil on the Sabbath or is it only referring to the context of the Israelites collecting manna at that particular time?

Thanks

Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz tried not to cry as the doctor in the emergency room delivered one of the most frightening diagnoses a pregnant woman can receive.

The 25-year-old college senior was told she likely had an ectopic pregnancy, a highly dangerous condition where the embryo implants outside of the uterus. Without immediate treatment, the fallopian tube can rupture — and the patient can die.

The law that has prohibited abortions in Texas since Roe v. Wade was overturned now explicitly allows doctors to treat ectopic pregnancies. But when doctors at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital evaluated Norris-De La Cruz last week, they refused to terminate the pregnancy, saying there was some chance the pregnancy was still viable, Norris-De La Cruz recalled. Instead, they advised her and her mother to go home and wait, according to medical records reviewed by The Washington Post.

“Does this have anything to do with the abortion law?” [her mom] remembered asking the doctor.
When he didn’t answer, Lloyd recalled, she had to restrain Norris-De La Cruz as her daughter tried to launch herself at him.
“Whenever I [doggone] rupture,” Norris-De La Cruz said, “I’m giving my lawyers your [doggone] name.”

[After the refusal, she went back to the ER doc who wouldn't discharge her. “I do not feel comfortable discharging her home and do not think that is in her best interest,” the emergency room doctor wrote in her records. The next morning a second OB/GYN said no and discharged her.]

Four OB/GYNs who reviewed Norris-De La Cruz’s medical records for The Post, with Norris-De La Cruz’s permission, said she should have been offered emergency surgery.

Norris-De La Cruz ultimately received emergency surgery about 24 hours later at a different hospital in the area, at which point her ectopic pregnancy had already started to rupture. The OB/GYN who performed the procedure said that, if Norris-De La Cruz had waited much longer, she would have been “in extreme danger of losing her life.”

In the nearly two years since Roe fell, dozens of women have come forward with stories of medical care denied because of abortion bans, with the changes in treatment bringing some close to death or affecting patients’ future fertility.

“Treatment decisions are individualized based on a patient’s clinical condition and we believe the care provided to the patient in this case was appropriate,” [spox for hospital #1] wrote in a statement.

I came across this article this morning and feel it's a worthy topic for discussion. In some ways it does seem like everyone is angry nowadays. In reading the story it talks about the prevalence of social media worldwide. And how people like to be included in society.

Social media heightens emotions and strengthens convictions, which may compel us to join in the negative discourse. We don't see the damage we do as anonymous online voices. We can't see the hurt we might inflict on others. They have dubbed our "joining the crowd" of criticism "emotional contagion".

We are all seemingly affected by this emotional contagion online. It appears that the more we are exposed to one-sided negative discourse the less inclined we are to resist listening to alternative viewpoints. This "groupthink" phenomenon has likely been seen by most people online, especially those consumers using social media.

It even appears that algorithms used by social media might be skewed to shape the nature of discourse to further fuel the flames of negativity. Which makes sense because these companies are trying to profit from their platforms. And by appealing to the basest of human emotions sadly increases their profits.

But we humans have the capability to eschew the hate and outrage that is perpetuated on social media. We have the capacity but often we don't have the strength of will to avoid immersing ourselves in this culture of outrage. I have no agenda with this thread but a singular interest in bringing awareness and discussion about the pros and cons of social media on our society.

I need help desperately. I grew up in a Bible believing household, went to a Baptist Church, and made many professions over the years. Without dragging it out with too much detail I got into willful sin (fornication, drunkenness, profanity) from about 14-23 (I’m 29). When I got my first tattoo at 18 that night it felt like something was ripped out of me and I was in a state of dread. Eventually this went away and I went back to my sins. I was convicted many times about it but thought “I’ll repent later”. Also the guilt and shame of my sins began to pile on and make it seem harder and harder to even consider turning to God. Long story short I’m living it up with God being the last thing on my mind when my mother who is a godly woman told me “there’s pleasure in sin for a season” and that small comment sent me into a tailspin. I went forward at the next service I attended and knew I had to get things right, truly right. I did the only thing I knew to do and asked Christ to save me, but still something felt off. I had no peace whatsoever and thought maybe I had tempted God too long and felt completely condemned. This went on for months and eventually (I really can’t explain it) I started to feel some peace about it. My life had definitely changed. I was no longer sinning in a deliberate manner. Fast forward 6 years and I can across something (an article, website, sermon, something) and all this came flooding back but I would say worse. Was I deceived these 5-6 years? I would occasionally have just a general anxiety that I couldn’t pinpoint. Maybe I was being given a short rest only to resume it later. It’s constant mental torment of differing degrees. I literally feel like I don’t sleep anymore. Like something is keeping me up. I don’t know how I’m functioning honestly. It’s like I’m kept on the razor thin edge of sanity. Just constant dread. It just ebbs and wanes. I talked to a preacher and he said “so there’s a lot of anxiety”. I almost had to stop my self from laughing if I could have even laughed. I told him anxiety/depression would be a RELIEF compared to this. At times I quite literally can’t even think. I’ve been praying and reading Scripture it just feels like I’m talking to myself. I WANT to be Christ-like and have fruits of the spirit and witness to people. I’m just holding out for some hope that God will deliver me. I don’t think a person could endure this for very long. I’m married and my spouse just can’t understand what I’ve got going on and that makes it worse. It feels like dying every day the torment is relentless. I know I was a fool for sinning against God in this way. I don’t know what I’m asking for here, I’m just about at the end of myself.

Not everyone is going to like us and to receive us and our message with joy. So many have bought into a false grace gospel which does not require repentance and obedience to Christ as necessary components of genuine faith in Jesus Christ. They are being taught that all they have to do is pray a prayer and they have their ticket into heaven and no one can take it away. But if sin is still what they practice, and not righteousness, and not obedience to the Lord, then they will not inherit eternal life with God.

But so many people are not being taught the crucified life or that we have to die with Christ to sin and to self, that we must be born anew of the Spirit of God, and that we must walk in the Spirit and not according the flesh once we have been saved from our sins. So, if you try to teach what Christ and the apostles taught, you may be rejected even by those who profess to have faith in Jesus Christ, and even by church leaders who have watered down the gospel to make it more appealing to the people of this world.

Thus, if you share the gospel of salvation, and those who hear it reject it, then move on. We can’t force anyone to believe in Jesus Christ. All we can do is to share with them the truth, but it is up to them whether to accept it or whether to reject it. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts hearts and turns people to faith in Jesus Christ. His word will never return empty. It will fulfill its purposes.

All we can do is to share with people the truth of God’s Word and trust that the living Word of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit will convict their hearts of sin and that they will humble themselves before God in turning from their sin and in turning to faith in Jesus Christ and to living for him by faith in the power of the Spirit of God within them. If they do repent of their sins and trust in Christ as Savior, then we must commit ourselves to discipling them to maturity, where possible, i.e. to also teaching believers in Christ what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ and to help them to grow in their walks of faith.

Hears or Rejects?


When we are rejected for teaching the truths of scripture and for sharing the full gospel message of salvation, as was taught by Jesus Christ and by the NT apostles, we must know that it is not just us they are rejecting, but they are rejecting Jesus Christ and God the Father, too. Yet, if they hear what we have to say and they accept the gospel message, then it is because they hear the Savior speaking to their hearts via the living word of God and via the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and thus they respond to the Spirit’s voice.

If we have not already done so, we must all make a choice to either accept Jesus Christ and his gospel message or to reject them. One day Jesus Christ is coming back to judge the earth and to take his followers to be with him forever. But accepting his gospel is not a formality or an emotional decision or a formula we must follow. It means to be crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:1-23).

When the day of judgment comes, if not before, many people will die in their sins, having never believed in Jesus Christ and having not made that decision to repent of their sins and to walk in obedience to their Lord who died for them so they would no longer live for themselves but for him who gave himself up for them. They will spend eternity in torment, punishment and eternal separation from God. Yet, if they hear the Word and receive it, repent of their sins and turn to walk in fellowship with their Lord, as his followers, then they have the hope of eternal life in heaven with God.

Time is running out. None of us knows what tomorrow holds for us. Don’t put off until tomorrow to make that decision, because you don’t know when you will breathe your last breath. Make the choice right now to bow before God, to turn from your sins, to allow the Spirit of God to transform you in heart and mind, and then to follow Jesus Christ wherever he leads you, from now to eternity. Your life depends on it! And, you will never regret it!

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Hymn lyrics by Henry F. Lyte, 1833
Music attr. to Mozart, 1831/ Arr. Hubert P. Main, 1872

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known;
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heav’n are still mine own.

Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too;
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.

Man may trouble and distress me, ’twill but drive me to Thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me; heav’n will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me, while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heav’n’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

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I believe hat Peter said about Paul in 2 Peter 3:15-16 that Paul had written a letter to his people and if it as not Hebrews , then here is it .

and if it as lost , then the canon is not complete .

#2 Paul n did have a ministry to Israel in Acts 9:15

#3 Paul is the n only one in the New Testament who who wrote about the n passing away of the Law of Moses 2 Cor 3:11 !!

#4 As to why it why it as UNSIGNED ,because they are felt he was a TRAITOR .because Paul was a known Pharisee.

dan p

Believe on Jesus Christ(who is God and Lord). Believe(accept it is true) that Jesus Christ alone will save you(save means eternal life in Heaven). Have faith and trust(rely on/depend) in Jesus alone to save you. You can also be saved if you believe and trust that Jesus(Lord and God) died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures for the justification(to make right/forgive)of all your sins and your salvation(you being saved).

Notes
-Hebrews 11:1 says (now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see).
-You repent when you believe on Jesus Christ.
-OSAS, you are given something eternal.
-Not of works as your efforts are not enough.

Bible verses supporting my statement:

-Regarding believe on Jesus, John 3:16 says (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life).

-You should have faith in Lord Jesus to save you because you are saved through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says (8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast).

-You should trust Lord Jesus to save you because trust is used interchangeably with believe in the bible.
In Ephesians 1:12-13 (12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise).

-You should believe Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day because the gospel that saves says to believe this. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures).

A bullet or some kind of projectile.made of ice. I watch a lot of crime, real and spoof. Monk, columbo and crime stations so I'm always thinking a fool proof way
Your thoughts?

Can those with AUD commit a mortal sin by drinking?

Proverbs 14 Select Verses ESV


Who are the foolish? They are those who act foolishly, who are dull in understanding, who are nonsensical, lacking a grip on reality (acting as though brainless) (source: bible hub). They are the unwise, the senseless, the ill-advised, thoughtless, irresponsible, self-indulgent, and reckless. But this doesn’t mean that they are lacking in smarts (knowledge), for many of them are very intelligent people who just behave unwisely. Many of them are well versed in the Scriptures, too, but who live the opposite.

For those who act foolishly are not necessarily lacking in knowledge. They know right from wrong, but they choose to do wrong instead of right. And, again, many of them know the Scriptures, for they were taught the Scriptures, and some of them were or still are teachers of the Scriptures, too. So, it is not what we know which makes us wise and discerning. It has to do with what we do with what we know, whether or not we put what we know to be the truth in practice, or if we are just talk but no action.

For the wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but those who act foolishly do not bother with discernment. But again, it is not that they are not capable of discernment but that they choose against it in order to do what their sinful flesh desires, regardless of the consequences. For they are the self-deceived, i.e. they are those who tell themselves lies in order for them to be able to do what they know is wrong but without conscience. But they may also be people who can readily recite the truth, when they desire.

So we need to be discerning people who test what we are hearing from others, in prayer, and against the teachings of the Scriptures. For there are many foolish people out there in positions of power and rule and authority and leadership, including many pastors of “church” congregations. And although their words may sound good, and feel good, it doesn’t mean that they are good, for liars and deceivers abound in our day and time, just like the Scriptures warned us that they would.

And then we need to leave the presence of those who are teaching lies which tickle itching ears and which distort the truth of the gospel to make it more palatable to the ungodly and to human flesh. We should not sit under the ministry of those who are knowingly and deliberately teaching what they know are lies, (because the Bible makes it clear that they are lies), who teach a very cheapened form of the grace of God and the gospel of our salvation which does not require death to sin and obedience to our Lord.

It should grieve us terribly that so many people professing faith in Jesus Christ, including many pastors, are living just like the ungodly or much like the ungodly, and they are excusing away deliberate and habitual sin while still claiming salvation from sin and eternal life with God. And it should grieve us terribly that this is the situation with many people who are our teachers and pastors who are then leading their people to a false faith which gives them permission to keep on in deliberate and habitual sin.

Now in verse 17 here it says that a man of evil devices is hated. That may have been true back then, but I would say that the opposite is true in this generation. Everything, it seems, is being flip-flopped. Good is being spoken of as evil, and evil is being spoken of as good. The one who follows the Lord in obedience and in submission to his will is regarded as a legalist or as judgmental while the habitual and deliberate sinner is raised up and praised and given honor and value and acceptance (not true in all cases).

But Jesus told us that if we follow him with our lives that we will be hated and persecuted like he was. So if you are someone who takes God and his word seriously, and you are walking in obedience to his commands, although not necessarily in absolute perfection, and if you are sharing the gospel truth as Jesus taught it and as his NT apostles taught it, and if you are refuting the lies of the enemy, then you should expect to be hated, rejected, cast aside, unwanted, avoided, ignored and/or fought against and attacked.

But we should not let that discourage us, for it is the truth that saves people’s lives, not the lies that make them feel good for a season, until reality finally hits. And so we must put other people’s lives above our own comfort and acceptance. And we must put God above all things and all people in our lives and follow him and his truth, regardless of how we get treated in return. For even if they hate us in this life, God’s word will not return empty, and we never know who might later on turn their hearts and their lives over to Jesus Christ because we dared to tell them the truth.

So, just know the truth of the gospel is that we must, because of what Jesus did for us on that cross, by his grace, and in his power, deny self, die daily to sin and to self, and follow our Lord in obedience to his commands under the New Covenant. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience, then we have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God, provided we continue in that faith.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-21; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 1:21-23; Colossians 3:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 10:23-31; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

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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The Paraclete indwelling operation was released for the first time only after Jesus had died on the cross, John 16:

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate [Paraclete] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

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When does a believer receive the Paraclete?
1 John 4:

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

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I.e., the Paraclete

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

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John 14:

23 If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

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I understand the "we" above refers to the Paraclete. However, there is not exactly one consistent precise moment for all believers when the Paraclete will dwell in them. On the day of the Pentecost, Acts2:

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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i.e., the Paraclete

39 This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

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Elsewhere in Galatians 3:

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

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I interpret the Spirit here as the Paraclete. Here, Paul didn't mention baptism.
Ephesians 1:

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guaranteed of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

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What happens afterward?
Sanctification, Galatians 3:

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

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The indwelling Paraclete is connected to our human spirit. This is our vital connection as we grow in the Spirit. Our spirit cannot grow without this connection.
From my personal experience, I list the following sequence of events:

1. I heard the gospel for many years here and there but never believed it.
2. One day, I heard it again and finally believed that Jesus is the Son of God. Presumably, the Paraclete took up residence in me at this time, but I was unaware of it.
3. Some days later, a Christian friend led me into the prayer.
4. A few months later, I could perceive the Paraclete speaking into my conscience now and then.
5. A couple of years later, I was baptized.
6. I started to read the Bible and pray daily.
7. A couple of years later, I could perceive the Paraclete in me and sense peace every time at any time.

This is the role of the Paraclete in initial salvation plus daily sanctification.
When do we receive the Paraclete?
It is up to God. On our part, believe, repent, get baptized, and love and obey God.
Once the Paraclete has taken up residence in your spirit, you can sense him in your conscience/spirit. Every time you do, you will have peace. I have never once doubted God or my salvation since, not even for a brief moment, not even when I experienced the most terrible things in my life.
See also How to get closer to God and grow in faith.

1 Cor 6:

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought [G59] with a price. So glorify God in your body.

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Glorify God in your body.

1 Cor 7:

23 You were bought [G59] at a price; do not become slaves of men.

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Do not become slaves of men.

Berean Standard Bible, Revelation 5:

9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased [G59] for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

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Will you inherit eternal life if Jesus has bought you with his blood?

Maybe not, 2 Peter 2:

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

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You are bought with a price, glorify God, don't be slaves of men, and don't be false teachers.

So while i am not a Trump hater nor supporter as a Conservative Republican I have notice Fox News as it’s seem to become bias toward Trump, just like msm is on the Democrats. I once liked Fox but this all Trump station is making me sick. I like must of Trump stand but the way he belittles others, hoping for Nikki Haley. Has anyone seen Fox give anybody beside Trump some good coverage?

What fruit do you believe is forbidden?
I'm not sure it could ever be a citrus since they have to be pealed.or any fruit that has to be pealed?

So what do we have in scripture? Well we know about this text which many use..
Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

and others..

Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Deuteronomy 1:28
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Deuteronomy 2:11
Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites called them Emims.

Deuteronomy 9:2
A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!

Joshua 13:12
All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

Joshua 17:15
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

Deuteronomy 3:11
11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

1 Samuel 17:4
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

And we get more from How tall was Adam? | GotQuestions.org
'The presence of very large animals and insects in the fossil record lends support to the theory that Adam was very tall. In 1940, the fossilized wing of Meganeuropsis americana was unearthed in Oklahoma. This dragonfly-like insect had a wingspan of almost two and a half feet (Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2007, “DRAGONfly,” www.harvardmagazine.com, accessed 5/20/20). In 2020, fossils of giant turtles were found in northern South America: the shell of Stupendemys geographicus measures nearly nine and a half feet long, about 100 times the size of its nearest living relative (The Washington Post, Feb 13, 2020, “Turtles the Size of a Car Once Roamed the Earth. Scientists Just Found Their Fossils,” Reis Thebault, www.washingtonpost.com/science, accessed 5/20/20). Those who conjecture that Adam was taller than modern man reason that, if the animals were extra big in “prehistoric” times, why not humans?

Another bit of “evidence” suggesting that Adam was of great height is the mention of “giants” in the Bible: the Amorites of Canaan, the Rephaim, and Goliath the Philistine, for example. When encountering the people of Canaan, the majority of the Israelite spies claimed that “the land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size” (Numbers 13:32). Amos states how the Amorites were tall in stature, hyperbolically comparing them to tall cedar trees (Amos 2:9). A Rephaite, King Og of Bashan, who opposed the Israelites in Moses’ time, is also described as a giant in the Bible, having a bed that was “more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide” (Deuteronomy 3:11). If the bed matched his stature, then Og could have been around 13 feet tall. Furthermore, Goliath is described as being six cubits and a span, which is over nine feet in height (1 Samuel 17:4).'....

Then we have this from SOP..

"As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator....He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth....Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders." (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III p. 34).

Man was the crowning act of the creation of God, made in the image of God, and designed to be a counterpart of God.... Man is very dear to God, because he was formed in His own image.3The Review and Herald, June 18, 1895.

As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator he was of noble height and of beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and was well proportioned. His features were perfect and beautiful. His complexion was neither white nor sallow, but ruddy, glowing with the rich tint of health. Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders. She too was noble, perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful.(The Story of Redemption, 21.)

Man came from the hand of God perfect in every faculty of mind and body; in perfect soundness, therefore in perfect health.(Good Health, March 1883)

God endowed man with so great vital force that he has withstood the accumulation of disease brought upon the race in consequence of perverted habits, and has continued for six thousand years....
If Adam, at his creation, had not been endowed with twenty times as much vital force as men now have, the race, with their present habits of living in violation of natural law, would have become extinct.(Testimonies for the Church 3:138, 139.)

Created to be “the image and glory of God,” Adam and Eve had received endowments not unworthy of their high destiny. Graceful and symmetrical in form, regular and beautiful in feature, their countenances glowing with the tint of health and the light of joy and hope, they bore in outward resemblance the likeness of their Maker.(Education, 20.)

"Adam’s height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature;" (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 45).

So SOP has that Adam was more than twice as tall as men today. Now take a look at this video..
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Giant crowns found in India and Ecuador that are fit for a human close to that in height. See right around the 11 minute mark.

With Smirnov being an obvious Russian operative (although to to be fair to him he also betrayed Russia in the past) can the GOP be trusted to have America's safety a higher priority than their own personal political interests?

Three Alabama clinics pause IVF services after court rules that embryos are children

It's gonna be difficult but totally possible to not make this thread about abortion...but, let's try.

Really simple: What parts of this are a good thing and what parts of it are bad?

My thoughts: ALL bad.
The court rules embryo's are children? So child support? Child benefits?

The impact on families pursuing IVF: Mortifying that they have to be put through this.

And the organizations themselves? Well, they, I think I are taking very reasonable, intelligent steps to ensure they don't break the law. Of course the law is absurd, but they don't want to break it.

Some of these rulings just seem so utterly arbitrary and ill thought out. It seems absurd that people intelligent enough to sit on a Supreme Court could possibly be convinced that this is sensible legislation.

I mean, everybody walks around society thinking they're brains, and then they attack you mentally because they've never seen a normal person. And romance is gone, is just straight to sex. Constant nagging about finding a girlfriend too, they weren't even interested before, there's just been a change in the "brain" that makes you suddenly available. And then you are for the future then, technology and such, and become violent if someone is different and does not care to be in society. There is a total lack of leadership in the country, as confused as they seem, you learned to ignore people around you from early on, so there is no communication, no actions to improve others, so the rest of us have to take the brunt all the time when we talk to others. Aren't you tired of all this nonsense? There is constant word of mouth as well, something new every day that you have to ignore, you live in society then, not in nature anymore. I would be bored as hell if I was part of society