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Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
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We hope the site problems here are now solved, however,
if you still have any issues, please start a ticket in Contact Us
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Poll
Burning the Bible or the Torah or the Koran - is this an example for free speech?
- By Red Gold
- The Kitchen Sink
- 25 Replies
Burning the Bible or the Torah or the Koran - is this an example for free speech?
Here is the case:
www.ynetnews.com
Here is the case:
Swedish activist backs off Bible burning in Stockholm
Swedish activist backs off Bible burning in Stockholm
Swedish national Ahmed Alloush says he never planned to go through with the burning of holy Jewish texts and wanted to make sure authorities weren't selectively enforcing laws
Christian Preschool Sues State of Colorado
- By Hank77
- News & Current Events (Articles Required)
- 39 Replies
Another civil rights/religious freedom lawsuit coming out of Colorado.
Colorado instituted the Universal Pre-K program that guarantees at least 15 hrs of free preschool to every 4 yr. old in Colorado. Not really. If your employees must adhere to certain beliefs and be qualified to teach those beliefs then your school's 4 yr. olds are out of luck.
...
The preschool is open to children of all faiths and backgrounds and has enrolled families who do not share the school’s religious beliefs. But it says it’s important to have employees who share Christian beliefs.
...
The school, which was approved to be a UPK provider, requested and was denied a religious exemption. The school says it now must choose between adhering to its religious beliefs and dropping participating in UPK, or giving up its beliefs and participating equally with other preschools. It alleges that choice is unconstitutional.
www.cpr.org
Colorado instituted the Universal Pre-K program that guarantees at least 15 hrs of free preschool to every 4 yr. old in Colorado. Not really. If your employees must adhere to certain beliefs and be qualified to teach those beliefs then your school's 4 yr. olds are out of luck.
...
The preschool is open to children of all faiths and backgrounds and has enrolled families who do not share the school’s religious beliefs. But it says it’s important to have employees who share Christian beliefs.
...
The school, which was approved to be a UPK provider, requested and was denied a religious exemption. The school says it now must choose between adhering to its religious beliefs and dropping participating in UPK, or giving up its beliefs and participating equally with other preschools. It alleges that choice is unconstitutional.
Christian preschool sues state, wants to require employees hold specific religious beliefs while still enrolling in Colorado universal pre-k program
The Chaffee County preschool said yes. The state said no. The courts will decide.
www.cpr.org
Lemming Drones?
- By Bob Crowley
It looks like Lemmings aren't the only creatures with a reputation of throwing themselves into water, although that may be more fiction than fact.
www.britannica.com
Now some drones have joined the act.
www.abc.net.au
Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide?
Is it true that groups of lemmings jump off seaside cliffs to their deaths?
Now some drones have joined the act.
Hundreds of drones plunge into the Yarra River after technical malfunction
Divers are attempting to retrieve potentially hundreds of drones from the bottom of Melbourne's Yarra River after a technical malfunction during an aerial light show on Friday night.
www.abc.net.au
Prayer for Guidance
- By MauiMamma
- Prayer Wall
- 8 Replies
I'm just feeling so off track.
Need prayer for elderly mom in pain and in debt.
Need prayer for a job and how to pay my bills.
Need prayer for peace and guidance.
Need prayer to find a church home.
God bless you and thank you.
Need prayer for elderly mom in pain and in debt.
Need prayer for a job and how to pay my bills.
Need prayer for peace and guidance.
Need prayer to find a church home.
God bless you and thank you.
Works Relation to Salvation
- By Icyspark
- Sabbath and The Law
- 1000 Replies
For a number of people there seems to be some confusion as to why they should observe the Sabbath. Aside from the fact that its part of the Ten Commandment covenant in which the command itself says we are to "Remember the Sabbath day"; Aside from the fact that the Sabbath provides all humans with a day of physical rest; Aside from the fact that each Sabbath is to be observed in honor of Jesus creating the heavens and the Earth; Aside from the fact that God says we're to call the Sabbath a delight; Aside from the fact that Jesus said that the Sabbath was "made for human beings"; Aside from the fact that Jesus, the apostles, Paul and Gentiles all observed the Sabbath; I guess there's really no reason at all ::shrugs::
But let's set all of that aside and consider what Jesus says about salvation:
So, what do you think? According to Jesus, is there any correlation between what you do and your salvation?
For those of you who are inclined to reject, deny or abolish the words of Jesus I suggest you take the following text into account:
And also these verses:
And this passage:
But maybe you think that Paul will go easier on your belief? Let's see:
Do you suppose Paul is a works-oriented legalist? Probably not, but could it be that if you've ever used that legalist term against someone I'm surmising you probably weren't applying it consistently. If you were I'd bet that Paul wouldn't pass your muster.
Again, works don't earn our salvation--works merely validate our claim that we love Jesus.
Paul says, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" Your works reveal whether your faith is real.
James very succinctly explains that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). If you claim you love Jesus, yet don't do what He says, then your faith is dead.
John 14:15-21 records Jesus saying the following:
Conversely, what about those who do not love Jesus? In verse 24 Jesus says, "Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me."
It's amazing how many of the critics of Adventism have attempted to redact all of the commands of Jesus down to two commands which apparently they believe are open to interpretation. Love for your neighbor is not nebulous and left undefined. Jesus provided explicit commands in His Ten Commandment covenant which define how we are to love our neighbor. The covenant/agreement was canceled, but it was canceled based on the failure of the people to keep their end of the agreement. What they agreed to (ie. the law) was obviously not the problem. "God found fault with the people," not with His perfect law.
I pray this helps.
But for the grace of God go I,cyspark
But let's set all of that aside
and consider what Jesus says about salvation:Matthew 5:27-30
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
- Jesus quotes from the Ten Commandment covenant: "You shall not commit adultery."
- Jesus magnifies the law and equates adultery with looking lustfully at a woman.
- Jesus says it is better to pluck out your eye rather than to be guilty of adultery.
- Jesus says it is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Translation: LOSS OF SALVATION)
So, what do you think? According to Jesus, is there any correlation between what you do and your salvation?
For those of you who are inclined to reject, deny or abolish the words of Jesus I suggest you take the following text into account:
Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
And also these verses:
Luke 6:46-49
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
And this passage:
John 12:47-50
“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
But maybe you think that Paul will go easier on your belief? Let's see:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? [Note that here Paul equates doing wrong with loss of salvation.]Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, [Look at that! One of the Ten Commandments! And if Paul mentions one, of necessity he includes all ten.] or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Do you suppose Paul is a works-oriented legalist? Probably not, but could it be that if you've ever used that legalist term against someone I'm surmising you probably weren't applying it consistently. If you were I'd bet that Paul wouldn't pass your muster.
Again, works don't earn our salvation--works merely validate our claim that we love Jesus.
Paul says, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" Your works reveal whether your faith is real.
James very succinctly explains that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). If you claim you love Jesus, yet don't do what He says, then your faith is dead.
John 14:15-21 records Jesus saying the following:
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Conversely, what about those who do not love Jesus? In verse 24 Jesus says, "Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me."
It's amazing how many of the critics of Adventism have attempted to redact all of the commands of Jesus down to two commands which apparently they believe are open to interpretation. Love for your neighbor is not nebulous and left undefined. Jesus provided explicit commands in His Ten Commandment covenant which define how we are to love our neighbor. The covenant/agreement was canceled, but it was canceled based on the failure of the people to keep their end of the agreement. What they agreed to (ie. the law) was obviously not the problem. "God found fault with the people," not with His perfect law.
- Since most critics believe there is no law then they have no need to "stop sinning," as Jesus, Peter, John and Paul all admonish Christians;
- Since formers have no law to identify sin, then they are sinless;
- Since they are "sinless," they have no need for grace;
- Since they have no need for grace, then they have no need for forgiveness;
- Since they have no need for forgiveness, then they have no need for a Savior;
- Since they have no need for a Savior, then they have no need for Jesus;
- If they have no need for Jesus, then we see who's truly in a cult. A religion without Jesus is empty and devoid of any eternal value.
- We've established that Jesus says to cut out your eye rather than to look at a woman lustfully and go to hell. / SALVATIONAL
- We've established that Jesus says to cut off your hand and throw it away rather than to go to hell. / SALVATIONAL
- We've established that Paul says if you worship idols you "WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God" / SALVATIONAL
- We've established that Paul says if you commit adultery you "WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God" / SALVATIONAL
- We've established that Paul says if you steal you "WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God" / SALVATIONAL
I pray this helps.
But for the grace of God go I,cyspark
