I'm just getting into hand tool woodworking and so far I'm finding it a great way to relieve stress and work with my hands after a long day of sitting at a desk job. I've been surprised at how effective hand tools are, and even getting top-of-the-line tools you pay way less than you would with a power tool setup. Hopefully soon I'll have something worth showing here; so far I've just sharpened some tools and glued up a few pieces of 2x4 before planing them down to make an under-table mount for my bench vise. Planned projects are a coffee table, bookshelf, and spice rack.

Does anyone else here do woodworking with hand tools? Any tips?

His books are mysteries that would probably intrigue educated men. I am a female who read some of his books years ago.

"T. Davis Bunn was raised in North Carolina, taught international finance in Switzerland, worked in Africa and the Middle East, and was named managing director of an international business advisory group based in Dusseldorf. Now he is author of fourteen best selling novels, and counting. He has won numerous awards for his writing, and
his books are frequent book club selections. He and his wife Isabella, live in Oxford, England."

This information comes from the back of The Great Divide, copyright 2000.

Note: I'm not your average woman. I have taken only one college class. I seldom worked outside the home (lacking talent and job skills). All my siblings graduated from college. Two of my brothers earned PhD.s. But though I don't have anything to brag about I'm deeply impressed by those with higher education and particularly Mr. Bunn.

Though it's never expressed as a stated belief or understood as such, our culture on a most fundamental level in it’s zeitgeist understands the erasure of a justification for moral actions. As seen with how marriages are now in effect dating and their reliance upon the feeling of love as the only foundation and when that feeling fades or transforms, so to does the marriage. The vows at the alter are void, they’re spoken between two souls without a reason to keep them. They are dead, meaningless tradition and nothing else. A form of expression of the love that they feel currently, as apposed to the longstanding faithful love that is to be representative of The Lord’s love for us which will continue on through mistakes and all transformations of the other person. That is until that person irrevocably severs themselves from you (2 Tim 2:13) or you both die and go to see the God who gave you life face to face (2 Cor 5:6-8).

Thus Naturalism, Materialism & Empiricism has permeated the being from the ground up. Through the enforcer of scientific thought which in itself ironically relies upon a nebulous pseudo-Platonic philosophy in order to say that it is true kinds of things exist (hardware stores, dogs & etc) as apposed to that particulars only exist (re-arranged wood, collection of cells & etc) which is the dogmatism of empiricism. Through this enforcer and it’s accompanied claims of empiricism it is easily understood that sensory experience and therefore the ‘self’ is what determines the value of moral actions. Not something that is independent of the person. Though this point is not thoroughly understood or even close to it, it’s basic principle is woven into every action and thought of the natural man. And unfortunately also as leftover garbage which needs to be discarded in the minds of many Saints.

This is why the emergence of ‘your truth’ & ‘my truth’ have coincided with the dictatorial rise of naturalistic philosophy. It’s the logical end (really beginning point) that the person is the arbiter of what is. The misnomer of ‘belief’ to mean ‘truth’ is also a logical end point as empiricism relies upon sensory experience as the justification for knowledge and belief therein is in essence the same as truth.

1 John 4:7-12 ESV


Whoever Loves

This word “love” (agape) is centered in moral preference, and it means to prefer what God prefers, which is what is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, and faithful, etc. For the believer in Jesus Christ, it is preferring to live through Christ, embracing God’s will, choosing his choices, and obeying them through his power (source: biblehub.com interlinear).

So, when this instructs us to love one another, this is the love it is speaking of, not human love which is based in our emotions. But this word “love” also is used to mean to take pleasure in and to long for and to esteem, which fits well with the passage of Scripture which teaches us not to love the world or the things in the world – the lust of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life. We are not to take pleasure in and to long for those things (see 1 John 2:15-17), but we are to long for and to take pleasure in our Lord.

So, in today’s passage, when it says that whoever loves has been born of God and knows God, this is not speaking of human love based in our emotions but this is speaking of love as God is love, as defined above. This is love for God in walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands (New Covenant), and this is love for God in walks of surrender to our Lord in holiness and in righteousness, and in truth. And this is love for our fellow humans in purity of devotion to our Lord which does them no harm.

[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]

God Manifesting His Love

And God showed his love to us by sending his only begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation (atonement, payment) for our sins. Jesus Christ, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – left his throne in heaven, humbled himself, came to earth, was born as a baby to a human mother, conceived of the Holy Spirit, with God as his birth Father. He lived on this earth about 33 years.

During his years of ministry on this earth he healed the sick and afflicted, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, delivered people from demons, fed the hungry miraculously, and performed multiple miracles. And he preached repentance and obedience as necessary components of believing faith which saves. For he taught that if anyone would come after him he must deny self, take up his cross daily (daily die to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we don’t, we do not have eternal life in him (Luke 9:23-26).

Now, Jesus did have crowds of people following him for a time, mainly because of the miracles he performed, and because he was healing their diseases. But he also had nemeses (opponents, antagonists) who hounded and harassed him continually, always looking for ways to trip him up so that they could accuse him of something. And their hate of him eventually drove them to plotting out and carrying out his death on a cross, although he had done no wrong but only good.

But in that death on that cross, Jesus Christ, who was perfect in every way, became sin for us, putting our sins to death with him, so that we might now die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness. But he didn’t remain dead. On the third day he rose from the dead victorious over the grave, hell, Satan, and sin, on our behalf, so that we can now live in victory over sin and in walks of holiness and in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Isaiah 53:1-12; Matt 26:26-29; Lu 9:23-26; Lu 17:25; Jn 1:1-36; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 8:24,58; Jn 10:30-33; Jn 20:28-29; Rom 5:8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 9:5; 1 Co 6:19-20; 1 Co 11:23-32; 1 Co 15:1-8; 2 Co 5:15,21; Eph 4:17-24; Php 2:5-11; Col 2:9; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 1:8-9; Heb 2:14-15; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:24; 2 Pet 1:1]

Loving One Another

So, when this instructs us that we are to love one another, it is teaching us to love one another with this divine love, this pure love, which does no willful harm to another, but which does for others what is for their good. And it is to love others as God loves us, so this love is also self-sacrificial. And it is to love as Jesus loved us and gave himself up for us so that we can now live in freedom from slavery to sin and walk in his holiness and righteousness, to the glory and praise of God, and in his power and strength.

So when we love others with this kind of love we are going to have the mind of Christ in expressing this love, and we are going to have the will of God in mind as we express this love. So, this is not fleshly and worldly love. It is unselfish, and it thinks of others and their needs, including their spiritual needs. So when we love with this love we are going to be sharing the truth of the gospel with others for their salvation, and we are going to also be encouraging our fellow believers in their walks of obedience to our Lord.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:17-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]

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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Scripture tells us that God cannot lie. God doesn't change... what things are there that God cannot do?

Asking for prayer for healing from acid reflux and the damage it has caused in my body. Thanks!

Is the story of St. Sisoes on his deathbed told of another saint as well? Or a similar story?

It is sad to know how the church is silent on speaking up against these celebrities who openly mock our Lord Jesus.

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Seems around this time every year spiral hams go on sale. I bought 2 15# spiral hams for 99 cents a pound. Not too shabby!

There is a bill in the legislature in California right now that will transition the state to a 4-day work week (3 days off per week)! They may roll this out everywhere!

A mass shooting at Michigan State University turned a routine Monday night into a "nightmare" after three people were killed, and several others were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The gunman, whose disappearance after two shooting instances on campus sparked a campus-wide manhunt and dozens of responding police agencies, was found dead off-campus.

Who is the suspect?

Police released images of the suspect shortly after their first press conference.

Identified as a 43-year-old man with no affiliation to the school, police said they did not have a reason the individual was on the campus Monday night. Images of the suspect show a man wielding a handgun, wearing a denim jacket, black pants, and red shoes.



Prayers for everyone involved.

Two Dutch F-35 fighter jets were scrambled to identify and intercept three aircraft flying near the Polish border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Monday, according to the Dutch Defense Ministry.

“The at-the-time unidentified aircraft approached the Polish NATO area of responsibility from Kaliningrad,” the ministry said in a statement.

“After identification, it turned out to be three aircraft: A Russian IL-20M Coot-A that was being escorted by two SU-27 Flankers. The Dutch F-35s escorted the formation from a distance and handed over the escort to NATO partners.”

Click to expand...

Perhaps Russia is testing the waters here with regards to encroachment into NATO territory.

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville seems to think abortions are done "up to and past the moment of birth."

Huh? What could possibly be more stupid?

Sen. Tommy Tuberville Says Abortions Happen 'Past the Moment of Birth'

These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
— Matthew 10:5-6

So here we have Jesus deliberately telling His disciples to not go to the Gentiles nor the Samaritans. How many Gentiles and Samaritans could have been saved if Jesus would have sent some disciples there?

"The Biden administration should be ashamed," Britt told Fox News Digital. "This is a flagrant failure of the president to uphold his oath of office to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.' Quite simply, he has chosen to pander to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party instead of advancing America’s interests."

"Voting in our country is a sacred right that must solely be limited to American citizens. This is simple common sense," she said.

With all of the Chinese coming through our southern border this is concerning.

There are so many different kinds of churches we can't describe them all!
They are as diverse as people.

Therefore, it seems only natural that the saying, "The Right Church For Me" is valid because
it would also be the same thing as when people look for a marriage partner "the right person for me".

But it seems to me there is something a little unbiblical and unJesus-like if I can say haha.

It seems like we should be able to love Jesus, serve and worship in any church because if we are truly
doing it for God, and no other reason, then it shouldn't matter. But the reality is, we are going to church
for many other reasons too. Praise styles, sermon styles, old people, young people, singles, or married/families,
you name it. If we are hopping around churches looking for the "right church for me"....would you say this is
approved by Jesus or are we being selfish, self-worshipping ?

Here is an example for me.
I have 2 churches I could choose to attend. One church as literally no single girls for me. The other church has a few. Therefore,
I chose to go to the church that has more single girls because I'd rather go there than the church that has no single girls.
But I also go to church to worship God, serve in ministry, and grow in the family/body of Christ...but I won't lie that a church
with no single girls would not be a good church for me because I am always seeking to find or meet a partner. But this just
makes me feel guilty at the same time.....I should be able to go to any church and feel God's love right?

I’ve read on the internet that doctors and psychologists are not for christians to visit because of their origin. Now I have terrible OCD and I’ve learned about ERP and want to apply that, but because of what I’ve read I don’t know anymore whether I should use ERP. And what to do if you have a symptom in your body which can be cancer and then you can’t go to the doctor?

I am all in on this one. Actually discusses policy. Was not afraid in SC to do what was right even when party disagreed. Solid conservative

...Will China will send the US balloons for Valentine's Day?

Here at CF or go to any Christian forum, discord, etc. You’ll see discussion of every other topic but this. I'm not talking about news articles.

Sometimes I really wonder about our Christianity. 30,000+ people die people are crushed and trapped under buildings and we can just go on our next sermon and worship service. I don’t see the pain and compassion shared for the suffering that is happening in the church. Sure we can send our finances to this and that relief organization, but still, I see something else. Not even a discussion about this here. We’re too busy with our comfortable lives here in the West or is it our doctrines we hide behind?

There should have been international fasting and prayer mourning with the cancellation of all other meetings. Twenty-four-hour prayer chains just praying for the people of Türkiye in Syria. Yes, that would be the Church. We should be attending vigils, alongside Turkish and Syrian people. What would Jesus do is lost in translation while we cling to our false piety, while the world goes to hell in a handbasket and we say “oh well, what’s for dinner?”

Shame on us. It is sin. As the late Christian singer Keith Green said, “This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on earth.” I’m not here to win blessing points or win a popularity contest. Let’s get rid of apathy and indifference.

The Lord Jesus said, [Mat 21:13 NIV] "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'" What den is your church?

[Jas 4:17 NIV] 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.

[Jon 4:10-11 NIV] But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell they're right hand from their left--and also many animals?"

[Rev 3:15-17 NIV] 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Several parishioners leaving Saint Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday morning were "shocked" to find out the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is considering filing for bankruptcy.

"Everyone was reacting in different ways," said one man, referring to the moment when a letter revealing financial concerns for the Diocese was read aloud.

Continued below.

The thread title is not completely accurate, but it occurred to me while listening to Madonna sing "Don't cry for me Argentina" so take that as you will
I was thinking on the words above in italics.

Are they true?

Colossians 1:14-15

• "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
• Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:"

Revelation 16:2

• "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."

Whether it is the image [eikon] of Christ or the image [eikon] of the beast, it is signifying the representation or likeness of that thing. For example, Scripture tells us Christ is the exact "image" of God. If we worship Christ, we are worshipping God. Likewise, the "image" of the beast is that which represents or is a likeness of Satan. If we worship the image or that which is like Satan, we worship Satan. Colossians 1 tells us Christ is the image of God, and it is just to worship that image. The beast is the image of Satan, and it is unrighteous to worship that image.

By the Spirit, true believers are conformed to God's image, and the likeness or image of the beast is what ALL the wicked by nature conform to. By nature, they worship him because they are ruled over by him as we are by Christ, and they are slaves to him. Receiving the mark, name or number of the beast signifies professing servants of God have gone into apostasy, a falling away of God's people to the abominations taking place in the holy place.

Matthew 24:15-16

• "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: )
• Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:"

Those who do not flee are (or will be) deceived and marked of Satan's carnal congregation (the beast) as that is "signifying" they belong to him. Just as God of old marked His people on the forehead in the midst of abominations in His holy city "signifying" they belong to Him. God was painting a spiritual picture for us that we might compare Scripture with Scripture and come to the truth of the matter. Today's church really needs to ask itself this pertinent question. Are they of the likenes of Christ who represents love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness and temperance--or are we worshiping him who represents greed, unfaithfulness, hatred, uncleanness, lust, idolatry, spiritual drunkenness, envying, and murder? What image is really beloved and do they really worship? What spirit are they really in? Is it that of Christ in obedience or is it really that spirit of the adversary in disobedience (Ephesians 2:2)? Are we enamored with the kingdoms of this world (Romans 12:2), or the world to come (Mark 10:30). That determines who we worship, serve and whose image we seek after!

Matthew 4:8-10

• "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
• And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
• Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

Satan offers the same temptation to us today, and we either are drawn to or adapt to his image or Christ's. For just as true believers, as servants of God, are conformed to the image [eikon] or likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29) to worship him, so in this same way the servants of Satan (the pseudo or anti-christ) are conformed to his image [eikon] or likeness to worship him. Unfortunately, as I see it here, some people think that people will be literally worshipping a physical statue, but as we worship the Lord in spirit and truth conforming to His image, so the wicked worship Satan in spirit and lies, conforming to his image. Selah! We all either serve one master or the other, there is no in-between or gray area. If we are opposed to the doctrines of Christ, we are serving the beast and are conformed to worship his image. Just as we have the name of Christ as Christian spiritually upon us as His children, they have the name of the beast spiritually upon them as children of the Devil. Just as we are marked of God unto salvation, so they are marked of the beast unto damnation.

Ezekiel 9:4

• "And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."

There is nothing new under the sun saith the preacher. God marked His servants of old who cried over the abominations of His people in the holy city. Not with physical mark or seal. SPIRITUAL! The faithful in His congregation today are spiritually marked in their forehead illustrating they are the true servants bought with a price by Christ. Likewise, Satan spiritually marks his own, where they become his children, with his name or moniker and number. The image of the beast is a portrait of the "exact opposite" of the body of Christ, the Temple of Christ, the image of Christ. We worship in either one likeness or in the other. We are under one "representation" of one kingdom or the other. The Kingdom of Christ or the kingdom of the beast.

So then, I believe that the image of the beast signifies being "like" Satan, as those who don't worship Christ or who don't conform to His image, worship and conform to the antichrist's image. The beast from the bottomless pit is the spirit of evil, the likeness of Satan, whom the unfaithful worship.

There you go!