PARASHAT: "Shemot" (names) EXODUS 1:1-6:1


We enter into a new era, Jacob/Israel and Joseph are now in the past, yet their legacy continues, in “Am Yisrael” (The People of Israel).

”70 souls” entered Mitzraim (Egypt). It is interesting that the Hebrew word “Nefesh” is used for “souls” yet the word is in the singular, but why? Is there symbolism here? If we are to read this in English, we would read; “70 soul entered Egypt”.

One could say that the word “Nefesh” (Soul) could refer to the whole “Family” of Israel as ONE (Echad) family unit, as we are ONE with Elohim, then all of Israel was ONE as well.

As we know, the "Hyksos kings" were ruling when Joseph came to Egypt. The "Hyksos" were known by the Egyptian title "Heka Khasut" or "foreign rulers of the hill country." They ruled between 1630 and 1530 BCE, during the time of Joseph. It is believed that they came from Western Asia, others think they were Semites or Hittites

hundreds of years later, we have a few million Hebrews. There is a list at the beginning of Exodus of the “B'nei Israel” (the sons of Israel) and they had their children, and their children had children, etc. They remained in the area of “Goshen” along the Nile Delta, farming, and raising cattle, and probably a few became merchants adapting to life in Egypt. They got used to seeing Egyptian deities and probably understood spoken Egyptian. Who knows if many became “Egyptianized” did they bow down to the deities? Let's hope not.

How much did they retain about Adonai? El Shaddai? We don't know, but I am sure that the story of Joseph and how he brought his family to Egypt from Canaan was passed down from family to family. The story of the famine, and how Yosef preserved life in midst of the famine. So “B'nei Israel” multiplied, and the land was filled with the "children of Israel”, and now the Egyptians start to get nervous. In verse 8, problems start;

” And there arose a new king over Egypt who knew not Joseph”

This new king had overthrown the Hyksos rulers, and did not personally know Yosef nor knew of his accomplishments to save Egypt. Some tradition says that in part, the Hebrews had become “Egyptianized” and failed to keep the memory of Yosef alive and what he did.

There are a few ideas of who it might have been. Some believe it might have been “Pharaoh Ahmose or Rameses II" A little on Egyptian words and etymology, the Egyptian word “meses” or “mose” means “born of” so the name “Moshe” or “Moses” is similar to “meses” (born of) or (Taken from).

Since Moses was “Taken from the water, or from the river (The Nile). We ask what might have been the Egyptian name Moses used? The Egyptian word for “river” is “iteru” so, his name might have been “Iterumose” or “Iterumeses” (given ancient Egyptian entomology) There were many “Rameses” it means “Born of the god RA” “Ahmose” probably (born of “Ah”) “Thutmose” (born of the god Thut) and so on. So many pharaohs took on those names.

Also, the title “Pharaoh” is exactly that, a title, not a name. It comes from two Egyptian words; “per” and “o” “Per” = house, and “O” = great. So the title “pharaoh” means “of the Great House” It would be like saying; “I am going to Washington D.C. to see the White House” What you are saying is that you are going to see the president, who “lives” in the White House.

The pharaoh of verse 8 is paranoid and thinks that the Israelites will join up with a foreign enemy to overthrow Egypt again, like in the times of the Hyksos. Now slavery starts and the Hebrews (the Egyptian word is “Hapiru”) are made slaves, and the time of Hebrew prosperity and freedom is over.

Yet Elohim hears the cries of his people, and has selected the tribe of Levi, through a couple; Amran and Jochebed, to bring into the world, “Moshe” who would be a sort of “Mashiach” (like Yosef) to lead Israel OUT of Egypt, in God's appointed time. YHVH has a time for ALL THINGS, we cannot rush God's clock, it ticks slowly for us, yet it ticks out second by second and includes us all in the plan of things.

The throne of Egyptian changes, and the pharaohs continue to be paranoid, one develops a plan to “curb” the birth rate by killing the baby boys, according to the historian 'Ted Stewart' in his book “solving the Exodus Mystery” the pharaoh who ordered the death of the male infants was “Sesostris III” we see that Moshe is adopted by the daughter of this pharaoh.

Moshe grows up in the palace and is raised as a “prince of Egypt” and at the same time, “retaining (inside) his Hebrew identity”. We remember that he kills an Egyptian in defending one of his own. The Pharaoh that sought his death was “Amenemhet III”. Moshe fled and spent 40 years in Midian, upon returning, he faced the Pharaoh “Amenemhet IV” who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus, who pursued the Israelites through the Red Sea, (and didn't quite make it, receiving a very fatal water baptism). (T. Stewart, Solving the Exodus Mystery, www.biblediscoveries.com).

When Moshe fled, there is an interesting verse, 2:15, it says that “Moshe fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian (which is now Saudi Arabia). “And he sat down by a well.”

We can read scripture from a literal standpoint. Yes, Moshe fled and probably went East then South to get to the land of Midian. If he took that direct route (no one knows for sure) it would have been a 250-mile hike. We don’t know how many supplies he took with him, how much water, etc, since he was on the run from Pharoah. But he arrived might thirsty.

A well was a meeting point in those days, so he knew that people would be coming to get water. Sure enough, came Yitro’s daughters to get water and he was there to help and defend the damsels. Yet we need also to look at this from a derashic and symbolic standpoint. Moshe has made contact with the “well”. A water well represents life. Moshe hangs on to life. One of Yeshua’s titles is “The Living Water”. We might look at that well symbolically as “Yeshua, the Well of Living Water (Yeshua, HaBeer Mayim Chayim)

Adonai Showed grace upon grace to Moshe, since he would be his instrument of redeeming Israel from Egyptian bondage. The word for “grace” is “Rachem” and “Rachamim” is the plural form; “a large and plentiful amount of grace” there is “Mayim” in “Rachamim” (spelled with the Hebrew letters) so grace is like plentiful water, and since Yeshua is the “Living Water” He is the author of “grace”. Moshe would be a “Messiah type” who would “take his people out” and that is the meaning of the name “Moshe” (taken out of) so he would live up to his name.

He is something else interesting. How does Moshe represent The Messiah? The word “HaMashiach” is spelled in Hebrew; “Hey, Mem, Sheen, Yod, Chet” and the words “Moshe Chai” (Moses lives) have the “Same Letters!” “Mem, Sheen, Hey, Chet, Yod” in gematria, it equals “363”

When we add 3+6+3 = 12, which is the number of the tribes that Moshe led from bondage. 1+2=3, and “3” is the number that represents “Elohim” who led the people through the wilderness. So, we can conclude that “Moshe lives in Mashiach, and the Spirit of Mashiach lives in Moshe” He was guided by the Spirit of God for 120 years.

Matthew 2:15 states; “Out of Egypt I have called my son” Yeshua went down to Egypt with his parents to escape Herod, they spent some years there and then returned to Israel. Yet also Israel is the son, as he went to Egypt when he was old, and his bones were “carried out” yet Moshe also represents Israel as a nation, and Moshe went out with Israel, and since Moshe symbolizes Mashiach, then, the verse fits both parties (yet primarily, it fits Yeshua first).

This Parashah has so much that I wish to concentrate on the “Calling of Moshe” in chapter three of Shemot God calls to Moshe while he is taking care of Yitro's sheep near Mt. Sinai. A note to mention is that God prepares his servants beforehand, before sending them out on the mission fields, “Midian and the flocks of sheep” were the training grounds and subjects of his training, before leading out “Human sheep” to the land of Midian that “he now knew and was familiar with”

God calls him saying; “Anochi Elohei Aviyha” (I am the God of your father) so the name “Elohei” is used, then he uses a more personal name in verse 14; “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” if you can really call it a name, it is translated as I AM that or who I AM, which is really not a name at all. So, what is God trying to convey to Moshe? In a way, he is saying, “Is a proper name so important Moe? Just understand that I EXIST! I have existed in the past, the present, and will exist in the future” the word “Ehyeh” is a form of “Haya” or “Havayah” meaning “to exist” or “the essence of being” from this we get the most sacred name of God: YHVH. The same letters Y H V rearranged form the words; Haya=past Hoveh=present YiYah=future, so the essence of the name "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" is the "I am the God who exists, have existed, and who will exist"

HaVaYaH (re-arrange the letters and we get YHVH) modern translators put in vowels to get YeHoVaH and have changed the Y to J to become JEHOVAH, but that is not the original name, there exists no “J” in Hebrew.

The other name used in chapter 3 is “Elohim” “Elohim” said to Moshe...Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh...” “Elohim” is the “all-powerful God of Creation, the Triune God (im) who we know, as Messianic believers, as being EL (father) BEN-YESHUA, (Yeshua the Son) RUACH-HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit).

Elohim has revealed himself to us in human form through YESHUA, and as Moshe leads his people out of the slavery of physical bondage, YESHUA leads us out of the bondage of spiritual slavery of sin, leading us to a new life, in a personal relationship with HIM, as the Israelites entered into a renewed relationship with Elohei starting at Sinai, our relationship starts at Calvary. We are now joined to “His chosen people” through adoption, both native-born in Israel, and those who are from the diaspora, we are all ONE (ECHAD) in Messiah Yeshua Ben David, Ben Adam, and Ben YHVH.

We continue to read and we find in chapter 4 that YHVH sends Moshe back to Egypt to lead his people out. We find that God works through people, some very special, others very ordinary. Yet before sending back Moshe, He prepares him in the desert as a shepherd. One can divide the life of Moshe into three parts, the first 40 years as prince and general in Egypt, the second 40 years as an outcast, yet an instrument in the hands of YHVH, and the last 40 years as leader of Israel.

Before sending him back, there are three signs that YHVH gives Moshe, as “authority”. When we look at these three signs of authority, we see “Yeshua” in these signs. The first was the “Mateh” (The staff). It was common for every household leader to carry a staff, a little more than just a “walking stick”. The “Mateh” was a sign of leadership and authority. But this one would be changed into a serpent when Moshe threw it down before Pharaoh. The serpent was a sign of “kingly authority” in Egypt, as it was a part of the royal headdress that the pharaohs wore.

Shepherds carried a “rod” and a “staff” when leading sheep. The “rod” being a short, heavy club that was used as a weapon, and the “staff” to lead. Yeshua is the “good shepherd” who leads us, who, “crushed the head of the serpent” at Calvary.

The second sign was the sign of “disease and healing of said disease” namely “Tza-arat” (leprosy). We see in the Prophets that Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian of leprosy, and Yeshua also healed the sick, including lepers. Even in the desert, those who were bitten by “serpents” were healed by a “bronze serpent on a staff” (again, returning to the staff and serpent). Yeshua is our healer and heals us of the curse of sin and death.

The third sign was the “water turned to blood” on dry land (4:9). This reminds us of our Messiah Yeshua, who when on the cross, was pierced by a roman spear, and out of his side came “blood and water” and this mixture of “blood and water” fell from the cross on dry land. By his shed blood, we are saved, by Yeshua who is the “living Water”.

Ben Avraham

What does it mean to be woke? In political circles, certain people are mocked as being woke for their ‘ostensible’ awareness of social issues, being accused of not knowing the full story by those who mock them. But being woke can have a meaning more focused on social issues as they pertain to God. After all, are the First and Second great commandments of Jesus not socially focused, whether on God or on eachother? So anyone who is aware of God and carries that awareness forward to having faith in Him and acting in accordance with that faith, is woke.

The Bible tells us to be focused on God. Ephesians 5:14 says “For anything that becomes visible is light.” Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” To be awake is a form of being focused. And commentators tell us that the “dead” referred to here are the sinners in our midst. And to sleep is to not be focused on God and related matters.

So, the Bible tells us to be ever mindful, watchful, and sober in God. Colossians 3:2 says “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 says to be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men and be strong. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says to “let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”

What’s that? You ask how is it possible to drink wine and be sober? Well, God through the Scriptures infers that it’s possible, and the Scriptures encourage us to drink wine in certain circumstances. 1 Timothy 5:23 says “(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)”

And Jesus had no objection to wine being imbibed at a wedding. There is a faintly humorous incident described in John 2:1-11 in which Jesus and his mother attended a wedding. When the wine at the wedding ran out, Jesus’ mother says to him in Verse 3 that there’s no wine left. Jesus’ reaction in Verse 4 is, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” One may wonder why Jesus doesn’t call his mother ‘Mom,’ or something similar, but commentators assure us that to call his mom “woman” was a sign of respect n those days. Commentators in Verse 4 say that Jesus’ “hour” he’s referring to, is the time when he is to publicly perform miracles. This is important, because Jesus does end up performing a miracle at the wedding involving the wine, when he turns pitchers of water into it. And the miracle here is not really public because Verse 9 infers that only the servants who brought the pitchers of water-turned-into-wine to the master of the wedding feast knew of the water having been turned into wine.

So what is the Bible telling us? It tells us we can drink wine, but we are to be sober to God’s Endeavors concerning us. So, drink wine responsibly so as to avoid the sins and neglectfulness that too much drinking can lead us to. And keep God in your thoughts and prayers and not waver.

11Q14




Source: The Dead Sea Scrolls, Study Edition, Florentino García Martínez, Pg. 642

Frag. 5 (= 11Q14 1 i) 1 [... as] the Prophet Isaiah [said] Isa 10:34: «And [they]
shall cut [the most massive of the] 2 [forest with iron and Lebanon, with its
magnificence, will] fall. A shoot will emerge from the stump of Jesse [...]
3 [...] the bud of David. And they will go into battle Blank with [...] 4 [...] and
the Prince of the Congregation will kill him, the bu[d of David ...] 5 [...] and
with wounds. And [the High] Priest will command [...] 6 [... the s]lai[n of
the] Kitti[m ...]

Source: The Dead Sea Scrolls, Study Edition, Florentino García Martínez, Pg. 643

Leviticus 20:8 (NIV)

I am the Lord who makes you holy.

Holiness is not innocence. Innocence is ignorance of evil, but that doesn't make a man holy. On the contrary, holiness is the ability to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), and the ability to choose good (1 John 3:9).

Adam and Eve were innocent. God intended for them to obey Him and grow into His fullness. They were supposed to grow in discernment and wisdom until they were like God. Instead, they chose the easier way, sinned, and were cast out.

Ever since, men have professed ignorance of wrongdoing. A man who breaks the law is guilty of sin. Even if he claims innocence or ignorance, he still sinned against the Lord. The Apostle Paul goes to the extent of destroying all pretexts of innocence (Romans 1:22-32). This tells us that no one is innocent in God's sight.

Never trust a man who says, "I don't know." Such men rely on their natural sympathies and bless and legalize immorality. That's an abomination to God. It's much easier to trust a man who does know what he's doing and can provide a justification for it, even if others disagree. That's precisely why we come to Christ. Because He knows who He is and what He can do for us (John 14:6). Many disagree (Matthew 7:13), but we worship Him (Luke 24:52).

How do you stop unwanted and intrusive thoughts?

The Catholic Church does not consider Calvinism, a theology developed by John Calvin in the 16th century, to be heretical. However, it does disagree with certain aspects of Calvinist theology, particularly the belief in double predestination, the doctrine that God predestines some individuals to eternal salvation and others to eternal damnation. The Catholic Church teaches that God desires the salvation of all humanity, and that every person has the free will to accept or reject God's grace.

The Catholic Church also disagree with the beliefs of the "Limited atonement" which is the belief that Jesus died only for the elect. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus died for all humanity, and that his sacrifice on the cross is sufficient for the salvation of all people.

In summary, while the Catholic Church does not consider Calvinism to be heretical, it disagrees with certain aspects of Calvinist theology, particularly the belief in double predestination and limited atonement.

I learn quickly and its something Id like to expand into. Is there someone who can teach me the basics and how and where to start?

Artist John Emmett

Hello my name is Yang and I wish to share with you some of the events that have occurred to me. I was born in China and I came over to the United States when I was three years old. At the age of eleven I got something called OCD. Its when you open a water bottle but something is a little off so you think your mom poisoned the water and you have to do a repeated action to fix it like screwing the bottle cap back on perfectly. You may step on a crack and this means you’ll be a loser forever so you have to rewalk over the same place and avoid the crack. Well I had this and it was physical rituals at first but then it evolved into mental rituals. I did so many mental rituals that it eventually gave me a nerve spasm. Basically, I thought too much. Now parts of my body are numb and my memory is a bit shot. When it got this bad I wanted to be a better person and so I converted to Christianity. I went all out and lost six years of my life right off the bat. I fell into masturbating because I read a book. Then, I lost another year of my life because I got angry at a nun. So seven years of my life were lost right off the bat. I continued though. I stuck with it, or in other words I kept doing my best at practicing the faith. Eventually, I read a book titled The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena. This saint is a doctor of the Catholic Church. In other words her teachings are high and extraordinary. This book stirred the faith in me and rekindled my zeal for the faith. I eventually started doing God’s will (I tried to do his will). This got me into trouble with the police and I got sent to jail, mental institutions, and my name was in the newspaper as some mentally deranged delinquent. I pushed through all this and eventually I drew down the grace of miracles. According to my miracles I fixed ISIS, and I fixed North Korea (I don’t think I fixed either of them though.). I think the miraculous visions happened to spurn me on to keep doing God’s will or to show the love. Anyways the visions happened when I was 24 years old to 25 and 27 to 28. I am currently 28 years old. With the visions and voices at age 28 I discovered (I’m not 100% sure) that God used something called leeway. Basically you do a good deed and you earn leeway points. Leeway by definition is an allowable variation of freedom or tolerance. Well basically God did so many good deeds that he earned himself something called infinite leeway and he was using it to accord people heaven forever and hell forever. He created the human race, modern technology, the heavens and the earth with it (Leeway was eventually figured out to be a demonic spirit). According to my miracles, the Holy Spirit said he used leeway for one million years. Aside from this I also loved the Holy Spirit well and she took a risk (I can’t remember the exact details as I believe a demon has taken my memory). Now the whole host of heaven knows that there is not just one God but multiple Gods from other Universes or other infinities. If I remember correctly, the Holy Spirit thought there was something more and she and I took a risk. At first there was an old spirit of God looming around and then we met the Spirit of Truth and it continued from there. I can’t remember all the details as my memory is shot and a demon keeps taking it away. Anyways, that’s how we figured out there were multiple Gods. I can now speak to demons, angels and sometimes these Gods. What are your thoughts about this? Is it baloney? Am I just hallucinating? Or is it real and there are some heavy consequences that follow (as I believe though I’m not 100 percent sure, heaven is destroyed right now and the spirit realm is messed up.) Also if any helpful souls would like, could you share with me any groups you know that want to make the world a better place? I know the Culture Project is one. Basically, I’m looking for groups who want to make the world a better place.

Call me a communist socialist but I believe my political donations should not go to the business interests and properties of the person who is seeking my vote.

i mean its right from Conways mouth

Kellyanne Conway says 2020 election should've been a 'blowout' for Trump but his campaign squandered a $1.6 billion war chest. Millions went into merchandise and Trump properties.

He already gifted America during one presidential Cy. He continues to do it to hilarious and transparent effect hilarious.

And folks will consider him a great president as he stole their money.

Eternal conscious torment (ECT)
Should this be the end of the vast majority of humankind?
It seems a catastrophic failure in planning. Or a plan gone terribly wrong.
Who should we blame?

Anyone who has read the Bible knows that God loves a good story.

- The Israelites cross the Red Sea on dry land narrowly escaping the Egyptian army in hot pursuit.
- The walls of Jericho come tumbling down with a shout after the Israelites march around the city once a day for seven days.
- Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Fire came down from heaven and consumed Elijah's drenched sacrifice, the water, and even the stones.
- Jesus was crucified, but then rises from the dead.

And many, many more. You get the idea.

What about the end of the story of humankind? The final judgment. How should that story end?

Most say it ends with the "damned" being tormented forever with no hope of escape.
Something about this story doesn't fit God's usual MO. Too many loose ends.

An uncompleted story. No resolution. Sin unresolved forever.
The "punishment for sin" an eternal blemish on the story of humankind.

Was this God's plan, or humankind's general misunderstanding of God's plan?

Did God really plan to end the story with the vast majority of humankind cast into a forever burning hell?
Seems pointless. Even those who weren't incinerated are left wondering about loved ones who didn't "make it".
And wondering if they will be next.

What if the story of humankind came full circle?
Could God have a plan that brought restoration to all of his creation?

Or should the whole thing end in the smoking dumpster of hell?
Seems such a waste. God loves a good story. Nothing good about THAT story!

Romans 8:20-21 ESV
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly,
but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself
will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain
the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

I know this is small compared to other things going on around the world
But I've never had to deal with this before.

My parents are older and this is un necessary strain on them.

Our landlord showed up un announced yesterday with the purpose to accuse us at the house that we had another tenant living here that we were not telling him about. A landlord is legally required to give 24 hours notice before visiting the property.

So I was in the garage and he started in at me asserting that he knew someone else was living here. I asked him if he had any evidence and I think he said someone told him this and because our water bill was too high which he does not pay for anyways. The house was peaceful and I was having a good day up until this happened. Anyways he kept accusing me of this which put me in a defensive position and because I became defensive he then started accusing me of arguing with him and started threatening with the word eviction. I guess I could have handled the situation better but he shouldn't have been at the house in the first place. I am usually calm and rational. I'm just afraid hes going to use this situation as an excuse to raise the rent and/or try to evict us. I just ask for some prayer that this gets resolved without any further unnecessary actions.

I ask for prayer that he realizes that we support him financially and realizes that he should show appreciation for that and start asking himself how he can allow us to have a reasonable living environment which we pay for every month. I know how ridiculously small this is but it's happening.

Thank you.

The idea of aliens visiting Earth in the distant future and studying human remains is a topic that has been explored in science fiction and speculative fiction. Some people believe that the discovery of human remains by extraterrestrial life would provide valuable information about the history of Earth and human civilization. Others argue that such a discovery would raise ethical and moral questions about the treatment of human remains and the potential for desecration.

It is also to be noted that the possibility of extraterrestrial life visiting Earth is still a topic of scientific speculation and debate, and there is currently no evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial intelligent life.

Will you become an exhibit in an alien museum on Earth life?

The doctrine of predestination holds that God has chosen certain individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world. This belief is based on scriptural passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5, which states that God "chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." Additionally, Romans 8:29-30 states that "those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

However, it is important to note that the Catholic Church teaches that predestination does not negate the free will of individuals to accept or reject God's grace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of 'predestination', he includes in it each person's free response to his grace" (CCC 600).

In summary, the Catholic Church teaches that God predestines certain individuals for salvation, but this predestination does not negate the free will of individuals to accept or reject God's grace.

the Latin versus the Teutonic Brain

"The Latin (and Levantine) brain visualises the conclusion before it has collected all the premisses: it is therefore too intelligent to be archaeologically minded.
The Teutonic brain, on the contrary, is content to inspect all its hurdles before jumping them. It is willing to collect evidence even though it never draws any conclusions. And the mere collection of evidence was the first and greatest necessity before archaeology could become useful and effective. Winckelmann was a splendid instance of the unhurried Teutonic temperament brought into prolonged contact with the versatile and volatile humanistic traditions of Italy."
"That is one reason why it has taken so long to breed archaeologists among the Latin races of Europe to-day."
--Rhys Carpenter, Humanistic Value of Archaeology, Vol. 4, p. 3-4.

Anyone else think this is the truth?
And maybe see this as an explanation for the differences between the "Latin races of Europe to-day" and the Teutonic Germans?
What he means by intelligence: "It is difficult for a person of quick wit and lively intellect to become a good archaeologist."

Lisa Marie Presley died, Elvis's daughter, of heart failure. I hadn't realized her son killed himself not long ago.
Sad, very sad.
Rest in peace Lisa!

Hello, just following the routine of introducing myself. My name is Yang and I was born in China. I came over here at the age of three and my life has been alright ever since. I hope I find something meaningful from my time here on Christian Forums.

WHAT TYPES OF PERSECUTION DO CHRISTIANS FACE​

Please pray for persecuted Christians to be protected in the following areas.

World watch experts use nine broad categories to measure the source of persecution:

1. Islamic Oppression – Any violent or non-violent action used to bring countries, communities, and households under Islamic control.
2. Religious Nationalism – Using the country’s majority religion to imply Christians do not qualify as citizens.
3. Clan Oppression – Instances where a clan or extended family ensures the ongoing practice of traditional values or belief systems by force.
4. Ethno-Religious Hostility – When one ethnic group subjects another to hostility based on their religion.
5. Christian Denominational Protectionism – Making one Christian denomination the only legitimate expression of Christianity in the country.
6. Communist and Post-Communist Oppression – To monitor and control Christians and churches through a system based on communist values.
7. Secular Intolerance – To eradicate Christian expression from public life and impose atheistic secularism.
8. Dictatorial Paranoia – Persecution derived from an authoritarian government which does everything to maintain power, including tearing down organised groups like Christians.
9. Organised Corruption & Crime – Gangs and criminal groups create a climate of anarchy and corruption for selfish gain. Christians will often speak out against them and become targets for persecution.

(Posting of World Watch's 50 most persecuting nations will begin again in a week.)

Romans 13:8-10 ESV


God is love, and love comes from God, so this “love” being spoken of here is going to align with God’s will and purpose for our lives. This is not an emotional love, although emotions can definitely be involved, but this love is not based on our feelings. It is shown by what we do. This love is from God and it means to prefer, so it is a choice of the will to love. But this has to do with preferring God, and preferring to live through Christ, embracing God’s will, and choosing his choices, and obeying them through his power.

Since God is love and this love comes from God, then this love will be holy, unadulterated, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, merciful, tenderhearted, morally pure, honest, and faithful, etc. So when we love one another with this love we are going to treat one another with kindness, and we are going to consider what is best for the people we are choosing to love. So we are not going to lie to them or take advantage of them or sin against them in any way. But we will do for them what is for their good.

And one other aspect about this kind of love is that, because it comes from God, and God is love, this love is going to have God’s perspective. So this isn’t all about just making people feel good, though it is great to receive words of encouragement. But sometimes this will mean having to exercise “tough love” where we have to set boundaries or speak the truth in love to someone because they need to hear the truth for their own good. And that is what the Scriptures do. They speak the truth in love to us.

So, if we are sharing the Scriptures with others, well, there are some hard truths in these Scriptures that not everyone wants to hear, but they need to hear. Jesus spoke many hard truths, and he had many people turn away from him because they found his words too hard to bear. But we can’t just share the Scriptures which make us feel good. We have to share the hard ones, too, because we need to hear them, because we need to be obeying them. And this is love when we speak these hard truths, too.

Romans 13:11-14 ESV


We are not saved once and then we are good to go to heaven when we die. The salvation that the Scriptures teach is progressive. We are saved (past), we are being saved (present active), and we will be saved (future) when Jesus Christ returns for his bride and he takes us to be with him for eternity, which is when our salvation will be complete. So this is why this says that our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed, because it will not be completed until Jesus takes his bride to be with him for eternity.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 8:31-32; Jn 15:1-12; Rom 8:24; Rom 11:17-24; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; Gal 5:16-21; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 2 Tim 1:8-9; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; 2 Pet 1:5-11; 2 Pet 2:20-22; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6;24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

And this is conditional, too. We can’t just merely mouth a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and now heaven is guaranteed us when we die. We must now walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh. We must daily be dying to sin and living to God and to his righteousness. Sin must not be our practice (habit), but righteousness and obedience to our Lord must be what we practice. And we must remain steadfast in these walks of faith and in obedience unto the very end.

So, we are to be diligent in our walks of faith in saying, “No!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and in remaining morally pure, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. We must be so careful to not get lazy about our spiritual walks nor to let sin slip right back into our lives. But if sin has slipped back into your life, then you must now cast off those works of darkness and you must put on the armor of light. You must once again walk in holiness and righteousness and not in sin.

For the Scriptures teach that if we walk in sin, if sin is what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God. But if we walk in righteousness, in practice, and in obedience to our Lord, then we have the hope of eternal life with God. So you must put off all sensuality and sexual immorality, which are running rampant in today’s modern “churches” (businesses) here in America. And you must put off all habitual and deliberate sin out of your lives so that you can walk properly. And now put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

[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]

The Last Mile of the Way

Songwriters: Sam Cooke

If I’m walking the pathway of duty,
If I work till the close of the day,
I shall see the great king in his beauty
When I've gone the last mile of the way.

If for Christ I proclaim the glad story,
If I see for his sheep gone astray,
I am sure he will show me his glory
When I've gone the last mile of the way.

When I've gone the last mile of the way,
I will rest at the close of day,
For I know, there are joys that await me
When I've gone the last mile of the way.

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The wife of an Iowa Republican who ran for Congress in 2020 was arrested Thursday and accused of casting 23 fraudulent votes for her husband.

In an 11-page indictment, prosecutors say Kim Phuong Taylor "visited numerous households within the Vietnamese community in Woodbury County" where she collected absentee ballots for people who were not present at the time.

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Once again, we must thank Republicans for demonstrating that the systems we have in place to detect and prosecute election fraud are working.

【Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 】Matthew 16:16~17

Please pray for me(sangeun) and all of my family members(junghee dohan jieun hochul jeolja nosun zzomi jujeon) to know the Jesus and Gospel and the truth by Spirit of God and accept the Gospel and Jesus christ and believe in Jesus christ. and worship Father God in the Spirit and in truth not according to a person’s will but solely by the will intended by Jesus. and not to give up on Jesus christ and faith at any situation and repent of all our sins and be free from all our sins and be forgiven all our sins by Jesus and go to heaven surely.

Please pray for me(sangeun) and all of my family members(junghee dohan jieun hochul jeolja nosun zzomi jujeon) to believe that the Father is in the Son Jesus and that Jesus is in the Father. And to know the true father God. And Jesus Christ directly reveal the name of God the Father to all of us. And that God fulfil the Bible verses above for all of us. May God make impossible to make possible for all of us.

Hebrews 12:7 (NKJV)
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If and when one endures the correcting, it being the most beneficial and freeing of things, for it is then that one knows they are being taught by the Spirit of Christ in them…. For no other thing in the Christian’s life speaks as much as when one endures the correcting… For it is in the correcting that the realness of one’s relationship with Jesus is exposed to oneself….

The object of chastening being; will one be inner directed, for in it the moment of growth has arrived…. For blessed is the one that falls back in faith on their death in Christ, for the denial of one’s self is that foundation that will see one grow from that correcting….. For this is where one’s foundation comes to be exposed, for if that foundation is the exchanging of one’s life for Christ’s life, for it being that foundation that will never fail, for it being as strong as Christ’s death, for it in fact is what it is, Christ’s death itself being the denial’s very strength…. For when the obedience to the corrections has the all of one’s heart, the all of one’s heart is God’s….

For this is the heart’s highest endeavor after God; the all of one’s heart hungering and thirsting after the instructions shown forth by the correcting…. For the blessing of the correcting is the blessings of life itself, for in the corrections is life, it is here, that Jesus is known to be the way, the truth, and the very expression of the Divine life itself….

For seeing that the inner directives of corrections are the rudder in one’s life that directs from the old to the new, for Christ’s life being a real new life coming to life in the soul….

Be blessed in that new life coming to life….



A fellow follower, Not me

Hey guys,
I have been reading and watching a few Batman graphic novels and films. Let's break it down as to why I think this way and you guys can challenge it or suggest other. Bare in mind I only have "notions" of Calvinism and Methodism and not completely understanding hence you guys might know more about this one than me. So feel free to chime in.

Batman: Batman is rich and successful and lives in the "suburbs' aka in a close off mansion away from the Big City. Batman seems like a right wing "Ayn Rand" hero who made himself a millionaire through his own efforts, even though he inherited from his family. Still it seems most films/novels do not stress the fact that Batman is a heir. Rather that he is wealthy and sucessful. We see that Batman is inherently Good. I would say he would be part of the Calvinist and Methodist "Elect." You can't help but think Batman is "gifted" with a high intelligence, athletic aptitude and a business sense.

Joker: In contrast, to Batman, Joker is "All Evil." The title of "Total Depravity" would fit him very well. He's evil, commits random violence and just hurts people. Even though some portrayals have tried to "Humanize" Joker. We can safely conclude that he is mostly evil and the only way to deal with him is to "lock him up" and or put him in a mental asylum. Only "black and white" harsh judgment can be used to punish the joker. There's no middle ground with Joker he's just a bad guy. He's part of the "Damned."

Gotham City: We see that Gotham is "Totally depraved" as well. Or like Martin Luther would say it's full of "Evil and Tentations." The city is filled with "filth." Unlike the countryside/suburbs where Batman lives which is quiet, full of nature, and peaceful. The City has all the evil and vices. First, street is filled with "decadent" people prostitutes, drug dealers, drug users, homeless, drunks, petty criminals. The city itself is very dirty, rotten food, cans, burned cigarettes on the streets and most people seem indifferent to it. Then there's widespread corruption where corrupt business men and police officers, judicial system all work in this system.

What do you guys think? For some reason reading and watching Batman just reminds me a lot of Calvinism, Methodism, Objectivism this "Right wing" philosophies/ways of looking at the world. Where there's Good people, Evil people and a society constantly in collapse.

The Treasury Department said Friday the US could default on its debt as soon as June, setting up one of the first major battles on Capitol Hill after Republicans took control of the House.

The US will reach the debt limit on January 19 and then “extraordinary measures” will need to be taken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrote in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. She said that the Treasury Department will pursue those measures, but they will only last a limited amount of time.

It is unlikely that the government will exhaust its cash and the “extraordinary measures” before early June, though she said there is “considerable uncertainty” around that forecast, Yellen wrote. She urged lawmakers to “act in a timely matter” to increase or suspend the debt limit.



While I can certainly understand her concerns in the short term. I have to wonder if the constant urgency around increasing the borrowing limit is creating a bad pattern that's becoming a little "too comfortable to fall back on" in the form of constantly increasing the debt limit by massive amounts.

At a certain point, there really does need to be some sort of limiting principle, or some plan other than "borrow more to compensate for the poor decisions we've made"

If you look at the pattern, it's not one that's sustainable as it just keeps going up and up.

A recent history of the debt ceiling:
1990: 4 Trillion
2000: 6 Trillion
2010: 14 Trillion
2020: 28 Trillion


I think in the immediate near future, the ceiling does need to be increased to get us by, but that agreement to an increase should be attached to some sort of tangible plan to start getting some of the debt under control.