Latest activity

Maria Billingsley · Jul 8, 2025

riverandtree said:
I believe I converted two years ago, after going through a very deep depression. I'm 25 years old and have always had a tendency toward depression throughout my life. But everything got worse when I began to doubt the existence of God.
I immersed myself in atheist websites and began to blindly or fanatically believe in their arguments, which led me to atheism. I don't think I was ever 100% atheist, but I was largely one.
This inclination toward atheism brought a deep and profound spiritual depression into my life. I even sank into a very dark, dead-end pit and began to sin excessively. I stopped sleeping at night and slept during the day. I felt demonic presences when I slept and in my dreams. I had nightmares. I was in this situation for a little over two months.
Until one night, I surrendered to God in prayer. I was tired of the nightmares and the whole traumatic situation. I asked God for forgiveness and told Him to do whatever He wanted with me.
That same night I didn't have any nightmares while I slept, and when I woke up, I woke up completely credulous, convinced that God had healed and saved me.
From that moment on, completely transformative changes began in my life. I overcame the social phobia I'd suffered from my entire life; the depressive symptoms diminished until they disappeared completely. I began to have a normal relationship with my biological father (we always didn't get along, and because of his personality, I was afraid of him). However, we began to develop a father-son relationship we'd never had before, perhaps nothing unusual, but something completely unknown to me.
I stopped using obscene language in my home.
I fell completely in love with God. I wanted to please Him in everything, and it pained me greatly to fail Him.
I started attending church and didn't want to miss a single day of the meetings.
Neighbors and friends were amazed by my dramatic change.
I began practicing some hobbies, which I had in my past life but didn't enjoy passionately because of my depression.
All of this went smoothly for about 5 months (September 2023), when I felt God almost audibly tell me that I had to give up one of my hobbies, internet radio.
It's true that I did it for most of the day, so it's likely (or very likely) that I had made an idol of that hobby, and that I was distancing myself from God.
Then I quit, and little by little I began to experience a growing emptiness in my heart. Not only that, but little by little I began to doubt the existence of God again. My joy began to wane; it was no longer constant, but rather ups and downs. My shyness gradually returned, my mood began to depend on the circumstances, and there were times when I lost control, meaning the symptoms of my old life seemed to reappear. However, I continued to attend church without any problems, but there were many ups and downs.
And so it remained until approximately November 2024.
My father began to act harshly and somewhat abusively again (I don't know if it was because he noticed my bad mood and I seemed more easily manipulated, like in my old life, or because he was feeling ill again).
We have been working together since March 2024.
The problem is that the abuse became so harassing and unbearable that I couldn't take it anymore. I was becoming psychologically ill, withdrawing socially once again. Until one day I came home and decided I no longer wanted to work with him (December 2024).
Shortly after this happened, I once again challenged the little faith I had by conducting an atheistic Google search on whether God existed.
And that caused a break in my faith, so that for approximately six months now, I have been doubting that what saved me two years ago was the power of God, of Jesus, of the God of the Bible. And this brings me to what the title indicates. The fact that I am currently doubting the Scriptures, the existence of that God, indicates whether I was truly converted two years ago or if I am simply like the dogs and pigs of 2 Peter 2:21-22.
Furthermore, in recent months, due to questions I have asked members of my congregation about this state of unbelief and doubt, I have become angry and held grudges regarding things I have disagreed with them on, and I have responded inappropriately, obeying carnal desires. And I don't know (I really don't know) if a true convert can make those mistakes and have those ugly feelings. To this day, with one of the brothers, I still have them.
And the truth is, I'm very sad. I feel lost because I don't know where I stand. When I was in better times and I sinned, I realized I was close to God because I immediately repented and felt His forgiveness. But now I don't know when I'm obeying the Spirit, and when I act by the flesh, it's like I can't discern it; I'm much further away...
I also don't know if what's happening to me is my fault (maybe in part) or if it's a process prepared by God to help me grow spiritually and mature... I really don't know.
I find it hard to repent of my sins. There's a certain resentment toward God that I struggle to uncover. Genuine repentance doesn't spring from me, as if I have nothing to hold on to.
I don't know... What do you think?
Thank you.
God bless you all greatly.

Welcome to CF. Your struggles seem to stem from your experiences with your father. I can say that there is NO connection between your earthly father and your heavenly Father. Our Father has an unconditional Love towards us. He knows your struggles and His will would be that you continue to lean upon Him and not quench His Holy Spirit that began a work in you. Instead of running away , run towards Him. Repentance (the changing of your mind) only comes when you completely surrender yourself, meaning, having an Agape Love towards Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Go back to your first Love, He awaits you.

Be blessed.

essentialsaltes · Jul 8, 2025

LINK

The security breach involved voicemails, sent via the Signal messaging app, and text messages to “at least five non-Department individuals, including three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a U.S. member of Congress,” a diplomatic cable, obtained by The Washington Post, stated.

The impostor, whose identity is unknown to U.S. authorities, was able to mimic Rubio’s voice and writing style using AI-powered software, an unnamed senior official told the newspaper.

In mid-June, the impostor created a Signal account under the display name: “Marco.Rubio@state.gov,” which is not a real email address.

The Rubio security breach took place in the wake of the Signalgate scandal, where a journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat with military leaders and members of the Trump administration. In that group chat, which included Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared minute-by-minute plans of sensitive military operations in Yemen.

[For that Waltz was ultimately removed from his national security role, which was then given to Rubio (who is also SecState)]

Security experts have warned against using Signal to discuss government business

iluvatar5150 · Jul 8, 2025

rambot said:
Interesting idea but I gotta tell ya that Musk is 100% riddler

Given his taste for mind-altering chemicals, I would've put him down as Scarecrow.

essentialsaltes · Jul 8, 2025

"We're going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves," Mr. Trump told reporters during a White House event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night.

"At President Trump's direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement later Monday night. "Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities."

Last week, the White House confirmed it had decided to halt some shipments to Ukraine. A White House official said the pause was part of a broader review of weapons transfers to other countries. A U.S. official told CBS News the administration was concerned about military stockpiles falling too low.

Mr. Trump also said Monday he's "not happy with President Putin at all."

(Although this downplays the pause, there's still some questions about all of that, as Hegseth seems to have unilaterally made the decision, and for bogus reasons.)

Hegseth halted weapons for Ukraine despite military analysis that the aid wouldn’t jeopardize U.S. readiness

The move blindsided the State Department, Ukraine, European allies and members of Congress, who demanded an explanation from the Pentagon.

Suspending the shipment of military aid to Ukraine was a unilateral step by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to three congressional aides and a former U.S. official familiar with the matter. It was the third time Hegseth on his own has stopped shipments of aid to Ukraine, the sources said.
Hegseth has twice before suspended aid to Ukraine without apparent coordination with lawmakers on Capitol Hill or even within the administration. The first time, in February, drew a prickly response from the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who called the move “a rookie mistake.”

The next time was in early May, according to a Senate aide. In both cases, the suspensions of aid were reversed within days.

Now it's three times.

And yes, Hegseth is still in office.

Nithavela · Jul 8, 2025

I'm so happy for our conservative friends that they now can celebrate that a bunch of children were pimped out to nobody in particular.

FredVB · Jul 8, 2025

prodromos said:
The practices arose within Christian communities, blood bought, Spirit filled members of the body of Christ.

Last I heard, people were not required to become Jews first before becoming Christians.

You may observe what you will. But what practices you say arose in Christian communities were not there from the start. Christianity started without those. You would not be Jewish. But those who are Jewish are not excluded from being Christian, they may indeed become Christian and in spite of what many who are Jewish would say that would not contradict their Jewishness. They can still have their observances, and the early Christians did this. Christianity had its start from Judaism, Jesus is Jewish, and what I say is that there is nothing wrong with observances from the Bible, but for the sacrifices of animals that are not to continue still, with recognizing only the atonement through Christ is really effective.

I understand those with family and friends with which there are the observed holidays and practices that are around now would be involved with them, I can't blame anyone for that, and I don't. But since I don't have any, to be involved with those, I have come to clarity about valuing what is in the Bible over practices outside of what is shown in the Bible, while not all or even most can. I don't do so much for observances of everything anyway, but for Sabbath each week. There would be more involved with having community.

Jipsah said:
So only pre-Christian observances, none of which center on our Lord Christ, are allowed. Nah, that’s a Fail

Not what I was saying. You missed.

rjs330 · Jul 8, 2025

ozso said:
A democrat judge blocked the President. What a surprise.

To be fair he didnt block the President. Thus wasn't an executive order but a bill created by Congress. This judge blocked a portion of it.

I actually dont understand how Planned Parenthood could sue the administration. This was an act of Congress. The administration is tasked with following Congressional mandates. So how can the administration be sued over this?

Jeff Saunders · Jul 8, 2025

Clare73 said:
It is in the phrase itself, understood in the context of the audience.

So what do you believe is the context and how would have the original audience understand it in your opinion?

Jeff Saunders · Jul 8, 2025

CoreyD said:
In your OP, you said...

According to Western Augustin Christianity, once your leave your temporary mortal body, if you miss understand what God has done or you outright reject humans ideas of God, He will burn you eternally or annihilate you.
Are you changing that to "burn you eternally", period, because I do not believe that the Bible teaches God will burn people eternally. I am responding in the context of "or annihilate you".
So, can you please confirm.

I do not understand what you are asking. I know that the idea that God would burn someone eternally or annihilate them, both are wrong.

The Barbarian · Jul 8, 2025

Vambram said:
Sadly, back in 2016-2018, the Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County's request of $1 million dollars to build and upgrade to early warning system in Kerr County.

There's plenty of blame to go around...

How DOGE cuts may have left Texas unprepared for flooding

How DOGE cuts may have left Texas unprepared for flooding

The floods in Texas are bringing attention back to DOGE's cuts to federal agencies.

www.businessinsider.com

The Trump administration had begun to repair some off the damage. One month ago...

125 new meteorologists hired at NWS, after losing 500 employees to layoffs

Login to view embedded media
Too little, too late.

Stabilizing 'operations,' the National Weather Service hires again after Trump cuts

Loading…

www.npr.org

Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods

Devastating flooding in Central Texas over the weekend has left nearly 100 people dead and dozens still missing. (Scripps News)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump’s deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives.
After torrential rains and flash flooding struck Friday in the Texas Hill Country, the weather service came under fire from local officials who criticized what they described as inadequate forecasts, though most in the Republican-controlled state stopped sort of blaming Trump’s cuts.

Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods

Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump’s deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives.

www.denver7.com

Vambram said:
Sadly, back in 2016-2018, the Texas Division of Emergency Management denied Kerr County's request of $1 million dollars to build and upgrade to early warning system in Kerr County.

It was 2017. Not sure that we can blame Trump for that one. Someone in his cabinet would probably be responsible. And yes, Trump was culpable mainly for trusting Musk and his DOGE fiasco. It's not just the weather service. Again, to Trump's credit, he seems to be rehiring essential personal in FAA and other departments. Hopefully, we won't see another disaster like this one.

Jeff Saunders · Jul 8, 2025

Fervent said:
You, so far, have largely been an exception to my statement. Though referring to your opponents as "infernalists" is certainly inflammatory. What I am talking about is the propensity of Ur proponents to take pot shots and accuse those of us who defend what has been the opinion of the vast majority of interpreters who don't try to put their thumb on the scale with regards to God's eternal judgment by accusing us of hard-heartedness of one stripe or another and making emotional appeals involving thinly veiled accusations of hypocrasy for trusting that when God says "Vengeance is mine, I will avenge" that is not an empty promise.

I can't speak for anyone other than myself, I see all of humanity as Gods children and God is our Father, as Jesus taught. All humanity are my brothers and sisters in Christ, most just do not see it at this time but God is not bound by time. Why is infernalists inflammatory ? Do you not believe that God is going to burn most of his creation for all eternity, if infernalists makes someone uncomfortable, did not Jesus himself call out those with wrong thinking about God, with words like vipers, whith washes tombs with dead men's bones in them and other words that made the Pharisees uncomfortable?
Yes the idea that God is going to burn most of his creation has been the tradition of most of the church since Augustine but does a majority of people believing something make them correct? Were the Jews who killed Jesus correct because the held the majority view that the messiah was going to overthrow the Romans and set up an earthly kingdom, with the Jews at the top, that was the majority thinking at that time but they were wrong. I as a UR believer believe that the same thing is happening today, when scripture says, Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it, I believe that is true, when scripture calls Jesus the savior of the world I believe it, not a potentiel savior. When scripture says its Gods will/ desire that none perish but that all will come to the knowledge of the truth, I believe it , when scripture says God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting men's sins against them, I believe it.
Yes God will avenge, no one " gets away with anything" but to eternally torture people, for not getting him correctly while in a temporary, mortal sin fallen body and world that is beneath God, God, as scripture teaches is love, life and light and in him is no darkness, punishment for correction is Gods way, punishment for the sake of punishment is not Gods way, that's what the pagan gods of old were like.
We are to persuade out of love, that is the teaching of Jesus, unfortunately some use scripture to excuse the way they act. Titus 1:13 " This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them cuttingly, so that they might be sound of faith" I think this is why some are not as loving as they should be, but on the other hand, I have been called a heretic that is going to hell for following the teachings of early church fathers.
I try to always honor Jesus and try to put forth the truth in love.

rambot · Jul 8, 2025

ozso said:
Being raised by a mother on welfare my entire childhood give me a pretty good firsthand daily perspective of it.

And your thoughts on the SNAP cuts now that you got yours?

rambot · Jul 8, 2025

RileyG said:
Trump. In my humble opinion.

The claim that some Republicans are racist because they didn't like Obama is ridiculous IMO. What about Republicans such as the late Herman Cain? Or Ben Carson?
.

Because you include the word "some", I'd disagree. There ABSOLUTELY WERE some Republicans who hated/distrusted Obama because he was black.
Some were willing and able to admit to ir but many were not.

The ULTIMATE question is...how many were like that. And I'd agree that number probably wasn't toooo big

durangodawood · Jul 8, 2025

ThatRobGuy said:
....Globally, requiring more people still has the same climate impact.

The only ways to address it are
1) Increase the retirement age (which the nordic countries have already started doing, and like Japan is already considering)
2) Hope that there's major developments and uptakes in new technologies that allow for massive footprint reductions per person in the next few decades.

3) footprint reductions by implementing techniques that are already viable. Some are even age-old.

rambot · Jul 8, 2025

I would ask:
Why does the amount of criticism matter?

There is such a thing as someone who is bad at his job.

Historians didn't rank Trump so low because they were gassy and someone was rude to them at the restaurant.

Just because you like him doesn't mean he shouldn't get criticism.

chilehed · Jul 8, 2025

NxNW said:
....Republican laws are now forcing doctors to wait until it becomes lilife-threatening.

That's an outrageous lie. The law says absolutely nothing of the sort.

"390.0111 Termination of pregnancies.—
(1) TERMINATION AFTER GESTATIONAL AGE OF 6 WEEKS; WHEN ALLOWED.—A physician may not knowingly perform or induce a termination of pregnancy if the physician determines the gestational age of the fetus is more than 6 weeks unless one of the following conditions is met:
(a) Two physicians certify in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant woman’s life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition.
(b) The physician certifies in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, there is a medical necessity for legitimate emergency medical procedures for termination of the pregnancy to save the pregnant woman’s life or avert a serious risk of imminent substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition, and another physician is not available for consultation."

Full text here.

And as a trained first responder I can assure you that there is no such thing as an ectopic pregnancy that isn't a true medical emergency.

rambot · Jul 8, 2025

"Yes! We must make sure these irresponsible teenagers who don't even have the common sense to use birth control ...

Raise children.

Kudos on the problem solving

BBAS 64 · Jul 8, 2025

Spiritual Jew said:
He wants to have mercy on everyone (Romans 11:30-32). Why do you not look at the whole story?

Good day, SJ

I contend that if he wanted to have Mercy on all he could in fact choose to do that.

Do you believe he wants to and he is unable to do so?

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. Mercy is a verb he "wills" to do it.

Now I guess it would be fair to say he has Mercy even to those he created that he knows he would condemn. Him waiting to do so and sustaining them would be an act of Mercy, would you agree?

In Him,

Bill

rambot · Jul 8, 2025

ThatRobGuy said:
That's operates on the assumption that money is the only form of "currency" out there, and the only lever of power and influence.

When you boil it down to practical terms (and how the two parties pander to various rich people):

One party says (to a small group of uber wealthy people) -- if you back us, we'll make sure you get to keep an extra $400k of your income rather than paying it to taxes, and we'll get some of those inconvenient regulations out of the way for the businesses that you own.

vs.

The other party who says (to a different group of uber wealthy people) -- if you back us, you won't get the tax break, but we'll make sure the institutions of academia, entertainment, and 75% of the mainstream media promote your preferred viewpoints on all of the non-economic social issues to influence the public over to your side, and we'll occasionally try to squash opposing viewpoints on your behalf.

Basically, they're appealing to two distinct different types of "thirsts for power".

One is mostly greed-based based, with a dash of "I have a lot of money, so I want to be able to get rid of laws I don't like that prevent me from making even more"

The other is more power craving that involves wanting to be able to manipulate public viewpoints in order to have everyone else think the way they do.

If I may use a Batman villain analogy to describe which types of rich people the 2 parties appeal to...

The republicans appeal to "The Penguin" type of rich person,
The Penguin doesn't seek to prove philosophical points; he simply wants to be rich, respected, and feared. His crimes are almost purely elaborate (ethically compromised) business ventures designed to have more money -- regardless of who it hurts.

The democrats appeal to the "Riddler" type of rich person.
The Riddler wants people to acknowledge his "genius" and see the world through his lens. His strategies are elaborate demonstrations designed to reshape how people think about intelligence, authority, and who deserves to hold power.

Or to put it more succinctly, the Koch/Mellon ilk and Soros ilk are two very different types of billionaires motivated by two very different types of power. The former just want a lot of money (and the removal of impediments that could stop them from making even more), the latter enjoy the ability of being able to manipulate people into seeing things "their way", but making it feel like it was their own choice.

Interesting idea but I gotta tell ya that Musk is 100% riddler

iluvatar5150 · Jul 8, 2025

ozso said:
It could be a starting point though. Couldn't it?

I dunno... maybe? I understand the logic, but I'm not sure how representative that group is of anything. First, anybody at the absolute top of anything is, by definition, an outlier. Second, there are so many people at the top who didn't earn that money in the traditional sense that they could easily skew things.

What I mean by that second point is - of the top 25, seven of them (i.e. more than a quarter) got there solely by inheriting their wealth: four from WalMart, two from Mars Candy, and one from Koch Industries. If you look at the full Forbes 400 list, you can see the same trend extending at least through the first couple pages (which was all I checked): Bill Gates' and Jeff Bezos' ex-wives are both in the top 35 and a bunch of other heirs in there, too. So, who knows.

What I think is telling for these purposes is that, according to the same Pew study that produced the OP's graph (and to which I linked earlier), homeowners (i.e. the folks in possession of the largest single wealth asset for most Americans and beneficiaries of a very large tax break) skew Republican.

rambot · Jul 8, 2025

The fundamental problem with this poll is that it impliess there is a party that does not service the 1%.

With the tax breaks in the recent cuts Republicans servitude to their better is obvious.

The better question is which party supports the middle class.

Again. Neither are great.

But Democrats are coming to the conclusion as the poorer get more poor and thw working class also gets more poor, their party truly doesn't work foe them.

That Republican supporters have not yet realized that about their own party is just a fantastic demonstration of the Lyndon Johson quote.

durangodawood · Jul 8, 2025

Landon Caeli said:
Waters is a loser.

Is he? He seems to have won at life in a number of ways. I dont know about his personal life tho.

I find it curious that you seem to support state prosecution for basic freedom of speech.

BBAS 64 · Jul 8, 2025

Spiritual Jew said:
And Reformed theology also teaches that God hates everyone else so much that He doesn't even give them any opportunity to be saved and ensures that they spend eternity in eternal torment. That is the Reformed understand of the God who is love (1 John 4:8). Unbelievable.

Good day, SJ

I would like to see that... I do believe that God is love and loves every one he just does not love every one the same.

The loving merciful God loves those he chooses to adopts as His own in one way.
Those that are not His children he loves just not in the same way.

I love my Mom in a different way than I love my sister
I love my neighbor lady in a different way than I love my Gram.

You might find this useful

God's Love and God's Hatred | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org

Ligonier Ministries, founded by R.C. Sproul, exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible.

learn.ligonier.org

Is It Biblical to Say That God Loves Everyone?

In this brief clip from our 2017 National Conference, R.C. Sproul answers the question, “Is it biblical to say that God loves everyone?” Transcript "Often I hea

www.ligonier.org

snip" When we look at the concept of the love of God in Scripture, we see distinctions that have to be made. Historically and theologically we distinguish among three types of divine love. There is the love of benevolence, where God has a kind spirit to the whole world and His benevolent will, His benevolent love falls on everybody. But there's also the sense in which in the Bible the love of God is defined in terms of God's beneficence, that is that's not just simply what His attitude is towards the world but how He displays that goodness universally—the rain falls upon the just as well as on the unjust. And so that universal dimension of the love of God is manifest but usually when we're talking about the love of God in popular language, what we’re really talking about is what we call God's love of complacency. And that term, the love of complacency, is not used in the way in which we use the term complacency in our age, in our culture. Our term of complacency means smugness, self-satisfaction, that sort of thing."

In HIm,

Bill

Latest activity

Latest activity

Hegseth halted weapons for Ukraine despite military analysis that the aid wouldn’t jeopardize U.S. readiness​

How DOGE cuts may have left Texas unprepared for flooding​

125 new meteorologists hired at NWS, after losing 500 employees to layoffs​

Stabilizing 'operations,' the National Weather Service hires again after Trump cuts​

Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods​

Devastating flooding in Central Texas over the weekend has left nearly 100 people dead and dozens still missing. (Scripps News) ​

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Hegseth halted weapons for Ukraine despite military analysis that the aid wouldn’t jeopardize U.S. readiness

How DOGE cuts may have left Texas unprepared for flooding

125 new meteorologists hired at NWS, after losing 500 employees to layoffs

Stabilizing 'operations,' the National Weather Service hires again after Trump cuts

Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods

Devastating flooding in Central Texas over the weekend has left nearly 100 people dead and dozens still missing. (Scripps News)