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MarkRohfrietsch · 2025-10-26T15:53:31-0500

Hentenza · 2025-10-26T15:53:00-0500

Richard T said:
Just to help on the idea of monopolies in the grocery sector I offer this.

"Specifically, the top 4 food retailers (CR4) accounted for 31 percent of food sales in 2012 and grew by 3 percentage points to account for 34 percent of total sales in 2019." Source: A Disaggregated View of Market Concentration in the Food Retail Industry

The biggest nationwide is Walmart (including Sam's Club). One source says they have about a fourth of all grocery sales. Next is Kroger, then likely Costco, Albertsons, Aldi and Target. I say likely because some of the data includes non-food items.

A monopoly is a single seller. An example is your electric provider. Most people, not including their own solar or alternative energy have one choice. Many rural consumers have one choice of grocers in the nearest town, but of course they can shop in other towns or buy online. Interestingly, the grocery business is consolidating over the last 20 years or so. In some larger local markets there are companies that dominate ,but no true monopoly exists nationwide. An oligopoly is several concentrated sellers, one might argue this is the case but if so it would be statewide, not national. For instance, in S. Texas HEB (A great grocer by the way) has a 50% market share. So while some regions might have oligopolies, most of America still has a decent amount of competition.

I am sure they stores will either hire more security, get local police protection or close their stores temporarily if there is a free grab n go. I will say too that churches could really do their part and help those in need of emergency food. Kudos to those already with food pantries or assistance.

Love HEB. Not the cheapest but the selection and quality rocks. :oldthumbsup:

johansen · 2025-10-26T15:52:07-0500

RileyG said:
God has judged him justly.

That is all.

except usually people who insist they are innocent even up to the day they are executed.. often turn out.. are innocent. I personally don't have a good feeling about this guy was guilty.

timothyu · 2025-10-26T15:49:29-0500

We are all to be under the Will (Law) of the Father, not of man

Hentenza · 2025-10-26T15:47:50-0500

Jipsah said:
A "heresy" against the beliefs of your sect, whatever that is. How dreadful! But as I noted before, I suspect that your lot has some very nice heretical beliefs of their own, as most roll-your-own denominations do.

You blew that one rather badly. Origin believed that all souls would eventually be redeemed, which is far from annihilationosm. In fact it's more akin to your "everyone has eternal life by default", since you both believe that no one ever really dies. "Annihilationosm", aka "Conditionalism", teach that, as Scripture says, "the wages of sin is death", and that the condemned are, agian, as Scripture says, destroyed in hell.

So, congratulations on an "own goal", there.<Laugh>

Almost as much as those by Jack Spong. <Laugh>

How interesting

Do you hold Jack Spong in contempt? I do. He's still dead, though. (I think.)

Conclusion: Your "nobody ever really dies" doctrine is still rubbish

Your penchant for removing context from my post to satisfy your “sense of humor” and erroneous doctrine is quite disingenuous. Your conclusions are controversial and outside of orthodoxy. No need to reply to your post since it is devoid of an argument. Also, sect is synonymous with cult and a pejorative to mainstream Christianity which is against the forum rules.

Richard T · 2025-10-26T15:42:58-0500

bèlla said:
Don’t forget Amazon.

Just to help on the idea of monopolies in the grocery sector I offer this.

"Specifically, the top 4 food retailers (CR4) accounted for 31 percent of food sales in 2012 and grew by 3 percentage points to account for 34 percent of total sales in 2019." Source: A Disaggregated View of Market Concentration in the Food Retail Industry

The biggest nationwide is Walmart (including Sam's Club). One source says they have about a fourth of all grocery sales. Next is Kroger, then likely Costco, Albertsons, Aldi and Target. I say likely because some of the data includes non-food items.

A monopoly is a single seller. An example is your electric provider. Most people, not including their own solar or alternative energy have one choice. Many rural consumers have one choice of grocers in the nearest town, but of course they can shop in other towns or buy online. Interestingly, the grocery business is consolidating over the last 20 years or so. In some larger local markets there are companies that dominate ,but no true monopoly exists nationwide. An oligopoly is several concentrated sellers, one might argue this is the case but if so it would be statewide, not national. For instance, in S. Texas HEB (A great grocer by the way) has a 50% market share. So while some regions might have oligopolies, most of America still has a decent amount of competition.

I am sure they stores will either hire more security, get local police protection or close their stores temporarily if there is a free grab n go. I will say too that churches could really do their part and help those in need of emergency food. Kudos to those already with food pantries or assistance.

Jipsah · 2025-10-26T15:41:53-0500

Hentenza said:
The heresy of universal reconciliation

A "heresy" against the beliefs of your sect, whatever that is. How dreadful! But as I noted before, I suspect that your lot has some very nice heretical beliefs of their own, as most roll-your-own denominations do.

Hentenza said:
and by default it’s cousin annihilationism were condemned as part of the heresies of Origen

You blew that one rather badly. Origin believed that all souls would eventually be redeemed, which is far from annihilationosm. In fact it's more akin to your "everyone has eternal life by default", since you both believe that no one ever really dies. "Annihilationosm", aka "Conditionalism", teach that, as Scripture says, "the wages of sin is death", and that the condemned are, agian, as Scripture says, destroyed in hell.

So, congratulations on an "own goal", there.<Laugh>

Hentenza said:
As an Anglican you probably love the writings of John AT Robinson.

Almost as much as those by Jack Spong. <Laugh>

Hentenza said:
There are several theologians that reject the biblical teaching of hell

How interesting

Hentenza said:
Everlasting contempt is NOT annihilation.

Do you hold Jack Spong in contempt? I do. He's still dead, though. (I think.)

Conclusion: Your "nobody ever really dies" doctrine is still rubbish

.Mikha'el. · 2025-10-26T15:41:28-0500

The NY Jets actually managed to win a football game today.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:41:04-0500

Formerly known as ChristIsSovereign, newly rededicated to Christ.

Well, where do I begin?

My father was akin to a dictator in some ways. Disagreeing with him was not an option and if I dared to make a counterargument, he would shut me down in an instant. He was, ironically, an Arminian through and through and that led to me spitting on Arminianism once I fully espoused Calvinism.

My theological pomposity became immediately known to most of the family except him. I'd shove the "doctrines of grace" down my mother's throat and more or less told her she had no role in her saving grace. My belief in the supernatural started to dry up exponentially and before long I was an absolutist cessationist as well, believing that not even God spoke to Christians, that God was distant and Christ's sacrifice was a transaction to apply salvation to the elect.

From underneath my vain embrace of Calvinism, my past propensity towards compulsive perverse sin started to rear its ugly head in many new and innovative ways. I started to become a chronic manipulator and playboy online, drawing Christian girls to their mental doom. I won't go into detail, but everything escalated to a level that haunts me to this day. The fact God's grace is upon me today is frankly mystifying.

Not long after my last post as ChristIsSovereign, after a disastrous failure of a deconstruction of Calvinism, I abandoned Christianity more or less. I found that my behavior was so out of line with Christian ideals and social mores that I resorted to being a deist who believed God had nothing to do with me and He left me to my own devices. I still, deep down, had the belief in the Christian God, but I was so far from the Holy Spirit that I either quenched the Spirit to the point of almost completely searing my conscience (Calvinist perspective) or I actually forfeited salvation and fell into rank apostasy (some Arminians' perspective) and rejected Christ as a result. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but God was nowhere in my mind, only emptiness and a reek of bitter nihilism. If God was there with me the entire time, He is one patient God. For the better part of a decade, I proceeded in this lascivious and soul-reaving path of utter self-destruction.

Almost out of nowhere, it seemed like God had enough of His child going astray and annihilating himself. He screwed my head back on and raised my awareness of both Christ my Savior and the dark reality of demonic forces out there. In turn, I briefly returned to a half-hearted Calvinism due to believing I was newly regenerated or something of the kind. It didn't last long though as I started to do research. I am currently deconstructing my former Calvinism, and by the grace of God, I can come out the other end healed and believing in a God of love, patience, and kindness, and not a God of capriciousness, narcissism, and elitism.

I would appreciate prayer in this regard.

prodromos · 2025-10-26T15:35:52-0500

Apple Sky said:
While clocks emerged, sundials continued to be used and were still in use for setting clocks as late as the 19th century.
Nothing about any adjustment too sundials.

You can see for yourself that the sun is in a different position at noon in the middle of Winter compared to where it is in Summer at noon.
Its an easy experiment. Hammer a stake into the ground where you get both Winter and Summer sun. On June 21st, mark the line of the shadow at noon, then do the same on December 21st. The shadows won't just be different lengths, they will be slightly different angles too. You can check a few days in either direction, just in case you don't have sun on those days. You do live in Wales after all.

Unfortunately, you just accept whatever you hear from flat earthers without testing whether the claims are true for yourself, and this one definitely fails the test.

timothyu · 2025-10-26T15:30:50-0500

Christians follow Jesus. Jesus was not a Christian as He followed the Father.

JimR-OCDS · 2025-10-26T15:28:09-0500

Akita Suggagaki said:
They are about overreach. But I do not blame Trump. He is just doing what any egomaniac would do. The real problem is SCOTUS and congress who refuse to hold him accountable or limit his overreach, and guys like Bannon who claim to have a plan to get him a 3rd term.

How has Trump overreached his office as you claim? Please be specific.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:21:27-0500

Probably in the Recovery Related Spiritual Advice section.

.Mikha'el. · 2025-10-26T15:21:22-0500

I'd be breaking site rules if I shared what I am listening to now. :sorry:

It's an anti-Trump song parody put together during the height of COVID.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:20:41-0500

I am ChristIsSovereign and a lot has happened since then - going to post a new thread here.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-10-26T15:19:18-0500

JosephZ said:
I was specifically talking about Trump making an unexpected stop in a country that harbors terrorists and allowing the leaders of that country to board Air Force One. Had President Obama done this, the outrage from many on the right would have been off the charts.

Why not let them visit Air Force One? They gave us the next one.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:18:26-0500

Apologies for necro-ing, but I'm a former monergist who is now a de facto synergist but who is willing to appeal to mystery due to the general unknowability of the inner workings of God.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:14:53-0500

Michie said:
Well you could go to General Theology and look through the sections there. You can PM me but I’m not sure it will do much good. I’m Catholic.

Oh. XD it's chill.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-10-26T15:13:52-0500

Nithavela said:
Apparently now the cost is 300 million.

Quite impressive, a price increase of 20% in a few days, and the demolition is barely finished.

I wonder if asbestos was in there.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-10-26T15:13:02-0500

Hans Blaster said:
The Sun has been shining for 4.5 billion years and politicians are a never ending source of wind.

The sun is expected to run out of hydrogen in 4 or so billion years. What then? Clean coal is the answer.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:11:25-0500

Michie said:
Well you can discuss that in the theological forums. This is o my for intros. I hope to see you around!

Could you private message me? I know Calvinists get extremely polemic over matters such as this and I don't want to deal with that pompous negativity right now.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-10-26T15:10:42-0500

wing2000 said:
...to date.

Or maybe it's Trump's version of gun boat diplomacy.

Nope, just drug smugglers. No plans for anything else. You would be surprised how effective landing ships and aircraft carriers are against small boats and semi submersible. We will finally win the war on drugs that Clinton, Obama, and Biden failed miserably on.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:09:29-0500

I'm a former Calvinist so this video cuts deep into my guts.

christianlloydteegardin · 2025-10-26T15:09:05-0500

Michie said:
Doing good! Enjoying my day!

Same. Feeling pretty cozy deconstructing Calvinism as we speak. I feel more drawn to Arminianism by the day. I see Calvinism as a theology of narcissists. Login to view embedded media This video really helps.

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