Sif said:

I will be trying a mead (honey wine) tonight. This particular one is mixed with hibiscus.

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Sounds good!

Hentenza said:

What productive steps should Israel take?

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I gave some examples of what Israel could do earlier in the thread, but the immediate step Israel should take at this point is agreeing to a ceasefire and allowing humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza from all available sources. This should be followed by agreeing to a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for all of the remaining hostages being released. After this has been achieved, a more comprehensive plan on how to rebuild Gaza and address the grievances that are at the heart of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict can begin.

ozso said:

A supposed leaked memo that was supposedly obtained by an obscure far left source? Bah.

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you are right, a memo of this nature, if leaked 15 years ago, might have been viewed as a conspiracy theory. At that time, it would have been unlikely for people in the United States to believe that the President and the Secretary of Defense would deploy marines on U.S. soil.

But today these images are not conspiracy theory.

essentialsaltes said:

per @atrupar

Bradley Edwards, attorney for Epstein survivors, says on MSNBC that the executors of Epstein's estate are in possession of the birthday book containing Trump's letter and would be willing to turn it over to authorities

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Donald Trump Changes His Mind on Jeffrey Epstein Lawsuit​

President Donald Trump's lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch has taken a further twist after the pair agreed that the media mogul could delay his deposition until after a dismissal ruling.

Trump's legal team previously said Murdoch should be deposed as soon as possible, given his advanced age, adding that he had "suffered recent significant health scares." However, it appears that Trump and Murdoch have agreed that the deposition can wait. If the case is not dismissed, it could be months until either 94-year-old Murdoch or Trump, 79, are deposed.

President Donald Trump, addressing the Wall Street Journal report, wrote on Truth Social in July: "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued.

pastorwaris said:

Thank you for the clarification and I hear you.
You're right: this forum is about theological discussion, specifically on the Sabbath and the Law. So let me speak plainly, theologically, and stay within those bounds.

My earlier comment wasn’t meant as mere pastoral encouragement it was a theological point dressed in human language. The core of what I said is rooted in soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) and sanctification (the work of the Spirit after salvation). When someone is fighting sin, that struggle is not weakness it's spiritual evidence. Romans 7:22–23 and Galatians 5:17 make this clear:

In the context of “Sabbath and the Law,” this matters.

Why?
Because when we debate the role of the Law including Sabbath observance we're not just parsing commandments, we're confronting the real-life tension between the Law’s demands and the Spirit’s work in us. So when someone is wrestling yes, even over the Sabbath that struggle shows the Law is still active in conscience, and the Spirit is engaged in formation. This isn’t sentimentalism. It’s practical theology.

So to be clear:
I’m not offering feel-good advice. I’m saying that when a believer struggles with obedience including how to rightly honor the Sabbath under grace it’s not evidence of failure. It’s evidence they are not hardened. The Law still speaks, and the Spirit still moves.
And that’s the kind of theology we all need to wrestle with together.

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Ok, there's a lot of new stuff here. I'll try to make time for it later.

Feds say Nebraska GDP shrunk more than 6% in early [i.e. Q1] 2025, led by ag​

Nebraska and Iowa tied for the states with the largest losses of Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2025, of 6.1%, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said he believes the country is facing the worst farming financial crisis since the 1980s. He helps run a crisis hotline for farmers, and said he’s fielded high-stress calls from people struggling financially.

“There’s desperation in their voices,” Hansen said. “They’re up against the wall.”

Have a lot of fun!

iluvatar5150 said:

It's playing on bigotry latent in the audience.

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lol, I guess I should have been reading with my special liberal glasses which make you see what you want to see even if it's not there.

Valletta said:

Why don't you give the media a call and tell them you dispute their translation?

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You mean the right wing media who ran with the story based on a tweet from The Blaze? The DHS retweeted it....and you dutifully posted it here.

But hey, who needs accuracy when a congresswoman's loyalty is to be questioned?

The New Republic Reports:
A video of the event shows Ramirez, who began her speech in English, saying she wanted to conclude her remarks with a few words in Spanish (“...quiero terminar diciendo unas palabras en español…”), because she is “very proudly Guatemalan” (“...porque yo soy guatemalteca con mucho orgullo…”). But, she continues, “Primero que soy americana”—which translates roughly to “First, I am American.”

I am reminded of a story.
Anyone remember the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon?
An emperor was coming and Francis was asked, what should we say to him,
What can we say to an emperor or a president surrounded in wealth?

Francis says, "You could tell him to throw his scepter in the mud or fling his jewels in the river. Then he could see the glow of new colors amidst the glistening pebbles. And you could say, 'Otto of Brunswick, let the birds nest in your crown. Let the winds of heaven blow through your empty palaces. What good is your life to you if your riches bring you no peace of mind? And all your people starve?"

ozso said:

an obscure hard left source?

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Give em a break, they've only been in business for a little over a century.

essentialsaltes said:

Scott Soucek, the husband of a prominent Wisconsin GOP operative, has been accused of possessing child pornography.

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These people are sick. But by sharing those files, they are supporting the people who make them by harming children. One thing to be sick, quite another thing to let it abuse kids. What's frightening is that those who are evil enough to prey on kids, are often to be found, posing as church people:
ST. LOUIS — It’s not unusual for “hard-core” child molesters — with more sexual-offense convictions, more victims and younger victims — to be well-respected members of Christian congregations, and to be actively involved as church leaders, warns Victor Vieth, executive director emeritus of the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center in Winona, Minn.

In one study, 93 percent of convicted sex offenders described themselves as “religious.” Perhaps surprisingly, many sexual predators consider churches as “safe havens,” Vieth said, with trusting, forgiving adults and easy access to children.

Most child molesters 'religious,' often target church members

The Synod's first Workshop on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse aims to help church workers "identify, understand and intervene" on behalf of victims.

reporter.lcms.org

I suspect that their professed faith and conservative cultural convictions are mostly cover.

Say it aint so said:

The growing popularity of unpasteurized milk in the United States raises public health concerns. ​

Thus why RFKjr is preventing government written research being made available to the public.

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State health officials warn about infected raw milk​

It’s illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Florida. Yet, there have been 21 recent human cases of disease-causing bacteria linked to consumption of raw milk from the same farm, state health officials said Monday.

Six of the victims were children under the age of 10.

Seven of the cases resulted in hospitalization with two people suffering severe complications, prompting the Florida Department of Health to send a health warning about the consumption of raw milk.

SabbathBlessings said:

Israel is the same as who the New Covenant is made to Heb 8:10 we are grafted in and part of the promise through faith Gal 3:26-29

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I agree. Also made with the house of Judah. Jeremiah 31:31

Gentiles included:

Galatians 3:8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

Galatians 3:14 that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

It is through Abraham, who was never an Israelite or Jew, that we Gentiles are eligible to partake of the New Covenant.

Jesus saves all who believe in/obey him. Luke 2:29-33, Acts 10:35

Chesterton said:

Again, Guatemalan is not a race or ethnicity. Can someone please point out for me the ethnic or racial bigotry in that article? I'm not seeing it.

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It's playing on bigotry latent in the audience.

Can you provided a link to the actual debate?

tampasteve said:

Lol, "innocent people". Not a one.

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There are more than 2 million people living in Gaza; half are children, and all are suffering living under Hamas' control and Israel's response to the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. These people are not Hamas; they are people trapped in an unimaginable situation. Making the claim that there are no innocent people in Gaza ignores reality.

Always in His Presence said:

yup - that's what I said - thanks

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But a handshake agreement is not the same as one written and finalized and ratified by the Japanese Parliment.

This is from today:


Trump isn't bothering with congressional approval even though the Constitution has this:

AI overview is:

The power to impose tariffs and regulate trade in the United States is primarily vested in Congress by the U.S. Constitution.
Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Constitutional Basis: Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, and to regulate commerce with foreign nations.
• Delegation to the Executive: While Congress holds the fundamental authority, it has, over time, passed laws delegating certain powers to the President to negotiate and implement trade agreements and, in some circumstances, adjust tariffs. This delegation began more significantly after the disastrous effects of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, where Congress had set specific tariff rates, leading to retaliatory tariffs and a decline in global trade.

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act tried to raise money for the US via tariffs, and is largely viewed as the cause of the Great Depression.

And while the USA is screwing around, playing with tariffs, China is Japan's largest trade partner, and is developing more trade connections with India, and in Africa and around the Pacific ocean and elsewhere.

IHOPKC founder’s sister calls sex abuse allegations against him ‘exotic trash’​

A defiant Lisa Stribling made the comments during a morning sermon at HopeCity KC, a house of prayer and community center run by Stribling and her husband on Kansas City’s east side, near East 23rd Street and Van Brunt Boulevard.

“There has been a narrative that has surrounded Mike’s situation,” Stribling said during her message that elicited several rounds of applause from those attending. “This narrative is a false narrative. The Lord is retrieving this narrative right now, this very minute. The narrative now belongs to Jesus.”

She said that “the Lord himself has given me a message, and he will be backing up my words very strongly to everyone; he will be backing up what I’m saying here.”

“There is a pardon being offered right now to the global church concerning Mike,” she said. “It’s being offered right now from heaven to the Body of Christ as a whole, regarding the name of Mike Bickle.”

“I’m saying this very, very strongly,” she said. “It is over. I’m not asking anybody’s permission. I’m telling you from this moment on, these stories are over. They’re over. The pardon has been issued to God by God himself, to Mike and to the church.”

In February, an independent investigation found that Bickle committed sexual abuse or misconduct against 17 women — some when they were minors — over decades, amid a thriving culture of systemic abuse and coverups within the prayer movement.

public hermit said:

Are they blinded by the Hamas propaganda that CF posters insist upon?

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I think their conclusions may be correct. They had little to nothing to say in rhe article concerning Israel shooting Palistinians just trying to get food. Because thats not happening.

They did give an opinion regarding Israel's goals in digging out all areas where Hamas may be hiding.

Netanyahu’s objectives in Gaza are “a fantasy,” Yoram Cohen, former head of Shin Bet, said in the video.

anyone imagines that we can reach every terrorist and every pit and every weapon, and in parallel bring our hostages home — I think it is impossible,” he said.

He may be correct. If that is the goal, I don't know that it can be done either.

I will say that the war should be over when Israel has crushed Hamas to rhe point it will no longer be a danger to the country and have ANY power in Gaza.

JosephZ said:

Hamas is a terrorist group that is an enemy to both Israel and the Palestinian people. Hamas, along with the other terrorist groups operating in the Palestinian territories, must be eradicated. That being said, Israel has and continues to take steps that are counterproductive in achieving that outcome.

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What productive steps should Israel take?

In his song, King Solomon, under the image of the main heroine – the Shulamite (see Song of Solomon 6: 13, KJV), described the planet Venus, as is evident from the words of the Shulamite: - „I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.“ (Song of Solomon 2: 1, KJV) The concept of an 8-year cycle for Venus is a real astronomical phenomenon observed from Earth's perspective. This cycle is related to the relative orbital periods of Earth and Venus, and it manifests as a „pentagram“ or „rose“ shape traced in the sky over the 8-year period. - „The positions of first the Sun and then the Venus shadow make it possible to measure the exact position of Venus in the evening sky. Now this was an important measurement for these ancient astronomers, because when viewed from Earth, the planet Venus is the most accurate indicator of the time of year available in the solar system. Every eight years it marks a point when the solar calendar, the lunar calendar and the sidereal calendar all coincide to within a few minutes. After exactly forty years, when Venus completes five of its eight-year cycles, it synchro-nises to within fractions of a second, providing a calendar and clock that was used to set the time of day until the 1950s when even more accurate atomic clocks were invented. Put simply: Venus is the metronome of our world. Understand its movements and you can understand such vital functions as the seasons and the tides. It makes you master of your environment both in terms of farming and seamanship, and thereby ensures that you eat well and trade efficiently. In many ways it is the centrepiece of civilisation. Against the background of the zodiac Venus completes a five-pointed star shape every eight years and returns to its precise starting place after forty years.“ (see „The Book of Hiram“, Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas, Publisher: „Element“ by Harper Collins Publishers, London, UK, 2005, Ch. – „The Crystal Palace“, pp. 41-42) It seems that all the key time events and prophecies in the Bible are linked to the 8-year cycles of the planet Venus. The Temple Mount itself – Zion, in the city of Jerusalem, was the original „Venus Hill“ of the World. One Generation of Venus was equated with 5 Cycles of the planet Venus or 40 years (5x8); one Age of Venus was equal to 12 Generations of Venus or = 480 years (12x40). Half an Era of the evening-morning star “Shalim” (the planet Venus) was 3 Ages of Venus or = 1,440 years (480x3). One full Era (“great year”) of Venus was 2,880 (360x8) Earth years. The key to any time prophecy related to the Temple in the city of Jerusalem is the 8 year cycles of the planet Venus - the Great Prince Michael, the Angel of Yahweh [“Yahweh“ is a association with planet Jupiter in heavens; - the mysterious twin star brother of the Sun (Amon); Jupiter is a God-Son (Sol-Amon)].

Always in His Presence said:

Absolutely incorrect:

The primary federal statute that criminalizes improper entry into the United States by non-citizens is 8 U.S. Code § 1325. Here's a direct quote from the statute:

"(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts​

Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both."​

​

This statute makes improper entry a criminal offense, typically classified as a misdemeanor for a first offense

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You are correct.

That is the legal definition of criminal activity under the law when someone violates immigration law.

It was my mistake.

I should have said “In contemporary politics, the definition of "criminal" as it pertains to undocumented individuals differs from that held by many Americans.”

DaisyDay said:

Can you explain the point that went over my head with your Orwell reference? It looked to me like a dismissal of their point.

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"There was no fraud in the Clinton Foundation."

mark46 said:

To be clear, do you believe that tariffs will result in major price increases? Obviously, that will be the case for coffee and chocolate.

It is not at all clear to me that the projected 2026 inflation rate of 3-4.5% (as measured by non-Trump folk), will be a disaster to anyone. The bottom line is that tariffs are a national sales tax on imported goods. Personally, I believe these will hurt US businesses much more than the average citizen. Many supplies needed for various businesses are imported.
==========
I do agree that the removal of safety protections is a very serious problem, but conflating the issue with inflation does exactly ZERO good.

Also, the changes to federal support of needed federal programs and personnel that serve us are clearly a much more serious issue.

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I agree—it remains to be seen what impact these tariffs will have. The predicted 3–4.5% inflation rate is speculative, but not out of the question.

I agree- The topic of "safety" is unrelated to inflation or tariffs.

But that is the liberal and Democrats, they just can’t help themselves when they criticize President Trump. They argue over every issue, every statement from President Trump, and every tweet, but ultimately accomplish nothing constructive—just a jumble of words.