Danthemailman said:

Speaking of Gene Simmons.

Gene Simmons Responds to ‘I’m Not from the Ghetto’ Rock Hall Rant Backlash (Exclusive) https://share.google/L5XwkIHK2UkibRys8

Ultimately, Simmons jests, "One, I admire and respect hip-hop. Two, it is not rock 'n' roll. And three, when are Led Zeppelin and AC/DC going to be inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame?"

Gene should have simply said, "these are two different genres of music that should have two different award ceremonies," and left it at that. He could have left out the, "I'm not from the ghetto" wisecrack.

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He could have pointed out how goofy the rock hall of fame is sometimes. They induct performers like Dolly Parton and Belafonte ( both perfectly talented but not rock & roll). Yet it wasn’t until 2025 that Chubby Checker & Bad Company were finally inducted.

“Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves,” he writes. “Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities.”

Dave... said:

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

1 Peter 2:4-6 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

How did God's dwelling evolve to become what it is today? What happened?

Dave

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Its the fulfillment of this:

56 Thus says the Lord:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who lays hold on it;
Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Do not let the son of the foreigner
Who has joined himself to the Lord
Speak, saying,
“The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”;
Nor let the eunuch say,
“Here I am, a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5 Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give [a]them an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.
6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

timewerx said:

I used to be sure of my position when I used to be a denominational Christian for 20 years until I started seeing cracks in the walls.

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I never aligned with a denomination after my return. We went to a church in our vicinity but after a while I felt it wasn't the right place for us and too legalistic in some areas. We went elsewhere for a bit but I didn't like the distance and prefer something closer to home. We took a lot time outside of that setting to get our bearings and priorities. I don't expect any place to tick every box and I'm more tolerant on teachings provided they're not a heresy or prosperity nonsense.

But community is my line in the sand and the reason it took so long to find what we wanted. That's the area where the majority struggle and I don't consider bible studies or small groups as community. Real fellowship requires relating outside of the building and doing life together. I won't join a church where that's lacking or be the one to start it.

timewerx said:

It think it's wrong to be sure about one's position anyway because that's when we stop looking. But I already saw that religion is not the answer, not science, not money, not security, not education, not career, not connections.

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Religion was used for evil deeds and that muddies the water. Whether people want to acknowledge it or not. The foundation sets the tone and you'll never get the leaven out. You have to go back to basics and build your foundation on Him and develop a relationship that sustains you whether you walk with others or alone.

Everything you mentioned has a place and God isn't one dimensional. What differs is seeing each with Him in mind and the kingdom overall. My minds rests on dominion and rulership. That's how I address the world and the areas named. While I can recognize their value they aren't the source of my faith and the mark I'm pursuing is His not man's.

timewerx said:

But it's also important to be self-sufficient and independent so we didn't have to "fit into anyone's mold" so you can stand alone if you have to if nobody wants to be the side of the truth anymore.

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That isn't what prevents you from following others or trying to fit a mold. That comes from certainty. Not confidence, giftedness or the other reasons you'll usually hear. Your trust yourself implicitly and your ability to get things done, solve a problem, find answers, weather challenges and so on.

I have a high degree of certainty and my need quotient is low. But that doesn't mean others won't benefit from my presence. I think spreading seed is important which differs from what you see in some circles. They keep everything to themselves and there's time when that's necessary but giving is equally important.

timewerx said:

Are you doing this too?

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I believe little and question much as a norm but rarely admit it.

timewerx said:

I think the elites of this world are using some powerful sorcery to mitigate threats (possibly automatically). Sadly, even most Christians are under their spell. They are non-threats so nothing happens.

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They are and the christian response is imbalanced. You're not going to overcome someone who works harder than you doing wrong. The scale will tip in their favor pretty fast and multiply quickly as others follow suit. The other problem is talent and Paul touched on it for a reason. Most people who come to Christ are ordinary. They don't have the qualities the world esteems or pays them well to perform. They're usually in the devil's camp or spiritually unattached.

Most of the things people look to in our culture are opposed to God or oblivious to His presence. Which doesn't foster a greater sense of closeness or heighten your convictions naturally. You need love for that and christians are seduced because they won't tell the truth and deny the influence the world has on them.

We've developed the practice of polite speak and say what we believe we should. You'll have half the congregation struggling financially but no one will admit they wish they had more resources and ask to pray about it as a church for those in need. You bring this situation and the next but the root goes unaddressed. Most congregations don't have the spiritual gifts operating as they should and you wind up with gaps, oversights and mistakes.

timewerx said:

In fact many Christians I know are so afraid of the devil they would not do anything to antagonize him. If any information is concerned with demons even if it may concern their very faith, they avoid looking into the matter due to fear of demonic attacks.

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You antagonize him most by obeying the Lord and taking ground. The principle of housekeeping holds true for the inner and outer. When we neglect our inner man problems arise. I think you can focus on demons too much to your detriment and ignore them and have similar challenges. Prevention is less about warfare than systems you devise to nourish your spirit.

We're where we are because of our love (or lack of) and intentions. None of this bothers me anymore. Stephen King wrote a book years ago called Thinner. A man makes a mistake that leads to hardships and wants another to bear the burden instead of him. The old man chides him and says, eat your pie. Accept the consequences of your choice.

My pie is pleasant because He's a priority and that's the answer. Most of the things people struggle with is a reflection of God's presence in their life. The more we esteem Him the more He speaks and the greater our insight, wisdom and so on. The veil is no more and we have a direct line to the Most High. If we aren't seeing Him in every area of our lives that's our fault not His.

~bella

Strong in Him said:

Because you're not all knowing, all powerful, able to be everywhere at the same time, eternal or perfect.

God has many names; El Shaddai, Adonai, Jehovah, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah Elohiym, Jehovah M'Kaddesh, Jehovah Nissi, Shepherd, healer, Lord, Abba and so on. Each describes an aspect of his character.

What's your point?

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And in 1 Cor 12:12 we are one BODY in CHRIST //

And in 1 Cor 12:15 we are. CHRIST FOOT

In verse 16 we are HIS EAR

IN. verse 17 we are HIS EYE 'S and are his HEARING. and HIS SENSE OF SMELL.

So we are CHRIST , now about that IF you ARE part of the BODY of . CHRIST ONLY !!

And and this what the APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES is just. one thing that. he teaches SAVED BY GRAVE

IN. ROM 10:9B ANDB 10 AND IN EPH 2:8. !!

dan p

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What does this suggest about the nature of abstract thought and human/animal distinction?

Akita Suggagaki said:

Good bye Earth as we have known it.

Trump Administration Erases the Government’s Power to Fight Climate Change​

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/climate/trump-epa-greenhouse-gases-climate-change.html

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Pretty sad.

FaithT said:

I’ll probably fail the first day.

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Don't worry about it.

Bro Steve said:

Just a brief introduction about myself. I am not sure if I was a previous member or not? But anyways I was saved at the age of 19 - but have attended Sunday school since I was about 6 years of age. I first acknowledged God at the age of 12 when I beheld his creation one morning walking along the footpath with my sibling brother. From there I held bible studies at home at the age of 17 but realized they were JW's and stopped them from coming in time. The Jesus facto however became reality a few years later! and I am now approaching 63 years of age. By the grace of God I still stand today; and my background is i have served in evangelism, and on the the mission field, and have openly preached behind pulpits in Sunday services and prayer meetings also, I have conducted open air evangelism on the streets and in high schools to the unsaved. I am a graduate ✔️ of full-time Bible college and graduated with paper in hand and I feel by Gods grace i have somewhat to contribute and share my experiences and also my current understanding of the scriptures. Sometimes I write with great sharpness, but that is intended for edification and never to anyone's destruction! Anyways a brief introduction and hello to every one

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Welcome to CF. Looking forward to hearing some of your postings.

Anon0 said:

I definitely struggle with prayer it's a lot of silence most of the time mixed in with my mind drifting. Its hard.

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Try the prayers in Eph 1 and Eph 3 to pray for yourself and others. Many find those quite good.

BBAS 64 said:

Good day, Jonas

The best NT scholar in MHO that handles the Parables would be DA Carson..

There are many web links for DA Carson on the Parable of the soils that you may find helpful.

His excellent work on "Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament" is a must have.

In Him,

Bill

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Good day Bill,

I couldn't find an analyse from D. A. Carson, but here is what Matthew Henry had to say about the stony soil: no root means no union by faith to Christ our root. Such people are pleased by the word of God, and it makes some effects in them, but it doesn't rule or transform them. As for the outside, changes happen quickly (comp. v.5b), but there is no change in the inside (comp. Matt. 23:25-16). Such people are also like the man that started building a tower without first counting the costs, so that he couldn't finish it (Lk 14:28-29), altough he may have been very quick and enthousiastic to start the work!

That's enough for me to conclude, that with the sprouting and the springing up of the seed, Jesus didn't want to illustrate for us the new birth, but the effects of the word of God in the hearts of the 3 different categories of its hearers that have at least some degree of reception of it, but may or may not produce fruit at the end. What is highlighted in the illustration of the wheat without fruit, and of the clouds without water in Jud. 1:12, is the possessing of the form of godliness while lacking the power thereof (II Tim. 3:15).

Bro.T said:

Let's end our conversation right here, in the future watch how you speak to people. I don't have to believe you over my source. This article comes from the Encyclopedia Britannica 7th edition. "It was Roman Emperor Constantine (AD 306-337) who first made a law of the proper observance of Sunday; and who, according to Eusebius, appointed that it should be regularly celebrated throughout the Roman Empire.@ should be noted that Constantine was a Sun Worshiper before his conversion to Christianity. To show the influence of this practice of worshiping the Sun, I'll refer you to an article written in the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, "Sunday ( Dies Solis of the Roman calendar the day of the sun, because dedicated to the sun), the first day of the week was adopted by the early Christians as a day of worship". The Sun of Latin adoration, they interpreted as the Sun of Righteousness. Note it was a man who issued in the law in 321 AD to change the day in which to observe Gods sabbath not God!

peace in Jesus name

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Constantine may have made Sunday observance an empire-wide law for the whole Roman Empire during his tenure in the 300s AD; however, we have historical writings that prove that Sunday, the Lord's Day, was observed as the public worship day by all Christian believers since Jesus rose from the dead in the first century. Jesus taught his disciples to do this. They obeyed his command!
I hope that you will be able to comprehend this difference.


The Didache, The Teachings of the Apostles, is dated to the first century AD.

Chapter 14. Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day.
But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. Fort his is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."


Justin Martyr FIRST APOLOGY, circa 153-155 A.D., CHAPTER LXVII -- WEEKLY WORSHIP OF THE CHRISTIANS.

And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things,

NAYEREH ARJANEH​

IRAN​

On July 7, 2025 Nayereh Arjaneh and her husband Qasem Esmaili were arrested at their home for attending a Christian seminar in Turkey. She was initially released on bail and later convicted of “promoting deviant propaganda and teachings contrary to Islamic law” and “providing financial and material support to groups affiliated with Zionist Christianity.”

Nayereh received five years in prison for each offense, plus two years internal exile in Kerman province and a two year travel ban. She is serving both sentences concurrently. Her husband received a prison sentence of three years and six months but has been given permission to delay his prison term as he is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Nayereh began serving her 10-year sentence in December 2025.

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SAMPLE LETTERS TO PRISONERS


Please DO
Write in English and write as neatly as you are able to. Your letter must be legible to be translated (Many people study English, so there will often be someone to translate your letter).

• Express your Christian love and tell them that you are praying for them (then do!) They, in turn, will be praying for you!
• Keep your letter brief and loving – one page is enough.
• Include Bible verses.
• Hand write the address on envelopes accurately and mark it AIRMAIL; make sure the postage is correct.
• You may include a snapshot of yourself, your family or your prayer group if you want to make your letter even more personal and special.

Please DON'T
Do not write about politics or criticise the government.

• Never mention the source of your information or the name of any organisation such as Voice of the Martyrs. It is not dangerous for a prisoner to receive letters from an individual, but if an organisation is mentioned, they may be accused of links with “foreign organisations” and receive even harsher sentences.
• Use words that might imply some kind of hidden activity e.g. “thank you for the Christian work that you have done in Vietnam” might imply that the prisoner had done some covert work for a foreign organisation to subvert the government.
• Build up hopes and expectations of prisoners – and likewise, don’t make any offer of help unless you intend to act on it!
• Use religious jargon, sermonize, or be presumptuous about the prisoner’s situation, needs or feelings.
• Quote verses which refer to war, fighting, armour, weapons (eg ‘the sword of the spirit’, ‘fighting the good fight of faith’, ‘the armour of God’ etc).

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bling said:

It does not say: “Jesus spoke in the ears of Peter”, but he remembered and Jesus said the Spirit would give them a wonderful memory.

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The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord. It would seem that he was reminded of what Jesus said in Acts 1 about Johns past water baptism right when the Gentiles were coming in. This is telling.it would seem that Peter was in some respect still following Johns water baptism. But it also looks like he was not needed to do this. And the Gentiles in Acts 10 were saved and filled with the Spirit and saved by grace before any water baptism.

bling said:

We agree when Paul says in 1 Cor. 1 “he is glade in he did not baptize more”, he was referring specifically to water baptism.

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But the point to notice is that he thanked Gid he baptized so few. If water baptism was as important as some make it he should have baptized everyone who got saved in Corinth.But he told them the gospel he preach abnd they believed was not connected to water baptism in 1 Cor. 15:1-4

bling said:

Yet Paul did baptize some people in Corinth (household of Stephanas, Crispus and Gaius)

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Crispys was a Jew as we read

Acts 18: 8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.”

The other two may have been Gentiles there is some discussion about Stephany’s possibly being a Jew in the region.

But. These were early in the church when the Jewish issues were still strong and the Gentiles coming into the church were connected to the Jews. It seems Paul had a revelation about water baptism not being needed for him to do later. Paul also circumcised Timothy in Acts 16 even though he was not sent to circumcise. Don’t seems he condescended to the times they were in.

Paul also went into the temple with the Christian Jews in Acts 21 and there were still keeping all the law and sacrificing animals etc and keeping the customs

bling said:

and these are not Hebrew names and there seemed to be very few Jewish Christians in Corinth and Paul seems to be addressing only Gentiles in Corinth. Paul also gave the specific reason: “so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.” And, Paul did not give the reason: “Because water baptism is not needed or was it wrong”. Paul talks a whole lot about Jewish rituals especially: Jewish Dietery requirements, circumcision and Sabbath days, but never mentions the Gentile were not to be water Baptized.

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Paul did say that the Gentiles we’re not to be circumcised in Galatians 2 referring to Titus who was not a Jew but he did go along for a time with the Jewish believers when he circumcised Timothy in Acts 16 so as not to offend them.

I see water baptism similar Paul saw the Jewish custom and following diverse washings and carnal ordinances for a time . But when it became an issue (as circumcision did) he stood against it.

bling said:

Your not addressing the issue, the bible does not say: “Peter thought he was baptizing them into Jesus Christ, with water baptism, but was not”.

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Peter in that sane chapter seemed to argue with God a

bling said:

Again! I am not saying the water saved them, God does that.

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Maybe you’re not saying that but many many do. Many may even say “oh, no, water baptism is not needed for salvation, but you must do it or rise we would doubt your salvation.

bling said:

We know for certain Gentiles were water baptized.

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And the Jewish believers were trying to make the Gentiles come under the law and live like the Jews. But Paul had to withstand this.

Galatians 2: 14. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”

bling said:

I agree at least some Jewish Christians were trying to get the gentile Christians to become Jews to be Christians and this might have gone on even a little after 70 AD, but Gentile and Jewish Christians were water Baptized and that is not specifically shown to be wrong.

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Some among them also tried to get the Gentiles to be circumcised and keep the whole law to be saved and this was disputed much later in Acts 15, many many years after Pentecost.

Acts 15: 5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”

So, what I see is that Paul was aware of this tension and do as not to offend the Jews he went along with some of the rituals and other things for a time. This would remove a barrier of him working among them in ministry. But when baptism was becoming more than it was in the old. Covenant and among the diverse washings and carnal ordinances that were to pass sway in the tone of reformation? He took issues and he did similarly with circumcision as is evident in scripture.

FredVB said:

I alternate between which I use, currently I am about to finish off the almond milk I have, it's good and there is benefit from almonds, but not fortified as I want, I am now planning to get fortified soy milk next, later on I will cycle back to rice milk which also is fortified almost as much.

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JM said:

Switched to Barry's Tea. Orange pekoe got me hooked so I also picked up Irish Breakfast. Coffee is getting pricy up here Canada and tea is better for you, no?


View attachment 373620 View attachment 373621

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I am sure the green tea I use is better for me. Some days I just seem to need the coffee more, though. I found coconut milk when I saw it was in and could look also is fortified in the way that I want. So I think I will be getting coconut milk more often now.

I have some good Bibles, but packed away, being in storage, now. Much of my access to the Bible, for reading and for sharing from, is online. I found a version that I like also just online, it isn't anywhere else.

Trump's dementia is already observable, almost publicly. But of course certain media news will never show anything of that.

Samples of popular commercial dog foods contained “dangerous levels” of heavy metals, plastic contaminants, and acrylamide, a cancer-causing compound created when food is subjected to high heat, according to a new investigation.

“The levels of heavy metals and other contaminants we found were alarming,” said Molly Hamilton, the executive director of Clean Label Project, which conducted the investigation. The Colorado-based nonprofit tests consumer products for purity and offers manufacturers a certified label if their commodities meet strict standards.

“Pet owners care for their dogs as deeply as parents care for their children,” Hamilton said. “They should be able to buy dog food without worrying it might harm their pet.”

Dog foods contained three to 13 times more heavy metals than human food tested over the past decade by Clean Label Project, according to the report. The levels are similar to those found in prior research done by veterinarian Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, a professor and nutritional specialist at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York.

Continued below.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

I would be interested to see some of those writings if they exist.​

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It's ok of course if we differ in our understanding concerning this subject. I used to post 1 article per week for the last 10 years but are getting few now. About 20 years ago I was able to find some of these writings but they're mostly out of print, being 3 centuries old. One Book is free to view online. It is a daily devotional that contains the center of all the articles of the Plymouth Brethren's writings.

"None But The Hungry Heart."

Tropical Wilds said:

No, I don’t believe you can define a man.

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A biological adult human male. Simple...right?

Always in His Presence said:

Halligan says she and Bobb were barred from going inside the complex, forced to remain outside, between the ballroom and residence, on the grounds of Mar-a-Lago.

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Nonetheless, she insisted that the government's search "was an appalling display of abuse and power — complete overkill." She also asserted that "if they needed documents, they could have asked. There's never been an issue with compliance." Halligan said the search came as a "huge surprise."

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Christina Bobb signed the affidavit falsely swearing that all the material sought by the government to be returned, had been returned. Compliance was definitely the issue.

Nafiah Ikram was in the driveway of her home on New York’s Long Island one evening when she felt someone rush up behind her. A liquid splashed her in the face.

She screamed for her father.

“I started … panicking. I was like, ‘Dad, someone threw something in my face!’ Ikram said following the attack in Elmont, New York. “And he was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s acid.’ ”

It was March 17, 2021. The sulfuric acid scorched Ikram’s face, neck and chest, and permanently blinded her right eye, requiring numerous surgeries and reconstructive grafts.

For nearly five years, as she navigated the physical and emotional aftermath of the surprise attack, the case went unsolved. Her mysterious assailant, who fled in a red Nissan Altima, remained unknown.

Continued below.

Inflation 2.4%

Trump seems to have a soft spot for criminals who commit fraud and drug trafficking. I think I know why.

Tips Flood In, Prompted by Video of Suspect in Guthrie Kidnapping​