Landon Caeli said:

Incorrect answer, sorry.. Herbert Hoover had higher tariffs than DJT.

And so my point still remains, that Trump hasn't done anything new that other presidents haven't already done. So he's as American as apple pie.

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No, Trump is nothing new. We have presidents who were autocrats before and had many who ran the president in orer to line their pockets. Corruption is definitely NOT new in American politics.
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I was under the impression that we were discussing economic policy, specifically tariff policy.

Since 1941, there has been a worldwide move towards what is loosely called globalism, with certain rules governing world trade. There have been many who have taken advantage. However, believe it or not, the goal of US economic policy is NOT fairness. The goal is economic success for the US and its citizens. [I don't mention US companies because the myths propogated just plain silly. US companies are in better shape even by a very long way.

OF COURSE, the country that has benefited most from the system since WWII is the US. The people of the US have benefited considerably more than anyone else. Sure, there have been hiccups, economic success isn't a straight line. However, the US economic situation as of January 1st, 2025 is by far the best in the history of the world. Maybe it will improve under Trump, maybe not.

The MEDIAN US household income (half under, half over) is the second highest in the world, second to Luxumburg, and considerably higher than a few years ago.

There is a MYTH that the average AMerican family hasn't gained over the 70's. COmpare median income and you will find that this is simply not true.
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ALL THIS BEING SAID
It is possible that the US economy and the median Us household will be better off in 5 years or 10 years because of Trump's policies. And yes, threats of high tariffs may indeed force many companies to produce more in the US, raising costs (not likely giving us more jobs).

And is SOME industries, costs may indeed come down through bullying. Drug costs are a good example.

Michie said:

LAHORE, Pakistan — In a rare development, a high court in Pakistan ordered the government to issue a new identity card reflecting a woman’s conversion from Islam to Christianity.

The woman, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, renounced Islam and married a Christian man 15 years ago.

Attorney Lazar Allah Rakha said that for years she had repeatedly tried to get her faith designation corrected on her national identity record, but officials at the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) defiantly refused. She converted to Christianity in January 2009 and married a Christian man four months later.

Continued below.

Pakistan allows Christian woman to remove Islam as her religion in years-long battle over ID card

In a rare development, a high court in Pakistan ordered the government to issue a new identity card reflecting a woman s conversion from Islam to Christianity

www.christianpost.com

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Yes, indeed, this is a great victory. Many people, not only this woman, have been waiting for such a breakthrough. However, here in Pakistan, NADRA refuses to officially change a person’s religion, because under the prevailing law, converting from Islam is punishable by death. There is no alternative legal solution, and very few dare to challenge this system.

Yet, we thank God, for this act will become a great beacon of hope for all those longing for freedom in their faith. May it inspire courage and open the door for many to find life in Christ.

To be honest, I like just sitting alone in the empty church looking at the crucifix. Does me a world of good.

Michie said:

A new report by Pakistan’s National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) highlights the severe challenges faced by children belonging to religious minority groups, including Christians, and calls for immediate action by the government to curb the high levels of discrimination emanating from systemic bias, social exclusion and institutional neglect.

The report, titled “Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan,” also raises the crucial issues of forced conversion, child marriages and child labor faced by minority children, particularly those belonging to the marginalized Christian and Hindu communities.

“The worrying trend of systemic discrimination affects every part of the minority population’s daily life, especially their children. Minority children frequently face discrimination from classmates and educators in schools. They also have to deal with curricula that could reinforce negative preconceptions about their religion. Isolation, below-average academic achievement, and, in many cases, school dropout are the expected outcomes of such an educational setting.

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Dear Brother in Christ, my heart is deeply moved by what you’ve shared. This is not just a report, it is a cry for justice, and as followers of Christ, we cannot remain silent in the face of such suffering.

The Lord Himself hears the groaning of the oppressed: “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry… The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow” (Psalm 146:7-9). These precious children our sons, daughters, and the future of our community are made in the image of God. Any harm against them is an offense against the Creator Himself.


We must first respond in prayer, because “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Let us intercede for protection over these children, for courage in their hearts, and for the Lord to raise up righteous voices within government, education, and society who will defend the vulnerable.

But prayer must be followed by action. James reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). We, the body of Christ, must be advocates writing letters, raising awareness, supporting Christian schools, offering scholarships, and mentoring the next generation so they know they are loved, valued, and called for God’s purposes.

This is our Esther moment. Just as she was placed in the palace “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14), we have been placed in this generation to stand for the rights of these little ones who cannot speak for themselves. We will not allow fear, prejudice, or injustice to have the final word Christ will.


Let us rise together, as one family, and declare: Our children are not for sale. Our children will not be silenced. Our children will fulfill their God-given destiny.

Prayer for Christian Children in Pakistan

Heavenly Father,
We come before You with broken hearts for the children of Pakistan’s Christian and other minority communities. You see their tears, their fears, and the injustice they face. Your Word says, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3), so we stand in agreement with Heaven today.

Lord, place Your hedge of protection around these children. Silence every voice of hatred, every plan of harm, and every scheme of the enemy. Replace fear with courage, shame with honor, and despair with hope.

Raise up leaders both in the Church and in the nation who will speak truth, defend the vulnerable, and bring justice to light. Give wisdom to parents, strength to teachers, and boldness to pastors to protect and nurture these little ones in Your ways.

We declare in the mighty Name of Jesus: No weapon formed against our children shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). They will grow in wisdom, in favor with God and man, and fulfill their divine calling.

We trust in Your promise, Lord, that You are “a Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). Heal our land, heal our people, and guard the next generation for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen Amen.

YeshuaFan said:

Even though it wrote about it symbolically showing what has already happened to us when saved?

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And you say that you have a verse ?

dan p

bling said:

There is no real relationship between China today and 1900 USA.

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Rleationship: sinful then, sinful today, not right with God at all.

I wonder how there came to be a hole in the bottom of their boat?

I don’t understand how people are able to deny the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

It turns out this kind of revenge against BLS for telling the truth is not a recent thing...

During the Great Depression, William N. Doak, President Herbert Hoover’s Secretary of Labor, told reporters that employment was going up across the country. The reporters, however, had been “fooled before by such cheery statements from politically-minded Secretaries,” Time magazine reported. They sought a second opinion, from Ethelbert Stewart, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and this “white-crowned, white-whiskered old man telephoned Secretary Doak that the statistics given him warranted no such declaration.” Not long afterward, Hoover signed a law requiring the federal government to, among other things, part with workers who had reached retirement age. Stewart was in his mid-seventies; Doak could have recommended him for a Presidential exemption, but he did not, and so Stewart was out.

Employment numbers aren't good right now, but they are nowhere as bad as they were in the Great Depression. Nevertheless, the news was damaging enough that Trump felt compelled to fire the person responsible for reporting them.

Didn't help Hoover much. Maybe Trump will have better luck with it.

Well July 4th 2024 was the last day that I worked out. September 25th 2024 was the last day I worked. I had surgery December 23rd and January 6th I had a blood clot in my leg and one went to my lungs.
I have to use a walker or crutches to get around. I weigh 370
I have started Weight Watchers and I am going to start working out with bands and chair workouts

Prostitution is illegal in the United States as far as I know so what is the difference between Prostitution and Pornography. With both of them, one pays money to have sex (whether with an actual person or with oneself). Many, many men (and now women too) have been ensnared by pornographic pictures causing them deep guilt and sorrow and addiction. Once one is pulled into looking at that disgusting garbage, the images get burnt into one's brain and they are very difficult to get rid of. Only through God's grace and mercy, can these bonds be broken. It is better to NEVER see such vulgarity.

I understand some people may not be affected by looking at pornography (though, I truly question that answer) but those that pornography bounds, it's a hell if you try to overcome it and leave it forever. I truly hope our country will abolish this industry in all its forms.

rambot said:

This cannot be a policy held by Trump supporters. It would belie too much ignorance.

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I tell you the irony meter blow up and became engulfed in flames after that comment.

Watchdog says Mike Johnson used campaign funds to rent from GOP lawmaker​

In a complaint filed with the Federal Elections Commission, the watchdog group argues the House speaker dipped into cash restricted for campaign use to pay for a D.C. home he rents from California Representative Darrell Issa.

Johnson reportedly moved to Issa’s residence in March, following a ProPublica report that revealed he had been living in Washington with Steve Berger, an evangelical pastor, in a multimillion-dollar townhouse on Capitol Hill owned by a wealthy Republican donor.

The watchdog group, in its FEC complaint filed Wednesday, pointed to five $2,500 disbursements from Johnson’s campaign account since March, which were titled “rent” and totaled a little over $12,000. The funds were directed to a company called Greene Properties, located in Vista, California, and owned by California Representative Darrell Issa, according to the Republican lawmaker’s financial disclosure documents.

“It is against the law for a campaign to pay for the personal rent of a candidate,” Kedric Payne, vice president and general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, told Courthouse News in an interview. “In this situation, we see that the speaker has acknowledged that he is renting personal space from Darrell Issa, and then we see the campaign paid Darrell Issa’s company for rent. You put all those together, and it looks like the campaign is breaking the law.”

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

This is probably the best actually Christian Metal band I've heard :

HolyName - Meet Me Somewhere Quiet

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They have an east

Peace in Christ.

The false prophet comes up out of the earth….that is, he is earthly-minded. (There are MANY false prophets…but it only takes one to deceive you.)

He serves in the capacity of the first beast of Revelation 13….the “another jesus” the antichrist.

His presence (Greek: parousia = presence) in the man-based churches is in accordance with the working of Satan. He...the false prophets... is already there...and they are MANY. They are taking down MANY to their graves. They are perishing under the false prophets.

2Th 2:8-10
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9) Even him, whose coming (Greek: parousia - PRESENCE) is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

He is only concerned about earthly things: what to eat, what to drink, what to wear. This is his motivation for “preaching” as they “preach themselves” and not the Lord Jesus Christ. They serve for their own belly….earthly things.

Rev 13:11-12 KJV
(11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Rather than preaching the “Lamb slain”…dying to the sin, they remove the keeping of His daily sacrifice (the deadly wound was healed) from the lives of those who are being led astray by them.

They do not die to the sin but end up serving it instead and so the cross of Christ has been neutralized in those who are being deceived by them. The “deadly wound” is healed as they no longer keep the daily sacrifice of the Lord….the Lamb slain…the dying to the sin. They are enemies of the cross of Christ.

(12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The false prophet has 2 horns like a lamb.

He has the form of godliness but denies the power thereof as he speaks as a “dragon” in his “preaching” of falsehoods….which denies the manifestation of the life of Jesus in our mortal flesh through the keeping of His daily sacrifice. The false prophets who are mortally perishing away to the grave are enemies of the cross of Christ.

The false prophet is a deceiver…and his preaching is of the antichrist (the first beast of Rev 13…the “another jesus”… that he is preaching through the spirit of error.)

The “another jesus” that he is presenting to you in his “preaching” is an “antichrist” and not the true Christ as he is not preaching the doctrine of Christ to you. He is not preaching that Jesus Christ IS COMING NOW in our mortal flesh.

2Jn 1:7 KJV
(7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

They do not bring this teaching of THE Christ. We must not receive them. Do not bid them "god speed"...that is, REJOICE...as they are rejoicing in this terrible situation as they are getting their earthly needs met in the deception of His people.

2Jn 1:9-10 KJV
(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
(10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

He is an enemy of the cross of Christ.

The cross of Christ has no effect upon the lives of those who he is deceiving….and so they mortally perish from this earth rather than receiving an age-lasting life which could be had by the keeping of His daily sacrifice….always keeping the dying of the Lord in our mortal bodies so that His life is made manifest in our mortal flesh. The "deadly wound" is healed as the daily sacrifice is removed from being kept and the sin is served which leads to mortal death.

2Co 4:10-11 KJV
(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

The false prophet have a form of godliness but denies its power. The false prophet leads many into “captivity”…into the bondage of sin through the keeping and serving of church handwritings of dogmas….such as a “statement of faith” which is by definition a handwriting of dogmas (dogma = what one believes is true).

They judge others using their church handwritings of dogmas as a basis for. They judge others according to their own standard that they have thought was true…and they do this supposedly in the name/authority of God. This is serving THE sin that leads to our mortal death. The "daily sacrifice" is not being kept then and we die for the wages of THE Sin is the death.

2Ti 3:5-6 KJV
(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

The false prophet leads many into captivity…yet they are captives of sin themselves. They are captives of decay. Those who “kill with the sword” are judging others. Do not judge, lest you be judged.

Rev 13:10 KJV
(10) He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

They mortally perish as they deny the power of God that keeps us alive by the keeping of the Lord’s daily sacrifice. The preaching of the cross if foolishness in those who are perishing…mortally perishing away to the grave. They have the form of godliness but deny its power. Their flesh is not being saved as they perish away in their mortal bodies to the grave.

1Co 1:18 KJV
(18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The false prophet’s end is destruction….mortal destruction…as they serve their for their own belly…their “god.”

They come up out of the earth = they only mind earthly things.

They speak as a dragon….as they are enemies of the cross of Christ by their preaching of falsehoods that lead many away from the path that leads to His life being made manifest in the mortal flesh of those they are deceiving. The cross of Christ becomes of no effect upon the multitudes that they are deceiving with their words.

Php 3:18-19 KJV
(18) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
(19) Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

This serving for their own belly….their “god”….blinds their minds to the truth of the gospel….to the gospel of the glory of Christ. They have no understanding of it. Like the serpent, they go upon their “belly” as they mind only earthly things.

His life is supposed to manifest in our mortal flesh…and when He appears there, we appear with Him in glory towards the people of the outside world. We shine His light towards them.

Yet, the truth of the gospel is not illuminating them at all…and so those they are “preaching” to do not have understanding of the gospel. The gospel is hid to those who are “lost”…that is, PERISHING away to the grave. Their mortal flesh is not being saved.

They are all in darkness…and all that sit together with them are in darkness and are not shining His light towards anyone of the outside world. If we are sitting in the man-based churches, we are not shining the light of Christ towards anyone…nor does the glory of God appear over us.

2Co 4:3-5
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (PERISHING):
(4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

We must “awake” from our sleep and “arise” OUT of the dead ones….OUT of the dead man-based churches where His life is not being made manifest. Christ will then give us light so that we may shine to those people of the outside world who are sitting in great darkness (as the man-based churches are not shining His light at all.) We shall then be the light of the world in Him.

Eph 5:14
(14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from (OUT) the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

These false prophets are “dreamers” who defile our mortal flesh when we sit together with them in their churches. We are unclean when we keep company with them.

Jud 1:8
(8) Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

We must not “give ourselves over to fornication”….to sit together with them who defile our mortal flesh (going after strange flesh) or we are destroyed along with them as their “end is destruction.” Their end becomes our end as well. We are then under the wrath of God for the wrath of God (the “fire”) comes upon the children of disobedience. Our mortal bodies perish along with them for their judgment does not linger.

This is a present reality as they are all mortally dying under His wrath when they should have an age-lasting life if they had understood the gospel of Truth and have kept His daily sacrifice.

Jud 1:7 KJV
(7) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

For their (the false prophets) judgment does not linger and their damnation sleeps not. It is active as they mortally perish from this earth and are taking many who are being deceived by them down with them to the grave.

2Pe 2:3 KJV
(3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

They are “dreamers”…as Daniel saw the natural brute beasts in a “dream” in the night visions. They are natural “brute beasts” as the bear as they “devour much flesh”…those they are deceiving. They defile our mortal flesh.

The bear had 3 ribs in its mouth…between the teeth of it.

Dan 7:5 KJV
(5) And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The 3 ribs are 3 men that they follow after in their appetite: Cain, Balaam and Korah.

Jud 1:11 KJV
(11) Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Reminds me of this T-shirt.

a hotdog no (remember a hotdog does not HAVE to be in a bun.)

Prayers for the conversion of Canada. Amen.

Prayers for the radical conversion of Spain.

prodromos said:

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

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Amen!

Always in His Presence said:

I’ll help

• Republican Party (RNC) Favorability: According to RealClearPolling, the Republican Party has a favorability rating of 42.3%, with 54.4% unfavorable, resulting in a net favorability of -12.1%. Posts on X suggest a slightly higher approval rating for Republicans at around 43%.

• Democratic Party (DNC) Favorability: RealClearPolling reports the Democratic Party’s favorability at 36.3%, with 59.3% unfavorable, yielding a net favorability of -23.0%

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What it shows is that even Democrats think Republicans are doing a better job than the DNC. Lol!

Happiness is a perplexingly difficult quality to secure. This is surprising, since happiness is the fundamental thing we all seek. Aristotle argued that happiness (eudaimonia) is the ultimate goal of human life—not happiness as a fleeting emotional experience, but as a state of human flourishing that comes from striving to fulfill one’s human potential. St. Augustine taught that all human actions are inherently ordered towards happiness—even wicked deeds are done in the mistaken belief that they will, in some sense, make us happier.

But if happiness is so integral to human existence, why do so many people struggle to attain it? Why is society so filled with people struggling with sadness, despair, depression, nihilism, despair, and apathy? Why do so many at every stage of life deal with existential emptiness about the meaning and purpose of their lives? If happiness is what life is all about, it seems that something must be drastically wrong.

I, too, struggled with these problems for many years until I discovered a very simple remedy in plain sight, somewhere I had overlooked for a long time—the Sermon on the Mount.

Continued below.

What Moses was commanded to teach to the ancient Hebrews is not identical to the written words that he recorded in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). The Jews also believed that he received oral tradition on Mt. Sinai, when he received the Ten Commandments. The mainstream pharisaic tradition passed into early Christianity, since St. Paul called himself a Pharisee twice, after his conversion to Christianity (Acts 23:6; 26:5), and Jesus opposed the doctrine of the Sadducees, but not that of the Pharisees (Mt 23:2). The Pharisees adhered to oral tradition and the Sadducees rejected it.

Scripture indicates such an oral Torah, not — in its specifics — recorded in the written Torah. The 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia (“Oral Law”) provides some examples:

It appears from the other books of the Old Testament also that certain traditional laws were considered to have been given by God, although they are not mentioned in the Pentateuch. Jeremiah says to the people (Jer. 17: 21-22): “Bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.” In the Pentateuch, on the other hand, there is only the interdiction against work in general (Ex. 20:9-11); nor is it stated anywhere in the Torah that no burdens shall be carried on the Sabbath, while Jeremiah says that the bearing of burdens, as well as all other work, was forbidden to the fathers. It is clear, furthermore, from Amos 8:5, that no business was done on the Sabbath, and in Neh. 10:30-32 this prohibition, like the interdiction against intermarrying with the heathen, is designated as a commandment of God, although only the latter is found in the Pentateuch (Deut. 7:3), while there is no reference to the former. Since the interdictions against carrying burdens and doing business on the Sabbath were regarded as divine laws, although not mentioned in the Pentateuch, it is inferred that there was also a second code.

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God made this requirement, that He “commanded” the ancient Hebrews in oral tradition, binding, under pain of Jerusalem being destroyed:

Continued below.

fide said:

Ah - I guess I missed that... sorry.

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No problem. It's just part of discussion.