It's probably degenerating much faster if modern younger western males are any indication. So many of them are effeminate beta males, gay or trans, no competitive nature or masculine traits, etc.

THE ALPHABET

2 Timothy 3

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 1

21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,

The word of God is so precious, it is not just another book, it is the very breath of God, breathed through human authors.

Some of these human authors were highly educated, some were not, some were kings and some came from the lowest rungs of society and yet God breathed his word through them, as verse 21 says, they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

We are going to start on a series of twenty six devotions, using every letter of our English alphabet, to focus on various aspects of the Christian life.

One of my heroes, is a man called William Tyndale, he was the man, who translated the bible from the Greek and Hebrew to English and he lived in the 1400's. He was able to speak seven languages and he had degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge, if you read the KJV as I do, much of what you read was translated by Tyndale. We owe this man a great debt.

Every word of the bible has deep meaning, every verse, every sentence, speaks of or points to Christ.

It is the only book that can make you wise unto salvation, others book are self help, but this book is God help, it tells how God and him alone can save a person from the power, penalty and finally the presence of sin.

It is like having our own gold mine, full of gold nuggets, which person who has such a mine, doesn't spend all their time, mining and digging each precious nugget out of that mine and know this, that mine is inexhaustible.

What person leaves that mine and doesn't go into it or only takes a few minutes to go in, scratching the surface and comes out again, with nothing?

What person doesn't go in at all, but wastes his/her time on trifles and worldly things, instead of drinking deeply of the pure water of God's word?

At home, we have two full bottles of clean and pure drinking water, what would you think if I started to drink water from the toilet, you would think I was mad and you would be right, so why Christian, do you drink in the filth of the world, instead of the pure sincere milk of the word. Jeremiah 2 and 1 Peter 2.

Drink deeply, dig deeply, delve deeper than ever before believer.

Ezra and Josiah said Bring the book, will you today:
BRING THE BOOK.


GOD BLESS YOU

KEITH
THE BOTTOM LINE


TBL China – The Bottom Line, Ministries
LISTEN TO
Science Confirms the Bible

Ken Ham | Creation Education Conference

Bob Jones University

Science Confirms the Bible


A Husband Love - Session #2

Scott LaPierre | Marriage

Cornerstone Bible Church

sermonaudio.com/sermon/219221936416809


Gods Portrait of a Husband

Cary Green | Marriage

Cornerstone Bible Church

Gods Portrait of a Husband

Soyeong said:

Changing the medium upon which God's law is written from stone to our hearts does not change the content of what it instructs. For example, the command to honor our parents written on stone has the same content as the command to honor our parents written on our hearts.

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What we have in those text is the engrafted word, the word of truth becoming part of us because we have been begotten by it. It is not limited to that which was in stone because we are of His Kind. And we are to be a doer of this work of this engrafted word and not a hearer only.

Welcome to CF. I hope you find it useful to your journey.

Isaiah 30:21-22 ESV


The history here is that the children of Israel of that time were being stubborn and rebellious. They were making alliances and carrying out plans that were not of God. And they were adding sin to sin. They were lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord. And they were telling the Lord’s messengers to stop telling them what was right, but to speak to them smooth things, and to prophesy illusions. They didn’t want to hear any more about the Holy God of Israel.

And this parallels over to the church at large here in America and perhaps in other nations, too. Only you know what it is like in your nation. I can only speak of my own country, for it is what I know. And it appears that the vast majority of the church here in America is rejecting the “right way,” and that they are listening to those who are telling them smooth things, and who are deceptive and who are tricksters who are teaching half-truths (lies) instead of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For the truth offends people.

And so the Lord spoke to the people, like he is speaking to his wayward ones today, or to those who make a profession of him but not in truth, and he is saying that in returning to him and in resting in him you shall be saved. And this involves forsaking sins to follow Jesus in obedience. For that is the essence of the gospel message that Jesus taught and that his New Testament apostles taught. We must die with Christ to sin and then we must walk in holiness and righteousness in obedience to our Lord.

But they weren’t listening to the Lord, like many people who profess him as Savior are not listening to him today. And so they were doing whatever they wanted to do in following after the flesh and not after the Spirit. But then the Lord is saying that he longs to be gracious to you. But his grace is not free license to continue in deliberate and habitual sin. His grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and fleshly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await his soon return (Titus 2:11-14).

And then we have the verses quoted above at the beginning of this writing. The Lord is telling us the way that is his way that we should walk in it. We just need to listen to what he says and then obey him. And when we obey him we will forsake our lives of sin and we will walk in obedience to his commands, and we will cast off all idols and sinful habits and sinful addictions and we will say to them, “Be gone!” But this must not be in words only. We have to cast them off, and then we have to obey our Lord.

This is the Way; Walk in It
Video Talk

October 27, 2022

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Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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You say one thing,
But you do another.
You say you’re pure,
But have another lover.

Your talk is cheap.
And your walk is failing.
You’re not sincere,
So, you can stop your railing.

You play your games,
And your lips do conquer.
You may fool some,
But, I have got your number.

You plead your case,
And say you’re innocent.
Your sin declares, though,
You must, in truth, repent.

You now can stop
With all of your charades.
Your God knows all, which
He surely can display.

In pride, you’ll fall,
From all you don’t repent;
If you keep on sinning,
And you don’t relent.

So, give your all
To Me, Your Lord, today,
And I will wipe
All your guilt and sins away.

And you will walk
In freedom from your sin,
When you invite Me
To come and live within.

An Original Work / April 9, 2018

please read and pray

One of the biggest problems facing “the church” here in America today is that so many people are being taught that they can make a public acknowledgement of Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives, and now all their sins are forgiven (past, present, and future), and heaven is guaranteed them when they die, and it can’t be taken away, but regardless of how they live. No dying to sin, and no walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands, and no holy and righteous living are being required of them.

So, many are they who draw near to God with their mouth and “honor” God/Christ with their lips, but while their hearts are far from God. For they are following a gospel of men (humans) rather than the gospel of Christ, as taught by Jesus Christ. They are following a gospel created in the minds of humans who are altering the character of God/Christ, of his gospel, and of his church (the body of Christ). For they are trying to “draw in large crowds of people from the world” to their gatherings, so they appease the flesh.

For Jesus taught that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, die daily to sin (take up his cross daily) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to (save) our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we give up (lose) our old lives of sin, and we now follow Jesus in walks of obedience to his commands, we have the hope of eternal life with God. For he said that not everyone saying to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING God’s will. (Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23)

And Paul taught that, by faith in Jesus Christ, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires, for if sin is what we obey, it leads to death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 6:1-23)

And the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, instructs us to renounce (say “No!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10)


Since so many people are being taught a diluted and altered “gospel” message, they lack the fear of the Lord. They do not take God and his word seriously, and so they continue on living in sin, deliberately, convinced that their sins will not keep them out of heaven. So they do not honor God as Lord of their lives, but they continue to chart their own course and to live life the way that they want, regardless of what the Scriptures teach, and regardless of God’s requirements of all who profess the name of Jesus.

Some of them are very blatant about this and don’t even try to hide what they do, while others will put on a performance of righteousness while they sin in secret, convincing themselves that no one sees and that no one knows, but God knows. And those who know them very well will see the patterns of behavior, too. They may not be able to prove anything, so they cannot accuse them of wrongdoing, but they may be able to see it in their eyes and in their body language when they are sinning in secret.

And this whole thing of turning things upside down is such a reality of what is going on within so many of the gatherings of what are called “churches” today. Good is now being spoken of as evil, and evil is now being spoken of as good. For if you take God and his word seriously, you may be called a legalist or one who teaches “works salvation,” while those who teach lies and who distort the truth in order to deceive the naïve and the fleshly, will often be referred to as friendly, kind, gracious, and merciful.

And then there is this whole thing of what is regarded as “negative” and “positive.” If you tell people lies which make them feel good about themselves, then you are being “positive.” But if you tell people the truth of what the Bible teaches on the subjects of salvation and eternal life, then you are regarded as “negative,” and you are to be avoided like a “hot potato.” But in reality, lies and “feel-good” messages are negative, for they are opposed to the truth of God’s word, while the truth is really what’s positive.

And definitely many are flip-flopping the roles of God and of humans, and humans are treating God/Christ like he is a doting grandfather or a genie in the sky there to grant their every desire, and as though he does everything for us and as though nothing is required of us. It is all about what God does, and not much is being taught about what God requires of us, in return. But our salvation is not a free ride to heaven. It is death to sin and living to God and to his righteousness, obeying God by his grace, and in his power.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

The Heart of Man

An Original Work / April 4, 2012
Based off Matt. 15:1-20; Mk. 7:1-23

Listen to me ev’ryone and
Understand this teaching of Christ:
Why do you break the commands
Of God for the sake of tradition?
When you follow the ways of man,
And don’t obey the words of Christ,
You nullify the words of God,
And you hold to the ways of man.

What comes out of a man’s mouth is
What makes him unclean and dirty.
The things that come out of the mouth
Come from the heart, from within him.
The heart of man is so sinful;
From his nature, out comes evil:
Lying, cursing, greed and malice,
Lust and lewdness, deceit, slander.

Jesus calls us to obey him;
Turn from our sins; follow His ways.
Yet, his people honor him with their lips,
but their hearts not with Him.
Their worship of God is in vain.
Their teachings are rules taught by man.
Jesus calls us; gently leads us
To return and follow His truth.

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Whyayeman said:

This is part of the problem. The method adopted was used in Alabama on another prisoner and was demonstrably inhumane. Hanging and shooting were faster - instantaneous if properly carried out.

Vets tried the nitrogen asphyxiation method and abandoned it because it was inhumane. That is to say - it is a slow, inefficient and causes a painful death. It is not the job of justice departments to carry out experiments in killing people. That was Josef Mengele's job.

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This is just wrong.

Nitrogen asphyxiation is quick and painless. This is why people have been killed in industrial accidents through nitrogen asphyxiation.

The problem comes about in that the seal on the mask is not perfect. It doesn't take much oxygen getting in to keep the person alive and if he's told he's about to die, he's likely not cooperating and is doing whatever he can to break the seal on the gas mask. The little bit of oxygen getting in causes the execution to take longer and the person is likely to feel some pain. Possible solutions are:

1. Don't let the state put people to death. Enforce life imprisonment without parole.

2. Superglue the mask on to prevent breaking of the seal. Don't tell the condemned when the nitrogen is being turned on.

DennisF said:

Eschatology 2​

3. the church. This is called "replacement theology", that the Christian church has replaced Old Testament (OT) Israel.

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It's called inheritance theology, the Jews "Rejected the chief corner stone "Jesus Christ" the kingdom has been taken from National Israel and given to the holy nation in "The Church" its that simple

Matthew 21:43KJV
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

1 Peter 2:9KJV
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

They which are the children of the flesh (Jews) these are not the children of God, plain, simple, and before your eyes

Romans 9:6-8KJV
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Laodicean60 said:

I hear crimes against children prisoners are not respected in prisons and are abused and his life might be better in a female prison.

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I'm glad I won't be there!

tonychanyt said:

Judges 3:


Was Ehud acting under God's orders?

Yes, at least in the sense of God's general mission order. God authorized Ehud's action against Eglon.

If God did not specifically tell Ehud to do this, would it still be morally OK?

Yes, I believed Ehud's conscience was clear before God. He knew he was a judge used by God.


1.5 ft or 45 cm, short enough to hide it under loose clothing.


This first meeting probably took place in his formal throne court. Ehud probably did not have the sword with him at this time.


Most people were right-handed. They would hide their swords on the left side for easy drawing. In the 2nd meeting, Eglon's security people were more relaxed. They missed the weapon hidden on his right thigh. God might have interfered with the security check so that Eglon's guard would not have noticed the hidden dagger.


This secret message was the plot device to secure a private audience with Eglon. It was the centerpiece of his cunning assassination scheme. Ironically, the secret message was the hidden sword. This was a dramatic moment. Would Eglon fall into the trap?


They were not in his throne room. It was a relaxing chamber. It even came with a restroom (toilet).


It was a surprise move to Eglon.


Eglon went into a hypovolemic shock, leading to quick unconsciousness.


Ehud was calm and collected. He locked the doors carefully from the inside of the chamber.

H4528 was an obscure word that appeared only once in the Bible. No one really knows what it means.

New Living Translation:



from the outside


The king was dead, time to follow up with general attack:


He planned the whole thing beforehand strategically. He knew the geography and likely observed the arrangements inside the court and chamber from previous tribute encounters.


Behind the scenes, everything was orchestrated by God.

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Nice review. I knew I had read about going “down the latrine” somewhere. But I couldn’t find it when writing my other post about this. I thought I was hallucinating. Thanks!

We got her buried and prayed over. Thank you all very much for the prayers! ♥️

Palmfever said:

Peer-reviewed journals in the biological and life sciences literature have published articles that represent the biological view that a human's life begins at fertilization ("the fertilization view"). As those statements are typically offered without explanation or citation, the fertilization view seems to be uncontested by the editors, reviewers, and authors who contribute to scientific journals. However, Americans are split on whether the fertilization view is a "philosophical or religious belief" (45%) or a "biological and scientific fact"

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We would me miles ahead of the lib status-quo if we could just get US citizens to vote against murder of a human when the state says that the same person outside the womb should be respected as a full human life.

Alright, this thread has run its course.

concretecamper said:

Nope. If Jesus fulfilling the fourth Commandment makes you feel uncomfortable, then I can't help you with that.

Not the topic of this thread. If you would like to start another thread, be my guest

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It's interesting that in different OT's they count the 10 Commandments differently. To me, the commandment to honor your father and your mother is the 5th commandment. Not that it matters. It just depends on how you group certain statements.

God used many people in accomplishing His plan of redemption. Even Pilot was used yet we don't think of him as being part of the plan of redemption but in a way he was. You might argue that if Pilot had not condemned him, another Roman ruler might have but likewise some other event might have sparked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Let's not forget Judas Iscariot. He certainly played a role as did the Sanhedrin. They all played a role. However, only Jesus fulfilled the plan of redemption as only His blood could cover our sins. Everyone else played a role, even a critical role, but they were bit players so-to-speak. I don't mean that in any disrespect to Mary's role. She and Joseph played major roles in Jesus' life but in the end it was Jesus who hung on the cross and His blood that redeems us from our sins. In that He has no "co" anything.

Same song, different party. A brief history of Bush, Harken and the SEC

I can testify that God is very good at giving advice and yes it can be financial.

KevinT said:

Do you have any thoughts on this?

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See Ehud's assassination plan

KevinT said:

Or is it just weird me?

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No, you are not weird. Those were great questions

Vambram said:

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I see you, child
Though you can't see me
And I know your thoughts
Before you even think
I heard every last prayer you prayed
Though I answered all the time
You just didn't hear my reply
And I know it's not easy, oh

Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me
'Cause the darker the night gets
The brighter the light hits
Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me

You ain't seen what I promised
Child, we're just getting started
Oh-oh-oh-oh
There is so much more
Oh-oh-oh-oh
I'll be your way
When there's no way out
And I'll be your strength
When your strength runs out
And if you walk into the fire
I'll be right there in the flames
I wouldn't have it any other way
'Cause loving you is easy, yeah

Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me
'Cause when the night's at its darkest
That's when the light hits the hardest
Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me

You ain't seen what I promised
Child, we're just getting started

Open your heart
Open your hands
Open your eyelids
I've got more dreams
I've got more plans
I've got more blessings
Don't lose your hope
Don't lose your faith
That's where your fight is
I got more dreams
I got more plans
I got more blessings

Open your heart
Open your hands
Open your eyelids
I've got more dreams
I've got more plans
I've got more blessings

Don't lose your hope
Don't lose your faith
That's where your fight is
I've got more dreams
I've got more plans
I've got more blessings

Oh-oh-oh-oh
There is so much more
Oh-oh-oh-oh
There is so much more
Oh-oh-oh-oh
There is so much more
So much, so much
So much more

Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me
When the night's at its darkest
That's when the light hits the hardest
Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me
'Cause you ain't seen what I promised
Child, we're just getting started
Open your heart
Open your hands
Open your eyelids
I got more dreams
I got more plans
I got more blessings
And open your heart
Open your hands
Open your eyelids
I got more dreams
I got more plans
I got more blessings
Don't you give up on me
Don't you give up on me

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This song reminds me of the precious promises of the Lord Jesus Christ in the following passage of Scripture:

John 10:25-30

The former doctrine head and synod delegate criticized the Pope’s signature initiative just days before its final session starts on Oct. 2.
Cardinal Gerhard Müller speaks on ‘The Mission of Theology Today’ Sept. 23 in the chapel at Holy Cross College in South Bend, Indiana. (photo: Adam Robert Creative/Courtesy of Holy Cross College)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Vatican’s former doctrine head visited a pair of U.S. Catholic colleges this week to talk theology — and offered a fresh round of criticism of the Synod on Synodality just days before he’s set to participate in the event’s final session.

In a Sept. 24 interview with the Register following events at both Holy Cross College and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Cardinal Gerhard Müller criticized the synod’s methodology, underlying theology and objectives ahead of the Oct. 2-27 gathering in Rome.

The longtime papal critic, who participated in last year’s synodal session after Pope Francis surprisingly invited him, said the synod was characterized by “manipulation,” following a stage-managed plan toward predetermined outcomes.

“I think the organizers of the synod have a certain purpose and goal and vision of the Church,” said the cardinal, referencing pushes to embrace “LGBT ideology” and the United Nations’ “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Continued below.

Saint Augustine's Challenging Interpretation​

From the numerous difficult and enigmatic passages contained within the sacred texts of the Bible, the most read are the prophecies concerning the end of the world. No other subject has been more discussed and disputed in the entire history of the Christian Tradition. Especially in dark and turbulent times of crisis like ours, apocalyptic prophecies are scrutinized from all angles. And within this context, the verses presenting the ‘signs’ of the consummation of the world are the most disturbing. The apostles themselves questioned the Savior Christ about these signs.

Among these, the most terrifying refers to that mysterious biblical figure called the ‘anti-Christ’ (Greek ἀντίχριστος). Alongside the book of the prophet Daniel and the Revelation of Saint John, there are enough texts that discuss, directly or indirectly, explicitly or only allusively, encrypted, symbolically, the characteristics of the greatest human adversary of Savior Christ in the entire history of the world. The biblical writings where all the key teachings about the anti-Christ are set forth are the texts of the Holy Apostle John.

The mere fact that such mysteries of sacred history are exposed in the writings of the mystical apostle, nicknamed due to the contemplative graces he received as “the eagle from Patmos,” speaks for itself. He tells us that their interpretation requires a truly inspired art guided by the same Holy Spirit that inspired and guided the apostle. Throughout the history of the Church, God has deigned to give us a few exceptional interpreters of these texts. One of them is the Holy Bishop Augustine of Hippo (354–430). He provided us with the most likely correct interpretation at one of the crucial places in the epistles of St. John. Let’s see what it is about.

Continued below.

The New York Times columnist, who previously has authored books highlighting negative U.S. trends, says America is poised to play its biggest role yet in the 21st century — in part because of what the rest of the world is facing.

America has had no shortage of pessimistic critiques in recent years.

And with titles like Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics and The Decadent Society: How We Became Victims of Our Own Success to his name, Ross Douthat has become something of a master of the genre.

But at a Sept. 6 talk at the University of Notre Dame, the conservative Catholic commentator and New York Times columnist sounded an uncharacteristically optimistic note regarding the United States’ prospects.

“There’s no better place to be for the rest of the 21st century than right here in America,” Douthat said to a full auditorium in Geddes Hall, answering in the affirmative the question posed by his talk’s title, “Is There Hope for America’s Future?”

Continued below.