tonychanyt said:

Why didn't God make the Bible perfectly clear?

The Bible is not a science book or a systematic theology book. It is a compilation of sacred texts written over 1500 years by about 40 human authors in three languages. During this period, the authors recorded God's interactions with human beings, reflecting a rich tapestry of historical, cultural, and theological contexts. All these factors compromised writing clarity. Human languages are inherently ambiguous.

A big portion of the texts were prophecies. Prophetic writing was even more ambiguous. Its language was meant to be highly symbolic and interpretive.

Jesus was fond of using parables. Why?

To conceal the truths to those who don't want to know. If you want to know, you must think deeper and pursue it.
While the Bible may not be perfectly clear in every aspect, the core message is clear if you really want to know. Jesus died for our sins. Believe and you will have eternal life. Satan is working hard to confuse you so that you won't believe.

Why didn't God make the Bible perfectly clear in every aspect?
That wasn't God's purpose for the Bible. In any case, given the limitations of human languages, perfect clarity could not be accomplished.

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Ironically, some of the less intelligent have a better basic comprehension of their God than many of their more learned and 'capable' brethren.

But another big thing for us to understand is that we don't any of us speak God's understandings. We ask questions full of presuppositions, such as the independent existence of humans, and like it, the notion that we are capable of substantive thought. God's patience is amazing, toward those who think their babble actually means something. (nods to CS Lewis)

Michie said:

The word virtue suggests something strong, but also difficult. Virtue is a good habit that makes you good. It also makes your life easier, because, just like any habit, as you grow in it, you do it more easily, almost unconsciously. Contrary to the modern view, something doesn’t have to be difficult for it to be moral. Indeed, the more virtuous you are, the easier it is to act virtuously.


Virtues don’t just make life easier for you. They also make you happier and healthier. The ancients taught this, and modern psychological science is proving it. Each virtue is like a superpower habit, that anyone can acquire, through daily practice, and that makes life easier, happier, healthier, and more effective. I call them “superhabits.”

Growing In Virtue​

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How To Grow In Virtue When You Lack Willpower - Catholic-Link

The word virtue suggests something strong, but also difficult Virtue is a good habit that makes you good It can't be acquired by willpower

catholic-link.org

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There is nothing you can do, apart from Christ. Virtue is HIS to perform in you, though it wears you out with effort. He will make sure that you will learn you can never measure up, and that measuring up is not his purpose for you, but to come to know him as your very life.

comana said:

Mexico City is not any near the border, however the desert is.

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There's desert on both sides. Millions of people are able to cross it going north, but somehow they'll all die in the wilderness crossing it going south. There's cities and towns south of the border, the same as there's cities and towns north of the border. 90 million vehicles a year cross the border. That's nearly 250,000 per day. It's not a hundred miles of desolate wasteland across the whole border until you finally reach civilization. It's no different than going north across the border into Texas and Arizona.

AlexB23 said:

Thank you guys. After work, I got the news from the taxi company's owner that Tina is recovering, though, the doctors do not know why she felt those chest pains and the tingling left arm, but the doctors knew that she did not have a heart issue during this medical emergency.

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Happy to hear she is ok. May God continue to bless her and guide her

Thanks for sharing.

2 KINGS 4:1-37

Here, Elisha Ha Navi ( Elisha the Prophet) ministers to a Shunamite woman, as some prophets had a public ministry, Elisha had more of a private ministry, ministering to individuals more than to the general public as a whole. Yeshua did both, he ministered to the sick, the hurting, and the poor, and also preached to the public in synagogues.

The first case involves a Shunamite woman whose husband (now dead) was one of the “B’nei HaNeviim” (sons of the Prophets). It wasn’t that he was a biological son of one of the prophets, but a Torah student of the “School of the prophets”. Today we have Bible institutes, back then, you had the “schools of the prophets” The prophets who were called by G-d instructed those interested in learning in the Words of God written in the Torah, from Adam and Eve up to those present times. Guess you could say kind of “history classes” and lessons to be learned from those “histories”.

The Shunamite woman tells or “cries out” (Tza-a-kah) to Elisha and tells him her problem. The Hebrew word “Tza-a-kah” denotes a “cry for legal assistance” similar to “Tzedakah’ (charity). Her husband owed money to a creditor, now dead, the debt was not canceled, it was still effective. In those days, if one could not pay a debt, a son or daughter could be taken as a slave or servant and “work off the debt” So, Elisha tests the woman’s faith by the following words;

“What can I do for you? What do you have in the house?”

In this case, the Shunamite woman needed a financial miracle. She had only one pot of olive oil. The woman asked for pots from her neighbors, then, received the oil, in abundance. Many times, when we look for miracles, we extend a blessing to another, and then, we receive from God, it just works that way at times. In the case of the Shunamite woman, just a little bit of olive oil in a pot went a long way.

We can look at this in another way from the derashic level. We are all “Vessels” or “pots” in the service of Adonai. The oil can symbolize the Holy Spirit. We can ask for more oil, and more oil will be given. We work together to further the Kingdom of God, we are like, many vessels with oil, all working the further the Kingdom, through our diverse spiritual gifts. When we work together, miracles can happen, healings take place, debts get paid, all through the power of Adonai, we are just “his faithful vessels with oil.”

The other case involved another woman and her husband from the same place called Shunem. The husband and wife offered Elisha a meal and a place to stay when he visited. That was a great mitzvah. The couple was blessed with a child. One blessing often brings on another. Yet the child perhaps had a heat stroke and died. Because scripture says that the boy went out to the field and cried out; “my head, my head”

Elisha and his servant are called and they come to the family’s aid. Elisha places his staff on the boy’s face, then he places his own body on the boy’s body, and the boy is resurrected. We might ask why that procedure. What is the meaning of the staff on the face? The body of the prophet on top of the body of the dead boy? One can only guess. One thing is that a “Staff” (Mateh) symbolizes authority. The face is part of the head, and it was in the head that the ailment occurred, be it a heat stroke or cerebral hemorrhage, or a blood clot.

Elisha represented Adonai, so it was like Adonai bringing the boy back to life, but in the body of Elisha. Did not Peter and Paul do the same thing? They brought back the dead to life as well. When Elisha’s body was spread out on top of the boy’s, it could also symbolize our Messiah Yeshua’s spread out body on Calvary’s cross. His death meant our life. In this case, Elisha perhaps “Breathed” into the boy’s mouth since his “mouth was on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes.

As Elohim “breathed the breath of life” (Neshmat chayiim) into the body of Adam, the Shunamite’s son was also “filled with life again” The son sneezed “seven times” “7” is the perfect number.

We will all die someday unless the Rapture happens first. Our bodies will cease to function and will be put underground. However, Paul states that "absent from the body is to be in the presence of the LORD." So our souls will be taken to Heaven and "wait" until our earthy bodies transform into incorruptible bodies, and then join our soul/spirit in Heaven. In the case of the Shunamite's son, there is a "from death to life" miracle, and with us, there is the same "from death to eternal life" event.

MATT 6:1-7:29

The Talmid (Disciple) Matityahu (Matthew) writes about different themes. One of the themes is that of prayer; “DO not pray/repeat vain repetitions” We often wonder what this means.

Many people memorize prayers and “recite them” over and over again. It becomes routine, and the danger in this is that one can pray “like a machine” and not understand nor meditate on the meaning of the prayer itself. Then, the prayer becomes just plain words. A parrot can learn to speak, and repeat things, but it doesn’t understand what it is saying. Are we like parrots? or souls created in the image of Elohim?

In Judaism, many prayers are part of the prayer books. It isn’t bad to learn them and repeat them, only “understand” what the words mean and how they relate to our God. Then, when we pray the morning and evening prayers, we can meditate on what these words are really saying so that they do not become just “vain repetitions”.

Here we have the LORD’s prayer. It is not meant to be something we just memorize and repeat like we do many times with prayers. This prayer is something to meditate on, and let the meaning penetrate our souls.

“Aveinu BaShamayim” “Our father who is in the heavens” Who has the right to call God, “Our Father” but only those who are members of his family. All of humanity is God’s “creation” and he is humanity’s “creator” but only to born-again believers, he is “Father”

“Kadosh Shmo” (sanctified be his name) HIS name is YHVH (Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey) which comes from HAVAYA (to exist) he is “Haya” (past) “Hoveh” (present) and “Yiyah” (future). And his name is indeed “Kadosh” (Holy). Contrary to popular belief, the Torah does not prohibit one from using it, on the contrary, the Word of God says “Call upon the NAME of the LORD!”

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” The “kingdom of Heaven” is HIS activity on earth, so, it is already here. It has been here since Genesis 1:1. It is here and manifests itself amid his believers, churches, synagogues, congregations, bible study groups, etc. There is a “coming” political kingdom and a literal “New Jerusalem” that will appear on earth someday in the future, and what a time that will be.

“Give our bread continually”. Our “daily bread” does not consist only of literal food, but ALL of our basic needs. YHVH is a loving God and many times gives us even our “wants”. He will do this “continually”, I have seen this many times in my life when I just “think” of things I need, all of a sudden, I get them, many times for free.

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” Many times, we commit sins against God, and yes, we want Him to forgive us, but what about people who have committed offenses against us? Are we holding grudges against them? If so, how then can we expect forgiveness for our sins? Our sins against our Holy God are greater. We must learn to forgive those around us. At times, it is hard, but it is a “command!” when it can’t come from the flesh, it must come from the spirit.

“Do not lead us into the power of temptation, but keep us from all evil…amen” What is the “power” of temptation? It is succumbing to the power of HaSatan. Remember that just because we are “b’nei Melech” (children of the King) does not mean that we are free from being tempted. Everyone on this earth has been tempted, even our LORD and Messiah. This is part of testing, we can be tempted, but that does not mean that we will give in to the temptation and commit sin. It is OUR choice, the very last word is “Amen” which comes from “Amun” which is “to say something true” so when we say “Amen” it is “so be it, as it is truth from God” (this was taken from a Primitive Hebrew text, as the first “LORD’s prayer was written in Hebrew) there is also an Aramaic rendition of the LORD’s prayer, look it up on “YouTube”

2 PETER 2:4-11

Kefa (Peter) reminds the reader that just as we serve a God of love and forgiveness, the same God, Adonai-Elohim-Yeshuah, is a God of wrath and vengeance, a jealous God. A God who punishes the unrepentant wicked. He gives the examples of the fallen angels who went into human women, thus causing mutant genetic offspring and “Giants” They are in hell today, as are all the wicked souls that did not repent.

We all like to listen to messages involving God’s love but do not care to listen to the “hell, fire, and brimstone” messages, such a message was preached on July 7th, 1741 by Jonathan Edwards, and thus brought revival to New England.

Our Heavenly Father is a Father of love and reaches out to all who will listen, but by no means is an “arm-twister” He will not force anyone to come to Him. We can accept or reject; the choice is ours.

23Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
an endless river of righteous living. Amos 5:23-24

8These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8

13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Isaiah 29:13

timf said:

Sometimes a denominational church can assure their members that they have met the minimum requirements for heaven and park themselves in a pew until it is time to go.

Sadly, many miss out on the primary work of a Christian, to become more like Jesus (Eph 4:13-15)

This is largely accomplished by transitioning from walking by the flesh (selfishness) to walking by the Spirit (selflessness) (Galatians chapter five)

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Thanks for making that distinction.

friend of said:

How would they assess awareness?

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I'd suggest Morse code.

Dan Perez said:

Are than , you are saying than the NEW COVENANT is to be kept to day ??

So where do you see who is saved under the NEW COVENAT , as some say that it is being to kept today ??

Verse in 11 , the Lw n did not bring perfection to bring PERFECTION .

And verse 12 , For the priesthood being changed , , of necessity there be a change of te Law !!

dan p p

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God’s law is perfect for converting the soul Psa 19:7 so obviously not the same law that did not bring perfection, which was the animal sacrificial system under a human priesthood as they could never take away sin, and sin is breaking God’s perfect law, personally written by our perfect Savior. The law that had to change was the law that it states in the chapter, the priesthood because the law said the priest had to come from the tribe of Levi, but Christ came from the tribe of Judah, so the law of the priesthood had to change because of this. It’s all there in Hebrews 7 if read in context.

It’s hard for me to believe that so many professed Christians have such a seemingly low opinion of our perfect Heavenly Father. That our perfect Savior could personally write and imperfect law. The other spirit has certainly flipped things and sad so many buy into it.

Joseph G said:

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I love this beautiful song by Petra.

You mean shades of George Orwell's 1984, where Big Brother is watching?

RileyG said:

Imagine if they performed the q’uran or Mohammad’s life in drag. They would be canceled in a heartbeat.

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Or worse.

So very sad. St. Patrick, pray for your beloved Ireland.

May God have mercy on him.

Lord have mercy!

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’“ (Luke 13:6-9 ESV)

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This parable is an illustration of God’s patience toward the unrepentant, but also a warning that God’s patience does not abide forever. A day of judgement is coming. We must “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). God has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead. Do you presume on the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4, paraphrased) Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:10 ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought we to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn?! But according to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, those of us who are eagerly awaiting these things and the appearance of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, must be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. Counting the patience of the Lord as salvation. There are some things in the scriptures that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:9-18, paraphrased)

4/10ths of 1% isn't big. Because of post-COVID no-one's-fault inflation, all over the world leaders were deposed. In the lucky countries, liberals replaced conservatives. What a joyful sense of redemption they must have felt.
And then there's us.
Those voters aren't going to be with you long...and from what I've seen of his appointees, they might jump ship in 3 months.
I agree with the president elect we are in a state if emergency, but I believe he's the cause. (Along with 49.8% of voters.)
I don't think he wants to heal the country. He wants to silence the country--abd you know what that leads to.

Authorities arrested three more suspects in connection with a botched human smuggling operation that resulted in the July death of an illegal immigrant from Guatemala after the man was forced to hide in the brush.

A total of six people are now in custody for human smuggling conspiracy, and if convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced the charges against the three additional suspects on Monday. The smuggling ring members — Mexican national David Alejandro Gómez Flores, 28; and Laredo, Texas, residents Dagoberto Mizzael Flores, 24; and Angel Misael Elias, 22 — appeared in court that day.

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com7fy8 said:

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (2 Corinthians 12:15)

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The more we do as the Kingdom of God requires of us, the more we are hated by the adversarial world of man for not fitting into the game of self-interest. Agape is often met with rebellion unless others wrongly see something in it for themselves, then they say bring it on so that they may gain without playing it forward. This is why many see treating all to basic human rights as the dirty word socialism rather than as loving all as self.

rambot said:

IT doesn't seem like Oklahoma is doing much to keep that seperation of church and state overly strong. I have a feeling a lot of people are probably totally keen for it.

But of course, despite agreeing with the message, almost everything about this actions is wildly inappropriate in a school setting and seems to clearly go against the Constitution.

https://kfor.com/news/local/walters...ly-charged-opinions-praying-for-donald-trump/

I remember when the right wing was talking about "making sure there's only math and reading being taught in school and none of that other stuff". I'm sure they would have been steaming at this use of classtime too.

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The only legal question is whether Walters possesses the legal authority to demand a video be played in all schools. Doesn't seem likely, but we shall see. He has oversight of the schools but not complete control.