The whole everything is a crisis actor angle is dumb because the people at the top are evil enough to kill random people for real.

Bob Crowley said:

It would be even scarier dying as a tyrant with the blood of millions on his hands.

I don't think I'd like to be in his shoes now.

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Amen.

He’s most likely in hell.

Awesome news! I love the work they do!

May he be numbered among the saints in heaven!

I pray he is numbered along the official canonized one day!

I personally made my decision not to, even though I will probably never be invited to a wedding for the rest of my life.

timf said:

I have heard that a better translation might be whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven. Instead of giving Peter a new "power" it places a restriction on him not to exceed what has been written.

An example of this restriction might be seen in Acts when James declares the restrictions to be placed on gentile believers in the kingdom gospel. They did not need to be circumcised, but they did have restrictions placed on them that were consistent with the restrictions placed on gentile sojourners in the Old Testament.

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I did miss in my notes the word BOUND //DEO is in the Greek PREFECT TENSE , PASSIVE VOICE , Nominative Case , in the Singular and in the Greek NEUTER , meaning Male and Female

What you quoted is in the KJV and is what I also use all the time .

dan p

Note that the irregular masculine plural form of the phrase in question, without pointing, (shabuim shabuim), is literally seventy seventy, which may be understood as seventy seventies, in other words seventy generations, (Psalm 90:10, Henok 10:12, Luke 3:23-37, (also Matthew 22:13 quotes from Henok 10:4).

The phrase has multiple meanings: weeks of hours, (the sacred calendar day as fulfilled in the Ministry of Meshiah, (primarily in the Gospel of John)), and perhaps also weeks of fulls days, and probably also weeks of years, and the seventy seventies which are seventy generations and which amount of 4,900 years, (70*70=4900, the ten weeks prophecy also found in Sefer Henok).

Ge 3:

17 To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’

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Adam ate the forbidden fruit, disobeying a direct commandment of God.

cursed is the ground because of you;

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God cursed the ground, not Adam directly.

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.

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Adam would have to work hard to grow food as a farmer.

Ge 4:

2b Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

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Cain killed Abel.

10 The Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

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God cursed Cain, not the ground directly.

12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength.

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Cain could no longer farm the land for food.

You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

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He had to run away from his domicile.

16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

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Cain's descendants:

20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.

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It seemed that Cain and his descendants raised animals as a living.

In the case of Adam, God cursed the ground, and Adam would have to work hard as a farmer. For Cain, God cursed him directly. He could no longer be a farmer, and he changed his job to raise animals.

KevinT said:

I didn't understand what the "+"'s were supposed to indicate, and I couldn't pick out the differences. So I have interleaved the two texts. The first, indicated by bold text, is the NWT 1984 edition. I started labeling every line, but gave up. The second non-bold line is the NRSV version.


Colossians 1:

15 He is the image+ of the invisible+ God, the firstborn+ of all creation; NWT 1984 edition

(15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; NRSV​

​

16 because by means of him+ all [other]* things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, NWT​

(16) for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, NRSV​

​

the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities.+ NWT​

things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers NRSV​

​

All [other] things have been created through him+ and for him. NWT​

all things have been created through him and for him. NRSV​

​

17 Also, he is before all [other] things+ and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist,+ ​

(17) He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.​

​

18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation.+ He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,+ ​

(18) He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,​

​

that he might become the one who is first+ in all things;​

so that he might come to have first place in everything.​

​

19 because [God]* saw good for all fullness+ to dwell in him, ​

(19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,​

​

20 and through him to reconcile+ again to himself all [other] things+ by making peace+ ​

(20) and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace​

​

through the blood+ [he shed] on the torture stake,*+ no matter whether they are* the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens.​

through the blood of his cross.​

​

21 Indeed, YOU who were once alienated+ and enemies because YOUR minds were on the works that were wicked,+ ​

(21) And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,​

​

22 he now has again reconciled+ by means of that one’s fleshly body through [his] death,​

(22) he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death,​

​

+ in order to present YOU holy and unblemished+ and open to no accusation+ before him, ​

so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him--​

​

23 provided, of course, that YOU continue in the faith,+ established on the foundation+ and steadfast+ ​

23) provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith​

​

and not being shifted away from the hope of that good news which YOU heard,+ ​

(, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard,​

​

and which was preached+ in all creation+ that is under heaven. ​

which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.​

​

Of this [good news] I Paul became a minister.​

I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.



The major difference I see is the added phrase "no matter whether they are* the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens." But I don't really see the significance of the addition.

Can you explain what I am overlooking?

KT

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The insertion of [other] is the key difference and its presence helps Jehovah's witnesses to deny that the Lord, Jesus Christ, created everything that is created. The + means there's a cross reference.

Vambram said:

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I love this prayer filled song asking the Lord God to carry us in this world.

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This is a good song, and has good meaning, and shows how we all suffer in life as Christians, but God will protect us. Wish we had songs that had deep meanings like this in 2024. Steve Camp is the Jeremy Camp or Chris Tomlin of the 1980s-1990s. Thank for sharing this, cos I did not hear of this song until your post.

Reminds me of this classic verse from Psalm 121:
Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV): "The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

The verse sounds more beautiful in the KJV. Warming up to that Bible version slowly, cos the Psalms seem to have a more poetic quality in the KJV, while the rest of the OT, Gospels especially and NT are easier to read in the NKJV, NIV and ESV.

Psalm 121:7-8 (KJV): The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Neostarwcc said:

Yes, you can plug it into an ai if you want sure. Larry is on vacation all of August (my Elder) so I haven't been able to Email him much or I would have been talking to him about this too.

I told him about the promotion though and he was ecstatic for her. So it's not a complete loss. I think he understands that work gets in the way but at the same time, church attendance is very important. It makes me wish I had a license and a car. I'd go down and drive myself but I don't drive nor do we have a second vehicle. So that idea wouldn't work.

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Perhaps someone from church lives near enough to you to be able to pick you up for church on Sunday mornings...

Even if it's just once or twice a month it's still going.. I would certainly ask the congregation and see..

While Moses was up the mountain with God, the Israelites rebelled. Aaron made a gold calf. Ex 32:

19 As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.

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Was this drinking part of a Mosaic atonement ritual?

No, this was a unique event, not prescribed in the Law as a regular ritual for atonement. The drinking was a symbol of forcing the Israelites to physically consume their sin. It was a punishment or humiliation rather than atonement.

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”

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The process of atonement happened the next day. Moses interceded for them.

33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. 34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.” 35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

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Moses' intercession wasn't enough. In addition, God sent a plague.

What about the woman drinking water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor in Nu 5:23? That was a prescribed law.

Drinking the water of bitterness that could bring the curse wasn't atonement either. It was a test/ordeal.

James Morris is the son of Gateway Church founder, Robert Morris. | YouTube/Gateway Church

Just over a month after stepping down as leader of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, in the wake of his father Robert Morris’ scandalous resignation, James Morris is preparing to pursue his long-held dream of leading his own church.

On a newly launched website, jamesandbridgettemorris.com, James Morris and his wife, Bridgette, revealed they are just waiting on God to tell them “when, where, and how to plant a church” as they recover from the Gateway Church debacle.

“We are excited to announce the beginning of an extraordinary journey that started as a dream in our hearts to be pastors of a vibrant church passionate about the presence of God and filled with people who love God and love people. We believe God gave us this dream and many prophetic words, beginning when we were young, for such a time as this,” the couple said on their website. “We are taking time to rest, pray, and hear from the Lord after this last season. We are filled with anticipation, expectation, and hope as we hear from God about when, where, and how to plant a church.”

Continued below.

d taylor said:

-
​

A church is just a building. it is not a special place where God can only be studied or worshiped at church.

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Right, it seems effectively pointless to waste so much on a building that no one can access at any time except to have a "sunday experience" which has seemed banal to me for a long time.
It would be great if churches opened up and allowed intellectual discourse and study, and pursuit of knowledge and truth. But it may be a pipe dream.

FenderTL5 said:

Mine is similar, and sung at every vespers service.

Psalm 104 God the Creator and Provider
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
you ride on the wings of the wind,
4 you make the winds your messengers,
fire and flame your[d] ministers.

5 You set the earth on its foundations,
so that it shall never be shaken.
6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they flee;
at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
11 giving drink to every wild animal;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to use,
to bring forth food from the earth,
15 and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
and bread to strengthen the human heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has its home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.
23 People go out to their work
and to their labor until the evening.

24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships,
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.

27 These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
28 when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your spirit,[g] they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord!

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Aww, that is a nice Psalm. Just found a song that is based on Psalm 104 for you.

Francesca LaRosa - Psalm 104 (2021, duration = 4 minutes):
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Four Righteous Angels

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Rev 7:1 And after these things (Seals) I (John) saw four (righteous) angels Rev 4:6-8, 6:1,3,5) standing (position) on the four corners of the (tribulation) earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Note: Apostle John (John Matt 4:21 John 13:25) utilizes his Authoritative Position disclosing the Four Angels (Rev 4:7) is a title identifying the Four Seraphim (Dan 7:2 Zech 1:20 Rev 4:7) retaining Authoritative Dominion of the Inner Revolving Circlet upon the Throne.

Note: Apostle John utilizes his Authoritative Position disclosing the Four Corners (Isa 11:12 Acts 10:11) of Earth identifies the Flattened Four Angled Corners of Resurrection Earth paralleling the Four Angled Corners of the Wall (Rev 21:17) surrounding New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2).

The Four Seraphim Titles Rev 4:6-8

Different Titles of the Four Beasts



Dan 7:2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold (special event), the four winds of the heaven (The Four Winds of Heaven represents a descriptive title) strove upon the great sea. (The great sea appears as the peoples of earth Rev 17:15).

Zech. 6:5 the angel answered and said unto me, these are the four spirits of the heavens, that go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

Rev 7:1 after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Zech. 6:5 the angel (Righteous Gabriel) answered and said unto me, these (Four Seraphim) are the four spirits of the heavens, that go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. Rev 4:7

Four Corners

Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

Isa 11:12 he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Acts 11:15 as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

The Angel Ascending from the Eastern

Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Rev 7:2a And I (John) saw another (righteous) angel ascending from the east,

Rev 8:3 And (1) another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; (2) and there was given unto him much incense, (3) that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Rev 8:4 And (4) the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Rev 8:5 (5) And the angel took the censer, (6) and filled it with fire of the altar, (7) and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Ascending

Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

1Sa 28:13 And the king said unto her, be not afraid: for what saw you? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

Jhn 1:51 And he says unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

The Seal of God

Rev 7:2b having the seal (Rev 20:3, 9:4) of the living God (Rev 1:13-16, 5:5,6 19:11-16)

Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The Angel Commands the Four Angels

Rev 7:2c and he cried with a loud voice (authoritative participation) to the four (righteous) angels, to whom it was given (by Jesus) to hurt (damage Rev 4:6-8, 6:1, 3, 5, 7) the (tribulation) earth and the sea,

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And fails spectacularly because he held on too long.

1P 3:

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,

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This is our attitude: no fear, no worries, honor Christ.

always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;

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Explain your reason and hope.

yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience,

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More attitude components: Be gentle and respect the asker.

so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

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More attitude component: Be ready to suffer.

Do you find it frustrating that the Bible commands you to defend the gospel without providing any useful methodology?

No, not at all. Peter wasn't interested in tactical methodology. He was interested in your witness attitude in your defense: Don't fear, be gentle, don't be troubled by the asker, respect him, honor Christ always, and be ready to suffer when you explain your reasons and hope in Christ to him.

Eww!

Belk said:

Yes, they are reading to kids in order to normalize their behavior and show that they are not bad people. That is a far cry off what they are being accused of and not in any way nefarious. It most certainly is not on the level of robbing a store. Good grief.

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Correct, which is why I said all the "groomer" accusations were dishonest as well.

I wasn't trying to say what they were doing was on par with robbing a store, I was just providing an exaggerated example of how language can be watered down into overly-literal semantics for the purposes of downplaying something.

I'd also argue that, based on their own mission statement and chosen reading materials, they're not "simply trying to normalize their own behavior", in many cases. They're also encouraging kids to engage in some of it. Encouraging little kids to "explore gender fluidity", and doing things like activities in "The Dragtivity Book" (which has exercises like "Pick your own drag name" and "Circle your pronouns")


Does a 9 year old kid need to engage in some of the aspects of it in order to be informed about it or taught tolerance for it? Or do things like quasi-participation and "gamification" perhaps have a tendency to cross the line from "informing" to "indoctrinating"?

For instance, I would assume you want kids to be informed about different ideological viewpoints and what they entail, and wouldn't want kids to be mean to people simply because of those different viewpoints.

But on the flip side, in order to inform kids about, say, the different political viewpoints in the US...
...would kids need to do a "Ron Paul Story Hour" with a "Libertarian Activity Book" including exercises like "Circle all the ways the fed has ruined the economy", "Taxation is Theft crossword puzzle", "Rank these federal departments in order of which is the most wasteful", and then a happy little illustrated story about "Timmy the Taxpayer"...the story about a little boy who worked hard to get gold, and has to protect it from the "Government Gremlins" who seek to take it from him and give it to "Lazy Larry"?

Or would one look at that and say "hang on a minute... This looks like more than just teaching kids about what libertarians believe, it kinda sounds like you're trying to steer them into holding some of those beliefs"

If someone tried to boil that down to merely "This is just about reading to kids, while explaining that libertarians exist, and that you shouldn't be mean to little Johnny if you find out his parents are libertarians", would anyone be buying that as an explanation?

rjs330 said:

Okay I have to offer a serious mea.culpa here. I have been trying to find the quote regarding Mao. It took me a long time, but I found it. It was not Kamala Harris that said it. It was Anita Dunn. I repeat. It was NOT Harris who said it. I was wrong about it.

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Thank you for clarifying. I was searching hard for it and couldn't find it.

Michie said:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris visit an abortion clinic in Saint Paul, Minnesota in March 2024. | Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan

Last week's theme for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) — “A Fight for Our Freedoms” — was a masterclass in messaging, as speakers framed abortion as an essential freedom for all Americans. But the freedom Harris and her allies are promoting is one that leaves millions of preborn children without the basic right to life, all while actively suppressing alternatives to abortion that would offer women real choice. Here’s a closer look at four key speakers and the blatant contradictions in their advocacy.

​

Oprah Winfrey: The American Dream narrative​

Continued below.

DNC speakers advocate for freedom but contradict themselves

The freedom Harris and her allies are promoting is one that leaves millions of preborn children without the basic right to life

www.christianpost.com

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It just shows that Harris, Waltz and the Left have sold their souls for popularity and power. Whatever issue has the most support they will bend to, or rather pretend to support.

Harris says her core values havn't changed. What exactly are her core values. If she claims to be a Christian then abortion is anti-Christian. Christians believe life begins at conception and that God knows us even in the womb, we have a soul and our DNA contains att the information of who we are.

The truth is the radical Left use nobel causes like standing up for freedom arbitrarily according to a fundemental ideology that is about how we should order ourselves and society based on an image of themselves and not Gods order. It uses nobel causes as a Trojan Horse for sneaking in the ideology.

We have seen this progressive ideology slowly undermine the family, marriage, parents and children and now into the wider society. Its a very destructful ideology because everything about it is disordered and tearing down life. Killing unborn babies, ripping families apart, abusing children and inflicting chaos on society.

Harris says she is fighting for black minorities and yet everything she stands for destroys black families and communities from the destruction of the traditional black family to the disproportionate levels of abortions, crime, violence and drugs in black communities.

It use to be that black communities were strong despite their setbacks. Strong families and communities through their belief which was about family, strong social capital through the church. Harris and the Lefts policies have gradually undermined all this. This is the reality of the Leftist radical ideology that we are witnessings today.