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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Scandal-plagued Graham Platner clinches Dem Maine Senate primary: ‘I’ve made mistakes’

Where have you seen anything about underage girls or rape? All I’ve seen are claims that he was rough with some of his girlfriends.
Post 3, there's a video of him saying, that he was sexting underage girls. That should be illegal.
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Imputed Righteousness. The True & The False.

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous Rom2:12&13

Verse 13 pertains to those under the law. If you are under the law you will be judged righteous by your obedience to it, but he states believers are not under the law(Rom6:14)
Verse 12 is quite clear: people, whether under the law or not under the law will perish due to sin!! Then 13 sums it up: all must obey. Taking the whole counsel of Scripture into view, sin will still kill you but Christ gives us the way out: not by being under the law that kills but by the power of the Holy Spirit now given, that comes by faith. That's what Paul is excited about at the end of Rom 7 and into Rom 8, telling us that the Spirit gives life by taking away and overcoming sin-"deeds of the flesh"!! This is a new righteousness, apart from the law (Rom 3:21), not a merely legalistic righteousness per the old covenant, nor a merely declared righteousness, but the real thing! A righteousness sufficient to please God that you're not just remaining as you were, in your flesh and in your sins, but that you're where you can and should be at any one point in time by the power of His grace, now on board and making progress with Him on the Way, His way, on the path to His plan for you from the beginning. That's what faith is all about, it's purpose.
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Jasmine Crockett suggests she also would have stabbed Austin Metcalf in stunning defense of Karmelo Anthony

I don't think its an opinion but a fact. Crockett lied that the jury was all white (fact). She implied the jury was biased because no blacks were on the jury (fact). Simply mentioning these facts is not bias.
Simply mentioning them is not bias but then saying "She said it was an all white jury to stir up racial divisions", is a biased opinion. Fact
The black jurorers were not disqualified from being jurorers. They all went through the process to qualify and those who were disqualified did not meet the qualification. Nor did many other people including whites and minorities.
Do you understand that you just contradicted yourself. Fact: The black members were disqualified. Not because they did not meet the qualifications but because the prosecutor did not want them on the jury. The 3 blacks were teachers and the prosecutor said that this may skew their view.

Why? Boy of the young men were students. He also cited their response to the question of their view on immigration. Why were the blacks disqualified, for this, but the Hispanics, whites, or Asians were not? The Defence lawyers disqualified some, as well.
By implying that the blacks were disqualified due to racism is unsubstanciated and therefore stirring up trouble.
Or, it is sitting up the reason for an appeal. The Appeals Court will examine the process and rule if the prosecutor violated Anthony's rights.
People make unsubstanciated claims as though truth. This is what stirs up trouble.
Both sides do this. We can't say that it's okay for whites to do this but rant when blacks do it.
I just trust the system until its proved that something is wrong.
The system hasn't ruled yet. Only the first step in the system has. The Appeals process has just begun. That process has overturned tons of lower court decisions.
Its worked for decades and 1,000s of times before regardless of race.
And thousands of convicts have been released from prison after spending years behind bars because they were later proven innocent.
White men have been convicted of murder under the same circumstances and are doing more time than Anthony.
Yet, it is a fact that when comparing the sentences of whites and blacks, that blacks are given stricter sentences than whites, in America.
I don't know. But I bet some think its because they hate blacks. Thats the stock standard race focused answer. Which stokes the fires and now we see more violence as a result.
This would have been alleviated if the prosecutor would have allowed 1 or 2 black jurors. We are supposed to face a jury of our peer.
This is a good example of how words and narratives lead to division and hatred on the streets.
I agree. This occurs on both sides.
We would expect the majority of jurorers be white considering they represent the majority of the population.
I agree but we would also expect to see some blacks on the jury due to the percentage of blacks amongst our population.
The premise for grievances about the jury mix and black representation is based on the unsubstanciated belief that this is because of racism.
That is why there are Appeals Courts. This gives the sides the chance to substantiate their claims.
As I mentioned earlier the ideology makes all differences and every inequality due to race and descrimination.
Both sides want to control the narrative.
It assumes racism and descrimination before and without any evidence.
There is evidence, though. That is clear. We'll have to wait to see how the appeal goes to see if they can prove their case
It was inaccurate and a lie that Crockett used the example of a 300lb person threatening a smaller man.
She didn't say that. Now, I don't know how much Crockett weighs but it's probably higher than Anthony's 165. She used the example that if she were attacked by a 300 lb man that she would use more than her fists.

Now Anthony's victim wasn't a 300 lb guy but there were several guys telling him to leave. It's hard to prove thought process, so we don't know what Anthony was thinking when these guys approached him, but the victim was 50 lbs heavier and muscular.

To build a case for self defense that caused Anthony to fear for his life that he had to pull out a knife and stab the big man in th heart.
Yes, and Crockett was doing that. Even though, what she what she said was inaccurate about the weapon, she admitted that she didn't know but was going off of what people were saying. (Certain news sources didn't report that, trying to control the narrative.)
Metcalf was average size,
No he wasn't. He was much bigger than the average 17 year old male, which is 140 to 150 lbs and about 5' 9". Anthony was also bigger than the average but not much bigger
he did not have a weapon nor make life threatening attempts to Anthony.
Fists are weapons and he pushed Anthony.
The jury was presented with the facts and they concluded it met the criteria for murder.
Yes. But the defense has presented the evidence before an appeal and we'll have to wait to see how that goes to see if the jury was correct.
It was inaccurate to bring in George Floyd as an example of this case as no police officer was involved and there was no struggle where Metcalf was on top of Anthony using life threatening physicality. This was between two male students at an athletic meet.
Yeah, I hate to see people over using Floyd.
In fact here are those words coming out of her own mouth.
Provide her quote.
But notice how she exaggerates the example by saying not only was this a threatening massive bully but that they were on top of her. To push home the false defense that Metcalf was the agressor and he posed a life threatening threat. She is creaating a false narrative.
Providing something from Fox News, which twists what she says doesn't help your case.
Court testimony showed that Metcalf was the aggressor. Nothing gives Anthony the right to use deadly force, in this case, but the testimony does show that he was reasonable to feel threatened by Metcalf and the other athletes.
I think I have shown its more than an opinion.
No, what you've said shows that it is your opinion of what the evidence shows. Another person can look at the same evidence and come up with another opinion.
I mean you could argue why saying those things is ok.
Crockett is a Defense attorney and talking like a Defense attorney.
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I am curious why Republicans ignore Trump's wrong doing.

LOL. You can’t stand what he says and does and so blame the actual problems as “scapegoats”.

“PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN”. That’s what it sounds like when the left speaks. “There isn’t any child , it’s just a made-up crisis by Trump.” “There’s no Medicaid or Medicare fraud, it’s just another made-up crisis by Trump.” And on and on.
Stats show that immigrants are more law-abiding than native born Americans. Of course they are! If you had to live under the radar you'd be more careful, too.

I know there is some Medicare fraud. One of the biggest offenders was Republican Senator (former Gov.) Rick Scott, whose company bilked the government of many millions. Maybe he could help the DOJ by showing them the dirty tricks that helped him accomplish his fraud...

In my state, I think that more people are denied Medicaid because the layers of red tape are so burdensome to low-income workers who don't have the education and skills to handle all that paperwork. The fraud often comes not from the policy holders but from doctors and facilities scamming the system.
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Is Salvation a choice? If it is, whose choice is it ?

zoidar said:
Hi Bill,
Do you think a person who loves darkness can choose to seek truth, meaning and purpose?

Would you define "seek worthily"?
It's a little like synergism. It doesn't work, unless God is doing it. But we do try anyway. "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain."

A person slave to sin, spiritually dead (not born again), may suppose himself to be seeking truth, meaning and purpose. He may feel the need to do so. But his efforts are useless and at best temporary in producing satisfaction. "Vanity of vanities" "A chasing after the wind".

It is analogous to "getting saved" as though there is something one can do of themselves to accomplish that. It is like generating faith by one's own will-power. "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to his good purposes."
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What does God promise us if we believe in Jesus?

In my last post I gave what the world considers the downside of being a Christian. Jesus did not come to destroy our fun. He came so we could experience true happiness. The things that give us pleasure will change. The pleasure we will have in heaven is so much more intense and greater than anything in the world can give. Even though we are not in heaven now His joy and peace is better than what the world gives

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. NKJV

The joy that Jesus had, He has given us that joy. The more we start to look like Jesus the more we experience that joy. As we shed more and more sins of the flesh it gets stronger and last longer. It does fade as we get past the triumphant victory but the joy never leaves completely even in the hard times, if we keep looking to Jesus as our source of joy.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJV

Jesus also left us His peace. A better feeling of peace and joy only those in Jesus can know. We have it here and it will only get better in heaven. The struggle is well worth it.

For those in Christ who think they do not sin in Christ and are not convicted by Jesus for any sin.

Matthew 11:11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. NKJV

Matthew recorded that Jesus compared the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John the Baptist.

Luke 7:28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." NKJV

Luke recorded that the least in the kingdom was greater than the prophet John. Dose this mean that the least in the kingdom of heaven was a greater prophet that John? No, it could not mean that the least in the kingdom of God is a greater prophet.

Matthew 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. NKJV

A false teacher is the least in the Kingdom of God. The thing that makes a false teacher greater than John the Baptist is God does not impute sin to a person in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, Jesus was saying that John the Baptist was the least sinner of all the other prophets, but those in the kingdom sin less than John. So John the Baptist was the person who sinned the least among the prophets.

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." NKJV

Jesus also told a young man if he wanted to be perfect, as a man could be, to become like John the Baptist. Own nothing but the cloths on your back and point people to Jesus 24/7 until you die, and you are as sinless as a living man can be.
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US government directive to suspend access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5

I was confused for a minute, because I didn't think the next Fable was out yet.
I thought it was some video game I didn't play (which would be all of them, but still).
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Do the holy scriptures teach or imply that space aliens exist?

Lots of angel talk on this thread but it is misdirected when making them alien to this world. ... It does not include God's Messengers. They are not " life forms". ...
"angels" (heavenly, such as Gabriel, 'Herald') are 'alien' (foreigners, strangers) to this world. They are not made from the earthly elements, but heavenly ones (1 Cor. 15:38-40) and thus have "strange flesh" / "bodies" (Jud. 1:7). Are they also "spirit" (Psa. 104:4; Heb. 1:7, &c.)? Yes, but that simply means that they are a living intelligence with a mind / heart / spirit, which is connected to their bodies, with which the "minister" as such with their "hands", "feet", "mouths", &c. I presented a linked resource on this, with many references - Do the holy scriptures teach or imply that space aliens exist?

Mankind is also "spirit" (Heb. 12:23), but that just means they too, are living intelligences with a mind / heart / spirit.

So, yes, God's (Heavenly) "Messengers" are indeed "life forms", not "life incorporeals".

The word [G4151] “πνευμα”, “pneuma”, “spirit”, used twice in the sentence refers to the thinking, or rational, mind, or the emotional ‘heart’, or the seat of the ‘intelligence’ of a living person / being.

Throughout the Bible, the word “spirit” is often connected, in immediate context, to the “heart” or “mind” (intelligence): Exo. 35:21; Deu. 2:30; Jos. 5:1; Psa. 34:18, 51:10,17, 77:6, 78:8, 143:4; Pro. 15:13, 17:22; Ecc. 1:17; Isa. 57:15, 65:14; Eze. 11:19, 18:31, 21:7, 36:26; Mar. 2:8; Jhn. 4:24; Rom. 2:29; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 3:4 KJB; and thus the “spirit” of man, the “heart” of man, is connected with reasoning and thoughts or intelligence: 1 Chr. 28:9; Mat. 9:4; Luk. 2:35, 5:22, 24:38; Rom. 2:15; Eph. 4:23; 2 Tim. 1:7 and so on; see also Job 14:21; Psa. 146:4; Ecc. 9:5,6,10 KJB. See also Pro. 8:22-31 KJB. There are no ‘spirits’ (intelligences) that exist without a body to act on behalf of the thinking mind. Even the angel-kind of 3rd heaven itself, all being ‘spirits’ (living intelligences; Psa. 104:4; Heb. 1:7,14, 12:9 KJB) that ‘minister’ with their physical / corporeal hands and bodies (Psa. 103:20-21 KJB), just as those of mankind also do (Act. 20:34; Heb. 12:23 KJB).

Exodus 35:21 KJB - And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.​
1 Chronicles 28:9 KJB - And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.​
Psalms 34:18 KJB - The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.​
Psalms 51:10 KJB - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.​
Psalms 51:17 KJB - The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.​
Psalms 77:6 KJB - I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.​
Ecclesiastes 1:17 KJB - And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.​
Matthew 9:4 KJB - And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?​
Mark 2:8 KJB - And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?​
Luke 2:35 KJB - (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.​
Ephesians 4:23 KJB - And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;​
Hebrews 4:12 KJB - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.​
2 Timothy 1:7 KJB - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.​

So, the thread is not misdirected.
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‘The Office of Pastor Is Limited to Men’—Albert Mohler’s Amendment to SBC Constitution Passes Initial Vote

Granted, my framework was very legalistic, controlling, etc. I admit, I wouldn't like to be under it.

My reasoning behind it was this. If you reject interpretations of Scripture that allow for women pastors, then surely all the other Scriptural qualifications for pastor / elder / overseer are valid as well (1 Timothy 3:1-7). To put it another way, I don't see how having a woman pastor that meets all the other qualifications could be more Scripturaly unsound than having an angry male who cheats on his wife as a pastor. However, the current system in place is doing its best to ensure the woman pastor is rooted out immediately. While the male pastor may linger, drift from church to church, etc for years or until he retires. Admittedly I was looking for a way try and ensure all the qualfications got the same level of scrutiny as gender is getting.
Sorry if I seemed too critical speaking from only a Pentecostal perspective.
You are absolutely right, it is easy to single out gender, while the other criteria might be neglected. I know some denominations will not allow a remarried person to be pastor, unless they have a clear case of the former spouse committing adultery. Other criteria like drinking could be subjective, though some might expect no drinking at all, a standard that is really not there.
If I think some about the woman pastor question, are we certain these women are "pure" pastors? Are we certain any man is a "pure" pastor? by pure i mean called to that specific office. Could be some are prophets, teachers, or evangelists serving as a pastor? Even a layperson with no pastoral office from God could serve as a pastor. I do not think that God automatically makes someone a pastor just because they try to fill that role. They still could offer those same qualifications but inside they operate under a different calling. Anyway, thanks for a great topic and postings on this.
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Is Hell Annihilationism or Eternal Torment

Uh, except for the fact that there is no statement anywhere saying God does that other than in your imaginations.

God is in fact Omnipresent so there is no such thing as "separation from God." God isn't a "locale" on a universal multidimensional map of some sorts.
God is omnipresent by omniscience (Psa. 139). The Father's Person / Being is in an actual locale, in the 3rd Heaven (aka "paradise", "Eden, the garden of God"):

Mat_6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.​
Luk_11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.​

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.​
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.​
Joh_20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.​
God is not in the sinner (see Rev. 3:20). God's omnipresence is not after the manner of pantheism, or panentheism. Both heresies and extremely dangerous. Thus God is not in the tree, the flower, &c., and the tree, flower are not God.

The scripture raised by the other, is important:

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.​
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Informative 15 min video about speaking in tongues

Sure I like the word of God over experience too. Too bad there is no definitive list of operations, administrations, and diversity of gifts, ministries and personal operations. The reason there is not is because there are millions of potential combinations and permutations. I would argue instead that each believer is like a fingerprint, unique in their calling, able to change with various seasons Thus, it is impossible to provide all specific doctrine on such uses other than some basic guidelines from the word of God.

I know too that if I spend time praying in the spirit (tongues in my case), even a few hours a week, then the short-term results typically are far better, than if I did not. The only biblical case I can see to eliminate tongues is to move unto prophecy.

I Cor 14:2-4 (NAS)
"For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one [a]understands, but [b]in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, [c]exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

If your not speaking in tongues anymore, are you desiring earnestly the gifts? Does your church ever do deliverance? lay hands on the sick? anoint with oil? Seems interesting that typically those that speak in tongues (including charismatic Catholics) are far more aggressive in doing these things. I admit there are variances of theological thinking as the nuances of tongues, public and private. Even in Acts 2, the sheer number of people there make it unlikely to know if all the tongues were known languages. Some scholars suggest that as some appeared drunk, it may indicate that there was more going on than just speaking in tongues in foreign languages.
I am not saying anyone's doctrine is wrong but I would be careful to be too dogmatic.
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Hall of Mirrors

hallofmirrors.jpg


Hall of Mirrors

Living in a monastery, where we share life in such a close way, can be daunting. We have different generations praying, eating, and working together. Each brings his own history, temperament, and perspective. Add to that differing political views, and it is not surprising that tensions can arise.
Love and Discernment

Jesus gave us counsels for living that are not always easy to apply. They require discernment.
For example, there are times when turning the other cheek is the right response—and times when it is not. Without discernment, even something good can be misapplied, and harm can be done. So we are asked not only to obey, but to reflect, to pause, and to seek wisdom before we act.

The Commandment of Love

There is, however, one commandment that admits of no exception:
to love God and to love others as we love ourselves.

This is not a sentimental love, nor one limited to friends or those we naturally get along with. It includes everyone—especially those who are different, difficult, or even unsettling to us. Such love is beyond our natural capacity. It can only grow in us through grace.
And yet, this commandment includes something we often overlook: we are to love others as we love ourselves. If our relationship with ourselves is marked by rejection or harshness, that will inevitably shape how we relate to others.
The Danger of Judgment

In monastic life, we encounter brothers we do not fully understand. Some remain, in a real sense, an enigma to us. We are not called to grasp everything about one another, but we are called to resist harsh and final judgments in our minds, which closes us off from who they really are. In a deeper sense, this is a failure of love—it diminishes both the one judged and the one judging.

A Hall of Mirrors

Our community can be seen as a kind of hall of mirrors. In others, we often encounter reflections of parts of ourselves—especially the parts we have lost touch with, or would rather not see. What we react to most strongly in others can reveal something within us. When we reject or condemn those reflections, we may also be rejecting something in ourselves. In that sense, judgment becomes not only a lack of charity toward others, but also toward our own inner life.

Self-Knowledge and the Inner Life

This is why self-knowledge is so important. It is part of the long and often difficult journey toward genuine self-love.
In prayer, as we go deeper, we begin to see ourselves more clearly. But this deeper knowledge can only take root if we are willing to accept what we see. This includes what is sometimes called the “shadow”: those underdeveloped, wounded, or even self-destructive aspects of our lives.
As our love of God grows, we slowly gain the capacity to face these parts of ourselves. When we can name them and hold them in Christ, they begin to lose their power to harm us—or others. They are no longer hidden forces, but something we can bring into the light.

Growth in Compassion

From this comes a deeper compassion. We begin to recognize that others are struggling as we are. Their faults no longer seem entirely foreign. We see that we are all on the same path, all in need of patience, mercy, and grace. Community life then becomes less of a burden and more of a place of transformation.

A Choice

But this path can also be refused. If we avoid self-knowledge, if we cling to judgment, then community easily becomes a cycle of tension and opposition. Relationships grow adversarial instead of life-giving. The hall of mirrors then becomes a place of distortion, where we only see what confirms our judgments.
But if we accept the work—if we allow God to guide us into truth—then those same mirrors can become a place of insight, humility, and growth in love.-Br.MD

Anti-Christian violence laid bare at public hearing in India

In central India’s Chhattisgarh state, followers of a tribal religion in Bastar District recently dug up the grave of a tribal Christian buried 20 years before. They unearthed his skeleton, burned it and scattered the ashes.

The message to the living Christian community was unmistakable.

Human rights attorney Degree Prasad Chouhan, who helps marginalized communities in Chhattisgarh, brought this testimony to an unofficial public hearing known as a “people’s tribunal” on June 1.

The People’s Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India in New Delhi was convened at the Constitution Club by Karwan-e-Mohabbat, an Urdu phrase meaning “Caravan of Love,” a civil society organization founded by human rights activist and author Harsh Mander that accompanies victims of communal and religious violence across India, along with a collective of concerned citizens.

Continued below.
  • Informative
Reactions: Pioneer3mm

Hall of Mirrors

hallofmirrors.jpg


Hall of Mirrors

Living in a monastery, where we share life in such a close way, can be daunting. We have different generations praying, eating, and working together. Each brings his own history, temperament, and perspective. Add to that differing political views, and it is not surprising that tensions can arise.

Love and Discernment

Jesus gave us counsels for living that are not always easy to apply. They require discernment.
For example, there are times when turning the other cheek is the right response—and times when it is not. Without discernment, even something good can be misapplied, and harm can be done. So we are asked not only to obey, but to reflect, to pause, and to seek wisdom before we act.

The Commandment of Love

There is, however, one commandment that admits of no exception:
to love God and to love others as we love ourselves.

This is not a sentimental love, nor one limited to friends or those we naturally get along with. It includes everyone—especially those who are different, difficult, or even unsettling to us. Such love is beyond our natural capacity. It can only grow in us through grace.

And yet, this commandment includes something we often overlook: we are to love others as we love ourselves. If our relationship with ourselves is marked by rejection or harshness, that will inevitably shape how we relate to others.

The Danger of Judgment

In monastic life, we encounter brothers we do not fully understand. Some remain, in a real sense, an enigma to us. We are not called to grasp everything about one another, but we are called to resist harsh and final judgments.

To label someone, to “box” them in, is to reduce them. It fixes them in our minds and closes us off from who they really are. In a deeper sense, this is a failure of love—it diminishes both the one judged and the one judging.

A Hall of Mirrors

Our community can be seen as a kind of hall of mirrors.
In others, we often encounter reflections of parts of ourselves—especially the parts we have lost touch with, or would rather not see.

What we react to most strongly in others can reveal something within us. When we reject or condemn those reflections, we may also be rejecting something in ourselves. In that sense, judgment becomes not only a lack of charity toward others, but also toward our own inner life.

Self-Knowledge and the Inner Life

This is why self-knowledge is so important. It is part of the long and often difficult journey toward genuine self-love.

In prayer, as we go deeper, we begin to see ourselves more clearly. But this deeper knowledge can only take root if we are willing to accept what we see. This includes what is sometimes called the “shadow”: those underdeveloped, wounded, or even self-destructive aspects of our lives.

As our love of God grows, we slowly gain the capacity to face these parts of ourselves. When we can name them and hold them in Christ, they begin to lose their power to harm us—or others. They are no longer hidden forces, but something we can bring into the light.

Growth in Compassion

From this comes a deeper compassion.
We begin to recognize that others are struggling as we are. Their faults no longer seem entirely foreign. We see that we are all on the same path, all in need of patience, mercy, and grace.

Community life then becomes less of a burden and more of a place of transformation.

A Choice

But this path can also be refused.
If we avoid self-knowledge, if we cling to judgment, then community easily becomes a cycle of tension and opposition. Relationships grow adversarial instead of life-giving.

The hall of mirrors then becomes a place of distortion, where we only see what confirms our judgments.

But if we accept the work—if we allow God to guide us into truth—then those same mirrors can become a place of insight, humility, and growth in love.-Br.MD

Anyone up for a chat thread?

Am I allowed to be proud of my home city for this?

"An estimated 300 people took part in a Stop The Boats protest on Saturday, while a counter protest organised by Carnival Against Fascism saw an estimated 4,000 attendees, Sussex Police said." Eight arrests at anti-immigration and counter protest in Brighton

That is, yesterday, 300 far right wing "anti-immigration" supporters tried to come here on a train to demonstrate on the streets, and 4000 local people formed such a thick crowd of objectors at the exit to the station, that they could not actually reach our streets.
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Jesus = Michael?

Well, let's apply the critical massive distinction here, "but without SIN." Hamartiology can open other cans of various worms, such as Jesus taking on the sin of the world, etc. Non of that makes the "Body or Mind of Jesus" sinful. ...
You seem to have left out the verse I cited. Rom. 8:3. Spirit and Flesh are two differing things - Jhn. 3. - Flesh And Spirit of Jesus Christ Chart : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive or here - Godhead - The Eternal Heavenly Trio : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Flesh And Spirit Chart.jpg


Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Where was "sin condemned"? "in the flesh".

Whose "flesh" was "sin condemned" in? God's "own Son". The "flesh" (human) of Jesus was "sinful (fallen) flesh". It had to be for numerous reasons. Yes, Jesus was "without sin" in the spirit / mind / heart. That is not in question. Already agreed to / granted.

This is why it is important, for it affects what one believes about the Everlasting Gospel and salvation itself and how God accomplishes it in us. I do not desire to derail this OP / thread on this subject, so if you would like, please create another thread and we can further discuss the implications and results of the differing positions on this.

Additional resources:

Flesh & Spirit Bible Chart Image - https://ia803405.us.archive.org/14/items/flesh-and-spirit-chart/Flesh And Spirit Chart.jpg

Restoration - Dennis Priebe Studies : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Restoration - https://archive.org/details/restoration...-dennis-priebe-480p-30fps-h-264-128kbit-aac

Face To Face With The Real Gospel 01-01 - Login to view embedded media

Amazing Facts Pocket Book Joe Crews Down From His Glory - Amazing Facts Pocket Book Joe Crews Down From His Glory : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Amazing Facts Pocket Book Joe Crews Library Of Sermons 26 Christ's Human Nature - Amazing Facts Pocket Book Joe Crews Library Of Sermons 26 Christ's Human Nature : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

SDA Ralph Larson The Word Was Made Flesh - SDA Ralph Larson The Word Was Made Flesh : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

SDA A G Daniels Christ Our Righteousness 1924 - SDA A G Daniels Christ Our Righteousness 1924 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

SDA Vance Ferrell The Nature Of Christ - SDA Vance Ferrell The Nature Of Christ : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

SDA Eric Wilson The Word Became Flesh, 1895 Armadale Extract - SDA Eric Wilson The Word Became Flesh, 1895 Armadale Extract : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Doctrine Christ's Human Nature Kenneth Gage Human Nature Of Christ Fallen - Doctrine Christ's Human Nature Kenneth Gage Human Nature Of Christ Fallen : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Doctrine Human Nature Kevin D Paulson Are We Born Sinners - https://archive.org/details/doctrine-human-nature-kevin-d-paulson-are-we-born-sinners/mode/1up
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A woman’s hypothermia death in Pittsburgh after her release from ICE custody is ruled a homicide

[She struggled with psychiatric problems and had spent 6 months in jail as she was evaluated.]

Afterward, ICE arrested her in her cell, put an ankle monitor on her and took her 25 miles (40 kilometers) away to Pittsburgh, where she sat at a bus shelter for days in winter, he said.

[She was wearing the clothes she had on in September, but it was now February.]

Recall also this case.


And also that ICE has changed its rules. It no longer reports deaths that occur after release.

ICE will no longer report deaths of detainees who have recently been released from custody

The goal of the 2021 policy was to ensure that ICE could not avoid accountability for deaths by releasing severely ill people from custody.

[Also useful for cases like these, where not-very-capable people are abandoned in unfamiliar and inclement surroundings.]
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