FireDragon76 said:

That is true. I used to routinely go to a weekday service at the local Episcopal cathedral many years ago, and once they were reading from Sirach as the Old Testament lesson.

Click to expand...

I love the book of Sirach!

WASHINGTON — Toni McFadden was only a senior in high school when she walked through the doors of what she describes as a "death facility." A Planned Parenthood center filled her with the "false hope" that the abortion would give her "already unstable relationship a fighting chance."

The country's largest abortion provider gave the student abortion drugs, assuring her that any bleeding would be just like "a heavy period." But the drugs would later cause McFadden to suffer from severe hemorrhage while she was at school.

"Abortion doesn't bring healing; it leaves wounds and lifelong regret," McFadden said during a speech on Capitol Hill this week, where she joined hundreds of pro-life advocates and Christian leaders in calling on Congress to freeze the flow of federal tax dollars to the abortion industry.

Continued below.

top-us-vaccine-official-resigns-over-rfk-jrs-misinformation-and-lies-dr-peter-marks

Actually, Dr. Peter Marks was forced to resign, or be fired.

Kennedy, Junior, got votes for his confirmation, by promising that he would
leave Marks in place. Apparently, he has forgotten that promise.

Kennedy, Junior, is now restarting research to show that the debunked theory
that vaccines cause autism.
---------- ----------

For Christians, the issues are that those who promise to do something, ought
to do it.

But also, when it comes to sound reasoning methods. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN CORRELATION, AND CAUSALITY. This is a key subtopic in Epistemology.

Gutfeld!' panelists discuss congressional testimony from NPR and PBS CEOs on alleged institutional bias in taxpayer-funded media.

reddogs said:

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Many look and say well this does away with Gods Law, that those who follow the Ten Commandments are 'legalistic'. That although they are 'under grace,' by walking in a path of obedience, that keeps 'the commandments' they are in danger of coming 'under law' again.

So is Paul saying that the Ten Commandments have any further claims upon the believer, that they no longer have to keep the Law. Well, Paul gives a answer to that as he knew that would be the question. So what does he say, lets look.

Romans 6:15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Paul makes clear that this is not so we can sin, but that under grace, those who truly believe will not go into sin as he states 'God Forbid' to such a thought. So what is Paul talking about here in Romans, well we get a clue in his letter to Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 9:20-21
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

So what is Paul saying here, well obviously he is talking about the Jews versus the Gentiles, but notice he says a curious thing, 'being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ'. So what is Paul saying, well lets look directly at the words of Christ.

Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This is clear, being under to law to Christ is beyond the level of the literal law, that it surpasses even what the Jews and their teachers thought it was and followed. The entire law, including both moral and ceremonial aspects, revealed by God, existed with a view to the coming of Christ at that point in history. The law was intended by God to keep before the minds of Israel and men everywhere that the real meaning and purpose of the law lay in the full and final revelation when Christ would come to this world. And what does Christ say, He says that ones righteousness would go beyond the law if one wanted to enter into eternal life. We see Christ laying it out to the rich young man.

Matthew 19:17
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

So Christ begins with the standard that had been given, to keep the Commandments, and the young man lays claim to doing that 'All these things have I kept from my youth up' but notice what he says next, 'what lack I yet?'

Jesus says to go beyond the law, so surpass it and give all 'and come and follow me.' Christ wants us to obey out a of love for God and neighbor that goes above the literal words given in the law, and that we know, we cannot claim ignorance...
Acts 17:30-31
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

...and we will be judge by this law of love that we are given which is the literal law, 'being not without law to God', and the level of love that surpasses even that, 'but under the law to Christ.'...

Click to expand...

Happy Sabbath!

Being “under the law” means to be under the condemnation of the law.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23 the condemnation of the law and consequences of breaking God’s law and sinning. Why Jesus Christ came to save us from our sin Mat 1:21 showed us the righteous way to live Heb 4:15 1 Peter 2:21-22 1 John 2:6 and if we abide in Him, we can have His righteousness Mat 15:5-10 and through Him and the power of the Holy Spirit we can break the bondage of sin and be free in Christ John 14:15-18 Rom 6:1-4

Did God create S1 good?

I think so.

Ez 28:

11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God:

Click to expand...

The king of Tyre referred to S1 as well.

“You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.

Click to expand...

God created S1 as a wise and beautiful angel.

14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.

Click to expand...

God created S1 blameless but he rebelled later.

Another symbolic/allegorical reference of S1 was in Is 14:

12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!

Click to expand...

symbolized S1

How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.

Click to expand...

S1 wanted to dethrone God. S1's mentality changed. He became proud, too proud.

In the OT, S1 was often referred to as 'the satan' (הַשָּׂטָן).

In the NT, he was known as Satan and the devil.

Jesus spoke to the antagonistic Pharisees in John 8:

44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Click to expand...

From the beginning of Adam and Eve, S1 was a liar. However, when God first created S1, he was good. His evil nature emerged after his creation, not as part of the original creation.

See also

• I make peace, and CREATE EVIL
• When did God create hell/Tartarus?

She should move to North West Georgia where that level of stupidity will get you places.

Jesus spoke to the antagonistic Pharisees in John 8:

44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Click to expand...

The devil (or the satan or the tempter) is a bad character from the beginning of Adam and Eve. God used him to test people. Job 1:

7 The LORD said to Satan [הַשָּׂטָ֖ן], "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it."

Click to expand...

Satan had evil in mind and not just simply testing Job. He wanted Job to curse God and die.
NIV Habakkuk 1:

13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

Click to expand...

but yet, the LORD saw and spoke to Satan in Job 1.

Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Click to expand...

These Habakkuk questions are exactly my questions.
Why did God look at Satan and talk to him?
At the time of Job, Satan had the official adversarial role of testing people's loyalty toward God. That was his job. That's why God interacted with him face to face, even though Satan had evil designs in his heart. BTW, Satan failed to get Job to curse God and die. Job passed the test.
Why did God tolerate that?
Not only was God testing people; he was testing Satan and his gang of bad angels as well. God had a trump card to play, i.e., Jesus Christ. When Jesus showed up, he kicked them out of heaven. Now, instead of Satan accusing us like the scene in Job, we have Christ defending us at the right hand of God.
See also

• The changing role of satan
• Does God test/tempt people?

awesome

As human beings who live on this earth, in these flesh bodies, we are going to face trials and tribulations, and persecutions and rejections, and good times and bad times. We will have times of rejoicing, and times of sorrow and suffering. And we may have times when we hope that the return of Jesus will be soon, and we may have times when we are glad that we are still living on this earth, when we are thankful for the blessings of God in our lives, especially if we are being used of God to minister his grace to others.

But, no matter what we are going through, whether good times or bad, we walk by faith and not by sight. And faith in Jesus (in God) is divine persuasion. And God persuades us as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to die with him to sin and to now walk (in conduct, in practice) in obedience to his commands, by the grace of God, in the power of God. And faith is not contingent on our circumstances but on the grace of God and on our responses to him to obey him with our lives.

Just as I got to this point in this writing I received a text from an old friend, and one of her children just suffered a horrible injustice at the hands of a criminal. I will not go into the details, but if you are reading this, would you take a moment to pray for her and for her daughter and for the man who did this to her daughter? This is devastating to their family. They are believers in Jesus, and their trust is in God, but situations like this have a way of testing our faith in the Lord. They could really benefit from our prayers at this time.

And this is why we must walk by faith and not by sight, for our faith cannot be dependent on our circumstances. We have to believe God and rest in him no matter what happens to us. And things like this might lead some people to question God and his grace and mercy, and why he allowed such a thing as this to happen. God, though, is not the creator of evil, but he does allow evil to exist, otherwise none of us would still be here, because we all live in flesh bodies, and we are all born into sin and are still capable of sinning.

So, no matter what comes our way to test our faith and to try us, and which may hurt us, we walk by faith and not by sight, and our ambition is to live in such a way as to be pleasing to God in all that we are and say and do, for the glory and praise of God. For God never promised that life would be easy for us or that we would never have to suffer or that evil people would never do evil things to us. He said these things would take place. As Jesus suffered so we will suffer, too, if our lives are surrendered to obey the Lord.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-39; Matt 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-19; John 15:1-21; John 16:33; John 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Eph 6:10-20; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

Now, living lives to please the Lord is not optional. And it is not true that we please God just by making professions of faith in him alone, which is what some people are teaching. We must live to please God. We must forsake our lives of sin to follow Jesus in obedience to his commands. For we are all going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and we are all going to be judged and rewarded according to our deeds. And if sin is our practice, and not obedience to God, then we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 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; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

Songs in the Night

An Original Work / December 18, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.
You, my Savior, I now adore.
Hope in heaven awaiting me,
Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,
And I’m bound for heaven.
Jesus set me free from
All my sin, I say.
I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:
Overcame death, my vict’ry won!
Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!
I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!
My sin is but hist’ry!
I am free to please Him
With my life today.
I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me
A new life bought at Calvary.
Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.
Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;
Through my Lord, I’m able
To sit at His table;
Fellowship with Him.
I will thank Him always!

Login to view embedded media
Walk by Faith, Not by Sight
An Original Work / March 29, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Welcome to CF.
--
More of His grace to you..

Blessings,

God is science and reason, he created it, also there is false science, evolution says the process doesn't need intervention from God, it could do its thing and work, well, that a lie, first we have a soul inside, that alone destroys that thought, our soul works with our bodies. God designed our bodies just as he wanted.

FutureAndAHope said:

But who are God's sheep?

Click to expand...

Those who hear His voice and follow Him.

Our earthly tent is not a physical tent like one would use for camping outdoors, but this is speaking of our human bodies. And the older that we get, as humans, the more that body fails to function as it did when we were much younger. And I am at that age when I am not as strong physically, nor am I as astute (quick minded) mentally as I was when I was much younger. I tire more easily, I can forget something as soon as it enters my mind, I have to proofread these writings multiple times, and I am slowing down.

There is an old saying (I think it is old) which says, “Getting old is not for the faint of heart” (or for sissies, the weak, wimps). But everyone is different. Some of us age in mind and body more quickly than others. So we do not all have the same experience with aging. Some of that may have to do with the level of physical activity that we are involved in, or with the kind of food that we eat or do not eat, or with our physical circumstances or environments. But for the aged among us, at some point our bodies will stop working.

For those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, that is not the end of the story. Those of us who, by faith in Jesus Christ, have died with Christ to sin, by the Spirit, and who have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness, we have a life beyond this earthly life which we are longing for. We have the promise of life with God in heaven for eternity, provided we continue in that faith to the end.

And that is what this passage of Scripture is talking about. And for us who are following the Lord Jesus with our lives, in obedience to his commands, and in obedience to his specific callings upon each of our lives, and who are in that age category of the elderly, I think we probably all do groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling and to escape these earthly bodies and this evil world in which we live. We long for the day when we will no longer suffer, when crying will be no more, and when hate will be gone.

Now there are a lot of people who take this passage of Scripture out of context, and they presume upon God that, just because they made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ at some point in their lives, that they can now claim this promise of God, for themselves, of life eternal with him in heaven, but regardless of how they live. But this pledge from God comes with stipulations (requirements) which we must fulfill, in the power of God, by faith in Jesus Christ, according to the will and purpose of God.

Jesus taught if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if we deny self, die to sin daily, by the Spirit, and walk (in conduct, in practice) in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in the power of God, then we have the hope of eternal life with God. But if we claim to be in Christ, but sin and disobedience to God are what we practice, we do not have this promise.

Genuine faith in Jesus Christ will result in us dying with Christ to sin and us walking in obedience to his commands, in practice, although not necessarily in absolute sinless perfection. For our old self was crucified with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. So we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, but if obedience to God is what we obey, its end is eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 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; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

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.

Login to view embedded media
Caution: This link may contain ads

We Have a Building from God
An Original Work / March 29, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

To think I was speaking positively on a couple of items in the build back better plan, and they weren't implemented.

"Pope Francis has urged U.S. Catholics and people of goodwill to not give in to "narratives" that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to migrants and refugees."

I think the problem is actually a sense of personal legal entitlement.
I think the solution is an application of "loving neighbours as oneself" by all involved.
IMHO if a person looks like a man, they should use the men's facilities if practical so as to not "scare the horses".
IMHO if a person looks like a woman, they should use the women's facilities if practical, so as to not "scare the horses".
And if "confronting", or where there are open showers IMHO they should use unisex facilities, where available.
I recommend a topping of love for all on a base of commonsense.

The New York Police Department Hate Crime Task Force is investigating after two men were caught on camera vandalizing a Tesla Cybertruck Thursday.

A spokesperson for the NYPD told Fox News Digital the two men carved the word "Nazis" and a swastika onto the doors of the Cybertruck at around 1 a.m. at 730 Monroe Street in Brooklyn.

They fled on foot after vandalizing the car and haven't been arrested, according to the NYPD.

Video provided by the NYPD from the Cybertruck's safety camera shows two men taking turns drawing on the Tesla vehicles.

Continued below.

Dave Borlace runs "Just Have a Think" - one of my favourite YouTube channels breaking down the science and tech of climate change and the Energy Transition for a humanities geek like myself.

In the last bit - he does a cheeky comparison of the cautious scientific method with the risk-averse actuaries - which makes for some fairly dramatic results!

Login to view embedded media

A federal appeals court on Friday granted the Trump administration's motion to extend a stay allowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue operating at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Last week, a federal judge in Maryland ruled efforts to halt USAID functions were likely unconstitutional, ordering its reinstatement.

A federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday issued a stay, temporarily blocking the judge’s order that prohibited DOGE from working with USAID. It also barred biopharmaceutical executive Jeremy Levin from leading the agency.

Friday's decision extends the stay until the appeal is resolved.

Continued below.

FireDragon76 said:

They are an anti-LGBT hate group. It's unclear exactly what lead to the incident, but harassment isn't out of the question, owing to the low character of Charlie Kirk and his organization.

There's an old legal term called 'fighting words' that comes to mind.

This article has a more neutral report of the incident:

UT Dallas Conservative Student Group Assaulted by Biker, Video Shows

Video shared by far-right media personality Charlie Kirk shows an individual striking a student with a large bike lock on campus.

www.dallasobserver.com

Click to expand...

So the transgender person also resisted arrest and assaulted a police officer. The article doesn't help your case