prodromos said:

It looks more demonic than simple instability.
I simply cannot comprehend these people's need to record themselves going batsh.t crazy and posting it on the Internet for all to see. At least it helps us identify who to avoid

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That is really sick.

What worries me more is the similar thinking ones who aren't screaming, who have their sniper rifle, who know how to use it, and are planning on using it. How many hundreds of those people are out there adjusting their scopes right now?

rambot said:

IT's hard for me to say the punishment is "too hard" if the criminal doesn't learn from it and change his behaviour.

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The punishment must be enough to deter others from committing the same offence. And be enough to convince the criminal from repeating the crime. To convince him or her to change their ways. Just locking them up is not generally going to do that. There must be some positive action that will help to change their attitudes.

Maybe the creep in this case should be made to individually meet with the Sandy Hook parents (obviously if they are willing) so they can explain to him, one on one, the personal effect his words had on them. If he'd had a custodial sentence then, through gritted teeth again, I would agree to his release if he was genuinely remorceful. On the understanding that a second offence would see the book thrown at him.

IMO, it doesn't make any sense to spend more money per year on average for a prisoner than the amount of money to pay for a free person in the USA to live a decent life.

Sizz said:

I’m shattered, lost, confused, so heartbroken , she’s my soulmate,

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This sounds like how she could have felt because of what you have done.

Both of you, then, perhaps have not prepared to do the forgiving that needs to be done in order to have a successful marriage.

God's love makes us generously forgiving and His love makes us strong so we can not deeply suffer and be broken. But it seems both of you can become emotional basket cases because of evil that someone else has done. And this is not scriptural, however we let evil get the better of us >

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

So, it looks like neither of you has become strong in Jesus and how He has us loving and freely forgiving. So, this is perhaps your first real problem, and hers, too. So, yes, may be we could say you two *are* soulmates, by being the same way like this. But you need to get with God, then - - whether she does or not - - and share with mature Christian examples who can feed you how to become in Jesus. And as this works for you . . . pray this to her.

As God proves Himself to you, by maturing you in His love and generosity of forgiveness and strength against pain and confusion and brokenheartedness . . . with God in ***HIs*** love you then will discover how He guides you and makes the way for all the good He has for you. And you will discover if she has joined you in this or not.

By the way . . . even if she forgives you well . . . this does not automatically mean she has to trust you, but she needs to be able to test reliably, with God making her sensible and prayerful so she can test reliably about if and how to trust you. And meanwhile you need to first depend on God, not allow your happiness to hang on what she decides, so what she does can not have power to take you down and out in trouble and torment. Because even if you work things out, there will be times when one of you will be wrong, and the other will need to be strong so the one who is right can restore the other.

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

"'And whenever you send praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.'" (Mark 11:25-26)

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (in Luke 23:34)

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

If you obey these scriptures, **yourself**, you will discover who you connect with in genuine love.

Now I am looking through the window
In the corner of my room.
I see people walking here and there
Seemingly without a care.

I wonder, “Do they truly know Him?
Do they think of Him at all?
Do they think of what He’s done for them?
Have they given Him a call?

“Do they wonder if He’s listening
To the words they choose to say?
Do they think on how they live their lives?
Do they stop, and to Him pray?

“Now is He barely even mentioned
When they’re talking to their friends?
Or is He given not a thought at all,
For on Him they not depend?

“Or is there just a vague connection
With the man who gave His life,
who on that cruel cross He suffered,
To set us free from sin and strife?”

So, I now pray for them in earnest,
That they come to know Him well,
So that their sins will be forgiven,
And forever with Him dwell,

So that they walk now with Him daily,
In obedience to Him,
And that they serve Him as their only
King of kings, who lives in heav’n.

An Original Work / June 10, 2023

I go Tues and Thurs during the week because the peace carries me through the day.
Besides Sunday of course

Leaf473 said:

This came to my mind after reading your devotional

Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 2:7 - English Standard Version

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

www.biblegateway.com

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Thank you. Glory to God! He is good!!

The words spoken here are addressed to those who are the saints and the faithful in Christ Jesus. And a saint is a holy one, and to be holy is to be separate (unlike, different) from the world because being conformed to the likeness of character of Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is of the Spirit of God and not of human flesh, but it involves our full cooperation with God’s work of grace in our lives as we submit to him as Lord, and as we surrender our lives to his will and purposes for our lives, and as we obey his commands.

[Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Ephesians 4:17-32]

And the faithful are those who are full of faith which comes from God, is authored and perfected by Christ Jesus, and is gifted to us by God. It is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man so that we don’t brag that somehow we obtained our own salvation via our own fleshly good works. So we don’t even get to determine what this faith looks like. God does. And this faith is persuaded of God as to his righteousness and holiness, of our sinfulness, and of our need to turn from sin and obey God.

[Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; John 6:44]

Jesus Christ described those who are his true followers as those who deny self, die to sin daily, and who follow him in obedience to his commands. They are his sheep who listen to him, not just with their ears, but with their hearts and minds, with the intent to obey him, and then who obey him in his power, strength, and wisdom, by the grace of God. They are not those who merely profess faith in Jesus Christ with their lips, but they are those who follow him in obedience to his commands in holy living, in God’s power.

[Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 7:21-23]

We are those blessed of God in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. We are those whom God chose before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. We are those whom God predestined that we should be the children of God via faith in Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. And the purpose of his will is that we should deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in walks of holiness and righteousness in obedience to his commands, in his power.

In him we have redemption through his blood. For Jesus Christ gave himself up for us on that cross that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness. He shed his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our lives of slavery (addiction) to sin so that we would now serve him with our lives in walks of obedience and in surrender to his perfect will for our lives. So, by faith in him, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with him to walk, no longer as slaves to sin but as slaves to God.

[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 26:18]

Through God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in our Lord we are forgiven our sins and we are given the hope of eternal life with God in heaven. But we need to understand that biblical faith must be continuous, and biblical salvation is progressive sanctification. Biblical faith must be proved genuine through our walks of faith and obedience to our Lord in holy living. For, if sin is what we practice (our habit), we will NOT inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what faith in Jesus Christ that we profess with our lips.

[Matt 24:9-14; Jn 8:31-32; Jn 15:1-12; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 8:24; Rom 11:17-24; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; Gal 6:7-8; Col 1:21-23; 2 Tim 1:8-9; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 3:6,14-15; 1 Pet 1:5; 2 Pet 1:5-11; 2 Pet 2:20-22; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

Trust and Obey

Words by John H. Sammis, 1887
Music by Daniel B. Towner, 1887

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove
the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

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Paul4JC said:

View attachment 357427View attachment 357429

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Not very consistent white balance in those photos. Not sure what point you are trying to make

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jas3 said:

American secular schools drill into students that "separation of church and state" is an unqualified good, so it's not surprising to see "because separation of church and state" offered as a reason against using the Bible in schools. Honestly I would be surprised if most Americans knew that the phrase isn't in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.

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Of course, in the constitution we have the 1st amendment that includes the establishment clause. I would hope most Americans know that, but we would need to see data to know for sure. I am often surprised by how little many of us know... The 'separation of church and state' phrase isn't completely irrelevant, though, as it was written by Jefferson in a letter to Baptists who were concerned about their religious freedom in Rhode Island. It sheds a little light on what one of the framers intended by the amendment.

I live in Massachusetts where we have an ugly history of a 'Christian' government persecuting other Christians. The Puritans who controlled the state even executed a few people 'guilty' of being Quakers. I'll take separation of church and state thank you.

Pamela Hayden is officially retiring from The Simpsons after voicing an iconic character on the animated Fox series for 35 years.


The actress, 70, notably portrayed Milhouse Van Houten - one of Bart Simpson's friends. She also voiced a variety of other characters during her time on the show, including Jimbo Jones and Chief Wiggum's wife, Sarah Wiggum.

In a statement, per Deadline, Hayden expressed, 'The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?....Not easily.'

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hldude said:

YouTube Channel Video Devo
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“He Is So UNFAILING”
Psalm 115: 1 NLT
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness”

A few weeks back, we sang a song at church called “This We Know” by Vertical Worship. The last few words of the chorus are “Jesus, You are unfailing”. As I pondered that day and still ponder days and weeks after, I think of all the things in life that fail us.

We get our hopes up for so many things in life that end up disappointing us and letting us down. We look forward to things and events that are coming up, but then something goes wrong and we’re left heartbroken. People make promises and then break them. We put a lot of hope into electronic gadgets that we buy, hoping they will never break, but they often do or lose connection. Our vehicles break down and need repair. People break our hearts. We lose our jobs. Moms lose their baby.

The list could go on and on of the terrible heartbreaks that set us back and make us question why God allows so much to happen when we dedicate our lives to serving Him. But remember that Jesus never promised us an easy life if we follow Him. He promised just the opposite. He wants us to put our hope in Him alone. Everything in life and everyone will, in some way, fail us somehow. Maybe intentionally or unintentionally, but still will.

We need to be reminded always that God is 100% loving and faithful. That will never change. His love and faithfulness will remain forever. That’s great news when we look around and see so many horrible things going wrong in life today. We need something constant and that won’t break our heart….again!

He will NEVER fail us. As much as I’ve been hurt by plans failing and by other people, I know that God will never fail me. I may not understand why He allows things to happen as He does, but I know He’s never going to fail me. I can count on Him no matter what.

He is so UNFAILING!

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Amen, brother. Well said!

I decided not to follow catholic church but focus on preaching the good news of the gospel to everyone to declare it that all can be saved even if not possible to do work that one only needs to seek to help just one at a time and always after each person who maybe only those who specially it is their responsibility to help but incase any person who you see needs help that must always seek to help one at a time and God may not let one die if he wants that and if seeking will be possible otherwise will accept to seek to do is enough to not distract others from what is most important to seek to follow christ fully to do works incase you need to do when possible and if others want they can follow catholic or orthodox church.

With hopes for significantly bolstering the per child credit dimmed amid a looming tax battle, conservatives are looking for other ways to boost families under Trump.

The incoming Trump administration’s campaign promises to make having kids more affordable, such as by bolstering the child tax credit, will likely face stiff challenges amidst a forthcoming tax battle, including from fellow Republicans.

Despite the GOP’s “trifecta” of control over the House, Senate and White House heading into the new term, intra-party concerns over government spending, a reshuffling of congressional leadership, and opposition from Democrat opponents are all factors that could limit the new administration’s ability to put robust “pro-family” policies into practice.

Continued below.

rambot said:

The issue is who we are talking about as being terrorists. Because pretty much every president has given money to both parties in that struggle for a long time.

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Just answer my question

Excellent interview. Mr. Laurie demonstrates very well how to do high-level evangelism (by talking to Peterson) and continues to make the main thing the main thing.

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