NxNW said:

The Onion is having trouble keeping up these days.

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Heck, these days, the Onion is obsolete. Reality surpassed satire a while back.

-- A2SG, 'round about 2016 or so, by my reckoning.....

hldude said:

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“Facing Our Giants”
1 Samuel 17:48
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

Last week, we discussed the story of David and Goliath in our small group session. I’ve read this story so many times through my life and have heard it in church through many sermons. However, something always seems to hit you differently at some point in time about a passage you’ve read so many times in the past.

This verse really stood out to me in our study time together and I mentioned how the verse states David had no hesitation in running up to the battle line to meet Goliath. This is a confident person who knew that God was with him and would help him conquer Goliath. David had experience of trusting in God in the past and knew God would be with him as he fought Goliath. He was confident and did what he needed to do. Saul tried to put armor on him to help, but David didn’t need that. All he needed was a stone and his sling. Wow!

As I’ve thought more about this passage this week, I think about how all of us face giants in our lives that scare us to the point where we can’t face them. Stress and anxiety hits us and we cannot even fathom facing our giants. The enemy has as way of making us feel like the giants are way bigger than they are. Don’t get me wrong, some giants are terrifying, but God is BIGGER than any giant we face. That doesn’t mean the giant will just disappear because we have God on our side. However, it DOES mean that God will give us strength, courage and endurance as we face the giants.

Often we get upset when God won’t remove a giant from our lives. We have to remember that His ways are not our ways. Although we cannot often understand what God is doing, we know that He is working and that He’s worked through us and with us in the past. We have to trust Him and face our giants. It takes much prayer and faith.

I find myself dealing with a lot of giants in my life and I get stressed out and anxious easily. I need to fully focus on God and pray for wisdom, strength and endurance through it all. We can all be like David and run to the battle line to face whatever is in front of us staring us right in the face. We can conquer with God’s help. Running away from our giants will never solve our issues.

I want to encourage all of us today and every day moving forward, to bring fears to God regarding our giants and ask Him for the wisdom, strength, endurance and confidence to face the giants head on and watch God do amazing things.

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Would you please give some examples of these giants and how biblically those who are facing these giants can overcome them? Yes God will help us if we cooperate with him in what he says we need to do. Yes he will give us courage and strength if we surrender to his will and purposes. What kinds of giants do you think God will not remove? Sue J Love

Topsy turvy, words are curvy,
All in shackles, now they heckle
Those who see them and who reason
What’s the matter with the chatter.

Those who’re blind, they do not see them.
See them not, and so not reason.
They accept them on the surface,
Even though they rank superfluous.

All about them gets not better,
Words about them in a letter
To the churches, words of wisdom
Often spoke in dreams and visions.

Revelation speaks invasion
From a beast who’s very brazen,
Very pompous, speaks like lion,
Wants us all, to him, to try on.

Conquering saints, now all in chorus,
From the one eye, Eye of Horus,
Ruling over all the nations.
No more taking our vacations.

Now earth dwellers follow sellers
Of a new world ruled by settlers,
Men of vision, not of wisdom,
Who have founded a new system.

Earthlings captive to those active
Conquering nations, their new havens,
Worship now the beastly image,
Idol which they did envisage.

Sadly this is now religion,
Worship of this idol visioned.
Don’t let your heart be now captive
To the beast who’s truly active.

An Original Work / February 5, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Thank you Faith. It’s deeply appreciated.

Diamond72 said:

Does it make people more spiritual to live a spartan life?

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It should give them a pretty good idea of how what this world deems worthy is in fact not. Consider that the earliest followers of Jesus were slaves, servants and women. These were the oppressed of the day who understood the wisdom behind the ways of God's kingdom.

JEREMIAH 46:13-28

600 years later, after the fall of Egypt at Passover, disaster strikes again, this time, YHVH uses Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon as the instrument of destruction against Egypt. It seems like Egypt was not humbled after the Passover experience. You would think that the pharaohs who rose to power after the time of Passover would have realized that the author of Egypt's destruction was the only and True God YHVH, but it seems like they did not, a hard heart is hard to break at times. God wants to do "a heart transplant" in all of us. Take out the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. He will do it if we let Him.

There are people today who have hardened hearts, still resisting the will of YHVH. Being sons of God, servants of Yeshua, and talmidim (disciples), we must realize that at times, God will humble us through accidents, illnesses, etc.. if we wander away from His will or rebel against His WORD. Don't wait for that to happen, HUMBLE THY SELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD! He loves you and wants you as his own!

If Moses was not spared when he struck the rock twice, instead of speaking to it (to bring forth water) and not being allowed to enter the Holy Land, can we expect any preferential treatment? Measure by Measure, we will reap what we sow. It is a life-long race, to run the track of faith, obedience, and maturity in the LORD. We need to be obedient to the Father, and as a Father who loves us, He will discipline us when needed. He wants to shape us into vessels of honor and reap the rewards in Heaven.


MAT 25:1-46; JOHN 19:31-37

”The Ten Talents” A “talent” was a “weight” of money thousands of years ago. It was a lot, one could have a “talent” of gold, or silver, or copper, brass, bronze, etc. And like money today, it could be invested, or wisely spent,

We also use the word “talent” as something that we have, like an “ability” to do good. As believers, we all have “talents” or “abilities” given to us through the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit), with which to serve our LORD and Savior on earth. But, like the evil servant in the parable, who did nothing with his talent, only buried it, there are believers today who are doing the same. Many have more than one talent, or “spiritual gift” and they are not using it (or them). They are going to waste, or are squandering them in “things of the world.

Can you sing? Yes, are you singing for God? Can you write? Are you writing for God? Can you teach? Are you teaching God's word to others? Can you play an instrument? Are you playing for the LORD? Think about the talents you have. How are you using them?

John 19:31-37 talks about the Eve of Pesach, since part of this Parasha is all about Passover, it is fitting that these verses be read. The bodies of the two criminals and that of Yeshua were to be taken down from the crosses where they were crucified. The scripture says “Cursed is he who hangs on a tree, (from Deuteronomy 21:22,23)

Yeshua already carried our “curse” and that of the two thieves. All was accomplished during that special Passover. It also states that a Roman soldier pierced the side of Yeshua with a spear, and out came blood and water. We are reminded that "blood and water" were instruments of "redemption and judgment". The blood of the lambs on the houses in Goshen was accepted for "redemptive" purpose. The lives of the first-born of Egypt were taken instead. The "water" was the instrument of death and judgment at the Reed Sea for the Egyptian army.

The blood and water have special symbolism. The blood symbolizes the wine which we drink during Passover and during the beginning of each Sabbath. Symbolically, we are inviting Yeshua to come inside of us and continue to be part of our lives.

The water is Yeshua who is the “Living Water” The blood also symbolizes “life” so through His death, we have “Life” and that is “Life Eternal”.

“They shall look upon Him whom they pierced” (vs 37) One day in the future, Yeshua will return in the clouds of Heaven, and “ALL” will see Him coming, “They” means “All” even those very soldiers who pierced Him, with the flagellum and with the spear, will SEE HIM someday soon. And ALL will have to answer for their actions.

soldier of light said:

Why were they pardoned? It shows guilt.

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Paranoia, probably.

Chesterton said:

Wrong. The rules prohibit flaming of public figures who are not members here, which is bizarre because, how can you flame or goad someone when they're not aware of it? Although I used an example of a dead person, so I'm not sure if the rule applies to the dead.

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I was talking about two specific posts in which persons in the conversation on this thread were flamed. So, those circumstances count, hypotheticals notwithstanding.

Xeno.of.athens said:

One does not hear what one reads unless someone speaks it aloud, so that verse is not saying, “More than that, blessed are those who read the written word of God and keep it!” but it is saying, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the spoken word of God and keep it!”

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Yes some people don't obey the word of God

David Lamb said:

Acts 11:26 calls them disciples:

“And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Ac 11:26 NKJV)

The idea that someone can be a Christian, a follower or disciple without being in Christ's body doesn't seem correct.

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Ro 12:4-5 NKJV)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” (1Co 12:27 NKJV)

“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Eph 1:22-23 NKJV)

“For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” (Eph 5:30 NKJV)

Of course there was Judas Iscariot, who was numbered among the disciples, but was not truly one. Likewise, there may well be church members who are hypocrites, and like Judas, are not really disciples at all. But generally, when in the New Testament the body of Christ is mentioned (other than when referring to His actual physical body), it refers to Christians, followers of the Saviour. If somebody is truly a follower of Christ, then that person is in Christ.

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i believe that just being a CHRISTAN // means FOLLOWER does NOT say he is in the Body of Christ !!

Maybe you have a verse where the Body of Christ began and just who it is , and I believe it began with Paul

and not the 12 apostles , just asking ??

As Saul //Paul is the apostles to the Gentiles .

dan p

To fear the Lord is to be in awe of him, to respect, honor, and value him for who he is and for what he is all about and for all that he has done and is still doing on our behalf. It is to take him and his word seriously, to believe what it teaches us, and to believe not only his promises, and their conditions, but also his warnings, and the consequences he promises if we do not heed those warnings. And this results in us denying self, dying with him to sin, and us now walking (in conduct, in practice) in obedience to his commands.

And if we hope in his steadfast love, we hope in God and in his divine character and will for our lives, and we put our trust in him by submitting to his Lordship over our lives, and by surrendering to his will and purpose for our lives. And in the power of God we are now living in obedience to him in faithfulness, uprightness, godliness, righteousness, moral purity, honesty, and no longer in sinful rebellion against him deliberately and habitually. This doesn’t mean we are perfect, but that we are growing daily in his grace.

And his grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await his return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (see Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

And the Lord keeps a close watch on us, because he wants to keep us trusting him and walking with him in obedience, so that we do not slip back into our former sinful lifestyles. And this is so he may deliver our souls from death. For the Scriptures teach that if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not walks of obedience to our Lord, that we will not have salvation from sin, and we will not inherit eternal life with God. So we need to take this seriously, and believe God, and act accordingly.

And I am going to tell you here that there is no greater joy, and no greater peace, and no better life than the joy, peace, and life that we have in Jesus Christ when our lives are surrendered to him to doing his will, when we are no longer taken captive to sin, but when we are now walking in obedience to his commands. And I am also going to ask that you look all around you and that you become aware of what is going on in our nations and in the world, and that you pray for discernment regarding the times in which we now live.

We live in very troubled times, times which fit much with the prophecies of Scripture regarding these last days before the return of Christ. So if you are just playing games with God, and you are not taking him and his word seriously, then please stop! Please bow the knee to God today, surrender your all to him, and from now until the day that you die follow him wholeheartedly in obedience to his commands. And be sharing the gospel message with the people of the world, but the one Jesus taught (in context).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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He is Our Help and Our Shield
An Original Work / February 5, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

And 1 Cor 4:9 says the following !!

#1 I Think // Dokeo in the Present Tense and it means it is happening in the Now , in the Active Voice , in the Singular

# 2 For we became like a theater to the world , BOTH TO ANGELS and to Men .

Paul even Angels are watching all Believers and 1 Cor 3:6 Paul says I PLANTED and what did Paul plant and to illuminate ll as what is the

DISPENSATION of the MYSTERY , the one having been kept SECRET from the ages in God , the one having created the all things

by Jesus and what are teaching ??

dan p

A teenager has been arrested and charged with murder after police say he stabbed a fellow student to death at a Catholic high school in England on Monday.

Continued below.

Heyyyy there 18-30s,

A podcast called Yirmeyahu is putting together a mini conference called The Remnant, a laid-back gathering where we dive into real talk, worship, hear the word of God and meet cool people. No fluff, no pressure—just good vibes and meaningful conversations. Happening 7th February on zoom and 8th of February in London it’s the perfect space to reflect, connect, and even walk away with a fresh perspective.

If you’re into Godly convos, hearing inspiring stories, or just looking for a space to be yourself and connect, this is for you.

Event Details:
Day 1
Date: 7th February
Location: Zoom
⏰ Time: 7pm-9pm BST
RSVP Now: Eventbrite

Day 2
Date: 8th February
Location: London
⏰ Time: 12:50pm-4pm BST
RSVP Now: Eventbrite - Gen Z: Lets Talk

Spots are limited, so grab yours soon! Can’t wait to see you there.

Love365 said:

When do peace talks start ?

What countries could host them?

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They can start whenever Putin is willing to accept Zelenskeyy's offer to talk.

JimR-OCDS said:

Most likely Trump made the statement as a tactic to get the Arab nations to do the job of
rebuilding Gaza and stopping Hamas from attacking Isael.

The media falls for Trump's tactics like they did over the tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

Maybe under Trump, America won't be treated as a nation of fools?

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It may be part of the "art of the deal" he's always spruiking about. Throw the deal on the table and then see what happens.

I see nothing good coming out of it.

I have also picked up one of these, it is a heated winter vest, it has a rechargeable battery and a button on the front that you can press to turn it on, you can flip it on in the freezing cold and it will keep you nice and warm! It could save your life in the extreme cold! It has 3 settings, low, medium, and high. On a full-charge it will last 8 hours on low, 6 hours on medium, and 4 hours on high. It can be recharged via my solar power bank so I would have unlimited access to warmth in the freezing cold using the power of the sun!

Very sad.

linux.poet said:

The only real hope for this state is to replace two-thirds of the state population, most of which are insane. And wherever they go, they take their insanity with them.

It's probably best to just leave California as a mental ward for all of the insane people to go, that way Texans can feel more comfortable.

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What's best for CA, is to stop paying all are federal taxes So, Trump, Musk and Red State don't get any of it. As for people being insane. They're not insane. Some might be watching to much of the Fox news channel. Which is the reason. We have a criminal in the White House.

Lucy Pat Curl, the 85-year-old wife of First Baptist Church Orlando’s longtime pastoral care minister Bill Curl, who was hospitalized after she was brutally beaten during a home invasion last Friday, has died.

A statement from the Orlando Police Department said the beloved pastor’s wife succumbed to her injuries at approximately 5:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Ronald D. Davis, the 55-year-old ex-convict suspected of attacking Lucy Pat Curl while her husband was at work, is now facing an additional charge of first-degree murder in the commission of a home invasion, police said.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said before the order was signed that 'gender ideology insanity is over'​

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the "No Men in Women's Sports" executive order, fulfilling one of his major campaign promises of keeping biological men out of girls and women’s sports.

Trump signed the executive order on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which celebrates female athletes in women’s sports and those who are committed to providing equal access to sports for all females.

"This doesn't have to be long. It's all about common sense," Trump said before signing the order, adding that "women's sports will be only for women."

Trump declared, "The war on women's sports is over."

Trump was joined in the East Room of the White House by Independent Women ambassadors Riley Gaines, Payton McNabb, Paula Scanlan, Sia Liilii, Lauren Miller, Kim Russell, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Linnea Saltz and Lily Mullens.

Continued below.

​

After the fall, God pronounced judgment on the serpent. Then, NIV Genesis 3:

16 To the woman he said, 'I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'

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In Hebrew, the verb "will be" is absent:

Your desire for your husband, and he will rule over you.

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How was this a curse?

Explanation #1

Before the fall, God ruled over Adam and Eve directly. After the fall, God ruled over Adam, and Adam (the husband) ruled over Eve (the wife). Nevertheless, the wife will desire the husband.

Explanation #2

God mentioned "desire" in a negative context of pronouncing judgment on Eve.

ESV supplies the missing verb this way:

Your desire shall be contrary to husband, but he shall rule over you.”

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The same Hebrew word for desire appears one chapter later after Cain killed Abel 4:

7 if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.

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Cain needed to overcome the desire of his sinful tendency. Per ESV, Eve needed to overcome her bad desire contrary to her husband.

After the fall, there would be conflict and power struggles within the marriage relationship. It points to the need for redemption and restoration through Christ, who reconciles all things to God's original design.

LoveofTruth said:

I was quoting another man there, not my own words.

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Okay, thanks.
So you do not agree with the person you quoted?
Do you agree with me, then?

LoveofTruth said:

But Jesus asked sone,

Luke 10: 26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

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I'm not sure what you are trying to say here.
If you clarify, it might be helpful.

Fantine said:

I don't agree. Even Mueller showed Russia was involved.

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Read the article for yourself;

FBI offered Christopher Steele $1 million to prove dossier claims, senior FBI analyst testifies​

And;

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A Russian-born analyst who provided the bulk of the information for a flawed dossier about former President Donald Trump told an FBI agent he was shocked and dismayed that the speculative information he provided was portrayed as fact, an agent testified Thursday.


Bold is my emphasis.