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Have you ever tried to help someone and he doesn't exactly appreciate it?

Have you ever tried to help someone and they don't exactly appreciate it?

I tried to help a homeless person who was living in his car and had car issues. It's been a strange experience and I don't know if I should go into details because, who knows (?), maybe he comes to this forum?

But in any case, I was willing to get car parts and even pay for his tags to be updated but he always had some reason for dragging his feet on getting the car going. He asked me for items that I frankly did not think he needed at all. But some day, the city is going to get tired of him staying in one spot. Neighbors already have.

There is more to this story, but again, I don't feel like airing his business in public so maybe I should leave it at that but I am wondering about other stories of trying to help people and they just don't seem to... uh... appreciate it or what have you. I mean, it seemed the guy was irritated w/ me recently and I couldn't figure out WHY. Maybe it was because I had some business of my own to deal with and didn't spend time socializing much the last time I saw him? God knows. But I do have problems myself...

Anyway, I was getting irritated feeling HE was irritated w/ me when I have been kind and etc... makes no sense. Maybe he knows more about the car's problems than he is telling? Maybe getting insurance and all the other stuff feels like too daunting a task, but as they say "a journey of 1000 miles begins with one step."

You have any stories like this?

:neutral:

World’s Oldest Bird Named Wisdom Lost Her Mate But is Courting New Suitors at 72

The world’s oldest bird may have lost her mate, but she’s now courting new suitors in her 70s.

The Laysan albatross named Wisdom, was photographed dancing with potential mates on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the seabird’s home.

Thought to be around 72 years old and recognized by her band number Z333, she returned again for nesting season in late November.

Her long-time mate, Akeakamai, has yet to be seen and was absent the last two nesting seasons.

But Wisdom was spotted in the spring socializing with other male birds.

Laysan albatross females lay a single egg in the first half of December, said Jonathan Plissner, supervisory wildlife biologist at the national wildlife refuge.

Continued below.
  • Informative
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Is it worth it to get home Internet if you already use your phone for Internet?

I am kind of wondering if it is worth it to sign up for home Internet for computer use if you already use your phone for using the Internet. I might think I would save money if I did not sign up for home Internet. However I am wanting to use a computer to install some really complicated Mobile Device Management software on a phone, so I think I may want to get Internet. The library won’t work for the installation because of peculiarities with the Wi-Fi network.



I already use a bluetooth keyboard with my phone so I’m not sure I really need Internet. If I got Internet, I can imagine I would use a computer to stream worship music on YouTube with my morning coffee. I think I may want both a laptop and a desktop. The desktop could be setup at the dining room table, and the laptop could be used on the deck of my apartment.

Identification of the Godly

Our design in preparing a short article each year under this title is threefold. First, to test Christian professors, for it is highly probable that some of our readers have been deceived by that ill-balanced preaching which is so rife, wherein the whole emphasis is laid upon “believing”―and nothing is said of repentance and reformation, and scarcely anything on the imperative necessity of bringing forth the fruits of righteousness in order to authenticate our claim to being Christians. Second, to help doubting souls by describing some of the features of the regenerate, so that the better they may recognize whether or no they have been divinely renewed. Not a few, because of the defective teaching they sit under, are needlessly kept languishing in “doubting Castle”; and we long to be used in delivering them from its dismal dungeons, and bringing them out into the sunshine of the Gospel. Third, to deepen the assurance of the saints, that they may be more firmly rooted and established in the truth, and know they have “passed from death unto life” (1Jo 3:14), so that their “joy may be full” (1Jo 1:4).

We turn now to point out another mark which distinguishes the regenerate from the unregenerate, basing our argument on those words, “not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Rom 2:4). It should be pointed out that that verse is not speaking from the viewpoint of God’s eternal purpose, nor is its design to teach us (by implication) how repentance is effectually wrought in the elect. Quite otherwise. Since it occurs in a passage which is little understood, we will take this opportunity to offer a few remarks upon its general scope. Romans 2, particularly verses 1-16, is an expansion of the solemn truth made known in Rom 1:18. It sets forth those principles which at once commend themselves unto every quickened conscience. The first is, he who condemns in others what he does himself, thereby condemns himself (Rom 2:1). Second, God’s judgment will be according to the real state of the case, everything being taken into impartial consideration (Rom 2:2). Third, the special goodness of God―whether exercised toward a particular individual of a nation―forms no ground of exemption from merited punishment, but when unimproved, will only serve to aggravate their condemnation (Rom 2:3-5).

It was the expectation of the Jews that their descent from Abraham (Mat 3:9; Joh 8:33), and the special favours they enjoyed from Jehovah, would secure them from the doom that would overtake the Gentiles. In that, they erred fatally. Nor are they by any means alone in cherishing such a vain delusion. It is a very common assumption on the part of the children of disobedience that the showering of heaven’s providential bounties upon them is a sure sign there is nothing for them to fear. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecc 8:11). They make the very kindness of God a license to continue in sin and regard His longsuffering as indifference to their wickedness. Because their lives are spared and prolonged when many of their careless companions are cut off, or because they are given a larger portion than others of their fellows of what this world provides, they conclude that God will never deal severely with them. They err greatly, for after their
hardness and impenitent heart, they are but treasuring up unto themselves wrath “against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom 2:5).

“Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Rom 2:4). The “goodness of God” is a general term for His benignity and munificence. The “riches” thereof import the high value and great abundance of them, and are thus termed to excite our wonderment. The principal reference is to God’s providential blessings and bounties unto the children of men, and which are “despised” by them when their hearts are unaffected by the same. The “riches of his goodness and forbearance” tells of the restraint which God exercises in not immediately executing His vengeance upon such base ingrates. The “riches of his…longsuffering” describes the amazing extent of His forbearance in delaying to punish those who so greatly abuse His mercies―a degree not yet completely exhausted. He still grants them “space to repent” (Rev 2:21). Present immunity from punishment by no means signifies that the sinner may continue to defy God with impunity. Far from it. Rather is the prolongation of his day of opportunity and the continuation of God’s mercies designed to lead him to repentance.

“Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” The apostle, then, is not speaking here of men’s ignorance of that gracious influence, which, in the day of God’s power, makes His people willing to throw down the weapons of their warfare against Him (2Co 10:4-5), but rather of their failure to perceive the design of His moral government. It is not the divine decree which is in view, but the moral tendency of God’s providential dispensations. It is what theologians rightly term the “external call,” addressed unto the responsibility of all, by the privileges they enjoy, and the advantages which are theirs (compare Pro 1:24; Isa 5:4!). Though the divine bounties bestowed upon the unregenerate do not soften their hearts, and though the wondrous patience of God with them does not move them to forsake their sins, yet such is the design or moral tendency of both the one and the other. That they do not so eventuate is solely the fault of their base recipients. They ought to produce repentance in all: if they do not, the impenitent are left “without excuse” (Rom 1:20), and their case is aggravated in proportion to the mercies they have abused.

“Not knowing”: such is the carnal stupidity and moral insensibility of the natural man. He fails to understand the gracious design of the One who is his daily Benefactor. He neither discerns the trend of God’s kindness, nor comprehends his own duty with reference thereto. He is either so filled with self-righteousness as to consider temporal blessings are his due, or so besotted as to draw an entirely false inference from them. The great majority insanely regard God’s goodness as a mark of indulgence, or as His indifference to their deplorable conduct. God’s very patience hardens their hearts and causes them to continue in sin, supposing that He will ever be tolerant with them, even though they go on defying Him unto the end of their days. “Not knowing” means in a practical way, not duly improving the same. Because divine justice lingers in its execution, the wicked assume it has no real existence and consists only of empty threats. Instead, God holds back the hand of His wrath to prolong man’s opportunity for repentance: “Let it alone this year…if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down” (Luk 13:7-9).

God is good and doeth good. It is true that “man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7), yet he is the recipient of much which relieves his misery, for the mercy of God is over all the works of His hands. He daily loadeth men with His benefits (Psa 68:19), but those benefits meet with a very varied reception. Many receive them with
callous unconcern: the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib, but multitudes of men and women refuse to recognize the hand that ministers so tenderly to them. The patience of God not only affords time and opportunity for repentance, but it furnishes motives and encouragement thereto―revealing our duty unto One so benevolent and affording ground to hope for His acceptance of us if we respond to His gracious overtures in the Gospel; only man’s depravity and perversity prevents the improvement of His forbearance. But, instead, the majority harden their hearts, as they did during the terrible air raids, closing their ears to God’s voice in them. A few appear thankful for His mercies, and verbally acknowledge God’s goodness; but there they stop―there is no repentance, no reformation of life.

But how different is it with the regenerate! God’s goodness does lead them “to repentance”! Even His temporal blessings affect their hearts, so that they are made to sincerely exclaim: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant” (Gen 32:10). The divine blessings they receive, so far from hardening and causing them presumptuously to proceed with high-handed rebellion, melt them, and cause them gratefully to ask: “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” (Psa 116:12). The more tokens of God’s goodness they receive, the more are they convicted of their undeservingness. Instead of abusing His forbearance, they are amazed at His patience with them.

It is no proof that you are a child of God because He has borne long with your waywardness, for God endures “with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” (Rom 9:22). Nor is it any proof that you are a Christian because God has ministered freely unto you in temporal mercies, for “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mat 5:45). But it is an evidence that you are one of God’s children if His forbearance has touched your heart and moved you to marvel at His patience toward you. It is an evidence you are a quickened soul if the realization of God’s goodness has filled you with godly sorrow and led you to amend your life. Here, then, is one of the distinguishing marks between the regenerate and the unregenerate: the effects which God’s goodness has upon their hearts and the response which they make unto the same.

Arthur W. Pink, July 1947

Preaching With Authority

Preaching with Authority

John Owen (1616-1683)

And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.—Jeremiah 3:15

What I shall do is show you, in some instances, what is required unto this work of teaching or of feeding the congregation with knowledge and understanding in this duty of preaching the Word:

1. There is spiritual wisdom in understanding the mysteries of the gospel that we may be able to declare the whole counsel of God and the riches and treasures of the grace of Christ unto the souls of men. (Act 20:27; 1Co 2:1-4; Eph 3:7-9). Many in the church of God were, in those days of light, growing and thriving. They had a great insight into spiritual things and into the mysteries of the gospel. The apostle prays that they might all have it, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Eph 1:17-18).

Really it is no easy thing for ministers to instruct to such kind of duties. If there be not some degree of eminency in themselves, how shall we lead on such persons as these to perfection? We must labor ourselves to have a thorough knowledge of these mysteries or we shall be useless to a great part of the church. There is spiritual wisdom and understanding in the mysteries of the gospel required hereunto.

2. Authority is required. What is authority in a preaching ministry? It is a consequent of unction and not of office. The scribes had an outward call to teach in the church, but they had no unction, no anointing that could evidence they had the Holy Ghost in His gifts and graces. Christ had no outward call, but He had an unction—He had a full unction of the Holy Ghost in His gifts and graces for the preaching of the gospel. Hereon there was a controversy about His authority. The scribes say unto Him, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” (Mar 11:28). The Holy Ghost determines the matter: “He preached as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mat 7:29). They had the authority of office, but not of unction; Christ only had that. And preaching in the demonstration of the Spirit, which men quarrel so much about, is nothing less than the evidence in preaching of unction, in the communication of gifts and grace unto them for the discharge of their office. For it is a vain thing for men to assume and impersonate authority. So much evidence as they have of unction from God in gifts and grace, so much authority they have and no more in preaching. Let everyone, then, keep within his bounds.

3. Another thing required hereunto is experience of the power of the things we preach to others. I think, truly, that no man preaches that sermon well to others that doth not first preach it to his own heart. He who doth not feed on, digest, and thrive by what he prepares for his people may give them poison, as far as he knows; for unless he finds the power of it in his own heart, he cannot have any ground of confidence that it will have power in the hearts of others. It is an easier thing to bring our heads to preach than our hearts to preach. To bring our heads to preach is but to fill our minds and memories with some notions of truth, of our own or other men, and speak them out to give satisfaction to ourselves and others; this is very easy. But to bring our hearts to preach is to be transformed into the power of these truths; or to find the power of them, both before, in fashioning our minds and hearts, and in delivering of them that we may have benefit. [It is]to be acted with zeal for God and compassion to the souls of men. A man may preach every day in the week and not have his heart engaged once. This hath lost us powerful preaching in the world and set up instead of it quaint orations; for such men never seek after experience in their own hearts. So, it is come to pass that some men’s preaching and some men’s not preaching have lost us the power of what we call the ministry; that though there be twenty or thirty thousand in orders, yet the nation perishes for lack of knowledge, is overwhelmed in all manner of sins, and [is] not delivered from them unto this day.

4. Skill to divide the Word aright. This skill to divide the Word aright is practical wisdom in considering the Word of God, to take out not only that which is substantial food for the souls of men, but what is meet food for them to whom we preach. And that,

5. Requires knowledge and consideration of the state of our flocks. He who hath not the state of his flock continually in his eye and in his mind in his work of preaching fights uncertainly, as a man beating the air. If he doth not consider what is the state of his flock with reference to temptations, in reference to their light or to their darkness, to their growth or to their decays, to their flourishing or to their withering, to the measure of their knowledge and attainments—he who doth not duly consider these things never preaches aright unto them.

6. There is required, too, that we be acted by zeal for the glory of God and compassion to the souls of men. Having spoken these few plain words, I may say, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2Co 2:16). There is required that spiritual wisdom that is necessary to understand the mysteries of the gospel, able to instruct and lead on to perfection the most grown in our congregations; that authority which proceeds from unction and is an evidence of an anointing with the graces and gifts of the Spirit, which alone gives authority in preaching; that experience which conforms our whole souls into every sermon we preach, so as to feel the truth in the power of it; that skill whereby to divide the Word aright, etc. Hence, we see we have great need to pray for ourselves and that you should pray for us. Pray for your ministers.

From The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, Vol. 9 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 454-456; in the public domain.


John Owen (1616-1683): English Congregational pastor, author, and theologian; born in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, UK.

There are far too many preachers today who act as though they are begging their hearers to do Christ and His cause a favor, who are so apologetic, fawning, and effeminate, they have forfeited the respect of real men. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Ti 2:15). “The most effectual way for ministers to secure themselves from contempt is to keep close to the doctrine of Christ and imitate Him” (Matthew Henry), and He taught “as One having authority” (Mat 7:29).—Arthur W. Pink

It is a promise relating to the New Testament that God would give unto His church “pastors according to his own heart, which should feed them with knowledge and understanding” (Jer 3:15). This is by teaching or preaching the Word, and no otherwise. This feeding is of the essence of the office of a pastor, as unto the exercise of it; so that he who doth not, or cannot, or will not feed the flock is no pastor, whatever outward call or work he may have in the church.—John Owen

Paul, the most famous of the apostles, desires in all his epistles “to be prayed for, that his mouth might be opened” (Eph 6:19), whereby he does signify that to deliver wholesome doctrine in spiritual manner for the glory of God and the good of His people is a great matter, and cannot by natural gifts be attained unto. And indeed this is that teaching which saves the soul and affects the heart of him that belongs to God, which is the thing that every minister of God’s Word ought to labor for.—
William Perkins

Don't Buy What Satan's Advertising

Proverbs 4:14-15
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."

23-27,
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

In these verses we are instructed to avoid evil, to shun it, and go not near it, at all. But we must do this from the heart, not begrudgingly, as a duty that is weighty and oppressive. The key is in verse 23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life"

How de we keep our heart? The scripture tells us , "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 23:9)
Go on to verse 10 following this though, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

Matthew 6:19-21 is a good place to start:
" Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

That doesn't mean to have no possessions at all, but that we need to be putting God, and the things of God first. When you wake up in the morning, pray and read the Scriptures. Don't go about making coffee or breakfast or any other such thing (bathroom excluded, LoL) before feasting on the Word and communicating with God in the Spirit. Even something as simple as "Praise you LORD, bless thee O Lord, guide me this day, cover me in thy blood, forgive me any sins, and let me not sin in thy sight." Takes only a few seconds, and while you can certainly pray more than that: that sort of prayer will suffice.

I try to start off with a Psalm and a Proverb for the day, (hence the verses from Proverbs 4 today), a portion of Revelation, a portion from the Gospels, a portion from the Prophets, a portion from the law, and something either from the epistles, or from the historical books from Joshua through Esther. That's 7 different parts of the Bible. I may only read a smaller amount before breakfast, but before I get out and going for the day I like to get all of this done. Then through the day I'll read more, such as when I'm on the computer. At night before bed, read those scriptures: whatever God lays on your heart. Or read a sermon. Last night I read a sermon by Charles Spurgeon.

Feed on the Word, as Job said, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12)

The whole point of doing this; of having these kind of devotions, is that it will give you the strength, and the integrity, to do what Proverbs 4 says: to avoid the way of wicked men, to know how to say "no" to temptation, to avoid bad places - bars, gambling halls, dance floors, etc. To keep your mouth clean, and your words pure, and to look strait, not turning aside to observe some girl with lust, or for a girl to look at a man with lust, or to be enticed by a picture. Watch that advertising too: it is a temptation and allurement to sell you something by making it look extra good, and often better than it actually is. Is advertising bad? Depends. people need to make money, but some advertising is extreme.

Consider the cigarette ads, or beer and liquor ads: they make it look fun and exciting. There's that one menthol cigarette ad that says "Alive with Pleasure." Well, keep on smoking them and you'll be dead with something else, and it won't be pleasure! How about beer? "High Life" can make you a low life. How about whiskey? They advertise it as "smooth" but don't tell ya it won't be smooth coming up! It won't feel "smooth" crashing into a tree. Basically all this kind of advertising is enticing you to purchase death. Satan is very pleased with it.

But Satan advertises all around us. He tempts us to covet, and lust, and to be angry, or proud, or jealous.

"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

Walk right past Satan's advertising and buy it not. Don't take it for free either, because most of his enticements are free at first, but come with a heavy price to pay. The wages of sin is death, and what Satan promotes is sin. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23)

Get in the Word daily and start early. Don't buy into Satan's advertising.

Jesus says to the church of Laodicea, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." (Revelation 3:18) Amen

Is there any informed christian discussion on the Russio-Ukraine Conflict.

I've been looking for informed commentary on this on the web, indeed commentary on the wider issues. Do christians discuss issues like international relations. I've been listening to folks like John Mearsheimer giving his take on it (ie. from a realist POV) What do christians say about it all, and what are some of their contributions? What's the whole Christian take on these things: the relations between the nations etc and whats going on in the world currently. Looking for some reading suggestions if anyone knows of anything

Is Jesus the only son of God?

John 3:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
one and only
μονογενῆ (monogenē)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3439: Only, only-begotten; unique. From monos and ginomai; only-born, i.e. Sole.

Jesus is the unique Son of God. However, the term son of God has other meanings.

Angels were sons of God, Job 1:

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers:

The phrase probably means the angels
Pulpit is similar:

By "the sons of God" it is generally admitted that, in this place, the angels are meant (so again in Job 38:7). The meaning of the phrase is probably different in Genesis 6:2.
The same phrase appears in Genesis 6:

2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
Ellicott explained:

Of the sons of the Elohim there are three principal interpretations: the first, that of the Targums and the chief Jewish expositors, that they were the nobles, and men of high rank;
the second, that they were angels ...
The third, and most generally accepted interpretation in modern times, is that the sons of the Elohim were the Sethites, and that when they married for mere lust of beauty, universal corruption soon ensued.
In the OT, Christians are sons (children) of God, Matthew 5:

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Is Jesus the only son of God?

Jesus is the unique Son of God. Angels, giants, kings, and judges are sometimes called sons of God. Christians are children of God.

Out of darkness

Those who once embraced the occult are exposing the dangers of practices that many consider harmless​


HANNA CASTAÑEDA rolled up her sleeves and trudged her stroller up a hilly path that’s shaded by oak trees and wraps around two small lakes. Her shoeless 2-year-old son Luka reached his hand up every few minutes for another piece of cracker. Castañeda, 31, never pictured herself doing everyday motherhood tasks. In fact, she once vowed not to have children.

Castañeda, who lives in Novato, Calif., spent most of her 20s couch-surfing or living out of her Honda CR-V in search of the next transcendent experience. Her interest in the occult started out small, with a curiosity about astrology and New Age spiritualism. To some, those might seem harmless enough. But by 2019, she felt gripped in an insatiable quest, one that led her deep into occult practices involving witchcraft, indigenous shamanism, and ceremonial rituals intended to summon demonic spirits. All of this was mixed with psychedelic drugs such as ayahuasca and LSD.

“At the core, I believed I was this divine self,” Castañeda said. “I was on a journey of peeling back the layers, going deeper and deeper into occult practices, so I could truly be free.”

Continued below.

The ideological cocktail poisoning American campuses

The leftist ideology that has become dominant on campuses today, sometimes called wokeism, adds a twist that is racialist and arguably racist: that all those deemed (by the woke) as "people of color" are oppressed and entitled to commit any and all atrocities to "resist" those deemed (by the woke) as "white."
This is a mirror image of the Nazis' belief that the German nation, "the Aryan man," and white people were oppressed and that the solution was what they called a "racial revolution." (You should know that both Nazi and woke racial constructs lack any scientific basis.)

Exactly. It is a spinoff of Marxism, with hatred of race replacing hatred of class.

Meteor shower visible this weekend, NASA says

The Eta Aquarid meteors will be visible overnight on Sunday and early Monday morning, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported this week. The American Meteor Society expects the shower—which takes place annually—to be especially visible this year, due to interactions with particles from the planet Jupiter.

Continued below.
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A Soldier and citizen of the kingdom but not the world

This is why I gave up politics and America for Jesus and the kingdom of God. I'm not saying that police and military do wrong necesarily. I'm only referring to politics here.

2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

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The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a WEAVER's BEAM

2 Samuel 21:

19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
1 Chronicles 11:

23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
What was so intimidating about a spear like a weaver's beam?

Let's check a parallel account in (Brenton Septuagint Translation) 2 Samuel 23:

21 [Benaiah] smote an Egyptian, a wonderful man, and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear as the side of a ladder; and he went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
It was thick.

More details at David vs Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:

7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.
It was threatening indeed.
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Culturally respectable racism

Why aren’t pundits who bashed evangelicals as racists more vocal about rampant anti-Semitism on the left?​


The scenes that have been playing out on elite American campuses—scenes of the most explicit racism—are a national disgrace. Of course, in the United States, people have a right to public protest. And while I am pro-Israel in the current conflict, it does not seem irrational to me that others might wish to support the Palestinians and criticize aspects of the Israeli war strategy. But the protests are not merely supportive of Palestinians. They are supportive of Hamas. And they are targeted not at Israelis in particular but at the Jewish population in general. Such protests are racist, at least according to the traditional definition before folks like Ibram Kendi and the BLM activists of this world managed to twist the term to suit their own interests.

Some may wish to argue that support for Hamas is not anti-Semitic but rather anti-Zionist. They will likely claim that the 2017 Hamas charter identified the problem as “Zionists” rather than “Jews” for this reason. But that is a specious dodge. When you think that the state of Israel is the result of a Jewish conspiracy, the terms become basically interchangeable. And when events on elite college campuses in the USA have created an environment where Jewish students are under threat simply because of their Jewishness, Israeli military action would seem only to be the pretext and not the true cause of the hatred.

I recently had the pleasure of chairing a discussion on anti-Semitism at Grove City College with two leading Jewish intellectuals, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of Yeshiva University and Devorah Goldman of the Tikvah Fund. Both described growing up in an America where they experienced no anti-Semitism. Both also reflected on the immediate exultant response on campuses in the United States to the Oct. 7 attacks. These responses could not be interpreted as criticism of Israeli military action since none had yet taken place. They were celebrations of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Jewish civilians. No doubt many of the celebrants would regard any American who deadnames a man presenting as a woman, or who refuses to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, or who believes in any limits on abortion as opposing basic human rights and meriting severe punishment. Those who kidnap, rape, and murder Jewish women and children, not so much.

Continued below.

Titus 3:1-11 - Make Peace with One Another + Star Wars Analogy

Whew, Titus 3:1-11 is a good passage for all of us to follow. In summary, Titus 3 tells us to make peace with each other. Also, happy Star Wars day, folks.

Date
May 4, 2024​
Verse
Titus 3:1-11 (NIV): "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."​
Explanation
Titus 3:1-11 is a passage from the New Testament book of Titus, written by the apostle Paul to encourage the early Christian community in Crete to live in harmony with the non-believers in their society and with each other. The passage emphasizes the importance of being obedient to authorities, doing good works, speaking evil of no one, and maintaining peace and humility.

Now, let's use a Star Wars analogy to help illustrate this concept. In the Star Wars universe, the Galactic Empire can be seen as an authority figure, representing the governing body with rules and regulations that must be obeyed. As believers in Christ, we are called to be good citizens of the world around us, just as the New Republic in Star Wars sought to bring peace and justice to the galaxy by signing a peace treaty in 5 ABY (The Galactic Concordance) with the last remnants of the Empire.​
Societal Relevance
This passage is still relevant to us in modern society as we continue to live in a world with various forms of authority, from government leaders to employers and community rules. The passage calls us to respect and obey these authorities, while also striving to do good works and spreading ethical Christian teachings.

To avoid contentions and still help spread ethical Christian teachings, we can follow the example of Christ and practice love, humility, and peace. We can engage in respectful dialogue with those who hold different viewpoints, seeking to understand their perspectives while also sharing our own. We can also focus on the common ground we share as human beings, rather than our differences. By living out the teachings of Jesus, we can be a positive influence in our communities and help bring about positive change.
Additionally, we can avoid getting drawn into divisive disputes, unfounded speculations, and wars about the law. Instead, we can focus on the essential teachings of the Christian faith and seek to live them out in our daily lives. By doing so, we can help bring unity and harmony, even in the face of disagreements and differences.

In my life, it has been difficult for me to make compromises, until recently, where I have learned how to accept other’s viewpoints better. For instance, on Christian Forums, a wonderful guy by the pseudonym of @Vambram has more of a conservative ideology compared to my own. However, he and I found common ground in the politics sub-forum, as we both are pro-life (except when mother and fetus are both at risk of dying), we both enjoy Star Trek (as his profile includes the Federation ship, the USS Defiant in the background of his avatar), and we both support environmental stewardship as long as it does not come at the expense of other people or involve exploitative practices.
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Race politics and Christian identity

The law seems to protect minorities so it can't be racist against them. It doesn't much matter however because my church is not racist.

I'm not Republican or Democrat. I'm a Christian disciple of Jesus Christ my only king. If I'm a politician then I am racist. It's politicians who engaged in racism but not Jesus. I can't stain the Lord by joining him to racism.

Jesus destroyed race identity. We are all one in Christ as Paul teaches us. We are not flesh or race now. We are new and we are spirit now.

Ex-Satanist Turned Christian Reveals What is 'Behind the Curtains' of 'Devil's Battle Plan'

The co-founder of a Satanic movement in South Africa who had a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ and renounced the occult says he is now on a mission to equip Christians to "handle and understand the devil's battle plan" in the last days.

Riaan Swiegelaar, a former reverend at the South African Satanic Church (SASC), stepped down from his position in May 2022 but recently revealed on social media why he has decided now is the time to reveal what is "behind the curtains" of the satanic church.


"I don't feel that our war is against physical people. I feel our war is in spirit and what God has revealed to me is that we are in a time where it is crucial," he explained. "We are living in the time of (the book of) Revelation. So it is time to put this information out in a very respectful way," he shared.

"We will equip spiritual warriors to handle and understand the devil's battle plan," he added.

Continued below.

Portland State protesters 'delusional,' mayor says; university reopens after 30 demonstrators arrested

Police have arrested 30 people related to anti-Israel protests at Portland State University in Oregon, where authorities also detained a driver who accelerated toward a crowd of demonstrators and allegedly sprayed them with mace or pepper spray.

Anti-Israel encampments protesting the ongoing war in Gaza and demanding that universities cease support of the Jewish state have sprung up at college campuses throughout the country. Demonstrators at PSU had occupied the campus library building since Monday before the Portland police intervened.

PSU did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment, but on Friday, the university announced the campus had reopened to access card holders. At the time of this report, the university did not disclose when the campus buildings would be open to those without access cards.

Continued below.
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