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ReesePiece23

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Distress of nations alright. Plagues, possible famine, different groups going at each other's throats, Christians increasingly hated (recent events certainly do not help at all), and many online liars and conspiracy theorists causing real life harm.

These conspiracy theorists need to seriously grow up and follow the empirical evidence that's available to everyone right NOW. The irony of them calling everyone 'sheep' when they ALL sound the same is beyond outstanding. It's farcical.

Independent free thinkers fact check everything with empirical evidence. It's as simple as that.
 
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High Fidelity

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These conspiracy theorists need to seriously grow up and follow the empirical evidence that's available to everyone right NOW. The irony of them calling everyone 'sheep' when they ALL sound the same is beyond outstanding. It's farcical.

Independent free thinkers fact check everything with empirical evidence. It's as simple as that.

Mate there's an Admin here whose views I've disagreed with many times, but in matters of faith I've always respected his integrity... well he's boldly claiming it's been proven masks don't work.

Beyond frustrating, especially since comments like that are made by people with zero experience or exposure to the medical field, much less working in daily throughout all of this.
 
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ReesePiece23

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Mate there's an Admin here whose views I've disagreed with many times, but in matters of faith I've always respected his integrity... well he's boldly claiming it's been proven masks don't work.

Beyond frustrating, especially since comments like that are made by people with zero experience or exposure to the medical field, much less working in daily throughout all of this.

We'll probably get in trouble for talking about it, but for the sake of forum safety and integrity you can NOT hold controversial (and downright dangerous) views like that AND manage CF users. It's one or the other I'm afraid.

I've personally reached a stage now where I ONLY follow the evidence in live time. The information is always out there - and I, like you, find it beyond frustrating how people refuse to follow it yet get their data from the comments section of The Daily Star.

I admit, I was a COVID sceptic last spring. But that was over 10 months ago. Now we have articles longer than the bible chock-full of evidence that even the layman (like me) can follow and understand.
 
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High Fidelity

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We'll probably get in trouble for talking about it, but for the sake of forum safety and integrity you can NOT hold controversial (and downright dangerous) views like that AND manage CF users. It's one or the other I'm afraid.

I've personally reached a stage now where I ONLY follow the evidence in live time. The information is always out there - and I, like you, find it beyond frustrating how people refuse to follow it yet get their data from the comments section of The Daily Star.

I admit, I was a COVID sceptic last spring. But that was over 10 months ago. Now we have articles longer than the bible chock-full of evidence that even the layman (like me) can follow and understand.

Yup, it's all a bit silly really.

I'm in it all day every day at work since I'm NHS, so it just boils my blood seeing that nonsense espoused without a care in the world for the implications. Same as finishing work and seeing people outside just not caring to follow the rules.

Can't wait for this to be over with. The sheer arrogance and selfishness displayed by many is staggering and shameful.
 
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ReesePiece23

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Yup, it's all a bit silly really.

I'm in it all day every day at work since I'm NHS, so it just boils my blood seeing that nonsense espoused without a care in the world for the implications. Same as finishing work and seeing people outside just not caring to follow the rules.

Can't wait for this to be over with. The sheer arrogance and selfishness displayed by many is staggering and shameful.

This situation has done two MAIN things:

- Bring out the very best in people (like you, and my mother (a 58 year old *asthmatic* phlebotomist)
- Bring out the very worst in people (we don't need to go there)

I don't think that the politicians necessarily help to be fair. They should just leave the bulk of the talking to Van Tam, Whitty and Zahawi. The subject is just WAY too big for the garden variety politician to grasp, unpack and explain. In a crisis situation it's a good idea to just stick to what you're good at and leave the rest to someone else (it's not a failing to do that. It's actually sensible.)

I can't wait for it to be over either. The virus - for all of its devastation has ALSO provided a healing effect by proxy of this natural whittling out of the sort of people I should socially distance from indefinitely AFTER the pandemic.

You want people who you can go to war with. Not legions of numpties who complain non stop about the pubs being shut and their trips to Benidorm being postponed.
 
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Rene Loup

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These conspiracy theorists need to seriously grow up and follow the empirical evidence that's available to everyone right NOW. The irony of them calling everyone 'sheep' when they ALL sound the same is beyond outstanding. It's farcical.

Independent free thinkers fact check everything with empirical evidence. It's as simple as that.

"The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit."

~Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

"Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall."

~Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

Reading through the Book of Proverbs for the first time, I am both in awe and horrified by how much they apply today, some even more so than the times they were written.

There's also this little gem:

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
~James 3:1-18 (NIV)

Bible Gateway passage: James 3 - King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: James 3 - New King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: James 3 - New International Version
Bible Gateway passage: James 3 - International Children’s Bible

This is why I encourage people to actually read, study, memorize, and KNOW Scripture instead of relying purely on others for Biblical knowledge and wisdom. I made this mistake before and suffered greatly for it, as many of you have seen in years past. Here are some Scripture warning about false teachers and false prophets:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
~2 Peter 2:1-22 (NIV)

Bible Gateway passage: 2 Peter 2 - King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 2 Peter 2 - New King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 2 Peter 2 - New International Version
Bible Gateway passage: 2 Peter 2 - International Children’s Bible

1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
~1 Timothy 6:1-10 (NIV)

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Timothy 6 - King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 1 Timothy 6 - New King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 1 Timothy 6 - New International Version
Bible Gateway passage: 1 Timothy 6 - International Children’s Bible

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
~2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NIV)

Bible Gateway passage: 2 Timothy 4 - King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 2 Timothy 4 - New King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 2 Timothy 4 - New International Version
Bible Gateway passage: 2 Timothy 4 - International Children’s Bible

...And there are plenty more where those came from!
 
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Rene Loup

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Independent free thinkers fact check everything with empirical evidence. It's as simple as that.

Also, here are some resources to help out with that. These are endorsed by American universities. If you know of any others, I will be more than happy to bookmark and distribute them.

Research Guides & Tutorials: Academic Research: Fact & Bias Checking
LibGuides: Fake News & Misinformation: How to Spot and Verify: Fact Checking Websites
Library Guides: Real News/Fake News: Fact Checkers
Research Guides: Journalism: Fact-Checking Sites

Take care, stay safe, and God bless!
 
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bèlla

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There's also this little gem: ~James 3:1-18 (NIV)

Teachers were compensated during that period and many were doing it for those reasons. James reminds them of the spiritual consequences of their role.
 
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Rene Loup

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Teachers were compensated during that period and many were doing it for those reasons. James reminds them of the spiritual consequences of their role.

There are still teachers of Scripture (both ordained and self-proclaimed) with their own agendas and biases. Donations, ad-revenue, selling products, and other ways of merchandising God. None of us can serve both God and Mammon. (Luke 16:1-15, Matthew 6:19-24, 10:5-15)

Nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11) We just come up with more innovative ways of doing so.
 
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ReesePiece23

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Plenty for me to digest there Rene. Proverbs was the very first book I ever read in full when I first became Christian. It's where 100% of my worldly wisdom initially came from.

It's probably my favourite book for that reason. It's a practical and timeless guide to life.
 
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High Fidelity

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Plenty for me to digest there Rene. Proverbs was the very first book I ever read in full when I first became Christian. It's where 100% of my worldly wisdom initially came from.

It's probably my favourite book for that reason. It's a practical and timeless guide to life.

Proverbs is my favourite, too.
 
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Tone

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How’s the keyboard coming along @Tone ?


Well, I have my eye on one, but haven't quite decided yet.


I've been messing with the piano software in FL Studio, seeing what I can learn there first.

Plus I'm still messing with the theory...

I know, I need to just do it already, haha.

Thanks for asking bro, how's the foot and are you back at 100 with the sickness?
 
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bèlla

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There are still teachers of Scripture (both ordained and self-proclaimed) with their own agendas and biases.

I’ve never been keen on filling my head with different opinions. I need to know the source of the information I take in. I listen to one on occasion. That’s it.
 
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bèlla

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I had a wonderful time of fellowship with my aunt. We talk for hours and laugh ourselves into belly aches. I’m looking forward to the break and the chance to reconnect with my loved ones. We’re celebrating a lot of milestones this year and I suggested a special dinner. We’ll flesh out the details next month.

School is great. We’re learning a lot and time is passing quickly. I’ve settled in and the pace is fine. I’m taking 3 classes next term and relishing the opportunity to design and construct my own clothing. There’s men’s tailoring included. It will come in handy later on.

Once I have a few courses under my belt I’ll be ready to share my knowledge with others. I have several requests from family members for special items. It goes with the territory but I don’t mind. And my daughter lets me dress her. I’ll have lots of practice.

I still haven’t watched Bridgerton! But I’m listening to an interesting series on YouTube that grabbed my attention. I don’t usually go there but this is worth the trip.
 
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