choir loft

There is NO SUCH THING as learning by osmosis.... but most churches today teach that which we rejected by the 3rd grade. THIS IS the epitome of gnosticism - demonic knowledge that is not normally obtained. Knowledge comes by study and work, not by heavenly wifi. Anybody who believes that is a fool and a promoter of the ways of demons. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15 kjv) that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

THE POINT of my post, which you've completely missed...... is that Christians REJECT the LAW entirely. My example of buying a cheeseburger at McDonald's on Saturday was meant to illustrate a part of the LAW which isn't generally applicable to gentiles. The example was meant to illuminate, NOT to inspire vomitus against the LAW. Indeed Jesus predicted that in the Last Days LAWlessness would increase; "And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many falseprophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold." (Matt 12:10-12) Today the church is DYING because it's respect for the LAW has eroded to the point of obscurity. Secular people see it and mock the church's hypocrisy - for hypocrites they are indeed. Major denominations no longer state the Bible is THE Word of God. They don't observe any need at all for repentance and they certainly don't consider the spiritual needs of their congregations or the lost of their respective cities. Let the lost be damned.....local churches are only concerned about their traditions. Don't preach to me about pharisees - for the church is a prime example of modern phariseeism gone berserk. The church has followed Judaism into the SAME trap of traditionalism vs. LAW. Church leaders know the institution is dying, but don't understand why - even as they promote MORE lawLESSness among those who have come to them for spiritual guidance. Today there is no such thing as REPENTANCE in the church - repentance based upon the LAW. Jews still observe the need to perform repentance, but the church has long since abandoned it. This single aspect of religion, repentance, has negated all the power of religion and any hope of justification by the blood of Christ. Not that the major denominations preach justification any more.....they don't. One need only be a member of the church to be saved.....Jesus Christ is nothing. Those who reject the LAW almost always default to an absurd pointless argument about dietary law, which doesn't apply to non-Jews....necessarily. Thank you for your long pointless post. It proves my point - the the church today is as far from God's eternal LAW as Hell is from Heaven. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

The subject teeters on the edges of Gnosticism.....secret knowledge being a part....heresy of lies being a trap to be avoided. One is known by one's fruit........ but there are a LOT of fruity people running loose in this country today. Are all of them children of God? Jesus said they weren't. Why? that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

A LOT of really long pointless quotations here... According to Torah, the LAW, could YOU, dear reader, buy a cheese burger from McDonald's on a Saturday? According to the LAW, which many posters claim to know, the answer is an emphatic no. Can you tell us why? By the LAW, why? According to St. Paul a Christian might want to refrain from doing so. Why? that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

SIN

Others have here pointed out that scripture does indeed testify of the death of Jesus upon a cross. There are also several secular records of it. The historian Josephus as well as Pliney the younger are two worthy of mention. Some of these records go into more detail than any Biblical statement. For instance, it is written that on the day Jesus died in Jerusalem there were atmospheric disturbances as far west as Rome. Nearly everyone in the Empire realized something of great divine importance had happened though they may not have known what it was. Nobody rejects the secular records of the life and times of Julius Caesar, yet there are far more of these telling of Jesus' miracles, message, death and resurrection. Why are these facts denied? They're denied for the same reason most will reject God's generous offer of eternal life. It isn't evidence that's the issue, it's suppression of evidence that's before us. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) You have heard it said, Judge not that you be not judged. I say this according to scripture that it is SINNERS who judge themselves unworthy of grace to be saved. (Acts 13:46) Saints don't have to raise their little finger against them for SINNERS are their own judge. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Depends upon which interpretation you subscribe to. Most Christian churches believe Christ died on a wooden construction of two beams of wood arranged perpendicular to each other. Some add a third piece to their logo - a sort of foot rest for the poor soul being tortured to death. Some translations suggest Jesus was hung on a single vertical shaft of wood - also called a stake in their verses. Gnostics generally don't believe Jesus was crucified at all, but that an innocent man was substituted for Him when He dropped His cross on the way to Golgotha. Gnostic scripture claims that Jesus stood in the crowd, watching a substitute agonize in His place, and laughed. Mohammad [pbuh] adopted the Gnostic point of view when he declared in his Qur'an (recitations) that Jesus didn't die on the cross, but that a substitute died instead. My point in this thread is to ask, not about the Biblical record, but about the efficacy and/or appropriate wearing of the Christian cross as jewelry. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Is it doctrinal or blasphemous to wear or to refuse to wear the image of the cross as jewelry? Millions wear some form of the Christian cross as jewelry. Some versions are made of simple wood hung about the neck with string. Others are of solid gold or other precious metal using a chain of similar metal to suspend it upon the neck of the wearer. BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Does exhibiting a cross on one's person imply that person is a devout Christian or does it simply afford the wearer of another jewelry design? Does one have to be born again to wear a cross? Or is it blaspheme to wear one when a person hasn't made a personal commitment to Christ? DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING AT ALL? In Communist China one can purchase a Christian cross as jewelry. Does it imply one is rebellious against the Communist government? Does wearing a cross imply the respective government of the wearer is in direct opposition to Biblical standards? For instance, is it inappropriate for an LGBTQ person to wear a Christian cross as jewelry since that religion expressly forbids such a life style? Is it appropriate for a non-believer to wear a cross as jewelry? The political personal and popular possibilities may be endless. What is your opinion on the matter? that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Several points here; The word 'seduced' wasn't used to describe Eve's persuasion of Adam to eat forbidden fruit. In this you are correct. However, in Genesis 3:6 we read that it was indeed Eve who first SINNED and that she DID encourage Adam to join her in it. If this isn't seduction then a passage in a dictionary needs to be consulted. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary SEDUCTION is: something that attracts or charms. Did Eve not attract Adam to eat? We may deduce from scripture that she did. As for Western American culture being driven by men, that's a fallacy and a slogan used by feminists to advance their agenda. In most careers its women who are predominant in decision making at top or near top levels. As of 2021 there were 47 women listed as CEOs of major Fortune 500 companies. The number is growing. I have personally worked in situations where women were in charge. I may add here my personal observation based upon experience that they DID NOT manage the organization well. In every case they cost the company or institution MORE money than was expedient or economical. Yet, because they were women their decisions weren't challenged - couldn't be challenged. You wrote: The Talmud is scripture to Orthodox Jews and claiming otherwise shows your ignorance of Judaism. You cannot be considered a Jew if you reject the Talmud, it would be like a Christian coming here and saying he doesn't believe in the trinity. It's just not a thing. I DID NOT CLAIM OTHERWISE. I DID NOT CLAIM ORTHODOX JEWS DIDN'T HOLD TO TALMUD. I DID claim that Talmud is NOT divinely inspired scripture. Claiming who is or is not a Jew is an illegitimate definition of discipline and birthright falsely asserted by those of the Orthodox discipline. They like to claim they're the ONLY REAL JEWS thus rejecting all other disciplines of Judaism. They're also the only discipline who denies their duty to defend Israel - hiding their heads in the sand of their false assumptions so as to avoid responsibility for defense of and allegiance to their own nation. They deliberately ignore the fact that the enemies of Israel do not make so fine a distinction between who is or who isn't a Jew. All Jews are targets. Let's consider reality here, shall we? Y'shua is what may be described in modern terms as a Karaite Jew. Such a discipline denies Talmud and holds ONLY to Tanakh (Torah, prophets & writings). Those of us who follow THAT discipline refuse to be bound by the machinations of Talmud (also referenced as "the law" in the second part of the Bible - the gospels and epistles of Y'shuah's JEWISH talmidim/disiples). None of them acknowledged ANY authority of Talmud upon anyone. As for your assertions that Y'shuah quoted Talmud I may point out here that Talmud is so extensive and confusing that even modern day airline schedules are said to be affected by it. Talmudic scholars often twist its words to suit their own arguments. It's claimed Talmud has solid arguments but in point of fact those who quote it employ subjective arguments rather than those of the LAW of Moses. They do so for their own glorification and hubris. Matt 10:9-10 is a reference ONLY to the specific mission being discussed in context. In Luke 22:35 THE REASON Y'shuah said this is explained - that the unique mission was miraculous in nature. Luke's quotation reverses Y'shuah's instructions for all other missions. This reversal is definitely NOT Talmudic in nature. Mark 12:24-25 is a reference to a discussion between the discipline of the Sadducees, who DID NOT believe in a resurrection and the discipline of the pharisees WHO DID. It is not accepted by anyone as an endorsement of Talmud - not by His Talmidim nor by any apostle who later wrote of such things. Matthew 7:2 is another abuse of Y'shuah's intended teaching. In your post you wrote; The Talmud says people are judged by both their good and evil inclinations. Your assertion may be true, but it isn't accurate at all. Big difference. Y'shuah refined the attitude of judging in depth. John 3:19 quotes Him saying, "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." Did Talmud ever say Y'shuah is the light of the world? Yes or no? Y'shuah equated that light with His own words and person. It is SINNERS who judge themselves. This is why Y'shuah told His Talmidim NOT to judge others. This is why Y'shuah denied them their request for authority to call down fire from heaven upon those who rejected Y'shuah as ha Mashiach. The conceited attitude of ORTHODOX JEWS to judge everybody but themselves unworthy of divine grace is well known among all Jews. Christians aren't immune to this sort of hubris either. They automatically assume only protestant evangelicals are worthy of grace - denying as they do Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, all Jews etc. ad nauseum. In the book of Acts its recorded, "Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you (Jews). Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life...behold we are turning to the gentiles" (Acts 13:46) Jews don't have a monopoly on scriptural obfuscation either. Before the church was established by Roman Emperor Constantine a great deal of pagan influence krept into church dogma. Constantine added to it greatly and to this day much that Moses taught (rejected by the church) and what Y'shuah taught is either ignored misquoted or held as false gospel (I refer specifically to the false doctrine of the Tribulation.) EDEN is a place identified by modern archeological discoveries. It is the TREE OF LIFE that was denied to all the future generations of spiritually unregenerate humankind. So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24) It wasn't me that found it. I merely visited one of the digs on the island of Bahrain. GOOGLE IT. Dilmun is the specific name of a kingdom that existed in ancient times. It wasn't a figment of Talmudic reference and it wasn't an allegory. It was real. I was there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Life_(Bahrain) There is, however, an oddity in the southern portion of the island of Bahrain that is one of those unexplained matters of science. A large tree grows there where nothing else but oil pumps exist. I've been to the area, but never actually saw the tree itself. A four lane highway was built from the main city of Manama to the palace of the Shiek. Trees were planted in the dividing section and are individually watered each day by men driving a water tank truck. I've driven along that road and I've seen those men watering each individual tree. Nobody waters the great tree in the south. As a personal note, there have been many tourists visiting the tree, leaving their trash all over the place. I'm told by others who have visited recently that the site isn't as pristine as when I visited the area over fifty years ago. To the best of my knowledge there is no fruit upon the living tree today. Somewhere along the line you need to seriously consider something other than Talmudic myths and assertions. Science alone proves much of it erroneous. You would do well to try to think outside the Talmudic box. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Question: What won't be approved? CL

Animals are innocent. They are what they are and don't make excuses or hypocritical explanations for their actions. This is often why the death of a pet often strikes the heart with greater pain than the loss of a relative (some of whom we are admittedly glad to be rid of). that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Nice quote. Exactly what does this refer to? CL

Talmud is NOT recognized as canon scripture either by the church or by Jews. Therefore references to Talmud are invalid. Jesus didn't acknowledge Talmud as valid either. Neither did any of the apostles. Therefore references to Talmud are invalid. Torah implies the tempter was intelligent "more crafty than any beast". (Genesis 3:1) Therefore it wasn't truly animal in nature. It only appeared to be. The serpent isn't given a name until much later in scripture where the creature enjoys the occupation of tempter, liar, thief and murderer. (Pretty much like American politicians.) The scene in Genesis 3 wasn't a 'test' as assumed here. Traditionally its assumed to have been a failed attempt by God to teach Eve (the 1st sinner) and Adam (who she seduced into SIN) how to love God. The lesson failed - obviously. Humans have been ardently in love with themselves ever since....especially our women. The Garden of Eden was a real place. I've been in the environs. Modern archeologists have located it near the northern region of the present Persian Gulf. That body of water covers the confluence of the four rivers mentioned in Genesis. The river beds of the two rivers not seen on maps today were accidentally discovered by satellite survey (while actually searching for oil deposits beneath the Gulf). Portions of what the Arabs call THE LAND OF DILMUN have been unearthed on the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. I have been to the dig and, with permission of authorities, brought home some of the pottery shards found there. In Arabic Dilmun means Eden. (Look it up) Hope this helps. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

"We" also speak of things that are not strictly Biblical - accepting pagan myths as spiritual truth. Lies lies lies are everywhere and church types swallow them whole. Madness is the result. The whole world sees it and laughs.....lies and madness and hypocrisy. Church attendance shrinks every week and nobody knows why....because nobody will admit to knowing reasons obvious to everyone else. What happened to the historic gospel? The post-modern church knows it not. The aforementioned reference to the divinely appointed court system has no parallel to the reality of the three heavens mentioned in scripture. See my explanation below...... The aforementioned reference to Tartarus is a myth. Look it up. Tartarus is a reference to the prison pen of the Titans. These pagan Greek demi-gods were supposedly imprisoned in the afterlife or underworld (take your pick). 2 Peter 2:4, the ONLY REFERENCE to Tartarus, can be rendered as hell too. NEITHER IS <Biblically> REAL. One of the best rules for interpreting scripture is to verify its use in the context of the entire Bible. This process is called exegesis. (Look it up.) On the other hand, what is most often seen is a false dogma using scripture for validation. This process is called eisegesis. (Look it up.) Eisegetical logic has been used by every false teacher and despot in history. It appears to be alive and well here as well. Want proof? God back and read THE ENTIRE passage from 2 Peter 2 1-5. It's directed at FALSE TEACHERS. Hell as it is commonly known is based on the Norse demi-god "Hel". This female entity was charged with guarding the gateway to the underworld - the place of the dead (as if the dead could escape the grave anyway). It's a reference TO A PERSON NOT A PLACE. Translators of Biblical text used the reference to "Hel" to attempt to describe DEATH to those who knew the difference between Sheol and life. Todays post-modern Christians are so confused they don't even know the difference between a man and a woman. Don't bother trying to explore the depths of Holy Writ. You'll never figure it out with an attitude like that. Returning briefly to the divinely appointed Biblical court system we note that Moses was initially directed to appoint JUDGES over God's people Israel. (see the book of Exodus) Later in the actual book of Judges we read how a Theocratic judicial system worked in ancient Israel. By the time of Jesus these courts were called Sanhedrin and every village and city had one. The Great Sanhedrin was assembled in Jerusalem where it acted in a similar manner to the present US Supreme Court. The word 'Sanhedrin' also means 'gathering'. According to Mosaic LAW the 'gathering' was limited to members of the tribe of Levy or to Levite priests. By the time of Jesus, active members of local Sanhedrins as well as the Great Sanhedrin were NOT all Levites or Levite priests. In other words, the Great Sanhedrin where Christ was judged was AN ILLEGAL ASSEMBLY. According to Mosaic LAW - NONE of its judgments against Christ were valid by reason of an illegal 'gathering'. Hope this helps. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

In a very brief conversation with my son in law this past Sunday I realized he expressed the attitude of most Americans. He simply doesn't care about foreign wars and their impact upon human lives. For instance, I've told him about the upcoming war between America and China. The leaders of BOTH countries want a war. Nobody wants peace. My son in law said, "well I hope it doesn't disrupt the baseball and football schedules. There are a lot of fine games coming to us." I asked him if the deaths of thousands and the impact upon millions wasn't more important. He answered that his only concern was to be able to watch the games with his AC running....and that's all. Is THIS what America is all about? Is THIS the pride of the United States and what our forefathers created upon these shores is about? "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." (Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.) I think Dr. King's words speak for themselves. America has indeed reached a point of spiritual death. We care for nothing except personal advantage and loitering. It is time to repent of our SINs and wickedness before God. The problem is that those who know Him do so. Most Americans play games with religion, mock God and those who respect Him. What bitter fruit shall we reap from this? that's me, hollering from the choir loft....

Because most who quote it, not necessarily you, hold to a double standard. On one hand, they quote scripture like a religious slogan - buzz words that they themselves do not understand. On the other hand, they stand and honor the government, our government, that makes war upon innocent people, destroys nations that did not attack us and upholds the financial empire of mega corporations that enslave us at home and abroad. I have seen this with my own eyes - directly and personally. It's a vile and despicable thing the reality of which most Americans deny. Read my posts. They are intended to shed light upon the current international and domestic situation, which is a breeding ground for present and future wars - all designed and motivated by Washington DC and those who rule over it. Jesus' words invoke notions of peace and a desire for it, yet those who quote it will, at the same time, often pledge their allegiance to a corrupt and militarized government, sing the anthem of it and honor the troops who as agents of the government provide destruction and death to those who oppose it. Which is it, dear friend? One cannot hold to a double standard. Either one will love and embrace Christ, who warned us against loving war, or one will openly embrace that which is the author and enabler of war - meaning the government, meaning ourselves. The issue is love of war vs. love of peace. Today FEW Americans want peace. Violence is destroying our cities and nobody does ANYTHING about it. It is a judgment against us, a plague we have invited upon ourselves. We have denied God and turned our collective backs upon Him. As we have collectively told Him to hit the road, so He has left us to our own devices. How's that working for us? As a people we support our troops who carry their guns to war, yet at home we cry out against those who hold guns to protect themselves, their families and their property. Do you not see the hypocrisy and confusion of our nation? We stagger about confused and insane - like a man who's been hit in the head by a board. Nobody wants peace. Reminding us of the words of Christ is of value. There will indeed be wars. The real question is WHY. The answer to WHY can be found in John 3:19. Read it. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

I will not discount American trespass upon the borders of any sovereign nation - mostly because we have a very bad habit of doing so without the slightest consideration of repercussions. It should also be noted that Communist China has embarked in recent years upon a campaign of militarism thoughout Asia. The present issue over Taiwan is what is being used as justification for Chinese 'intervention' in the form of invasion. Historically, Taiwan was always a part of China and Beijing wants it back. America backed a petty dictator near the end of WWII and when Chiang Kai-Shek lost the civil war to Mao Tse Tung American support followed him to his island kingdom. Google the 9 Dash Line. This fictionalized justification for Chinese usurpation of international trade routes is only an old dusted off excuse for war on the high seas. Washington will not seek peace anywhere until and unless we get our military ass-ets kicked hard. There is too much DC influence to lose and too many defense contracts at stake to risk the break out of peace. Make no mistake, China is as aggressive as any wild tiger, but America is playing a fool's game when it thinks it can ignore any prospects for peace. Would a general boycott of all goods produced in China have an effect upon Bejing's leadership? I'm certain it would. WWII was about territory. The current wars are about trade. Washington thinks its about waving the flag - wrong on both counts. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Not to mention the elected members of BOTH parties. We have entered a new political era of corruption and treasonous leadership. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Of course He said that. Does that mean we are to WELCOME war and destruction and to worship it? It does not, yet the attitude of most Americans is to wave the flag and genuflect before the image of our war machines. Americans LOVE WAR and VIOLENCE and the Lord is giving us a belly full of it. Look around. Do you not see it? Judgment is upon us and that's no empty conspiracy theory. It's a hard fact. Before and after Christ spoke those words war has scarred the history of mankind. Is there no other way to advance our civilization? At present we have the ability to destroy it. Is that to be welcomed? Are we to throw up our hands in fatalistic resignation and cry, "loose the dogs of war"? JESUS SAID peacemakers are the children of God. Who then are those who embrace war? I was an unwilling part of it when I was young. By the grace of God I survived, but many around me did not. I hate the thought of it. This is why the day came when I learned of another one brewing in the western Pacific and a most severe escalation upon the steppes of eastern Europe I felt duty bound to give warning. This isn't a game and it isn't a conspiracy theory. Go to China and see. My son spent a summer there a few years ago. He can testify with his own eyes. Go to Ukraine and see. Do not the images from there speak of terrible things and more to come? How can any sane person with reasonable mental facilities even suggest that these wars are a conspiracy, a fantasy to be ignored? THEY ARE NOT. Americans love war too much to ignore it. We murder our leaders who preach and work for peace. Ask President Kennedy, Ask Martin Luther King, Jr., ask Bobby Kennedy. Ask Jesus. You cannot ask them to certify war because they were ALL KILLED for attempting to promote peace. Was Jesus a conspiracy? Many Americans today think so, because Jesus wasn't about war at all. Neither am I. Its time to REPENT and seek PEACE with God while the opportunity presents itself. Hell isn't a conspiracy either. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

I agree with you entirely. Personal experience has taught me not to trust our government about ANYTHING. Exactly WHO is pulling Biden's strings is a matter of which I am not informed. Unfortunately the situation isn't unpredictable, not unpredictable at all - at least as far as American involvement is concerned. It's very predictable. THE ONLY solution we seem to have for foreign affairs is to throw money or bullets at the problem. We've been doing that since 1945 and have lost EVERY war since that time. It doesn't work, but our leaders in Washington never "get it". I once served in the Navy. While I don't have much interest in the Ukraine affair I am deeply concerned about those who go down to the sea in our ships. I know what it's like to be miles from home at sea with enemy missiles aimed at your ship. It's not a movie. It's not fun. I don't want any of our boys to die in a conflict that could be avoided by peaceful means. The situation makes me sick. THIS IS NOT A GAME. I note that certain persons with limited appreciation of things like to quote scripture to address serious matters. The LAST THING the US government worries about is scripture quoting religious fanatics. Our own citizens are on the back burner, our own future is at stake AND ONE THING I'VE LEARNED is that Bible thumping people rarely lend a physical hand to correct things gone wrong. This is not to say God can't speak encouragement through His Word. He certainly does, but reiteration of verses won't solve problems. Sooner or later one has to roll up one's sleeves and WORK it out. None of these scripture quoting people seem to have a grasp on the importance of PEACE, global peace, international peace, domestic peace and peace with our fellow man as well as peace with God. All they can do is babble. They drive me nuts because of all men they are the least able to appreciate reality and God's hand in it. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

War, it seems, is now almost inevitable. Nobody wants peace. Nobody speaks of it. People on the street here don’t want it, but as usual our leaders don’t listen to us at all. When the time comes we’ll be asked to sacrifice many things to promote their bankrupt foreign policy. I certainly will not assist with it in the slightest. Is anyone taking any of this seriously? In case you didn't know, I AM. that's me, hollering from the choir loft..... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12563025 Putin's attack dog Medvedev rattles the sabre AGAIN: Now ranting ex-President claims Russia is 'running out of options' in Ukraine other than a full-blown ground war with NATO which would lead to a greater 'cost to humanity' than WW2 Putin may be pushed to start a full-scale ground war with NATO soon Top Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev says NATO is acting like WW2's Axis powers He said that a third world war would be deadlier than World War II The deputy chairman of Russia's security council has publicly claimed that Russia is running out of options and may resort to a full war with NATO. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president, warned that this would lead to a third world war, which would have greater consequences than World War II.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a writer and outspoken dissident of Soviet policies during the 20th century. “If I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible what was the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: 'Men had forgotten God; that is why all this has happened.'” (Alexander Solzhenitsyn) I believe the Bible is very clear on the quality of mercy shown by God toward mankind. He seems always ready to forgive individuals, but perhaps not so eager to forgive nations. Many nations have fallen into the quagmire of history because they forgot the Lord, because they turned their back upon the Lord and because they blasphemed His Name. So has the United States. We have forgotten humility that made us great and we have raised ourselves to the level of gods instead of respecting THE ONE. Recent news items are alarming. From China we now read about a refurbished policy called the 9 dash line (or 10 dash or 11 dash depending upon which story you read). This is a 'line in the sand' Bejing has drawn upon the ocean in which free trade is to be regulated by China. This matter goes back to 1946, but has raised its ugly head once again. This is a clear indication of a belligerent attitude on the part of Chinese leadership. In Russia a series of peace offerings have been made regarding the Ukraine war. While they don't appear to be any different from the attitude of the Kremlin since before their invasion of Ukraine, they stand as an effort from their point of view to negotiate peace. My sources had told me back in August that meetings would be held in Russia and China regarding the commencement of hostilities against the United States over Taiwan and an increase in severity of attack against Ukraine - perhaps even the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to "deescalate the war" (this peculiar phrase was often used in the text of the Medvedev doctrine of the late 1990's). I was told the meetings and offerings of peace negotiations were expected to be denied by western nations and that this failure would lead to general war on two fronts. Again, I was told that if negotiations weren't engaged (on Russia's terms and on China's terms) war would follow in a few weeks. Specifically I was told hostilities would commence "in early October". As of this writing 'early October' is less than two weeks away. I wish to repeat my earlier statement here that it is my hope my sources are incorrect and that my personal alarm will prove to be unsubstantiated. I DO wish and hope that peace in some form will endure in the western Pacific and that some form of cease-fire may be arranged in Ukraine. But the leaders of America seem to have their attention fixed on other matters these days - not on the avoidance of war. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

It was the United States and our vassal states in Western Europe that are primarily responsible for the war in Ukraine. POTUS is only a middle management position. The real leaders of America are; the military-industrial complex, the intelligence community and our financial cartel. When major decisions regarding national policy or insinuation of western financial interests abroad are involved all three constitutional branches of the US government become subservient to the big three listed above. Kennedy speaks only for the purpose of creating a smokescreen in the eyes of the general public. Our real enemies are domestic, some of whom are those who ordered the violent death of his father and his uncle. It was the desire of the financial vultures of America and Europe to seize Ukraine, the vassal state of Russia, for their own profit that has led to the present conflict. Even the Pope has admitted to it. Russia reacted in defense of its own interests and used every conceivable method in the book to win back its own vassal state. Open war is the result. (*) Today, with even more deadly sabers being drawn out, our 'friends' in Europe are withdrawing like cowardly turtles into the holes they previously occupied. One by one each of them is withdrawing support from Ukraine for fear of deadly reprisals from the Russian bear. Only Americans are too stupid and self-centered to realize and understand the real issues. All we know and understand are the striped flag and the lies of our corrupt leaders. We are about to witness the full unleashed fury of the Kremlin against those who trespass upon the territory of their traditional vassal state; Ukraine. It won't be a pretty sight. Likewise we shall also witness the fury of Bejing unleashed against Taiwan, which always was a part of their domain. Typically foolish alignments created by the US government following WWII led to our promise to defend the island nation when in fact the territory and its people are none of our business. Many a good young American boy will die because of our refusal to seek peace. In truth NOBODY WANTS PEACE. Washington, Bejing and Moscow are all militarizing their resources as quickly as they can. Open war will soon break out. It's only a matter of time and some say time is very very short....perhaps two weeks' short. (as of 09/24/23) Most experts agree that America cannot win either war. Pompous arrogance never wins a war. It only gets a lot of innocent people killed. And America has an over-abundance of hubris to be sure. Consider these things when you resort to misquoting scripture in a vain attempt to attenuate the crisis. Consider also the record of recent American military adventures abroad. It's well known that America tucks tale and runs when things get really serious on the battlefield. The US hasn't won a war since 1945. It's time to cease starting them. We have brought all this upon ourselves and we are about to reap the grim harvest of what we've done. “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up. (Hosea 8:7) Dark days are upon us and no about of empty boasting or religious buzz words will suffice to blunt the reaper's sickle. It is time, indeed past time, to repent of our SINs and seek God's mercy. We have gone too far. Judgment is upon us. that's me, hollering from the choir loft... (*) I have personally sat down and spoken to Russian citizens face to face and person to person. The stated opposition to western trespass upon the territory of their vassal state, Ukraine, is exactly as I've stated here. Whether brain washed historically illiterate Americans believe it or not is their misfortune.

I found this post to be illuminating on several levels. We need more of this sort of thing. The only disagreement I might have with it is identifying the Anti-Christ system as mentioned in Daniel, Revelation, etc. The fathers of the protestant reformation agreed completely that the Roman Catholic church IS the anti-christ global religious system mentioned in Holy Writ. As a reaction to this attitude the Vatican approved the publication of a book called FUTURISM by Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera. In this book Ribera blew a smokescreen around all the protestant interpretations of the RCC as the anti-Christ system. They couldn't negate the Bible, however, so they created false interpretations instead. In the post-modern church we see almost all protestants buying into nearly every aspect of the RCC lie. There's a lot of material to cover in this assertion, but to keep it simple here I mean only to follow in the footsteps of the writers of the Bible and the fathers of the reformation and agree that the anti-christ system IS the Catholic church. No other candidate for this sordid title has ever raised its ugly head. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Anna Helgen, pastor of Edina Community Lutheran Church in Minnesota, has published what she calls The Sparkle Creed. This blasphemous disgusting recitation is nothing more than a filthy perversion of Christian statements of faith. It's an assault upon those values which many of us hold very dear...values which has sustained us throughout our lives. Today they are once again being insulted and besmirched by a lesbian cleric. St. Paul wrote that, "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says." (1 Corinthians 14:34) It is for THIS REASON that women are to submit to the spiritual leadership of men. It is given that women are to provide physical nurture for all generations BUT THAT MEN ARE TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP. The Sparkle Creed reads: I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural. I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads and saw everyone as a sibling-child of God. I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity. I believe in the church of everyday saints as numerous, creative, and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in wonder. I believe in the call to each of us that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love. I believe, glorious God. Help my unbelief. Amen. For further information Google the subject. I suggest you remain near a toilet when you do because the information is likely to inspire vomiting. God help us. We are suffering yet more indignity in our churches. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...