Neighbor

Hmm interesting, perhaps not; not if I did not let my left hand know what my right hand was doing and so never claimed credit but instead let recipients praise God not me.

Hi all, just an observation and some little remorse too. The era of news thoughfully presented seems to be long gone. Magazines - gone, Newspapers -gone, Now over the air evening tv international news- pretty much gone, Scripps over the airwaves 24/7 news though biased to the extreme left is also gone.Local TV news is just chit chat features of where to buy the best surgery food treats. And online why that is a wild west of animated hyper bloggers trying desperately to get hits by doing their harangues and screaming that was debunked or that was not debunked. There simply is little thoughful news being presented. Guess that leaves the Good News eh? Thick, well bound, timely, and well presented, almost infallible or inspired, even in English translations and transliterations.

Hi, I wouldn't think of going to scripture for guidance and instruction. I too have had the hard times, but I sure don't wish them on everyone else just because I had them. I sure enjoy the nearly free ride I get on USA Medicare plus! I don't begrudge those on medicaid. I do know it is nearly impossible for individuals to even get a private health insurance policy. Last time I tried there was only one company allowed in the State of Florida- can't go across State lines for an insurance company. My premium was $24,000 a year with a $30,000 deductible for two people. I had to give up my own business ( Self employment) and go to work to get group health insurance. God led me to such a job before my wife got so sick. Her medical bills quickly exceeded $500,000 of which I paid a only few thousand dollars per year. I praise God for moving me/us as He did, when he did. Just because I faced harsh times is not reason for me to wish others to have to do so now. Insurance for all is affordable here in the USA. It is a matter of priorities set. The USA can fund forever warring. It can fund forever healthcare.

Without them our church's restrooms would not get tended to at all.

Our Lord, as you already know, included that subject in his talk at the mount. Doing so in one of His stepping up of what is expected of us declarations- You have heard it said,... but, I tell you.... commands.

"and I can see it being established." Hi, well technically being Calvinistic and embracing Romans 8:29 -31, I think this was all fully established from before the beginning. Incoming!

While I can agree FOX is less than a grand resource for unbiased reporting, that seems to be the case with most every so called news source these days. Seeing Whoppie Goldberg do her thing declaring she won't let her grand child be with Republicans is not of Fox News doing. There is just a whole lot of irrationalranting going on right now. The purpose from my own standpoint of mentioning this is that it is real, it is happening. I think Christians need work extra hard at overcoming these kinds of thoughts, invite, encourage, and even console family and friends, not gloat, not continue in USA elections mode. Be extra vigilant to keep God above all else in our own lives and share of the mercy and grace extended by Jesus.

Hi, A little something from Spurgeon: "38. And he that taketh, not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Here our Lord, for the second time in this Gospel, brings in His death. At first He spoke of being taken from them, but now of the cross. There is a cross for each one which he may regard as “his cross.” It may be that the cross will not take us up, but we must take it up, by being willing to endure anything or everything for Christ’s sake. We are not to drag the cross after us, but to take it up. “Dragged crosses are heavy; carried crosses grow light.” Bearing the cross, we are to follow after Jesus. To bear a cross, without following Christ, is a poor affair. A Christian who shuns the cross is no Christian, but a cross bearer, who does not follow Jesus, equally misses the mark. Is it not singular that nothing is so essential to make a man worthy of Christ as cross bearing in His track? Yet it is assuredly so. Lord, Thou hast laid a cross upon me, do not permit me to shirk it or shrink from it."

Hmm, I think of words of my boss and pastor of some years, who after receiving praise for his talk/sermon by an attendee said as reminder to himself more than for me to hear as we walked down the hallway. "That comes straight from Satan, that I not be humbly giving all glory to God but instead be grabbing some for myself. I do so hate that challenge" After hearing that one I never said a favorable word after he spoke a "sermon" less I tempt his heart and hurt his ministering of the word of God.

The US Supreme Court has not "weighed in" yet, other than to schedule the hearing of arguments . Sheduled now for December 4, 2024 "The U.S. Supreme Court announced this week that they will hear arguments for U.S. v. Skrmetti on December 4 in a case that could decide the fate of gender-affirming care for thousands of trans people across the country." Reference source https://www.them.us/story/us-v-skrmetti-scotus-case-date-hearing-arguments

HI all, There are several interesting and perhaps accurate points made in the article linked below stating the family members are avoiding each other over politics! That politics has replaced religion! https://www.foxnews.com/media/sounds-like-cult-sociologist-rips-leftist-calls-cut-off-trump-family-members-during-holidays I think much of what is being expressed in the article rings true. What I think the article misses is a conclusion with suggestions for repairing relationships and reasserting God above all else. Learning once again to forgive one another and also not to take offense over politics. Instead to put it down in it's place way below all that expresses confidence inJesus as our lord God and savior. Anyway please give the article a read and share of what you find useful within it if anything.

LIVE UPDATE https://static.timesofisrael.com/images/live_blog_arrow_right.svg FROM THE LIVEBLOG OF FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 Israel targeted active nuclear weapons research facility in Iran strikes last month — report Today,2:47 pm The Israeli strikes on Iranian military facilities last month destroyed an active nuclear weapons research facility in the Parchin military complex, outside of Tehran, Axios reports, citing three US officials, an Israeli official and a former Israeli official. According to the report, the strike significantly damaged Iran’s efforts to resume nuclear weapons research. Speaking to Axios on the condition of anonymity, a US official ... See full article from today's Times Of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-targeted-active-nuclear-weapons-research-facility-in-iran-strikes-last-month-report/

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6364684342112

A personal hoped for addition for me will be a more complete collection from the Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies by Zola Levitt - Rev. Jeffrey L. Seif

Ha! What if I said I include the New Advent? "It includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more"

I need all the help from real scholars of Greek and Hebrew that I might obtain. I also need the testimony of those pastor/teachers that have found their own understanding, even as they have the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, to have evolved over the many years of their own lives as they continue their own study of the Bible with thinking and prayer.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene lashed out at House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday for Republicans failing to secure a House supermajority. Matt Gaetz is moving on, will the President elect find a place to send her too, or will the House of Representatives open January 2025 in chaos with Republicans eating each others young yet again in battles for leadership? The President elect wants to be fully engaged even before day one of his new term of office, yet it looks like the Party will get itself entangled once again trying to find a leader and establish order in the house of Representatives. A House of Representatives without a clear leader will not be writing and passing legislation. If the House tangles up in such a battle and the President elect keeps appointing House Representatives to other appointed offices, the resulting elections to fill the vacancies could easily flip seats over to the Democrat party. The Republicans once again demonstrating confusion and discord amongst themselves, people may vote them out of office as fast as they can. Can the House shut down Greene? I doubt they will even if they can.

Seemed to be what the brief video said too; "God knows if he is a Christian". Personally I think a read of Matthew 7 in it's entirety to be in order.

Well the nomination of Representative Matt Gaetz by The President elect sure has lit a firestorm of protest from at least some Jews for his antisemitism ( Their viewpoint). Including Gaetz's statement that "the Jews killed Jesus. The Bible is clear on that." One has to look at that history regarding Rep. Matt Gaetz for themselves as that is such a hot button comment. While I have not reached my own conclusion yet, it does seem so far that the President elect is setting the stage and casting some players to institutionalize replacement theology. Personally I doubt that he realizes it. Interesting casting anyway! https://forward.com/fast-forward/674875/trump-ag-matt-gaetz-antisemitic/ and https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-ag-pick-called-adl-racist-invited-holocaust-denier-to-state-of-the-union/ There is going to be a lot of pushback in the US Senate against this one nomination.

Browse the Constitution Annotated Article VI Supreme Law The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Clause 3 Oaths of Office ------------------------- As Hilary Clinton famously said in regard to another situation "What at this point difference does it make?" ------------------------- To pose a religious test on an office holder within the United States runs contrary to the USA constitution. Plus it is an extremely dangerous standard to promote as it runs risk of demanding one faith over another as a forced compliance. It is no less dangerous than demanding atheism be the default position for office holders. _

I can buy a pound of that!

Well sure, why I exercise freewill every time I see a traffic light signal too. While that traffic signal may control a survival of the flesh issue it is not a eternal salvation one. My free-willed choice, if not limited by an officer of the law may be limited though by pre determined intervals of light changes for which I have no control whatsoever. Forces beyond my control set those parameters. As to the attempt at changing the understanding of the Christian church, as was attempted by the followers of a then deceased Arminius, who challenged the church and were rejected by it at the synod of Dort I find that I stand, on those mere five points so often raised, with the church. So far I can pass most any online test that tries to determine if I am a robot. Go figure eh? LOL BTW-Sure appreciate all your efforts on behalf of WCF whether they are of your own freewill or have been foreknown and predetermined. In either case, even there, I do not see that it relates to Romans 8:29-31 in a manner that cancels it's message.

"Scripture tells us to meditate." Yes it does on several very specific as examples to us. It also warns of cleaning a house without filling it back up to crowd out that which is evil. So he "meditation", prayer for understanding and for application , will be part of it far as I can understand anyway. Comparing meditation and prayer I suggest it is not an either or but really must be a combination that enlightens. Otherwise one ends up simply suffering their own presumptive conclusions or worse engaging in what can be described as atheism.

Hi, I'm not at all offended. I enjoyed your opening post and found it most usable for my own benefit. It is I think a great opening for discussion by many here. I suggest you give it time for others to engage as they see things for their benefit too and then also share .I entered four separate responses because I am rather wordy at times and would have ended up posting a way too long entry if I did it all in one post. Be assured you thread is not shut down, but only beginning to get developed. In that regard; do you have any affirming or contrary/different understandings of my own responses. If so please share so that many might engage in a expanding look at the subjects you brought up. Be blessed of God

President elect has tapped as his nominee "John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency." See WIKI for a composite of his history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ratcliffe_(American_politician)