Alive

There is always a bit of that, but Trump and his team--I believe are aware they hold the cards with the greatest military power and quick reach. Again, the only truly wild card is the Iran leadership--but even their expressions are mostly posturing. IMO--the danger right now comes for Russia and Ukraine. A weakened Russia is a dangerous Russia. The true evil is the American based warmongers who are playing an incredibly selfish and dangerous game over there. We should stop all support for Ukraine--period. Zelensky is insane.

I do not believe that. Other than my common sense viewing the world I do not see things through the same lens that many christians of today do.

Israel has little choice but to dismantle Irans's nuclear capability and the whole world knows this and respects that reality. The only truly crazy unhinged evil nation is Iran and the whole world knows this, also.

I doubt any other nations want to be involved...proxies notwithstanding.

This stuff is organized by outside forces, so it needs to be stopped at the root for there to be any real lasting changes.

Guys like Newsome and other so called progressives have become slaves to their choices and few know a way out.

I have never been there. Its a real shame that this violence and destruction has been allowed and it seems this may be a rough weekend in many cites.

I don't know if this will be helpful to anyone, but the Lord and I seem to have settled into a way to deal with much of the flesh's temptations. When those come and they do often while walking in this world and the thoughts that are in the data base of my mind, I turn away and tell the Lord that my 'loyalty' is to Him.

I am not exactly what you are meaning with this. Can you shrink it leaving clear and concise points.

Yup…sometimes when we look at things with a magnifying glass, we miss the picture the HS is painting. Sometimes zooming out helps us get clarity.

I like the question because it gives opportunity to discuss the 3 main reasons and everything is contained by them. Cross=death-resurrection=Life-and Ascension=our Life is hidden and secured in Him.

Sarcasm alert! Sorry. :-)

This whole business of challenging who are Jews and who is not is a dangerous thing and putting oneself in place of God who knows them that are His. It breeds an ongoing contention that serves no good purpose.

Many many years ago I was exposed to the formula controversy and I can assure you it is a false argument with no merit. It may help you to substitute the phrase ‘in the name of’ with ‘in the Nature of’, for this is the relevant reality. In this case, the words spoken are not as important as the Realities behind them. We are baptized into His Nature by His Nature.

This is cherry picking verses to create a narrative while ignoring other clear scriptures on the subject. This is transparent and will not be tolerated much longer. “as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:16 NKJV) https://accordance.bible/link/read/NKJVS#2Pet._3:16

Paul’s language here is crystal clear. There is no excuse not to see it properly unless a filter of some sort is applied to either warp it or occlude it. There can be some reasonable disagreement on how it all plays out, but that is it.

Much like Sower, things change with age and situation. I spend all week days alone for the last 4 years or so. We are far away from family and friends and at an age where making new is not easy. Like Michael, I am comfortable with my thoughts. I have found myself often reflecting on the past and at times on past sins which I see as failures and so I rely on the Lord and His Grace and blood all the more. As I have shared before, I have become increasingly aware I can do nothing without Him. It’s kinda like going from macro to micro as life slows down. I am thankful that I can still build things like a screened porch and I can still help neighbors. My wife is my best friend and sister and we make a good team. Solitude provides an opportunity to realize a quiet contentment in Him.

They have been by the house twice lately. They do not like to hear that Jesus Christ is not Michael and rather that He is God. This is when they leave.

We all are well served if we understand different views are inevitable and welcome when discussed in love. The world has become a very big place with folks affected in various ways due to experience and inputs. We can disagree and still know unity in Christ.

Well said.

5299. ὑπωπιάζω; hupōpiazō; (from hupōpion, compounded of hupo and ōps, ōpos, which denotes a. that part of the face which is under the eyes; b. a blow in that part of the face; a black and blue spot, a bruise); properly, to beat black and blue, to smite so as to cause bruises and livid spots (Aristotle, rhet. 3, 11, 15, p. 1413a, 20; Plutarch, mor., p. 921 f.; Diogenes Laërtius 6, 89): to sōma, like a boxer I buffet my body, handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships, 1 Cor. 9:27; metaphorically, (poleis hupōpiasmenai, cities terribly scourged and afflicted by war, bearing the marks of devastation Aristophanes pax 541) to give one intolerable annoyance (‘beat one out’, ‘wear one out’), by entreaties (cf. telos, 1 a.), Luke 18:5 (cf. aliquem rogitando obtundat, Terence, Eun. 3, 5, 6).*

Its a reference to the discipline required in a boxing match...both the training and the match. The hellenized world knew just what he meant.

Punching himself in the eye.

Of course he wasn't saying that. ;-)