Marathoner

That's my understanding of the passage as well. Until we are with the Lord in fullness, the imperfect remains.

I understand that not coming to Christ places one with dead who are resurrected to be judged (ref. Revelation 20), but bear in mind that not all of the dead are cast into the lake of fire. Only those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. That's not ALL of the dead.

From what I found, Rahab in that context was a Hebrew euphemism for Egypt.

Some of my colleagues at the transitional housing shelter smoke. I'm tactful in how I suggest that abandoning the habit is well worth it; I share what happened to me after I stopped. Pressure or nagging doesn't work as a general rule.

There is no Mrs. Marathoner.

Ah, I forgot about this particular poll you had going, @farouk. Everyone makes a point which testifies to the truth that different things work for different people. I tossed tobacco aside and didn't experience withdrawals. That's because I was delivered. Not everyone is... sometimes, the Lord requires us to endure something. The only issue I experienced was what @FJK referred to regarding rituals associated with smoking. That meant more than the tobacco itself. Ceasing from those habits and rituals required effort. Smoking was the "ritual" I engaged in whenever I wanted to sequester myself and consider a matter at length. It was also an opportunity to do that with other smokers or socialize with them as it were.

If a word is good --- if it encourages and edifies --- then from whence those words come doesn't matter. I understand that it does matter to some but when we weigh this properly, how we are encouraged in Jesus Christ is of no importance. If our hearts and minds are pointed toward the Lord, then it is good. As far as prophecy is concerned, I can only write from my own experience. The Lord has declared events before they started as it pertains to my engagement in them which is to say, His words equipped me according to His purpose. As for who benefits from the events in question, it is always about those whom I serve or support. For a point of reference, something similar is recorded in Acts 9:10-19. When Ananias went to Paul as instructed by the Lord, this is an example of pprophecy. Prophecy is forth-telling or, speaking those words which the Lord gives us to say and doing those things that He instructs us to do. As for visions of things to come that affect the world and us all, these were recorded in scripture a long time ago.

Whomever receives the Spirit of the Lord is a prophet. Remember that, in days of old, God withheld His Spirit from all but the prophets; the people were hard-hearted and stiff-necked. Indeed, for they killed the prophets sent by the Lord. Those days of old ended with the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of Man. It's true that the "office" of the prophet passed away, for now all those whose lives are hidden in Christ are prophets. We are prophets, forth-tellers of the words of the Lord, and there are times when He sees fit to send one to another bearing those words. Thus, one may be recognized as a prophet when they come bearing His will and word. I would never claim such a thing myself, but that's not what's important. Did this man encourage you in the Lord? If so, then he was indeed a prophet. Many assume that a prophet is a soothsayer. Not at all. Pay that nonsense no mind. If it is good, worthwhile, and lovely, then you may be confident in whatever you receive.

What has been, it is what will be, And what has been done, it is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? It has already existed for ages Which were before us. There is no remembrance of the earlier things, And of the later things as well, which will occur, There will be no remembrance of them Among those who will come later still. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 NASB) I encountered something from U.S. history that speaks volumes about this passage of scripture from Ecclesiastes, testifying of the truth that what has been, is what will be; and what has been done, is what will be done. Consider the numerous demonstrations against the military draft here in the United States during the Vietnam War. Young men were tearing up and/or burning their draft notices, vowing to escape to Canada or face prison than serve in that war. Understand that this is nothing new under the sun. What has been, is what will be. There is a propensity among some to glamorize the past, casting it in a favorable light compared to the present day. Some have said that the anti-draft demonstrations of the late 1960s and early 1970s were "anti-American" but true to scripture, there is no remembrance of the earlier things. How so? The New York City Draft Riots, which took place from July 13th until the 16th in 1863, testifies of this truth. Bear in mind that there were other anti-draft riots during the course of the Civil War but this event particularly stands out with regard to the measures taken by President Lincoln. The president mobilized militia and volunteers to crush the riot. Over 1,200 Americans were killed by troops. It was a massacre. There are many such examples to be found in the histories of man. That is only one.

I assert that faith in Jesus Christ is not religious nor based upon a religious system whatsoever. In any event --- as far as religions go --- some schools of Buddhism advocate disengagement as a path to enlightenment. Gnostic schools emphasize belief and knowledge over deeds and action, so this characteristic isn't unique to religions claiming the name of Christianity. Why isn't faith in Jesus Christ religious? Because He is a person, not an image or an idol; He speaks and doesn't need nor require others to speak for Him. One becomes a Christian by knowing Christ and being known by Him; we belong to Him so this is a relationship, not a custodial religion. Yes, there are a number of religions who claim the name of Christ in the world today.

The historical information is appreciated, @1to3. Accurate, and this reveals the proper frame of reference for current events. This conflict is not as ancient as some claim it to be. It started roughly 107 years ago. I've recently learned the significance of the nation state of Israel to some and how their view is central to theology defined by a peculiar eschatological system. It always struck me as strange, but paying attention to these topics (more than one is ongoing) has helped me to understand. It's still strange of course, but now I'm finally getting it.

Whatever has been uploaded to the world wide web is accessible to AI applications which are given access to the web by the creators and coders. Whatever the AI language model accesses is added to the application's semantic database. What is a semantic database? A database that stores, organizes, and interprets data based upon their semantics. I engineered a semantic database for a JAVA chatbot I coded in college. Who defined the semantics of data captured from end user input? I did. A lack of understanding warps the perception of A.I. language models. Popular media treatments don't help. These AI language models are grossly exaggerated in media presentations, endowed with characteristics that applications simply don't evidence. The very definition of artificial intelligence is the illusion of intelligence. It's fake. Much like the illusionist's trade, fooling observers into believing that the illusion is real is the point.

We can judge. An earnest and sincere brother may deliver what he believes to be the will of the Lord to another, ignorant of how his own convictions and beliefs are speaking. This does not make the brother a false prophet or a liar. In judging the matter, we discern his sincerity. He's simply mistaken. I've had more than one come to me in such a way and by no means did I react harshly or unkindly toward them. Quite the contrary. I thank them for sharing the burden of their heart with me. It's a precious matter. They will see for themselves as the will of the Lord unfolds. That's how it should be. So many strive in vain to recreate something that passed on over time: what most call the "early church." The early church did not arise because of the efforts of men, and the Body of Christ has not endured since those days because of the efforts of men. Indeed, the Body has endured in spite of man and his vanity. The Lord called me forth after all. Seeing as how He did this, He can call anyone, anywhere, at any given time. I have never considered pastors to be endowed with any measure of authority by God over others... that is, pastors who walk according to their calling in the Lord. A pastor does not appoint himself; He is called. The pastor does not supervise, he watches over the well-being of whomever the Lord places in his care. The pastor serves them as a shepherd serves his flock. In my experience, I have encountered two different pastors: The one who watches over families and children, and one who shepherds the wayward and the struggling. The brother whom the Lord sent me to was both at different times.

That's my understanding as well, @seeking the lost. I remain unconvinced where doctrines of raptures are concerned. I never arrived at such things lacking exposure to the prerequisite school of eschatological interpretation; it appears that this method of interpretation is required to adhere to these rapture doctrines. When the Son of God returns as He ascended, it is the end. Just as well, the so-called "second coming" was unknown to me until I encountered it later in life. The notion that the Lord spares His beloved from trial and tribulation is foreign to my understanding. On the contrary, He spares us from His wrath... But we don't have to be absent from this earth in order to be spared.

Alternatively, the word had a different connotation in antiquity. Religion meant how we conducted ourselves so in this sense, the passage from James uses that definition. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26-27 NASB) In the modern day, religion features a more complex and nuanced definition. This isn't a bad thing since languages change over time. What does religion mean now? A system of organized beliefs which includes prescribed rituals and shared non-kinship social structures.

Christ is faithful to strip away those things as He continues to work in us. There is an extreme which I found myself entrenched in when those words of the Lord which promised that "nothing would be the same" started to unfold. I was terrified by that plate of cookies. Why? The plate of cookies would destroy me so that, when those cookies were taken away, I would suffer loss all over again. I preferred existence not knowing when the next meal would arrive and from whence it would come. There is something to be said when the trappings of life aren't certain at all. This enabled freedom from the millstone of responsibilities and the horror that descended upon me whenever I found work... obtained housing... and found myself with a stocked kitchen. I would lose it all in cycle that never seemed to end. We should be grateful for whatever we receive from the Lord, yes? So, when He placed that proverbial plate of cookies in front of me, I had to overcome the fear that it would vanish. Sometimes, having a plate of cookies is the issue.

The Lord does not approve of complacency on our part. There is something worth writing about, things I do not share otherwise. Have I endured hardship? Indeed. Hardship was my life in this world until everything except for the life in this body was taken away. This can happen to some in combat zones: the zone changes them so that they can never go home again. There was a soldier during the Gulf War who said this to his section chief: "I can never go home." He never did. Something similar happened to me in this life. After the Lord raised me up to be a man again, He promised that nothing would be the same. I didn't understand His words until they started unfolding before my eyes. Whereas in the past I lived life waiting for the hammer to fall --- it always did, sometimes sooner than later --- the opposite was happening. I would wait for the hammer to fall and instead of disaster, blessings would fall like rain all around me. My adopted mother defeated cancer and the damage to her liver was miraculously "rolled back" so that she wasn't in danger any longer. Her heart softened toward the Lord. No one and nothing disturbed the peace on her land again, and this was the promise the Lord made after He poured His Spirit upon me. She would live the rest of her days in peace knowing that she was loved. Not long before sudden illness took her, the Lord sent a dream wherein He displayed that my time on her land was coming to an end, and that He would take her. When I woke from that dream, He told me not to despair. Nothing on this earth endures forever, said the Lord. I would not remain on her ranch. That's how nothing was the same again. I was no longer ignorant of His will and instead of calamity, the Lord encourages me to stand and walk confident not in myself, but confident in Him. When I said, "Lord, I can be a terrible man." He assured me that I would not lack for a teacher in Him. I continue to overcome the war zone I lived and breathed in for so long, and I learned the wise alternative to expecting the worst: Accepting that whatever befalls me is according to His will and purpose.

That's the irony of my predicament, @Vine Abider. I'm patient with those who struggle with addiction but everything changes when I find myself faced with someone who doesn't; or, someone who attends a church. I'm too comfortable in those places where I have dwelled (the gutter, or just down the street from the gutter as it were) but when I find myself outside of my comfort zone, I can be a real piece of work. I look down upon those who don't scrape and struggle to survive... or rather, those whom I perceive in such a way. That's important to confess to you: it's all about my own perceptions, brother. Who am I to judge anyone? I'm merciful to the addict but my tongue is like a razor blade toward others who don't meet with my approval. The Lord has forgiven me of so much that the manner in which I have treated you and others recently is shameful. I not only need to get over myself quickly, but I must never forget that I'm here to serve others. I know what I have to do next: I must visit a church. There's one across the main road a few blocks away. Time for me to learn the lesson. I hope that I can regain your trust.

Similar in most ways. Difficulty has been the means by which the Lord teaches me. When I was younger, it was His discipline but now, He counsels me after the fact, reminding me of lessons learned through much hardship. I'll furnish a pertinent example. Normally, I'm silent toward all save for the Lord Himself. I use words sparingly unless He moves me to speak to another; my calling is different in focus and yet similar to your own. I usually find myself ministering to the desperate and those who have nothing left to lose. Over the years I have come to admire those whom the Lord places in my care, for their honesty and lack of pretense is encouraging. Indeed, I prefer this dangerous part of the city to locations of high real estate value. It has been my observation that comfort and plenty breed insolence and arrogance... and this is where difficulty arises, brother. Silence served me well for so long! By remaining silent, I controlled my tongue perfectly. Ah, but silence cannot serve as an escape route to avoid the hardship our Lord uses to for our benefit. The Lord knows how I struggle to treat those whom I perceive as pretentious or religious in the manner which I wish to be treated myself. My answer was silence and for years, this sufficed. There were other matters that the Lord focused upon. These days, the Lord bids me to break that silence and speak... in other words, I must take the risk of treating others poorly on account of my prejudices and flaws. Heh. Surely that last sentence sums up the learning opportunity in the Lord that breaking my silence affords. I criticize others on account of prejudices and flaws that I perceive... and I'm not oblivious to how this springs forth from my own prejudices and flaws. I'm not oblivious because after the deed is done, the Lord reveals the resounding irony of my actions and words. What do I say? "Lord! Why do I open my mouth or keyboard? I'm an idiot." No, I'm just a man... just like my brother is. Treat my brothers and sisters with the greatest care... that lesson which Christ delivered to me through the darkest of times in the desperate places. I forgot about that lesson.

It's a matter of semantics, sister. Consider ancient Japanese maps that revealed portions of North America; the Japanese referred to North America by a different name (ancient Japanese explorers reached the west coastline of North America). For that matter, "American" is partially a geographical and geopolitical moniker. Continentally, there are two Americas (North and South); geopolitically and culturally, there four different Americas: North, Meso (modern day Mexico), Central, and South. Some schools of thought blend Mesoamerica and Central America together. Semantics.

The Lord and most Galileans spoke Syriac Aramaic; Arabic is also a Syriac language and shares much in common with Aramaic. The notion that "Palestinians" never existed is more than a little ludicrous and disingenuous; the ancient Hebrews were Palestinians. So were the Phoenicians and the people called the Philistines. Palestine refers to a geographical region. However, this is distorted in the modern vernacular to refer specifically to ethnic Arab people currently confined to the Gaza strip. They're not the only ones confined to Gaza. Much of that region's present chaos is the result of Ottoman, Imperial German, British, and U.S. meddling. It's best understood with the events surrounding the first World War serving as the frame of reference. Crude oil is the source. Who is the "great Satan" in Iranian rhetoric? Not Israel. That distinction belongs to the United States. I cannot say that this enmity isn't entirely deserved. U.S. hands are drenched with blood.

Hebrews were a Semitic people; so are modern-day Arabs. Hence, both share a common ancestry of the flesh. Arab is nothing more than an ethnic moniker much like "European" is; however, the modern-day occupants of Israel are most assuredly an ethnic mixture. Some are either Arabic or have Arabic ancestors. Some are European... some have Asian ancestry. And so on. That's reality. You asked how that particular post of mine relates to this topic, @Vine Abider. It should be simple enough to ascertain without my assistance. As a matter of custom, I have remained silent where topics like this one is concerned. Recently, I decided to break that silence and speak up now and then, particularly where error runs rampant. All manner of falsehood and wild conjecture forms the basis of most of the discussion in this thread. In your OP, you misrepresented the historical narrative of the so-called "two-state" solution. That in itself is truly no big deal but considering the hot-button nature of the subject matter, my attention was drawn to this topic. Your response to Tristen yesterday that "the Arabs are responsible for 90% of the misbehaving" is atrocious, to say the least. It smacks of racism. Are you aware that many Israelis are, in fact, Arabic? There are Arab Christians as well. I'm not special, my friend. If I know those things, anyone else can certainly find out. Why am I disgusted? Simple: I made the mistake of assuming that my brothers and sisters would actually care more about the truth than their own opinions. That leads me to three conclusions: 1.) My brothers and sisters truly don't care; or 2.) You're not my brothers and sisters. The third conclusion? I have better things to do than appeal to those who don't care. It's like what happened when I found myself standing in a "men's meeting" where deacons and other upstanding Christian men cheered the prospect of "nuking Iran." Insane.

That's incorrect. The term has its origin close to 2,600 years ago in a passage written by the Greek historian Herodotus; he referred to a province of Syria between Phoenicia and Egypt called "Palaistine." The ancient Greeks were the first to use that word. When the Lord walked upon this earth, that region was called "Judea" by the Romans.

What's revealing are those who include themselves with the world with one breath; but with the next breath, insist that they are not one with world. No one can serve two masters. It's even more interesting to encounter those who preach the necessity of biblical conduct in Jesus Christ, and yet manifest the works of the flesh in clinging to the cares of this world. While this is most assuredly not unique to the religiosity found in the United States, it's ascendant here. It's why so many evangelicals support the wars of men. I remember the blasphemous irony of military chaplains. How can I forget that, seeing as how I actually volunteered for the armed forces? Praying to Jesus for successful operations in opposition to flesh and blood when the words of the apostle expressly inform us that flesh and blood is not our enemy. I expect this from the world. I expect no less from the religious who justify the same. Ah, but those who preach one thing and demonstrate the opposite judge themselves. Our enemies are not flesh and blood and our weapons are not carnal. Hence why there is no excuse for hypocrisy.

I'm in resounding agreement regarding an abhorrence toward violence. That has no place in the Body of Christ and the apostles of the Lord affirm this in New Testament scripture. The words of the Lord Himself teach us to be peacemakers. It's rather telling when some who profess the name of the Lord "take sides" in worldly affairs and condone the horror of war. There is no excuse for it.