irishbeast

I never thought of pacemakers to be honest! Although (not in all cases) pacemakers can be brought about as a result of a bad lifestyle which has simply evolved over the years. The typical western diet in particular is garbage. Some people can be born with genetic problems, though to be around 15% although precise data is not readily available. I'm pretty sure God didn't want us eating Double XL whoppers with cheese!

I had an interesting discussion with my church family today about Elon Musk and Neuralink. Personally, I think Musk is an incredible innovator—a true gift from God. His work in AI, space travel, and now brain-computer interfaces is undeniably groundbreaking. However, I also wonder if he is unknowingly stepping into playing God territory? Neuralink has the potential to restore mobility, cure neurological diseases, and even bring sight to the blind (though that hasn't happened yet). Sounds amazing but a few points were raised If someone has been blind their entire life, could suddenly gaining sight be overwhelming rather than a blessing? There are real cases where people who regained vision struggled to process the world properly. Could this be more of a burden than a gift? If God has given us the intelligence to develop these technologies, is it wrong to use them? Or is there a point where we cross a line into altering God’s design rather than healing? Could Neuralink be the start of something bigger—where humans try to enhance themselves beyond what God intended, leading us toward something like the Tower of Babel scenario in Genesis 11? I’d love to hear what others think. Should we embrace this technology as part of God’s plan for human progress? Or does it risk becoming an attempt to replace God with human innovation? Looking forward to your thoughts!

Of course our Lord and Saviour was perfect but consider this: In church today one of the guys got up and spoke about how Jesus would have have been perhaps considered a bit of a rebel by today's standards and give some interesting examples. A few from memory . they are mentioned places in the Gospels Refusing to answer questions in court Matthew 26:62-63 and others When questioned by the high priest and later by Pilate, Jesus remained mostly silent, refusing to defend himself against the accusations. Flipping over tables Matthew 21:12-13 and others Jesus entered the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers, driving them out with a whip called them a Den of thieves Breaking Sabbath Rules Mark 2-2:23 and others Jesus healed on the Sabbath and allowed his disciples to pick grain, defying the religious laws of his time. Today, breaking religious laws in favour of compassion and practical needs could be seen as rebellious Associating with "unsavoury characters" Luke 5-29:32 Jesus dined with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners, which offended the religious elite. The point of the message was that in this life we should of course be followers of Christ but nobody is perfect, and God will realise that. The timing couldn't be better as I had a week I was not proud off. It put my mind at ease a bit. It doesn't mean a licence to break all the rules but moreso to convey the message that we are only human and have free will, but will never be perfect so don't beat yourself up too much if you break the rules. If you are genuinely sorry (this is important) then repent in prayer. This doesn't a wild card to commit sin every day as you just confess your sins thinking you will be forgiven. God already knows your heart. He's sending messages all the time without people realising. Where does a guilty conscious come from if we are just flesh and bone? Same as feelings of love. Scientists try to understand it but never will as God can do things that transcend our understandings I'm rambling a bit now - Just wanted to share this as is was timely for me and if it helps anyone else it then that's great :)

Really? who knows. I have about 20 tabs open at once so a slip is quite possible!

Hi all, Took a little breather and took some time to reflect. I've been under a tremendous amount of stress recently. I'm in a pretty lousy place, which is no doubt a result of my failings in my old life. In a real rut and I'm like a pressure cooker wanting to explode at times. Sundays are good as they are really the only day I have any peace when I get to worship with my church family. The devil is tormenting me at the moment. Really badly. Wanting me to give up at everything, get back to my old ways and has been successful to a degree. I think being on here will help me keep a clear mindset and hopefully win the battle permanently. I didn't expect things to be so hard. I keep comparing my struggles to that of what Christ must have endured. Try to put myself in his shoes and suddenly I realise what I fool I am. Have been praying and asking for direction as I feel like the literal lost sheep at the moment and need a shepherd to whip me in to shape. Again a literal reference as I have gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks from eating absolute trash! One of the devils wins. Anyway to cut a long story short. I am back - I'm already struggling with isolation so cutting myself off from here won't help. Apologies for being such a drama queen about this all. You will have to endure me for another while :)

My understanding is a little different but what you said makes sense too, I don't think there is a right and wrong answer but for what it's worth Exodus 9:16 is about Pharaoh specifically, showing how God used him to demonstrate his power. Romans 9 the potter and clay analogy, I don’t think it means people have no choice. It’s more about God’s plans unfolding as he wills shaping us for whatever his has in store for us I also don’t see it as just accepting the fact without question but I might be wrong. Plenty of people in the Bible wrestled with God’s ways as part of their journey, very much like people including myself for about 25 years! :) You;ve just reminded me of a book I need to order "We who wrestle with God" by Jordan Peterson, don't suppose you had read it? I want a review from someone who doesn't have a vested interest. I love JP although he tends to over think the bible which is not a bad thing but I don't think God intended for it to be forensically examined 2000 years later. It should be understandable by ordinary folk, not just super intellects! Most of his disciples were just ordinary folk

Thanks for the kind words. I'm not in a great place at the moment (I don't mean here) as an awful lot is going wrong at the same time. I was saying to qwik (or did I) that I was just about broken after a long day today. However, I had a new laptop/tablet to pick up which I bought last night off Amazon (there is a point to this - stay with me!). Amazon delivered to the shop, got the text and the shop said they didn't get any parcels at all today, he clearly couldn't be bothered looking. I said to qwik the enemy has really really been trying to break me recently. I firmly believe that the harder you try the harder he does and that's why I should take a step back, take a deep breath and repeat a few times God is in control, God is in control" and maybe just read one random verse from the bible. Little tip a church friend told me. It works when I remember to do it! I like singing as well, that helps. I'm being deadly serious here when I say it's like I am Adam the Serpent is a manifestation of recent events trying to get me to eat the forbidden fruit (in my case alcohol). Was I tempted yes, did I no. He would have loved that

You are a female? Really? Its kind of "good" in a way that I didn't notice as I wouldn't have treated you any different. Just making sure I have replied to everyone, got a couple left then I need some sleep but life is like a steam train that never stops at the moment. I think I mentioned this in our little private chat that I am blocking some time off tomorrow afternoon where i plan on having some me time and not being on the computer. I still haven't watched series 4 of the chosen so that might be a good idea. Loved the first there. I watched them with a sense of dread thinking they might make a mockery of the scriptures but its really ace - Thats chap who plays Jesus is brilliant. I have found myself even doing bits of work on Sunday evenings. That has to stop! Your brother in Christ (and pathological ranter) - IB

I know this is an old post but I wanted to chime in as I suffered with crippling anxiety for years. This was a topic of discussion after one of our members passed away and he a lot of therapists for his issues. I'm going to be controversial here. I know a lot of people found CBT very helpful and if so great. Personally (before I was a believer) I found it to be a complete waste of time and tried it twice, both times so that someone else could have my place that might find benefit in it. Back then it was the bottle but since turning to Christ and shortly after ditching the booze my anxiety had almost completely gone. So I don't know if it was the holy spirit, the lack of booze or a combination of the two. You could make strong argument that had I not turned to Christ I would have never kicked the bottle, and I would agree as I tried and failed so many times. The timing just seemed right for a number of reasons which are too long long to list. The passage below sums it up well for me anyway: 2 Timothy 1:7 – "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Thanks for that. I am quite partial to a brew. Few little tips below Green tea is a great anti oxidant and in regular quantities (3+ cups a day) can have thermogenic properties so will also help with weight loss. Used to drink it by the litre,seriously! Hibiscus is nice as well. Its herbal and non caffeinated. In regular quantities. again 3+ can assist with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. So mix the two and you will be super fit! Jokeb before anyone tries it! Now that I am done playing Doctor: Regarding sounding rough don't worry about it. I was unaware English was not you native tongue but I assure you I come in peace. Sometimes my posting style can be a bit relaxed and I do have an inherent proclivity to go off on slight tangents. It's actually part of a Mental disorder I have, but you weren't to know that. Apology accepted - I'm happy never to speak of it again! :)

Honest answer. I don't really know. I will hold my hands up to not knowing as much as I should about our ministry, which is part of the reason I started this thread. Correct me if I am wrong here but my simplistic understanding is that evangelicals go out actively spreading the word of God in a more direct way. Let me explain why I am saying that. After service every Sunday the Pastor and his wife go out Evangelising and I have tagged along a few times to listen in but don't actively participate as I need to listen to them a few more times before. They approach people on the street and try to evangelise them. So, In my church back home which is very traditional Church of Ireland, pews that would rupture a buttock if you sat down too hard. The word is spread but the people in the church should in theory be followers of Christ or at least curious. None of the approaching on the street goes on or anything like that so its less direct and you are preaching to the converted in a sense. Seems like direct I'm not sure I have explained this very well, the evangelising part anyway. Core beliefs are the same. No idea who came up with the Name "Greater Grace" . I know it originated in the states and I want to say Maryland without resorting to google. I think you have exposed me a bit here! :) Homework to do!

Sorry if this is a bit brief and had to look up a few of references which is good to jog the memory! Fair point on the lack of opposition, but does war require a military resistance? Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a threat (Exodus 1:9-10) and launched a campaign of forced labour and infanticide. History considers genocides and ethnic cleansing as acts of war, even when the victims can’t fight back. Something I struggle to wrap my head around at times to be fair but I get it although it may seem a little backward Also, if war needs two sides fighting, how would you classify God’s plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7-12)? Was that not a divine war against Pharaoh? Maybe war is too strong. The old brain is failing me this evening - long day! Curious to hear your thoughts.

Fair question War is an organised, large scale conflict between opposing forces, typically involving armies, strategies and direct combat. It’s usually fought over land, power, resources, or ideology to cite a few examples Persecution is targeted opposition against a specific group of people, often driven by political, religious, or social motivations. It doesn’t require an opposing army or a battlefield. It’s about the systematic mistreatment of a group of people. War is two way (although not always fairly balanced), persecution is one way to put it very simply! Hope that helps

Haha I lived in Australia for 6 months and the C word for example, was used as part of the language my some of the ockers! Bonus point to anyone who knows what an Ocker is without google!

Thanks and totally agree. As did the mod who pulled me up on it but we have now engaged in a civil and enjoyable dialogue about each others stories and lives, quite a nice fella by all accounts. Every cloud and all that. It wasn't even the word you are thinking of. Do you watch Father Ted by any chance? lol its a comedy sketch about these Catholic priest and one of them Father Jack say the word literally as part of his catch phrase. It wasn't that word though but I get the angle you are coming from totally Its another word for a donkey and was in a thread I haven't even revisited where I must have referred to a person (not a member) as a smart ( insert other word for donkey). So not a hanging offence and I did argue (with some venom!) that if I broke the T&Cs then this was not clearly defined and I stand by that. I will happily bring this up with the owner. We are all adults and swearing is very broad and by its very nature not clearly defined, similar to insulting. So its a tough one in fairness. I have ideas which I will share with George who I presume runs this place? Or am I wrong? As a former forum owner I appreciate the need to adhere to the rules but if a member or a moderator raised a concern or made a suggestion I would always consider it and whilst it wasn't an exclusive club (it was bodybuilding, apologies if I am repeating myself) we were welcoming to most people as long as they weren't in with the sole intention of asking where they could buy steroids!

I am a chronic insomniac, but enough about my personal life! You've raise several points, but let’s stay focused on the original issue firstly to keep on track—the role of Joseph and whether his story is about power or servanthood. You said, “No one knew His plans as Joseph said after the fact that it was God's plan all along.” But this is only half true. Yes, Joseph acknowledged God's plan in hindsight (Genesis 50:20), but long before that, God revealed parts of his plan through dreams both to Joseph (Genesis 37:5-11) and later to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:1-32). Joseph did not blindly serve Pharaoh; he was used by God as an instrument of provision and reconciliation. This leads back to my original question, which you haven’t addressed. If Joseph’s role was ultimately about God's sovereignty rather than his own power, why did he say in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives"? Doesn’t this indicate that his true significance was in fulfilling God’s purpose rather than in wielding authority? You also mentioned the Israelites in Egypt, but there’s a contradiction in what you’ve said. You claim “no one died in wars” during those 400 years in Egypt, but the Bible records that Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of Israelite babies (Exodus 1:15-22). That is, in fact, a form of war against them is it not? You also said God “did it all by Himself” when freeing them, but then mention Moses, the Law, the Levitical priesthood, and sanctification. So which is it? If God acted entirely alone, why did He raise up Moses as a deliverer? If God wanted Israel to be separate, why did He place Joseph in Egypt to begin with, rather than keeping Jacob’s family in Canaan? How does this fit with God's broader plan for nations and His use of exile and restoration? You also mentioned the provision of manna in the wilderness, but that period came after their deliverance from Egypt, not during Joseph’s time. This is another reason why I asked earlier how you balance the theme of servanthood over authority. Joseph was given power, yes, but he never claimed it—it was always God who orchestrated events. I know you said one thing at a time, so no need to answer all of these at once or indeed at all as I know these posts can be time consuming.

Thankyou - Thats' very kind of you :)

Your insights into Joseph are interesting, but I noticed a key omission—one that shifts the entire understanding of his story. You emphasised Joseph’s authority, yet Joseph himself never sought to elevate his own status. Instead, he made it clear that all interpretation, wisdom, and power came from God alone: "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favourable answer." (Genesis 41:16) This is crucial because Joseph’s greatness wasn’t in his rulership—it was in his servanthood. He didn’t see himself as the architect of his own success but as an instrument in God’s plan. This leads me to a few questions: You spoke of Joseph’s rise, but what about Genesis 50:20? "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good." Does this not show that humility and submission to God, rather than authority, was the true hallmark of his character? In focusing on Joseph’s position of power, how do you reconcile this with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 20:26: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant"? If Joseph’s wisdom was marked by his reliance on God rather than his own understanding, how does this align with Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding"? I’m genuinely interested to hear your thoughts, particularly on how you balance the theme of servanthood over authority in biblical leadership as its a topic I find interesting.

Just for future reference a word with multiple meanings is called a homonym if the meanings are unrelated (e.g., "bat" as in the animal and "bat" as in baseball). If the meanings are related but have different nuances, it's called polysemy (e.g., "run" as in "run a race" and "run a business"). I don't see one anywhere in my post although I am sure you will correct me if am I wrong. Although I was busy trying to give people a glimpse of my personality shine through and let people know a little bit about me given that I am new to the forum. I will know for again although you may notice a post that I am leaving the forum tomorrow, which will be of great delight to you I should think. There's nothing wrong with showing a bit of personality. I don't remember reading in the T&Cs that under no circumstances shall you ever try to be yourself. I am quite taken aback to be honest at the bluntness of your answer as everyone has been so welcoming on here. Oh well. You can't please everyone. Again look forward to your answers. I don't mind if you obfuscate a bit, I am/was trying to get to know people on here. I think you need to be a bit more tolerant towards new members trying to fit in. Its not very welcoming at all, given that its a Christian forum; or at least the name would certainly suggest so Ta

Oh yes, I did - Thanks for politely pointing that out :)

It’s interesting that, despite my post being entirely good-natured and simply sharing my journey, you chose to respond in a way that is needlessly dismissive. You claimed that my words had "multiple meanings," yet my post was entirely clear with one typo, I apologise. There was no ambiguity in asking if others were part of the same ministry or attending a conference. If anything, your response seems more like an attempt to undermine rather than genuinely engage. If a simple, personal testimony is too imprecise for your liking, perhaps the issue isn’t with my words but with your own unwillingness to have a conversation in good faith. Rather than engaging with kindness or even basic curiosity, you’ve taken the stance of a theological gatekeeper—implying that my personal experiences hold no value unless they are filtered through a rigid doctrinal lens. I find that fascinating, given that Jesus Himself spoke in parables, met people where they were, and did not demand a theological thesis before engaging with them. Instead, He valued personal testimony, which is precisely what I was sharing. In fact, if we look at John 9:25, the blind man healed by Jesus gave a testimony that was as simple as it was profound: "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" He didn’t start with a theological framework—he started with transformation. Just as I did. Now, to answer your question. You ask what I believe. The foundation of my faith is clear: I believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). I believe that Christ's death and resurrection provided atonement for my sins, and through Him, I have eternal life (John 3:16). I believe in repentance (Luke 13:3), in being born again (John 3:3), and in following Christ not just in word, but in action (James 2:17). Now, given that you asked for a scripture-based answer, let me return the favour by presenting you with some follow-up questions of my own: If my testimony was invalid because it contained personal details, what do you make of Paul's conversion story in Acts 22:6-16? Should he have omitted his personal experience because it wasn't purely theological? You reference Matthew 25:31-46, which speaks of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats. How do you reconcile that with Ephesians 2:8-9, which makes it clear that salvation is not by works but by grace? If you insist on theological precision before engaging in discussion, why did Jesus choose fishermen, tax collectors, and common folk to be His disciples rather than scholars? I look forward to your answers.

H In my short time here, I had thought this was the perfect place for fellowship, discussion, and encouragement. However, it has become clear that the rules here are far stricter than I anticipated, and unfortunately, this is not the right place for me. Such is life I have been informed that my use of a completely ordinary word—one that also happens to be another term for a donkey—has caused such profound distress that it warranted being reported. To the individual who suffered so greatly at the sight of this word, please accept my sincerest, most heartfelt apology. I am truly sorry to the absolute root of my being that my reckless choice of language has disturbed your peace. I can only imagine the hardship this has caused you, and I hope you find the strength to recover from this ordeal in due time. I understand that the T&Cs of this forum does not allow such heinous words (I will read the again for future reference, and I fully respect the need to maintain a safe and wholesome environment. To ensure that nobody else has to endure such offensive language ever again, I will be leaving. However, I will leave my profile open for a few days, as I have been speaking to a few people via PM who may or may not wish to stay in touch. My offer for free digital art still stands, even though I will no longer be a member. I wish you all the best, and may your conversations remain pure and untainted. Before I go, I do want to sincerely thank those who took the time to engage in thoughtful discussions and provide such interesting and insightful answers. Some very knowledgeable folk and I genuinely appreciated those conversations, and they gave me plenty to think about. Kind regards Stephen

Oh I know they are crooked. I've seen the video edits vs the raw footage. I had mixed feelings about Kamala. I thought she has a single digit IQ which was worrying but she was threw in at the deep end. The covering up of Biden was disgraceful. On a religious note the comment she made at the rally when someone shouted "Jesus is lord" or something like that and she made a smart remark and started cackling. That got my back up. Trump seems to have become more "religious" since the 1st shooting attempt which is good but I do wonder if God was truly in his heart before. I do believe it was divine intervention as I think had the dems got in America would be bankrupt and we would end up in WW3. I really believe that. I did watch and study more than I have let on as British politics were so dull at the time. Britain is an embarrassment with Starmer in charge. I don't know what his agenda is but I have a bad feeling if he doesn't end the madness with padeophile rings, facebook arrests, giving away colossal amounts in foreign aid while his own people freeze or starve to name a few examples of incompetence - the pressure cooker will explode and I think we may see violence like never before Douglas Murray wrote about this in his book "The strange death of Europe" which is focused on immigration, another big issue a lot of countries face. He predicted all this would happen

There's quite a lot of these now. I'm from Northern Ireland, living in England so I don't have a dog in the fight but without turning this into a political argument I was stunned by how many Americans believed what I just saw as complete lies! Trump is not perfect either by any means, just before I get accused of being MAGA - although I do have a MAGA hat but that was just to play a little joke on someone :)

Were you eating chills the night before? ;) Funnily enough I asked my Pastor one time how he prepares his Sermons. He said he doesn't do much prep (he must do a little bit) but says that he just prays to God to give him the words for his people and sometimes its really weird as he touches on issues I am going through and there's no way he could possibly know know! So I think divine intervention seems very likely as the odds of it happening a number of times must be miniscule Thanks for sharing that story - much appreciated :)