Billionaires buy media influence; climate scam; digital currently scam; neopaganism, art, and influence; two SADS NFL stars and two SADS local officials; a good Spirit is moving in the world; more.
Call me a full blown, professional "conspiracist," but it has crossed my mind once or twice to wonder, if, when Gates & co set up Microsoft, and asked all the government entities and contractors they "leased" the program to, instead of selling it outright, as was only normal, at the time, if some clever little minds hadn't already calculated-
a) the stunning amount of moolah such a "lease" could generate over time, and,
b) influence wielded by private citizens & millions or billions of dollars, is not subject to the same strictures, constraints and reviews that public money is, nor are it's actions limited in the ways that government must adhere to.
No FOIAs for you! ; ))
Think about it, everyone.
Government must, in some ways, respond to public will, and can be removed for violating the public trust.
But Bill Gates, Soros, Facebook Boy, Bezos, Musk, et all, are free, free, free! Free to say "I want to put my billions into "x," "y," or "z!" "You cannot stop me!"
So, if we have diabolically clever actors with lots of pull in the "Deep State," who wish for a certain outcome they can get a front man, a Zuckerberg or a Gates, or a Musk, help them to billions, and then guide them to where to apply those billions in order to re-make our Free Society into something very, very, different indeed!
All the political fighting between the left and the right, until each is in the furthered corner from the middle as humanly possible, so that they are totally consumed with attacking one another, with complete distraction towards all else resulting the utter destruction of the "reasonable middle" which which was the majority of Americans in the past-
Well, that's largely the fruit of the algorithms of Facebook, etc.
What a win for the Sociopaths planning our demise!
The money of the, imo, Sociopath Gates- inject the world with poison & publically DESTROY anyone who questions the practice, by controlling media, medicine, academia, & politics. Wowza!
Governments want this for several reasons- population control, Eugenics, by race, females lose fertility, & now mind interface with electromagnetic frequencies for behavioral control are right on the horizon.
Hmm.
Nice work, Gates & Co!
Amazon & Bezos- well, well, well the Company Store is back, and the serfs can only shop in one spot, returning rapidly to plantation Earth.
Musk- well, now there's a machine if you ever saw one!
War games, Space Exploration, Communication Control, Information Control, Brain Chips, and Lithium Powered Cars that will limit distance travel, permanently, and which produce more environmental destruction than our old ones, it seems,, plus they are prohibitively expensive for the trashed middle class and will rely on China for their materials.
Ditto Solar panels, (plus wind,) in a quixotic attempt to destroy our current successful energy grid.
Hmmm.
Plantation Earth with the slaves all properly in place is zooming right along!
Anyone else suspicious that such wealth and power to create this Slave State fell into exactly the right hands with the "genius" to pull the whole darn show off?!
Well, I don't buy it.
Those certainly clever boys were handed an awful lot of power & opportunities & profits on purpose, I say, (most assuredly so,) so that the plebs couldn't FOIA the plans! Or toss them out of office once they were exposed!
Game Boys.
And we are the toys, to be ranked round the board, knocked off, disposed, and dispossessed, if we don't see this whole show, fully exposed!
Our founding fathers were right- this form of Government only works for the good, people with morals inside their souls.
And that is Christ's attraction, to my heart & soul, it's the Great Goodness He calls us each to, and shines upon us ALL.
LOVE is the essense of the teaching. If you resonate with God, as Goodness, you resonate with Jesus.
We must painfully work our way back, back to Judeo-Christian ethics, (do unto others as you would have done unto you,) and the Rule of Constitutional Law, plus our Bill of Rights, and then untangle the web created to destroy all, all of that which made this Nation Free, & Great, under God.
At least once or twice I've seen that Facebook was a cia creation and chairman zuck was picked to be the most malleable candidate to front it. Probably a conspiracy theory. lol
Pretty sure it was initially created as a project at his college so that the guys could identify who were the cute girls for them to hit on, and only later went "mainstream" to the general population. Which isn't to say that any three-letter-agency didn't become involved at some point, but in my experience government isn't known for spotting sea-changes and getting on board before they happen.
Yes, you are right on the mark. Why oh why do people still give credit to these actors for their exploits. They're mere pawns doing the bidding of whoever's on the top of this corrupt pyramid. It's obvious Gates is possessed by his herky jerky movements, consistant with entity possession. A little research shows his background to be privileged and connected to Deep State ties, perverted youthful exploits and groomed for the position he holds today. Look at any of the characters that are front men for $$$$ companies to find the same background. They don't deserve credit for creating anything. Soulless people can not create.
"What a win for the Sociopaths planning our demise!" Their secret war has been very successful. At what point do people feel the heat in the simmering pot? Don't be a frog. Time to make different choices.
HaHa! That is very true... Most are willfully paralyzed from the neck up, I say. It truly feels like a spell was cast. I always wonder if there are people that simply can't be hypnotized? When I was about four years old my mother took me to a Catholic Revival where a priest would touch your forehead and the holy spirit would knock you down. I felt myself going down but I fought it and stayed on my feet as everyone else fell. He looked and me and smiled... not sure what he was thinking.
Our highschool hired a hypnotist for a senior night party and my daughter was the only one that wasn't hypnotized....watching her friends do strange things and not remember was pretty shocking to her...apparently a small percentage of people don't fall for hypnotists. Glad she's one of them!
Well said! Every time in history these greedy kleptocratic fascist warmonger tyrants and slavers get in power and dive into a downright evil deep end there is a revolt when enough of "their" victims have nothing more to lose and stop being victims.
Thank you! I was reading this to a friend over the phone and said ābillionsā but then looked at the numbers and tried REALLY hard to make the billion word make sense but it rather did look like millions.
Billions is what he earns with this rather brilliant and horrific money laundering operation.
Millions? Are you kidding me. After the massive monetization of our (USA) debt over the past quarter century by the illegitimate Federal Reserve it goes without saying that million$ is chump change for these criminals!
Right - so millions is what the foundation donates to media, and billions is what he earns from the various schemes. It's obscene.
And I'm right there with you - #EndTheFed. Frustrating that this is called late-stage capitalism, because there's very little "free" about the market controlled by the Federal Reserve and the various cantillionaires.
Fifster, if you're not already on Nostr, you might want to join. It's fun over there and you'll find a whole crew of folks who will understand what "monetization of the debt" means and what the downstream effects are.
Gatesā largest ādonationsā of $53MM is to the BBCās TNI (Trusted News Initiative) which is the gang of all major media, starting with the big 6 in 2015 when trump was running and while in office. They share people to censor and algorithms to do it.
Gates is doing it half for ideological reasons - depopulation, and the other half for the money which can make in the process of depopulation.
So, that makes it 100% ideological greed.
Gatesā father was deeply tied to Planned Parenthood including during the time of PPās attempt to exterminate blacks for being inferior and includes black pregnancies as birthing future criminals.
Billy Gates learned at his fatherās knee and wanted to continue dadās work.
Excellent article. Our eyes are wide open now. Great job explaining the money trail . It always comes down to ā¦ā¦. Follow the money . These people have no conscience or souls they worship at the altar of greed and power. No shame
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give.
According to John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. We can seek to be more like Jesus in our daily lives but it is God who draws us. It is not of our will.
Don't ignore that Christ said, "When I am lifted up I will draw all men [people] to me". Don't let anybody make the excuse that "well, I can't feel God drawing me so I guess I shouldn't pay attention to Jesus."
Just ask big bad Nebuchadnezzar. Greatest Face Turn in history of planet earth via Gods spirit. Proving all things are possible.
Daniel 4:37
ā Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.ā
Well, after all, following several years of eating grass on hands and knees, Oooops canāt wear a crown down here! ā¦.perhaps down there, noticing how the ants manage their civilization, how the seasons reliably come and go, and how the wind listeth in the trees~~canāt see it, canāt prove it exists, but always notice its great power or the gentle touch on your faceā¦.. grass smoothie? whatās next for some of these folks? Amen and amen
āBring back shameā ā¦ thereās a quote for the ages!
If shame still existed ā¦we wouldnāt have boys tucking their privates and prancing around schools and the girls bathroom in purple taffeta mini dresses, fishnets and tiaras.
The anti bullying campaigns in schools, although good on the surface, removed all boundaries- oddly enough ā¦ they had the exact opposite effect in that teachers no longer redirect kids for ANYTHINGā¦
My understanding of the Amish is that "shun" is not exactly the right word. It would be more true to say that, if you don't share their beliefs, you can no longer be embedded within their church or the community of believers. In short, they practice exclusion rather than catering to unbelievers - not quite the same as shunning.
I like to use the analogy of a chess club, because it doesn't stir the same emotions. If you have formed such a club with others who like to play chess, it's necessary to exclude people who dislike chess and want to make the club into a checkers club. If you allow them entry into your chess club, it will soon cease to exist as such, and those who wanted to play chess are now the ones who are excluded.
In recent years many Christian churches have disavowed their creeds in the interest of inclusion. Imagine the feelings of those who have lived their lives in obedience to these doctrines, when the church essentially tells them "Never mind, we didn't mean it. It's fine to get divorced or be gay." It's hard to imagine a greater betrayal of the most faithful. The Amish pointedly support those who freely accept and live by their doctrines, which is why I expect them to continue to thrive into the future.
I think you are spot on. For the Amish it's to keep the community on the straight and narrow as they see it.
Shunning is at root a values enforcement system. It could be just exclusion, but also ... and very often, it is shaming. Shame is essential to the upholding of any moral code system, including Christian Law. That is, the society which has no shame and/or shunning is in essence an amoral society, and exactly what we see in the Collective West. To break the back of America, the Cretins had to 'criminalize' shame.
Indeed, that is what Marxism does and they have found "woke" to be very useful for this purpose. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Virtue is shameful and shame is a virtue. Health care is now death care. Crime is protected and righteous belief is persecuted. Marxism turns the world upside down and the masses become insane unable to be rational about anything. Might makes right and power to enslave is the ultimate liberty. Welcome to the USSA.
Isn't it really about having a conscience? If a person commits a wrongful act, they should feel remorse and shame, but do they even know right from wrong anymore?
Nope! They just know money, stealing, war and liquidating most of the people on earth. Always for a good cause! For them and not us!
Honestly, I never thought I'd see this amount of Great Evil in my whole life. But here it is on a scale right up there with Noah's Flood and the Ark. And there is no right and wrong. Just everything made up ... and moreover, just fancy and whim.
I'll admit I always thought the idea of "evil" was overblown. Now I have realized that "evil" is the only word to adequately describe a great many people and their actions.
Me too once upon a time. Evil was kind bad. And good was better, sometimes much, much better. But it appears that Evil is, can be absolute. And I don't see a shred of redeemable quality is people like Gates and Fauci. None!
My dad's church is going through this and will likely split. He detests gay marriage and is mad the church is embracing it. The only reason he stays there is his best friend goes there and he needs socialization.
Sorry, Kathleen - I wasn't trying to be picky, just to clarify. I've lived near Amish people and my family has done business with them most of my life. They give their teenage kids a year of complete freedom to decide whether they want to become part of the wider world or endorse and live by their Amish community's beliefs. No one hates them if they choose another way of life, but they do have to make that choice one way or another. The community is very nurturing, and it's pretty rare for anyone to leave it.
We have several Amish communities near me, a large one an hour away. I am always curious as to why some rules exist and not others. There are large auctions monthly near an Amish store we like to shop at. This summer a group of Amish boys, mid teens I would guess was taking a break in the shade from helping at the auction. They were gathered around two boys who had cell phones. I would have thought that verboten, but I am sure there was an explanation.
I don't know about this particular case, but you might look into the practice of "Rumspringa" which allows teens to have a few years in which the restrictions of Amish life are relaxed, and they're permitted to experience the outside world. The Amish are Anabaptists, meaning they don't believe in infant baptism. They do believe that you should make that choice (or refuse it) as an informed adult, which is why they let young people discover their options in the wider world - so that they know what it is that they're choosing, and what it is they are rejecting.
Yes, I see parallels between the church issue and the R party issue. On one hand we have churches and members of the party who are all about the 'big tent', downplaying some of the cultural issues in order to expand the base. (motivation for this is a whole other topic but assuming at least some of it is rooted in good intentions) On the other hand, there are those who see any compromise as a negative and brook no dissent from doctrine/platform.
This is why the left's bent on changing the culture is so destructive. It puts those of us who are theoretically on the same side pitted against each other, and thus not unifying against the real enemy.
Donna, I got the feeling that this C&C was difficult for Jeff to write. There is a price and a toll that died suddenly and no cause of death one can take without it stabbing us in our soul. That is what I felt when I finished the died suddenly section. I felt Jeff had pain. No snark could be mustered. Just another ignored body bag. No one to prick the media's conscience which leads me and you to conclude--they have none.
I think "shunning" is the right word. You are, for the most part, ostracized.
I lived in an Amish valley for 5 years. One case in particular stands out in my memory. A man, married with five kids, decided to leave the Amish way. He was not allowed to contact his wife and kids. Shortly after he left the Amish way, he rolled his car while exiting the highway and was killed.
Was he forbidden to contact them by a court order or was he forbidden by other Amish people - in which case, why would it matter since, having left, they had no power over him or his activities? In any event, whether you wish to call it shunning or not, I'd say it comes under the right of free association, inherent in which is the right to exclude.
First, think about this. Do you think his wife and kids, belonging to a very tight community, would want to alienate their community by associating with someone who has been shunned?
Second, individuals (or groups of individuals) can "abridge" others' rights absent any other controlling legal requirement (like commerce or employment). The restriction on abridgement of rights applies to governments. So if the Amish community where I lived wanted to prevent and "Englishman" (as they call us) from contacting someone in their community they can do that. The shunned person has no recourse.
The Amish community where I lived was highly dependent on each other. That's a good thing - much, much better than being dependent on the government. Shunning is much more than just "can't talk to you". You can't go to the community for help in paying medical bills. You won't get help raising your barn. You won't get help tending to your livestock if you need it. etc...
This isn't a "legal" issue, it's a "behavioral" issue.
Every community, whatever it's based upon, has to draw a line somewhere between those who are in the group and those who aren't - or else there is no longer a group. Why would the community pay your medical bills, raise your barn, or tend your livestock if you are, by your own choice, no longer part of the community? My little town is a community too, and we're not Amish but we're neighborly to each other. If I move to another town, why would I expect them to treat me as if I still lived here?
I don't honestly see why the "shunned" person should have any recourse. You can send me a letter, but I can throw it away, you can call me on the phone (though not if I'm Amish) but I can block your number. I haven't abridged any right of yours by refusing the contact.
As far as the wife and children not wanting to alienate their community - it's one of the myriad choices we make in life. We're not infants, to have our choices removed or made free of consequences, in case we make the wrong ones or regret them later. They have a right to weigh all the factors that are meaningful to them according to their own values, including their desire to remain in the community as opposed to their attachment to the husband/father. That's how adults make their decisions.
Now that is funny! But at the same time, we had a poor customer come in wearing an admittedly very cute lavender face diaper. She told me she was going through chemo. In that case, mask might make sense. So I always worry a bit if the person might have some reason other than being a sheep.
I have one such person in my larger social group. Granted I haven't read the Cochrane or other reviews in-depth. Just the same, to the best of my knowledge, any type of cloth mask (e.g. not the N95 or N100 types) worn provide basically zero protection to the wearer against anything other than, perhaps dust. "Surgical" masks were -- and are -- traditionally worn to minimize large droplets such as from a sneeze or normal respiration contaminating a vulnerable patient opened up for surgery. If my impression is even remotely correct, that means that even the well intentioned immunocompromised person wearing a cloth mask is wasting her time.
Shame on her doctors for letting her believe that a mask will keep her safe. She is likely exposing herself to situations that could lead to her death.
Contraindicated and harmful. Masks reduce oxygen thus attacking your health. Masks produce a bacterial load thus attacking your health. Masks do the EXACT opposite what these foolish people think.
Another consideration about such a person is that having a mask allows for the proliferation of bacteria in an environment that is warm and damp. Seems like that possibility is more dangerous than not having a mask. Few people think of the damp mask side of things.
It seems some people, somehow, are simply psychologically made more comfortable by wearing utterly unnecessary garments. Look at the countless women who wear bras for NO medical/physical necessity or benefit.
My husband went through chemo 10 years before the covidian cabal took over the world. He was never advised by his doctors or anyone to wear a mask. And nobody in the hospitals or on the streets or in other common facilities wore masks. Because they don't do anything.
Well, they do SOMETHING, but that "something" is to protect the doctors' nose and mouth from blood splatter while performing surgery (or taking blood specimens, or other work where body fluids might be involved). So not anything of relevance to the general public.
I used to do that, til somebody suggested that they may really have a problem....like a lowered immune system. I dont see how breathing in your own breath would help that, but what do I know?
I was in Wallmart yesterday. A masked woman was carrying a 10 month old-ish child and yammering away at him. I smiled, said Hi to him and he could not stop staring at my mouth. A complete stranger with a complete face was more interesting than his 1/2 faced care-giver. š³š
Or "I am exercising my right to body autonomy and what makes ME feel comfortable in spite of people who choose not to thinking I am a walking advertisement for being stupid". ?
Aren't we attacking the wrong people? Isn't this about medical FREEDOM?
I don't care if people wear hazmat suit - that's their right - just don't force me.
I hate masks with a passion. My only regret in 2020 was not walking up to a track couch on an outdoor field and telling him that masking track runners was dangerous and abusive.
But if individuals feel safer wearing a mask, then far be it from me to call them stupid.
It's like them calling me a grandma killer.
Let's keep the focus on the sociopaths that put this whole thing in motion to begin with. I think they are loving all the name calling.
There is a good sense to what you say. And all things require wisdom. On the other hand, people can be stupid in whole or in part, and usually it is in parts. To refuse to recognize this is to refuse to recognize that some people are smarter, also in whole or parts. To recognize this is a great boon, especially if one seeks out the wiser of counsels.
Again, I in no way dispute you main points. But also, if people had not be rather stupid, dumbed down in their basic education, the cretin class of rulers could not have possibly gotten away with perpetrating mass democide. And so, we have a lot of work to do with education, how people get schooled.
To know Good requires that we know what is Evil. To know beauty is to know ugliness. To know
love requires knowing hate ... otherwise we could not hate what God hates. Things are known and defined by their opposites.
With the rise in shot cancers and people being immunocompromised I think we will see more and more people in masks also if you go to a hospital those brave employees wearing masks refused the covid shot and/or influenza shot.
I already have. Just the other day at grocery store I saw 2 people with them. But I donāt understand the one who wore it down under his nose like those who were mandated did. Its like he was required (worker) but he wasnāt.
That is the one I get depressed over. It's like they have no self-awareness, nor (healthy) pride, nor hope. Going through the motions and probably couldn't articulate a reason why going through them with even an ounce of passion, like the truly fearful, the truly self-righteous-virtue-signalling.
When I see someone wearing a mask these days, I have to wonder whether or not they are so prone to catching some virus that they try to protect themselves. Yes, I know they donāt work but I have to feel sorry for them in a way; they have that spike coursing through their bodies like a virus magnet!
I don't have an issue with people who wear masks. I did for awhile but now most people don't where I live. Those who do look weird and scared. In the 70s I lived in Vancouver, BC, when it was more like a big small town, and there were a couple of women I'd see on the bus downtown wearing masks. For the "smog" I guess, although the air there was wonderful. Those women also looked weird and scared.
My family still distances me and my wife since not getting the jab. My wife's three children will have "nothing" to do with us. We do get to see 4 of our 6 grandchildren but COVID destroyed our family. We have also lost many friends, some because of the jab and some because we are clear thinkers(Republican).
Yes indeed, I went for three years keeping quiet, so farā¦.and probably most of my block in my comty voted for JBā¦see what happens there. Also my neighbor from Canada who came here to have hip replaced~~~can never get over that!~~warned me not to get close on her deck because she didnāt want to be infected by me before the surgery.
Or, live and let live - if you truly believe in what you are doing, you will have to accept the consequences, good or bad. Standing your ground can be painful but at least you are being true to yourself.
That's what I have always thought it to be as someone who was brought in the Catholic Church. However, I wonder what Jewish people think since they are taught the Old Testament that says, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". Just wondering if anyone could shed some light on this. I've been doing a lot of research on this Israeli/Palestine conflict and from what I've learned in my life on this planet is that "it takes two to tango". I don't claim to understand all the ins and outs of the situation but something is causing the hate and I doubt that hate can be resolved with more hate. Just wondering what some members of the community think, feel, know or can share on the topic. Thanks.
This was the intent of excommunication in the Catholic Church. Heretics leading the faithful astray posed a risk both to society and their own souls. Excommunication was a strong deterrent for these bad actors. We can see how society has completely unraveled for lack of shame.
But when rich and powerful people could buy themselves out of it or use their influence to avoid it it became meaninglessājust used as a weapon against people those in power didnāt like.
Absolute power corrupt absolutely, textbook case. I went to a Catholic HS and we had a whole semester of church history taught by a retired Dominican priest. He told it like it was and didn't sugarcoat anything. HIs lectures were heaven but his tests were h*ll, lol. A lot of the details have escaped me over the years, but the thing that has always stuck with me was that anytime someone has too much power and control it never ends well over the long haul.
Yes indeed, society has "completely unraveled" and there has to be a reason for this and I think that tolerance is only a part of it, all be it, a big part.
Pharisees depend on obeying laws to get kudos from God AND they LORD it over others ruling in the fear of God's wrath for those who dare not obey. A Pharisee by any other name is still a spiritual if not also a physical murderer.
Jesus obeyed all the law, wrote the law, abolished the law by being approved by God as Sacrifice and Savior. There's no PLEASING GOD only WORSHIP of Him.
When I hear the word worship, it automatically spurs up the notion that the person needing to be worshiped must be egomaniacal. This makes it hard for me to "worship" anyone or anything. One of the traits that I would assume is inherent in a "God" is the notion that there is no ego and therefore does not need or demand to be worshiped. I've witnessed so much hypocrisy in the various organized Christian sects that I've been involved in or exposed to throughout my life that I find it really hard to trust or respect the organization. There has been so much corruption and cover-up within these organizations that it makes it hard to believe that these people rely on the "word of God" to guide them...
Yes, but we do not worship the "organization". We worship God Almighty. Because people claim to worship God, it does not mean they do it perfectly. Jesus didn't come to save "the perfect". He came to seek and save the broken, the sinners. I think of church as being a hospital of sorts, where sick people can find healing with God's help. We look to God, not people.
Perhaps I have a problem with the word worship because of its inherent meaning that has a negative connotation, at least in my mind. The word "revere" may be more suitable from my perspective. People "worship" a lot of things and God doesn't need to be worshiped by anyone. Someone who looks to others to worship them seems narcissistic in insecure - two traits that I would not attribute to God. In regards to the church being an organization, I agree with you that we are all sinners and that Jesus walked in their mists. I've also been kicked out of a Christian youth group because the "leader" thought I didn't deserve to be there and that I would be a bad influence on the others because they thought I had done something that went against their core beliefs. If Jesus had behaved like that he would not have walked with the sinners for very long without telling them to get lost. I'm curious what the Hebrew word for worship is and what the literal translation actually means. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
A pastor once told me, "The problem with the church is that there are people in it." It is easy, though a mistake, to conflate fallen human nature with God.
Worship can be defined as "worth-ship". This is to ascribe value to another person. I can be said to worship my wife based on the amount of value I would place in her and sacrifice for her. But only God is perfect and worthy of absolute worship. And we are created in His image. God has personality and so do we. God is spirit and created us with a spirit. He created us with an ego (and I don't mean in the Freudian sense) because He has an ego. Ego is identity and because of that we can "know" God and he knows us as only He can.
The idea of worship being ego-maniacal is a Freudian inversion. This is Satan equating holy with evil and making evil good. When the body of Christ, the church militant, comes together in worship, the church worships God together with the saints and angels in heaven. The body of Christ has power and identity only because when we come together in worship we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit who makes us alive unto God. When Christ rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, He poured out the Holy Spirit on His followers making them His body on earth. As a result, He told them that they would have power as His body to fulfill His Commission and bring redemption and restoration to all of life and no evil spirit would be able to stand against them.
The American church today is to a large degree lost and apostate much as God's people were when the Messiah came to them and they rejected Him. He had some choice words for them in Matthew when he walked among them. Those who followed Him were saved from the coming judgement they would face for rejecting Him.
I rambled on a bit here but I would encourage anyone who wants to understand "worship" to submerse themselves in the Psalms which are a perfect picture of what worship really is.
Consider that your notion of "ego" has always been intertwined with fallible, self-absorbed humans, who are enslaved to their own flesh.
Moses asked God by what name He should be called by the people. He was told that His name is Yahweh. I Am. In Latin, Ego Sum.
Given that "Ego" is right there in the Latin translation of his name, remember what I said earlier. The Latin word ego that we so often apply to fallen, fallible humans has been tainted by the character of those humans.
It's a different thing entirely, to apply this to the God who created everything that was created, and who loves you more than you can understand.
His name is I Am. And I rejoice that He is! I will worship Him joyfully!
Given that we were told to enter by the narrow gate, and seeing the bad fruit that you have seen from organizations that called themselves Christian, I think it's likely that the vast majority who make that claim are not, in fact Christian.
Jesus warned us of wolves in sheep's clothing, hireling pastors, and apostasy. "You will know them by their fruit."
Seek to know who He is from scripture, in Spirit and in Truth. Then, evaluate the claims made from the pulpit based on what He shows you in his Word.
I like this comment. I like the idea of GLORIFY more than WORSHIP. I like testifying as to what God has helped me with, where no human power could do a thing, and how God has helped me to be more helpful to others, where on my own, I would not be.
It does occur to me though that someone has to be the one to judge when we do things outside of God's commandments. I have a theory that we're in this predicament because we stopped judging behavior as righteous or sinful and have left people up to their own devices.
The Pharisees murdered Christ although they had the Romans do it for them. As for the rest, think about who murders in the name of their god. Do they tend to be fundamentalists, or mystics? I will give you a hint, it is not the mystics, and there are mystics in every religion.
I murdered Christ. You murdered Christ. Every person born murdered Christ. He died so that you may have eternal life. He died that I may have eternal life. He died so that any person who hears His call can come to Him and have eternal life.
I really get tired of the "who murdered Christ" argument. The Jooooooos did it. No the Romans. No the Pharisees. You did it. I did it.
What does that have to do with shaming and shunning? What does that have to do with standards of behavior that make civilization civilized?
I would not look at it that way. Christ sacrificed Himself for us because He loves us. He died that He might pay the penalty for our sins. He saved us in every sense of the word. We did not "murder" Him. He gave Himself voluntarily because we are born in sin and fallen from birth. If I sacrifice my life to save the life of my wife or child from a life threatening situation, they did not murder me. My action was a voluntary sacrifice out of love and that is ALL my wife or child should understand.
There would be no need for His death if we did not sin. Our sin put Him on that cross. I don't make the silly arguments. I just point out how illogical they are. They drive me nuts. My point was, if you're going to blame someone for murdering Christ, blame yourself. This line of reason completely misses the cross and the message of Christ's sacrifice.
"This line of reason completely misses the cross and the message of Christ's sacrifice."
Not at all. Christ died for sinners and there is no one who has not sinned. Our response to that should be a realization of how much He loves us, which is my point. That is the message of the Cross.
I have been in churches who take the "you murdered Him" approach and don't even touch upon the rest of the message of His life and death. These type of messages are engaging in guilt manipulation. Yes, He died for OUR sins and having been covered by His sacrifice we are now free to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in the knowledge that sin and death has been conquered by our Savior.
If you go back and look at the comment I responded to, it was "The Pharisees killed Christ."
This type of response overlooks the fact that every man is born into sin and will die in his sin without a savior. To say that the Pharisees murdered Christ ignores the fact that every person who is born needs the Savior. If you're going to say the Pharisees murdered Christ, you should include yourself, because your sin put Him on that Cross just the same as the Pharisees' sin.
I'm not overlooking the rest of Christ's message. I'm focusing on one illogical, unreasonable claim that I see thrown out all the time. I'm pretty sure Mel Gibson said something similar when he was arrested for DUI and what does Christ's death on the cross have to do with a DUI? It's a very attractive idea that shouldn't have any sway because of it's inherent silliness. God knew before He created us that we would need His Son. He created us anyway because He loves us. He gave us the remedy because He loves us.
I'm not really sure why our minds aren't meeting on this. I feel confident you're trying to impart wisdom on me, but I'm not understanding. I'm not trying to manipulate or guilt anyone into anything, which I find abhorrent. But I thank you for trying to help me understand, even if I can't seem to be able to get there.
The comment you were replying to was a POORLY thought out comment. The poster equated murderers with "fundamentalists" (whatever that is) and equated other believers as mystics (whatever that is). So I didn't pay it any attention.
As for who killed Jesus, as a historical fact that should not be conflated with the Biblical and spiritual meaning of His death. One might as well talk about the individuals who actually nailed Him to the cross with their hammers. Two different questions.
In reality we all drove the nails in Christ. (1) because it is for our sin that he died. (2) Because of that sin we are all capable of it -- and worse. (3) more than Just the Pharisees had a role in it. The people of Israel shouted "crucify Him",
I would say the media, judiciary, schools and government are doing a great job at shaming. How many whites do you know who will say they're proud to be white? How many Westerners do you know who isn't proclaim they're proud to be white.
We have plenty of shaming going on. For all the wrong reasons.
I donāt think any one should necessarily be proud of their race or background, but they should celebrate it as it is who God made them. Pride is an iffy and difficult word because it has morphed into sinful ridiculous territory, and 'pride came before the fall'.
You know, I thought just like that until about two weeks ago and I forget what event started the conversion of my thinking, but I remember beginning to articulate it with family and it was like lightbulb came on.
Look at the great big world. Look at the ruins in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Turkey, China. Look at the advances the world made through the ages. Then look what happened when Britain and then the United States (especially the States) burst upon the scene. We progressed by hundreds of years because we embraced Judeo-Christian values and recognized the inherent worth of human life. I'm not just referring to the technological advancements; I'm talking about the ways we have recognized humanity's worth and have taken measures to protect it. I'm proud to be a part of that legacy. There is no shame in that. There are people who got it wrong along the way, but that's the history of humanity. I'm not responsible for their mistakes, but I can recognize where they went wrong and guard against that in my own life (and I think that's the way the West has operated until we were taken over by this godlessness).
As far as being proud of being white, again, I look at history. I look at who Cortez encountered when he first came to the new world. They were savages who were civilizationally backwards, they sacrificed virgins, babies, and slaves to appease gods. They killed each other indiscriminately. They lived in darkness. Whites brought light. Africa and India are supposedly angry about their colonization by whites but you should see what advancements were made when the British came in. Go look at footage of some of the Caribbean Islands under British occupation versus now. The whites improved people's lives. Whites have dune so much to improve the lives of all people all across the world. Why is it necessary to demonize them?
We have been sold a bunch of guilt and shame over the color of our skin and I for one am not going to take that cloak or mantel on anymore. The world is saying that because I was born with white skin I'm racist, either implicitly or explicitly. They also say they're going to eradicate white supremacy. I'm not going to go quietly while they eradicate me. And I'm not going to be ashamed of who I am while I stand up to their lunacy.
There is nuance to consider here. I was reading a biography of William Wilberforce and his fight to allow Christianity into India. The big British company that colonized and controlled India did NOT want any Christian missionaries in India. British men were keeping Indian child sex slaves and doing other horrific things unchecked.
Wilberforce knew that if Christianity came, the Indian people would experience untold improvements and freedoms, including stopping the horrific practice in their religion of widows being burned alive after their husbands died. But the first colonizers truly did want to keep Christianity and rights from reaching people in India. So it was key people like Wilberforce who made it positive that the British came to India, but that took decades of political and personal commitment from them. I recommend Eric Metaxis' Wilberforce biography. It made me think of our times and was an inspiration to strive to be like him!
I don't really think a lot about my "color." But I am very appreciative of the sacrifices of my ancestors to get to the USA and to create a better life for themselves and their children. My personal history includes ancestors who were indentured servants, fled pogroms, fled conscription in communist/imperialist armies, and worked through poverty in immigrant communities.
I never thought much about my skin color, being white wasn't ever an issue. For my whole life I looked at skin color as an individual physical attribute similar to hair or eye color. Depending on a person's origin, skin was different colors. At one point I figured that people in geographical locations with more intense sun exposure would naturally develop more melanin as a protection, whereas Scandinavians in the north, for example, didn't need as much, hence they didn't need much melanin. As I got older I never understood why that one attribute of skin color was constantly such an issue.
When I lived in the Middle East, I saw disdain for darker people there as well. Racism seems to arise everywhere. As for being "proud" of skin color, I find it rather silly.
I will say that last statement was supposed to end with "Western" and not "white." It's difficult typing on a cell and the app doesn't allow you to edit.
Don't miss my point. It's not that I go around looking at my skin color, comparing it to others skin color, and thinking I'm superior. Until Obama became president, a person's skin color wasn't even something I considered. Further, I don't look at someone and think, "that person's skin is darker than mine so I'll have nothing to do with them." I use color as a descriptor maybe if I'm telling a story, but color isn't, and shouldn't be, important.
My point is that I am not ashamed of being white. And I am not ashamed of being Western. In 2020, I watched racists burn this country down while screaming that black lives matter. I don't disagree with the sentiment but I had a HUGE problem with the behavior. Black lives DO matter. So do white lives. And brown lives. And yellow lives. And pink lives. Skin color comes in a range; the lives contained under the skin matters, regardless of the color of the skin. But making such a statement was heresy! Not only was it blasphemy, it could cost you your job, your home, your family. For speaking the truth.
I'm not doing that anymore. Being white isn't something to be ashamed of. Being Western isn't something to be ashamed of. The good that we enjoy in our lives came from Westerners, started by the whites and continued by others. That's just the truth. I'm not buying the lies anymore. I'm not running from my heritage. I'm not going to stand back and be quiet while I am run down because of my skin color. People I love share the same skin color and I don't want them to be beaten down, harassed, and killed because of their immutable qualities.
We're getting to a point where we will absolutely have to take a side. I thought I could keep going along to get along. But you can't go along to get along with people who want you dead. Not if you want to live anyway. And they do want white people dead. This whole colonizer/occupier argument is the impetus to kill people because they're white. They've been very successful in South Africa. They've already done it to 1,400 Israelites.
Shame still does exist and the practice of shaming was utilized as a psychological weapon against certain people who were attempted to be shamed into you know....
There is a difference between being shamed (someone actively trying to make you feel shame) and feeling ashamed.
People should not be shamed by others for things that are out of their control, but they should feel ashamed if they are guilty of sin, or acting in a foolish way.
Feeling ashamed shows that you recognize you are not lining up with a higher standard to which you know you should aspire.
Iām sure that much of the drugs and alcoholic lifestyle~~~but not understood by those, comes from trying to drown their conscience and guilt, a pain, for some struggle. A friend of mine years ago as a bus driver, Vietnam and tough military father, used to help finish off some beers after work, in the parking lot! I told him one day, āYou know you should grow your hair longer in front, because you donāt pay attention like others of us do, so you keep running into walls, and then you have a bloody forehead.ā He gave me a Bible one day, inscribed with āThanks, from Charlie with the bloody forehead ā. LOL.
And also drugs and alcohol are used to manage shame borne from abuse done to them. Perhaps not in all but I bet in many. Trying to shut out the yelling of their overactivated nervous systems from years of developmental trauma.
May not make sense to many, but the nature of Evil ensures that those who have endured abuse often blame themselves rather than the perpetrators, blame themselves for their inability to be strong enough to āget overā the abuse, and the like. Sometimes the shame becomes too much.
Indeed, so tragic, and wasteful of life, to numb the pain and think youāre having funā¦.I have known two friends, years ago, whose mothers had been married 6-8? times. I canāt imagine. My parents were married 50 plus years. Canāt imagine that either !! LOL. Recovering introvert, signing off !
The numbing is better than the pain because the pain feels like it would swallow them whole.
Good trauma informed therapy can help with healing but (1) is not always easy to find, (2) requires more than the allotted 10 or 20 visits/year that insurance will pay for, and (3) requires the immense courage of exposing the pain of one's vulnerabilities to a therapist, and (4) not least, requires the person to know that such help exists.
To say the task is hard is not even close to the truth. It is not a thing to laugh at.
And, then thereās some of us who end up counseling the counselor because that person is so overwhelmed by the story of our life. Many who have been through extreme trauma have no one to talk to. If the therapist has not experienced significant trauma in their own life, they will shut down right before your eyes as you describe the horror you survived.
Alcohol numbs the pain.
And, sometimes, allows sleep.
Severe trauma can re-wire brain waves, causing the person to not be able to sleep for their entire life ā¦ which, in turn, causes an entire host of other problems. And, thereās no cure ā¦ only medication that makes you a zombie ā¦ no thanks.
And, yes, apt descriptionā¦ alcohol calms the nerves so that everyday life does not suck you into the abyss.
When we had to get the driverās licenses with the star I was behind a woman who had been married 5 times. When the clerk told her she had to have a marriage certificate and a divorce certificate for each marriage she started to cry. I could feel her pain.š¤Ŗ
I cannot think of anything positive that comes from shaming. It is done to obtain complete control over another person. You assume that the shamer is virtuous when that is not necessarily the case.
Like all forms of discipline, it's effective and positive when the shaming is justified. In that case, it is not done to obtain control but to enable someone (usually a child) to become aware that their behavior is wrong. Of course there is an element of control involved, because parents are meant to exercise control over their children. We've all seen the unhappy results when they fail to do so.
It's impossible to develop a conscience without experiencing shame, and this shame is often deliberately kindled by a thoughtful adult. The idea that we should spare children from experiencing shame is to spare them also from knowing the regret we're meant to feel when we've caused harm. A person without shame is a sociopath, and we seem to be raising an inordinate number of these in recent years.
No, true shame comes from an internalized sense of righteousness; a sense of what is right and wrong. Without that, we cannot feel shame. The "shaming" we see today is woke people actively shaming people they disagree with. This is virtue signaling by those doing the shaming. It is the Marxist dialectic of making right wrong and making evil good. We have to see the difference.
Not all shame is right, but some lack of shame is COMPLETELY immoral. And example, if you are ashamed of or shamed for having red hair, that shame is immoral, but if there is no shame for being gay (cheating on a spouse, divorce for no reason, besting children) that is immoral.
I also noticed this over a ~20 year period in public secondary school---how 'shame' was made shameful. I, however, see it as a powerful tool for keeping people on the narrow path--albeit painful to the one needing the herding.
Around 10 years ago, I remember reading how young influencer type women on social media were speaking out against 'slut shaming', putting to rest the last bit of sexual morality shame. Slut shaming (ie: she slept with how many men?) doesn't seem to exist anymore. Men and women are both allowed to be equal sexual 'sluts' now without any fear of judgement by others. š
āIncrementalismāā¦ a slow erosion of morals and cultural norms ā¦
Theyāre actively trying to change whatās accepted as normal
Look at womenās fashionā¦ women arenāt even dressed anymore.
Men dressing as women.
Look at what they allow on TV today sexually- itās awful. And they continue to press the boundaries further and further of whatās being normalizedā¦ giving people bad ideas- if you ask me. Predictive programming.
Little boys fight. That's what they do, not all the time. Only once and awhile. This is how we learned to stand up, to defend our rights such as we understood them to be. And little boys grown into men are to defend their families, their wives, their homes. Fighting is intrinsic to protecting. Granted it helps to have the right values to stand on.
Because we have not fought hard enough for the right things, we have lost Western Christian based civilization. Now we suffer taking our licks for this lapse.
Where does shame come from? It comes from knowing you are doing something wrong, these godless people have no shame. When did our country become so godless? 100 years ago?
I have been doing a very deep dive into free masons, Illuminati and the occultā¦ wow. Talk about mind bending. I have a lot of questions!
And itās got me really wondering about our founding fathersā¦ as many were free masons (religion). What did they truly believe at the inception of this country? And has that impacted where we find ourselves todayā¦ which is in a country in total moral decline and decay? I have to wonder if itās all connected nowā¦
I donāt know but Iād be interested in any others thoughts who are looking at this connectionā¦
You can see it in the symbolism all over Washington, DC. Their language is symbolism. Monuments modeled after pagan temples. Statues modeled after pagan idols.
"Liberty" has come to mean "do what thou wilt," so far removed from a Biblical notion of liberty from slavery to your flesh.
The original organization or charter of the United States (former colonies) was the Articles of Confederation adopted by Congress in 1777. A truly republican, decentralized and voluntary association of the several independent states.
Ten years later, the states chartered a convention to propose some amendments to the Articles. That was the extent of the authority the delegates to the convention had. Instead, George Washington (who was a 33rd degree Mason) and his co-conspirators determined to use the occasion to overthrow the Articles and create a new constitution to their liking. The "Constitutional Convention", which lasted almost 4 months, was a secret closed-door affair and all the participants took self-maledictory oaths, a decidedly un-Christian action just like the self-maledictory Masonic oaths, to never reveal the proceeding of the convention. The participants took these secrets to their grave.
In plain English, the Convention was a bloodless coup. Patrick Henry, who was a devout Christian and leading figure in the American Revolution, was invited to attend the Convention in Philadelphia. He was a fiery speaker who was famous for his line, "Give me liberty or give me death", an unequaled American patriot. When he received the invitation to the Philadelphia Convention, he declined saying, "I smell a rat in Philadelphia."
Everyone likes to quote the Federalist Papers written in support of the new Constitution. What everyone should pay attention to are the Anti-Federalist Papers which argued for the rejection of the adoption of the Constitution. This successful coup contains the seed for where we are today. This coup can be traced to the coup of the Lincoln administration which was elected in 1860 and resulted in the war of the USG against half of America only months later in April 1861. From that point, all vestiges of the Republic were progressively submerged under the imperialism of the USG which leads directly to the 2020 Marxist/fascist coup of the 2020 elections.
Clearly, at this point, Americans are about to become captives in their own country much the same as the Israelis were in Egypt when a Pharaoh arose "who knew not Joseph." In one generation, they went from the ruling class of Egypt to slaves. Food for thought.
In less than 3 years, the Marxists have overthrown the elections in 2020 and facilitated an invasion of millions of single military aged men who are being financed, transported and trained in secret by the Marxist USG. Make no mistake, this "secret" army is being armed with weapons that supposedly were sent to Ukraine. As we speak, the chains for our enslavement are being forged.
What Iāve realized is free masons is presented as a fraternity/brotherhood/philanthropyā¦ but ā¦itās actually a religion! As is the Order of Eastern Star- the female companion group.
And you know itās a religion because they do āa funeral riteāā¦ and their Godā¦ is ANY higher beingā¦
Thereās some overlap
I donāt understand it fully -
Masons are taught there should be Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support and Beauty to adorn. This adage comes from the Tree of Life. The Kabbalah is represented by the Tree of Life, consisting of ten spheres, referred to as Sefirot.
Babylonian mystery school stuff. Esoteric/occult. At the end of the day, they're both a works-based means of enlightenment and antithetical to the Gospel.
You are SO lucky to be SO secure in your heterosexuality. Well done you! Unfortunately there are MILLIONS of men and women who, through no fault of their own, do not share your good fortune.
Where is your compassion and understanding? And as for shaming and shunning them - shame on you!
Everybody's got something - I wonder, What's your vice? Care to share?
The Gates $$, which flows from multiple entities, is the #1 reason you never hear mainstream media question why someone who NEVER GRADUATED from college is allowed to opine on all things medical, while someone like Jay Bhattacharya (with prestigious degrees) is a quack and crazy. Gates has been doing this for YEARS too. The pediatric vaccine injury community has known this for a long time.
So funny how the MSM always made it sound like Gates was an average Joe who dropped out of college and then went onto become wealthy anyway. Gates' family was wealthy, maybe not as wealthy as Bill is now, but wealthy nonetheless.
Yes he was. But he still has absolutely no basis to offer expert opinions on medical issues or matters of public health, and heās been all over the world doing so. The irony of this is never lost on me, especially because acceptance of it comes from people who want to defer to āthe expertsā on everything even when doing so violates the Constitution.
Go read about his hanging on Real Raw News! The Noose got hung up in the gallows and he hung there alive for a minute or so alive. That will help with anger for him! Read how sick he was!! So way beyond what we ever knew. God Bless you! It will all be over soon.
Of course, Billy is buying up a huge chunk of U.S. farmland so he can create plant based meats. In the future, I will read the package materials, and will NOT buy plant-based meat products.
I will never buy or eat plant based āmeatā or āfoodāmade from insects. Look at the back of the packages-these things are filled with all kinds of chemicals.
The Awakened read about sudden deaths and connect that in all likelihood, it was mRNA induced. The Sheep make no connection at all. To them, each sudden death while unfortunate, is just the new normal. Apparently you can boil Sheep alive just like Frogs.
We recently visited elderly family (not awakened sadly and vaccine injured though they are clueless) who are avid TV watchers. They put on the morning shows and just stare at it, even the commercials like they are mesmerized. They'll never make a connection and still think we're crazy for not taking the shots.
If Iām invited and visiting someoneās home and the TV is on, I readily leave as soon as possible and donāt return. If you canāt shut off background noise to chat with a friend or acquaintance, you only have my sympathy.
Very true. Most will argue that people of all ages have had heart attacks throughout medical history so it is not unusual. They cannot see the forest for the trees.
I just watched āI married a witchā the fabulous comedy with Veronica Lake. From 1942. Not only is Veronica a beautiful blonde witch who eventually loses her powers by falling in love with wait for it a politician. BEFORE she loses her powers she makes sure her beloved played by DEMOCRAT Frederic March. gets every single vote in the election. Thatās right! Before Dominion it took a witch to commit election fraud
Why are these people's FAMILIES not CRYING OUT through the media, through social Media, or even by standing on a bridge with signs, demanding attention and answers? I can't believe that EVERYONE is on board with this.
Here in San Diego we just lost our beloved Pete Seidler, owner of the Padres. "Cancer". Turbo cancer.
One would think tptb might have thought this through ie āletās kill all the sheep, so we have a planet full of thinking people that are looking for an excuse to kill usā as their slaves? Js, seems like a stupid,poorly thought out plan.
When you consider that we have bombarded by the likes of Bill Gates and his ilk that all of the earth's woes are because there are simply too many people living on it, and in his opinion the population must be greatly reduced ideally to 500 million becaussssse, CLIMATE CHANGE? Is it surprising that a fuss is not being made regarding all these untimely deaths? It's what they designed and, as we read in today's post, is backed by the supposed 4th branch of government whose role should be to keep the people apprised of the "truth". Instead, the corporate media is spoon feeding the sheep who will gobble up the lies and walk blissfully in their total ignorance. Mission accomplished. Thankfully, "But God......"
Happy that Ayaan Hirsi Ali now says she's a Christian and I pray she means it. Her statements so far aren't encouraging though, as they are intellectual reasons explaining why Christianity was the logical choice. Sort of like explaining why one chose to join one social club rather than another.
What was missing in her statements was a declarative statement that Christ is King, that she trusts in Him for her salvation, and He rules over all aspects of her life. Hopefully that comes with time.
Not bagging on her as I know that I was a mess as an early Christian. Just cautioning folks that before we adopt her as the new Christian celebrity spokesperson we should see some fruit.
Which means we should pray for her. She would not be the first honest iIntellectual/scientist/historian who found their way to God, but as we all know it is a journey and she speaks in the terms she knows best.
Lee Strobel is an amazing guy, and his documentary on his path to finding Christ is a great movie. He also unabashedly states that Christ is his Lord and Savior.
I'm not saying that people don't come to Christ through an intellectual process, God works through all sorts of miraculous ways. I myself came to Christ though that process. What I am saying is that an intellectual process that concludes Christianity is the best religion, or even that Jesus is God, is not enough. One must trust Christ for their salvation and fully submit to Him. It's a spiritual step, not an intellectual one.
Agreed. My opinion is that Our Father used Leeās search for truth to reveal Truth...and others who tend to question things can get to the spiritual step, learn to accept things they cannot see, after learning how much evidence-the concrete kind-there really is.
People are so different, God uses those differences for His good. Thatās why there are so many prophets, in my opinion-different āstylesā speak to different people...I love Joyce Meyer and Julie Green, their teaching/praise styles really speak Godās words to me; my best friend doesnāt feel the same, but we love and trust our Father.
Note: Iām still what Joyce Meyer calls a ābabyā Christian, so donāt always speak the ālingoā very well, hope I conveyed my thoughts somewhat coherently!
Though he was raised as a Christian but rejected it as an adult then went back. More of a revert than a convert I guess š Maybe one could argue that he never really was a Christian before because he was a child and forced into it.
Absolutely, like I said I was a mess and it took God's grace to get me straightened out. It was a long process indeed.
Sometimes we Christians have the tendency so say things like, "look who joined our team" (or its spiritual equivalent), particularly if they are famous. It's not wise as we are all fallen creatures, and will always disappoint.
I have heard that criticism elsewhere and it is definitely something to watch.
Reading her essay, my impression was one of a journey. She's been on a journey that led her from Allah to nothing to Jesus. Every step is movement forward. She's in church. Pray her church is Bible based and will nourish her spiritual hunger (so many churches offer junk), that if she isn't being fed she'll be led to a church that will. These journeys happen by degrees.
Indeed, she gives the appearance that she currently thinks "well it's not actually TRUE, but it's a 'good' religion to follow". As you said, we can pray that her church teaches well and that she comes to a moment eventually of, "hey, I think maybe this IS actually true after all".
I came upon her ~2017 via Dave Rubin. Her change of course may be not unrelated to her marriage to Niall Ferguson, and, I believe that she became a mother. That can have an apocalyptic effect upon a woman. With the birth of a child, of a sudden the meaning of life becomes clear. At least, to some of us.
For a brief time I remember that Madonna, the bastion of darkness and sin, became 'spiritual' (albeit new agey) after the birth of her daughter. She shed the usual dark and or slutty looks she favors for angel gowns and more conservative looks, and came out with an album of more enlightening music than her norm.
Ofcourse she fell back into the darkness where she is comfortable.
She is a troubled soul.
I wonder: Is a troubled, tortured and uneasy personality 'de rigeur' for artists? š¤
You are correct. Knowing the correct facts and knowing the Truth (Jesus) are not the same. I pray she grows closer to God and proclaims the name of Jesus.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 KJV
Amen and amen! Its also possible as you suggest that God is drawing her. She may not be there yet but drawing. Either way she is being bold and that does take bravery.
Thank God she doesnāt sound churchy in her writing. Thereās nothing more nauseating than sounding like the typical western Christian. When someone experiences God in a life changing way, the evidence is in their choices and belief system. The fact that sheās even writing about her revelations is huge for a converted Muslim/ atheist. I pray she sees firsthand the immeasurable depth and width of His love for her, and that her message reaches many people with the same background.
Iām not so sure listening to her reasonings that God has called her. Rather that she thought she might just look into it and perhaps, maybe it sounds like a reasonable decision to be a Christian.
We need to double down on Budweiser. Do not let up. My husband and I were just at a Harley Davidson event last weekend. Huge event with a lot of vendors. Two or three alcohol tents. Stocking bud light among other choices. Tons of people walking around with drinks in their hand. I only saw 1 Bud light the entire 2-3 hours we were there.
Double down. Make them pay. Do not give an inch. šŖš»
Yes! It was a shitbag move in my opinion. Weāve made a statement. The little guy. And it just takes one guy like that to backtrack it. š£ Idk why he did it except he thought it would make him more money š always about getting more money I guess. I hope the fans stand up and shut it down. Thatās why I said donāt give them an inch. We cannot give even one mm. Be strong and courageous!
Until Budweiser acts with integrity and says āwe screwed upā itās a no go. Has the dude pretending to be a woman been actually fired and cut loose of the millions given to him? Or was he just shoved out and silenced? Or is he still getting a paycheck for his silence? Come clean Budweiser.
Itās the apology tour without being sorry or accountable. Just. Like. The. Jabs. And. Covid.
I think this speaks to an additional dynamic at play as to why governments, NGOs, "news" organizations, etc. defer to people like Gates. They can then say "businessmen" are in agreement with their leftist ideas. It allows them to say "everyone" agrees - including successful capitalists - and therefore provides cover for what are basically big government, totalitarian, monopolistic ideas. It's why I think it's important we keep calling out the big business side of this equation. It's basically fascism - government and a few chosen large private entities - pushing out smaller players to have totalitarian rule.
I am heartened by Aayan's conversion. I enjoyed her books immensely. I think maybe also look at Mattias Desmet....He is another intellectual who was an atheist and is now beginning to believe that there is a higher power. I don't know that he has embraced Christianity per se...but he seems to have found that intellectualism just doesn't fill a person up.....only God can do that.
Jeff, any connections that would be interested in hearing a case against the Seattle firefighters union, IAFF local 27, in hopes of representing 40+ firefighters who got fired by Seattle over its vaccine mandate despite having religious exemptions? The union not only stepped aside with little to know guidance or help, they even made a few moves to make it even easier for the city to terminate.
The idiot mayor of Pittsburgh tried to force the police to take the covid death shot.
FOP president said no way it wasn't in the contract we signed.
Brilliant.
I was distressed to hear that the covid death shot mandate is still in effect for city workers, new police hires, and police officers who are being promoted.
Geez...gotta milk that covid thing as long as they can.
Someone should tell the mayor of Pittsburgh that Putin cured covid.
So let me get this straight. You donāt need the vaccine if you are an established best cop... but should you want to promote, you have to still get the poke? Thatās criminal and should be a labor violation in their contract as well. Where is thier civil service commission board in all this? Crazy
Contact Childrens Health Defense lawyers. They filed a lawsuit in NY City for schoolteachers similarly fired and won. An ongoing story...but consider checking them out. Here is just one piece in that lawsuit.
Not surprised about the union not representing their members properly. My former healthcare union still sends me email updates- the only thing they care about is DEI, workshops on white settler colonizers and taking a stand against āhateā when parents try to stand up to schools on SOGI curriculum. Union dues go towards activism - NOT representing the membership that pays them.
I come from a ministry family, extended family as well. I know of those who had visited the priests in temple for years, argued and discussed over a bowl of rice, sitting on the floor, and faithfully proved the biblical truths. The most obstructive and argumentative priest finally said, āOkay tell me about Godā. Later on he became involved in a radio ministry for years, in that country, and his daughter trained to be a missionary in a country nearbyā¦ā¦so give things some time, not always on our clock. Amen and amen ~~~ Ref: Deeply touching book, āThe Insanity of Godā Ripken
Am I the only one that doesn't like the term "Judeo-Christian values"? I much prefer "Biblical values", meaning that we live in accordance with the precepts of the Old and New Testament (i.e. the whole counsel of God). There's plenty in Talmudic Judaism that Christians reject as it's not Biblical and inherently anti-Christian. The term Judeo-Christian values implies we are just one amorphous blob.
I have never seen Judeo-Christianity as including the Talmud, but just the Old and New Trstaments.....the Whole Counsel of God. As I know our Republic was anchored in the Mosaic Law, not the Talmud.
The Only two nations in the world that promised they would obey. And both have gone back on those promises. We never promised to obey the Talmud, but to obey His Instructions, just as Israel did. So, I have no problem with Judeo-Christian labels.
Christ is king and His values reign. Judeo values are an abomination. Thou shall have no other gods before me = the co-eternal trinity which necessitates an exclusion of Christ deniers. Christ said He was sent to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24) condemning those who did not believe Moses who wrote of Him (John 5:46). There is no redemption in aligning with anything Judeo.
Judeo-Christian? One worships Jesus as the savior and the other doesn't. One wears a cross and the other wears a skull cap. Neither observes the 6th Commandment "Though shalt not kill"
In all seriousness though, Christ condemned the Pharisees and their practices in the strongest language. He didn't say, "you guys do it your way and we'll do it our way, but we're all one big happy family". There is no such thing as "Judeo-Christian" values.
The actual intent of the phrase (assuming it's being used in good faith) is that as Christians we embrace the values of the Old Testament where they have not been superseded by the New Testament. No argument there. However, we completely reject the Talmud (an extension of Pharisee Judaism that Christ condemned) which is the basis of the overwhelming majority of practicing Jews today.
It's a critical distinction that "Judeo-Christian" obfuscates (sometimes intentionally IMO). That's why I said "biblical values" is much more accurate and honest phrase.
Edit: Adding that this key distinction is why Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro are now going at each others throats.
Jesus didnāt condemned the Pharisees as human being but condemned their practices.... hate the sin. I think it is wring to condemn all for the sins of some. I have met plenty of Christians who do not live a sinless life...myself included.
Agree but I don't think you fully read my comment (or maybe I didn't explain it well enough). I specifically mentioned the practices of the Pharisees that Jesus condemned in no uncertain terms. These practices (ridiculous legalism, holding people to an impossible standard, blatant hypocrisy, finding loopholes in the law) are exactly what continue under Talmudic Judaism. If anything it got much worse.
I didn't say (or mean to imply) Jesus condemned the Pharisees simply for being Jewish. Jesus was Jewish after all.
Most Christians think that practicing Jews simply observe our Old Testament, but that's not the case. The Talmud (a collection of Bible interpretations compiled by influential rabbis many centuries after Christ's resurrection) codified the practices of the Pharisees. The Talmud is extremely influential in Judaism, often more so that the Torah itself. This "Rabbinical Judaism" continues these Pharisee legalistic practices on steroids, often torturing the biblical text to such an extent that the Talmud directly contradicts the Torah. Yet most Christians have never read any of the Talmud, nor understand the implications.
There are a few Jewish sects that reject the Talmud such the Karaites, but they are a tiny percentage of the Jewish population. When people say Judaism, whether they realize it of not, they are referring to Talmudic Judaism as it's overwhelmingly the most practiced form. It's completely at odds with Christianity, and continues the Pharisee practices Christ condemned, which is why I reject the term Judeo-Christian.
To me, using the term "Judeo-Christian" is a blatant violation of the first commandment and demeaning to the finished work of Christ The King. I am not a member of a hyphenated polytheistic Church, but am one in the body of Christ only. I have zero Judeo values because my values stem from an eternal trinity. I'm sure the Reformers would find the term appalling and any cemetery teaching "Judeo-Christian theology" ranks up there with the ones teaching wokeness.
IMO, there's been a deliberate attempt to link the two to play on the empathetic nature of Christians into supporting Zionism. After the Holocaust, it was ramped up exponentially. Pointing out such things as Jesus' extremely harsh words towards the Pharisees (and by extension Talmudism) was no longer allowed in polite society.
Couple that with Dispensational theology regarding the restoration of Israel, and it's a confusing mess. It leads Christians to unthinkably extreme positions such as supporting the bombing of Palestinian civilians which goes against virtually everything Christ taught regarding kindness to others.
What's amazing is Dispensationalism is a relatively new biblical interpretation only being around 200 years or so. It was not taught by Augustine, Jerome, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin and so many other fathers of the faith. Yet it's now used to rationalize wicked behavior when it comes to the modern state of Israel.
How many people that got firebombed in Dresden in WW2 were Christians? Obviously I can go much, much farther down that track, but the Americans and British bombed the whole city, not just the military targets,
and almost all the population of Dresden were Christians.
Israel is making some attempts to let the civilians leave, giving warnings before shelling, and putting soldiers in harms way to take fuel to the hospitals.
Evil acts by one nation (i.e. firebombing civilians in Dresden) does not absolve other nations of the same. I don't mean to be harsh, but this is a pretty basic logical fallacy.
If you are going to defend the actions of Israel then do it based on a consistent logical and moral argument. Your statement is the equivalent of a child telling a parent, "well he did it first!".
The problem with all of this is that people have never really thought deeply about what they are supporting, and are simply reacting at an emotional level.
Edit: One can make the argument that firebombing Dresden was the lesser of two evils (i.e. compared to prolonging the war) but that doesn't make it a noble act. Slaughtering tens of thousands of civilians is the definition of evil under just about any moral code, it certainly is in Christianity.
Many people seem to think Israel is uniquely evil somehow, and not deserving to exist. I was just saying that is not the case. There is plenty of room for criticism, even condemnation, of their current actions in Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, only 800 to 1000 Christians live in Gaza. I'd certainly hope Western nations would take them in. They are in a lot of danger from fellow Gazans.
Well I don't blame them for Christ's death as that was part of God's plan as was needed for the vicarious atonement. What I do have a problem with is conflating Talmudic Judaism with its endless legalism, along with Zionism with its claims of racial superiority, with Biblical Christianity. They could not be more different.
As to those Palestinian Christians, extensive DNA testing has shown they are the genetically closest population group to the Israelites of the Bible. They are likely ancestors of the original Jewish converts to Christianity. Ashkenazi Jews on the other hand, are genetically quite distant. People really need to rethink their assumptions.
I do not understand why so many people care whether Jews are descendants of Jews who lived in Israel in the 1st century AD. Religion is a personal belief!
Because some Christian Dispensationalists hinge their extreme (and there is no other word for it) support for the modern state of Israel in their belief it is the restoration of "Israel" prophesied in the book of Revelation. It's incredibly important, particularly when they try and guilt other Christians into unconditional Israel support with Bible quotes.
I suppose there is <some> logic to that. But does it make a difference if 30% of the Jews in Israel have lineage tracing back to 1st century Jews in Israel (which I think would be a safe lower bound), or 80%? Also I would imagine that the great majority of what are called Ashkenazi Jews have some ancestors from Israel, they can't ALL be purely descended from the Khazars or other converts.
I agree completely and don't mean to blow this out of proportion. I really don't care if the residents of Israel can be traced back to the Israelites or not, but I do care about how Israel behaves and how the US supports it.
Many Christians (including powerful ones such as our brand new House Speaker) believe that today's Israeli state is the prophesied restoration, therefore we must always support them. They throw out Bible passages like, "I will bless those who bless you (Israel), and him who dishonors you I will curseā (Gen. 12:1ā3). They use this to give Israel a metaphorical blank check.
Israel then behaves in the worst possible way, typically killing ten times the number of people in retaliation for the victims of a terror attack. Of course, the overwhelming majority of those killed in retaliation had absolutely nothing to do with the original attack and huge numbers are children. Israel justifies this with dehumanizing language such as referring to them as subhuman filth and that they are all collectively guilty.
Obviously this runs completely counter to Jesus' teaching regarding how we are to treat others. Yet Christians support this and even cheer it on based on a group of highly ambiguous Bible passages. If we are going to ignore Christ's teaching and rationalize away killing innocent people we better be damn sure we have our Bible interpretation right.
When people start really digging into this (as opposed to just parroting what their Pastor told them) they find 1) prior to around the year 1800 churches did not teach this prophesy meant a literal "Israel" but symbolically referred to the church as the new Israel and that 2) the great majority of those in the Israeli state are not genetically close to the Israelites of the Bible. These are two huge warning flags that this Bible interpretation is wrong. Yet people go on mindlessly saying things like "God's chosen people" to justify the killing.
God will judge our country (and us) harshly for cheering on the slaughter of innocent people. Not only that, He gave us a brain for a reason and expects us to use it. One day we will have to answer to Jesus for this, and trying to blame it on a bunch of lazy bible interpretations probably won't be well received.
"What I do have a problem with is conflating Talmudic Judaism with its endless legalism, along with Zionism with its claims of racial superiority, with Biblical Christianity. They could not be more different."
Me too. But I get the same shaking-my-head-at-the-ignorance feeling as I did when my fellow Americans were all rejoicing at bombing Saddam Hussein's people back to the stone age.
As I said on Oct. 9, I cannot believe how quickly so many of us went from "End the Forever Wars" to "Wipe Gaza Clean of Palestinians." I don't hate Jews. I don't hate Muslims. I don't hate anyone except maybe the people who are manipulating the gullible into atrocities.
I read her book 10 years ago. Highly recommend. Front row to Islamic fundamentalism and the lengths they will go to. She was a victim of female castration by her own family, she became involved in European politics and shares this is how islam is playing their long game to take over west, via our own political system- ala, get out the vote & all, yāall!
You bring up a point which has been puzzling to me. Genital mutilation of young females was once denounced by celebrities (and others) in this country. Now it is celebrated. It's a shame these people can't recognize their own insanity.
Same place it all comes from, the Khazarian mafia. Remember the 1 / 2 / 3 tenants of implementing communism. Destroy religion. Destroy the family. Destroy private property. Also works pretty good for population control
Yeah, I regularly post about vaccines on FB. I rarely get more than 1 or 2 responses. People just don't care. Meanwhile, I just heard the third ambulance come by our house today. We live on a main road in a semi-rural area and it seems like ambulances go by every day now. I know the population has increased, but I can't help but think some of the increased number of ambulance calls are due to vaccine induced heart attacks or other adverse events. We needn't worry, however. As one of my church friends told me awhile back, "I had all my vaccines and I'm fine!" No matter what is happening to others, as long as she is fine, it's okay.
ERRATA
ā Bill Gates media purchases revised to "millions" not "billions"
Whatever he does is too much. That man is a power hungry lunatic.
Call me a full blown, professional "conspiracist," but it has crossed my mind once or twice to wonder, if, when Gates & co set up Microsoft, and asked all the government entities and contractors they "leased" the program to, instead of selling it outright, as was only normal, at the time, if some clever little minds hadn't already calculated-
a) the stunning amount of moolah such a "lease" could generate over time, and,
b) influence wielded by private citizens & millions or billions of dollars, is not subject to the same strictures, constraints and reviews that public money is, nor are it's actions limited in the ways that government must adhere to.
No FOIAs for you! ; ))
Think about it, everyone.
Government must, in some ways, respond to public will, and can be removed for violating the public trust.
But Bill Gates, Soros, Facebook Boy, Bezos, Musk, et all, are free, free, free! Free to say "I want to put my billions into "x," "y," or "z!" "You cannot stop me!"
So, if we have diabolically clever actors with lots of pull in the "Deep State," who wish for a certain outcome they can get a front man, a Zuckerberg or a Gates, or a Musk, help them to billions, and then guide them to where to apply those billions in order to re-make our Free Society into something very, very, different indeed!
All the political fighting between the left and the right, until each is in the furthered corner from the middle as humanly possible, so that they are totally consumed with attacking one another, with complete distraction towards all else resulting the utter destruction of the "reasonable middle" which which was the majority of Americans in the past-
Well, that's largely the fruit of the algorithms of Facebook, etc.
What a win for the Sociopaths planning our demise!
The money of the, imo, Sociopath Gates- inject the world with poison & publically DESTROY anyone who questions the practice, by controlling media, medicine, academia, & politics. Wowza!
Governments want this for several reasons- population control, Eugenics, by race, females lose fertility, & now mind interface with electromagnetic frequencies for behavioral control are right on the horizon.
Hmm.
Nice work, Gates & Co!
Amazon & Bezos- well, well, well the Company Store is back, and the serfs can only shop in one spot, returning rapidly to plantation Earth.
Musk- well, now there's a machine if you ever saw one!
War games, Space Exploration, Communication Control, Information Control, Brain Chips, and Lithium Powered Cars that will limit distance travel, permanently, and which produce more environmental destruction than our old ones, it seems,, plus they are prohibitively expensive for the trashed middle class and will rely on China for their materials.
Ditto Solar panels, (plus wind,) in a quixotic attempt to destroy our current successful energy grid.
Hmmm.
Plantation Earth with the slaves all properly in place is zooming right along!
Anyone else suspicious that such wealth and power to create this Slave State fell into exactly the right hands with the "genius" to pull the whole darn show off?!
Well, I don't buy it.
Those certainly clever boys were handed an awful lot of power & opportunities & profits on purpose, I say, (most assuredly so,) so that the plebs couldn't FOIA the plans! Or toss them out of office once they were exposed!
Game Boys.
And we are the toys, to be ranked round the board, knocked off, disposed, and dispossessed, if we don't see this whole show, fully exposed!
Our founding fathers were right- this form of Government only works for the good, people with morals inside their souls.
And that is Christ's attraction, to my heart & soul, it's the Great Goodness He calls us each to, and shines upon us ALL.
LOVE is the essense of the teaching. If you resonate with God, as Goodness, you resonate with Jesus.
We must painfully work our way back, back to Judeo-Christian ethics, (do unto others as you would have done unto you,) and the Rule of Constitutional Law, plus our Bill of Rights, and then untangle the web created to destroy all, all of that which made this Nation Free, & Great, under God.
inject the world with poison & publically DESTROY anyone who questions the practice, by controlling media, medicine, academia, & politics. Wowza!
This is also the John D Rockefeller model from the early 1900's.
At least once or twice I've seen that Facebook was a cia creation and chairman zuck was picked to be the most malleable candidate to front it. Probably a conspiracy theory. lol
Probably, ; ))!
I would never use the dratted thing. It just felt so wrong to upload my every friend, thought & deed to whomever & "whatever" is watching!
Pretty sure it was initially created as a project at his college so that the guys could identify who were the cute girls for them to hit on, and only later went "mainstream" to the general population. Which isn't to say that any three-letter-agency didn't become involved at some point, but in my experience government isn't known for spotting sea-changes and getting on board before they happen.
You think that bec it was in a movie
Yes, you are right on the mark. Why oh why do people still give credit to these actors for their exploits. They're mere pawns doing the bidding of whoever's on the top of this corrupt pyramid. It's obvious Gates is possessed by his herky jerky movements, consistant with entity possession. A little research shows his background to be privileged and connected to Deep State ties, perverted youthful exploits and groomed for the position he holds today. Look at any of the characters that are front men for $$$$ companies to find the same background. They don't deserve credit for creating anything. Soulless people can not create.
"What a win for the Sociopaths planning our demise!" Their secret war has been very successful. At what point do people feel the heat in the simmering pot? Don't be a frog. Time to make different choices.
They feel ācomfortableā in their simmering pot.
You have to be awake to jump out.
HaHa! That is very true... Most are willfully paralyzed from the neck up, I say. It truly feels like a spell was cast. I always wonder if there are people that simply can't be hypnotized? When I was about four years old my mother took me to a Catholic Revival where a priest would touch your forehead and the holy spirit would knock you down. I felt myself going down but I fought it and stayed on my feet as everyone else fell. He looked and me and smiled... not sure what he was thinking.
Our highschool hired a hypnotist for a senior night party and my daughter was the only one that wasn't hypnotized....watching her friends do strange things and not remember was pretty shocking to her...apparently a small percentage of people don't fall for hypnotists. Glad she's one of them!
Does she also recognize all this propaganda we're drowning in?
I believe we are headed there, back to Judeo-Christian ethics and LOVE, and Constitutional Law and the Bill of Rights: and soon. There is a plan.
Nice!
Well said! Every time in history these greedy kleptocratic fascist warmonger tyrants and slavers get in power and dive into a downright evil deep end there is a revolt when enough of "their" victims have nothing more to lose and stop being victims.
What a great comment š
Thank you. It is what I am seeing, from my point of view.
Thank you! I was reading this to a friend over the phone and said ābillionsā but then looked at the numbers and tried REALLY hard to make the billion word make sense but it rather did look like millions.
Billions is what he earns with this rather brilliant and horrific money laundering operation.
Millions? Are you kidding me. After the massive monetization of our (USA) debt over the past quarter century by the illegitimate Federal Reserve it goes without saying that million$ is chump change for these criminals!
Right - so millions is what the foundation donates to media, and billions is what he earns from the various schemes. It's obscene.
And I'm right there with you - #EndTheFed. Frustrating that this is called late-stage capitalism, because there's very little "free" about the market controlled by the Federal Reserve and the various cantillionaires.
Fifster, if you're not already on Nostr, you might want to join. It's fun over there and you'll find a whole crew of folks who will understand what "monetization of the debt" means and what the downstream effects are.
How about Bill Gates purchases media. End of sentence. And the influence he purchases amounts to billions of people harmed by his actions.
Gatesā largest ādonationsā of $53MM is to the BBCās TNI (Trusted News Initiative) which is the gang of all major media, starting with the big 6 in 2015 when trump was running and while in office. They share people to censor and algorithms to do it.
Gates is doing it half for ideological reasons - depopulation, and the other half for the money which can make in the process of depopulation.
So, that makes it 100% ideological greed.
Gatesā father was deeply tied to Planned Parenthood including during the time of PPās attempt to exterminate blacks for being inferior and includes black pregnancies as birthing future criminals.
Billy Gates learned at his fatherās knee and wanted to continue dadās work.
Excellent article. Our eyes are wide open now. Great job explaining the money trail . It always comes down to ā¦ā¦. Follow the money . These people have no conscience or souls they worship at the altar of greed and power. No shame
Close enough
I reloaded, but it still says "Gates Foundation has āgrantedā over $82 billion dollars to British media alone"
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give.
ā Hebrews 4:12-13 LSB
One Word for and re Susanās decision to follow Yeshua. āYou will seek Me and find Me, when you will search for Me with all your heart.ā
āāJeremiahā¬ ā29ā¬:ā13ā¬ āTLVā¬ā¬
And because He Is Faithful to perform what He has promised.......you found Him!
Oh, that we were ALL Seekers of His heart.
According to John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. We can seek to be more like Jesus in our daily lives but it is God who draws us. It is not of our will.
Don't ignore that Christ said, "When I am lifted up I will draw all men [people] to me". Don't let anybody make the excuse that "well, I can't feel God drawing me so I guess I shouldn't pay attention to Jesus."
I didnāt notice that it changed Ayaanās name to āSusanā.
Ohhh... :)
I think I missed something here. . . Susan?
Just ask big bad Nebuchadnezzar. Greatest Face Turn in history of planet earth via Gods spirit. Proving all things are possible.
Daniel 4:37
ā Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.ā
Well, after all, following several years of eating grass on hands and knees, Oooops canāt wear a crown down here! ā¦.perhaps down there, noticing how the ants manage their civilization, how the seasons reliably come and go, and how the wind listeth in the trees~~canāt see it, canāt prove it exists, but always notice its great power or the gentle touch on your faceā¦.. grass smoothie? whatās next for some of these folks? Amen and amen
Love those verses. The Soul is divided from the Spirit. Soul = joints/action and the Spirit = marrow/source of Life
Ohhhh one of my favorites!
āBring back shameā ā¦ thereās a quote for the ages!
If shame still existed ā¦we wouldnāt have boys tucking their privates and prancing around schools and the girls bathroom in purple taffeta mini dresses, fishnets and tiaras.
The anti bullying campaigns in schools, although good on the surface, removed all boundaries- oddly enough ā¦ they had the exact opposite effect in that teachers no longer redirect kids for ANYTHINGā¦
The Amish have the right idea...shunning.
My understanding of the Amish is that "shun" is not exactly the right word. It would be more true to say that, if you don't share their beliefs, you can no longer be embedded within their church or the community of believers. In short, they practice exclusion rather than catering to unbelievers - not quite the same as shunning.
I like to use the analogy of a chess club, because it doesn't stir the same emotions. If you have formed such a club with others who like to play chess, it's necessary to exclude people who dislike chess and want to make the club into a checkers club. If you allow them entry into your chess club, it will soon cease to exist as such, and those who wanted to play chess are now the ones who are excluded.
In recent years many Christian churches have disavowed their creeds in the interest of inclusion. Imagine the feelings of those who have lived their lives in obedience to these doctrines, when the church essentially tells them "Never mind, we didn't mean it. It's fine to get divorced or be gay." It's hard to imagine a greater betrayal of the most faithful. The Amish pointedly support those who freely accept and live by their doctrines, which is why I expect them to continue to thrive into the future.
Catholic church is now going through troubled times because of inclusion.
because of immoral leadership...
As is the United States.
I think you are spot on. For the Amish it's to keep the community on the straight and narrow as they see it.
Shunning is at root a values enforcement system. It could be just exclusion, but also ... and very often, it is shaming. Shame is essential to the upholding of any moral code system, including Christian Law. That is, the society which has no shame and/or shunning is in essence an amoral society, and exactly what we see in the Collective West. To break the back of America, the Cretins had to 'criminalize' shame.
Not just criminalize shame, but make it into a virtue.
Indeed, that is what Marxism does and they have found "woke" to be very useful for this purpose. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Virtue is shameful and shame is a virtue. Health care is now death care. Crime is protected and righteous belief is persecuted. Marxism turns the world upside down and the masses become insane unable to be rational about anything. Might makes right and power to enslave is the ultimate liberty. Welcome to the USSA.
I'm glad I'm over 75 and will be going home soon.... but my prayers for y'alls grandchildren are unceasing.
Isn't it really about having a conscience? If a person commits a wrongful act, they should feel remorse and shame, but do they even know right from wrong anymore?
Nope! They just know money, stealing, war and liquidating most of the people on earth. Always for a good cause! For them and not us!
Honestly, I never thought I'd see this amount of Great Evil in my whole life. But here it is on a scale right up there with Noah's Flood and the Ark. And there is no right and wrong. Just everything made up ... and moreover, just fancy and whim.
I'll admit I always thought the idea of "evil" was overblown. Now I have realized that "evil" is the only word to adequately describe a great many people and their actions.
Me too once upon a time. Evil was kind bad. And good was better, sometimes much, much better. But it appears that Evil is, can be absolute. And I don't see a shred of redeemable quality is people like Gates and Fauci. None!
My dad's church is going through this and will likely split. He detests gay marriage and is mad the church is embracing it. The only reason he stays there is his best friend goes there and he needs socialization.
Maybe I should have written "just ignore them" instead of "shunning."
Sorry, Kathleen - I wasn't trying to be picky, just to clarify. I've lived near Amish people and my family has done business with them most of my life. They give their teenage kids a year of complete freedom to decide whether they want to become part of the wider world or endorse and live by their Amish community's beliefs. No one hates them if they choose another way of life, but they do have to make that choice one way or another. The community is very nurturing, and it's pretty rare for anyone to leave it.
I am impressed that they resist government edicts.
We have several Amish communities near me, a large one an hour away. I am always curious as to why some rules exist and not others. There are large auctions monthly near an Amish store we like to shop at. This summer a group of Amish boys, mid teens I would guess was taking a break in the shade from helping at the auction. They were gathered around two boys who had cell phones. I would have thought that verboten, but I am sure there was an explanation.
I don't know about this particular case, but you might look into the practice of "Rumspringa" which allows teens to have a few years in which the restrictions of Amish life are relaxed, and they're permitted to experience the outside world. The Amish are Anabaptists, meaning they don't believe in infant baptism. They do believe that you should make that choice (or refuse it) as an informed adult, which is why they let young people discover their options in the wider world - so that they know what it is that they're choosing, and what it is they are rejecting.
Yes, I see parallels between the church issue and the R party issue. On one hand we have churches and members of the party who are all about the 'big tent', downplaying some of the cultural issues in order to expand the base. (motivation for this is a whole other topic but assuming at least some of it is rooted in good intentions) On the other hand, there are those who see any compromise as a negative and brook no dissent from doctrine/platform.
This is why the left's bent on changing the culture is so destructive. It puts those of us who are theoretically on the same side pitted against each other, and thus not unifying against the real enemy.
Donna, I got the feeling that this C&C was difficult for Jeff to write. There is a price and a toll that died suddenly and no cause of death one can take without it stabbing us in our soul. That is what I felt when I finished the died suddenly section. I felt Jeff had pain. No snark could be mustered. Just another ignored body bag. No one to prick the media's conscience which leads me and you to conclude--they have none.
Boy, talk about destructive forces.
By-the-way excellent; your comment was spot on.
Yes, that is the additional destructive force. So many dealing with losses. and the fog of grief does affect our (and our nation's) psyche.
I think "shunning" is the right word. You are, for the most part, ostracized.
I lived in an Amish valley for 5 years. One case in particular stands out in my memory. A man, married with five kids, decided to leave the Amish way. He was not allowed to contact his wife and kids. Shortly after he left the Amish way, he rolled his car while exiting the highway and was killed.
Those Amish gods don't mess around: FAFO.
Was he forbidden to contact them by a court order or was he forbidden by other Amish people - in which case, why would it matter since, having left, they had no power over him or his activities? In any event, whether you wish to call it shunning or not, I'd say it comes under the right of free association, inherent in which is the right to exclude.
First, think about this. Do you think his wife and kids, belonging to a very tight community, would want to alienate their community by associating with someone who has been shunned?
Second, individuals (or groups of individuals) can "abridge" others' rights absent any other controlling legal requirement (like commerce or employment). The restriction on abridgement of rights applies to governments. So if the Amish community where I lived wanted to prevent and "Englishman" (as they call us) from contacting someone in their community they can do that. The shunned person has no recourse.
The Amish community where I lived was highly dependent on each other. That's a good thing - much, much better than being dependent on the government. Shunning is much more than just "can't talk to you". You can't go to the community for help in paying medical bills. You won't get help raising your barn. You won't get help tending to your livestock if you need it. etc...
This isn't a "legal" issue, it's a "behavioral" issue.
Every community, whatever it's based upon, has to draw a line somewhere between those who are in the group and those who aren't - or else there is no longer a group. Why would the community pay your medical bills, raise your barn, or tend your livestock if you are, by your own choice, no longer part of the community? My little town is a community too, and we're not Amish but we're neighborly to each other. If I move to another town, why would I expect them to treat me as if I still lived here?
I don't honestly see why the "shunned" person should have any recourse. You can send me a letter, but I can throw it away, you can call me on the phone (though not if I'm Amish) but I can block your number. I haven't abridged any right of yours by refusing the contact.
As far as the wife and children not wanting to alienate their community - it's one of the myriad choices we make in life. We're not infants, to have our choices removed or made free of consequences, in case we make the wrong ones or regret them later. They have a right to weigh all the factors that are meaningful to them according to their own values, including their desire to remain in the community as opposed to their attachment to the husband/father. That's how adults make their decisions.
yep...
Hmmmm...I remember the unvaccinatef being shunned and shamed. Funny how these religions work.
I'm now a mask shunner.
At restaurants, or during shopping, I'll be casting scornful and highly disapproving looks toward maskers.
I start coughing.
Now that is funny! But at the same time, we had a poor customer come in wearing an admittedly very cute lavender face diaper. She told me she was going through chemo. In that case, mask might make sense. So I always worry a bit if the person might have some reason other than being a sheep.
I have one such person in my larger social group. Granted I haven't read the Cochrane or other reviews in-depth. Just the same, to the best of my knowledge, any type of cloth mask (e.g. not the N95 or N100 types) worn provide basically zero protection to the wearer against anything other than, perhaps dust. "Surgical" masks were -- and are -- traditionally worn to minimize large droplets such as from a sneeze or normal respiration contaminating a vulnerable patient opened up for surgery. If my impression is even remotely correct, that means that even the well intentioned immunocompromised person wearing a cloth mask is wasting her time.
Shame on her doctors for letting her believe that a mask will keep her safe. She is likely exposing herself to situations that could lead to her death.
Contraindicated and harmful. Masks reduce oxygen thus attacking your health. Masks produce a bacterial load thus attacking your health. Masks do the EXACT opposite what these foolish people think.
plus, O2, last I checked, is essential for optimum functioning of every system in the body.
You are correct. Before OSHA was corrupted, they gave safety instruction for mask wearing and stated the same thing.
I can't help sighing in a nostalgic way over the pre-corruption world at times. Sort of like Eden.
Another consideration about such a person is that having a mask allows for the proliferation of bacteria in an environment that is warm and damp. Seems like that possibility is more dangerous than not having a mask. Few people think of the damp mask side of things.
It seems some people, somehow, are simply psychologically made more comfortable by wearing utterly unnecessary garments. Look at the countless women who wear bras for NO medical/physical necessity or benefit.
My husband went through chemo 10 years before the covidian cabal took over the world. He was never advised by his doctors or anyone to wear a mask. And nobody in the hospitals or on the streets or in other common facilities wore masks. Because they don't do anything.
Well, they do SOMETHING, but that "something" is to protect the doctors' nose and mouth from blood splatter while performing surgery (or taking blood specimens, or other work where body fluids might be involved). So not anything of relevance to the general public.
4W-Except masks donāt stop viruses, even a little bit. SO it makes her feel better but does not make a lick of scientific sense.
and then stand up and announce: "Don't worry, it's not COVID. It's just a combination of viral pneumonia and tuberculosis."
ššš. This Comments section is on fire today!
I used to do that, til somebody suggested that they may really have a problem....like a lowered immune system. I dont see how breathing in your own breath would help that, but what do I know?
If someone has that serious a problem, they need to stay home. Masks are useless against germs.
lol!!!
that's what I thought of doing the other day but I thought it would only enforce their mask wearing, LOL
In a clearly infectious way, I hope ~ lol.
šššš Good one, Rosemarie!
I try to smile really big at them, they get confused in their fear.
Because they don't ever smiles
& especially the children need a smile (& a quick wave hello)
Good One!
I saw some low information people in Walmart yesterday wearing masks. It's a walking advertisement which says, "I am profoundly stupid."
I was in Wallmart yesterday. A masked woman was carrying a 10 month old-ish child and yammering away at him. I smiled, said Hi to him and he could not stop staring at my mouth. A complete stranger with a complete face was more interesting than his 1/2 faced care-giver. š³š
How interesting! And what a world!
Or "I am exercising my right to body autonomy and what makes ME feel comfortable in spite of people who choose not to thinking I am a walking advertisement for being stupid". ?
Aren't we attacking the wrong people? Isn't this about medical FREEDOM?
I don't care if people wear hazmat suit - that's their right - just don't force me.
I hate masks with a passion. My only regret in 2020 was not walking up to a track couch on an outdoor field and telling him that masking track runners was dangerous and abusive.
But if individuals feel safer wearing a mask, then far be it from me to call them stupid.
It's like them calling me a grandma killer.
Let's keep the focus on the sociopaths that put this whole thing in motion to begin with. I think they are loving all the name calling.
There is a good sense to what you say. And all things require wisdom. On the other hand, people can be stupid in whole or in part, and usually it is in parts. To refuse to recognize this is to refuse to recognize that some people are smarter, also in whole or parts. To recognize this is a great boon, especially if one seeks out the wiser of counsels.
Again, I in no way dispute you main points. But also, if people had not be rather stupid, dumbed down in their basic education, the cretin class of rulers could not have possibly gotten away with perpetrating mass democide. And so, we have a lot of work to do with education, how people get schooled.
To know Good requires that we know what is Evil. To know beauty is to know ugliness. To know
love requires knowing hate ... otherwise we could not hate what God hates. Things are known and defined by their opposites.
With the rise in shot cancers and people being immunocompromised I think we will see more and more people in masks also if you go to a hospital those brave employees wearing masks refused the covid shot and/or influenza shot.
I already have. Just the other day at grocery store I saw 2 people with them. But I donāt understand the one who wore it down under his nose like those who were mandated did. Its like he was required (worker) but he wasnāt.
That is the one I get depressed over. It's like they have no self-awareness, nor (healthy) pride, nor hope. Going through the motions and probably couldn't articulate a reason why going through them with even an ounce of passion, like the truly fearful, the truly self-righteous-virtue-signalling.
Maybe his "significant other" was nagging him to "wear a mask everywhere to protect me from you catching something".
If a cashier has a muzzle on, I choose a different line.
When I see someone wearing a mask these days, I have to wonder whether or not they are so prone to catching some virus that they try to protect themselves. Yes, I know they donāt work but I have to feel sorry for them in a way; they have that spike coursing through their bodies like a virus magnet!
Ha! Maskers give me an acute case of approach/avoidance. I'd rather ignore them, but Iām sorely tempted to test their tolerance for a close talker.
I move as far away, as possible, from anyone wearing a mask.
I don't have an issue with people who wear masks. I did for awhile but now most people don't where I live. Those who do look weird and scared. In the 70s I lived in Vancouver, BC, when it was more like a big small town, and there were a couple of women I'd see on the bus downtown wearing masks. For the "smog" I guess, although the air there was wonderful. Those women also looked weird and scared.
Well in my neck of the woods shunning was alive and well and directed at me after refusing to mask or get shots.
My family still distances me and my wife since not getting the jab. My wife's three children will have "nothing" to do with us. We do get to see 4 of our 6 grandchildren but COVID destroyed our family. We have also lost many friends, some because of the jab and some because we are clear thinkers(Republican).
Iām so sorry. Nothing changes that pain. š¢ You do have friends here!
ā¹ļø
I will never forget what these evil doers have done to families
Yes indeed, I went for three years keeping quiet, so farā¦.and probably most of my block in my comty voted for JBā¦see what happens there. Also my neighbor from Canada who came here to have hip replaced~~~can never get over that!~~warned me not to get close on her deck because she didnāt want to be infected by me before the surgery.
I see that you have a point.
However, we need to fight like hell and use the same tactics against them.
Or, live and let live - if you truly believe in what you are doing, you will have to accept the consequences, good or bad. Standing your ground can be painful but at least you are being true to yourself.
Can someone speak to "turn the other cheek" please... What does that mean to you?
I always took it to mean don't treat hate with more hate...
That's what I have always thought it to be as someone who was brought in the Catholic Church. However, I wonder what Jewish people think since they are taught the Old Testament that says, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". Just wondering if anyone could shed some light on this. I've been doing a lot of research on this Israeli/Palestine conflict and from what I've learned in my life on this planet is that "it takes two to tango". I don't claim to understand all the ins and outs of the situation but something is causing the hate and I doubt that hate can be resolved with more hate. Just wondering what some members of the community think, feel, know or can share on the topic. Thanks.
This was the intent of excommunication in the Catholic Church. Heretics leading the faithful astray posed a risk both to society and their own souls. Excommunication was a strong deterrent for these bad actors. We can see how society has completely unraveled for lack of shame.
But when rich and powerful people could buy themselves out of it or use their influence to avoid it it became meaninglessājust used as a weapon against people those in power didnāt like.
Not totally. The people recognize the hypocrisy of these rich people.
I was more talking about excommunication in the Middle Ages and thereabouts.
Absolute power corrupt absolutely, textbook case. I went to a Catholic HS and we had a whole semester of church history taught by a retired Dominican priest. He told it like it was and didn't sugarcoat anything. HIs lectures were heaven but his tests were h*ll, lol. A lot of the details have escaped me over the years, but the thing that has always stuck with me was that anytime someone has too much power and control it never ends well over the long haul.
Yes I completely agree about too much power. Hence my firm belief in small government!
What a great experience and interesting perspective given by your church history teacher! Love that!
Yes indeed, society has "completely unraveled" and there has to be a reason for this and I think that tolerance is only a part of it, all be it, a big part.
Straight out of Leviticus---over and over.
Actually their shunning is based on obeying men's rules under the guise of God, Pharisees. You know who they murdered and still do.
Your reply made me do the blinking meme... What?
You know who who murdered and still do?
Pharisees depend on obeying laws to get kudos from God AND they LORD it over others ruling in the fear of God's wrath for those who dare not obey. A Pharisee by any other name is still a spiritual if not also a physical murderer.
Jesus obeyed all the law, wrote the law, abolished the law by being approved by God as Sacrifice and Savior. There's no PLEASING GOD only WORSHIP of Him.
When I hear the word worship, it automatically spurs up the notion that the person needing to be worshiped must be egomaniacal. This makes it hard for me to "worship" anyone or anything. One of the traits that I would assume is inherent in a "God" is the notion that there is no ego and therefore does not need or demand to be worshiped. I've witnessed so much hypocrisy in the various organized Christian sects that I've been involved in or exposed to throughout my life that I find it really hard to trust or respect the organization. There has been so much corruption and cover-up within these organizations that it makes it hard to believe that these people rely on the "word of God" to guide them...
Yes, but we do not worship the "organization". We worship God Almighty. Because people claim to worship God, it does not mean they do it perfectly. Jesus didn't come to save "the perfect". He came to seek and save the broken, the sinners. I think of church as being a hospital of sorts, where sick people can find healing with God's help. We look to God, not people.
Perhaps I have a problem with the word worship because of its inherent meaning that has a negative connotation, at least in my mind. The word "revere" may be more suitable from my perspective. People "worship" a lot of things and God doesn't need to be worshiped by anyone. Someone who looks to others to worship them seems narcissistic in insecure - two traits that I would not attribute to God. In regards to the church being an organization, I agree with you that we are all sinners and that Jesus walked in their mists. I've also been kicked out of a Christian youth group because the "leader" thought I didn't deserve to be there and that I would be a bad influence on the others because they thought I had done something that went against their core beliefs. If Jesus had behaved like that he would not have walked with the sinners for very long without telling them to get lost. I'm curious what the Hebrew word for worship is and what the literal translation actually means. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
A pastor once told me, "The problem with the church is that there are people in it." It is easy, though a mistake, to conflate fallen human nature with God.
Worship can be defined as "worth-ship". This is to ascribe value to another person. I can be said to worship my wife based on the amount of value I would place in her and sacrifice for her. But only God is perfect and worthy of absolute worship. And we are created in His image. God has personality and so do we. God is spirit and created us with a spirit. He created us with an ego (and I don't mean in the Freudian sense) because He has an ego. Ego is identity and because of that we can "know" God and he knows us as only He can.
The idea of worship being ego-maniacal is a Freudian inversion. This is Satan equating holy with evil and making evil good. When the body of Christ, the church militant, comes together in worship, the church worships God together with the saints and angels in heaven. The body of Christ has power and identity only because when we come together in worship we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit who makes us alive unto God. When Christ rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, He poured out the Holy Spirit on His followers making them His body on earth. As a result, He told them that they would have power as His body to fulfill His Commission and bring redemption and restoration to all of life and no evil spirit would be able to stand against them.
The American church today is to a large degree lost and apostate much as God's people were when the Messiah came to them and they rejected Him. He had some choice words for them in Matthew when he walked among them. Those who followed Him were saved from the coming judgement they would face for rejecting Him.
I rambled on a bit here but I would encourage anyone who wants to understand "worship" to submerse themselves in the Psalms which are a perfect picture of what worship really is.
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Consider that your notion of "ego" has always been intertwined with fallible, self-absorbed humans, who are enslaved to their own flesh.
Moses asked God by what name He should be called by the people. He was told that His name is Yahweh. I Am. In Latin, Ego Sum.
Given that "Ego" is right there in the Latin translation of his name, remember what I said earlier. The Latin word ego that we so often apply to fallen, fallible humans has been tainted by the character of those humans.
It's a different thing entirely, to apply this to the God who created everything that was created, and who loves you more than you can understand.
His name is I Am. And I rejoice that He is! I will worship Him joyfully!
Given that we were told to enter by the narrow gate, and seeing the bad fruit that you have seen from organizations that called themselves Christian, I think it's likely that the vast majority who make that claim are not, in fact Christian.
Jesus warned us of wolves in sheep's clothing, hireling pastors, and apostasy. "You will know them by their fruit."
Seek to know who He is from scripture, in Spirit and in Truth. Then, evaluate the claims made from the pulpit based on what He shows you in his Word.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I like this comment. I like the idea of GLORIFY more than WORSHIP. I like testifying as to what God has helped me with, where no human power could do a thing, and how God has helped me to be more helpful to others, where on my own, I would not be.
Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts.
Matthew 5:17 (ESV)
āDo not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
And yes, we're on the same page here.
It does occur to me though that someone has to be the one to judge when we do things outside of God's commandments. I have a theory that we're in this predicament because we stopped judging behavior as righteous or sinful and have left people up to their own devices.
The Pharisees murdered Christ although they had the Romans do it for them. As for the rest, think about who murders in the name of their god. Do they tend to be fundamentalists, or mystics? I will give you a hint, it is not the mystics, and there are mystics in every religion.
I murdered Christ. You murdered Christ. Every person born murdered Christ. He died so that you may have eternal life. He died that I may have eternal life. He died so that any person who hears His call can come to Him and have eternal life.
I really get tired of the "who murdered Christ" argument. The Jooooooos did it. No the Romans. No the Pharisees. You did it. I did it.
What does that have to do with shaming and shunning? What does that have to do with standards of behavior that make civilization civilized?
I would not look at it that way. Christ sacrificed Himself for us because He loves us. He died that He might pay the penalty for our sins. He saved us in every sense of the word. We did not "murder" Him. He gave Himself voluntarily because we are born in sin and fallen from birth. If I sacrifice my life to save the life of my wife or child from a life threatening situation, they did not murder me. My action was a voluntary sacrifice out of love and that is ALL my wife or child should understand.
There would be no need for His death if we did not sin. Our sin put Him on that cross. I don't make the silly arguments. I just point out how illogical they are. They drive me nuts. My point was, if you're going to blame someone for murdering Christ, blame yourself. This line of reason completely misses the cross and the message of Christ's sacrifice.
"This line of reason completely misses the cross and the message of Christ's sacrifice."
Not at all. Christ died for sinners and there is no one who has not sinned. Our response to that should be a realization of how much He loves us, which is my point. That is the message of the Cross.
I have been in churches who take the "you murdered Him" approach and don't even touch upon the rest of the message of His life and death. These type of messages are engaging in guilt manipulation. Yes, He died for OUR sins and having been covered by His sacrifice we are now free to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in the knowledge that sin and death has been conquered by our Savior.
If you go back and look at the comment I responded to, it was "The Pharisees killed Christ."
This type of response overlooks the fact that every man is born into sin and will die in his sin without a savior. To say that the Pharisees murdered Christ ignores the fact that every person who is born needs the Savior. If you're going to say the Pharisees murdered Christ, you should include yourself, because your sin put Him on that Cross just the same as the Pharisees' sin.
I'm not overlooking the rest of Christ's message. I'm focusing on one illogical, unreasonable claim that I see thrown out all the time. I'm pretty sure Mel Gibson said something similar when he was arrested for DUI and what does Christ's death on the cross have to do with a DUI? It's a very attractive idea that shouldn't have any sway because of it's inherent silliness. God knew before He created us that we would need His Son. He created us anyway because He loves us. He gave us the remedy because He loves us.
I'm not really sure why our minds aren't meeting on this. I feel confident you're trying to impart wisdom on me, but I'm not understanding. I'm not trying to manipulate or guilt anyone into anything, which I find abhorrent. But I thank you for trying to help me understand, even if I can't seem to be able to get there.
The comment you were replying to was a POORLY thought out comment. The poster equated murderers with "fundamentalists" (whatever that is) and equated other believers as mystics (whatever that is). So I didn't pay it any attention.
As for who killed Jesus, as a historical fact that should not be conflated with the Biblical and spiritual meaning of His death. One might as well talk about the individuals who actually nailed Him to the cross with their hammers. Two different questions.
Im sorry that my terminology triggered you. Im old. But I think we are on the same page.
You didn't trigger me. I didn't understand! I sat there doing the guy blinking memeš¤£
In reality we all drove the nails in Christ. (1) because it is for our sin that he died. (2) Because of that sin we are all capable of it -- and worse. (3) more than Just the Pharisees had a role in it. The people of Israel shouted "crucify Him",
Dwight Schrute was pretty good at shunning!
Trust me we lived with shunning during Covid. How did that work out. Y here are better tools.
We need to learn how to fight like hell.
Weaponised against the unvaxxed ...
I would say the media, judiciary, schools and government are doing a great job at shaming. How many whites do you know who will say they're proud to be white? How many Westerners do you know who isn't proclaim they're proud to be white.
We have plenty of shaming going on. For all the wrong reasons.
Youāre rightā¦ All for the wrong reasonsā¦ they certainly used shame and guilt to force people to take that vaccine!!
I donāt think any one should necessarily be proud of their race or background, but they should celebrate it as it is who God made them. Pride is an iffy and difficult word because it has morphed into sinful ridiculous territory, and 'pride came before the fall'.
You know, I thought just like that until about two weeks ago and I forget what event started the conversion of my thinking, but I remember beginning to articulate it with family and it was like lightbulb came on.
Look at the great big world. Look at the ruins in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Turkey, China. Look at the advances the world made through the ages. Then look what happened when Britain and then the United States (especially the States) burst upon the scene. We progressed by hundreds of years because we embraced Judeo-Christian values and recognized the inherent worth of human life. I'm not just referring to the technological advancements; I'm talking about the ways we have recognized humanity's worth and have taken measures to protect it. I'm proud to be a part of that legacy. There is no shame in that. There are people who got it wrong along the way, but that's the history of humanity. I'm not responsible for their mistakes, but I can recognize where they went wrong and guard against that in my own life (and I think that's the way the West has operated until we were taken over by this godlessness).
As far as being proud of being white, again, I look at history. I look at who Cortez encountered when he first came to the new world. They were savages who were civilizationally backwards, they sacrificed virgins, babies, and slaves to appease gods. They killed each other indiscriminately. They lived in darkness. Whites brought light. Africa and India are supposedly angry about their colonization by whites but you should see what advancements were made when the British came in. Go look at footage of some of the Caribbean Islands under British occupation versus now. The whites improved people's lives. Whites have dune so much to improve the lives of all people all across the world. Why is it necessary to demonize them?
We have been sold a bunch of guilt and shame over the color of our skin and I for one am not going to take that cloak or mantel on anymore. The world is saying that because I was born with white skin I'm racist, either implicitly or explicitly. They also say they're going to eradicate white supremacy. I'm not going to go quietly while they eradicate me. And I'm not going to be ashamed of who I am while I stand up to their lunacy.
There is nuance to consider here. I was reading a biography of William Wilberforce and his fight to allow Christianity into India. The big British company that colonized and controlled India did NOT want any Christian missionaries in India. British men were keeping Indian child sex slaves and doing other horrific things unchecked.
Wilberforce knew that if Christianity came, the Indian people would experience untold improvements and freedoms, including stopping the horrific practice in their religion of widows being burned alive after their husbands died. But the first colonizers truly did want to keep Christianity and rights from reaching people in India. So it was key people like Wilberforce who made it positive that the British came to India, but that took decades of political and personal commitment from them. I recommend Eric Metaxis' Wilberforce biography. It made me think of our times and was an inspiration to strive to be like him!
I don't really think a lot about my "color." But I am very appreciative of the sacrifices of my ancestors to get to the USA and to create a better life for themselves and their children. My personal history includes ancestors who were indentured servants, fled pogroms, fled conscription in communist/imperialist armies, and worked through poverty in immigrant communities.
I never thought much about my skin color, being white wasn't ever an issue. For my whole life I looked at skin color as an individual physical attribute similar to hair or eye color. Depending on a person's origin, skin was different colors. At one point I figured that people in geographical locations with more intense sun exposure would naturally develop more melanin as a protection, whereas Scandinavians in the north, for example, didn't need as much, hence they didn't need much melanin. As I got older I never understood why that one attribute of skin color was constantly such an issue.
When I lived in the Middle East, I saw disdain for darker people there as well. Racism seems to arise everywhere. As for being "proud" of skin color, I find it rather silly.
I will say that last statement was supposed to end with "Western" and not "white." It's difficult typing on a cell and the app doesn't allow you to edit.
Don't miss my point. It's not that I go around looking at my skin color, comparing it to others skin color, and thinking I'm superior. Until Obama became president, a person's skin color wasn't even something I considered. Further, I don't look at someone and think, "that person's skin is darker than mine so I'll have nothing to do with them." I use color as a descriptor maybe if I'm telling a story, but color isn't, and shouldn't be, important.
My point is that I am not ashamed of being white. And I am not ashamed of being Western. In 2020, I watched racists burn this country down while screaming that black lives matter. I don't disagree with the sentiment but I had a HUGE problem with the behavior. Black lives DO matter. So do white lives. And brown lives. And yellow lives. And pink lives. Skin color comes in a range; the lives contained under the skin matters, regardless of the color of the skin. But making such a statement was heresy! Not only was it blasphemy, it could cost you your job, your home, your family. For speaking the truth.
I'm not doing that anymore. Being white isn't something to be ashamed of. Being Western isn't something to be ashamed of. The good that we enjoy in our lives came from Westerners, started by the whites and continued by others. That's just the truth. I'm not buying the lies anymore. I'm not running from my heritage. I'm not going to stand back and be quiet while I am run down because of my skin color. People I love share the same skin color and I don't want them to be beaten down, harassed, and killed because of their immutable qualities.
We're getting to a point where we will absolutely have to take a side. I thought I could keep going along to get along. But you can't go along to get along with people who want you dead. Not if you want to live anyway. And they do want white people dead. This whole colonizer/occupier argument is the impetus to kill people because they're white. They've been very successful in South Africa. They've already done it to 1,400 Israelites.
Shame still does exist and the practice of shaming was utilized as a psychological weapon against certain people who were attempted to be shamed into you know....
There is a difference between being shamed (someone actively trying to make you feel shame) and feeling ashamed.
People should not be shamed by others for things that are out of their control, but they should feel ashamed if they are guilty of sin, or acting in a foolish way.
Feeling ashamed shows that you recognize you are not lining up with a higher standard to which you know you should aspire.
Iām sure that much of the drugs and alcoholic lifestyle~~~but not understood by those, comes from trying to drown their conscience and guilt, a pain, for some struggle. A friend of mine years ago as a bus driver, Vietnam and tough military father, used to help finish off some beers after work, in the parking lot! I told him one day, āYou know you should grow your hair longer in front, because you donāt pay attention like others of us do, so you keep running into walls, and then you have a bloody forehead.ā He gave me a Bible one day, inscribed with āThanks, from Charlie with the bloody forehead ā. LOL.
And also drugs and alcohol are used to manage shame borne from abuse done to them. Perhaps not in all but I bet in many. Trying to shut out the yelling of their overactivated nervous systems from years of developmental trauma.
May not make sense to many, but the nature of Evil ensures that those who have endured abuse often blame themselves rather than the perpetrators, blame themselves for their inability to be strong enough to āget overā the abuse, and the like. Sometimes the shame becomes too much.
Indeed, so tragic, and wasteful of life, to numb the pain and think youāre having funā¦.I have known two friends, years ago, whose mothers had been married 6-8? times. I canāt imagine. My parents were married 50 plus years. Canāt imagine that either !! LOL. Recovering introvert, signing off !
The numbing is better than the pain because the pain feels like it would swallow them whole.
Good trauma informed therapy can help with healing but (1) is not always easy to find, (2) requires more than the allotted 10 or 20 visits/year that insurance will pay for, and (3) requires the immense courage of exposing the pain of one's vulnerabilities to a therapist, and (4) not least, requires the person to know that such help exists.
To say the task is hard is not even close to the truth. It is not a thing to laugh at.
And, then thereās some of us who end up counseling the counselor because that person is so overwhelmed by the story of our life. Many who have been through extreme trauma have no one to talk to. If the therapist has not experienced significant trauma in their own life, they will shut down right before your eyes as you describe the horror you survived.
Alcohol numbs the pain.
And, sometimes, allows sleep.
Severe trauma can re-wire brain waves, causing the person to not be able to sleep for their entire life ā¦ which, in turn, causes an entire host of other problems. And, thereās no cure ā¦ only medication that makes you a zombie ā¦ no thanks.
And, yes, apt descriptionā¦ alcohol calms the nerves so that everyday life does not suck you into the abyss.
Iām so sorry.
When we had to get the driverās licenses with the star I was behind a woman who had been married 5 times. When the clerk told her she had to have a marriage certificate and a divorce certificate for each marriage she started to cry. I could feel her pain.š¤Ŗ
She no doubt experienced quite a lot of heartache. š
EMDR can help re-wire the brain and allow healing from trauma.
If you donāt wear a mask & get vaccinated you are going to kill Grandma!
Shame was def. part of the playbook used by TPTB.
https://vigilantnews.com/post/the-psychological-playbook-brainwashing-techniques-to-increase-vaccine-uptake
Shame is THE control mechanism of the Khazarian mafia cabal over humanity. Allied with fear, and it is a flawless 1 / 2 punch to keep us cowed.
Everything can be taken to extremes, and, because we ARE human, usually is. When a good thing becomes ultimate, it ultimately becomes a bad thing.
I cannot think of anything positive that comes from shaming. It is done to obtain complete control over another person. You assume that the shamer is virtuous when that is not necessarily the case.
Like all forms of discipline, it's effective and positive when the shaming is justified. In that case, it is not done to obtain control but to enable someone (usually a child) to become aware that their behavior is wrong. Of course there is an element of control involved, because parents are meant to exercise control over their children. We've all seen the unhappy results when they fail to do so.
It's impossible to develop a conscience without experiencing shame, and this shame is often deliberately kindled by a thoughtful adult. The idea that we should spare children from experiencing shame is to spare them also from knowing the regret we're meant to feel when we've caused harm. A person without shame is a sociopath, and we seem to be raising an inordinate number of these in recent years.
No, true shame comes from an internalized sense of righteousness; a sense of what is right and wrong. Without that, we cannot feel shame. The "shaming" we see today is woke people actively shaming people they disagree with. This is virtue signaling by those doing the shaming. It is the Marxist dialectic of making right wrong and making evil good. We have to see the difference.
Not all shame is right, but some lack of shame is COMPLETELY immoral. And example, if you are ashamed of or shamed for having red hair, that shame is immoral, but if there is no shame for being gay (cheating on a spouse, divorce for no reason, besting children) that is immoral.
I also noticed this over a ~20 year period in public secondary school---how 'shame' was made shameful. I, however, see it as a powerful tool for keeping people on the narrow path--albeit painful to the one needing the herding.
Around 10 years ago, I remember reading how young influencer type women on social media were speaking out against 'slut shaming', putting to rest the last bit of sexual morality shame. Slut shaming (ie: she slept with how many men?) doesn't seem to exist anymore. Men and women are both allowed to be equal sexual 'sluts' now without any fear of judgement by others. š
āIncrementalismāā¦ a slow erosion of morals and cultural norms ā¦
Theyāre actively trying to change whatās accepted as normal
Look at womenās fashionā¦ women arenāt even dressed anymore.
Men dressing as women.
Look at what they allow on TV today sexually- itās awful. And they continue to press the boundaries further and further of whatās being normalizedā¦ giving people bad ideas- if you ask me. Predictive programming.
Itās crazy to me. All of it.
And sit down, taking a quiz, #7. What is a woman?
Teacher: Yes? ā¦Sorreee, you failed, you left out āshe must be able to get pregnantā
Study up for next quiz!
I agree šÆ
I remember the term 'moral relativity' being bandied about 20 (?) years ago..no absolute right or wrong..
It has devolved to what you say.
Until those women start looking for a husband and no one wants them. I think it is called being āwifed offā?
Little boys fight. That's what they do, not all the time. Only once and awhile. This is how we learned to stand up, to defend our rights such as we understood them to be. And little boys grown into men are to defend their families, their wives, their homes. Fighting is intrinsic to protecting. Granted it helps to have the right values to stand on.
Because we have not fought hard enough for the right things, we have lost Western Christian based civilization. Now we suffer taking our licks for this lapse.
Where does shame come from? It comes from knowing you are doing something wrong, these godless people have no shame. When did our country become so godless? 100 years ago?
I have been doing a very deep dive into free masons, Illuminati and the occultā¦ wow. Talk about mind bending. I have a lot of questions!
And itās got me really wondering about our founding fathersā¦ as many were free masons (religion). What did they truly believe at the inception of this country? And has that impacted where we find ourselves todayā¦ which is in a country in total moral decline and decay? I have to wonder if itās all connected nowā¦
I donāt know but Iād be interested in any others thoughts who are looking at this connectionā¦
You can see it in the symbolism all over Washington, DC. Their language is symbolism. Monuments modeled after pagan temples. Statues modeled after pagan idols.
"Liberty" has come to mean "do what thou wilt," so far removed from a Biblical notion of liberty from slavery to your flesh.
It's not an accident.
The original organization or charter of the United States (former colonies) was the Articles of Confederation adopted by Congress in 1777. A truly republican, decentralized and voluntary association of the several independent states.
Ten years later, the states chartered a convention to propose some amendments to the Articles. That was the extent of the authority the delegates to the convention had. Instead, George Washington (who was a 33rd degree Mason) and his co-conspirators determined to use the occasion to overthrow the Articles and create a new constitution to their liking. The "Constitutional Convention", which lasted almost 4 months, was a secret closed-door affair and all the participants took self-maledictory oaths, a decidedly un-Christian action just like the self-maledictory Masonic oaths, to never reveal the proceeding of the convention. The participants took these secrets to their grave.
In plain English, the Convention was a bloodless coup. Patrick Henry, who was a devout Christian and leading figure in the American Revolution, was invited to attend the Convention in Philadelphia. He was a fiery speaker who was famous for his line, "Give me liberty or give me death", an unequaled American patriot. When he received the invitation to the Philadelphia Convention, he declined saying, "I smell a rat in Philadelphia."
Everyone likes to quote the Federalist Papers written in support of the new Constitution. What everyone should pay attention to are the Anti-Federalist Papers which argued for the rejection of the adoption of the Constitution. This successful coup contains the seed for where we are today. This coup can be traced to the coup of the Lincoln administration which was elected in 1860 and resulted in the war of the USG against half of America only months later in April 1861. From that point, all vestiges of the Republic were progressively submerged under the imperialism of the USG which leads directly to the 2020 Marxist/fascist coup of the 2020 elections.
Clearly, at this point, Americans are about to become captives in their own country much the same as the Israelis were in Egypt when a Pharaoh arose "who knew not Joseph." In one generation, they went from the ruling class of Egypt to slaves. Food for thought.
In less than 3 years, the Marxists have overthrown the elections in 2020 and facilitated an invasion of millions of single military aged men who are being financed, transported and trained in secret by the Marxist USG. Make no mistake, this "secret" army is being armed with weapons that supposedly were sent to Ukraine. As we speak, the chains for our enslavement are being forged.
I have a lot of questions myself. Have you noticed any connections in freemasonry with the kabbalah?
What Iāve realized is free masons is presented as a fraternity/brotherhood/philanthropyā¦ but ā¦itās actually a religion! As is the Order of Eastern Star- the female companion group.
And you know itās a religion because they do āa funeral riteāā¦ and their Godā¦ is ANY higher beingā¦
Thereās some overlap
I donāt understand it fully -
Masons are taught there should be Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support and Beauty to adorn. This adage comes from the Tree of Life. The Kabbalah is represented by the Tree of Life, consisting of ten spheres, referred to as Sefirot.
https://www.theresearchlodge.com/further-light/kabbalah-freemasonry?format=amp
'esoteric knowledge'
Babylonian mystery school stuff. Esoteric/occult. At the end of the day, they're both a works-based means of enlightenment and antithetical to the Gospel.
Yes sir, you are exactly right.
Also shame for sexual degeneracy, such as homosexuality, a clear sin.
It should not be accepted as normal, but shamed and shunned.
You are SO lucky to be SO secure in your heterosexuality. Well done you! Unfortunately there are MILLIONS of men and women who, through no fault of their own, do not share your good fortune.
Where is your compassion and understanding? And as for shaming and shunning them - shame on you!
Everybody's got something - I wonder, What's your vice? Care to share?
Ain't that the truth! Crazy is now glorified. Can someone please stop the madness!
Amen!
Well, except theyāll redirect them from āwrong thinkingā in a N.Y. Minute.
Said this for years. Some forms of bullying are natural and effective. Gets people to shape up!
The Gates $$, which flows from multiple entities, is the #1 reason you never hear mainstream media question why someone who NEVER GRADUATED from college is allowed to opine on all things medical, while someone like Jay Bhattacharya (with prestigious degrees) is a quack and crazy. Gates has been doing this for YEARS too. The pediatric vaccine injury community has known this for a long time.
So funny how the MSM always made it sound like Gates was an average Joe who dropped out of college and then went onto become wealthy anyway. Gates' family was wealthy, maybe not as wealthy as Bill is now, but wealthy nonetheless.
Yes he was. But he still has absolutely no basis to offer expert opinions on medical issues or matters of public health, and heās been all over the world doing so. The irony of this is never lost on me, especially because acceptance of it comes from people who want to defer to āthe expertsā on everything even when doing so violates the Constitution.
Go read about his hanging on Real Raw News! The Noose got hung up in the gallows and he hung there alive for a minute or so alive. That will help with anger for him! Read how sick he was!! So way beyond what we ever knew. God Bless you! It will all be over soon.
Of course, Billy is buying up a huge chunk of U.S. farmland so he can create plant based meats. In the future, I will read the package materials, and will NOT buy plant-based meat products.
I will never buy or eat plant based āmeatā or āfoodāmade from insects. Look at the back of the packages-these things are filled with all kinds of chemicals.
The problem is that the USDA or whoever is in charge of food labeling won't care (bought off) if the ingredients are lied about or omitted.
I hope youāre at least partially wrong. Maybe some of them will adhere to truth in labeling!
Maybe we should stick with Tyson. I believe I read they are gearing up some plants to produce insect-based products. Yum.
Tyson link regarding insect plant investment here: https://revolver.news/2023/10/tyson-foods-teams-up-with-the-world-economic-forum-to-open-an-insect-processing-plant/
We are in good hands with Drs. gates and musk...2 slime balls with about 50 degrees between them. All complements of Cracker Jacks.
I think maybe they're connected by 33 degrees . . .
The Awakened read about sudden deaths and connect that in all likelihood, it was mRNA induced. The Sheep make no connection at all. To them, each sudden death while unfortunate, is just the new normal. Apparently you can boil Sheep alive just like Frogs.
We recently visited elderly family (not awakened sadly and vaccine injured though they are clueless) who are avid TV watchers. They put on the morning shows and just stare at it, even the commercials like they are mesmerized. They'll never make a connection and still think we're crazy for not taking the shots.
If Iām invited and visiting someoneās home and the TV is on, I readily leave as soon as possible and donāt return. If you canāt shut off background noise to chat with a friend or acquaintance, you only have my sympathy.
There's an analogy that works!
Very true. Most will argue that people of all ages have had heart attacks throughout medical history so it is not unusual. They cannot see the forest for the trees.
isn't it odd that people who don't believe in the existence of God will gladly believe in the devil and his demons?
another point, where common sense is not common
I just watched āI married a witchā the fabulous comedy with Veronica Lake. From 1942. Not only is Veronica a beautiful blonde witch who eventually loses her powers by falling in love with wait for it a politician. BEFORE she loses her powers she makes sure her beloved played by DEMOCRAT Frederic March. gets every single vote in the election. Thatās right! Before Dominion it took a witch to commit election fraud
Wow, Again, history laying out the plans before the unseeing.
I never thought of that movie in that way. Interesting!
Oh my word!!! š¤£š
š¤£
I'm not clear on whether this is a good tee for these Orwellian times, though.
LOL
so at 69 I MUST consider myself blessed for having woken up this morning when 35, 41, 54 and 59 are considered ripe old ages!
Why are these people's FAMILIES not CRYING OUT through the media, through social Media, or even by standing on a bridge with signs, demanding attention and answers? I can't believe that EVERYONE is on board with this.
Here in San Diego we just lost our beloved Pete Seidler, owner of the Padres. "Cancer". Turbo cancer.
We are divided by mortality now. Those who took the C19 shot and boosters. And those of us who didn't.
One would think tptb might have thought this through ie āletās kill all the sheep, so we have a planet full of thinking people that are looking for an excuse to kill usā as their slaves? Js, seems like a stupid,poorly thought out plan.
They think they can subdue us through force. As you wrote, stupid plan.
Many WILL be subdued when they can no longer buy or sell . . .
Agreed. I'm ready for whatever God allows, and pray for discernment.
We are already getting instructions from the left if we can no longer buy or sell. Just walk in take what you want and walk out. s/ :(
And many of those will finally wake up.
Absolutely, but then megalomaniacs don't tend to deal in the small but important details....
Indeed. We are todayās pure-bloods.
When you consider that we have bombarded by the likes of Bill Gates and his ilk that all of the earth's woes are because there are simply too many people living on it, and in his opinion the population must be greatly reduced ideally to 500 million becaussssse, CLIMATE CHANGE? Is it surprising that a fuss is not being made regarding all these untimely deaths? It's what they designed and, as we read in today's post, is backed by the supposed 4th branch of government whose role should be to keep the people apprised of the "truth". Instead, the corporate media is spoon feeding the sheep who will gobble up the lies and walk blissfully in their total ignorance. Mission accomplished. Thankfully, "But God......"
According to the life expectancy trend, in a year or so, 69 will be over-living.
If the SADS death rate continues with people in their 40s, 50s and 60s, there will be a decreased need to pay out social security and Medicare.
Also fewer paying into it though.
By then, God willing, I'll be an old geezer!!! One way to save Social Security: kill us young!
LOL. Amen and amen
šš¼
Happy that Ayaan Hirsi Ali now says she's a Christian and I pray she means it. Her statements so far aren't encouraging though, as they are intellectual reasons explaining why Christianity was the logical choice. Sort of like explaining why one chose to join one social club rather than another.
What was missing in her statements was a declarative statement that Christ is King, that she trusts in Him for her salvation, and He rules over all aspects of her life. Hopefully that comes with time.
Not bagging on her as I know that I was a mess as an early Christian. Just cautioning folks that before we adopt her as the new Christian celebrity spokesperson we should see some fruit.
Which means we should pray for her. She would not be the first honest iIntellectual/scientist/historian who found their way to God, but as we all know it is a journey and she speaks in the terms she knows best.
Excellent point! Lee Strobel comes to mind...https://leestrobel.com/
In short...Lee set out to disprove Christianity and was led to faith in Jesus, the Christ.
Lee Strobel is an amazing guy, and his documentary on his path to finding Christ is a great movie. He also unabashedly states that Christ is his Lord and Savior.
I'm not saying that people don't come to Christ through an intellectual process, God works through all sorts of miraculous ways. I myself came to Christ though that process. What I am saying is that an intellectual process that concludes Christianity is the best religion, or even that Jesus is God, is not enough. One must trust Christ for their salvation and fully submit to Him. It's a spiritual step, not an intellectual one.
Well written, and I fully agree. It really is ALL about Jesus. God bless you!
And it is not about "religion" per se, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Agreed. My opinion is that Our Father used Leeās search for truth to reveal Truth...and others who tend to question things can get to the spiritual step, learn to accept things they cannot see, after learning how much evidence-the concrete kind-there really is.
People are so different, God uses those differences for His good. Thatās why there are so many prophets, in my opinion-different āstylesā speak to different people...I love Joyce Meyer and Julie Green, their teaching/praise styles really speak Godās words to me; my best friend doesnāt feel the same, but we love and trust our Father.
Note: Iām still what Joyce Meyer calls a ābabyā Christian, so donāt always speak the ālingoā very well, hope I conveyed my thoughts somewhat coherently!
CS Lewis, another famous convert.
Though he was raised as a Christian but rejected it as an adult then went back. More of a revert than a convert I guess š Maybe one could argue that he never really was a Christian before because he was a child and forced into it.
Absolutely, like I said I was a mess and it took God's grace to get me straightened out. It was a long process indeed.
Sometimes we Christians have the tendency so say things like, "look who joined our team" (or its spiritual equivalent), particularly if they are famous. It's not wise as we are all fallen creatures, and will always disappoint.
100%
I have heard that criticism elsewhere and it is definitely something to watch.
Reading her essay, my impression was one of a journey. She's been on a journey that led her from Allah to nothing to Jesus. Every step is movement forward. She's in church. Pray her church is Bible based and will nourish her spiritual hunger (so many churches offer junk), that if she isn't being fed she'll be led to a church that will. These journeys happen by degrees.
Different churches offer different spiritual manna. For some like me, it is the sacraments and beauty of the Liturgy.
God will use whatever dialect it is that speaks to you. He created us all so differently.
Indeed, she gives the appearance that she currently thinks "well it's not actually TRUE, but it's a 'good' religion to follow". As you said, we can pray that her church teaches well and that she comes to a moment eventually of, "hey, I think maybe this IS actually true after all".
I came upon her ~2017 via Dave Rubin. Her change of course may be not unrelated to her marriage to Niall Ferguson, and, I believe that she became a mother. That can have an apocalyptic effect upon a woman. With the birth of a child, of a sudden the meaning of life becomes clear. At least, to some of us.
For a brief time I remember that Madonna, the bastion of darkness and sin, became 'spiritual' (albeit new agey) after the birth of her daughter. She shed the usual dark and or slutty looks she favors for angel gowns and more conservative looks, and came out with an album of more enlightening music than her norm.
Ofcourse she fell back into the darkness where she is comfortable.
She is a troubled soul.
I wonder: Is a troubled, tortured and uneasy personality 'de rigeur' for artists? š¤
C.S. Lewis found his way from atheism to Christ because there was no better logical conclusion. š¤·š¼āāļø
As G.K. Chesterton said, āWhen belief gets hard, man wants to turn from God. But in heavenās name to what?ā
We can pray this is her path as well.
He grew up in Christianity though, unlike Ayaan. But a forced Christianity that pushed him away from Christ.
You are correct. Knowing the correct facts and knowing the Truth (Jesus) are not the same. I pray she grows closer to God and proclaims the name of Jesus.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 KJV
Some fish are caught by the head. Some by the heart.
Those caught by the head often spend a lifetime of bringing the heart to the same place.
Those caught by the head often spend a lifetime bringing the head to the same place.
All through the power of the Holy Spirit lived through an authentic Christian life. We are never fully "there" until we are There.
Amen and amen! Its also possible as you suggest that God is drawing her. She may not be there yet but drawing. Either way she is being bold and that does take bravery.
C.S. Lewis came to Christ in large part through intellectual reasoning, and intellectual reason was a BIG part of his radio talks and writings.
Thank God she doesnāt sound churchy in her writing. Thereās nothing more nauseating than sounding like the typical western Christian. When someone experiences God in a life changing way, the evidence is in their choices and belief system. The fact that sheās even writing about her revelations is huge for a converted Muslim/ atheist. I pray she sees firsthand the immeasurable depth and width of His love for her, and that her message reaches many people with the same background.
Think of Kanye or Ye....
Iām not so sure listening to her reasonings that God has called her. Rather that she thought she might just look into it and perhaps, maybe it sounds like a reasonable decision to be a Christian.
Corrupt oligarchs require corrupt governments.
Clean up the governments, and use customer buying power to shut down corrupt businesses.
The Budweiser marketing manager resigned, yet Bud is still promoting drag events.
Spend wisely, my friends.
We need to double down on Budweiser. Do not let up. My husband and I were just at a Harley Davidson event last weekend. Huge event with a lot of vendors. Two or three alcohol tents. Stocking bud light among other choices. Tons of people walking around with drinks in their hand. I only saw 1 Bud light the entire 2-3 hours we were there.
Double down. Make them pay. Do not give an inch. šŖš»
We have not let up. No bud no Jack no Target! Going strong
Hmm. Remind me about no jack.
Jack Daniels. also woke. Own a lot of brands.
Wow. I did not know that. My son loves Jack!!!
https://www.newsweek.com/jack-daniels-whiskey-boycott-calls-lgbt-campaign-1792890
That's happening. Their stock price STILL down .... but showing positive movement lately.
"SHUN" the crap out of them !
I was very disappointed to see UFC CEO Dana White signed a deal with Bud Light.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/bud-light-ufc-deal-reveal-two-possibilities-what-really-going
Yes! It was a shitbag move in my opinion. Weāve made a statement. The little guy. And it just takes one guy like that to backtrack it. š£ Idk why he did it except he thought it would make him more money š always about getting more money I guess. I hope the fans stand up and shut it down. Thatās why I said donāt give them an inch. We cannot give even one mm. Be strong and courageous!
Until Budweiser acts with integrity and says āwe screwed upā itās a no go. Has the dude pretending to be a woman been actually fired and cut loose of the millions given to him? Or was he just shoved out and silenced? Or is he still getting a paycheck for his silence? Come clean Budweiser.
Itās the apology tour without being sorry or accountable. Just. Like. The. Jabs. And. Covid.
šÆšÆšÆ
Follow that money too. Everyone is for sale.
Re Budweiser and others like them - make ākicking them when theyāre downā great again
I think this speaks to an additional dynamic at play as to why governments, NGOs, "news" organizations, etc. defer to people like Gates. They can then say "businessmen" are in agreement with their leftist ideas. It allows them to say "everyone" agrees - including successful capitalists - and therefore provides cover for what are basically big government, totalitarian, monopolistic ideas. It's why I think it's important we keep calling out the big business side of this equation. It's basically fascism - government and a few chosen large private entities - pushing out smaller players to have totalitarian rule.
Fascism/socialism/communism is state control of the lives, liberty and property of individuals.
The mayor of NY City is discovering what happens when you criticize the regime.
I'm sure there are many billionaires in China worried about toeing the CCP line.
Gates and others may believe they are controlling the state. Many people have died believing their pet bear or lion is tame.
I don't know about hookers, but as for blow they could simply secure an invitation to the White House and find some...
š
I think the White House is whores central.
I am heartened by Aayan's conversion. I enjoyed her books immensely. I think maybe also look at Mattias Desmet....He is another intellectual who was an atheist and is now beginning to believe that there is a higher power. I don't know that he has embraced Christianity per se...but he seems to have found that intellectualism just doesn't fill a person up.....only God can do that.
Jeff, any connections that would be interested in hearing a case against the Seattle firefighters union, IAFF local 27, in hopes of representing 40+ firefighters who got fired by Seattle over its vaccine mandate despite having religious exemptions? The union not only stepped aside with little to know guidance or help, they even made a few moves to make it even easier for the city to terminate.
The idiot mayor of Pittsburgh tried to force the police to take the covid death shot.
FOP president said no way it wasn't in the contract we signed.
Brilliant.
I was distressed to hear that the covid death shot mandate is still in effect for city workers, new police hires, and police officers who are being promoted.
Geez...gotta milk that covid thing as long as they can.
Someone should tell the mayor of Pittsburgh that Putin cured covid.
Or was it Israel?
So let me get this straight. You donāt need the vaccine if you are an established best cop... but should you want to promote, you have to still get the poke? Thatās criminal and should be a labor violation in their contract as well. Where is thier civil service commission board in all this? Crazy
Yep, your comment sums it up nicely.
Link to the article I read:
https://news.yahoo.com/11-investigates-exclusive-city-pittsburgh-230401324.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAtsMEU_0rU1vrqh7kcfA6N6XO4-19rAhgXaT32HPm3rVdRgiJXgwYjQQuQJDl_9lanwz4k12MvERCKCE_OHMoJtDAcrlGS5lQW9E0xEEW1_7gD6nuPhiF_4V-DFG1JmUFeQ4PYAKUOIT2WjYNClZy42YSGnG6rFBEVpbfcI-5oK
Meant to say ābeat copā
Contact Childrens Health Defense lawyers. They filed a lawsuit in NY City for schoolteachers similarly fired and won. An ongoing story...but consider checking them out. Here is just one piece in that lawsuit.
https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/shows/one-life-radio/judge-to-rule-on-new-york-teacher-vaccine-mandate-case--1-day-before-school-starts--more/
Thx
My friend is one of those 40
Not surprised about the union not representing their members properly. My former healthcare union still sends me email updates- the only thing they care about is DEI, workshops on white settler colonizers and taking a stand against āhateā when parents try to stand up to schools on SOGI curriculum. Union dues go towards activism - NOT representing the membership that pays them.
Thank you for sharing the story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali coming to faith in Christ. A bright point to celebrate.
I come from a ministry family, extended family as well. I know of those who had visited the priests in temple for years, argued and discussed over a bowl of rice, sitting on the floor, and faithfully proved the biblical truths. The most obstructive and argumentative priest finally said, āOkay tell me about Godā. Later on he became involved in a radio ministry for years, in that country, and his daughter trained to be a missionary in a country nearbyā¦ā¦so give things some time, not always on our clock. Amen and amen ~~~ Ref: Deeply touching book, āThe Insanity of Godā Ripken
Yes, fascinating book that.
Am I the only one that doesn't like the term "Judeo-Christian values"? I much prefer "Biblical values", meaning that we live in accordance with the precepts of the Old and New Testament (i.e. the whole counsel of God). There's plenty in Talmudic Judaism that Christians reject as it's not Biblical and inherently anti-Christian. The term Judeo-Christian values implies we are just one amorphous blob.
I have never seen Judeo-Christianity as including the Talmud, but just the Old and New Trstaments.....the Whole Counsel of God. As I know our Republic was anchored in the Mosaic Law, not the Talmud.
The Only two nations in the world that promised they would obey. And both have gone back on those promises. We never promised to obey the Talmud, but to obey His Instructions, just as Israel did. So, I have no problem with Judeo-Christian labels.
Christ is king and His values reign. Judeo values are an abomination. Thou shall have no other gods before me = the co-eternal trinity which necessitates an exclusion of Christ deniers. Christ said He was sent to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24) condemning those who did not believe Moses who wrote of Him (John 5:46). There is no redemption in aligning with anything Judeo.
Judeo-Christian? One worships Jesus as the savior and the other doesn't. One wears a cross and the other wears a skull cap. Neither observes the 6th Commandment "Though shalt not kill"
Ask the Pope about that skull cap crack.
In all seriousness though, Christ condemned the Pharisees and their practices in the strongest language. He didn't say, "you guys do it your way and we'll do it our way, but we're all one big happy family". There is no such thing as "Judeo-Christian" values.
The actual intent of the phrase (assuming it's being used in good faith) is that as Christians we embrace the values of the Old Testament where they have not been superseded by the New Testament. No argument there. However, we completely reject the Talmud (an extension of Pharisee Judaism that Christ condemned) which is the basis of the overwhelming majority of practicing Jews today.
It's a critical distinction that "Judeo-Christian" obfuscates (sometimes intentionally IMO). That's why I said "biblical values" is much more accurate and honest phrase.
Edit: Adding that this key distinction is why Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro are now going at each others throats.
Jesus didnāt condemned the Pharisees as human being but condemned their practices.... hate the sin. I think it is wring to condemn all for the sins of some. I have met plenty of Christians who do not live a sinless life...myself included.
Agree but I don't think you fully read my comment (or maybe I didn't explain it well enough). I specifically mentioned the practices of the Pharisees that Jesus condemned in no uncertain terms. These practices (ridiculous legalism, holding people to an impossible standard, blatant hypocrisy, finding loopholes in the law) are exactly what continue under Talmudic Judaism. If anything it got much worse.
I didn't say (or mean to imply) Jesus condemned the Pharisees simply for being Jewish. Jesus was Jewish after all.
Most Christians think that practicing Jews simply observe our Old Testament, but that's not the case. The Talmud (a collection of Bible interpretations compiled by influential rabbis many centuries after Christ's resurrection) codified the practices of the Pharisees. The Talmud is extremely influential in Judaism, often more so that the Torah itself. This "Rabbinical Judaism" continues these Pharisee legalistic practices on steroids, often torturing the biblical text to such an extent that the Talmud directly contradicts the Torah. Yet most Christians have never read any of the Talmud, nor understand the implications.
There are a few Jewish sects that reject the Talmud such the Karaites, but they are a tiny percentage of the Jewish population. When people say Judaism, whether they realize it of not, they are referring to Talmudic Judaism as it's overwhelmingly the most practiced form. It's completely at odds with Christianity, and continues the Pharisee practices Christ condemned, which is why I reject the term Judeo-Christian.
To me, using the term "Judeo-Christian" is a blatant violation of the first commandment and demeaning to the finished work of Christ The King. I am not a member of a hyphenated polytheistic Church, but am one in the body of Christ only. I have zero Judeo values because my values stem from an eternal trinity. I'm sure the Reformers would find the term appalling and any cemetery teaching "Judeo-Christian theology" ranks up there with the ones teaching wokeness.
IMO, there's been a deliberate attempt to link the two to play on the empathetic nature of Christians into supporting Zionism. After the Holocaust, it was ramped up exponentially. Pointing out such things as Jesus' extremely harsh words towards the Pharisees (and by extension Talmudism) was no longer allowed in polite society.
Couple that with Dispensational theology regarding the restoration of Israel, and it's a confusing mess. It leads Christians to unthinkably extreme positions such as supporting the bombing of Palestinian civilians which goes against virtually everything Christ taught regarding kindness to others.
What's amazing is Dispensationalism is a relatively new biblical interpretation only being around 200 years or so. It was not taught by Augustine, Jerome, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin and so many other fathers of the faith. Yet it's now used to rationalize wicked behavior when it comes to the modern state of Israel.
How many people that got firebombed in Dresden in WW2 were Christians? Obviously I can go much, much farther down that track, but the Americans and British bombed the whole city, not just the military targets,
and almost all the population of Dresden were Christians.
Israel is making some attempts to let the civilians leave, giving warnings before shelling, and putting soldiers in harms way to take fuel to the hospitals.
Evil acts by one nation (i.e. firebombing civilians in Dresden) does not absolve other nations of the same. I don't mean to be harsh, but this is a pretty basic logical fallacy.
If you are going to defend the actions of Israel then do it based on a consistent logical and moral argument. Your statement is the equivalent of a child telling a parent, "well he did it first!".
The problem with all of this is that people have never really thought deeply about what they are supporting, and are simply reacting at an emotional level.
Edit: One can make the argument that firebombing Dresden was the lesser of two evils (i.e. compared to prolonging the war) but that doesn't make it a noble act. Slaughtering tens of thousands of civilians is the definition of evil under just about any moral code, it certainly is in Christianity.
Many people seem to think Israel is uniquely evil somehow, and not deserving to exist. I was just saying that is not the case. There is plenty of room for criticism, even condemnation, of their current actions in Gaza.
Many, many of those nasty "Palestinians" we're supposed to support bombing are Christians.
Think about the irony - we're told to support the Jewish nation which killed Christ, over the Christian civilians they're killing today.
According to Al Jazeera, only 800 to 1000 Christians live in Gaza. I'd certainly hope Western nations would take them in. They are in a lot of danger from fellow Gazans.
Well I don't blame them for Christ's death as that was part of God's plan as was needed for the vicarious atonement. What I do have a problem with is conflating Talmudic Judaism with its endless legalism, along with Zionism with its claims of racial superiority, with Biblical Christianity. They could not be more different.
As to those Palestinian Christians, extensive DNA testing has shown they are the genetically closest population group to the Israelites of the Bible. They are likely ancestors of the original Jewish converts to Christianity. Ashkenazi Jews on the other hand, are genetically quite distant. People really need to rethink their assumptions.
I do not understand why so many people care whether Jews are descendants of Jews who lived in Israel in the 1st century AD. Religion is a personal belief!
Because some Christian Dispensationalists hinge their extreme (and there is no other word for it) support for the modern state of Israel in their belief it is the restoration of "Israel" prophesied in the book of Revelation. It's incredibly important, particularly when they try and guilt other Christians into unconditional Israel support with Bible quotes.
I suppose there is <some> logic to that. But does it make a difference if 30% of the Jews in Israel have lineage tracing back to 1st century Jews in Israel (which I think would be a safe lower bound), or 80%? Also I would imagine that the great majority of what are called Ashkenazi Jews have some ancestors from Israel, they can't ALL be purely descended from the Khazars or other converts.
I agree completely and don't mean to blow this out of proportion. I really don't care if the residents of Israel can be traced back to the Israelites or not, but I do care about how Israel behaves and how the US supports it.
Many Christians (including powerful ones such as our brand new House Speaker) believe that today's Israeli state is the prophesied restoration, therefore we must always support them. They throw out Bible passages like, "I will bless those who bless you (Israel), and him who dishonors you I will curseā (Gen. 12:1ā3). They use this to give Israel a metaphorical blank check.
Israel then behaves in the worst possible way, typically killing ten times the number of people in retaliation for the victims of a terror attack. Of course, the overwhelming majority of those killed in retaliation had absolutely nothing to do with the original attack and huge numbers are children. Israel justifies this with dehumanizing language such as referring to them as subhuman filth and that they are all collectively guilty.
Obviously this runs completely counter to Jesus' teaching regarding how we are to treat others. Yet Christians support this and even cheer it on based on a group of highly ambiguous Bible passages. If we are going to ignore Christ's teaching and rationalize away killing innocent people we better be damn sure we have our Bible interpretation right.
When people start really digging into this (as opposed to just parroting what their Pastor told them) they find 1) prior to around the year 1800 churches did not teach this prophesy meant a literal "Israel" but symbolically referred to the church as the new Israel and that 2) the great majority of those in the Israeli state are not genetically close to the Israelites of the Bible. These are two huge warning flags that this Bible interpretation is wrong. Yet people go on mindlessly saying things like "God's chosen people" to justify the killing.
God will judge our country (and us) harshly for cheering on the slaughter of innocent people. Not only that, He gave us a brain for a reason and expects us to use it. One day we will have to answer to Jesus for this, and trying to blame it on a bunch of lazy bible interpretations probably won't be well received.
"What I do have a problem with is conflating Talmudic Judaism with its endless legalism, along with Zionism with its claims of racial superiority, with Biblical Christianity. They could not be more different."
Me too. But I get the same shaking-my-head-at-the-ignorance feeling as I did when my fellow Americans were all rejoicing at bombing Saddam Hussein's people back to the stone age.
As I said on Oct. 9, I cannot believe how quickly so many of us went from "End the Forever Wars" to "Wipe Gaza Clean of Palestinians." I don't hate Jews. I don't hate Muslims. I don't hate anyone except maybe the people who are manipulating the gullible into atrocities.
Well said.
Itās true translation from the Hebrew is āThou shall not murderā. Big difference. You can kill in self defense, as a soldier in war as well.
I read her book 10 years ago. Highly recommend. Front row to Islamic fundamentalism and the lengths they will go to. She was a victim of female castration by her own family, she became involved in European politics and shares this is how islam is playing their long game to take over west, via our own political system- ala, get out the vote & all, yāall!
You bring up a point which has been puzzling to me. Genital mutilation of young females was once denounced by celebrities (and others) in this country. Now it is celebrated. It's a shame these people can't recognize their own insanity.
I still wondering where all that crazy trans stuff came from.
Same place it all comes from, the Khazarian mafia. Remember the 1 / 2 / 3 tenants of implementing communism. Destroy religion. Destroy the family. Destroy private property. Also works pretty good for population control
Straight from the pit of hell, I'd say.
I used to post stuff against FGM on FB. Not one response on any of my posts ever.
Yeah, I regularly post about vaccines on FB. I rarely get more than 1 or 2 responses. People just don't care. Meanwhile, I just heard the third ambulance come by our house today. We live on a main road in a semi-rural area and it seems like ambulances go by every day now. I know the population has increased, but I can't help but think some of the increased number of ambulance calls are due to vaccine induced heart attacks or other adverse events. We needn't worry, however. As one of my church friends told me awhile back, "I had all my vaccines and I'm fine!" No matter what is happening to others, as long as she is fine, it's okay.
Seems like the only ones who care about the vaccinated are the unvaccinated!
Forced mutilation is an abomination. Choosing to mutilate is a cause for celebration. Just. Awful.