JosephM

Thanks Thomas for answering my question.

It seems to me, that if one esteems or believes in his/her heart that something (such as an act) is a sin and then engages in it, to him it is most definitely a sin. That act includes homosexuallity regardless of the words found in ones religious book or guide. Joseph

Software upgraded to Invision Community v4.4.7 today. Please report any possible new problems that may arise. Thanks, Joseph

I thought it might be good for people to share any nuggets in this thread that they have gleamed from life and personally witness to. Whether from he Bible, other books or just personal experience. Here are a few examples i can personally relate to. * When you live strictly for the future and then achieve your goals, they don't satisfy you for long. When you give more attention to the doing than to the future result you want, your doing becomes more effective, fulfilling and joyful. *In pure awareness of your thoughts is found the power to change them and transform your life. * Situations don't make you unhappy even though there may be physical pain. Rather, your thoughts and interpretations and the stories you tell yourself about it make you unhappy. Got any that witness to you? Joseph

Personally, i really appreciate having the NT text to read and study. Having said that i feel compelled to agree with Paul that the total accuracy of the gospels is in fact, not be there and there is evidence even within the NT itself that the recorded writings as they exist today are found lacking in accuracy without looking outside itself.. Yet as i have said before, there is much recorded in there , whether accurately recorded or not that speak to me and witness to me and my personal experience as true statements. Other books have done likewise. The NT, in my opinion, is a powerful and helpful text but only those portions that can be, and if applied, verified by its application. I would be interested in your (Thomas) perspective of what you see exactly as the Jesus "gist' . Joseph

A special thanks to SteveS55 a continuing sponsor who has just sponsored a month for this coming year. That leaves 7 months left to sponsor. Any takers? Joseph

Paul has taken 2 months and I have taken 2 months. That leaves 8 months left to sponsor. Any takers? Joseph

As site owner I am again looking for 11 other Members besides myself wishing to sponsor a month to take us to September of next year. As Site Sponsor you will receive some special perks for 1 year. Our hosting fees runs $20 per month and to keep the site operating without being a burden on a single person (PaulS or myself). The site depend on the generosity of Site Sponsors. No pressure but if you find this site useful in any way or wish to help keep this a resource for internet guests and use by members your donation of a month fee would be appreciated. As a perk you receive.... * "Site Sponsor" in your avatar to indicate you are a Site Sponsor and helping to financially support this forum's mission by helping to bear the cost of one months Internet hosting fee (presently 20.00/month) * Flood control limitations removed from your searches * Increased post editing time from 30 to 60 minutes * Increased number of posts allowed in a 24 hour period to 100 * Can view who gave reputation points and some other limits increased. *Access to a Private Site Sponsors Sub-Forum (not visible to the public or regular members where you can talk more openly to other sponsors and have a say concerning the operation of this forum. * Free advertisement of a book or paper you authored displayed for 12 months as an image with a link to a purchasing site THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. You can PayPal at jmattioli@hotmail.com or PM me for where you can send a check if you are interested, able and willing to help support your forum and its mission by being a Site Sponsor for a year by making a one time $20.00 donation. There is no requirement to do so to be a member of this community . Please note that if you are outside the US it would be necessary to use paypal as our bank charges an outrageous fee for cashing out of country checks. Again PayPal your support to jmattioli@hotmail.com Thanks, Joseph Mattioli (JosephM), TCPC Discussion Board Owner/Administrator

It does seem to me that declaring war on something often strengthens it rather than defeats it. That is the limit of any contribution i might have on this subject other than i do not know.

Society sets up its rules/laws for its people to live by. That is its function. Forgiveness doesn't judge . Choices when operating in society has consequences. Fair / unfair is subjective and relative. Knowing this we live by the wisdom granted us for whatever reason , withhold personal judgement , walk in the spirit of forgiveness and make choices in relation to that wisdom given us . I do not fault the other who has not yet evolved to the consciousness level of Love for all. Wisdom tells me to help those who are ready and i have been given the power to help, avoid those that are motivated by levels of consciousness that are far from the spirit of Love and are not seeking help, and leave earthly judgement to society rules and those placed in a power to do so.

Paul, I don't know. What do you think?

Forgiveness doesn't negate choices and consequences. Forgiveness sees the humanity and capability for poor choices in all of us. It sees mans internal battle with the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life which are heavily influenced by conditioning and chooses to withhold personal judgement on things because one see the same potential in all of us. When we see clearly it is my experience that if i were born with the same exact genetics, life experiences etc. etc. i would be no different than the other.

You can reference it ----->HERE ..... It was not meant to comment on in sermons

BTW Burl - Nice video ... short and to the point. Paul, I think it would be safe in context to read that as .... Don't be overly concerned with what you shall eat or drink or wear. There are much more important things in life that need to be addressed. Worrying about such things won't add time to your life. Rather seek the kingdom of God which is within you. If we were overwhelmed with people here that our infra structure wouldn't support we would all lose and not be able to do the good we are presently doing . Also i don't believe Jesus would have forced people to give or force people to allow unrestrained immigration. The United States is often considered the most generous country in the world. Why? Because Americans donate a lot of money. Its people, its foundations and its companies donated roughly $410 billion in 2017 -- or about 2.1% of its own GDP. In fact, the amount Americans donated was more than the entire GDP of all but about 40 countries in the world. Austrailia is also a most generous country ( in the top 5) and if they opened their borders (unlimited) to all who wished to come, i don't believe it would remain so for long.

Paul, Not all say No to those in need but we have no right to force others to say yes that are unwilling. We know not exactly why we were born into what people consider more favorable conditions than the other and while i have compassion and do what i can willingly to help those who live in poverty, feeling guilty for that which i have no control over is not an option with me. You are welcome to feel guilty if you wish but i see no benefit for you nor the other in doing so. Also we do allow those who are seeking a better life into our country but as Thomas said they have to be vetted and it done in a legal and orderly fashion. Many are saying they are seeking asylum here and we cannot handle effectively handle the large droves of them and are finding they are using that loophole in our system as an excuse. They are coming from Honduras and Guatemala and we are now requiring them to seek asylum in the other countries they must pass through first since they use the asylum card to enter. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children now number approximately 89.4 million people, or 28 percent of the overall U.S. population, according to the 2018 Current Population Survey (CPS). So , you see we are not turning our back on those seeking a better life. Our infrastructure can only handle so many at a time or everyone loses.

Done. (JosephM)

Taxes were not meant for welfare in the US. Here is a short great writing on welfare and the use of taxes compiled from a speech in Congress by the famous American Davy Crockett. It seems to me to be worth reading by every American to the very end. http://www.101bananas.com/library2/crockett.html

I don't think it is the governments job to bankroll those less fortunate as it forces all to pay and some against their will to give. Personally i handle charity to the less fortunate as an individual through organizations and sometimes personally. Giving the power to government to take from all and to give where it see fit is to me dangerous and tempts corruption in high places. Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a useful servant but a fearful master. (George Washington ???) Paul said: To me, Love is neither letting all enter the country unchecked nor limiting those who can enter. Self sacrifice for others is an individual thing. It seems to me, there is nothing stopping one that is able to assist others by self-sacrifice from doing so except oneself. If one feels an unction to share everything with others much less fortunate there are many communes and other ways to accomplish such. Christian is not a term to judge another's choices but rather a walk or journey or process one strives toward. I have only had glimpses of understanding on why the poor are with us always but i can with some surety tell you that if everyone divided up their assets and shared all with everyone else at this time ... the poor and less fortunate will still be with us. In other words sharing all is not the answer for the poor or less fortunate . It seems to me good to be thankful for what one has and do what is in your fortitude and ability to do to the best of your understanding and let the other do the same.

Paul, I moved your post to this from sermons thread as that is not the place for dialog so i will answer it here. (JosephM) When one is put in a place of judgement such as a job to sit as judge for alleged criminals it is not in the spirit of self judgement. Although it is possible that a judge might use that spirit if he is not careful to separate himself from the job. IE: Jesus didn't tell the soldiers to give up their jobs nor the publicans that came to him but rather it is recorded in Luke 3:12-14 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. To those in the criminal justice system it seems to me he would have advised similarly to do the job they were appointed to do honestly, and impartially without hate, anger or malice.

Sin defined - an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. The strength of sin is the law according to the NT. If one chooses to live under the law, there is sin. To live in Christ is to not live under the law but rather under grace. One could say as Paul in the NT is quoted saying ... " For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Romans 7:8-9)" Without eating from the dichotomy of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (the law) sin was in the world but where there is no law, sin is not imputed Romans 5:13). To live in harmony with the whole is to be free of the law where sin is dead. (doesn't exist) One doesn't have to believe or not believe in sin. One can deny it exists, however, its consequences that bring guilt and condemnation and judgement even if one is not conscious of what is happening is real. It happens when you either accept written law and then in some way violate it yourself or make your own which becomes an unwritten law in your heart. That is why Jesus advocated forgiveness and non judgement because as i have confirmed through personal experience.... with what measure you measure, you are measured .... as you judge, you will be judged ....as you forgive, you shall be forgiven. These are part of the built in justice system of the whole. Just musing, Joseph PS More detail on condemnation HERE

Interesting article but i personally have a problem in believing that the Bible is a story that God is telling. It seems to me it is more a story the men who wrote it are telling based upon their imperfect understanding of God at that point in time. Certainly, there are life changing passages that when received and practiced can point to the living word that can transform one. The word of God to me in no way, shape or form is the letters written on a piece of paper or stone. My personal experience is some of the words written in the Bible do a good job of pointing to that within each of us that is capable of that transformation, as do many other books.

Thomas, It's just no big deal. (unless of course it affects your wishes) Wake up to reality and get over it or just call all countries that do it wrong. . https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-us-intervention-foreign-elections-20161213-story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/10/13/the-long-history-of-the-u-s-interfering-with-elections-elsewhere/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_electoral_intervention One real life example concerning Russia - FYI "What many Russians, but few Americans, know is that 20 years before Russia tried to swing an American presidential election, America tried to swing a presidential election in Russia. The year was 1996. Boris Yeltsin was seeking a second term, and Bill Clinton desperately wanted to help. “I want this guy to win so bad,” he told Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, “it hurts.” Clinton liked Yeltsin personally. He considered him Russia’s best hope for embracing democracy and capitalism. And he appreciated Yeltsin’s acquiescence during nato’s march eastward, into the former Soviet bloc. Unfortunately for Clinton, ordinary Russians appreciated their leader far less. Yeltsin’s “shock-therapy” economic reforms had reduced the government’s safety net, and produced a spike in unemployment and inflation. Between 1990 and 1994, the average life expectancy among Russian men had dropped by an astonishing six years. When Yeltsin began his reelection campaign in January 1996, his approval rating stood at 6 percent, lower than Stalin’s. So the Clinton administration sprang into action. It lobbied the International Monetary Fund to give Russia a $10 billion loan, some of which Yeltsin distributed to woo voters. Upon arriving in a given city, he often announced, “My pockets are full.” Three American political consultants—including Richard Dresner, a veteran of Clinton’s campaigns in Arkansas—went to work on Yeltsin’s reelection bid. Every week, Dresner sent the White House the Yeltsin campaign’s internal polling. And before traveling to meet Yeltsin in April, Clinton asked Dresner what he should say in Moscow to boost his buddy’s campaign. It worked. In a stunning turnaround, Yeltsin—who had begun the campaign in last place—defeated his communist rival in the election’s final round by 13 percentage points." by Peter Beinart ( who is anti Trump) Professor of journalism at the City University of New York

Everyone to their own subjective opinion. I have nothing against Canada and am glad you are pleased with your country. I have been there and enjoyed my stay in the Banff and Lake Louise area. Sorry to hear you see our country local border as going into a prison. Personally I don't share that analogy As far as the positive Trump has done.... This is the cafe not a debate area and i seriously doubt there is anything i could say after reading your other comments and posts concerning him that would convince you otherwise than you seem to currently believe. Besides , it is fine with me for you and Thomas to make up your own mind. For me, I have seen positive things come from all the presidents during my lifetime. In my experience, Life is too short to focus on negatives. If you see no positives from the Trump administration that is okay with me. The majority of residents (100K+)in the Villages, Florida would disagree with you. Still, as i said everyone to their own subjective opinion and there seems to be a lot of extremes on both ends when it comes to Trump , politics and religion. 🙂 PS. Since you seem to follow our politics, may i ask which Democrat you favor at this time to oppose Trump in 2020 and why?

I didn't realize i was defending anything or anything needed defending. I was merely stating my present agreement with what is. Yes, I was happy to have the information released regardless from where it came from. Are you so hung up on right and wrong that you need me to lie and say it was wrong that i was pleased to find out what the party and Hillary was up to because Russia was the hacker? Sorry but i just don't see things as black and white as it seems you do as right and wrong.

Good for you that you know the reality/facts concerning Trump.. Perhaps you can use use them wisely where they count. Russia is not my adversary. Personally i can't think of any i consider as such, however It seems to me sometimes something good or positive that can be used wisely can come from the least likely sources.even if one considers the source their adversary/enemy.