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A.M. stands for “Ante Meridiem,” which is Latin for “Before Midday”; P.M. stands for “Post Meridiem,” which is Latin for “After Midday.” James

📸 Pic to go! Photo: Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images An American flag adorns the roof of an old barn in Princeton, Wisconsin.

I switched to Linux Mint years ago. My background is computers. I have recommended this to many people. They think it's a crazy idea. People don't like to change. Okay fine. Then live with your windows problems. But sooner or later, you are going to be using Linix. It's the number one OS in the world. Over 90% of all internet servers are Linux. All routers, cable modems, and most cell phones (Except Apple) are Linux. Google Chromebook's are Linux. Android is Linux. Microsoft is working on their own version of Linus. All those data centers they are building are Linux.

250 years, 47 presidencies Portraits: Salvatore Catalano America's 250 years have been divided into 47 presidencies, served by 45 men. A new exhibit in the lobby of Goldman Sachs' global headquarters in Manhattan brings each presidency to life. Salvatore Catalano — who calls himself an artist, illustrator and educator — pairs a portrait of each president with a hand-lettered quote that captures the man or era. 🖌️ Why it matters: "Most Americans can't name the presidents, much less tell you what they look like," Catalano tells Axios' Erica Pandey. "This was a labor of love." "Portraits are very important to me," adds Catalano, who has spent decades developing a distinctive style of color, shadow and light in portraiture. "We look at a list of names, but there's no color there. There's no brilliance, no blood." 💬 Zoom in: Sal, as he's known, used quotes from each president to inspire the style of the portrait. Here's a sampling from the first three and latest three presidents, shown above: George Washington: "Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." —From the first president's farewell address on Sept. 19, 1796. John Adams: "To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do." —From a letter Adams wrote to his daughter, Abigail, on March 17, 1777. Thomas Jefferson: "Where the press is free ... all is safe." —From a letter to close friend and political ally Charles Yancey on Jan. 6, 1816. Barack Obama: "We are the change that we seek." —From his speech after Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, 2008. Joe Biden: "The art of living is simply getting up after you've been knocked down." —From an event at the National Press Club on Aug. 1, 2007, during his 2008 candidacy. Donald Trump: "Our golden age has just begun." —From his second inaugural address. 🎨 "My job is to find things that nobody else knows about these people," Catalano tells us. "For Washington, I could have chosen something more recognizable, but this one struck me." Photo: Goldman Sachs 🖼️ The exhibit, featuring all 47 presidential portraits, flanked by two American flags — the 13-star Betsy Ross flag on the left and today's 50-star flag on the right — will remain on display in Goldman Sachs' lobby through August. After that, the portfolio will move to D.C.

Supreme Court upholds state laws banning transgender girls and women from school athletic teams WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams, in another setback for transgender people. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-athletes-school-teams-e01548be1fc0f574d9c274e077414075?

Well this is interesting... "Ten days ago, the LA City Council voted to start moving noncitizen voting toward the ballot. This week, the council ran away from it unanimously. What happened in between? The proposal had to be written down. Supporters said critics were overreacting. This was just the beginning of a conversation, they argued. The details would come later. Well, the details came later. And the details killed it. Last week, city staff returned with the actual language needed to move the measure forward. That is when the wheels came off the car. On Tuesday afternoon, the City Council unanimously voted to pull the proposal from the 2026 ballot and send it back for further study. This is how bad policy gets laundered through City Hall. Politicians vote for a vague concept wrapped in moral language. They tell voters not to worry because the details will be worked out later. Then, once the authority has been granted, the real policy is written by the same politicians and activists who avoided spelling it out before the election. That was the plan. It just did not survive contact with paper. The original council vote did not create noncitizen voting in LA, and it did not put noncitizen voting itself before voters. It started a process requiring city staff to come back with ballot language and a clearer explanation of what voters would be asked to approve. Once that happened, the obvious questions became impossible to dodge. Who exactly would qualify to vote — green card holders, DACA recipients, temporary visa holders, illegal aliens? How would voter registration work? How would voter information be protected? Would LA have to create an entirely separate election system at taxpayer expense? Those were not loose ends. They were the parts City Hall hoped voters would approve before anyone had to explain them. Who gets to vote is not a detail. Whether illegal aliens are eligible is not a detail. Whether LA must build a separate election system is not a detail. Whether voter registration data could become accessible to immigration authorities is not a detail. Those are the questions responsible lawmakers answer before they vote, not after. The council voted first and asked questions later — an outrageous way to handle something as fundamental as voting rights. Councilwoman Traci Park, who voted for the measure just two weeks earlier, eventually acknowledged the problem. Voters would not know what they were being asked to approve because the council itself did not yet know the answers. That admission should be stapled to every future attempt to revive this idea. Councilman John Lee raised a concern that should matter especially to the left. San Francisco, the only California city that has implemented a noncitizen voting program, warns noncitizen voters that information provided during registration could potentially become available to immigration authorities. In other words, the same activists who frame this as pro-immigrant could be encouraging noncitizens to place their personal information into a government voting database with consequences they may not fully understand. Supporters of the LA proposal wanted to rush ahead before answering even that basic question. Even the proposal’s author, Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez, appeared to recognize the political reality — acknowledging the need for more outreach and coalition building before bringing it back. Translation: The votes, the details and the coalition were not ready. That does not mean the idea is dead — supporters may come back in 2028 if they think the environment is friendlier. But this week’s unanimous retreat proves the original criticism was right. LA voters were being asked to sign a blank check. The controversial parts were being pushed past the election, where future councilmembers could decide later who would vote, how broad eligibility would be and how the system would operate. That is not transparency. That is government by bait-and-switch. Two weeks ago, the measure appeared headed toward the ballot. Today, it is not. The difference was not some sweeping new public debate or sudden discovery of principle inside City Hall. The difference was that the proposal finally had to be written down. And once it was, even the LA City Council could not defend it. If city leaders eventually bring noncitizen voting back, they should have the courage to tell the public exactly who would be eligible before the election takes place, not after. If they want illegal aliens voting in local elections, say so plainly and let voters decide that question directly. For now, the measure is off the 2026 ballot. The scheme is not dead. But LA City Hall just proved the critics right: Once the public could see what was actually being proposed, even the council could not stomach sending it to voters....." LA City Council tried to hide details of noncitizen voting — and failed

i combined running a antivirus to clean out the viruses (Avast), and a malware software (Malwarebytes)) to stop even non-viruses and was even running Norton Antivirus to compare and see what was coming up, as Norton seems to be the most effective, at least in comparisons. But lets see what everyone has..

I know what rejection of SOP looks like, we shall see at the end whether she was giving what was from God or what was from man.

Hobie, I understand EGW in light of what the Bible plainly says. I don't try to interpret Scripture in light of what EGW says. It is not unusual for people to do that, hence the confusion over issues such as this. If you read and thought about the Biblical evidence I presented in the above post and still prefer what you think Sr. White said, I'm sorry for that. The Bible is much easier to understand than what she said on this topic. I wish you well in your journey.

And there is more, but this should suffice to make the point..

Well lets read on in SOP, here is more from her writings.. "In describing the time when Jesus made the announcement of the plan of redemption to the unfallen angels, she writes that He told them that - He would leave all His glory in heaven, appear on earth as a man, humble Himself as a man, become acquainted in His own experience with the various temptations with which men would be beset, that He might know how to succour those who should be tempted. (Spiritual Gifts, Vol 1., p. 24.). This was difficult for the angels to accept, and they offered themselves as substitutes; but Jesus informed them that the life of an angel could not pay the debt for sin. He, however, assured them that they would have a part to play in the plan for man's redemption. Note carefully the words what Jesus Himself said would take place: Jesus also told them that they should have a part to act, to be with Him, and at different times strengthen Him. That He should take man's fallen nature, and His strength would not be even equal with theirs (ibid, p. 25; ). In the 1870s as Ellen White began to write more fully on the life and mission of Jesus Christ, comprehensive statements on the Incarnation appeared. Except for two articles on the subject of tithing, all the written material from her pen in the Review for the year 1874 was on the subject of the plan of redemption and the temptations of Christ. In these articles the following specific statements are to be found which define the nature of the humanity Christ took upon Himself in becoming man. The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeemer taking the place of fallen Adam.... What love! What amazing condescension! The King of glory proposed to humble Himself to fallen humanity! He would place His feet in Adam's steps. He would take man's fallen nature and engage to cope with the strong foe who (had) triumphed over Adam (R & H, Feb. 24, 1874). The Son of God humbled Himself and took man's nature after the race had wondered four thousand years from Eden and from the original state of purity and uprightness. Sin had been making its terrible marks upon the race for ages; and physical, mental, and moral degeneracy prevailed throughout the human family. When Adam was assailed by the tempter in Eden he was without the taint of sin. He stood in the strength of his perfection before God. All the organs and faculties of his being were equally developed, and harmoniously balanced. Christ, in the wilderness of temptation, stood in Adam's place to bear the test he failed to endure. Here Christ overcame in the sinner's behalf, four thousand years after Adam turned his back upon the light of his home. Separated from the presence of God, the human family had been departing every successive generation farther from the original purity, wisdom, and knowledge which Adam possessed in Eden. Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they existed when He came to earth to help man. In behalf of the race, with the weaknesses of fallen man upon him, He was to stand the temptations of Satan upon all points wherewith man would be assailed. . . . In what contrast is the second Adam as He entered the gloomy wilderness to cope with Satan single-handed. Since the fall the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength, and sinking lower in the scale of moral worth, up to the period of Christ's advent to earth. And in order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where he was. He took human nature, and bore the infirmities and degeneracy of the race. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us. He humiliated himself to the lowest depths of human woe, that he might be qualified to reach man, and bring him up from the degradation in which sin had plunged him (ibid., Jul), 28, 1874). The humanity of Christ reached to the very depths of human wretchedness, and, identified itself with the weaknesses and necessities of fallen man, while His divine nature grasped the Eternal. . Christ's work was to reconcile man to God through His human nature, and God to man through His divine nature (ibid., August 4, 1874). Because man fallen could not overcome Satan with his human strength, Christ came from the royal courts of Heaven to help him with His human and divine strength combined. Christ knew that Adam in Eden, with his superior advantages, might have withstood the temptations of Satan, and conquered him. He also knew that it is not possible for man, out of Eden, separated from the light and love of God since the Fall, to resist the temptations of Satan in his own strength. In order to bring hope to man, and save him from complete ruin, He humbled Himself to take man's nature, that, with His divine power combined with the human, He might reach man where he is. He obtains for the fallen sons and daughters of Adam that strength which it is impossible for them to obtain for themselves, that in His name they may overcome the temptations of Satan (ibid., August 18, 1874). How few can understand the love of God for the fallen race in that He withheld not His divine Son from taking upon Him the humiliation of humanity" (ibid., March 18, 1875). The victory gained was designed, not only to set an example to those who have fallen under the power of appetite, but to qualify the Redeemer for His special work of reaching to the very depths of human woe. By experiencing in Himself the strength of Satan's temptation, and of human sufferings and infirmities, He would know better how to succour those who should put forth efforts to help themselves (ibid.). In 1878, Ellen White wrote a letter to a young man setting Christ before him as the "great Exemplar." She quoted Hebrews 2:17 that "Christ was made like unto His brethren." Then she commented: “He felt both joy and grief as they feel. His body was susceptible to weariness, as yours. His mind, like yours, could be harassed and perplexed. If you have hardships, so did He. Satan could tempt Him. His enemies could annoy Him. . . . Jesus was sinless and had no dread of the consequences of sin. With this exception His condition was as yours. You have not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon Him, not a sorrow that His heart has not experienced. His feelings could be hurt with neglect, with indifferences of professed friends, as easily as yours. Is your pathway thorny? Christ's was so in a tenfold sense. Are you distressed? So was He. How well fitted was Christ to be an example.” (Letter 17, 1878) About this time, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, was published. In this volume a specific contrast between man's fallen nature and Christ's humanity is made. Ellen G. White wrote: Our Saviour identifies Himself with our needs and weaknesses, in that He became a suppliant, a mighty petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, to come forth invigorated and refreshed, braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil. His humanity made prayer a necessity and privilege (pp. 201-202; ). Commenting further on the prayer life of Jesus, she penned the following: He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with our needs, our weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity. He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are. Jesus endured agony which required help and support from His Father (ibid., pp. 508-509). As one reads the last two references, it would appear these statements are at variance with what had been written prior to, and contemporary, with these statements. There is neither conflict nor a contradiction when one understands how Ellen White understood and used the word "passion." The following paragraph illustrates her use and understanding of the word as well as the phrase - "the inclinations of the natural heart." It reads: No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must first be gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act, before passion can dominate over reason, or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for sin. ... Cast yourself, helpless, unworthy, upon Jesus, and claim His very promise. The Lord will hear. He knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart, and He will help in every time of need (op. cit., Vol. 5, p. 177; }. Another statement defining the nature of the humanity Christ assumed appeared in 1877. In this statement a clear distinction is made between "form" and "nature" as pertaining to fallen man, and what Christ accepted as a part of the plan devised by the Godhead for man's redemption. Christ accepted both the "form" and "nature" of fallen man. It reads: It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon Himself the form and nature of fallen man, that He might be made perfect through suffering, and Himself endure the strength of Satan's fierce temptation, that He might understand how to succour those that should be tempted (Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, p. 39;).

I think you need to reread what Kevin is saying! And also read what Hanseng posted!!

What he is saying is that Christ was not like us or man, so then Satan would have been right, man could not overcome sin. Satan would have rightly claimed that Christ was given a advantage we dont have, so Christ failed to overcome sin as man. We find it constantly in Ellen Whites writings, here is in Desire of Ages.. "Satan had pointed to Adam's sin as proof that God's law was unjust, and could not be obeyed. In our humanity, Christ was to redeem Adam's failure. But when Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body. He was surrounded with the glories of Eden, and was in daily communion with heavenly beings. It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation. Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then He could not have been placed in Adam's position; He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain. If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us. But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not endured. https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-desire-of-ages-da-12.htm

The gospel regarding Jesus' and death and resurrection is what saves people. Adventism's focus on the Law, which only condemn, as well as numerous other doctrines, aside from the gospel of forgiveness is a great tragedy.

Not a difficult problem to solve. Check numerous versions. Compare them. Look at the context. Unless you have knowledge of Greek to the point of being a textual critic, you are wading into waters way over your head. Even those who are fluent in the original languages can't agree on what the best translation is; consequently, we have so many versions. No Christian doctrine is dependent upon a single text. Some versions, such as the KJV, were intended for public reading; therefore, the translators sometimes chose different English words to translate the same Greek word because it sounded better. This is problematic for serious Bible study. Benjamin Wilkinson created a lot of confusion in SDA land. Jim Arrabito, a great artist and a gracious individual popularized Wilkinson's work in more modern times. The NT writers, including Jesus, quoted almost exclusively from the Greek Old Testament, which is mostly preserved in the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus. There are passages you can read in English translations of the Greek Old Testament which are very different from other English versions. Make things easy for yourselves. Use a KJV and compare it with the NRSV, NASB, ESV, and whatever other translations you like. Depend on the Holy Spirit to lead you into the truth after you have done your best.

How the Reformation’s radical claim about conscience shaped the founders’ case for unalienable rights The post The Priesthood of All Believers and the American Experiment appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the following essay from my friend Michael Peabody is very informative with regard to the faith that led up to these founding documents. If you enjoy Michael Peabody’s insightful essays, I encourage you to become a subscriber to his web site: RELIGIOUSLIBERTY.TV. His latest essay follows: […] The post The Faith that Informed America’s Founding Documents appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

Securing America’s 250th Flyovers, fireworks and huge crowds are all part of the nation’s birthday bash. But behind the festivities is one of the most complex security operations in recent memory.

Former Olympian indicted on felony charge over alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in what President Donald Trump has called vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where a renovation project he launched has been riddled with problems. https://apnews.com/article/reflecting-pool-arrest-felony-trump-renovations-vandalism-d946ccf6bfc5207d4c5380b9001b7c26?

🎈Pics to go: Aboard the Goodyear Blimp Photo: Christine Wang/Axios Axios media editor Christine Wang got a once-in-a-lifetime chance today to take to the skies aboard the Goodyear Blimp. That iconic craft — omnipresent over so many big sports matchups and other events — took Wang and others for an aerial tour of New York Harbor. New York Harbor as seen from the Goodyear Blimp. Photo: Christine Wang/Axios Wang writes: "There are few things that will convince me to overcome my fear of heights and trek out to a remote airfield sandwiched between salt marshes and Jamaica Bay in the middle of a heat wave." "But as a lifelong window seat enthusiast, there simply isn't a better view of New York. Every seat is both a window and aisle, with panoramic views around the entire passenger gondola." More on the blimp.

🤖 AI fuels record tech energy use Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Google and Amazon report record energy use and emissions amid the AI boom, Axios national energy correspondent Amy Harder writes. ⚡️ Google's electricity demand jumped 37% from last year, per its annual environmental report. Google's water consumption climbed nearly 35% to 10.9 billion gallons — more than double 2021's levels. Data centers accounted for most of the increase. 🏭 Amazon's greenhouse gas emissions rose more than 16% last year. The bottom line: These reports were once a chance for Big Tech to boast about clean energy and climate accomplishments. In the AI age, they're a reality check on those same ambitions. More on Google ... More on Amazon.

Highest July 4 gas in years Data: AAA. Chart: Ben Geman/Axios The average gallon of regular gasoline costs $3.84 nationally as of this morning, Axios' Ben Geman reports from AAA data. That's lower than a few weeks ago. But it's by far the highest price heading into the July Fourth weekend since 2022, when the national average was $4.80 on the holiday itself. ⛽️ Gas price politics are tricky. The price surge during the Iran war, which started at the end of February (charted above), could hurt Republicans in November midterms. But the trajectory has been sharply downward in recent weeks, after prices peaked at $4.56 per gallon in May. 👀 What we're watching: President Trump this week issued a vague threat of "big problems" for gasoline retailers unless stations cut prices faster. He also said a handful of "Freedom Fuel Network" gas stations around the Philly area would slash prices tomorrow. Go deeper.

Not sure what you mean by this You can't mean that Jesus had the law of sin working in his humanity. Romans 7 is very clear that it is impossible to not sin when one is comprised of that nature. Paul say in chapter 8 that he had the "likeness of sinful flesh." He looked like every other sinful being. Adam possessed a human nature minus the law of sin, yet he still sinned. He made a choice without a predisposition to sin, something that none of us can do. We are predisposed to sin. As Job put it, we go astray as soon as we are born. Jesus was not like that. If you think that EGW believed and taught that Jesus possessed a nature exactly like ours, subject to the law of sin, either you misunderstand her or she was wrong. Paul, Barnabas, and Elijah had a nature like ours, evinced by the translation "like passions." Scripture does not say that Jesus had "like passions" with ours.

libertymuseum.netlify.app The post Virtual American Religious Liberty Museum Opens Today appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article