Leaderboard

Several imperfect analogies help to understand the idea of God's foreknowledge in that does not eliminate our free will. It is like a chess master knowing from each move you make, the many ways the game will end. He has a game plan to win and knows the moves that will get him to that end at each move you make. Each time you move it either plays into his plan or causes a recalculation on his part to recalibrate his plan to win. If he has played with you before, he will know better how to predict what moves you are most likely to make in a given situation and therefore more precisely predict the series of moves that will end the game. Another analogy is that it is like a fairly sophisticated computer program, perhaps a computer game with multiple outcomes. Each choice you make the program knows what decision tree of choices will get you to the end goal. Someone who knows the program very well can watch you play and predict how it will turn out at certain critical junctions. A variant of this that many of us experience is how a GPS works. You set your current location and destination and the mapping algorithm can offer multiple paths to the destination. Not heading its instructions will cause it to recalculate to either get you back on course or map an alternate. You will arrive at your destination, maybe not in the best time or shortest route, but you will arrive. I recall only stumping a GPS once to the point it "gave up" and quit giving me alternatives or rerouting instructions. I intentionally disregarded it knowing that their would be a point at which there would be no alternatives to get where I needed to go with the parameters I had set. Open theism gives room for a very wise God knowing how every choice or event or situation alters the course of human and individual history and what it will take to keep things moving inevitable toward His ultimate goal to save mankind. Each choice we make will either confirm His planned course of events for us or cause Him to make a recalculation. Unlike the limitations of the GPS, He can always find a viable alternative. I may not be easy or smooth sailing, but He can show us a path to our destination. He just have to trust his directions.

​when Adam named the animals and birds, Eve had not yet been created... The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. Gen 2:20 there are occasions in the Bible where the mother named the child... And then [Leah] had a daughter and she named her Dinah. Gen 30:21 Apparently, this indicates that women could also be leaders, if one follows the theory in the above quote.

It's not that our people don't need to understand the deep-in-dept " words of the Bible" or that they lack the intellectual ability to understand the deep meanings. But most of the people I visit with need the messages which help them in their daily walk. Not just to start day with prayer and meditation, but HOW is this important? HOw is it going to help me get through the day? What good does it do me? How can I make it to Heaven when I have difficulties getting through the day? It is a current trend to dig deeper, to discover new meaning, etc. IMHO, it is important to teach and preach the message in a practical day-to-day message. If it can't help us in our daily life it really doesn't matter if we can fully explain the 2300 day prophecy.

It's a bit of a hypothetical in that we can't run a separate 'control' history of Iraq for the past 12 years, but it seems to me as though without the chaos of the invasion, it is far less probable that this group would/could have arisen. In the context of the question "Was the invasion a mistake?", surely that's relevant. Even leave aside what was known in advance: knowing what we know now, it seems pretty hard to maintain, as some seem to want to, that it was not a mistake.

Good for Ben. I hope he keeps on scoring high in these polls. He's very low on the totem poll as far as money to run on goes, so if he keeps on scoring high in this type of thing it's going to show just how well-liked his message is. I'll vote for him, no doubt about it.

Did Paul use satire?

​The church does have a system for new light, starting with the local pastor and potentially going to the GC in Session. I think the brethren need to be convinced by Scriptural arguments. The problem at the moment is that both sides are using the Bible but with opposite conclusions. In Acts 15 those opposed were convinced when they heard stories of how the Holy Spirit had fallen on the Gentiles, and then by Scripture prophesing the inclusion of the Gentiles.

No appetite at all for this discussion, eh?

Well, we have finished the race. Sharon ran with me, probably to be available to summon aid if I had heart attack. I did not! J That attached photo [If I can figure how to attach a photo.] is of both of us, taken after the race was over and in our running clothes. I have been in training for the past year and running on a treadmill. Generally I have done the 10K, on a treadmill in 80 – 90 minutes. Well, an actual race is much different. Running with 50,000 + people makes it different! Running, even on small hills of Boulder, makes it different. But, I finished the race in 92 minutes and 37 seconds, official time. So, I am overall pleased. However, based on today, I do not think it reasonable for me to attempt to run in the Boston Marathon, or any other marathon. Sharon slipped ahead of me at the finish line in an attempt to get a photo of me running at the end. So, she finished 2 seconds faster than I. She could have done it quicker, but she wanted to stay with me. Good. There is nothing like entering the stadium at the finish line and see multiple tens of thousands of people cheering you on. [NOTE: There were more than 50,000 others people running at the same time.) J Well, it is over. Thirty years ago I ran in a 5 K. Until now I had never run in any other race, and actually my performance was simply a brisk walk. But, for a 74 year-old man, I guess that is my limit. If you want to, you can look up the official results, they are now posted on the Internet. You can see where I placed over all among the 50,000+ as well as the official times. Google “bolderboulder” and go to the 2015 results icon. The code for me is <NB605>. For Sharon it is <NB606>. NOTE: Official photos taken of Sharon and I (during the race) will be posted on the Internet at a later time. Gregory Matthews

​i don't think we have headship roles in the denomination. Jesus is the head of the body, we are members of the body of Christ according to the various Gifts God has given in the Church. Romans 12. Humble Service in the Body of Christ 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

​I answered the above yesterday, now it is gone! I really do not care for this software....

The reason for the word study - "Nothing can perfect a perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance." - MR 331, p 371. "Unity in diversity among God's children--the manifestation of love and forbearance in spite of difference of disposition--this is the testimony that God sent His Son into the world to save sinners." - SD 286.2

How is that achieved in relationships, families, communities - the Church? Word for the day - forbearance. Let's consider its dictionary meaning - patient self-control; restraint and tolerance the quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due Tolerance and restraint in the face of provocation; patience. ​Synonyms - tolerance, patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude, stoicism; leniency, clemency, indulgence; restraint, self-restraint, self-control

Uniformity is quite the same as unison. Imagine all the great music of the world, your favorite music. What would it be if it could only be sung, performed in unison? By only one instrument, or one part by one voice? The difference to me between uniformity and unity is contrasting the above with unity as harmony in music. Many voices, many instruments, playing/singing different notes, even at different rhythm or timing. The music comes alive in a beauty of harmony. A well tuned and practiced orchestra or choir singing/performing different parts becomes one in perfect unity of harmonious music. That is unity.

​Yes we have to bring in the grandkids and see the nutritionist every few months. And they ask about what they eat, etc. Than as I've mentioned on a few other posts they fill out a report and let us know what food we can buy and its loaded on the card or on the checks when we lived in Massachusetts. I believe they do a great job.

Drug testing is not wrong- I would say whatever works for the state. Food limits are complicated- like popcorn is healthy for example- so if they are going to do them they should have a nutritionist weigh in on what is junk food IMO and since some people cannot eat certain foods. WIC already has a bunch of appropriate restrictions and is for infants and young children and pregnant and nursing moms and it has worked fine. Incidentally WIC saves a lot of money in preventing complications from sick or malnourished infants and strongly teaches no drugs. It also teaches pregnant moms should not smoke or drink and saves infant lives.

There seems to be such a hatred for those who need help...

When I was an ABC manger I told the staff to discount food and books my 10% to those who were on assistance, I wanted to let them know that their Church was behind them in their struggles.. sure some took advantage, other wept.. If we are going to err, we need to err on the side of compassion..

Those on the snap program using EBT cards,like a debit card can purchase anything except pet food,cleaning and personal hygiene products.There are many grandparents that have stepped up and taken their grandchildren. How much better for them than foster homes. My brother at 74 is raising two of his great grandchildren.He and his wife did adopt them so they do receive some from my brothers SS. However that doesn't take care of raising those two especially when they have to foot the insurance which has now gone sky high. He is still driving over the road until these two are grown Most senior citizens would find it very tough going trying to raise another family on SS without help. Food stamps are intended to provide needed nutrition for families. There isn't anything that is needed for nutrition in much of what is purchased. Assistance is not a dirty word until it is abused and it is often.

​Wow, really?? I get food stamps. We got custody of our grandkids and we definitely need the extra money and foodstamps. I'm retired and we only get so much!! So what's your point??