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I think the example of prayer that Jesus Himself gave: "The LORD's Prayer" is a good answer to praying in the name of Mary or to any other now dead "saint". We pray TO God the Father, saying "forgive us our trespasses". So Jesus was telling us to ASK God the Father FOR forgiveness. John 16:23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." (NKJ) John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 14:13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

The parable of the vineyard occurs in a context that shows Jesus was not talking about the nation of Israel as the wicked husbandmen, but rather it was the wicked leaders of Israel that would be replaced. Jesus started the parable quoting/paraphrasing from Isaiah: Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, And planted it with the choicest vine, And built a tower in the midst of it, And also made a winepress therein: And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, And it brought forth wild grapes. ( Isaiah 5:1-2 ) Five verses later in Isaiah 5 it says: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah his pleasant plant ( Isaiah 5:7 ) Very clearly, the context from the Old Testament shows that the nation of Israel is represented by the vineyard itself, rather than by the husbandmen. The people were familiar with this Old Testament passage, so they knew what Jesus was talking about. Unfortunately, Christians are often not familiar with the Scriptures that Jesus used, so they often misunderstand what Jesus taught. The New Testament context also shows that it was not the nation of Israel that would be replaced. The story of this parable is found in Matt 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-19. In all three accounts it tells us that the reaction of the leaders to this parable was different than the reaction of the common people. The parable held only good news for the common people of Israel represented by the vineyard itself, but it was bad news for the leaders who were supposed to be caring for that vineyard. All three accounts also tell us that the leaders knew that that the parable was about themselves. Let's look at those: And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. (Matt 21:45-46) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders ... And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. (Mark 11:27 and Mark 12:12) And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. (Luke 20:19) Your interpretation is not supported by Scripture. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament disagree with you. However, the man-made traditions of the Jew-hating church of the Roman empire agree with your interpretation.

So much hate, so little truth.

if i refuse the drawing of the Holy Spirit , if i reject the grace provided that i might live i will perish. it is not complicated. If i harden my heart rather than allow the Spirit to make it tender towards God and towards those he died for.... if i reject the eternal Life God offers me then since i am a creature i cannot to sustain myself i will perish. repentance is one of the gifts God has to give us, like faith....the Holy Spirit, and hope... and love... eternal life, wisdom, and more.... these are gifts... if i refuse the gifts i am without. In the gift of Christ is given to everyone in the world every gift. Our experience of God is progressive advancing all the time... giving and receiving... more and more...

The Rosary of Mary begins with the "Sign of the Cross" and the "Apostle's Creed". It ends with the "Hail Holy Queen" prayer. It has beads for 6 "Our Father" prayers, and 53 "Holy Mary" prayers, and 5 "Fatima" prayers. Repeating the prayers of the Rosary is often assigned as "penance" by the priest to whom confession was made. BIBLE: "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words" (Matthew 6:7 NKJ).

Hmmmm. Makes you wonder - if Peter was infallible like later Popes - how Paul could rebuke him to his face.

Yes, but it doesn't say to go to so and so and confess to him or her, for what you did to so and so. You still need to confess to Jesus not some person who has nothing to do with what was done! In my way of thinking, if I did something to you, lets say, I not only confess to Jesus, but I need to go to you and say I'm sorry! Even if you don't forgive me, Jesus will!

I hope this doesn't get turned into a Catholic-bashing thread. The roots of the SDA church isn't without its wrong teachings. How would we like for Catholics to start pointing out all the mistakes believed and practiced by early (and current) Adventists? Not much, I suspect. (I come from this perspective because I have a number of relatives, including two close cousins, who are Catholics priests. They don't consider themselves to be "God's voice" because their title is "Father Bob", anymore than my SDA brother whose title is "Elder T." considers himself as God's voice.) **back to topic** .... I guess...

The doctrine which says that Mary the Mother of Jesus was sinless Answer: Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NKJ) The doctrine that Mary was taken to Heaven after her death, and now intercedes for believers Answer: 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, (NIV) NOTE: I'm looking for simple Bible here - not an exegesis.

Afraid of government? No. Distrustful? Yes. That is as it should be. The old quote, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" is very true. Government lives to enlarge its powers and increase its control over its citizens. That is why apathy about how government works, and the desire for government to "take care" of us are so destructive and dangerous. Both allow government to grow into forms dangerous to liberty.

And that is exactly what I cited as the authority behind her words. This is a scriptural test, stated repeatedly from Genesis to Revelation, that all things must be revealed by at least two or three independent prophetic witnesses. Your message does not pass this test.

actually, quite a number of physicians are armed at medical centers and in their private practices... and it may be against hospital policy, but they *still* carry them, either in a shoulder holster or ankle holster. On a couple occasions while working in the ER, we were most grateful for that fact, as the armed presence saved lives.

Although true, the specific issue with the ISIS situation is this administration's inability to stop ISIS. Of course the military knew of the training camps and did not act on them but an act of terrorism conveniently provided France opportunity to 'show' force in retaliation. Not intending to debate how I personally feel about the handling of ISIS but my opinion is it is all a sham. We must be using ISIS for some sort of means to some unknown ends.