Out of the Blue

The weather has been exceptionally mild around here for the last week. This would be a welcome change from winter in general, even if it hadn't been preceded by a couple of snowstorms. After dealing with those storms, this lull is a real stroke of luck for me, as I aggravated the hell out of my shoulder when shoveling, so I needed a break. It's still sore because I keep lifting stuff as we slowly pack up the BlueTower, but it's starting to get better, and at least it's stopped waking me up when I roll over in my sleep. So... yay?

Sore Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
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Link: A modern space opera: has Star Wars escaped the George Lucas worldview?
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David Cassidy, dementia and his tragic family history.
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Stem Cell Transplants May Help Some With Multiple Sclerosis.
Media: People Are Awesome - Kids.
Cat attempts to steal a treat tossed to dog, regrets decision quickly.
Whatchu lookin' at brah?
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100 Replies. 5 pages. Viewing page 1.
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100.
 
Re: On Sale
Mar 1, 2017, 20:23
Kxmode
 
Re: On Sale Mar 1, 2017, 20:23
Mar 1, 2017, 20:23
 Kxmode
 
RedEye9 wrote on Feb 27, 2017, 15:12:
It really depends on the type of candy. ... Everyone knows that Dark chocolate is the only choice

That made me chuckle.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
99.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 27, 2017, 15:12
99.
Re: On Sale Feb 27, 2017, 15:12
Feb 27, 2017, 15:12
 
Beamer wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 09:38:
I do have to say, when I find out someone believes in Satan, like there's this big, evil end-boss out there "somewhere" who spends his time trying to corrupt us with the moral equivalent of spraypainting "FREE CANDY" on a panel van... yeah, I start to really wonder about that person.
It really depends on the type of candy. If it is milk chocolate based then it is definitely devilish.

  • Everyone knows that Dark chocolate is the only choice of virgin birthed zombies.

"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
98.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 27, 2017, 13:00
98.
Re: On Sale Feb 27, 2017, 13:00
Feb 27, 2017, 13:00
 
Kxmode wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 03:39:
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

Showing my age

It wasn't difficult to guess in the past but thanks
Avatar 51617
97.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 15:15
97.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 15:15
Feb 25, 2017, 15:15
 
Beamer wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 09:38:
I do have to say, when I find out someone believes in Satan, like there's this big, evil end-boss out there "somewhere" who spends his time trying to corrupt us with the moral equivalent of spraypainting "FREE CANDY" on a panel van... yeah, I start to really wonder about that person.

IMO, "Satan" is really just a convenient excuse to not take responsibility for the more selfish aspects of our natures, as well as to explain away all the random shit that happens in life.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
96.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 09:38
96.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 09:38
Feb 25, 2017, 09:38
 
I do have to say, when I find out someone believes in Satan, like there's this big, evil end-boss out there "somewhere" who spends his time trying to corrupt us with the moral equivalent of spraypainting "FREE CANDY" on a panel van... yeah, I start to really wonder about that person.
95.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 09:27
95.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 09:27
Feb 25, 2017, 09:27
 
Sepharo wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 05:35:
Our resident bible expert is not down with Jesus I guess.
Or reality.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
94.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 07:54
Kxmode
 
94.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 07:54
Feb 25, 2017, 07:54
 Kxmode
 
Sepharo wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 05:35:
Our resident bible expert is not down with Jesus I guess.

Oh, I am totally down with Jesus. He is after all my king.

The key difference is I do not worship him. I could totally see how that would seem strange. Jesus is king so I should worship him right? Well, not exactly. Jesus - like all the kings of Israeli - is anointed by Jehovah to rule His government. However, even in this position, Jesus said of himself in relation to Jehovah's organization, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, the one who you say is your God." (John 8:54) In other words, even though Jesus is in a very powerful position he still humbles himself before his Father, and he commands his followers to direct all their worship to Jehovah, Jesus' God and Father.

I find it fascinating that people still think Witnesses do not believe in Jesus or his deity. Of course, we do. He is called "Mighty God" at Isaiah 9:6. Feel free to correct me on this, but I think this is the only place in the entire Bible where the capitalize "God" applies to someone other Jehovah. However, given Jesus position, power, authority, and backing from Jehovah - and that incredibly painful death he went through - the uppercase "G" is well deserved! In contrast, Satan's rule of this world is acknowledged merely a "god." (2 Corinthians 4:4) His label dismisses him down to the lowest level among false gods. The word "god" in Hebrew has many meanings, but the word is reserved for individuals in positions of power and (or) authority. At Psalms 82:1 the judges of Israel were simply called "gods."

All that said, Jehovah is the only person in the Bible (and you will not see these words applied to anyone else) with the label "Almighty God." You cannot go any higher than Almighty. Well, maybe you could, but the word might be goofy: Super Duper Almighty? You start getting into Taco Bell level language.

Two scriptures:

(Psalm 83:18) May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

(Revelation 4:11) “You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.”

(Isaiah 42:8) "I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else, nor my praise to graven images."

If you notice in all three examples, Jehovah is singular, and his sovereignty and authority are his own. If I had to equate it to something earthly I would use the UK's government. Jehovah would be like Queen Elizabeth II (I am giggling at that thought; "Sorry, Jehovah!" ) and Jesus would be like prime minister Theresa May. Like the PM, Jesus is given a lot of power and freedom by his father, but he is subject to Jehovah's authority.

Hope that clarified.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
93.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 06:40
Kxmode
 
93.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 06:40
Feb 25, 2017, 06:40
 Kxmode
 
jdreyer wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 04:44:
Kxmode wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 03:39:
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

Showing my age

Never gonna give you up, KX.

Thanks. You shouldn't have. Really. Wacko
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
92.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 06:30
Kxmode
 
92.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 06:30
Feb 25, 2017, 06:30
 Kxmode
 
BobBob wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 16:51:
I wonder which of you fears death more and who will be happy or scared at his/her deathbed. After all, it's what likely defines our individual existence in the end -- life unto death.

Death is death. Everyone fears it. Even Witnesses. The reason? "God has . . . put eternity in their heart." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Unlike animals and plants, we are the only beings who are both aware of our mortality and fear it. However, in contrast to the plants and animals, only we sinned against God. Well, not you and I per say, but via Adam's willful disobedience and inherited sinful imperfection. (Romans 5:12)

Humans were never designed to die, and death was never in Jehovah's blueprints for people. Death is quite literally unnatural despite society's view of it. Think about the words at Genesis 1:26, where, to Jesus (his "master builder" [1 Corinthians 3:10; Proverbs 8:30]), Jehovah says, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." Those eleven words are powerful and hold so much meaning. From them, you can conclude that we are like God in the sense that we have many of his features and qualities.

For example,

- Only humans have free will. Animals do not. They are programmed from birth to do particular things via instinct, and they will do that thing until they die.

- Only humans have the capacity to learn, reason, and use logic. Animals are creatures driven purely by primal directives like "survive," "eat," "sleep," "procreate," "fight," and so forth. Jehovah chose to give them only what they needed to exist and expand their species. You will never see a lion resting on his pride with a good book on astronomy and discusses the day's affairs with his mate.

- Only humans have the capacity to analyze our environment and change our thinking. Slightly abstract, evidence exists in the differences between how people and animals look at and react to situations. For example, if a human were to do bad things, even commit high crimes, they are not a lost cause. They can be rehabilitated, learn from mistakes, and condition themselves to do better. Israelite king Manasseh is an excellent example of a man who was responsible for the deaths of thousands under his rule; and yet he underwent a complete change of attitude and became a different person for the best. An animal typically is killed if its behavior ever threatens humans. The issue is that in most cases it's harder to change an animal's behavioral pattern once formed.

- Only humans can express remorse, guilt, and have a morality device called conscience. Animals are not afforded these complex emotions.

- Only humans have the ability to be caretakers of the earth; which is one of the roles Jehovah assigned to Adam and Eve.

- Only humans have the capacity to think about the past, the present, and the future. I am pretty sure a sloth hanging about isn't thinking about the other really awesome times he hung out. Animals only live in the now-now.

- Only humans have the ability to understand and worship God. Plants and animals have no comprehension or grasp of deities.

Of all the thousands, perhaps millions, of creations, humans represent the crowning achievement of Jehovah's earthly creation. If he can make trees live for thousands of years and animals live for hundreds of year, then why would he make his most intelligent creation have a shelf-life of 70-90; maybe 100 years. We are not disposable.

Even scientists understand that humans have the capacity, both physically and mentally, to live forever they just can't at present. My knowledge is murky but from what I remember scientists learned that every seven years all the cells in our body clone themselves. They found evidence that during the cloning process flaws appear and that these flaws continue to get worse after each clone. They call this cell degradation. It is like making a copy of a copy of a copy; eventually, the print will become illegible. Contrary to this, our cells are designed to clone themselves entirely, perfectly, and forever. If humans could do that now, no one would die.

Sin is a condition. As far as what the particular flaw is who knows. It is more important to know that this degenerative disease called "sin" is hereditary and has passed from mother to child since Eve. According to God's law, a human who sins shall die. He makes that abundantly clear to Adam and Eve. "You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it; otherwise you will die.” (Genesis 3:3) It was a death sentence just to touch God's fruit and fruit tree. Of course, Adam and Eve were perfect, so it is way easier of a test to simply not touch God's tree, than for Witnesses to follow Bible principles daily in a world under Satan's influence. (1 John 5:19)

As the great lawgiver, Jehovah was legally obligated by his own laws to put Adam and Eve to death for their disobedience. If he hadn't this could have led to a much greater issue of chaos in the heavens. The angels were watching Jehovah's reaction to Satan's challenge to His soveignty over his creation. The issue at play was, "Does he have the right to rule humanity?" Jehovah did not want to condemn the human race to permanent death. Even more so considering his original purpose for humans was to live on a beautiful, garden-like earth forever (he still has that purpose today). He had to create a legal loophole of ending this "death sentence." He achieved this through the death of Jesus. (John 3:16; Romans 6:23) Jesus blood was equaled in weight to Adam's because it was perfect and provided perfect justice. Balancing this scale meant Jehovah now had the legal means to cover over imperfection with Jesus' perfect blood as a great sin offering. Moreover, because Jesus was perfect, and by definition better than any imperfect human who ever lived, his symbolic blood could apply retroactively back to Adam and Eve's imperfect son Abel, who was murdered by his imperfect brother Cain, as well as far into the future (like today).

The TL;DR is that humans will always fear death, but most of us desire to live forever. Two constructs would appear at odds like oil and water. However, through the prism of "Sin's Law," if death were done away with, it makes a ton of sense. To me, at least.

P.S. I wonder if you guys realize how much time it takes to write these posts? I know many of you criticize "copy-pasta." I agree that someone should be knowledgeable about a subject to explain it in his or her words. I am not exaggerating when I state this post alone took about two hours to put together. Hope you appreciate the effort, even if you roll your eyes at the content.

This comment was edited on Mar 1, 2017, 20:19.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
91.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 05:35
91.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 05:35
Feb 25, 2017, 05:35
 
Our resident bible expert is not down with Jesus I guess.
Avatar 17249
90.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 05:32
90.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 05:32
Feb 25, 2017, 05:32
 
Kxmode wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 04:07:
jdreyer wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 16:36:
I actually really like the dude (I assume he's a dude).

Yup. No gender identities issues here! Speaking of which starting reading news reports and watching videos on that topic the other night. I'm watching people try to explain the construct and I literally can't even. I am unable to understand how a person can say "I am a women" but they have a penis and visa versa. Come Actually I don't want to travel down this road.
Your lack of understanding is irrelevant. Our purpose on earth is to love all, regardless of form or identity. Would Jesus turn anyone away?

I do believe all of this has to do with Satan. He knows the time remaining is imminent. It would seem he is accelerating the depravity of society to levels similar to Noah's day before the flood. If he can get the general populace to subscribe to "gender neutrality" he quite literally will have "blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through." (2 Corinthians 4:4) Bonkers!
It has nothing to do with Satan. Transgender is not depravity, it is genetics.

As a Christian, I have no idea how to share the good news of God's Kingdom with someone who does not have a declared gender,
How about speaking English? Is that a good way to share?
or worse keeps changing weekly;
Why is that worse?
or decides to identify as a spatula.
This part is stupid and shows not only a lack of curiosity, but also a lack of empathy.
I am sure Jesus is looking down from his throne and thinking, "Wow. I never had to deal with that in my ministry."
Didn't Jesus say, “He That Cometh To Me I Will In No Wise Cast Out.” If he accepted prostitutes and lepers, why would he turn away LGBT?
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
89.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 04:44
89.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 04:44
Feb 25, 2017, 04:44
 
Kxmode wrote on Feb 25, 2017, 03:39:
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

Showing my age

Never gonna give you up, KX.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
88.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Feb 25, 2017, 04:42
88.
Re: Out of the Blue Feb 25, 2017, 04:42
Feb 25, 2017, 04:42
 
BobBob wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 16:51:
jdreyer wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 16:36:
BobBob wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:50:
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

At least he's an intellectual religious person. We can respect him for that. Smart

For sure. I actually really like the dude (I assume he's a dude). He's a deep well of optimism. And I'm glad his religion makes him happy. But I can't broke equanimity with science. They're justnot equivalent at all.

I wonder which of you fears death more and who will be happy or scared at his/her deathbed. After all, it's what likely defines our individual existence in the end -- life unto death.

Our fear is irrelevant. Our death does not define us. It is what we do with the time we have.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
87.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 04:07
Kxmode
 
87.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 04:07
Feb 25, 2017, 04:07
 Kxmode
 
jdreyer wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 16:36:
I actually really like the dude (I assume he's a dude).

Yup. No gender identities issues here! Speaking of which starting reading news reports and watching videos on that topic the other night. I'm watching people try to explain the construct and I literally can't even. I am unable to understand how a person can say "I am a women" but they have a penis and visa versa. Come Actually I don't want to travel down this road.

I do believe all of this has to do with Satan. He knows the time remaining is imminent. It would seem he is accelerating the depravity of society to levels similar to Noah's day before the flood. If he can get the general populace to subscribe to "gender neutrality" he quite literally will have "blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through." (2 Corinthians 4:4) Bonkers!

As a Christian, I have no idea how to share the good news of God's Kingdom with someone who does not have a declared gender, or worse keeps changing weekly; or decides to identify as a spatula. I am sure Jesus is looking down from his throne and thinking, "Wow. I never had to deal with that in my ministry."
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
86.
 
Re: On Sale
Feb 25, 2017, 03:39
Kxmode
 
86.
Re: On Sale Feb 25, 2017, 03:39
Feb 25, 2017, 03:39
 Kxmode
 
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

Showing my age
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
85.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Feb 24, 2017, 16:51
85.
Re: Out of the Blue Feb 24, 2017, 16:51
Feb 24, 2017, 16:51
 
jdreyer wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 16:36:
BobBob wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:50:
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

At least he's an intellectual religious person. We can respect him for that. Smart

For sure. I actually really like the dude (I assume he's a dude). He's a deep well of optimism. And I'm glad his religion makes him happy. But I can't broke equanimity with science. They're justnot equivalent at all.

I wonder which of you fears death more and who will be happy or scared at his/her deathbed. After all, it's what likely defines our individual existence in the end -- life unto death.
Don't like my post? Submit a complaint
84.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Feb 24, 2017, 16:36
84.
Re: Out of the Blue Feb 24, 2017, 16:36
Feb 24, 2017, 16:36
 
BobBob wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:50:
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

At least he's an intellectual religious person. We can respect him for that. Smart

For sure. I actually really like the dude (I assume he's a dude). He's a deep well of optimism. And I'm glad his religion makes him happy. But I can't broke equanimity with science. They're justnot equivalent at all.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
83.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Feb 24, 2017, 14:50
83.
Re: Out of the Blue Feb 24, 2017, 14:50
Feb 24, 2017, 14:50
 
Verno wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 14:27:
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.

At least he's an intellectual religious person. We can respect him for that. Smart
Don't like my post? Submit a complaint
82.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Feb 24, 2017, 14:27
82.
Re: Out of the Blue Feb 24, 2017, 14:27
Feb 24, 2017, 14:27
 
My apologies if this bible stuff is unwanted. I am trying to be accommodating to all. Going forward, I will try to keep these kinds of comments to a minimum.

Promises promises.
Avatar 51617
81.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Feb 24, 2017, 14:14
81.
Re: Out of the Blue Feb 24, 2017, 14:14
Feb 24, 2017, 14:14
 
jdreyer wrote on Feb 24, 2017, 02:30:
And yes, I can use the word "never" just like you will freely admit to never being uninjured after jumping off a 200' building onto concrete.

I'm so predictable?

You figured out right away I'd focus on your use of the word 'never'.

The scenario might be possible.
Don't like my post? Submit a complaint
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