This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts, and not by agenda-driven accusations and pronouncements.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure your opinion addresses the issue only, and does not confront or denigrate the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/
On this day and every day –
God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Unity in Christ
Unity is a state of oneness and harmony. All believers in Christ are united in Christ. We are in a relationship that unites us with Him and with every other believer.
Jesus prayed for His disciples—all who would believe in Him for all the ages—“that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). Some look at the great divisions among Christian denominations and refer to this as Christ’s great “unanswered prayer.” However, Scripture is clear that all believers are united with Christ because of our relationship with Him and with all other believers. We are all in the same family, even it at times we do not act like it. Therefore, unity in Christ has two aspects—one is objective fact, and one is subjective experience.
Objective and subjective unity can be true for any number of groups, teams, or even families. All the members of a football team are unified by their membership in the group. They do not win or lose games individually. The individuals contribute to the group, but it is the group that wins or loses—that is the objective fact. However, there may be times that the team does not act in a unified way. Selfishness and rivalry may creep up, and, when it does, it is impossible for the team to act as a unit—this is the subjective aspect. The behavior of individuals on the team is not matching the fact of their unity with every other member of the team.
All who believe in Christ are part of His body, the church. The New Testament is clear on this. Ephesians 5:30 says it plainly: “For we are members of his body.” Whether a Christian feels like it or not, he or she is part of Christ’s body and therefore unified with every other believer. Paul uses the analogy of the body in 1 Corinthians 12:12–21:
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
“Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”
The human body is a unified whole. If one part does not work right, the whole body suffers. If a person smashes his thumb with a hammer, it is not just the thumb in isolation that hurts. Other parts of the body may hurt, too, and the functioning of the whole body is impaired. This is true even when a person does not know about the malfunctioning part. If an internal organ is not functioning properly, damage may be done to the body before any pain or obvious illness is present.
In the same way, the church has unity in Christ. As part of His body, each member has a particular job to do and a place to belong. When any individual member is not fulfilling his or her purpose in the body, the whole body suffers. All the members are united, and because of that unity, when one acts in an individualistic or selfish manner (i.e., acts as if he is not part of the body), the whole body suffers because, regardless of his actions, the individual member is still in unity with all the others in the body.
Many of the commands in the New Testament direct Christians to live up to their position and demonstrate their unity in Christ. Christians are not commanded to become one in Christ—that is already an objective reality. Christians are told to make their subjective experience match the objective fact. Paul pleads with the Philippians for this kind of unity: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:1–4). If Christians, who are members of the same team, see themselves in competition with each other, then they are not playing as teammates. They are not living in light of the unity that exists.
Unity in Christ means that all believers are in a relationship with Christ and, by extension, to every other believer. All believers are united with each other whether they know it or not, like it or not, or feel like it or not. The challenge of Christian unity is to live up to the truth of that reality. Since we are all members of one body, we need to live like it. This means subordinating our individual needs to the needs of the body at large and using our individual gifts for the good of the whole body.
Unity in Christ does not mean that all differences between churches or denominations need to be abolished. Individual churches and denominations can keep their individual distinctives and emphases while still working together in areas where they agree. For instance, an evangelical Baptist church and an evangelical Presbyterian church will be in agreement on the gospel and the essentials of the faith, but because of different beliefs about baptism, it would be impossible for these two churches to simply unite as one church. It might be possible for a church to take a neutral position on infant baptism; however, it is hard to see how a church could teach that parents should baptize their babies (as do Presbyterian churches) and simultaneously teach that parents should not baptize their babies (as in Baptist churches). While these two groups could never unite as a single local church or denomination, they can still cooperate in other ministry endeavors, and individuals within each local body can fellowship with and love each other.
xhttps://www.gotquestions.org/unity-in-Christ.html
I love the final example! Baptism practices are indeed exactly the kind of thing that typifies a minor but understandable division in practice.
Seems like a case could be made for “dunk ’em early and often.”
AND AND AND AND LOGIC!!! 😂
Thar’s too much logic goin’ on ’round hair.
😂
LMAO!
Weekly baptism! Somebody’s gotta do it!
And if that’s all that was required, then lots of Christians would be motivated to dunk people whenever they got the chance.
Swimming pool? No problem, just dunk them and they’re saved, they don’t even need to know why or what for… just like the infant.
But if we need to hear the Word of God (and understand), if we need to repent, if we need to confess with our mouth, it is not possible for an infant to do those things.
As with many practices of the early Catholic church, infant baptism was mostly about money. People had to pay the church for baptism, marriage, and burial.
There was competition among churches for this lucre. You will find the same people christened in one area church, married in another, and buried in yet another in medieval England, simply because each church was only allowed to profit from the one thing. They weren’t allowed to perform them all.
“There was competition among churches for this FILTHY lucre.”
AMEN.
Reminds me of a 60s sitcom — “I Love Lucre.”
😂
GROAN! 
LOL!!!
Follow the money.
“What was that? Flow the money? OK!” -Dems
Interesting! 
For a general perspective on the topic. AI assisted search of the question.
What is the genesis of infant baptism?
The genesis of infant baptism is a complex historical development that emerged gradually in the early Christian church. There is general agreement that firm evidence for infant baptism appears only in the latter part of the second century, leaving a considerable chronological gap in its origins1.
The most plausible explanation is that it began as emergency baptism for sick children expected to die, with a slow extension of the practice as a precautionary measure. While generally accepted, questions about its propriety continued into the fifth century, and it became the usual practice only in the fifth and sixth centuries1. Early church leaders like Tertullian objected, asking, “Why does innocent infancy rush to the forgiveness of sins?” Both Tertullian and Origen emphasized that innocent children who have never personally sinned do not need forgiveness2. The practice became more widespread with the developing theological understanding of baptism’s role in removing original sin—the belief that everyone is born guilty and tainted with a sinful nature, and thus requires baptism for salvation2. Interestingly, while many Protestant denominations now practice infant baptism, their theological reasoning differs significantly from Catholic theology. For instance, Presbyterian churches baptize infants as a sign of covenant community participation, analogous to circumcision in the old covenant, rather than for sin removal2.
1Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 856–857.2Gregg R. Allison, 40 Questions about Roman Catholicism, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle, 40 Questions Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021), 164–165.Origin and Progress of Infant Baptism
There is general agreement that there is no firm evidence for infant baptism before the latter part of the second century. This fact does not mean that it did not occur, but it does mean that supporters of the practice have a considerable chronological gap to account for. Many replace the historical silence by appeal to theological or sociological considerations.
Arguments against the originality of baby baptism, in addition to its lack of early attestation, include: the essential nature ascribed to verbal confession and repentance; the liturgy designed for persons of responsible age; size of baptisteries; and the lack of an agreed theology to support it (Chrysostom and the eastern churches vs. Augustine).
The most plausible explanation for the origin of infant baptism is found in the emergency baptism of sick children expected to die soon so that they would be assured of entrance into the kingdom of heaven. There was a slow extension of the practice of baptizing babies as a precautionary measure. It was generally accepted, but questions continued to be raised about its propriety into the fifth century. It became the usual practice in the fifth and sixth centuries.
In the Augustinian-Pelagian controversy infant baptism was a principal support for the doctrine of original sin, rather than the other way around, since baptism was universally recognized as for forgiveness of sins. With the victory of Augustine’s arguments original sin became the reason for infant baptism in the western church.
The development of the view of baptism as objectively effective paralleled the development of infant baptism. If baptism is defined as consisting of water and the Trinitarian formula, then conscious faith and obedience become less important. In the absence of a personal confession of faith and renunciation of the devil other justifications were offered—the faith of the church; the guarantee by the sponsors that the child would be raised in the church; the child considered a believer by reason of receiving the sacrament of faith (baptism).
Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 856–857.
“There is general agreement that there is no firm evidence for infant baptism before the latter part of the second century. This fact does not mean that it did not occur, but it does mean that supporters of the practice have a considerable chronological gap to account for.”
_____________
Even if there was evidence for infant baptism in the 1st century, what would that prove, except that people who identified as Christians practiced error in the 1st century?
And we already know that Christians practiced error in the first century, because practically every epistle written by Paul was to address some error being taught or practiced in Corinth, Ephesus, Colossae, Rome, etc.
So even if historical evidence exists that people who identified as Christians believed or practiced some thing in the 1st century, that doesn’t mean it was right.
But the inspired Word of God is right.
So the bigger ‘gap’ to account for is that there is no command, example or necessary inference for the practice of infant baptism to be found anywhere in the Word of God.
Which is not just the highest authority in matters of God, it also happens to be the only Authority.
Because everything else which is not of God is, by definition, of men.
And men have no authority above, or even next to, God.
Man is not God’s co-author.
“In the absence of a personal confession of faith and renunciation of the devil ”
___________
Renunciation of the devil?
Where is the book, chapter and verse for that?
This is exactly why it is so important to prevent false doctrine from ever getting a foothold in the first place.
It’s the reason why you have to be like a hawk, always on the lookout.
Because once it starts, it’s like a runaway freight train!
And look how hard it is to stop it, once it becomes tradition.
And after an error becomes tradition, they will surely expound upon and build more error upon that false foundation.
Repeat that process on dozens of subjects for 10 or 12 or 20 centuries, and you’re liable to end up with a church that would be unrecognizable to Christ or His apostles.
Renunciation of the devil?
Where is the book, chapter and verse for that?
The closest Biblical passage I could find was Eph 4:27.
Neither give place to the devil.
The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Eph 4:27.
There is also this:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I agree that is well within the sense of the baptismal declaration. To renounce the devil is to make a formal declaration of repudiation, which is the point of that wording in the baptismal pronouncement.
I received a formal Catholic baptism in Latin. My cousin, just a couple of years younger, received a Catholic baptism in English — which did (according to my folks) include a substantial amount of exorcism and repudiation.
Skipping forward a number of years, my parents’ take was that the exorcism and repudiation part only works in Latin.
I should note that I always held tightly to the Eleventh Commandment and didn’t get caught.
I would assume, having read your comments over the years, that your guardian angel has had gray hair for a long time.
I meant renouncing the devil as anything having to do with baptism.
There are multiple examples of baptism in the New Testament, where we learn the “who, what, when, where, why and how” of baptism.
Renunciation of the devil is not part of any of those passages. It literally has nothing to do with any baptism that is recorded in Scripture.
James chapter 4 (the whole chapter) has nothing to do with baptism.
No variation of the word ‘baptize’ (e.g., baptize, baptizing, baptized, baptism) occurs in James chapter 4, or in any other chapter of James.
I meant as part of any baptism.
There are multiple examples of baptism, but none of them include a renunciation of the devil as part of baptism.
I know you’re serious but … it seems obvious to me that renunciation means resist. Otherwise why would Scripture instruct a person to resist evil? How can one resist evil unless one can renounce the Accuser of the Brethren?
“I know you’re serious but … it seems obvious to me that renunciation means resist.”
____________
Okay, but what does that have to do with baptism?
In context of any example of baptism in the New Testament?
Where does this idea of renouncing the devil come from, as part of the process of being baptized?
We can see that people who were baptized first had to HEAR the gospel.
We see that they had to BELIEVE.
We see that they were to REPENT.
We see that they were to CONFESS CHRIST.
We see that they were to REMAIN FAITHFUL.
We see that they were IMMERSED in water, in the examples which go into that particular detail. The root word, ‘baptizo‘, literally means to dip or immerse.
What we do not see, in any example of baptism in the New Testament, is anyone renouncing the devil, or saying anything about Satan, at all.
So if anyone has added that to the act of being baptized, by what Authority did they do it?
If it is not part of any example of baptism in Scripture, then by definition, it was added by men.
Thank you!
👍
Exactly.
Last paragraph. Salvation occurs then. Baptism follows for personal and public confirmation of the decision. Infant baptism is a dedication of the child to being raised in The Way.
Personally I do not discount anybody’s salvation who has accepted Christ as their personal savior regardless of baptism. The thief on the Cross event tells me baptism is not required for salvation. However, given the opportunity one does just as Jesus did, the disciples did, and Jesus discussed about his cousin, John the Baptist. You cannot go wrong doing as Jesus said or did.
“…given the opportunity…”
THAT is the most important point. Millions upon millions of people, living right now, will never even hear the name of Jesus Christ in their lifetimes.
I still hold that my reading of Scripture tells me that ALL people meet Jesus when they die. Maybe “J the B” as my pastor likes to call him, is there to baptize them if they repent.
😀 👍 Love it!
Baptized in the spirit? Hmmmm. *scratches chin*
Lol.
All I know is, I don’t know much!
Some questions are not answered in this universe!
EXACTLY why I think EVERYONE meets Jesus when they die.
Of course they do.
How else is each person going to be judged unless he/she is brought before the King/Judge?
And as to His judgement, remember always His mercy. There are many who will be saved after this world of travails, in my opinion.
Every knee shall bow & every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God our Father 🙂
“The thief on the Cross event tells me baptism is not required for salvation.”
_____________
Was the thief a believer who was already baptized?
We don’t know, because Scripture doesn’t say.
He very well might have been, or he might not have been.
Since we cannot know (because Scripture doesn’t say), how can we base a belief or practice on it?
But disregard that for the moment, for an even better reason not to rely on the example of the thief on the cross.
For sake of argument, suppose the thief on the cross next to Jesus was not a believer, and had not been baptized.
Jesus told the thief that the thief would be with Jesus in paradise:
…………………
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43, KJV)
………………..
Jesus was able to tell him that because Jesus was in the world, in the flesh, and the thief was in Jesus’ physical presence.
Is there anyone in the world today — or since Jesus’ ascension — who can possibly be in that same situation?
No.
So how can anyone hope to be saved like the thief was saved, if there is no scenario in which we could be (as the thief was) in Jesus’ personal and physical presence, until Jesus returns… at which point, it will be too late?
And the bigger problem with infant baptism, which so far has not been mentioned, is this.
Suppose an infant is baptized, and grows up knowing that he was baptized as an infant, and so he lives his entire life believing that he is saved.
So he is never baptized according to Scripture, for the remission of sins (cf. Acts 2:38).
…………………..
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:37-38, KJV)
…………………..
When he dies, what is his spiritual condition?
Did he obey the gospel?
Or, due to a prevalent but false doctrine, as an infant, did he experience what amounts to being sprinkled with water and having words spoken to him?
And believing he was saved from the time of infancy, never thought to be baptized according to God’s Word, or for the reasons given in God’s Word?
…………………
“[20] Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. [21] The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 3:20-21, KJV)
…………………
No kidding! I always wonder about the “one and done” of baptism. As with the “fresh filling” of the Holy Spirit, I feel like I could use a good spiritual “bath” fairly often!
Knowing little of early Christian history, but being quite familiar with human nature, I wonder if some early churches practiced communion rarely and baptism often. I would not be surprised if that was so, given the many forms of early Christianity later deemed heretical.
I would do what God’s Word says, and ignore what the doctrines, commandments and traditions of men say.
Because men can’t save us.
God can.
God is the Author of our salvation, He is the Authority on the subject, and He has preserved His Word for our learning and understanding.
From that perspective, I would ask, is there a single example in all of Scripture where an infant was baptized?
Then I would ask, when did the practice or doctrine of infant baptism begin?
Was it in the first century, when the New Testament was being written?
Or was it after the New Testament was already complete?
Who is the author of infant baptism, and by what authority?
If God is the Author, and if it is by the Authority of God, then it will be found in His Word.
If it was by the authority of some man, then it won’t be found in God’s Word.
If a doctrine, commandment or tradition is not found in God’s Word, then why would anyone do it?
To what end, and for what purpose?
We might do such a thing to please ourselves, and we might do such a thing to please others, but would it be pleasing to God?
It baffles me, that God went to the trouble to preserve His Word, and so many people want to add to it, or subtract from it, or just make up their own religion, effectively creating God in our image.
All of which God’s Word warns us not to do.
I’m not aware of the theology behind it, but the only thing that seems logical, would be that it is done to make sure the person is baptized in case they die before a normal baptism age.
Not seeking to justify it – just stating what might be a logical reason to do it.
That’s it 👍
See my answers to Scott. There was a reason, but I don’t think this was it.
Saint Moolah of Babylon? 😂
Yeah. Sigh. Nothing new under the sun, is there?
Scripture speaks of a man and HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD being baptized. That would include infants!
Indeed!
“Scripture speaks of a man and HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD being baptized. That would include infants!”
______________
Ah-ha!
You are correct!
But… what does that mean?
I asked Grok the following:
“Grok, is there any way to determine how many households in and around Israel during the 1st century would have an infant at any given time? For example, a percentage of households where an infant would be part of a family?”
………………….
Grok: “Determining the exact number or percentage of households in 1st century Judea (the region encompassing much of modern Israel and parts of surrounding areas under Roman rule) that had an infant (typically defined as a child under 1 year old) at any given time is challenging due to limited direct historical records.
Ancient sources like censuses, tax rolls, or writings from historians such as Josephus provide some population data, but they are often incomplete, biased, or exaggerated. No comprehensive household surveys from that era survive.
However, historians and demographers can make reasonable estimates using indirect methods based on archaeological evidence, comparative data from the broader Roman Empire, and model life tables (standard demographic tools that reconstruct population structures for pre-modern societies with high mortality).
Key Assumptions and Data from Historical Demography
To estimate this, we rely on:
Estimation Method
1) Calculate the average number of infants per household (lambda):
2) Assuming infants are distributed roughly randomly across households (a Poisson distribution approximation, common in demography for rare events like this):
Step-by-step calculation:
Varying the inputs:
Thus, a reasonable estimate is 15–20% of households in 1st century Judea had at least one infant at any given time. This would be higher in rural peasant areas (where fertility was greater) and lower in urban or elite settings.
Limitations and Sources of Uncertainty
If you have more specifics (e.g., urban vs. rural focus), I can refine this further.”
…………………………….
.
So according to this rough calculation, there is a 15 to 20% chance that any household mentioned in the New Testament in relation to baptism included an infant.
But even if there was a 99% chance, eternity is a really, really long time to be wrong.
I would not risk my soul over a 20% chance, or over any chance at all.
Most interesting Grok data. Thanks for sharing Scott! 
Here is a brief but interesting article I just found, addressing the specific subject of whether, in context, any of the baptisms of households referenced in Scripture, included any infants:
Household Baptisms in the New Testament
Phil D.
Sep 4, 2019
“Since the subject of infant baptism seems so popular on PB lately, well…
I am presently a credobaptist, although there was a time when I was partially, and really wanted to be fully convinced of paedobaptism. Yet as I undertook a prolonged study of the subject, in all honesty I had to conclude that I found more support for credobaptism in scripture. There are of course multiple facets to the Reformed case for paedobaptism, but sometimes it can be most constructive to look at one issue at a time. As such I would like to start with a discussion on a issue that is often placed toward the top of the list in attempts to justify infant baptism: household baptisms in the New Testament.
The paedobaptist argument here is that these households almost certainly included infants. And admittedly by all indication the Greek term for household, oikos, does sometimes intend to include complete households inclusive of children, slaves, and sometimes even business associates. But as always, context is the final arbiter as to how a term is being used in a particular setting. Calvinists are of course very familiar with this grammatical rule in terms of understanding to what extent words like “all” and “every” are meant in scripture when used in the context of salvation.
There are five cases of household baptism recorded in the New Testament.
1. Cornelius’ Household (Acts 10)
2. Lydia’s Household (Acts 16)
3. The Philippian Jailer’s Household (Acts 16)
4. Crispus’ Household (Acts 18)
5. Stephanas’ Household (1 Corinthians 1)
In each case, however, there are additional factors mentioned which seem to discourage the idea that infants are in view in these particular uses of oikos.
1. Acts 10:2 provides direct context for the upcoming events, by informing the reader that those of Cornelius’ household—at least those being referred to—were devout, active, God-fearing people. It’s also stated that the subjects of Peter’s command to be baptized (v.48) had all heard his Gospel message (v.44), and had then received the gift of the Holy Spirit (v.47). These same people are also said to have previously engaged in speaking in tongues and audibly praising God (v.46).
2. Many commentators note that the circumstantial details given concerning Lydia (e.g. she appears to have been a traveling businesswomen) suggest she was probably an unmarried woman. As such this particular household likely wouldn’t have had very young children in it, but rather would seem to be comprised of her and most likely, considering ancient Mediterranean cultural norms, some fellow women business associates. Supporting this notion is that Luke exclusively references women as being at the riverbank (Acts 16:13), and then clearly implies that Lydia and those comprising her household were baptized there.
3. We again find the hearing of the gospel being attributed to all of the subjects involved in this account (Acts 16:32). It is sometimes pointed out that the only description of personal faith actually having been exercised is individually connected to the jailor (v. 34), as the ESV and some other translations convey. Without getting too technical, this is due to the fact that the form of the Greek word for “believe” here (pisteuo), is in the singular and masculine form (pepisteukos). Some then insist that this fact, combined with the knowledge that his family was indeed also baptized, proves that infants (and apparently others) can and should be baptized by virtue of a head-of-household coming to faith.
However, such a stringent interpretation seems to go beyond what is actually stated, exegetically demanded, or even contextually suggested. Even while only the jailor’s faith is specifically mentioned, in order to be taken as some peadobaptists do, the following improbable points would necessarily follow: 1) The whole household heard Paul’s salvation message. 2) The jailer believed the gospel, but the rest of the household didn’t. 3) They were all baptized anyway, regardless of whether they were infants, adolescents, or other adults. 4) The entire family was overcome with joy that only the head-of-household had believed and acted upon a message that the rest either weren’t capable of comprehending, or had willfully ignored or rejected.
Thus it seems more reasonable, to me, to think that while the jailer’s personal salvation may indeed have been the object of the household’s joy most specifically being referenced, this could very well be on account of his instrumental role in the rest of the family then also being introduced to the gospel as well. (Or maybe, given the nature of his occupation, the jailor had been a “rough” individual, and the family realized that through his conversion he was a changed person..?) Notably, a number of literal translations do prefer the household conversion perspective, such as the NASB, where verse 34 reads: “And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.” (See also NKJV.)
4. Acts 18:8 simply states that Crispus’ household believed, as was the case with other Corinthians who were then baptized.
5. Outside those related in Acts, the Apostle Paul makes the only other mention of household baptism in the New Testament (1 Cor. 1:16). We again get a more complete picture when we put all of the relevant information together, whereby we learn that the members of this household were the first “converts” in Achaia, who were active in serving the saints (1 Cor. 16:15). It also seems likely that Stephanas’ household may have been among the “believers” whom Luke refers to alongside Crispus’ household in Acts 18:8, in that Corinth was the capital city of the Roman province of Achaia.
In conclusion, from contextual information found in all of these household passages it seems that only those old enough to comprehend, receive, and experience the transforming effects of the gospel are specifically being talked about. (I also find it at least notable in this regard that in Acts 8:12 Luke only specifies that baptism was given to men and women, while infants are not mentioned.)
Again, I realize that there are other substantial and arguably weightier issues involved in the Reformed justification of infant baptism. But these household passages are in fact frequently invoked as comprising very strong support for infant baptism. For myself, I have had to agree with the conclusion of these two writers on the matter:
George Beasley-Murray (1916–2000; English Baptist):
“Luke, in writing these narratives, does not have in view infant members of the families. His language cannot be pressed to extend to them. He has in mind ordinary believers and uses language only applicable to them. Abuse of it leads to the degradation of Scripture.”
(Baptism in the New Testament, 315)
Pierre-Charles Marcel (1910–92; French Reformed; sometimes cited by more in-depth treatises supporting infant baptism, e.g. Jochiam Jeremias’ Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries):
“We state here with all desirable precision that these [household] passages have never served and still do not serve, in good Reformed theology, as a basis or justification of infant baptism.”
(The Biblical Doctrine of Infant Baptism, 196)
I would genuinely value hearing from those who may believe and can ably (and charitably…) explain how this is not the case. (I should mention that I may not always be able to respond immediately.)”
Or possibly to keep satan at bay until a baby can choose for themself?
First, I am not defending the practice of any denomination or church, so my comment need not be seen through that filter.
The Bible makes negative references to traditions of men, like those of the Scribes and Pharisees. But it also says this:
II Thessalonians 2:15
This clearly refers to traditions taught by word (of mouth), vs. by epistle (written down). If every tradition referred to here were included in Scripture, why call it a tradition instead of just saying to adhere to what the Scriptures teach? An explicit distinction is made between the two.
Another reference:
II Thessalonians 3:6
There is no evidence that I know of that the specific traditions spoken of in those verses were later written down and incorporated into the canon of Scripture. If you know of verses that derive from those specific traditions, please post them.
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-are-church-traditions
Consider the above that the traditions that Paul speaks of are the beliefs and practices from the Gospels.
“Now, that’s the fundamental reason, I think, why Paul uses the word traditions in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 — namely, there is such a thing as truth, and it doesn’t originate with me. I am its servant, not its creator, not its lord. To believe in tradition in this sense, then, is a mark of humility and faithfulness to the way reality really is.”
JMO – Reference point being God (Jesus), not man (Paul). The false teachers of the “church” at that point were adding traditions that did not come from God. Paul and the faithful were dealing with all sorts of pagan practices/gods, Jewish traditions, gnosticism, etc. I see Paul’s words pointing back to Christ and His instructions as the meaning of traditions. But that is just me.
All I know is I ain’t throwing out my Christmas tree, but I ain’t worshiping it, either.
I’m not sure why have quotations around the word church. That was indeed the church of the time, from which all subsequent churches proceeded.
I covered the idea of traditions not from God when I said the Bible speaks against traditions like those of the Scribes and Pharisees. Those are called false traditions, traditions of men, and the like. IMO there is no need to talk about false traditions in a discussion about Paul’s telling believers to “hold the traditions” because he is clearly referring to something different, to true traditions rather than the false ones of men.
The article says:
IMO, that is a huge stretch. The author is ascribing motives to Paul that we can’t know he had when he spoke those words. It appears to be a way to explain away something that is uncomfortable to those who adhere to sola scriptura. People seize on this method of reconciling something that is antithetical to the idea that there couldn’t possibly have been any traditions among the early Christians that were not written in Scripture. And yet, according to Scripture itself, it appears that there were.
From the article:
Here, the author flatly declares that tradition = the New Testament (i.e., Scripture), which is in direct contrast to the words of Paul, who distinguished between the two.
The author goes on to say that this is what Paul was saying:
“I’m not dependent on Peter and James and John, but I am in harmony with them on the gospel.”
I see zero indication that that was Paul’s meaning when he said, “hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” It was not about Paul’s credibility or the like, and Paul was not talking about himself; it was about what people should do—i.e., hold the traditions that they had been taught, which included traditions not written down in an epistle.
All I’m saying is that IMO people are reading that verse through the filter of an underlying belief. So then they try to explain away the very specific wording, and they do it in this instance by ascribing motives to Paul, when his actual words are crystal clear.
The idea that there could have been unwritten traditions taught and practiced in the early days of the church is so disquieting to some that it has to be dismissed out of hand and explained away by, IMO, doing a sort of mind-reading. Some people will be able to look within and examine why they might feel threatened by the idea that there were unwritten traditions in the early church. Some are too uncomfortable to do so, and they accept explanations that help them stay within their comfort zone, even when those explanations seem to add to the Scripture itself.
Excellent points!
Consider that almost all early Christians were coming from SOME prior traditions, Jewish and Gentile, much variation within both. The wisdom of Paul’s statement is apparent, as is his clear trust in God to “work it out” if people were generally faithful to scripture, spoken and written, and to what they were taught before, so that new “introductions” might be minimal and compatible with (again) scripture, both spoken and written.
As I say, I won’t throw out my Christmas tree, as I think it helps my faith, and does not harm it. And I think Paul understood that perfectly.
I agree.
I think you may like my reply to TT up above you.
I think the “traditions” Paul talks about may have something to do with the blending of the Hebrews and Gentiles into one church under Jesus Christ.
Jesus referred to “the law and the Commandments.” Jews had many “laws” (613?) that were not written in the Bible and were not the law of Moses. But Hebrews coming into the new church as Christians were accustomed to, for example, very strict dietary laws, which were not a Christian requirement, except those things sacrificed to idols and blood (see Acts 15).
In 1 Corinthians 8 and 10, Paul writes about not causing a brother to “stumble” over what he or you are eating. And in Romans 14, Paul writes about not judging others about what they are eating. There was clearly controversy about food in the early church! And probably other things, too, like not wearing blended fabrics and the like.
I think Paul’s great work was to join the Hebrews to the Gentiles into one body. The Gentiles had mocked the Hebrews for their traditions, and the Hebrews reviled the Gentiles for theirs. But some traditions of men were not harmful or reviled by God, and so Paul wanted people to feel okay about following the traditions that made them comfortable.
I think I like Wolf Moon’s Christmas tree analogy for this. As long as a tradition is not “worshiped” as a idol, or held over others as a false edict from God, it is a harmless practice and can be followed without offense to God.
Good points.
Paul’s saying: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” makes me think the traditions he refers to are the teachings of their current church; i.e., teachings that are instructive to the flock and that had been currently taught “by word.” I don’t get the impression that he is talking about traditions that people might be bringing into the church from their past experiences.
II Thessalonians 3:6
This verse directly addresses “tradition received of us,” not traditions that people bring with them to their church experience.
Context:
6
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
This looks to me like an admonishment to follow the tradition of only being allowed to eat if one works. While that idea is now in Scripture (right there in II Thessalonians 3:10), it is not a commandment like the Ten Commandments, or like the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, or in any other way in Scripture. We are not commanded to not let someone eat if they haven’t done work. That was apparently a tradition among that group at that time. It’s one example of practices of the early church that were not enshrined in Scripture, so it is reasonable to think there were others, especially since Paul admonished them to “hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
The tradition of not allowing someone to eat if they haven’t worked, while not a Scriptural commandment, is a worthy one that could be followed today under appropriate circumstances.
Hebrews refers to the twelve tribes as a confederation. At the time of Christ’s life, there were Jews [two tribes] only. Christ said He came to reunite the tribes but there is no real evidence that anybody recognized anything but Jews. It is physically incorrect to describe Jews as Hebrews.
In Philippians, Paul refers to himself as a Hebrew:
Philippians 3
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
So, Paul, from the tribe of Benjamin, one of the two tribes called Jews, describes himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews.
The Codex Vaticanus and the Codex Sinaiticus, both 4th Century texts, contain the book addressed “to the Hebrews.” So the very early church thought of them as Hebrews. They didn’t name it “to the Jews.”
“The Bible makes negative references to traditions of men, like those of the Scribes and Pharisees.”
_____________
Here are a few:
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9, KJV)
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [8] For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. [9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:7-9, KJV)
“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?” (Colossians 2:20-22, KJV)
.
“But it also says this:
II Thessalonians 2:15
This clearly refers to traditions taught by word (of mouth), vs. by epistle (written down). If every tradition referred to here were included in Scripture, why call it a tradition instead of just saying to adhere to what the Scriptures teach? An explicit distinction is made between the two.”
_____________
It’s a logic exercise.
Consider for a moment, that the Bible is really a collection of 66 books, letters and epistles, written down over a period of around 1,500 years, by men of vastly different backgrounds (from kings to fishermen), languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Koine Greek) and cultures.
And yet all of it, from Genesis to Revelation, reconciles forwards and backwards, without contradiction.
This is when people like to throw up a few superficial contradictions, but if there was a ‘gotcha!’ that proved Scripture contradicted itself, then the Scriptures would be broken.
And yet they’re not broken, and when you drill down on superficial contradictions, when you understand them in the context of the time or culture in which it was written, the supposed contradictions are resolved.
This is only a small part of the evidence of divine Authorship, a claim which the Scriptures affirmatively make of themselves, for example:
………………………
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, KJV, boldface mine)
“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Matthew 10:18-20, KJV, boldface mine)
“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” (Mark 13:11, KJV, boldface mine)
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV, boldface mine)
……………………..
Not some, not most, but all.
So what happens, when someone comes along, and makes up a new doctrine or commandment, which eventually becomes a tradition?
There is zero chance that it will harmonize and reconcile with all Scripture on the same subject.
And that’s exactly how you identify those false doctrines and bust them.
The problem with doctrines, commandments and traditions of men is that they invariably contradict the Word of God — while God, being perfect, does not contradict Himself.
So now back to your quote again:
“But it also says this:
II Thessalonians 2:15
______________
Whether by word, or our epistle. They’re the same teachings, they’re not different teachings — the difference is the method of transmission, not the content.
The books of the New Testament were written down over decades. So in the beginning of the church, there were no books yet of the New Testament, so all teaching was by the words of the apostles, who spoke and taught by divine inspiration (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13 above).
So the Word of God revealed orally by the Apostles, by divine inspiration, to teach the early church (before, during and after the New Testament books were written) was divinely inspired by the same God and Author of what was written down to become the books of the New Testament.
God does not contradict Himself. He wasn’t talking out one side of His mouth during verbal revelation, and the other side of His mouth while inspiring the writers of the books of the New Testament.
God is not double-minded (cf. James 1:8).
So whether the teachings were imparted orally or by epistle, they were the same teachings, not contradictory. The oral teachings and the written teachings necessarily reconciled and harmonized, as the Author of both was the same perfect and eternal God Almighty.
By contrast, the doctrines, commandments and traditions of men are, by definition, of men.
Imagine you are one of those men. Do you think you could come up with a doctrine or commandment, which would not contradict even a single verse in Scripture?
If you did, you would just be restating what God has already said, so it would not be a new doctrine or commandment.
If you didn’t, then all anyone has to do is know and find the passage or verse in Scripture that is contradicted by your words, and then ask, who are we to believe and obey? The Word of God, or the word of some man?
………………….
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29, KJV, boldface mine)
………………….
Someone might think to argue that the verse above is taken out of context, so I ask, is there any conceivable context, wherein that verse is not true and applicable?
.
“This clearly refers to traditions taught by word (of mouth), vs. by epistle (written down). If every tradition referred to here were included in Scripture, why call it a tradition instead of just saying to adhere to what the Scriptures teach? An explicit distinction is made between the two.”
_____________
Because the New Testament was written over the course of 6 plus decades, i.e., beginning some period of time after Christ’s resurrection and ascension (circa ~33 A.D.), to sometime before the end of the first century (e.g., book of Revelation).
It was a process.
It took time.
They didn’t go into seclusion after Jesus ascended, and write everything down, and emerge with hardbound copies of the New Testament 😁
So they were teaching orally, which was necessary, until the books of the New Testament were completed.
At any given time, some books may have already been written, and some had yet to be written.
But the oral teachings certainly did not contradict the written Word, or vice-versa, because they were both given by inspiration (i.e., God-breathed) of the same perfect Author.
As books, letters and epistles of the New Testament were written down, they were copied and circulated among the churches. And we have example of this very thing:
……………….
“And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:16, KJV)
……………….
So the explicit distinction is with regard to the method of transmission (oral or written), it is not a reference to different doctrines.
So any doctrine, commandment or tradition, if it is of God, will be found in the written Word of God, and will reconcile and harmonize with the written Word of God.
Does that make sense?
“To what end, and for what purpose?”
Generally, for the root of all evil.
If people have tips and tricks for dealing with mold and mildew, including prevention and cleaning, I’m all ears. Rather than give specifics of what I’m dealing with, I’d like to hear people’s best approaches to all situations, in all possible circumstances. I may find techniques to be easily adaptable to new contexts.
Mold and mildew thrive in dark, moist environments with limited air movements.
Like many things, spores permeate the environment and cannot really be eradicated. Instead, after bashing back the current overgrowth, it’s best to deal with local conditions.
Good! That is my current general approach!
Wolf Moon
Crawl space mold—
Bleach clean.
Repair/replace any moldy wood support piers and/or floor joists.
Replace any moldy insulation inside the crawl space.
Encapsulate the crawl space floor with impervious material.
Install a commercial-strength AC and dehumidifier combo plus sensing thermostat in the crawl space. Have the AC and dehumidifier piped to drain outside the foundation wall.
Have the crawl space inspected once a year.
That sounds EFFECTIVE. Take no chances – get it OUT. GONE.
If you maintain moisture in still air, it is nearly impossible to remove sufficient mold spores to preclude a relapse. CV’s solution hits the current overgrowth hard but also also includes fixing the environmental conditions (which I consider to be of primary importance).
To switch to anecdote, I have kept large numbers of home aquaria. Everyone who has kept fish indoors has experienced outbreaks of various fish diseases because the spores and bacteria “causing” these conditions are ubiquitous. You cannot remove every spore and clean everything that touches the tank — household dust will just drop more in.
So what you learn to do is manage your pocket ecosystem such that those organisms don’t thrive. Your fish have natural defenses and resistance to these critters, and you should keep your fish healthy overall. After a bit, you no longer have such outbreaks.
To keep your fish healthy is best done by ditching the tank heaters. I kept tropical fish outside in southern California with no heaters. Water temp and air temp about 55-60 during the winter. In summer I’d move them inside for the A/C about 70.
Never had any fish infections.
Wolf Moon
Central North Carolina record heat and humidity in the summer, plus the chemtrails-enhanced rainfall — make it a recipe for crawl space mold disaster.
Do as PAVACA posted. That is also how we handle it here in east TN.
Our code enforcement inspectors require recommend/require similar. All crawl space homes need vapor barrier encapsulation with treatment of exposed wood prior to doing so, which is best handled by spraying a bleach solution. Most good HVAC contractors offer system dehumidifiers.
Wolf Moon
Another aspect of getting control of the crawl space (or basement, IF that’s the area where the mold / mildew issue is coming from, or IF it’s the worst area of the problem) —-
Please get a Radon gas test performed in the crawl space / basement.
When Yours Truly had the complete mold remediation performed in the crawl space of the house, I also had a Radon gas test performed.
Guess what? The levels were High.
So, I also had a Radon gas remediation performed with the proper equipment installed. The Radon gas is also piped to outside the foundation of the house.
The Radon gas re-test that was performed after that remediation came back Zero for Radon gas being detected in the crawl space.
Radon gas fears may be part of the radiation fears from the 1950’s.
https://www.acsh.org/news/2015/11/13/dont-fear-radon-concerns-at-home-theyre-overblown
barkerjim
Thank you.
It appears that Radon tests when crawl spaces or basements where I live are mold remediated are part of Code now.
Of course, they have been making money from fear, the state doesn’t mind, they believe in the LNT model, which assumes no safe level of radiation exposure and accounts for proportional cancer and health risks even at very low doses, is supported by decades of peer-reviewed evidence and international consensus.
Yeah, I’m not spooked by radon, and if somebody looking to buy our place was bothered by it, I would refuse to sell to them solely on the fact that they’re radonphobic. I think our levels are low, but I would have to dig through documents, and I don’t care, frankly.
A friend of mine’s wife (who was otherwise rather common sense) got ginned up on radon by her BFF, and his tale about the saga was hilarious. Hope they’re doing well!
Agree!
Bleach well and constantly dehumidify. Also, remove/replace rotted wood.
When salvaging a large basement, once clean and dry, one could/should cover the floor and walls (water often leaches through) with Crete-Lock, two coats.
This procedure worked well, and the basement became a livable environment, with only minimal maintenance afterward.
Hope it helps!
Whatever you do, don’t breathe that crap in. Warm moist environment = lungs.
Gotcha!!!
Wolf Moon
Yes.
pgroup2 is correct.
When the mold remediation company was working in Yours Truly’s crawl space, they were wearing respirator masks equipment. Looked sort of like military-type gas masks.
We sometimes get mold &/or mildew in our bathroom (no exhaust fan) & when 6 people lived here w/ all the showers in that one room it was interesting. IIRC, Hubby has used something called Killz on the walls & ceilings after scrubbing off the visible stuff. This would keep regrowth at bay for many months, maybe more than a year (I have a real hard time guessing how much time has passed on things as I age). It’s a temporary fix but lasts for a decent amount of time here especially since it’s only 2 1/2 (Josiah lives with us about half the time) people so fewer showers & bathroom condensation to contend with.
Thanks! That’s very helpful!
You’re welcome 🙂
Wolf, also consider installing an Ultraviolet light in the area.
Yes, those are cool. I put a little one in my bathroom cabinet, where toothbrushes and stuff live. I put my phone in there sometimes to kill stuff on it, too.
Along with a bunch of psychedelic posters from the ’60s.
Oooh, that’s an interesting idea!
Hey, good to see you!
Stop violating the building codes and install an exhaust fan. 😉
They can be made to fit in a small window. It’s a 3 hour job, at most, for just the window. A few more hours for the wiring.
Exhaust fans are great! What people forget is air intake into the room. Gotta enable the flow!
It’s not, or wasn’t, a code violation, when we bought the place, which is about 80 years old now 🙂
This product, Concrobium, was recommended by a professional and I have found it to be very effective in removing mildew.
https://abatement.com/usa/as300.html
Available in stores like Home Depot and Walmart. It’s available in spray bottles like this, gallon jugs, foggers (which I have not used), and maybe other forms.
Well, wolfie, it looks like the Temple of All Knowledge [The Q-Tree] has come through for you. 😆
Indeed!!!
Excellent. This is analogous to another product that I know about. Will discuss them all later tonight.
UV light can/will kill spores in the air.
Good to know!!!
On surfaces, as well.
If it’s a basement, you may need to invest in a dehumidifier after you have cleaned it up, to prevent it from coming back.
I’m thinking the same thing. Our outbreak “bloomed” during an HVAC transition, after a long prior time where a dehumidifier was not needed.
Third post – just curious how you’re doing, Carl! I hope you’re doing well! 💖
It is December 7 — “a date which will live in infamy.”
Indeed!!!
Flags half mast, sunrise to sunset.
Yes. Remember.
One of my uncles was there! The guys just took their rifles and shot at the Japanese planes!
You Won’t BELIEVE Who They Just Found in the EPSTEIN FILES!!!
[It’s Obama]
.
.
Edit: looks like this is from 3 weeks ago, I mistakenly thought this was something new.
I appreciate you sharing it for that’s the first I’d heard of this specific aspect of it all 🙂
A mistake??? By scott467???
Mark this day on the calendar. 😉 😂
Don’t forget to mark the other 364 days on your calendar too 👍😁
And BOTH O’Bozo and Big Mike attended ‘P Diddy’ (how obvious is THAT moniker!) parties.
Barry Soetoro
Michael Levon Robinson
Remember the movie “Silence of the Lambs”? The psycho-killer was trying to metamorph into a new identity, as with the pupa transforming into a butterfly.
“Becoming.”. The title of Mooch’s book.
I got an amazing link to a podcast of a solid, factual discussion of MKULTRA evidence, through a comment by barkerjim yesterday.
Here’s where the link is found.
https://elizabethnickson.substack.com/p/absurdistan-is-resting
Here is the podcast.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/a-class-action-against-mkultra-was-just-certified/id1388815042?i=1000723956461
Elizabeth Nickson is awesome, the only place I read besides here. Her mom was mkultra-ed
GotQuestions.org: “For instance, an evangelical Baptist church and an evangelical Presbyterian church will be in agreement on the gospel and the essentials of the faith, but because of different beliefs about baptism, it would be impossible for these two churches to simply unite as one church.”
______________
What is more essential than being saved?
How can we be saved without being baptized?
The usual example people will say is the thief on the cross, but that is a very dangerous example to rely upon, because we don’t know whether the thief was a believer and was already baptized.
And whether he was or he wasn’t, Jesus had the power to forgive sins on earth while He was in the world (e.g. Matthew 9:6). Jesus isn’t in the world (in the flesh) now, and we’re not hanging on a cross next to Him like the thief was, so the example of the thief doesn’t apply to anyone living today.
How can we be baptized, if we don’t do it according to examples given in the inspired Word of God?
Why would anyone try to be baptized some other way, besides the way God determined?
The answer to that question should lead us to how infant baptism came about.
It goes back to the concept of ‘original sin’, and whether we are born sinful (Calvinism), or whether we are born innocent and then, at some point after being old enough to know right from wrong, commit sin.
The controversy arose over babies who died in infancy.
What happens to the baby’s soul?
If we follow the doctrine of Calvin (a man), and we believe babies are born in sin, and we already know that we need to be baptized to be saved, then naturally someone will come up with the bright idea to baptize babies.
If a child is born innocent, having committed no sin (indeed, incapable of committing sin as an infant), then what need does an infant have to be baptized?
And moreover, how can an infant be baptized?
Are you going to dunk it under water, or are you going to take the opportunity to create even more new doctrine and traditions of men (why stop now?), like sprinkling or pouring water over the infant’s head?
Nearly every false doctrine can be traced back its first recorded occurrence or implementation.
If it happened after the New Testament was complete, then by definition, it is a doctrine of men.
God is not bound by any doctrines that men come up with, so why do them, pretending as if He is?
While the intention of inventing the doctrine of infant baptism may have been ‘good’ or compassionate (i.e., trying to make sure an infant’s soul was saved), is it not also tantamount to making God out to be heartless, unjust and cruel, if He would condemn an infant who committed no sin to eternal separation from Himself?
Is there a single example in Scripture of God doing such a thing?
But if we choose to believe Calvin, and therefore we believe we are born in sin, that becomes the impetus to come up with a second error (infant baptism) to solve the problem of the first error (Calvin’s doctrine of original sin).
This is how most false doctrine works, error building upon error. Because every new thing men come up with doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it creates new problems, which require more new solutions (doctrines).
There should absolutely be unity in Christ.
But how is that possible, unless we all use and follow the same Owner’s Manual, without adding any new chapters or books (or doctrines, commandments or traditions of men) to it?
You’re asking pesky questions again.
I told you to knock it off last time you did it.
And now here you are again, stirring up more problems.
If you don’t stop, we’re going to have to write a new Bible translation.
And who is supposed to pay to have that done?
Doctrines, commandments and traditions of men are like someone selling blindfolds at a ditch convention.
It’s hard to not say anything! 🙂
Selling blindfolds at a ditch convention!!! 🙃
What a great imagination you have!
Sometimes I get rucky.
Just a variation on the blind leading the blind into the ditch 😉
Serious question:
Are all the people who lived before John the Baptizer unsaved? Moses, Elijah, David?
What about all the people in the world today who will never hear Jesus’s name, much less His Gospel? That’s about 75% of China, BTW.
These are serious questions for me, that I ponder all the time.
Putting aside the time between a death and Judgment Day, how about this:
A soul’s name is called by Yeshua the Savior.
Christ asks, ‘Why should I let you into the Kingdom?’
The soul answers, ‘Because You pardoned me.’
The past Biblical people lived under the Law, which involved righteousness. For those who knew such as the chosen of Israel, their hope rested on the Messiah who was yet to come. For the children and those incapable of hearing and knowing – we know God is just, fair and good.
The current folks who have never heard are subject to God’s grace and mercy, or judgment. The following likely applies
Romans 1:20 – “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities; His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen; being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.”
All of creation points to a Creator. No excuses, one must acknowledge God.
Romans 2:14-15 – “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves… They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness…”
This affirms that even those without explicit understanding of biblical law have a moral sense testifying to right and wrong. It is internally placed within us as a creation of God.
Luke 12:47-48
“That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows.”
Accountability is based on knowledge. With greater knowledge comes greater responsibility.
Psalm 9:7-8
The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.
We can be sure that God’s final judgment will be entirely just for those who do not know or have not heard of the Gospel of Christ. He alone applies Christ’s sacrifice to each person.
There are more scriptures that lead this direction. Hope this helps.
Thank you!!! And AMEN!!!
Well said, and well researched and cited!
I’ve learned more here from devout and honest discussion / exegesis from Q Treepers here than anywhere else.
Thanks to all…
ES
Thank you. Yes, it helps. And AMEN!
“Serious question:
Are all the people who lived before John the Baptizer unsaved? Moses, Elijah, David?”
______________
They are saved if they obeyed the Old Law, a.k.a. the Law of Moses or Mosaic Law.
The differences between atonement for sin under the Law of Moses and forgiveness of sin under the New Covenant are discussed in Hebrews chapter 9.
An easy way to remember it is that the blood of Christ at the cross flows forwards and backwards in time, from our perspective. Those who were obedient to God during the time of the Old Law are saved by the blood of Christ, just as everyone is saved since.
A short article on the subject, from Bible.ca
https://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-hebrews-9.htm
.
Remember that the baptism of John was not the same as baptism in Christ:
………………….
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
[3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 19:1-5, KJV)
…………………
.
Today we are baptized in Christ, which did not begin until after His death, burial and resurrection:
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4, KJV)
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12, KJV)
I get it. But it doesn’t answer this question:
“What about all the people in the world today who will never hear Jesus’s name, much less His Gospel? That’s about 75% of China, BTW.”
Have posted this once or twice in the past.
St Leo, grammar school, San Jose, CA.
Several of us kids asked similar question of our teachers, nuns. We were not trying to be smart asses.
I think we were told they go to Limbo. Perhaps purgatory. None of it made sense, then, or now. Why, would a just loving god punish, innocents.
>>> Rhetorical. <<<
Lol, limbo. I never understood where they got that.
Jamaica.
Lol.
“I get it. But it doesn’t answer this question:
“What about all the people in the world today who will never hear Jesus’s name, much less His Gospel? That’s about 75% of China, BTW.””
____________
I was working on a long answer, typed here in the blog, when my PC spontaneously rebooted… and I lost it.
I don’t know the answer, because the Bible does not seem to address it directly.
There is a passage that came to mind:
……………….
[12] “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
[14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
[16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:12-16, KJV)
……………….
I did ask Brave Browser A.I. about China, because I thought the underground Christian movement was larger.
………………………..
Inquiry: “Is there a way to estimate how many people in China have (or have not) heard the gospel of Christ?”
Brave A.I.: “Yes, there are several ways to estimate how many people in China have or have not heard the gospel of Christ, primarily through data from organizations like the Joshua Project and other mission research groups.
Estimates suggest that approximately 450 to 700 million people in China remain unreached by the Gospel, meaning they have little to no access to Christian witness, materials, or churches. This represents a significant portion of China’s population, which was about 1.415 billion as of October 2025. The term “unreached” refers to people groups with little or no access to the Gospel, often due to cultural, linguistic, or governmental barriers.
China is home to over 500 unreached people groups, including large ethnic communities such as the Hui, Uyghur, and Mongolian peoples, who together number over 31 million individuals, with less than 0.01% identifying as Christians. These groups are particularly difficult to reach due to their size, geographic dispersion, and strong cultural or religious identities.
While official government figures report around 30 to 40 million Protestants, independent researchers and mission organizations estimate the total number of Christians in China could be between 70 and 100 million, with some suggesting the number may be even higher. However, this growth is concentrated among Han Chinese populations, and many rural, minority, and remote communities remain largely untouched by Christian outreach.
The 10/40 Window—a region stretching from West Africa to East Asia—contains the majority of the world’s unreached people, and China is a key part of this region. Despite the presence of registered churches and a growing underground church movement, many areas, especially in rural and remote regions, lack access to trained Christian leaders and biblical resources.
In summary, while Christianity has grown rapidly in China, especially through house churches, a vast number of people—particularly in rural and minority communities—have not heard the Gospel. Estimates indicate that between 450 million and 700 million people in China remain unreached, highlighting a significant mission challenge.”
………………………..
I’m going to post this now so I don’t lose it again, and may edit it to add a little more.
“No man comes to the Father” but through Jesus. And no father would exclude the children who had never known him, or had the chance to know him. So everyone meets Jesus when they die.
That’s my reading of Scripture in three sentences.
“So everyone meets Jesus when they die.”
_____________
Everyone certainly meets Jesus at the Judgment.
………………..
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV)
………………..
and
…………………………
“[10] But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12, KJV)
…………………………
It doesn’t specify “when” people will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Is that at death? As a group later? In Revelation, the “unbelieving” stand before the Throne of Judgement. But does “unbelieving” imply having been previously given a choice to believe? That would be logical to me.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 would seem to me to mean when we leave our Earthly body, we are present with Jesus:
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
I know one thing for sure; I’ll find out when I die.
GotQuestions.org: “Paul pleads with the Philippians for this kind of unity: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
______________
How can people be like-minded, if some seek to follow only the commands, approved examples or necessary inferences found in God’s Word, while others incorporate various doctrines, commandments and traditions of men?
How can there be unity with adherence to (or adherents of) false doctrine?
Are there any examples of the Apostles accepting or overlooking or minimizing false doctrine?
“Are there any examples of the Apostles accepting or overlooking or minimizing false doctrine?”
Sort of, in my opinion. The letter in Acts 15:23-29. Not minimizing, exactly, but forgiving in a corrective manner. It wasn’t written in a harsh or condemning way at all.
But the error was not accepted, tolerated or allowed to stand.
People were teaching false doctrine to the churches, demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised according to the Law of Moses, or they could not be saved.
The apostles corrected that error, by inspiration of God:
……………..
“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;” (Acts 15:28, KJV)
……………..
So they did not overlook the error of compelling Gentiles to Judaize, by requiring circumcision according to the Law of Moses.
They did not accept or overlook or minimize or tolerate the error, or allow it to stand.
They corrected it.
And not even they, but the Holy Ghost, with Whom the apostles, of course, agreed.
You used the word “minimizing.”
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
That’s textbook minimizing. They “reduced” the burden to “necessary things.”
min·i·mize
/ˈminəˌmīz/
https://ssl.gstatic.com/dictionary/static/promos/20181204/pronunciation.svg
verb
verb: minimize; 3rd person present: minimizes; past tense: minimized; past participle: minimized; gerund or present participle: minimizing; verb: minimise; 3rd person present: minimises; past tense: minimised; past participle: minimised; gerund or present participle: minimising
reduce (something, especially something unwanted or unpleasant) to the smallest possible amount or degree.
So, upon further reflection, I made an error when I said they “didn’t minimize, exactly,” because they DID!
“You used the word “minimizing.” ”
_____________
I did, but God didn’t. I am not the Author of Scripture, I am just a man, trying to reason from the Scriptures, as we have example to do (cf. Acts 17:2, Acts 18:28), to the best of my limited ability.
Let’s take a look at the situation and the issue(s) involved.
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1, KJV)
Were those men apostles? No. Were those mean speaking by inspiration of God? No. They intended to bind Christians with circumcision, which was part of the Old Covenant, going back to Abraham, and reiterated in Mosaic Law.
So it was not a ‘doctrine of men’ in this case, it was a doctrine (circumcision) of the Old Covenant which was no longer applicable under the New Covenant. Like teaching that Christians still needed to sacrifice animals for the atonement of sins.
The Law of Moses was fulfilled by Christ, and ended. We are no longer under the Old Covenant, we are under the New Covenant.
………………..
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25, KJV)
.
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6, KJV)
.
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” (Hebrews 8:7, KJV)
.
“In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:13, KJV)
.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:14, KJV)
.
Speaking of the Jews who did not believe Christ:
“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:14, KJV)
.
Christian practice and doctrine is of the New Covenant and New Testament:
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, KJV)
.
“And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14:24, KJV)
.
“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20, KJV)
.
“After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25, KJV)
.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. [17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. [18] Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
[19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, [20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” (Hebrews 9:14-20, KJV)
.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4, KJV)
……………………………..
Lol, the word minimizing doesn’t appear, just its very definition.
I don’t think you mean to, but you make Christianity seem impossible for anybody normal to follow.
That must be my special talent 🙂
It’s not supposed to be complicated.
God is the Author of salvation, so what He says matters.
Men can’t save anyone, they need to be saved… so what men say doesn’t matter at all.
So doctrines, commandments and traditions of men are worthless.
Worse, they distract people from the real truth.
Imagine you are born, and you are baptized as an infant. And you live your whole life thinking you are saved. And then you die, and find out you aren’t.
All because of a doctrine of men which led you astray.
I don’t know how much more serious that could be. It’s not a game.
It’s not about feels.
It’s not about emotionalism or what we might think is right or wrong. It’s not about anything like that.
It’s about what God has said.
And just as importantly, what He hasn’t said.
And if we start doing or believing or practicing things men have said, things which God did not say, where is that going to lead us?
The narrow path, or the broad path?
It matters.
I run into the same thing with false doctrines all the time. People want to believe what they want to believe, and no one can explain or show them otherwise. Just like with Covid.
People have all kinds of reasons for wanting to believe what they want to believe. Just like with Covid.
I don’t care about any of that.
I don’t want to believe anything.
I just want to know what the truth is.
And we can never get to the truth, if we are distracted or seduced by all the doctrines, commandments and traditions of men, which are like minefields we have to walk through.
So it’s important to know how to identify false doctrines, false commandments, and traditions of men.
Many people wander through the minefield, picking up each mine they encounter. Holding it up, examining it, admiring it. Considering it. Often times adopting it as their own.
It is so dangerous.
And most people seem to be oblivious.
And just like Covid, there is nothing you can say, there is no way to help anyone see.
And just like with Covid, in order to see, we have to want to see. We have to be skeptical and suspicious of every narrative and doctrine and teaching.
We have to examine it, compare it against Scripture, and determine whether the thing is of God, or of man.
As we are given example to do:
…………………..
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11, KJV)
…………………..
.
Whether those things, which they heard or were told, were so.
Because it matters.
This is said to be a portrait of Pres. Trump made out of Legos. I don’t know if it’s real or AI.
Pretty much
The Fourth Reich
This echoes some thoughts I have been having.
Germany has this weird cultural inclination towards totalitarianism. The Teutonics are a dark people in so many ways.
When the countries of Europe threw in with Germany, the EU seems to me to be the logical conclusion. And here we are.
I say, dissolve the EU for the good of Europe. Isolate Germany again.
Exactly.
👍 100%
Now people may understand better why PM Meloni was giving the stank eye to Chancellor Merz in DC with PDT.
“Here we go again.”
They esteem intellect over emotion/psychology, and that’s their capital mental flaw.
The emotions rule. And too much of the German (et al.) identity succumb to intellectual self-superiority.
They keep making the SAME MISTAKES!
From a Kung Fu episode:
“People sure are hard to learn!”
I’m unsure whether it’s true, but last night on the anons, one anon posted a bitcoin-like graph showing the PRICE of Franklin memes!
An NFT? A financial asset?
The Franklin memes are exploding!
Well, cats rule every house I’ve been in.
I guess that’s why we don’t have one. I don’t share my throne with anyone…except with hubby.
(whispering…is he still standing behind me?)
😂
Slims are colonizers.
Charlotte99
December 7, 2025 12:58 am
A Somali activist in the U.S. made a provocative comments about political influence and demographic change, including remarks about President Trump.
In the clip, he says, “He already witnessed our partial takeover… He is how we measure our progress… He may not witness our full takeover, but I promise you his sons will.”
https://nitter.poast.org/Osint613/status/1997365774709858416#m
Sounds like a declaration of war.
to me too!
Round up these assholes, and get them the fuck out of my country! NOW!
I don’t care if it’s politically expedient, or not.
the federal gov’t needs to perform a no knock raid on this guy. detain him, garner any info they can about plans, confederates, etc, then strip him naked and air drop him over somalia.
A bit rough, wouldn’t you say?
No???
I didn’t think so, either. 😆
now that it’s all coming out? I think i was too easy on this scum. we could drop him naked into the gorilla cage at the zoo…
I thought you would be a bit more compassionate on a Sunday. Forgive me, but that sounds like a Monday solution.
[Psssst….this is Pat Frederick we’re talking about here…..I think that is the compassionate version….]
I think you’d be surprised how compassionate and generous I can be.
I would be surprised neither at how compassionate and generous you can be……nor how thoroughly you can get your point across when you are displeased. In this case, I gather that you’re not pleased.
this is typically a response for way beyond displeased…lol
I imagine the powers that be are revealing the fraud schemes individually to give the general public time to process the betrayal and ineptitude– let alone complicity of the state gov’t– in order to mitigate the anger being felt by citizens. this pressure cooker could explode at any time.
I’m sorry. this whole situation leaves me so angry. We let these people into our country–which is a thousand times better than where they came from and what do they do? they rob from us in so many ways. It boggles the mind. the mentality–lie, cheat, steal and payoffs–is not a culture I want to be in this country.
immigrants are expected to come here, assimilate and enrich our country–these immigrants only steal and plan bigger thefts.
but since it’s Sunday…Bless their hearts.
ISLAMIC INSURRECTION IS INSURRECTION.
Bono should have followed that with,
“Now that I’ve warmed y’all up for our main act.”
Just as Haiti received only 2% of the funds raised for earthquake relief (both quakes, IIRC), and the Clinton Foundation kept the rest, 98%; so Africa, via Bono’s “Live Aid” fundraiser / concert, received only 1% of the total donations given.
Incredible duplicity, industrial-scale graft, and astonishingly hypocritical virtue-signaling.
The bigger the lie, the more difficult it is to see through it.
So many lies, so many liars!
Q said to watch out for “Those whom you trust …”.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
PSALM 91 & PSALM 23: The Two Most Powerful Prayers In The Bible | DECEMBER 7 PRAYER
EACH DAY WE TAKE UP THE OFFENSIVE WEAPON OF THE WORD OF GOD – THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT – ONE VERSE OPENS THE DOOR TO THE CONTEXT OF THE CHAPTER MESSAGE
Verse of the Day for Sunday, December 7, 2025
✟
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
Psalms 1:1 (KJV)
COMMENTARY FOR PSALMS 1
David was the penman of most of the psalms, but some evidently were composed by other writers, and the writers of some are doubtful. But all were written by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; and no part of the Old Testament is more frequently quoted or referred to in the New. Every psalm either points directly to Christ, in his person, his character, and offices; or may lead the believer’s thoughts to Him. And the psalms are the language of the believer’s heart, whether mourning for sin, thirsting after God, or rejoicing in Him. Whether burdened with affliction, struggling with temptation, or triumphing in the hope or enjoyment of deliverance; whether admiring the Divine perfections, thanking God for his mercies, mediating on his truths, or delighting in his service; they form a Divinely appointed standard of experience, by which we may judge ourselves. Their value, in this view, is very great, and the use of them will increase with the growth of the power of true religion in the heart. By the psalmist’s expressions, the Spirit helps us to pray. If we make the psalms familiar to us, whatever we have to ask at the throne of grace, by way of confession, petition, or thanksgiving, we may be assisted from thence. Whatever devout affection is working in us, holy desire or hope, sorrow or joy, we may here find words to clothe it; sound speech which cannot be condemned. In the language of this Divine book, the prayers and praises of the church have been offered up to the throne of grace from age to age.
The holiness and happiness of a godly man. (1-3) The sinfulness and misery of a wicked man, The ground and reason of both. (4-6)
1-3 To meditate in God’s word, is to discourse with ourselves concerning the great things contained in it, with close application of mind and fixedness of thought. We must have constant regard to the word of God, as the rule of our actions, and the spring of our comforts; and have it in our thoughts night and day. For this purpose no time is amiss.
4-6 The ungodly are the reverse of the righteous, both in character and condition. The ungodly are not so, ver. 4; they are led by the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, to the seat of the scornful; they have no delight in the law of God; they bring forth no fruit but what is evil. The righteous are like useful, fruitful trees: the ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away: the dust which the owner of the floor desires to have driven away, as not being of any use. They are of no worth in God’s account, how highly soever they may value themselves. They are easily driven to and fro by every wind of temptation. The chaff may be, for a while, among the wheat, but He is coming, whose fan is in his hand, and who will thoroughly purge his floor. Those that, by their own sin and folly, make themselves as chaff, will be found so before the whirlwind and fire of Divine wrath. The doom of the ungodly is fixed, but whenever the sinner becomes sensible of this guilt and misery, he may be admitted into the company of the righteous by Christ the living way, and become in Christ a new creature. He has new desires, new pleasures, hopes, fears, sorrows, companions, and employments. His thoughts, words, and actions are changed. He enters on a new state, and bears a new character. Behold, all things are become new by Divine grace, which changes his soul into the image of the Redeemer. How different the character and end of the ungodly!
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.
________________________________
Verse of the Day – December. 7, 2025 (Morning Prayer)
_______________________________
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered !!!
WE ARE FIGHTING A SPIRITUAL WAR OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ABUSED, MISSING, AND TRAFFICKED CHILDREN
BE MY VOICE
CHILD NOT CHOICE
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
MAPA = MAKE AMERICA PRAY AGAIN
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
In Your kindness, have mercy on me;
Let me not ever stray far from Thee;
Blot out my sins from your Holy sight;
Strengthen me – to fight the good fight!
In Your compassion, blot out my offense;
For my transgression, there is no defense;
Wash me and cleanse me of all of my guilt;
I have sinned against Thee – I need rebuilt!
My offenses are ever before me, Oh Lord;
I have fallen short as it says in Your Word;
Against You alone have I sinned grievously;
In Your sight, Oh Lord, sin encompassed me!
Justified are You in your sentence dispensed;
Without reproach is Your judgment against;
For in sin were all men ill-conceived;
From the womb we emerge ill-perceived!
In truth, it’s the heart only You can see;
Instill in my heart Your wisdom for me;
Purify and cleanse me that I may know;
Wash me – cleanse my soul – whiter than snow!
Create in me – a clean heart renewed;
Cleansed in the Spirit – no longer eschewed;
With a steadfast spirit – I am refreshed;
No longer in sin will I be enmeshed!
A pure heart create in me, Oh God;
No longer will You need to poke and prod;
Give me again, Lord, the joy of Your aid;
With a steadfast spirit – the ransom is paid!
Rescue me, Lord, from evil oppression;
Let love – once again – be my obsession;
Let repentance and mercy blot out my sin;
Let Your Holy Spirit live again within!
For, in sacrifice, you take no delight;
Burnt offering – You would refuse outright;
My sacrifice is a contrite spirit;
Humble and worthy – Your voice – I hear it!
In Your goodness, Oh Lord, make me anew;
Be near me, Oh Lord, keep me close to You;
Hold me, remold me – into what I should be;
Create in me, Lord, a clean heart from Thee!
D01: 06/28/2013
Psalm 91. The most powerful prayer from the Bible. God’s protection, healing
#psalm91 #psalms #prayer
Pray Everyday
https://rumble.com/v57jz8d-psalm-91.the-most-powerful-prayer-from-the-bible.-gods-protection-healing-p.html
Sleep Well with Psalms. Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Psalm 139.
#faith #god #psalms
prayeveryday777
https://rumble.com/v57jvfg-sleep-well-with-psalms.-psalm-91-psalm-121-psalm-3-psalm-4-psalm-139.faith-.html
______________________________
HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY !!! ❤️❤️❤️
Charlotte99
December 7, 2025 7:36 am
A man from Somalia came to America, started a nonprofit and opened a “multimillion dollar migrant care service agency”
He’s getting over $5 million per year from American taxpayers, being given no-bid contracts from Maine Governor Janet Mills, and is building a military in Somalia
He has been funneling money back to Somalia to build a military in Somalia “The guy is running a migrant services agency that bills MaineCare, which is what we call Medicaid, about $5 million a year”
“He said he raised money in the US to buy weapons, munitions, and supplies for paramilitary force he had hoped to lead as the president of Jubaland.
Yes, that is a real state in Somalia — and to be clear, in Somalia, he’s running to be the warlord of Jubaland.
Elections in Jubaland aren’t exactly like elections in, America, it’s whoever has the most guns is able to certify the election.
So he needed to buy a paramilitary organization and paramilitary support in order to win that election.”
– Abdullahi Ali’s Background came to Maine founded Gateway Community Services (a migrant services nonprofit)
– Gateway Community Services received millions in taxpayer-funded MaineCare payments and no-bid contracts from Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ administration; former employees allege systematic fraudulent billing, over-billing by nearly $1 million in earlier audits
– Governor Janet Mills created the Office of New Americans, whose sole employee (from Sudan) is a former Gateway Community Services staffer The fraud, kick backs and money laundering by Democrats is just mind blowing
https://nitter.poast.org/WallStreetApes/status/1997637222112076179#m
How friggin’ stupid are Americans if we let this stand?
I want those “mass deportations like never seen before” that I voted for. So far, Obama deported faster.
everywhere they go, they commit fraud in amazing amounts!
the governors also need to be held accountable as do other state gov’t officials that turned a blind eye to the fraud.
Charlotte99
December 7, 2025 7:37 am
Columbus Ohio resident explains Somalian fraud operations happening in her city and welfare scams
– She says the Muslim Somalian men have multiple wives
– The men own a business like a market, then the wives sign up for EBT cards and spend only at their husbands store
– She says their also do this with home aid companies, they hire only Somalians and run a completely fraudulent business but it only has to look right on paper
– 80% of the government assisted housing in Columbus is occupied by Somalians
– The Somalians all seem to have new cars
– The Muslim Somalian women walking around have designer purses with EBT cards, and “they have Apple iPhones stuck up in their hijabs”
This can lead to MASSIVE fraud as
– Muslim Polygamous marriages can be hidden to claim extra benefits
– Their stores can exchange EBT benefits for cash
– If fraudulently obtained benefits are cycled through the store to conceal illicit funds (e.g., converting government money into “legitimate” business profits or other uses, this is money laundering
https://nitter.poast.org/WallStreetApes/status/1997560955220459804#m
LOL!!!
LMAO!!! 😂
awwww…timmy doesn’t like that!
That there is funny!
TMI.
Navy days. The worst thing a guy being razzed about anything, was say he didn’t like it.
Cuz then, the razzing increased. Brutal at times. Sorta like hukeem’s sombrero. 
PERFECT!
That’s a very informative interview.
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Can you imagine??? The Democrats, under the Crooked Joe Biden Administration, who always use extreme force and jail-time to destroy their political opponent, wanted to put Congressman Henry Cuellar, and his wife, Imelda, in PRISON, for 15 years, which I predicted these Radical Left Lunatics would do – And they never stopped wanting to fulfill this evil quest! The Dems mercilessly went after Henry with everything they had! They were looking to destroy him, his lovely wife, his two young daughters, and anyone close to them. When the Democrats overwhelmingly lost the 2024 Presidential Election, and power with it, they, regardless, did everything they could to keep going after the Cuellar family. The Dems were vicious, and all because Henry strongly wanted, correctly, BORDER SECURITY! He was against illegals pouring into our Country, totally unchecked and unvetted. The Congressman didn’t want gang members, drug dealers, violent prisoners, people from mental institutions and yes, even murderers, in the good ol’ USA. It was all very unfair what they were doing to him and his family, so much so that his daughters wrote me a beautiful letter about their parents (Just posted on TRUTH!). After reading it I decided, in the interest of justice, and based on the daughter’s loving request, that I would give Henry and Imelda a Full and Complete Pardon. I never spoke to the Congressman, his wife, or his daughters, but felt very good about fighting for a family that was tormented by very sick and deranged people – They were treated sooo BADLY! I signed the papers, and said to people in the Oval Office that I just did a very good, perhaps life saving, thing. God was very happy with me that day! THEN IT HAPPENED!!! Only a short time after signing the Pardon, Congressman Henry Cuellar announced that he will be “running” for Congress again, in the Great State of Texas (a State where I received the highest number of votes ever recorded!), as a Democrat, continuing to work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison – And probably still do! Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Trollin’, trollin’, trollin’…..
Gratitude – a quality ol’ Henry does not have.
DumRat.
NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY, 2025
There are a lot of photos here of the destruction of the various ships.
https://www.thehistoryreader.com/military-history/pearl-harbor-attack-images/
TheseTruths
Thank you.
May the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 never be forgotten.
May all those who died on that day, and those who died later due to the injuries they sustained on that day, never be forgotten. May they rest in eternal Peace.
The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is at the very top of the list of the most beautiful, affecting, and spiritual places I have ever been. It is, for certain, the most beautiful cemetery I’ve ever seen. And I love visiting cemeteries, so I have seen quite a few.
https://www.malone.news/p/sunday-strip-overvaxxer-derangement
Sunday Strip: Overvaxxer Derangement Syndrome (ODS)Narrative shift complete
Another take on the ACIP committee vote to delay Hep B “vaccination” of infants until the age of 2 months:
https://www.2ndsmartestguyintheworld.com/p/the-dark-population-truth-why-are
7 December 2025
Yours Truly: This article features a piece written by Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, M.D.
Dr. Wright states that the Hep B “vaccine” is only to be used for ” “high-risk” groups: prostitutes, drug users, and others.” ”
Dr. Wright: GIVING THE HEP B “VACCINE” TO CHILDREN “TRIPLES THEIR RISK OF DEVELOPING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.” (Bolding mine)
Filly’s cracking me up today…
That first one reminds me of an old military joke (works better in some years than others)…..
Woman flirting with a Major in full dress uniform — when was the last time you were intimate with a woman?
Twenty-oh-five, ma’am.
Oh, my goodness — such a terribly long time!
I dunno — my watch says it’s only twenty-one hundred hours now.
LOL!!!
https://www.malone.news/p/kennedy-unchained
POTUS has released his Secretary of Health to disrupt the vaccine-industrial-academic complex
Fantastic to read AND KNOW how far we’ve come on reigning in Jabs.
Granted I, many, most if not all want Covid Jabs stopped and the 72 Jab schedule shredded.
RFK Jr has a clear license to start slashing. Easy for me to say. Prolly hard to make happen. Yea, I don’t understand all of the bullshit, to work through.
One thing I did not read in Malone’s piece, no mention of some guy that spoke for two hours at the ACIP. He continuously questioned why, if vaccines ARE safe AND effective, why are they shielded from liability.
Cassidy is likely wetting his pants.
Kennedy Unchained
POTUS has released his Secretary of Health to disrupt the vaccine-industrial-academic complex
OMG, this is HUGE.
YESSSS!!!!!!
EVENING PRAYERS
Evening Prayer For Forgiveness
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me through this day and Lord, forgive me for the times when I have wandered outside Your best will for me, instead of trusting You implicitly.
Thank You, that You are such a gracious Shepherd to me and that You come and rescue me even when I lose my way and stray from the path that You have laid out for me.
As I look back over today, I know Lord that there were things that I should have said and done differently, and times when I reacted in a manner that was not honouring Your holy name. Forgive me I pray, but thank You, Father, that You always faithfully prepared to gently bring me back to Yourself.
Give me a good night’s sleep I pray, knowing that there is no condemnation because I am in Christ, and may I wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to do Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Evening-Prayers
Evening Prayer For Future Guidance
Heavenly Father, as I lie down to sleep tonight, I pray that You would guard my sleeping and protect my mind from wandering thoughts and unnecessary planning. Teach me to wait for Your perfect timing and not to try to plan my future in my own strength.
Lord, I know that You have scheduled every day of my life. Help me to trust You in all things and rely on You to lead me along the straight path and guide me in the direction that You would have me to go.
Give me patience to wait for Your perfect timing, and may I not trust in my own abilities and scheming, but rather rest in Your love and trust my future into Your hands.
And so now Lord, I commit this night to you, asking that I would rest soundly and wake refreshed and strong to do Your bidding. This I ask in Jesus’ precious name,
Amen.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Evening-Prayers
Prayer For Grace At The End Of The Day
Heavenly Father, as the day is drawing to its close I ask that Your continued love and presence be with me and with all that are Your children in Christ. Guard us through the long hours of darkness this night I pray, and keep us safe from all harm and dangers that may try to cross our threshold.
Give us, I pray, an untroubled night of rest and quietness of heart. May we be refreshed and renewed in body, soul and spirit as we rest our weary hearts in You through the hours of the night.
Lord, I pray that by Your great grace and mercy, You would grant us untroubled sleep so that we may rise up in the morning strong to do Your bidding. May we all rejoice for the dawn of a new day, knowing that Your mercies are new every morning. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Evening-Prayers
~22 minute Tucker video, if interested. As for me, raincheck.
This is worth listening to, IMO. Tucker is doing some good journalism.
Heading back. Thanks.
—
Edit. Worthwhile listen!
Several times a week, trump posts stuff like this.
WAG, Trump indirectly messaging SC. I do hope Trump continues this.
Looking forward to Trump coming out swinging tomorrow morning.
OR, very early tomorrow morning (DC time), arriving in Europe to start their work day.
Mike Lee
This is our flag
It stands for “we’re tired of subsidizing European socialism”
EU schmuck.
This is our flag.
It stands for unity, freedom, peace, democracy, diversity, science, culture and rule of law.
We can be even stronger if we foster integration, innovation and sovereignty.
Let’s go, Europe!
am i the only one who sees our stars as soldiers and their stars as a circle jerk?
Or a circular firing squad.
this can’t be true, can it?
We’ve known this since Maggot’s days.
So, I’m staying out of The Fiancee’s way while she does Christmas candy, and I’m puttering around in my restricted area, and I just let the computer play whatever it cues up.
It happens, then, that it’s playing bits from Die Zauberflöte when The Fiancee walks through the room, which has me smiling because of a famous musical anecdote…..
A music pupil goes to his teacher, “you must teach me how to write opera!”
His instructor replies, “you are only 22, you are much too young.”
The student argues, “but, Maestro, Mozart wrote his first opera at the age of just 14!” [ Mitridate, re di Ponto ]
And is shot down in flames with, “Yes, but he didn’t ask how.”
what kind of Christmas candy does she make?
She makes a lot of different types — everything from rum balls to chocolate-drizzled pretzels and dried fruits to filled candies.
There are special candy molds where you take melted shell material and paint it onto the inside, then insert fillings (sometimes ganache and sometimes things like hazelnuts or sweetened peanut butter. Then you close off the bottoms and pop ’em out of the molds. A lot of the fillings have liqueurs melted into them.
Truffles! They’re called truffles! (I had to ask The Fiancee).
And peppermint bark, and little rocky-road stacks….
That sounds like gourmet chocolates. She must be quite skilled.
It’s interesting…..they sound like perfect gourmet chocolates — but, no matter how inexpertly they are formed, nobody turns them away.
Those that are so flawed that The Fiancee would be embarrassed to give as gifts…..we eat here.
lucky you!
I was gonna say…sounds quite detailed
sounds wonderful!
My contribution to the topic of today’s discussion:
Jordan is baptized:
LOL!!! That kid is EXCITED FOR THE LORD!!!
Good for Jordan.
Do it! 😂
That was precious 🙂
ICE of TikTok
@ICEofTikTok
11h
Construction company owner says he is seeing a difference ever since ICE has been in Louisiana.
“No immigrants want to go to work … and it is so amazing. I’ve gotten more calls in the last week than I’ve gotten in the last 3 months.”
“I’ve gotten more calls in the last week than I’ve gotten in the last 3 months.”
______________
Why, it’s almost like the alien invaders were taking jobs from Americans.
Exactly as sane people had been saying for the last 30+ years.
Yup. Dems wanted illegals in the jobs, and blacks on welfare or drugs.
I’m seeing young blacks working everywhere now, instead of illegals.
Somebody must have been telling those young blacks “OH NO, WE DON’T HAVE ANY JOBS” – when they damn well did.
Tru dat.
NYC RESIDENTS IN TERROR as Mamdani Confirms DARKEST FEAR – San Francisco 2.0 SCAM Exposed!!
Dec 7, 2025
Sorry, Franklin is ours now.
“Sorry, Franklin is ours now.“
___________
Just like that! 😂🤣😂
LMAO!!!
I’ll take Sabrina after Franklin is done cleaning her up. 😂
Better hurry up! She’s gonna be a nun when he’s done with her! 😂
FBI, ICE & DEA Raid Somali Embassy Office in America — Drugs And $310M Seized | US Military
Dec 7, 2025 HOA KỲ
FBI & ICE Raid Somali Politician in Minneapolis — Cartel Ties, Weapons Caches, Millions Found
Military Daily
Dec 7, 2025
Apparently fiction????
⚠️ DISCLAIMER (Required & Reinforced)
All descriptions of government buildings, law-enforcement agencies, court officials, city hall personnel, police units, federal operations, and criminal activities are entirely invented.
The characters, names, titles, behaviors, motives, and events portrayed do not represent real individuals or real actions by the FBI, DEA, or any public institution.
This video is a fictional dramatic story created solely for entertainment.
Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.
This is not news, not factual reporting, and not a documented account of real-world events
YIKES. In other words, REAL AI SLOP.
Duchess has been putting those vids up for awhile. I never view them because they are obvious A.I. in which I am not interested.
Same here…Slow Guy scrolls on by.
Same here.
Verse of the day is all for me.
^^^ Nails it.
Now that this has come up, I wonder if Duchess knows those videos are AI.
This is “AI slop” (all the visuals are badly matched AI crap), BUT the facts of the Somali scammers – wow.
This is reminiscent of the wave of crime when Castro dumped his prisons on America in the 1980s.
This is good stuff! Thank you! Ohio, too!
Presented without knowing WTH is going on! 😂
$1B Fraud Scandal Erupts Around Gov. Walz
OfficialACLJ
Properties linked to Feeding Our Future fraud still owned by defendants despite forfeiture plans
Dec 4, 2025
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota estimate they have recovered more than $60 million of the $250 million stolen from taxpayers in fraud connected to Feeding Our Future.
Oh, this is GREAT.
This is REAL.
And this is NOT “AI slop”!!!
The GRIFT was REAL.
Betting one of the perps skated to Somalia!!!
EVERY Jeff Dunham, Peanut & José Jalapeño(on a Stick) Interaction EVER
Laugh Society
Old News, but Real News.