DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220331

Now that the pork tenderloin is in the marinade (extra-virgin olive oil, honey, soy sauce, and lots of garlic and score the meat before you put it in; after at least an hour in the marinade, broil or grill about 7-8 minutes on each side; cut into 3/4 inch medallions and grill/broil an additional 4-5 minutes on each side), and the broth is on the stove for tomorrow, it’s time to admit I thought this was going to be meme and open tab clearance day.

Then I sat down, and, well….

https://twitter.com/BarnabasDull/status/1509202374191050755
https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1509271731977871364
https://twitter.com/chieftalkbull/status/1509274058839707648
https://twitter.com/Skye_1008/status/1508988631624601601

Enough of that heresy.

Gail brought this to the QTree on Tuesday, and IMHO, it is worth the time to have it on in the background while doing chores or walking on the treadmill. Lots of good information there.

Related to that interview, this was in an open tab from Monday:

Dumbphone Sales Are Soaring As People Revolt Against “Overwhelming” Smartphones

In a time when various “developed world” intelligence agencies are filling up petabytes of hard disk space with domestic phone recordings and tracking their own citizens who – in the pursuit of a “liberal” agenda – have been escalated to a greater terrorist threat than actual foreign terrorists, some people have had enough and are throwing their smart phones into the trash and replacing them with “dumbphones” instead.

One among them is seventeen-year-old Robin West, who according to the BBC is an anomaly among her peers: “she doesn’t have a smartphone.” Instead of scrolling through apps like TikTok and Instagram all day, she uses a so-called “dumbphone”.

Those readers who had a cell phone in the late 1990s are all too familiar with these; for everyone else these are basic handsets, or feature phones, with very limited functionality compared to say an iPhone. For the most part, you can typically only make and receive calls and SMS text messages. And, if you are lucky, listen to radio and take very basic photos, but definitely not connect to the internet or apps.

Robin’s decision to ditch her former smartphone two years ago was a spur of the moment thing. While looking for a replacement handset in a second-hand shop she was lured by the low price of a “brick phone”. Her current handset, from French firm MobiWire, cost her just £8. And because it has no smartphone functionality she doesn’t have an expensive monthly data bill to worry about.

“I didn’t notice until I bought a brick phone how much a smartphone was taking over my life,” she says. “I had a lot of social media apps on it, and I didn’t get as much work done as I was always on my phone.”

The Londoner adds that she doesn’t think she’ll ever buy another smartphone. “I’m happy with my brick – I don’t think it limits me. I’m definitely more proactive.”

According to BBC, dumbphones are enjoying a revival. Google searches for them jumped by 89% between 2018 and 2021, according to a report by software firm SEMrush. And while sales figures are hard to come by, one report said that global purchases of dumbphones were due to hit one billion units last year, up from 400 million in 2019. This compares to worldwide sales of 1.4 billion smart phones last year, following a 12.5% decline in 2020.

Well, there’s a switch.

In other news, Russell Brand took a shower and washed his hair.

Okay, what else have I got.

This was on the radio as I drove home from the store.

It’s not the best to which to dance.

____________________________________

One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism.

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

EXODUS 32:7-14

7And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves; 8they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'” 9And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people; 10now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; but of you I will make a great nation.” 11But Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, “O LORD, why does thy wrath burn hot against thy people, whom thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, `With evil intent did he bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou didst swear by thine own self, and didst say to them, `I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.'” 14And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people.

PSALMS 106:19-23

19They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. 20They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. 21They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, 22wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea. 23Therefore he said he would destroy them — had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

JOHN 5:31-47

31If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; 32there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. 33You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; 38and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. 39You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; 40yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41I do not receive glory from men. 42But I know that you have not the love of God within you. 43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

_____________________________________________________

I always wondered about this.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220324

This go around for a new Supreme Court justice is getting a lot of attention…and ridicule. After Tuesday’s “I can’t decide on who is a woman” from a woman, even Tucker got into it.

https://twitter.com/EmilyKath319/status/1506711493030690818

^^^^THIS^^^^

Just in case anyone missed this on yesterday’s daily.

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1506688431702872065

More Tucker on this theme.

Most Congress Critters don’t have critical thinking skills like this.

This came up on the daily yesterday. Why not.

____________________________________

One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism.

Once upon a time, when a liberal couple I know were really friendly before they found out I was a conservative – okay, we’re still friends – we went to see a college production of Shakespeare’s Othello. Shakespeare’s symbolism is a completely different topic, but one of the characters is a prostitute, and the girl playing her walked on stage in a bright red dress. Hence:

Red is an extreme color. It is a symbol of power, passionate love, passion, adventure, and energy; but can also symbolize anger, seduction, violence, and danger. 

https://www.milanartinstitute.com/blog/symbolism-of-color

In this case, red is the color of passion, and that is utilized in many ways throughout western civilization.

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

JEREMIAH 7:23-28

23But this command I gave them, `Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. 25From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day; 26yet they did not listen to me, or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers. 27“So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28And you shall say to them, `This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.

_____________________________________________________

Oh, my, JP is so on with this one.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220317

Guess what another ship from that Evergreen company ran aground.

This one wasn’t really leaving the US, but, man those ship pilots can’t seem to avoid running aground.

https://twitter.com/Patri0tCx/status/1503948734866071558
https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1504176424709672967

And here all you good Q-Treepers thought the wearin’ of the green would be the theme of the day. Nope.

____________________________________

One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism.

Today we explore just how far back the symbolism goes. It goes back A LONG WAY.

Gail brought up the topic of Alice in Wonderland being symbolic. I went searching and found this:

https://youtu.be/vTJ0Emfo0Wg

There are some errors in the narration. Lewis Carroll was NOT Jack the Ripper, and Baphomet is the demon of human sacrifice, but otherwise it’s interesting – if really disturbing – stuff.

And…as far as symbols go:

The Christians also saw hares in this symbolic light and associated them with death and resurrection. Thus, many early Christian gravestones include depictions of hares.

Many churches, illuminated manuscripts and breastplates throughout Europe, especially in Germany and England, depict three hares in a circle. The three ears one sees make a triangle in the center, symbolizing the Holy Trinity: “Drei Hasen und der Ohren drei und doch hat Keiner mehr als Zwei” which means “Three hares and three ears and yet none [hare] has more than two [ears].”

https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/f045_Hare.htm

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

PSALMS 1:1-4, 6

1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. 6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

_____________________________________________________

No new JP, so we’ll go with some old Johnny.

Dear MAGA: 20220313 Open Topic

This Sanctuary 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.

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 you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront 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/


Our Inheritance in Christ

The Bible is full of references to the inheritance believers have in Christ. Ephesians 1:11 says, “In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”. Other passages that mention a believer’s inheritance include Colossians 3:24 and Hebrews 9:15. Our inheritance is, in a word, heaven. It is the sum total of all God has promised us in salvation.

First Peter 1:4 describes this inheritance further, saying that we have been born again “into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” According to the apostle Peter, our inheritance is distinguished by four important qualities:

Our inheritance in Christ is imperishable. What we have in Christ is not subject to corruption or decay. In contrast, everything on earth is in the process of decaying, rusting, or falling apart: our houses, our cars, and even our own bodies. Our treasure in heaven, though, is unaffected (Matthew 6:19–20). Those who have been born again are born “not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

Our inheritance in Christ is unspoiled. What we have in Christ is free from anything that would deform, debase, or degrade. Nothing on earth is perfect. Even the most beautiful things of this world are flawed; if we look closely enough, we can always find an imperfection. But Christ is truly perfect. He is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26), and our inheritance in Him is also holy, blameless, exalted, and pure. No earthly corruption or weakness can touch what God has bestowed. Revelation 21:27 says that “nothing impure will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful.”

Our inheritance in Christ is unfading. What we have in Christ is an enduring possession. As creatures of this world, it’s hard for us to imagine colors that never fade, excitement that never flags, or value that never depreciates; but our inheritance is not of this world. Its glorious intensity will never diminish. God says, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5).

Our inheritance in Christ is reserved. What we have in Christ is being “kept” in heaven for us. Your crown of glory has your name on it. Although we enjoy many blessings as children of God here on earth, our true inheritance—our true home—is reserved for us in heaven. Like Abraham, we are “looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The Holy Spirit guarantees that we’ll receive eternal life in the world to come (2 Corinthians 1:22). In fact, “when you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13–14).

Jesus prayed for His followers, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name” (John 17:11). We are secure, being guarded by the Almighty Himself, and surely our inheritance is equally secure. No one can steal it from us. John 10:28–29: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” See also Matthew 6:20.

As God’s children, “adopted” into His family, we have been assured an inheritance from our Heavenly Father. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). This heavenly heritage is God’s purpose and will for us (Ephesians 1:11). We receive the promise of our inheritance by hearing the word of truth and believing in Christ (Ephesians 1:13).

One day, we will take possession of our portion, our heritage, our full inheritance. John Calvin writes of our inheritance, “We do not have the full enjoyment of it at present. . . . We walk . . . in hope, and we do not see the thing as if it were present, but we see it by faith. . . . Although, then, the world gives itself liberty to trample us under foot, as they say; although our Lord keeps us tried with many temptations; although he humbles us in such a way that it may seem we are as sheep appointed to the slaughter, so that we are continually at death’s door, yet we are not destitute of a good remedy. And why seeing that the Holy Spirit reigns in our hearts, we have something for which to give praise even in the midst of all our temptations. . . . [Therefore,] we should rejoice, mourn, grieve, give thanks, be content, wait” (from Calvin’s Ephesian sermons, delivered in Geneva, 1558—59).

When we understand and value the glory that awaits us, we’re better able to endure whatever comes our way in this life. We can give God praise even during trials because we have His guarantee that we will receive all He has promised: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Revelation 21:4 gives us a brief but beautiful description of our inheritance: “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” God and man will dwell together. Everything will be made new. The bejeweled city, New Jerusalem, will be our residence. The river of life will issue from God’s throne. The healing tree of life with twelve kinds of fruit will grow there, too. There will be no night there, because the eternal light of the Lamb will fill the new heaven and new earth and shine upon all the heirs of God.

David writes, “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; / you make my lot secure. / The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; / surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Psalm 16:5–6). And that is why “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).


When We All Get To Heaven
Eliza E. Hewitt 1851 – 1920

  1. Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
    Sing His mercy and His grace;
    In the mansions bright and blessed
    He’ll prepare for us a place.

    While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
    Clouds will overspread the sky;
    But when trav’ling days are over,
    Not a shadow, not a sigh.

    Let us then be true and faithful,
    Trusting, serving every day;
    Just one glimpse of Him in glory
    Will the toils of life repay.

    Onward to the prize before us!
    Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
    Soon the pearly gates will open;
    We shall tread the streets of gold.

    When we all get to heaven,
    What a day of rejoicing that will be!
    When we all see Jesus,
    We’ll sing and shout the victory!

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220310

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1501666583206408197

Yesterday’s bombshell headline:

BREAKING: Documents Reveal US Department of Defense Was Funding Ukrainian Biolabs — Russia Releases List of Biological Agents Tested in US BioLabs in Ukraine, Including Salmonella, E. Coli, Anthrax and The Plague

That followed an announcement from Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation:

“There was a statement made by the Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, leave no doubt, will not give Washington to be silent this time. Their attempts, while spilling blood, to find biological and chemical weapons throughout the world. We have found your own products. We have found your biological material. As it turns out it was all happening in Ukraine,” Russia state-affiliated media reported.

Oopsie.

I’ll say they were.

This is no longer a conspiracy theory.

This has come up on this site more than once now. There just might be something to it.

Meanwhile, what is REALLY going on in Ukraine? Rayzor brought us a Twitter thread which is LOADED with videos. Unpacking it won’t work well in a Thread Reader. But, the show must go on.

There’s more on this guy’s feed:

Let’s see…what else have I got….

How does one detox from virtue signaling?

https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1501413646848729101

Yeah, no. I won’t even go to Hobby Lobby with gas prices this high. It’s MILES away.

What’s in your wallet?

https://twitter.com/Emma89572703/status/1501436870642778116

Have not seen evidence that that is happening still, but it’s doable.

That makes my stomach hurt.

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1501608412483887108

My mom and I one time bought an auction basket named “Margaritaville.” Five gallons of the stuff in a washtub. Talk about the local way to the max. (It’s not a true STL party without an iced down washtub full of stuff to drink. Usually Budweiser, but people around here will drink anything.)

____________________________________

One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism.

Symbolism will return later.

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

MATTHEW 7:7-12

7“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

_____________________________________________________

Gotta love JP.

Dear MAGA: 20220306 Open Topic

This Sanctuary 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.

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 you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront 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/

Sing A New Song!

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? (Psalm 43:5a)

We live in a world of pain. Jesus wept over the death of Lazarus (John 11:35). There’s no need to always put on a happy face and pretend that things are okay when they’re not.

There are many biblical examples of men of God struggling with sadness, even to the point of depression. David wrote, “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?” (Psalm 56:8). David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), didn’t gloss over his sadness; he expressed it to God. Both Moses (Numbers 11:5) and Elijah (1 Kings 19;3-5), two heroes of the faith, confessed to God that they preferred to die than live in their current reality. Neither was rebuked by God for his feelings; rather, both were met with God’s love and provision. The Bible is not shy about admitting the realities of human emotion. Sadness is part of life, and it is not condemned.

As believers, we’re exhorted to see the greater reality of God’s plan even in the midst of our sadness and depression. Yes, this world is fallen and often painful. It can be depressing. But God is far greater. He is at work, victoriously. Moses and Elijah received God’s provision and experienced His refreshing. Shortly after pouring out his sadness, David praised God. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

It’s OK for Christians to call trouble for what it is. At the same time, we take heart in God’s care. Taking heart doesn’t mean pasting on a smile or ignoring the feeling of emptiness that depression brings. It doesn’t mean ignoring the relational hurts or the misperceptions that have led to depression (Satan’s lies, if we believe them, will lead us to despair).

What taking heart does mean is bringing all our pain to God. It does mean continuing to trust in Him. It does mean believing that what He says about Himself and about us is true, even when we don’t feel like it is. We acknowledge the depravity of the world, but we also acknowledge the sufficiency of God.

It isn’t wrong to be depressed. But it is wrong—and not especially helpful in overcoming a depressed state—to give up on God when we are depressed. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 43:5).


Therefore if anyone is joined to Christ by faith in Him as Savior, he’s a new creature altogether, reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit; the old moral and spiritual condition have passed away. Spiritual awakening brings a new life. Behold!  The fresh and new have come!  2 Cor 5:17 (amplified)

With the new life in Christ, we have the fresh and new, and are no longer mired in life as the world knows it. The pain and sadness of the world are now replaced by peace and joy of our promised eternal life . . . and our praises to God for his mercy and grace.

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: Sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, praise His name” (Psalm 96:1–2).

Many other psalms echo a similar thought: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory” (Psalm 98:1). David intoned, “I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You” (Psalm 144:9). “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy,” insists Psalm 33:3. Again and again, God’s people are encouraged to “Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people” (Psalm 149:1).

In each of these passages, new means “original,” “fresh,” “one of a kind,” and “never seen before,” or, in this case, “never heard before.” Through the prophet Isaiah, God said, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18–19). Right before this, the Lord declared, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the end of the earth” (Isaiah 42:9–10).

When we’re born into the family of God, He makes us new creatures in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explained, “The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17; see also Galatians 6:15). To the Corinthians, Paul said, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

As God’s people, we express praise and thanks to Him. Singing unto the Lord a new song is the natural reaction of an individual who is newly saved and transformed by the Lord: “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3)

This new song is a fresh response of praise and thanks—one that matches the freshness of God’s goodness and mercy, which are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). A new song springs forth from the heart of a worshiper who has been struck anew with wonder at the greatness of God and the salvation He has provided. When we see the mighty hand of God working in a way we’ve never observed before, we can’t help but burst forth with a song we’ve never sung before.

A new song has been heard from people of every generation—sung by a choir of born-again believers who have tasted and seen the goodness and salvation of the Lord. From days of old and for all eternity, followers from every tribe, language, people, and nation sing unto the Lord a new song (Revelation 5:9). Throughout the earth and before the throne of God in heaven, we can hear the redeemed singing a new song to the Lord (Revelation 14:3).


We look forward and look up in eager anticipation of the coming Sonrise that will bathe the entire world in God’s Light. Ours is not to grab our old, gray raincoats to trudge out into the drizzle and chill of this present world, being blown about by the sinful winds so prevalent in our besieged world. We trust in God and not ourselves and our own thinking. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will guide our paths.

We have won! We are the conquerors! The victory is ours . . . it is fait accompli.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Are we there yet? Are we at least walking along that path that leads to an inexpressible joy in Christ? Are we even looking for that path?

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 43:5)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. (Psalm 37:1-2)

Our path is here . . . it’s already ours. We need to lay hold of that truth and, believing, let it bring to our lives something that is fully in God’s plan for us . . . God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220303

TheStormHasArrived17Forwarded from 🇺🇸⚔️AbsoluteConviction1776⚔️🇺🇸 (🇺🇸⚔️Absolute1776⚔️🇺🇸)

After two years of having my personal life utterly f***ed with, and toyed with by the Dems – they can kiss the fattest part of my natural born white a$$ expecting “unity”.

FOR TWO YEARS;

You kept us in masks.

You kept us indoors.

You masked our children, and gave them PTSD that will take a life time to erase.

You kept us separated.

You forced an experimental drug on society.

You forced that drug while taking people’s livelihoods away because they chose not to take it.

You fired Doctors, Nurses, Firefighters, Police, and EMTs because of their choice. Less than a year after hailing them as heroes.

You used this sham to steal an election.

You stole that election in an attempt to usher in World Wide Totalitarianism.

You’ve been the direct cause of death, disease, famine, and families losing everything.

You stood idly by while your BLM and Antifa lackeys ravaged American cities.

You pushed for defunding police.

You gaslit an entire nation, and the World into division, hatred, and chaos.

You’ve used your mockingbird media to brainwash the innocent.

You fight for the right to murder babies.

You fight for the right to force a child to have sexual reassignment surgery.

You project, lie, manipulate and twist every single soul on this planet.

You’ve pushed God out, and welcomed Satan.

You’ve committed high treason.

You diddle kids.

You cover for pedophiles.

You call us racist.

You call us domestic terrorists.

You ran a false flag on January 6th, thus leading to horrible treatment of folks who simply walked around inside the Capitol.

You’ve allowed Big Pharma to dictate how healthy someone can be.

You cancelled the Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Jemima.

You tear down statues.

You burn books.

You censor free speech.

I’m sure I could keep going, but Imma go ahead and wrap this up.

Listen to me. Very carefully. Yes, [you]. We will not forget. We will not forgive. We will not unite with you. Period.

You will soon discover the sleeping giant you have awakened. Will we get violent? NOPE. Nor do we need to. We will continue doing as we have done for the past 4.5 years. And that is kicking you square in the dick over and over with truth, information, and memes.

Freedom loving humans the world over are sick of the bullshit, and if you think for one second ANY of us are gonna just let this shit slide, you better wake the fuck up and get some Wheaties in ya because we ain’t going away.

Our resolve has only strengthened. Our anger is Righteous, and God blankets us with His love, guidance, safety, and protection. Most importantly; What we have, you lack – We have truth, we have resolve, we have love, and we have GOD.

That’s why we will win.

GOD and LOVE.

God wins.

The end.

🇺🇸⚔️WWG1WGA⚔️🇺🇸

https://twitter.com/Stopnconsider/status/1498796798248431617

At Ash Wednesday Mass yesterday, I saw a t-shirt that said, “Women’s rights begin in the womb.” I wonder how sleepy, creepy Joe would square that one.

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1499104132560470030
https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1499146749772013578

My mom and I one time bought an auction basket named “Margaritaville.” Five gallons of the stuff in a washtub. Talk about the local way to the max. (It’s not a true STL party without an iced down washtub full of stuff to drink. Usually Budweiser, but people around here will drink anything.)

Sticking with the surveillance theme:

____________________________________

One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism.

However, this is a symbol that the other side does not seem to use other than to send a message.

ASHES

The liturgical use of ashes originates in the Old Testament times. Ashes symbolized mourning, mortality, and penance. For instance, in the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard of the decree of King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes, 485-464 BC) of Persia to kill all of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire (Est 4:1). Job (whose story was written between seventh and fifth centuries BC) repented in sackcloth and ashes (Jb 42:6). Prophesying the Babylonian captivity of Jerusalem, Daniel (c. 550 BC) wrote, “I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Dn 9:3). In the 5th century BC, after Jonah’s preaching of conversion and repentance, the town of Ninevah proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, and the king covered himself with sackcloth and sat in the ashes (Jon 3:5-6). These Old Testament examples evidence both a recognized practice of using ashes and a common understanding of their symbolism.

Jesus Himself also made reference to ashes: Referring to towns that refused to repent of sin although they had witnessed the miracles and heard the good news, our Lord said, “If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed in sackcloth and ashes long ago” (Mt 11:21).

The early Church continued the usage of ashes for the same symbolic reasons. In his book, De Poenitentia, Tertullian (c. 160-220) prescribed that the penitent must “live without joy in the roughness of sackcloth and the squalor of ashes.” Eusebius (260-340), the famous early Church historian, recounted in his The History of the Church how an apostate named Natalis came to Pope Zephyrinus clothed in sackcloth and ashes begging forgiveness. Also during this time, for those who were required to do public penance, the priest sprinkled ashes on the head of the person leaving confession.

More information on ashes and their use in Christianity can be found at the link above.

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20

15“See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. 16If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. 17But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

PSALMS 1:1-4, 6

1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. 6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

LUKE 9:22-25

22saying, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. 25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

_____________________________________________________

Gotta love JP.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220224

We’ll start easy with life imitating art.

This is nowhere close to over.

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1496525338058407936
https://twitter.com/RadioGenova/status/1496530709699301378

I never thought this song would be used in this context, but, yeah.

What they really think of us.

https://twitter.com/KyleKashuv/status/1496262915367870465

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1496573923768639493

My mom and I one time bought an auction basket named “Margaritaville.” Five gallons of the stuff in a washtub. Talk about the local way to the max. (It’s not a true STL party without an iced down washtub full of stuff to drink. Usually Budweiser, but people around here will drink anything.)

Sticking with the surveillance theme:

____________________________________

One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism.

This came up earlier this week:

Animal Print: represents Beta/Sex Kitten Mind Programming, promotes hyper-sexuality, mind control, alters.

Animal prints are really a classic look, and many wear them. Not everyone who wears animal prints will be in the club, that’s for sure.

____________________________________

And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

____________________________________________________

JAMES 5:1-6

1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.

PSALMS 49:14-20

13This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [Selah] 14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home. 15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. [Selah] 16Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 17For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 18Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself, 19he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light.

MARK 9:41-50

41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. 42“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49For every one will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

_____________________________________________________

Gotta love JP.

Dear Maga: 20220220

This Sanctuary 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.

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 you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront 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/

Child of God 2

Child of We are the children of God, brought into his family by the power and grace of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. As believers, we hear we are God’s children. But often we don’t live our lives in response to that truth and instead live out of the mindset of an orphan. Children don’t worry when they have a good father. They don’t wonder if they’ll be able to eat, if they’re loved or if they have a place in this world. The unconditional love of a parent lays a foundation for them to have secure peace and joy. God desires the same for us. God wants to lay an unshakable foundation for us based solely on his love for us as His child so that when the storms come and waves crash over us, we remain strong in our identity.

John 1:12-13 says, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Galatians 4:6-7 says, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Finally, 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Through adoption into God’s family we are now a co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 says that we are God’s children, “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” We were born again into God’s family when we asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.

So what does it mean to be God’s child? What does it mean to be a co-heir with Christ? It means that all that is God’s is yours. He shares with us his kingdom. We have a Father who gives us amazing gifts. We have a Father who absolutely loves spending time with us. Our heavenly Father’s love for us knows no bounds. His love is pervasive, powerful, and freely given. We no longer need to worry about whether we have a place in this world. There’s no need to concern ourselves with whether we will have clothes or food. We no longer have to live in pursuit of the opinions of those around us. God enjoys us. He has a plan for us. He doesn’t take being our Father lightly. He takes complete ownership of His promises. He will strengthen us, teach us, and develop us. To be the child of God is to be loved, liked, and completely cared for.

So how can we live in response to God’s word? How can we get out of the mindset of an orphan? We must have faith that God is who He says He is and believe he will do what He’s promised to do. Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” We have heard the word of the Lord today. We are His child. He promises to provide for us. So have faith! Faith isn’t something we just conjure up. It’s a response to God’s faithfulness. God has and will be faithful to us.

Allow His Word to stir up faith within you today. Live in response to His promises, and allow the peace and joy of being God’s child to lay an unshakable foundation in you today.

*https://www.first15.org/04/14/being-the-child-of-god/


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.”

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20220217

I just love those bison. That’s a Getty Images photo.

https://twitter.com/PapiTrumpo/status/1494038817984106497

President Trump spoke with Glenn Beck and commented on the latest Durham findings:

“This is sort of an amazing thing that’s happening with Durham, cause a lot of people had given up… He seems to be going forward at a level that nobody ever thought was possible.

I mean what he’s revealing, if you really look at it and study it & read what he wrote, this looks like it’s just a foundation. This is the beginning. They’re building a building and this is just a foundation on which a lot of big things are going to be revealed.

Look I have very little doubt that the upper levels of government – meaning the top level, specifically and the Vice[President] level, if he were to understand it. I have very little doubt that they knew it was happening. Very little doubt.”

Why is Durham important? It’s not that other things aren’t, but this is the dam that when it breaks, the swamp comes into full view.

Including the Clowns In America:

According to Durham, Joffe and his associates manipulated that data to make it seem like Trump, and those in Trump’s world, had suspicious interactions with internet protocol (IP) addresses affiliated with a Russian mobile phone provider. They then combined those allegations with the Alfa Bank hoax materials (the subject of Sussmann’s Fall 2016 meeting with then-FBI General Counsel James Baker).

This damaging information, purporting to demonstrate at least circumstantial evidence of Trump/Russia collusion, was presented on February 9, 2017 to what Durham describes as U.S. Government “Agency-2.”

That agency was the CIA. We know for sure that Sussmann met with the CIA General Counsel. We learned in January 2022 that, if Sussmann is to be believed, there were two other CIA employees at that meeting.

In other words, a Clinton supporting contractor (Joffe) obtained sensitive information (perhaps unlawfully) about the Office of the President of the United States (Trump), manipulated the information, passed it to a DNC/Clinton lawyer (Sussmann), who then delivered it to the CIA.

All on American soil.

This is important because the CIA is generally prohibited from conducting domestic operations.

Please, don’t write this off as being a distraction. It’s the bearing wall that’s holding up the [DS]. It gets demolished, and the house of cards comes tumbling down.

And then on Tuesday evening late, one of our own brought testimony as presented by Gateway Pundit about Hitlery in STL in 2016 from Ann Dorn, the widow of a man killed in the 2020 riots.

I was the supervisor assigned to the hotel she [Hillary] was staying at… Everything was enclosed.  Walkways within the hotel were enclosed with tarps.  And that Scooby van that everybody calls, we were talking about it and there were secret service agents there and they were talking like, ‘Oh yeah, they have it specially made for her.  It’s curb height because she can’t step up or down.  They want it right at the curb so she can walk right in to it.’

[During a walkthrough a week or so before the event with the Secret Service, Police and hotel staff]  We were walking around and where she was going to practice her debate was at the other end of the hotel in a conference room… It’s like a whole block away…The Secret Service agents looked at us and said, ‘she can’t do this… She can’t walk and they’re arguing with each other, she can’t walk.’ [They said we’ll have to get a wheelchair but then said they couldn’t do that because people would see her in it.]

The day that she arrived, we’re at the hotel waiting.  Everybody knows there’s always a motorcade with Secret Service involved. Highways get shut down for everybody.  All the sudden the motorcade stops .  Nobody knows why.  I’m in the communications center and there’s some bickering on the radio because you can hear Secret Service talking and they’re bickering back and forth.  I’m not thinking much about it.  So they get there.  And of course, when they get there the hotel shuts down completely… Wherever you are you’re locked down completely and you can’t leave because Hillary doesn’t want to see you…Nobody is supposed to see her.  She doesn’t want to look at anybody.

[In the Comms Center where Ann was at, two Secret Service guys were arguing] ‘Why wasn’t the medical bag in the van.  Why was it in car number whatever?’

The area in question being quite familiar to this writer says that the hotel was either the Ritz in Clayton or the Chase Park Plaza in the Central West End less than a football field away from Mark McCloskey’s house. (Seriously, this is my old stomping grounds in multiple decades.) Either one, she was one sick woman even then.

XVII’s three year delta coming up talks about Bill and Hillary’s “public” health taking a turn for the worse. Be ready for drama on that score.

About the public’s faith in medicine….

https://twitter.com/TryGreat/status/1494015494776492032

The comments on that one are worth a gander. People are waking up.

And Russell Brand.

Memes in no particular order.

Celery definitely counts as a green vegetable.

My mom and I one time bought an auction basket named “Margaritaville.” Five gallons of the stuff in a washtub. Talk about the local way to the max. (It’s not a true STL party without an iced down washtub full of stuff to drink. Usually Budweiser, but people around here will drink anything.)

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One of the obstacles to full understanding of just what the enemy is all about revolves around the concept of symbolism. They will return next week.

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And now for the business portion.

Please review our HOST and site owner’s Guidelines for posting and discussion for this site. Wolf is kind enough to put up with *most* of us and our antics after thorough vetting. Violators of the baiting and deliberately attempting to divide the group rules WILL face consequences.

The discourse on this site is to be CIVIL – no name calling, baiting, or threatening others here is allowed. Company manners are appreciated. Those who are so inclined may visit Wolf’s other sanctuary, the U-Tree, to slog out discussions best saved for a wrestling mat. If, for some reason, this site is not available, head over to the UTree and visit the post at the top of the list or the closest rescue thread.

This site is a celebration of the natural rights endowed to humans by our Creator as well as those enshrined in the Bill of Rights adopted in the founding documents of the United States of America. Within the limits of law, how we exercise these rights is part of the freedom of our discussion.

THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HERE ARE ENTITLED TO OUR OPINIONS AND PREJUDICES, ETC., SO LONG AS THEY CAUSE NO PHYSICAL HARM TO OTHERS OR DOXX OUR FELLOW TREE DWELLERS.

All opinions here are valued for the diversity they bring to the issues, and the shaping of understanding regarding topics for which many of us do not have all information. Correcting the record on any one topic is appreciated.

Be careful in expressing thoughts as we would all like to think well of the rest of the group, and ill-thought out comments have a way of wrecking that for everyone.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

  1. No food fights
  2. No running with scissors
  3. If you bring snacks, be sure they are made with bacon

Auntie DePat’s requests as we are all supposedly adults and don’t just play them on TV like the body doubles pretending to be the squatter in chief:

If you see something has not been posted, do us all a favor, and post it. Please, do not complain that it has not been done yet.

The scroll wheel on your mouse can be your friend. As mature adults, please use it here in the same manner you would in avoiding online porn.

Thank you so much for any and all attention to such details. It is GREATLY appreciated by more than one party here.

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JAMES 2:1-9

1My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you? 8If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

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Gotta love JP.