Napsterdad

I too am sorry for your loss but know you can take comfort in knowing that she is in a far better place, and that you will one day be reunited. I was once a foster child, and the testimony of your former foster son really struck home. It takes special people to be good foster parents. The challenges are many and the system, and very often the child, don't make it any easier. To see such a glowing testimony speaks volumes about your wife. I am sure she is resting in the loving peace of our Savior's arms.

This topic got me reading through the King James Bible Research Council's website. Perhaps the best quote I found there was: "In summary bus kids do not have trouble with the King James Bible, seminary professors sometimes do." How profoundly true.

Dr. Ward quotes James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" as his argument that giving a Bible to children is a sin. He bases this on 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul speaks against the use of unknown tongues (in which see): 1 Corinthians 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 1 Corinthians 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Since when is English an unknown tongue in America? I have four children ages 34, 31, 19 & 13. Each of them have been King James from birth. Each of them have had no problem understanding the English used in the KJV. In fact, as a family, we have actually found that the other translations often use wording that the Dr. Ward's of this world will tell us is supposedly easier to understand, but in actuality dilutes or fully corrupts the actual intent of many verses. To Dr. Ward I would say: Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. -and- Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Would it be good for me to give my child a bible I know has been altered in such a way as to corrupt the inspired intent of the scriptures? I don't think so, and if you do Dr. Ward then all I have to say is Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) Perhaps Dr. Ward you should follow the wisdom of Solomon and...Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Perhaps then they would not have such difficulty understanding the English language.

Wow! What a Christ like disparaging and demeaning remark. Is this how you disciple everyone you disagree with? While it is true that the tables were rewritten in Exodus 34, the "ORIGINAL" was destroyed in Exodus 32. Just as the "ORIGINAL" of Jeremiah's writings were destroyed in Jeremiah 26:22-23, just to be rewritten later in that chapter. Did you notice my statement "What are we to do without those originals? Now we'll never know what God wanted us to know from those writings. /sarc"? Did you notice the "/sarc" at the end? That means I was being sarcastic. sar·cas·tic /särˈkastik/ adjective marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt. I also then stated that "Fortunately, I have a God that is capable of overcoming the loss of the originals". And He did, in Exodus 34 and later in Jeremiah 26. Ahhh..., but what do I know? I'm just a "stupid" rube not nearly as smart or educated as Joe Chandler. I bow to you sir in humble adoration of your greatness. /sarc.

Welcome back, shipmate!

I grew up and lived most my life in New York. They haven't had a good governor since..., , since..., well let's just say a VERY long time.

First, the disclaimer: I am in no way a Trump fan. I will only be voting for him because he is the best option we have in 2024 (which speaks volumes to the sad state this country is in). I also doubt very seriously that I will EVER have a Trump bible in my possession. If I do it will most likely not be by my choice. 1. For all those who would criticize this Bible simply because it is made in China, I suggest you first rid yourself of every possession you have that is made in China including the American Flags being made there. Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 2. Does the Bible being manufactured in China negate the effectiveness of the scriptures therein? Would it not be a blessing if someone(s) in that manufacturing facility would actually take hold of one and read it (English is a required subject in Chinese schools)? Would it not be a further blessing if some escaped the confines of that manufacturing facility and found their way into the general populace? I should say that we pray that this be the case and that souls be saved. I wonder how many souls have been saved by God given scriptures that were produced in places most would consider unsavory. 3. How many Trump supporters bought a Trump Bible simply because it had his name on it, not because of any religious affiliation? How many of those then got saved? Is that not a blessing regardless of where the Bible is manufactured? Should Trump, as a presidential hopeful, have "his" (actually Greenwood's) bibles made in China? From a political perspective I find the idea abhorrent. Let me add it to the ever-growing list of things I don't like about Trump. But from a business perspective it is likely more conducive to profit, which is what business is all about, and Trump is a businessman first, politician second. Regardless of where these bibles are made, however, the main point is; are souls being save through them? If yes, then perhaps this is one of those cases where we eat the meat and spit out the bones.

Yeah, remember the days before all this climate change "Gore speak"? Florida NEVER had hurricanes back then. Nothing but cool breezes and calm seas. Keep wearing that tinfoil hat TGL.

@HappyChristianThank you for the well-reasoned response. More grist for the mill. There is a good amount of gray area here. Perhaps this is one of those issue that we will never have a definitive answer to this side of Heaven. And when we are there it really won't matter anymore will it?

I struggle with this one a bit. Mainly with regard to those who got married before they were saved. Then, after some years, one or the other gets saved, but the other refuses to accept the gift and continues on in a sinful lifestyle, sometimes even more so just to get under the skin of the newly saved spouse. This happened to my brother. He got saved and his wife threw down the gauntlet. When he then got baptized she went off the deep end. Had he stayed married to her she would not only have destroyed her own life, but his as well. I know 1 Timothy 3 states that Pastors and Deacons should be the husband of one wife, but can someone affirm that doesn't just simply mean 'the husband of one wife', a previous unbiblical marriage not being part of the equation? What do you do with Ezra 10 where it was condoned that people not only put away their wives, but children as well, from marriages that were done outside the will of God? I'm not saying that the prevailing opinion on 1 Timothy 3, that one must never have been divorced to be a pastor or deacon, is wrong; I am just stating that I am not convinced. My brother was never called to either office (rightly so for many other reasons), but I know a few others that if they believed they were called would probably make very good pastors or deacons. Then, what do you do with the man whose only wife is a divorced woman? Is he disqualified? For the deacon 1 Timothy 3:11 states: Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. But no such requirement is listed under the pastor qualifications. And does this verse mean that she cannot be a divorcee? What if her previous husband was very abusive to the point her life (and that of her children) was in danger? Once again, I am not stating that the prevailing IFB stance of no divorce for a pastor or deacon is wrong, I am just stating that I am not fully convinced.

Our church has Sunday evening services. I did go to a church some time ago that did not. In its place it was highly encouraged that people have one or more families over for Sunday fellowship. I actually enjoyed this while it lasted. I learned a great deal during this fellowship with the saints and the spiritual growth of our family during that time was profound. Unfortunately, after about five years or so, the practice dwindled significantly, and nothing replaced it. The church, as far as I know is still Sunday mornings only.

Actually, the original 1611 KJV was tainted right from the start as it had the Apocrypha inserted in between the Old and New Testaments.

A "Trump Bible". Really? Doesn't that sound just a tad bit oxymoronic to anyone but me? It's not even truly "his Bible" as he just took Lee Greenwood's pre-existing Bible and pasted his name on it for political and monetary gain. (FYI, Greenwood's Bible was supposed to be NIV, but Zondervan withheld the rights, so they had to go KJV as it is in the public domain). The main thing I see when I look at Trump is pride and arrogance. I don't see Trump in any way as a spiritual leader. I'm only voting for him because in this nation's current sad state of affairs he is the least harmful. His name certainly doesn't belong on a Bible. Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

My company provides my phone, which is the ONLY reason I have an iPhone XR. I've had the same one for the past 5 years and it still does everything I need it to do, just not as well as the old Samsung I used to have. As soon as I retire it's back to Samsung, and likely the cheapest one they have on Consumer Cellular. I have no need for the one-pixel better picture quality the latest $1000 upgrade will get you. As for AI, like everything else I believe it is what the user makes of it. If used for appropriate reasons I do not see the harm. Unfortunately, there are always those who will twist whatever technology is out there to the work of the devil. We cannot stop advancing simply because some may use those advances for evil (unless, of course, that advancement is initially intended for evil).

Our church has a Jubilee going on through Thursday. Last night we had special music by the Ben Rochester Family and Charlie Lambert, then preaching by Joe Arthur. After that I couldn't bring myself to be brought low by the debate. From what I hear I made the right choice. God is good. If you haven't had a chance to hear the headliners we had yesterday I highly recommend each one. Joe Arthur is good online, but he is fantastic live. I can't wait to see what tonight offers. So much better than anything political.