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    The Zen Parable of the Cliff, the Vine, and the Strawberry!

    https://www.graceguts.com/quotations/zen-story-tigers-and-a-strawberry “A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above...
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    In John chapter 20, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me..” and delegates forgiveness of sins to his disciplines? Apparently so.

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2020&version=NLT 19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them...
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    Featured “The Gospel of John” has an anonymous author

    https://rsc.byu.edu/new-testament-history-culture-society/gospel-john “ . . . The Gospel according to John has long been appealing to Latter-day Saint readers because of its symbolism and high Christology, which are similar to that of the Book of Mormon and the revelations of Joseph Smith...
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    The big, sprawling “Four Humors” theory of health, but smaller theories have been much more helpful

    https://bonesandscrolls.substack.com/p/humorism-or-fluid-dynamics-in-ancient Well, it certainly is a colorful theory. And it purported to explain almost everything about health, but actually . . . it explained very little. I think the goal was to “balance” the 4 humors, but it practice...
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    in 1st Corinthians, Paul is all across the board on whether it’s okay for a Christian to eat food offered to Pagan god

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%208&version=NLT 1st Corinthians, chapter 8 — 1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love...
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    Matthew chapter 16, “ . . except the sign of Jonah . . ” — yet another example of more focus on Paul’s letters than on the 3 Synoptic Gospels.

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016&version=RSV 1 And the Pharisees and Sad′ducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them,[a] “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the...
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    Featured Matthew ch 16, verse 28, Jesus says “ . . there are some standing here who will not taste death . . ”

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016&version=RSV 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find...
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    Matthew ch 16, verse 23, Jesus says to Peter “Get behind me, Satan!” . . . Did Jesus later give Peter an apology?

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016&version=RSV . . . . 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter...
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    Matthew chapter 16, verse 19 “ . . and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, . . “ — yet another binary on salvation? ??

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016&version=RSV . . . 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not...
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    Thoughts and prayers for Charlie Kirk and his family.

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206&version=KJV verse 9 and following, “After this manner therefore pray ye — “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. “Give us this day our daily bread. “And...
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    The Star Trek “Transporter” . . . and am I still me?

    It breaks down my body getting the information, and then reassembles me at the distant location using different atoms and molecules. Physically, I’m no longer the same person. However, with memories, feelings, thoughts, etc, etc, I am the same person. ———...
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    Featured Do many Christians like the religious aspects of “Star Wars” movies?

    https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/thoughts-star-wars-evangelist ‘Who would have guessed that the year his book Star Wars ™ Jesus released would be the very same year the world would celebrate 30 years of the Star Wars ™phenomenon? ‘Author Caleb Grimes certainly wasn’t thinking along those...
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    Featured Bible says God hardened Pharaoh’s heart ? ! ? — this is not in keeping with free will.

    Google AI — “The phrase "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" or similar wording appears nine times in the book of Exodus. Specifically, these instances are in Exodus 4:21, 7:3, 9:12, 10:1, 10:20, 10:27, 11:10, 14:4, and 14:8. Additionally, the text describes Pharaoh hardening his own heart three times...
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    Judas is blamed even though “Satan entered into him” in John, chapter 13

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013&version=NLT 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” ———————— No, I don’t think we should blame the guy. We certainly shouldn’t make him this huge villain of...
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    Featured Good Part — Jesus still loves his disciples even though he predicts Peter will deny him three times.

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013&version=NLT 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I...
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    “Codex Sinaiticus” from 300s is complete copy of both Old & New Testaments?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus “ . . is a fourth-century Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Greek Old Testament, including the deuterocanonical books, and the Greek New Testament, with both the Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas...
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    Featured Gallup poll shows many individual Americans have conflicting views on immigration. ’Course they do.

    https://news.gallup.com/poll/692522/surge-concern-immigration-abated.aspx ———//————- Please look at the 2nd item — “Allowing immigrants living in the U.S. illegally the chance to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain requirements over a period of time.” In 2024, 70% of Americans...
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    Featured Theory — the Greek “mystery religion” version of Christianity was already widespread at the time of Paul’s travels.

    First Journey So, Paul’s 1st journey was overwhelmingly in what we’d call present-day Turkey, quite a ways from Jerusalem. I conclude that the beliefs, practices, how we define various emotions, etc, etc, of what was to become mainstream Christianity— all this was already pretty far along! :)...
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    flash floods in Texas hill country, including rescues, good news, skillful actions, etc

    https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/camp-la-junta-rescue-texas-floods/285-33ba24fb-2848-4e59-aeb9-0dbdc078588f “ . . Counselors rushed from building to building, moving children into safer areas as water levels climbed . . “ “ . . The boys spent about 13 hours waiting for help and...
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    Featured About part of Mark not included in Luke, the “great omission”

    https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2021/07/22/another-synoptic-puzzle-lukes-great-omission/ “ . . . a disruption occurs after Mark’s story of the feeding of the five thousand, as Luke seemingly skips everything from Mark 6:45 to 8:26. Then, from 8:27 onward, Luke resumes his faithful...