ImageBanned for this post.  

"Truth is hate to those who hate the truth." ~ Bob Enyart Mk 9:41, Dan 10:13, Ps 105:15, Ro 14:4, Mk 6:11, Is 45:24, 54:17, Re 12:10, 12, Mt 13:7, Jud 1:9


Image

 

Response to comment [from a Christian]:

 "Bro really has it out for you doesn't he?"

:sozo2: Leftists are easily offended.  Eccl 10:2, Jn 10:10, 1 Pe 5:3, Eccl 7:5, Ps 141:5 Image

See:

Smelling Salts (right click, open) by Darrell Ferguson

 

 Are you going back or will you move onto greener pastures?

No.  You hold down the fort until I return.  Continue to speak boldly (Jn 8:36, Ac 19:8, Eccl 9:10).  Don't let your opponents Image take Image your reward (Phil 2:16, Col 2:18).  Image

"If you're going to make a mistake, let it be a big one." ~ Darrell Ferguson Ac 20:35

See:

You're Alive Act Like It (right click, open) by Darrell Ferguson

ImageGod is in control. :smokie:

See:

Finding Security in this Troubled World (right click, open) by John MacArthur

I won't be neutered and come across all touchy-feely. We're at war!

:thumb: "Courage is the rarest of all the positive human traits." ~ Dennis Prager

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word [Acts 4:27–29].

"I am moved by this. This was a great prayer and praise service. They all were in one accord. Probably they did not all pray at one time, but they were certainly saying “amen” with the one who led in prayer. Notice that they did not pray for the persecution to cease. They prayed for the courage to endure it! They asked for power and for boldness to speak. That early church was something different, friend, from the church of our day." McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: Church History (Acts 1-14) (electronic ed., Vol. 40, p. 59). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 God bless you my friend.
God bless you, too. Image

             I don't Tweet (in fact I make fun of those that seem to think that others are interested in every detail of their life). I rarely log onto Facebook.

I have Twitter and Facebook linked so when I post something on Twitter it automatically goes to Facebook. But, I'm like you. I don't usually view Facebook either. Image

Twitter is good to track breaking news--for now. They seem to be going the way of Facebook in not respecting privacy. Image

Related:


Facebook Sued Over Alleged Scanning of Private Messages

Facebook Announces the End of Sponsored Stories

Facebook asks to read users' text messages

ImageStudy: Narcissists Use Twitter Most

 

Anyhoo, I'm tempted to boycott TOL until March 28, but both you and I know that I'll be banned long before that.

LOL...

Don't do that. They'd love for you to Image just disappear-- Image silence the Critic (Eccl 10:2, Jn 10:10). Image They'll Image ban you soon enough. Image

Don't end up in the sin bin like me (Eph 4:14).  In hockey, they say you must play against the ref. In other words when you get a bad call against your team, you must play over and above the competition to get the 'w'. You and I play in a game where the refs are making themselves part of the game (Hos 3:1, 1 Pe 5:3). Image Play through the bad calls from the zebras.

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"If a spoke so as not to offend anyone, I could not speak at all." :shut: ~ Dennis Prager

"Salt has a stinging property when you put it in a wound....When you're not living in the light and you are around someone who is--they bother you.  They irritate you." Mt 5:13:16 :sozo2: ~ Jeff Schwarzentraub

See:

The Kingdom Manifesto - The Bedrock & Blessing of Christian Character - Part 1 (right click, open) by Jeff Schwarzentraub

Christian Worldview (right click, open) by Adrian Rogers

Ya know, the next time Knight offers one of those half off membership discounts...(could you imagine the look on the liberal's faces when they see that you were given a Lifetime Membership gift while banned?).
If you think that is a good investment in my case, I've got a bridge to sell you. Image
 Always a pleasure chatting with you Ms. Serpentdove.

Always nice speaking with you, too. Image

"Sometimes we must comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." ~ David Jeremiah 2 Cor 5:11

"The world is constantly looking for relief.  Peace and relief are not the same thing. Peace is the presence of righteousness...Only righteousness has the ability of bringing two parties together....Without righteousness there is no desire to resolve conflict....But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (Jas 3:17). 

...Romans 12:18 says so long as it depends upon us, we are to live at peace with all men.  It doesn't mean that all men will live at peace with us.  But as far as it's up to us--we are to extend peace to others....In this world you will have troubles (Jn 6:33)."  Full text:  The Kingdom Manifesto - Practical Peacemaking by Jeff Schwarzentraub

  On the other hand you might behave yourself when someone else is flipping the bill. :)
God uses a variety of personality types to build his kingdom (2 Ki 10:16, Mk 3:17). Image

See:

The Master's Men:  Andrew, James the Son of Zebedee, and John Pt 1, Pt 2 (right click, open) by John MacArthur

 [Technology] Keep in mind I have a 2nd grade edjumacation (it looks technologically way above my head).

I doubt that. I refuse to believe all that they say about you. Image If I believed them Image --you're the devil incarnate. Mt 5:6

Happy New Year

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be. Lord Alfred Tennyson

On that note: I thought you might find this article interesting, as we're in the same boat when it comes to having to deal with dope legalization. I'll start a thread entitled "Marijuana legalization: less government?" on TOL sometime soon.

Pitfalls abound as legal pot sales begin link
Everything God gave us is good (Ge 1:29) but like all things men use good things for evil (Jn 10:10).

In Colorado, there are growers working to remove THC, the hallucinogen, in marijuana.  

See:


Demand for low-THC pot for children outstrips nonprofit growing operation's production ability

Medical Marijuana: The Ethics of Legalizing Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana - what does the Bible say?
 
Let me know if you'd like additional information on any of these papers (below).  Image Study and  share.  Download housekeeping 1 That's what we do (Ac 20:20).

"What ever you give away you keep." ~ John MacArthur

See:

How to Study Your Bible:  Closing the Gaps Pt 2 (right click, open) by John MacArthur

"...If you're like a sponge, before long you'll:  sit, soak and sour and before long you'll stink.  You've got to give out what comes in." Mt 7:26, Lk 11:28 ~ Adrian Rogers

See:

How to Understand the Bible by Adrian Rogers 

Abstract:
The principal constituent of cannabis, Δ[sup 9]-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is moderately effective in treating nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, and acute and chronic pain. Oral THC (dronabinol) and the synthetic cannabinoid, nabilone, have been registered for medical use in the US and UK, but they have not been widely used because patients find it difficult to titrate doses of these drugs. Advocates for the medical use of cannabis argue that patients should be allowed to smoke cannabis to relieve these above-mentioned symptoms. Some US state governments have legislated to allow the medical prescription of cannabis, but the US federal government has tried to prevent patients from obtaining cannabis and threatened physicians who prescribe it with criminal prosecution or loss of their licence to practise. In the UK and Australia, committees of inquiry have recommended medical prescription (UK) and exemption from criminal prosecution (New South Wales, Australia), but governments have not accepted these recommendations. The Canadian government allows an exemption from criminal prosecution to patients with specified medical conditions. It has recently legislated to provide cannabis on medical prescription to registered patients, but this scheme so far has not been implemented. Some advocates argue that legalising cannabis is the only way to ensure that patients can use it for medical purposes. However, this would be contrary to international drug control treaties and is electorally unpopular. The best prospects for the medical use of cannabinoids lie in finding ways to deliver THC that do not involve smoking and in developing synthetic cannabinoids that produce therapeutic effects with a minimum of psychoactive effects. While awaiting these developments, patients with specified medical conditions could be given exemptions from criminal prosecution to grow cannabis for their own use, at their own risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Works Cited
Hall, Wayne, and Louisa Degenhardt. "Medical Marijuana Initiatives: Are They Justified? How Successful Are They Likely To Be?." CNS Drugs 17.10 (2003): 689-697. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.

Abstract:
Abstract: While animal models of epilepsy suggest that exogenous cannabinoids may have anticonvulsant properties, scant evidence exists for these compounds'' efficacy in humans. Here, we report on two patients whose focal epilepsy was nearly controlled through regular outpatient marijuana use. Both stopped marijuana upon admission to our epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) and developed a dramatic increase in seizure frequency documented by video-EEG telemetry. These seizures occurred in the absence of other provocative procedures, including changes to anticonvulsant medications. We review these cases and discuss mechanisms for the potentially anticonvulsant properties of cannabis, based on a review of the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Works Cited
Hegde, Manu, et al. "Seizure Exacerbation In Two Patients With Focal Epilepsy Following Marijuana Cessation." Epilepsy & Behavior 25.4 (2012): 563-566. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.

Abstract:
Summary: We review the safety of alcohol or marijuana use by patients with epilepsy. Alcohol intake in small amounts (one to two drinks per day) usually does not increase seizure frequency or significantly affect serum levels of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Adult patients with epilepsy should therefore be allowed to consume alcohol in limited amounts. However, exceptions may include patients with a history of alcohol or substance abuse, or those with a history of alcohol-related seizures. The most serious risk of seizures in connection with alcohol use is withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal lowers the seizure threshold, an effect that may be related to alcohol dose, rapidity of withdrawal, and chronicity of exposure. Individuals who chronically abuse alcohol are at significantly increased risk of developing seizures, which can occur during withdrawal or intoxication. Alcohol abuse predisposes to medical and metabolic disorders that can lower the seizure threshold or cause symptoms that mimic seizures. Therefore, in evaluating a seizure in a patient who is inebriated or has abused alcohol, one must carefully investigate to determine the cause. Animal and human research on the effects of marijuana on seizure activity are inconclusive. There are currently insufficient data to determine whether occasional or chronic marijuana use influences seizure frequency. Some evidence suggests that marijuana and its active cannabinoids have antiepileptic effects, but these may be specific to partial or tonic–clonic seizures. In some animal models, marijuana or its constituents can lower the seizure threshold. Preliminary, uncontrolled clinical studies suggest that cannabidiol may have antiepileptic effects in humans. Marijuana use can transiently impair short-term memory, and like alcohol use, may increase noncompliance with AEDs. Marijuana use or withdrawal could potentially trigger seizures in susceptible patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Works Cited
Gordon, Elisabeth, and Orrin Devinsky. "Alcohol And Marijuana: Effects On Epilepsy And Use By Patients With Epilepsy." Epilepsia (Series 4) 42.10 (2001): 1266-1272. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.

Abstract:
The article reports on the lawsuit filed by Jennifer Welton and Jacob Welton, pressing Arizona state officials to add marijuana extracts as a legal product under the medical marijuana act in the state.

Works Cited
SANTOS, FERNANDA. "With Suit, Parents of Boy With Seizures Press Arizona Officials on Marijuana Act." New York Times 29 Oct. 2013: A12. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.

Related:


Vid: Parents Fight For Zander Welton, 5, To Access Medical Marijuana

Doctors warn no proof 'Charlotte's Web' pot strain safe, effective for children

Abstract:
Background and purpose This study aimed to assess the prevalence of illicit drug use among epilepsy patients and its effects on the disease. Methods We systematically interviewed epilepsy outpatients at a tertiary epilepsy clinic. Predictors for active cannabis use were analysed with a logistic regression model. Results Overall, 310 subjects were enrolled; 63 (20.3%) reported consuming cannabis after epilepsy was diagnosed, and 16 (5.2%) used other illicit drugs. Active cannabis use was predicted by sex (male) [odds ratio ( OR) 5.342, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.416-20.153] and age ( OR 0.956, 95% CI 0.919-0.994). Cannabis consumption mostly did not affect epilepsy (84.1%). Seizure worsening was observed with frequent illicit (non-cannabis) drug use in 80% of cases. Conclusions Cannabis use does not seem to affect epilepsy; however, frequent use of other drugs increases seizure risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Works Cited
Hamerle, M., et al. "Cannabis And Other Illicit Drug Use In Epilepsy Patients." European Journal Of Neurology 21.1 (2014): 167-170. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Dec. 2013.

"BTW: What use did God intend poison ivy and oak for?"

I suspect that poison ivy was not poisonous in the garden.

Image

[Biology by Henry Zuill] "...Systems of living things supporting each other, the modus operandi of biodiversity, is exactly what we would expect to find from the Creator who said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6:38) and, “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). If this is the way heaven operates, would we not expect that it would also have been this way among creatures, including man, in the beginning? Sadly, in our fallen state, we have departed from this way of life. And what are the results?
How long is the land to mourn and the vegetation of the countryside to wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, animals and birds have been snatched away (Jer. 12:4, NASB).

Nevertheless, we have hope:

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. … that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Rom. 8:19–21).

Creation was said to be very good when it came from the Creator’s hand, but ecosystems no longer function perfectly. They are degenerate. Scripture hints about original ecology, suggesting conditions that were far different from what we find today. It is hard to imagine ecology without death, for example. Nevertheless, that is exactly the picture painted in Scripture. Death and suffering came not only to man when he sinned, but to other creatures as well.

The woodland that I described at the beginning is a case in point. I can see it in the idealized way in which I described it, but there are problems there, too. Ticks and chiggers are abundant. For anyone not familiar with chiggers, they are tiny mites which may embed in your flesh, causing ugly raised and itching welts. Poison ivy is common, also. There are several species of venomous snakes. None of these are what we would ideally expect. Where did these blights come from?

When humans sinned, it looks like they opened the “flood gates” of natural disaster. A global catastrophe ravaged earth’s ecology. Genes were lost en masse, and mutations weakened those remaining. Degenerate environments, including degenerate occupants, stressed other degenerate inhabitants, which in turn reciprocated the stress, and so on. Some species disappeared, others adapted to new and trying conditions.

Predators and parasites developed as they and ecosystems became degenerate, and formerly abundant resources became scarce or were no longer available. Survivors turned to other sources for sustenance, including some not on the original menu. God predicted that thorns and thistles would result, as well as pain and death. Is this what God wanted? Was this punishment prescribed? No! But He foresaw it as an outcome of sin and life under Satan.

New species, as we now define species, developed from remnants of created “kinds.” That is why species today tend to form similar species clusters—species of warblers, species of squirrels, species of roses and so on. These similar species naturally provided similar, possibly even redundant, ecological services. On the other hand, as they adapted to new environments and niches, even those services could have become modified. It would be unsafe to suggest that, even within species clusters, there could be some expendable species.

Species clusters may help to explain some redundancy, but other species were undoubtedly made with redundant ecological skills. Some services may have been so widely needed that no single species would have been able to sufficiently provide it. Recycling of carbon and oxygen by plants and animals are examples of this.
Original created ecology must have been quite different from what we find now, but we can only speculate about details. The amazing thing about ecosystems today is that despite all they have suffered, they still continue to function. Redundant services, regardless of their original purpose, must play a part in this. We must appreciate the roles of both biodiversity and redundant services, even in the beginning, and as enabling forces in ecosystem resiliency and survival today..." Full text: Henry Zuill, Biology

         I'm being cautious on TOL (more than ever before)...

:Commie: "This is slavery, not to speak one's thought." ~ Euripides, The Phoenician Women Image

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

  While Persephone66 talks about Tom Cruise with homosexualist Brother Vinny (and thoroughly dumb blonde Christian Angel 4 Truth) I'm talking about things like the homsexualization of the Rose Parade (AIDS/homosexual marriage float).
Image

What else is there to say other than: Jesus loves you (Jn 3:16). Jesus is willing to save you (2 Pe 3:9). Repent (Eze 18:30-32; Ac 17:30). Believe (Mk 9:23)?

I try to wrap up Image  the Image non-arguments.  There's never any there there. Pr 26:4 Image

Image

See:

Fighting in the Forums :sozo2:

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit [Prov. 26:4–5].


"When I was a boy, our town atheist enjoyed pointing out contradictions in the Bible. This was one that he used. My friend, there is no contradiction here at all. These two proverbs simply set before us two possible lines of conduct in response to a fool.

I get many letters from many kinds of people. I answer some of the letters, and some of the letters I do not answer. I must make a decision about them. I conclude that some of the letters I get come from fools. If I were to answer such a letter according to its folly, I would make myself a fool. If you lay yourself wide open to a fool, you are a fool yourself.

I had this experience recently. I received a letter from a brilliant man who had some impressions about me that were entirely wrong. I thought I should try to correct him and tell him the truth, so I responded according to verse 5. I answered his letter. Then I received a letter back from him, and I have never seen such a foolish letter. It made me feel like a fool for having written to him in the first place. I do not intend to answer his second letter. I am using verse 4 for my decision. So you see, there are two lines of conduct set before us, and we need to determine whether we should respond or should not respond." McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: Poetry (Proverbs) (electronic ed., Vol. 20, pp. 219–220). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 My thread on the legalization of pot has slowed down, as I recently asked that ONLY those that currently smoke dope (or if they're for legalization and smoked it in the past) come forward.
They're probably having difficulty understanding your instructions (Eph 5:18). Image

Image
 
 [New Years Resolutions] Keep doing what God wants me to do and stay away from the temptations that He warns us about.

It's a big, bad world (Jb 3:1, Ge 39:12). Image

 On that note (since you'll read this in the new year) :

Happy New Year serpentdove!

ImageHappy New Year to you, too. Image

 

 Lovmeorhateme reported me for posting a chart (that Peter LaBarbera of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality had on his website) showing that the homosexual-pedophile-sadomasochist Alfred Kinsey used children and babies as young as 5 months old for his fraudulent sexual research.

They should put you on that show Dirty Jobs (Col 3:9-10). Image
 Fortunately they didn't ban me just because of him feeling uneasy about the lifestyle he left behind.

Image They will (1 Pe 5:3). :dizzy:  We are ambassadors for Christ (1 Pe 3:15). Image TOL values you like Jezebel valued the life of Ambassador Stevens. Jn 13:35, Eccl 4:13.

Image



Be humble. God will exalt you in due time (1 Pe 5:6).

"God uniquely shaped each one of us differently from each other and God did this for a reason. " ~ Michael Youssef

Image The Dirty Yaks have a greater sense of ethics than Image TOL moderators. Image 

See:

Saudi sentenced to jail, lashes over Twitter libel

Do you recall this gem?:

"ACW and SD sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g..." Image Lk 12:47

 Pretty graphic stuff there my friend.

That's why I post it here. I'd be banned for posting that image at TOL--never a:  please remove image or please rephrase your sentence--just ban.  ImageI trust it will keep you motivated to keep up the good fight (1 Ti 6:12). I probably should have given you a warning graphic image notice. Image
 

 I wish that the TOL gossipers (Brother Vinny being one of them), would make up their minds. Either you're my "girlfriend" (i.e. we're having an adulterous affair), or I'm a closeted fag.
 
It's all so confusing. Image One thing is clear--you are evil and must be dismissed because your opinion differs from theirs (Eccl 10:2, Jn 10:10). Image
 
 Other than posting a few entries in my "Marijuana Legalization: LESS Government?" thread (the dopers are like homosexuals, only they have a different fixation), and of course the now world famous "Why Homosexuality MUST Be Recriminalized! Part 2" thread (Persephone66 is one walking talking reason to recriminalize that behavior. I wonder if people see that?), I've been staying away from TOL for my own good. Later alligator.
They are all for freedom when it means:  freedom to murder the unborn or freedom to get drunk or high. They aren't big on freedom when it comes to:  keeping earned wages or freedom to carry a gun.

Question authority Image means question God's authority (Isa 5:20).

Image

Our side is fighting back. You saw that with Phil Robertson and the public outrage regarding his being fired.

We aren't keeping quiet as they'd like. Image We were founded as one nation under God (Ps 33:12).

See:


Pro-Gay Theology: Does the Bible Approve of Homosexuality?
 Is TOL down? I haven't been able to access it last night or this morning.
Image Good riddance (1 Pe 5:3).

 ...I feared that Phil and family would be "neutered" from speaking the truth.