The world ought to be better. The state of the world ought not to be this way.
Like many of you, I have been (probably unhealthily) glued to the current events of unrest, violence, and change dominating our news feeds. I heard a new term for it today; doom scrolling. That’s what I’ve been doing…doom scrolling.
But this sense of unease, this pit of despair growing in our stomachs that worse may yet be to come only makes sense if the world is not how it ought to be. Therein lies the hope. If the world is not how it ought to be then…it can be better.
For a moment, put aside that unmistakable sense that we are living in a world gone wrong. What if the world is exactly as it ought to be? Indeed, what if the world could not possibly any different than it is right now?
Whence comes our despair? Whence comes our hope?
If every moment of history, from the beginning of time until now, with its untold horrors…The last two weeks as our society burns from the unquenchable fires of vengeance and jealousy…If all of this makes God maximally glorious and always has. If every moment happens precisely as it does precisely because it must happen this way to give God the most glory…how then can we call any of it bad? Why then, do we know, deep in our bones, that it is bad?
Does our foolishness of calling what is Glorious “unjust” also a part of His blueprint for life? Does He, even now, give me a spirit of stupor so that I cannot recognize His glory when I see it? And how then could I ever know the difference?
No. God provides. He provides us with His Image able to discern right from wrong, justice from injustice, “ought” from “is”. God’s glory, what makes Him glorious, is not unrecognizable. The movement of His Hand is righteous and upholds the weak. It does not look like a man bleeding in the street as his business is looted and burned in the background. It does not look like power kneeling on the neck of the powerless until the life oozes out of him. This is not glory. This is not His Plan. This is horror.
Lord, please, your kingdom come, your will be done, as it is done in Heaven your will be done on Earth, because it is not being done right now.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!
When the line between right and wrong…and of what God is like… become blurred. We all lose! We lose our hope, we lose our moral compass, we lose out zeal to fight for what’s right and against what is wrong… we forfeit the image of God etched on our hearts, the most valuable thing we possess!
Wonderful post Jane!
Yes – and Calvinists know this.
And that is why they become double-minded
Believe Proposition A:
Whatsoever sin and evil comes to pass – is totally determined *FOR* each person before they are created
And no person can be/do otherwise than whatsoever sin and evil comes to pass – at pain of falsifying the infallible decree.
Think and speak the opposite:
Go about your office thinking and speaking *AS-IF* Proposition A is FALSE
And thus Calvinists are forced into a state of DOUBLE-THINK
And the outward expression of DOUBLE-THINK is DOUBLE-SPEAK
Some people have the motto: “Black Lives Matter
Others have the motto: “All lives Matter”
Calvinists have the motto: “Only a FEW lives Matter”
I hope I matter 🙁
This present horror and millions like it are all attributed to God’s sovereign will by determinist Calvinists. They rhetorically ask us, “How can it not be?”
Their worldview starts with the idea that all that happens is God’s will because He always gets what He wants and all that happens is what he wants.
Other worldviews say that God created a world where he wanted to have a relationship with mankind. In order to maintain reciprocating love and relationship He had to grant freedom. This freedom sometimes leads to horror. In this worldview these horrors are horrors to Him also.
For Calvinists these horrors are specifically decreed by Him to better glorify Himself.
Not only do ‘All lives matter’ to God, but he sees the systematic oppression, injustice and evil that defines the kingdoms of this world. Many of us, brainwashed and blinded by the official narratives, take some time to begin to see the huge amount of injustice and suffering that has always existed in this world.
In my opinion, it is not limited to white vs. black, although this has been a recurring theme, but it goes much deeper. There has long been a belief that only those who are judged to contribute to ‘the greater good’ of society in some ill-defined manner truly matter. All others, be they infirm, poor, elderly, uneducated or in any way handicapped from achieving their fullest potential, are, even if never stated openly, viewed as less valuable and, often, expendable.
Leaving the politics aside – which I always prefer to do – I view each and every human life as extremely valuable to God – no matter what color of skin, how formed the body, how developed the mind or how much potential to contribute to society exists.
Even before demonstrating the love of God in being willing to suffer and die for men, Jesus demonstrated the compassion of God for those in need. He walked the dusty streets healing the sick and the lame, bringing hope and new life to all who were set before him. This demonstrates that the ravages of sin are not ordained by God, but viewed with mercy and compassion. God does not crush mankind in order to glorify himself. Rather, he heals and raises the crushed, which truly brings him praise and glory.
May we all have eyes that see the suffering of others, and hearts of love that mourn all injustice, oppression and suffering. No, I do not believe that God’s will is being done on earth as it will someday – may it be soon – be done. The horrors that we know, and many we do not, are not reflective of the heart of God, but of the effect of rejecting him.
God’s glory is revealed in Jesus: mercy, compassion, self-sacrifice and all that is good and loving. How wonderful it will be when the whole earth is filled with this glory!
Nice article Eric!
In the Gnostic/NeoPlatonic world-view Good and Evil are “Co-Equal”, “Co-Necessary” and “Co-Complimentary”.
As Augustine the great synchronizer of Stoic/Gnostic/NeoPlatonic/Christianity stated:
-quote
And because this orderly arrangement maintains the harmony of the universe by this very contrast, it comes about that evil things must need be. In this way, the beauty of all things is in a manner configured, as it were, from antitheses, that is, from opposites: this is pleasing to us even in discourse”. (ord 1.7.19)
Jonathan Edwards agrees that evil is necessary:
-quote
……the shining forth of God’s glory would be very imperfect both because the parts of divine glory would not shine forth as the other do, and also the glory of his goodness, love and holiness would be faint without them; nay, they could scarcely shine forth at all.”
(Works of Edwards)
This is why the careful observer will notice that so many Calvinist conceptions often appear in “Good-Evil” or “Negative-Positive” conceptual pairs.
Some are predestined to evil – some are predestined to good.
Some Calvinists are non-Elect – some Calvinists are Elect
Divine love is manifested as divine benevolence and manifested as divine malevolence.
Calvinists quite intuitively want to hide the dark side of the force.
So for example – Calvinism is called: “Doctrines of Grace”
But we must remember – in Calvinism – divine grace is both good and evil – both benevolent and malevolent.
This is so much where we find, Calvinists don’t like to tell the WHOLE TRUTH about their system.
It is really not “Doctrines of Grace”
It is really Doctrines of Good-Evil
Some people have the motto: “Black Lives Matter
Others have the motto: “All lives Matter”
Calvinists have the motto: “Only a FEW lives Matter”
I hope I matter 🙁
A better motto might be – All black lives matter! The 98% of blacks killed by gun violence in the US, mostly by other blacks, also matter!
They make sure to announce there is nothing in them that Calvin’s god would choose them.
But we all know human nature – and how the mind internally assumes a superiority – based on the belief tha Calvin’s god designed them for good and the vast majority of humanity for evil.
The irony there is – the majority of those – are those whom Calvin’s god has deceived – having given them the gift of FALSE salvation/election.
As Calvin says – he will at some point -quote “strike them with greater blindness”
Lovely belief system! 😉
Agreed…
If humility is one of the fruit of Salvation most People who hold to Calvinism are NOT saved according to their own rules. WHY? Humility is the thing that is MOST lacking in that crowd. I see it over and over again. Arrogance, Superiority Complex, talking down to you, a smug pride then to cover their pride a false, faked humility that stinks just as bad as the outright prideful arrogance.
Since it is lacking they are always boasting about their humility as if to convince themselves and others that they might be saved.
There is no group of people that talks more about their “humility” then Calvinists. WHY? And that all the while they are talking down to you.
Even though they may be sincere, so are JW’s and Mormons…but good can NOT come from the error of their teaching, the Pharisees were very very very sincere yet they were rebuked harshly.
Mat 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides…
Trying to convince semi-pelagians – you are more humble and they are not – while dripping with spiritual pride – doesn’t work to well does it! ;-]
A great video by Dr Flowers. 15 min
That speaks to God’s Love for ALL and why we resist the Calvinist lie of God only loving a few.
Yea – Piper in that video tries to sugar coat it (which of course is the primary mode in Calvinism) by inventing the idea that the more toxic/nasty Calvinists are the “intellectual” ones.
However, I can certainly tell you that the Calvinists who stop here to do their Calvinista-drive-by-shootings are DEFINITELY NOT intellectuals.
They’re simply jehad Calvinists.
That is funny….
Drive by Jihad Calvinists…
test
Thanks for the thoughts Eric. And thank you for your comments FOH and BR.D
How hard it must be for some to KNOW deep down in their bones, heart, and conscience to say without getting sick that this is for God’s maximal glory.
Judgment – quite possible / decreed sin – God forbid!
Thanks for sharing!
Hello Patrick G. and welcome
Of course – in Calvinism – Calvin’s god – at the foundation of the world – before people are created – determines 100% of what soever comes to pass concerning what created creatures (i.e., humans) will be and do.
And since 100% is pre-determined – this mathematically leaves ZERO% left over for people to determine – on any matter.
Which – for the rational person – leaves absolutely nothing UP TO any human to determined.
So if Calvin’s god
1) did not infallibly decree persons to KNOW deep down in their bones – then they won’t.
2) Did infallibly decree persons KNOW deep down in their bones – then they will.
Either way – ZERO% of that matter (as well as everything else) is UP TO people to determine.
In Calvinism – people are nothing more than what they’ve been programmed to be.
Blessings!
I used to think Piper was at least honest with the other side BUT simply disagreed with us. Now I am finding he is become less honest, much like JMac who is very dishonest when it comes to portraying what we believe. Piper is now doing the same.
Now Piper is trying to paint Free will as if it is Ultimate self-determination. Giving the idea that we are saying whatever man chooses he can will it to come pass. That is not what we are saying. We say that man can reject God and His will but in the process we suffer the consequences of those bad choices. We can choose to rebel but we do not get to choose the outcome. The outcome is fixed. For instance I can choose to reject God and His way. BUT that does not mean I can will a good outcome into existence for myself.
Piper’s latest article has these quotes about Free will:
“Free will” — that is, ultimate self-determination — is not an answer.”
“Free will” is a name put on a mystery. But it is not the biblical name. Because the Bible never teaches that there is such a thing as ultimate human, or ultimate demonic, self-determination.”
“Trying to explain this mystery with so-called “free will” — that is, ultimate self-determination — is unbiblical and vacuous. It is unbiblical because the idea that any of God’s creatures has ultimate self-determination is not taught anywhere in the Bible.”
“This, to me, is one of the great mysteries of biblical teaching that I cannot explain — how God governs the will of sinful beings, yet, in doing so, does not sin, and does not take away their responsibility.”
Notice how Piper redefines what “Free Will” is. He makes it into “Ultimate self-determination” giving the idea that man can become the sole arbiter and determiner of the outcomes of life. We do not say that or think that. We do say you can rebel and then you will suffer the eternal consequences that God himself has fixed.
And all the while – Piper – et all – when painting such a dishonest picture – add to their dishonesty painting that picture *AS-IF* Calvin’s god didn’t infallibly decree every nano-second of it. *AS-IF* what soever comes to pass with every person – is not meticulously decreed – such that a person could believe in Libertarian Freedom without Calvin’s god causing them to do so – by infallible decree.
So yes – I agree – it not only dishonesty – but dishonesty layered upon dishonesty!
But the silver lining in that – is that when the Lord gives you discernment of Calvinist dishonesty – you’re eyes are open and theirs are blinded by that spirit of dishonesty.
Eric says;
“What if the world is exactly as it ought to be? Indeed, what if the world could not possibly (be) any different than it is right now?”
These are great questions & only make sense in a world view that trusts in a non deterministic world view.. I’m Very grateful for this site and the continual push of where the logical conclusion ends in calvinism.. not to mention how this position is refuted within Scripture over and over.. I’m encouraged not only by videos, articles and others posts, but the fact that there are like minded believers out there.. as Br.d said in another article..
God bless soteriology 101 & I pray that God continues to open up opportunities to engage with those who are willing to listen & be challenged to consider.. Thanks
As Christians, we all (should) know where this is heading.
A one world government, one world economy, and a one world religion. Just as our Lord and Savior had His time upon this earth, so will the Evil One.
Anything that does not support this goal will be resisted. Nationalism (now a dirty word) will be replaced with globalism (already in progress). United Nations. World Trade Organization. World Health Organization. Just examples of things to come. And we are now seeing a generation that will embrace the Evil One with open arms.
Notice how the Left, the party of so called “tolerance”, is completely intolerant. Anything they consider offensive is to be removed. Torn down. Burned beyond recognition.
Today, it is anything associated with the Confederacy. Okay. Easy enough. But we all know that it won’t end there. How about George Washington? How about Thomas Jefferson and the other signers of the Declaration of Independence? How about the signers of the Constitution? They will want to rip up our Constitution and start from scratch, because all of these men were “racists” or, at least, “a bunch of old white men”.
So our Constitution and our Bill of Rights will be torched. Our borders will disappear because, they too, are racist. We will become one.
Even so, this is not their ultimate goal.
Leviticus 25:44 (NKJV)….
And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.
“Racism!” they will scream. So just as all monuments they find offensive, so too will they see the Cross of Christ. Any building with a small “t” on top will be targeted. They will be torn down and burned. “Christians are racists!” they will chant. Then, in time, they will discover their true enemies, the true racists, are the Jews, God’s chosen people.
See, brothers and sisters, there will never be peace on earth, at least not until the Lord returns and sets up His kingdom and rules from the throne of David. Even then, we won’t see divine peace until after we see divine division. Everyone seems to think the Lord will return and there will be one huge kumbaya moment. But, praise God, no….
Matthew 25:31-34; 41 (NKJV)….
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’….. Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’….”
Ah, divine division. I look forward to it.
We hear our political leaders scream for “Unity”, but make no mistake, there will be no “unity”. “Unity” for the Left just means that they get their way and we are supposed to shut up and take it. The unborn will continue to be slaughtered (don’t dare say “unborn lives matter”), homosexuals will continue to be wed, free speech will become extinct, our borders will become non-existent, and the word of God will be declared “hate speech”. Do you really think the Left will ever accept the following….?
Leviticus 20:13 (NKJV)….
If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
Romans 1:26-28 (NKJV)….
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting
1 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NKJV)…
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
This will be classified as “hate speech” and will not be tolerated. Those who believe the word of God will have a hard time finding employment. Large church gatherings will become a thing of the past. Believers will be forced underground.
Are things bad? Yes. Are they going to get worse? Yes. Much worse.
Somewhere, the Evil One is having a belly laugh. This is all too easy.
Still. Come, Lord Jesus.
Phillip,
You had said:
“How about Thomas Jefferson and the other signers of the Declaration of Independence?”
Well, there are a lot of high ranking preachers in the SBC that already rail against those people, because they consider themselves NOT OF THIS WORLD, but to THE KINGDOM OF GOD. They can’t stand Jefferson, accusing him of being the devil in disguise of a secular government, who gave Baptists PERMISSION to…STAY OUT OF GOVERNMENTS BUSINESS.
Me, being a veteran of many years, loathe that kind of attitude from the SBC.
Ed Chapman
If I remember – Jefferson was outspoken about the demonic god of John Calvin.
That may be the reason some in the SBC don’t like him.
But they don’t really represent the SBC – but rather they represent Calvinism.
br.d
You are absolutely correct. As a matter of fact, I’ve posted his words on SOT 101 a few times.
What I’ve found, is that the common theme among many (SBC or not) will classify Jefferson as, a DEIST, using the modern day common definition of…IMPERSONAL GOD, and they get this also in part from Jefferson’s use of the words, “natures God” in the Declaration of Independence. But I found a document that he wrote, which he called the Jews DEISTS, and he CLARIFIES his word, “that is, belief in ONE GOD”, not impersonal God.
So yes, by the standard of “Belief in only one God”, he’s a deist, as was Ben Franklin. He just didn’t like going to church, cuz his preacher was more concerned about making people better church goers (LOVE GOD), not better citizens (LOVE PEOPLE).
BOTH did NOT trust the Church of England…can you blame them? Theocracy that they came to America to escape! So, when the church of England teaches that Jesus is this OTHER GOD, in addition to a DEIST…well, they did not believe in the TRINITY, hence DEIST.
There has been many who have misinterpreted the reasoning that Jefferson CUT OUT certain texts of the bible, too. He wrote a letter to a friend of his, stating that he pasted those cut out sections for a to a book, so that he can ponder on them frequently. He also discusses how many people have NO CLUE as to what he believes, but impute many things about him anyway.
He attended Christian worship services at all three branches of government during his presidency…so much for that wall of separation, huh? So did Madison, the so called ENEMY of the church.
Yep, many people get the founding fathers wrong about Christianity. Christians were the settlers, not aitheists. Not Buddhists, etc. The word RELIGION, at the time, only pertained to one word, “DENOMINATIONS” of the Christian faith. They didn’t want one brand of Christianity to have the upper hand over all others, and that was the main contention with Madison/Jefferson regarding religion.
But, people only hear what they want to hear, rather than investigate.
Ed
Thanks Ed!
Very eloquently spoken, Eric.
See if you can find even a single one of these beatitudes from Matt 5 among the
anarchistsprotesters:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Christians that are not mourning right now would be wise to do some heavy self-examination (2 Cor 13:5). This is quickly becoming a litmus test of true verses false believers – the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong. If you look at what is going on and “social justice” is what you think is the root problem, you have drank the Kool-Aid and possess zero discernment. Paste a “coexist” bumper sticker on your vehicle and move along.
Heb 5:12-14
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Paul gives us the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5 and contrast this with the deeds of the flesh – which describes occupy Wall Street and pretty much every other “protest” the Left engages in, including the recent ones we are witnessing:
Gal 5:19-20
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I concur with Steve’s sentiments. When my political or personal views cause me to resent or hate others, I am walking according to the flesh! Who said, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap”? I know what bitterness and hatred can lead to in terms of almost 30 years of bloody violence in Northern Ireland. Commonly known as the “Troubles,” they began after the “civil rights” marches over here in the 1960’s. Yes, the violence might have stopped, but those deep seated feelings always seem to get passed on!
It is one thing to love those who love us, nothing special in that, as Jesus observes, even the “low types” such as the publicans and Gentiles were capable of such an exchange of kindnesses. I imagine it must have stunned His audience when Jesus commanded the inconceivable, “But I say to you, love your enemies” (Mt 5:44). Who would have thought that He could demand of them the hardest thing of all – to love the very ones we are most drawn to hate – our enemies! Even so, this should not have been something new to them (Exodus 23:4-5; Prov. 25:21; Jonah 4:9-11). But to many, even today, such counsel seems not only foolish, but downright impossible! – and contrary to the very concept of justice. Yet, whatever the case may be, this is what it means to be called upon to be like God.
Here’s what the scriptures counsel in Romans 12:
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Aidan,
Hey, buddy! I agree with what you have said!
However, you said:
“whatever a man sows, that he will also reap”
I know you have some “LUCKY CHARMS” seeds in Ireland, right? If my memory serves me right, Ireland’s issues are based on religion, is it not? Not necessarily race, right?
We used to have a saying in America to the lawless…STOP OR I’LL SHOOT. Then it changed to STOP, OR I’LL SAY STOP AGAIN. Now we have submitted to the lawless with, STOP FOR A MOMENT WHILE I JOIN YOU IN TAKING A KNEE IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU AND BOWING DOWN TO YOUR EVERY LAWLESS DESIRE.
My question would be, justice for what, exactly? The line has been blurred between right and wrong. There is a difference between justice, however, and vengence.
We all got along really well in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. MTV actually played music video’s, and we all got on the dance floor. Then lawlessness took hold somewhere down the line from a wide range of people, not as isolated as it once was. False allegations towards the law abiding citizens are now being believed, when people could actually see right thru their lies before. This is a totally different world we live in from the one I was raised in. White Supremeists? Probably only a handful world wide, but if you listen to some, they are on every block, in most households. On YoutTube, I’m watching an old SNL skit of Richard Prior…back when race was not an issue to anyone in that generation. Today…it’s different. And I ask myself, WHY? I’d do anything to go back to Prince’s PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999, or better yet, the 80’s when we know that we all got along just fine.
Ed
Hey Ed, how are you?
How are those knees holding up in your moments of solidarity?🧎♂️🙃 Yep, it’s disgraceful when you see governing officials pandering to criminal behaviour. It’s like parents pandering to a misbehaving child when they ought to be disciplined. That isn’t love, and is asking for bigger troubles down the line. Likewise, the state has an obligation to act with justice in punishing the evildoer, and protecting the innocent (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Maybe then they might begin to understand what it means ‘to reap what you sow’!
In regards to the Northern Ireland issue, it was not so much about religion as it was about British rule and civil rights. It just happens to fall along those lines because the majority of Irish are Catholics, and the majority of Protestants are of British origin, and are aligned with the British Crown. Hence, that inbred hatred of Protestants and all that they stand for by the Catholics, and vice versa, has little to do with Christ and everything to do with the flesh! I like those verses that Steve used in Galatians.
Gal 5:19-20
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Lol my knees are weak to begin with, I’d barely be able to bend down, let alone get back up with ease. Seems like your issues with the Brits were almost the same as we had in our founding with the Church of England, which is one reason, out of many, that I highly attempted to engage with Peter from the church of England a while back. I hear that a Tea Party solves a lot of problems tho. Lol. Your kids might invite you to one, lol.
Sorry about the knees. That probably means they tend to flare up and be painful? If so, can anything be done to improve them? My wife and I were in a serious car crash in 92. She injured her back and suffers with it to this day. So my sympathies go with you. As for the tea parties? My drug of choice is coffee! I believe a lot of Americans are the same. Maybe unconsciously that’s our way of continuing the rebellion against our old Tea masters 👍 Those pesky tea lords, they may take our land, they may even take our dignity, but they’ll never take our freedom! I feel a movie coming on.
Aidan,
Get the popcorn ready, I know the movie!! Ya, the knees swell from time to time, not frequently tho. Not really painful, just weak. This began about less than ten years ago. Maybe it’s old age, I don’t know. But I’m younger than Noah was. He was just a kid at my age! LOL.
I understand that it’s incredibly expensive in the States to get medical treatment. Public healthcare is a lot cheaper here, but if you have to go and get your teeth done it can cost a fortune. One of the things you can do here is actually go on a holiday to one of those Eastern European Countries and get medical treatment there. There are lots of people here who do this, because it is a much cheaper way to get treated, including the fact that everything else is so much cheaper in these countries. Personally, I’m not a fan of getting all my teeth done all at once – especially in some foreign country!
IN CALVINISM WHAT IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO TRUST?
SLAM DUNK! LOL. Let’s say that she gave him an exact figure to deposit, tho, then asks, “Did you depost *ALL…”, and then verifies the amount by a phone call to the bank, and they verify a figure less than her figure, and then she asks him if he deposited all. If I’m right i Calvinism, he’d still say, yes, he deposited all, with a Calvinist Caveat.
Yea – ye deposited all *KINDS* of money.
And then he can call that *ALL*. :-]
Excellent…. All kinds of money
Which was *ALL the money that he determined to deposit.
And how much of it he kept is a divine secret 😉
And here we go….