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US immigration chief: Same-sex ties are family ties
Same-sex couples will be considered “family relationships” in immigration proceedings, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, a move that could help stem the deportation of those in gay or lesbian binational relationships.
Close family ties to the United States are a factor considered by authorities in deportation cases, and gay and lesbian advocates have long argued for same-sex couples to have the same immigration rights as opposite-sex couples.
“In an effort to make clear the definition of the phrase ‘family relationships,’ I have directed ICE to disseminate written guidance to the field that the interpretation of the phrase ‘family relationships’ includes long-term, same-sex partners,” Napolitano said in a letter....
“As I use the term”, I do believe in particular redemption. By this I mean that I and all others who come to Christ have been particularly redeemed (elected); Christ died for me, the Holy Spirit drew me and gave me the spirit of repentance and faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. But, I do not believe scripture teaches a limited atonement which I imagine you will see as a contradiction? Calvary is inextricably intertwined in John 3:14,15 and 1 Timothy 1:15 among others.
John 3:14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 4100 pisteuo pist-yoo'-o from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. see GREEK for 4102
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
4982 sozo sode'-zo from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saos, "safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):--heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
KJB Believer wrote: Do you at least have Bible study with family(if you have any), or with others? And what was the name of this fundamentalist KJO Baptist church.
I currently study the bible on my own; not part of a group or with my family. I have 2 children who are not saved and 2 step-children who are not saved. They are completely uninterested in scripture.
I can't remember the name of the Baptist church since it was over 30 years ago. It was on 9th street in St. Petersburg fl. I was baptized there and the Pastor ridiculed anyone who used any other version other than the AKJ. I now use the NASB to study, but try to post using the KJ so that I won't offend others. I am very familiar with the arguments pro and con for the different versions. After I was saved, I used the KJ version for many years and have nothing against it. ( I only mention this because of the way you identify yourself). It is likely you use that issue as a litmus test? All of us draw lines in the sand so to speak.
Even though you didn't ask; I attended church faithfully for 30 years but then stopped going around 3 years ago. My reasons might be considered personal, but if you feel led to discuss that sort of thing, then perhaps we can.
And if you believe not in a particular redemption, I will leave you now with a question to peruse, and I will check in later on this morning to see if you have had the courage to answer it bro.
Frank wrote: Well just remember, if we are not on the same wave-length, then I can help you so that we both can be correct in our theology. See how nice I am to my brother who confuses me with expressions like Frenchies, etc. But, don't you dare explain those things to me. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I have been born again from above and will spend eternity with my Savior. I did nothing pleasing that caused God to choose me and I can do nothing to cause Him to keep me, which He will. I do not adhere to any creed or denomination. I happen to believe in total depravity, unconditional election, irrestible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. The limited atonement is not taught in scripture and must be inferred. I use to adhere to the limited atonement, but have changed my thoughts. I was raised Catholic and saved at the age of 34 which was almost 32 years ago. I started out going to Charismatic churches, then went to a fundamentalist KJO Baptist church and then bounced around to different churches. I presently don't attend any church. Are we on the same wave-length?
Exactly the same bro. Although I do believe in a particular redemption like Ingleesi as opposed to Frenchy who was LA.
John UK wrote: Precisely put Frank. You and I are tuned on the same wavelength, methinks.
Well just remember, if we are not on the same wave-length, then I can help you so that we both can be correct in our theology. See how nice I am to my brother who confuses me with expressions like Frenchies, etc. But, don't you dare explain those things to me.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I have been born again from above and will spend eternity with my Savior. I did nothing pleasing that caused God to choose me and I can do nothing to cause Him to keep me, which He will.
I do not adhere to any creed or denomination. I happen to believe in total depravity, unconditional election, irrestible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. The limited atonement is not taught in scripture and must be inferred. I use to adhere to the limited atonement, but have changed my thoughts.
I was raised Catholic and saved at the age of 34 which was almost 32 years ago. I started out going to Charismatic churches, then went to a fundamentalist KJO Baptist church and then bounced around to different churches. I presently don't attend any church.
Walling wrote: You write an insulting unChristian post like this and call me arrogant? Take a long look in the mirror to perceive arrogance. May God have mercy on your soul.
Thank you for your prayer.
But he's already done that.
Have both our posts evaluated by a respectable, and see which one of us is arrogant. If it is me, I will repent, because the Holy Ghost indwells me and he will not let it rest. But I'm not so sure if you even believe in repentance. After all, you're elect and that's an end of the matter. Antinomian?
John UK wrote: 1. I knew you were such. Only Frenchy Presbyterians talk in such an arrogant way, and that, because all their doctrine is spoonfed via documents, confessions and solemn leagues and covenants. Unthinking, unfeeling, calvinists, who will inevitably go the way of the dodo instead of obeying the Great Commission and sacrificing the entire life for the salvation of precious souls. You folks prove that you've never really thought about doctrines for yourself, much like the Jehovah's Witnesses, who at least are polite. If you must be Presbyterian, at least go over to North Ireland and meet up with some of Ian's Merry Men, some of whom are still able to weep over lost sinners rejecting the gospel message they hear. 2. The Lord Jesus is my Lord, not you, and I will let him make decisions like that, thank you very much. Man, you're a sad case, can't even have fellowship with others who believe the biblical doctrines of free and sovereign grace. What WILL you do in heaven, if you get there?
You write an insulting unChristian post like this and call me arrogant? Take a long look in the mirror to perceive arrogance. May God have mercy on your soul.
Walling wrote: 1. Well if you two cannot understand the Scripture just ask a good Biblical Calvinist PRESBYTERIAN and he will reveal all to you. 2. PS you might think about attending another church.
1. I knew you were such. Only Frenchy Presbyterians talk in such an arrogant way, and that, because all their doctrine is spoonfed via documents, confessions and solemn leagues and covenants. Unthinking, unfeeling, calvinists, who will inevitably go the way of the dodo instead of obeying the Great Commission and sacrificing the entire life for the salvation of precious souls. You folks prove that you've never really thought about doctrines for yourself, much like the Jehovah's Witnesses, who at least are polite.
If you must be Presbyterian, at least go over to North Ireland and meet up with some of Ian's Merry Men, some of whom are still able to weep over lost sinners rejecting the gospel message they hear.
2. The Lord Jesus is my Lord, not you, and I will let him make decisions like that, thank you very much.
Man, you're a sad case, can't even have fellowship with others who believe the biblical doctrines of free and sovereign grace. What WILL you do in heaven, if you get there?
John UK wrote: Precisely put Frank. You and I are tuned on the same wavelength, methinks.
Well if you two cannot understand the Scripture just ask a good Biblical Calvinist PRESBYTERIAN and he will reveal all to you.
PS you might think about attending another church.
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Frank if 1Cor 3:1 is confounding you check out the previous verses leading up to them namely... 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Frank wrote: John 6:37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 43. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Isaiah 54:13. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. (This is the Father drawing His sheep) Christ then goes on in Chapter 10 to describe us as sheep. Picture a sheep-yard full of dumb animals. They don’t choose their Shepherd, the Shepherd chooses them. Can anyone imagine a shepherd going to the sheep and saying “okay who wants to follow me”?
Precisely put Frank. You and I are tuned on the same wavelength, methinks.
Walling wrote: Whats all that got to do with the price of fish??? ========
When you say "Truth" Frank - do you mean the exegesis of Scripture? Are you saying the elect cannot receive all the truth? You said; "Truth that is not understood is often rejected by genuine born again believers" ~ What truth (Scripture) are you referring to? PS Don't forget "John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
I can only speak for myself on the issue of truth and growth, but can easily say that if you knew all mysteries and truth from day one, then the following didn't apply to you.
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
As an aside, I understand why John posted what he did.
John UK wrote: Walling, if a boy attends a good church from birth, he will know and could argue plenty of doctrine without understanding it or being born again. His parents will be Christians and hopefully will nurture him in the admonition and fear of the Lord. A lot of Frenchies will be like this. But someone saved outside church structures or parental ....
Whats all that got to do with the price of fish???
========
Frank wrote: I can't answer that question and I agree there is something called "foundational" truth;
When you say "Truth" Frank - do you mean the exegesis of Scripture? Are you saying the elect cannot receive all the truth?
You said; "Truth that is not understood is often rejected by genuine born again believers" ~ What truth (Scripture) are you referring to?
PS Don't forget "John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
I understand the argument regarding God choosing through foreknowledge and choosing through election. These types of issues cannot be resolved with such limited space, so I am simply going to make a couple of points. And John is correct, the issue is important, but the issue of whether or not we have been born again, from above is what makes us brothers and sisters.
John 6:37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 43. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Isaiah 54:13. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. (This is the Father drawing His sheep)
Christ then goes on in Chapter 10 to describe us as sheep. Picture a sheep-yard full of dumb animals. They don’t choose their Shepherd, the Shepherd chooses them. Can anyone imagine a shepherd going to the sheep and saying “okay who wants to follow me”?
John Yurich USA wrote: And the Catholic Church has stated that voting for Democrat politicians who support abortion, homosexuality and other perversions is a grave sin.
And some said the Romanist cult would interfere in politics!
Dan wrote: John Yurich: In your next to last post you said "I switched political affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2008 because I had seen and heard enough of the Democrats insanity supporting abortion, homosexuality and other perversions." and I wonder why you couldn't have remained in the Democrat camp and just rejected the unscriptural parts of their MASSively unscriptural platform?
Because it does not work that way with politics. It works that way with churches but not with politics. And the Catholic Church has stated that voting for Democrat politicians who support abortion, homosexuality and other perversions is a grave sin.
KJB Believer wrote: Sad to say brother but I am one of the fundamentalist baptists. We believe in a free grace based on faith by the person and the grace given by the foreknowledge of God(Rom 8:29). In others word God look in the future and predestine those who would ask for forgiveness.
Yes I knew that, but I rejoice in your faith and love for Christ, despite doctrinal differences. You have biblical reasons for what you believe, as indeed I do. The important thing is the new birth, and we may think differently as to how that comes about, but a man who is born again is my brother in Christ, and we travel the narrow road to life as children of God, united in Christ yet differing in certain beliefs. The Lord's love, being unconditional, is not dependent on either of us understanding every little detail in the scriptures.
Life's experience tends to fine tune our doctrines.
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Rev. Colin Mercer | 11/19/2012
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See how nice I am to my brother who confuses me with expressions like Frenchies, etc. But, don't you dare explain those things to me. 
Whats all that got to do with the price of fish???
