I can understand this point very well. From a personal perspective, in my senior year of college, I was in the pits of despair - let's just say that suicide was on the table. None of my friends knew this. But they did know that I was new in my faith (I always believed, but never took a relationship with Jesus on for myself until Junior year of college). Without knowing my struggles, my roommate recommended that I read Job. I devoured it one night in about 2 hours. A lot of it I was like, "Huh?" But it framed for me one thing: my position of thinking God and Satan were two equals in a cosmic battle with us little humans caught in the middle was incorrect. I had this idea of human whack-a-mole. God would raise us up only to have Satan mash us down and on and on and on. I perceived God and Satan like I pictured the Yin and Yang symbol - two equal but different and opposing forces of good and evil. It is true, God is good and Satan is evil. But, it was here that I realized they aren't equals. Satan, in fact, is a created being who was made by God. As are the demons. They are lesser. Satan and the demons are simply fallen angels who rejected God's authority and wanted to go their own, defiant way. God, being a God of free will, said "fine" and cast them out of Heaven to the earth. But He put them on a leash...their time is limited (in a PP here I discussed the end when the Jews return to their Promised Land and Satan and his lot are finally cast into outer darkness). On this leash they are also limited in what they can do, when, where and to whom. For this reason, the Book of Job is the authoritative book of Scripture on spiritual warfare. Satan could do nothing to Job unless God approved it. Satan's whole goal was to get Job so upset that He denied God. Though Job struggled, he never did that. At the end, God redeemed everything in Job's life. WHY did the family have to die? That is tough isn't it? I do not honestly know. The picture I see here, is a triumph. It also shows the reality that Satan has a leash. It demonstrates that when we cling to God, though a lot of loss can occur and pain too, He does redeem us - sometimes He redeems us in this life and eternally. Sometimes He only redeems us eternally and we do suffer still in this life. Scripture also says that, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood [people], but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world [satan's current domain], and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms [not Heaven, but basically the unseen places unknown to humans]." Ephesians 6:12. Emphasis, mine. The concept is that dark ideologies - espousing hatred (we recently know a few from current events), dark physical places (have you ever physically felt a scary oppression over a location or home?), and even some diseases and illnesses likely have an evil spiritual element to them. Some of the latter are just failing biology as age sets in. Others are spiritual. To tie this back to prayer - to pray is to go to spiritual battle against evil. - We pray against hatred. We pray over places. We pray over people with disease and illness. This is giving a covering of GOOD. There are verses from Daniel 10, which say, "Then he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel...your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for 21 days, then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me..." A being comes to Daniel in response to Daniel's cry for help (prayer). But this being explains, I would have been here sooner, but I was detained in battle with the Prince of Persia (typically means an evil entity that had a stronghold over Persia). Michael, another angel comes to battle too and the angel with Daniel can finally come. I can probably go on and on. In short, Prayer is battle too. It is the primary weapon, we as Believers have, to shine lights into the darkness.

I like your thoughts on this. I would offer the clarification that we don't follow an "order." It is the desire of God to be in fellowship or communion with His creation. Prayer is one means by which the relationship is begun and then grown. It could be said that the words of Scripture asking us to pray fervently are because He desires intimacy with us. He's that friend that rejoices when we call. But He waits for us to call because He gives us free will to do so. He is a gentleman.

I'm sorry that stinks. I feel for you. Been there as well.

Another vote for California. It's all I use and have for years.

What I think about prayer is that it's a conversation with another person. I do mean conversation, as I believe and personally know, God does answer back. Some may call it conscience, a strong urge or prompting, or words or ideas or even images that light up on their mind that haven't come from within themselves. God cares about our cares so the "mechanism " word you used would be the general character of God. I politely disagree that omnipotence negates benevolence. Here's a rough example. If I'm holding my shot gun I am pretty "all powerful" I can do what I want. People will listen. But the power I weild is only good if I do good with it. Defending my family would be good. This is an example of how power can exist alongside benevolence. We in the West often equate power with malevolence. When we see and hear "power," we get images of Wall Street, politicians, and slimy law breakers. You asked about the Jews. They have always been important to world history. From them, Messiah came. I do believe the enemy, Satan always tries to end them. Look at all the suffering they have faced in many places. Why does Satan care? When the Jews return home, the end will come and Satan's rule on earth is over. He and his demons are cast down. What better way to prevent his own end then to eliminate the chosen people from the earth. No Jews would mean no return to the Promise Land, which would mean no end and no defeat of Satan. I shudder over the horrid state of the world... But I know God was there in the death camps, I know He led soldiers, hid people, and worked good amongst the evil. I Know this because I read accounts coming out of parts of the world replete with suffering and He's active and involved there. He was active in the 1940s too and thousands of years before that. Does He sometimes act swiftly like a flash and make something immediately right? Yes I have experience with this and also have read accounts. Does He take a longer approach? Yes, this too I have personally experienced and have read about. How does He decide when to do what? I have no idea. My heart tells me he likes to involve us in His work, so lots of the waiting may be due to Him bringing people along and readying them for a time or task. Just my thoughts. Good question.

I was shy too. I had a job at a small embroidery shop. We did shirts and hats for local teams and businesses. Most of it was placing orders work, but I did have a few customer interaction times, which involved taking small orders for one or two items. I also waited tables one summer in a chain restaurant. That is extra tough because it is social but you also have to remember a lot... But then in college I began one of those campus tour guides! I loved that job and I mastered walking backwards.

I guess I haven't read any of the posts or threads you are upset about. Is there an argument somewhere? So literally I had no idea people are upset elsewhere here on the Hive. There are quite a few threads I have not opened today. So I am sorry for offending anyone. Truly an innocent mistake. I too take the rules seriously I think it was interesting everybody wanted to know WHO. But I erroneously thought it was just a passing "hey that's so and so" and not a stop to someone being a troll.

I just hired one here in rural MN. $28 per hour for two workers. That's not factoring tips.

dup.

Ohhh Ahhh drama on the Hive!! Ya'll this is funny. I'm smiling. Thank you.

How much and what type of policy? If I may ask.

Thanks for the posts. I understand on the burial aspect. Thankfully, we would be pretty okay monetarily if we ever had that happen to one of our kids. I guess one PP answered it for me. I am more worried kids wouldn't be approved as they got older (and needed it for their own families) in case of preexisting conditions, so I could do it now for them preemptively to pass on to them as they become parents/adults. I have some calls to make.

Oh.

Just asking...why would it matter? Maybe someone wants to discuss something without having their regular name tied to it for privacy. I think that's fair. We did just have a convo on here involving possible spousal abuse. I fully accept some posters may create alter names to cover their true identity when sharing potentially difficult things.

Usually a passion develops from an interest. What are you interested in? What gets you inspired? Or what do you hate about society that you want to change? Who in your life do you want to advocate for? If you know and it's just motivation holding you back, then it's possible that it isn't a real interest, but is rather what you have convinced yourself to believe your interest is. People who have a passion hit slumps and ebbs and flows, but they generally don't have trouble just getting out of the gate. Also, just an opposing idea, what if you don't have a passion? Some people don't. That's okay. I don't. I just have various interests that I itch every so often.

$65 we have Hughes Net. It's satellite because we're rural and there are no fiber optic cables.

In general, I am not an advocate of LI for children since they are not bread winners and have no dependents to support. However, now that DS4 has had the seizure trouble, I am possibly rethinking this. What about buying a policy on each of the children that they could keep in the event they cannot be approved later on in life for LI when they do have income and dependents? If I got something for them now, they could keep it as they age and have some level of protection if they ever develeoped some condition or disease that at that time would prevent them from ever getting LI. Thoughts? Do any of you have LI policies on your kiddos?

We had three and then the Lord had other plans for when DD came - making it a four child family. When I told my DAD (whom I love dearly and am close to) that we were pregnant with our fourth, he shook his head in dismay and walked away. Ouch. I am not sure why people think it is appropriate to comment on peoples' family size except to give encouragement or a compliment.

I lived in VA for 6 years and never had that happen.

As a banker/loan officer in prior life, we did generally advise people (even free lance sole proprietors) to open separate accounts for personal and business. The titling of the checking account for your business would likely be something like "EmilyGF DBA EmilyGF Freelance." DBA stands for "doing business as." I was always taught in business to keep it separate from personal. I personally always limit who or where gets my main checking account on record. Fraud on that would paralyze our family's finances. I've seen it happen to others while I was on the job - it can be serious. I've seen mortgage payments bounce because fraudsters took money. It can take a bank 1-2 weeks to research these matters. In that time whole bills go unpaid. If you give a business account instead, then if fraud happens there at least you've buffered your main financial stay on that main primary checking account. I wouldn't do it any other way if it were me.

A decent folding knife. Things to make a fire (at least two start methods such as waterproof matches and a lighter). First aid. Hat. A second layer like a coat or sweater. Poncho. You need to plan to get stuck. Basically, what would you need if you broke your ankle and had to get by for awhile until help came? People can die from exposure in even 40' if they get wet.

Look at your email and phone/text records two hours from the time you say you were there. Can't email or be on the phone or text while cycling. Your own phone could prove your innocence.

I just read an article posted by an optometrist that even with the glasses everyone is buying, eye damage can still be done. Irreparable eye damage... He's worried kids will attempt to peak around the glasses and even adults who use them will have damage due to the radiation. His advice is to do indirect viewing. Just wanted to share that. To view a host of articles on the topic, Google 'optometrist warns against eclipse'

Totally agree. Excellent points.

I'd like to make this not about Nazis. Not about racism. Not about Charlottesville. About what we're gonna do to listen and learn from one another, in general.