This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure your opinion addresses the issue only, and does not confront or denigrate the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/
On this day and every day –
God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Spiritual Darkness
Spiritual darkness is the state of a person who is living apart from God. The Old Testament book of Isaiah, in prophesying of the Messiah, speaks of a deep spiritual darkness that enveloped the people: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2). This passage reappears in the New Testament, in Matthew 4:16, to announce that those who have come to know the God of Israel through His Son Jesus Christ are the ones who have been delivered from spiritual darkness and now walk in the light of God’s life.
The apostle John taught that God is light: “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth” (1 John 1:5–6, NLT). And Jesus declared that He is the light of the world: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Thus, spiritual darkness means not having fellowship with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The darkness of separation from God is overcome through Christ: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5).
From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, humans have lived in a fallen world. All people are born in a fallen state of sin and separation from God. Until a person is reborn of God’s Spirit, he or she lives in spiritual darkness. Sin darkens our understanding and destroys our spiritual sight, cloaking us in deep darkness: “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19). Moses compares this state of sin and disobedience to groping about like “a blind person in the dark” (Deuteronomy 28:29). One of Job’s friends speaks of those who are lost in spiritual darkness: “Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night” (Job 5:14).
Living in rebellion to God and His will is equivalent to living in spiritual darkness. When the Lord commissioned Paul, He said, “I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17–18, NLT).
After salvation, believers become beacons of the spiritual light of Christ: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Those who are in Jesus Christ have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13, ESV). Those who reject Jesus Christ face eternal separation from God in “blackest darkness” (Jude 1:4–13).
In Judaism, a person’s inner character and moral quality are understood to be reflected through the eyes. In Matthew 6:22–23, Jesus compares the moral condition of an unregenerate soul to darkness: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Jesus’ listeners would have understood that a healthy eye is one that lets in light just as a healthy regenerated heart lets in spiritual light. But a sick or sinful eye (or heart) shuts out light, leaving the soul in spiritual darkness.
The apostle Paul describes those in a sinful state before knowing Christ as possessing a darkened, closed mind and a hardened heart: “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him” (Ephesians 4:18, NLT).
Unbelievers live in spiritual darkness because Satan, the god of this world, has blinded their minds. They cannot see the glorious light of the gospel: “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, NLT).
Spiritual darkness refers to all that is in opposition to the light of God’s love in Christ. The good news that Jesus brings to this world is that His light—His life-giving Spirit—floods light and life into the spiritual darkness of the sinner’s heart. The One who opened the eyes of the blind can also bring us out of spiritual darkness. No matter how deep the darkness, the light of God’s love and truth overcomes every sin that separates us from God.
xhttps://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-darkness.html
Watched a black preacher deliver a sermon in a 100% black congregation church.
His theme? Y’all gotta stop voting black. No more ‘she’s the first black whatever’.
He got applause and did not get run out of the building.
I am still amazed.
The mayor knows his career in politics is over if Trump brings the national spotlight to what the mayor has allowed to happen in his city.
Bye bye, mayor.
To bad there is another three years of DeWine. IIRC.
Step outside the media narrative and watch them lose their minds. 😅
Ah yes … The Book of Eli.
I LOVE that movie!
I KNEW IT!!!
Well, I suspected…
But I was pretty sure! 😂
😂
I see a lady with cat ears at the bottom left. hehe Also, the crowd can respond with meow, meow, meow when the Kiffness singer asks them to.
Better that than those other hats the lezbians wore in D.C. in 2017 or so.
Haiti must be so proud… right about now… 😂 🤣 😂
Not like we don’t have a crap-ton more to be laughed at, though.
“Japanese carry Trump Effigy with ‘#TrumpMikoshi,’ saying ‘Let’s fight together! Fight, fight fight! Let’s fight together! Fight, fight, fight!’ The word Mikoshi in Japanese refers to a divine supernatural being!”
(I’m guessing the “divinity” is similar to when people here say GEOTUS. They don’t really think he’s a god. But I’m not sure.)
Thank you for bringing this.
Love the “flashing eyes” on the POTUS45 effigy!
Or maybe her spokesperson is lying about her not owning a gun. It would look pretty bad if the person who wants to confiscate all the guns actually owned one.
I tend to think she does own a gun, and probably more than one. Her offhand remark about someone getting shot if they break into her house came from a rare place of honesty. There was no reason for her to say something that goes counter to her stated positions.
She could have meant the Secret Service would shoot anybody breaking in.
I doubt she’s ever fired a gun, no less owned one.
Remember, Kamala prosecuted others for pot while she herself was using it.
That’s the origin of the cackle.
Takes a hit off her bong… holds it in… thinks about all the people she put in jail for getting high… exhales…
And out comes the pot cackle 😂
You seem to know a lot about the devil’s weed. 😂
Puleeze..of course they have a gun in the home.
This statement correction help her how exactly? I want all of this to be over..
Thank you, Bakocarl! Exactly the inspiration I needed this morning.
Came across this, no idea how old it is or who made it, but it is rather good.
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1835999086203260928/pu/vid/avc1/720×720/qeYS5ASfIb-xQ1n-.mp4?tag=12
lol scumbag fuckwats
Chuck Callesto
@ChuckCallesto
11h
The world is watching closely what DEMS did to America..
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1837527910854369280/pu/vid/avc1/576×1024/huIZ7tFmhIk5akqK.mp4?tag=12
Another returning topic, especially for Wolf!
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/09/human-cases-of-raccoon-parasite-may-be-your-best-excuse-to-buy-a-flamethrower/
From the comments 👍😁
________________
Oldnoobguy
Thank goodness Ars has already reported on the solution to this problem!
You can now buy a flame-throwing robot dog for under $10,000 Thermonator, the first “flamethrower-wielding robot dog,” is completely legal in 48 US states.
Is the Flamethrowers-R-Us domain taken yet?
This was in the replies to that first tweet and it’s hard not to believe it…
“The three letter agency simply wanted to get their hands on the evidence before Pres. Trump resumed power.”
I hope the whole thing is exposed and they all ended up in prison for the rest of their miserable lives.
That wouldn’t be much of a plea deal.
Easily adapted to a Trump ad.
Positive news…
European Consumers Reject Electric Vehicles – Sales in Germany Collapse by 70% – Manufacturers Warn Against EU’s Insane Petrol Car Ban in 2035
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/09/european-consumers-reject-electric-vehicles-sales-germany-collapse/
Did you know that the manufacturer can kill them remotely. Musk did it apparently to a car of the Chechen leader.
https://www.rt.com/russia/604322-chechen-leader-musk-deactivate-cybertruck/
WP doing its thing again. The American Story: FIRE! is up now. Scheduled it for 3 AM and nothing happened. I checked and it said to publish at 3 AM today. Going to just publish as ready to post from now on.
https://www.theqtree.com/2024/09/22/american-stories-fire-part-iii-climate-change-and-the-great-smoky-mountain-fire-of-2016/
Thank you, TB! I’ve read the article but haven’t clicked all the links yet. I especially am interested in taking all the extreme fires (California, Tennessee, Maui) and running analysis of the property values and uses before/after. Perhaps comparing the before/after values and ownership will reveal some patterns or even common actor connections.
Likely some interesting dot connecting.
Most can be found in the county clerk’s offices. The problem may be the access to data bases – some may not even have computer accessed data. You can add in the lenders and investment capital companies to the list as well.
Since 2016, property values have nearly doubled in our area. Think of the free equity the buyers of property in the fire ravaged area received from buying even lower than market value back then.
Reality…
Amen. Come to The Light. Thank you, bakocarl.
SpaceX – NASA Rescue Mission for stranded astronauts set to launch September 26.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/nasa-s-spacex-crew-9-duo-lands-at-kennedy-space-center-gears-up-to-rescue-sunita-williams-from-iss/ar-AA1qZu0X
I thought they were supposed to have to wait until February.
Damn if the govt doesn’t lie about EVERYTHING. 😡
Perhaps they decided not to wait until the “burn it all down” aftermath of Trump’s reelection and waiting period.
That is the Crew 9 mission, which originally was supposed to have 4 astronauts, but only has 2 at launch to accommodate the two Starliner astronauts (they have to bring Dragon space suits for them, since the Starliner suits are not compatible with SpaceX dragon)
Crew 9 is scheduled to return to earth in February, as originally planned.
Crew 8, which is currently at the station with its 4-man crew, will shortly after docking of Crew 9, depart back to Earth, but it cannot comfortably accommodate the Starliner crew.
A Doxology
GOD by His Will and Word conceived, designed, created, orders, controls, upholds, maintains all the universe.
All Matter – every element throughout the universe – is organized energy, which is given its order and its motion by the Will, Word and Power of GOD.
All Life is ordained by GOD – all living creatures – are quickened and given life by the Breath, Spirit, Power, Will and Word of GOD.
Our every breath – from first to last – is given by GOD.
Amen
Verse of the Day for Sunday, September 22, 2024
✟
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Ephesians 4:26 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered !!!
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
BE MY VOICE
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
CHILD NOT CHOICE
PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Is your brain close to being fried
Can you believe how much they lied
Can you imagine what they did
The evil they devised and kept hid
Is this a military operation
That is really running our nation
Or is it a God-centered blessing
That will leave the enemy confessing
They claim we are in an information war
Well if that is true what is the score
How far are we interdictory
How close are we to victory
Our patience it is wearing thin
As we traverse thru the storm we’re in
How close are we to the end
Of this horror movie penned
There is one thing that is certain
The drawing of the veiled curtain
As their evil plot it thickens
From dark to light it quickens
The battlefield has forever been
Between good and evil from within
The imbalance caused by ignorance
Left us all shrink-wrapped in a trance
Until we awakened right on cue
We had no idea of what to do
Our daily agony just lengthened
Until we gathered and strengthened
Infiltrated extensively to the max
With enemy operatives in packs
Mesmerized imbibed and bribed
By the powers of darkness ascribed
Only God can disband this formidable foe
One that travels back and forth to and fro
That inhabits weak unsuspecting hosts
That of his successes he often boasts
The remnant petitioned the Throne of Grace
To bombard the enemy and deter his pace
With fire, fury and force He will outpace
With His Army of Angels He will displace
As pharaoh in his arrogance He smote
The Corrupt Cabal will miss the boat
We will be free as He meant us to be
God will save America soon you’ll see
D01: 06/27/2022
Thank You Duchess! 🙂
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/05/23/the-poetry-tree/#comment-1340167
Psalm 91. The most powerful prayer from the Bible. God’s protection, healing
#psalm91 #psalms #prayer
Pray Everyday
https://rumble.com/v57jz8d-psalm-91.the-most-powerful-prayer-from-the-bible.-gods-protection-healing-p.html
___________________________
Sleep Well with Psalms. Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Psalm 139.
#faith #god #psalms
Pray Everyday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKUPiqPMs8M&t=2s
______________________________
HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY !!! ❤️❤️❤️
Does anybody know if there is a summary of all the businesses owned by Trump Enterprises, along with the numbers of all the direct and indirect employees of those businesses? I want to put together a snappy elevator door pitch about the sheer economic value DJT has created for both the US and the world. I want to show how many people to whom he has provided a path out of poverty. I’m just sick of this purported level playing field. DJT has slanted the US economic playing field further than any other POTUS. I want to shove it in every leftist face I can.
Looking forward to whatever you compile.
Be a shame if it went viral. (Assuming you are good with it.)
Single Best Take Down of Lawfare Persecuting Trump
Give it a minute, MeAgain Kelley absolutely destroys the TDS fool.
LIVE: “How Can I Know: How Can I Know There Is A God (Part 2)?” | September 22, 2024 | 9am CT
First Baptist Dallas
Started streaming 67 minutes ago
Dr. Jeffress will continue to answer the foundational question of life and eternity with part two: “How Can I Know There Is A God?” Although the Bible assumes the existence of a divine Creator, is there any tangible evidence outside the Bible that proves the existence of God?
Follow First Dallas on Social Media!
facebook.com/fbcdallas
twitter.com/firstdallas
instagram.com/firstdallas
Follow Dr. Robert Jeffress on Social Media!
facebook.com/drjeffress
twitter.com/robertjeffress
instagram.com/robertjeffress
SERMON BY SPECIAL GUEST – DR. BEN CARSON
💙🧚🏻♀️💙
“How Can I Know There Is A God?”
Two ways.
[1] Believe in Scripture
or
[2] Die
Either one provides the answer.
HEADS-UP FOR THOSE TAKING FENBEN —
https://substack.com/@makismd/p-149140288
21 September 2024
“FENBENDAZOLE on AMAZON tests 56% pure, not 99% — caution for using Amazon sourced Fenbendazole (Fenben Lab from Lithuania)”
(Yours Truly: this is a paid article on Dr. Makis’ Substack. Only the article title and an image of the product sold on Amazon is accessible to non-paid subscribers.)
?w=600&h=388
‘Grieving-type screaming’: 4 dead in mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama
Story by John Bacon, USA TODAY • 2h • 2 min read
At least four people were killed, more than a dozen were wounded and a search was underway Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama, after a shooting rampage in a crowded entertainment district Saturday night.
Officer Truman Fitzgerald said two men and a woman died at the scene and a fourth died a short time later at a local hospital. First responders rushed some wounded people to hospitals while others began arriving at hospitals around the city on their own, he said.
Police said the ATF and FBI have been called in to assist the investigation.
“These mass shootings have more to do with culture than they do with criminality,” Fitzgerald said. “We are seeing far too many arguments being decided by bullets.”
Cracks are appearing, the EUdiots are weakening…
**************************
“In July, the European Union increased imports of Russian fertilizers to a twenty-month high, as a result of which Russia’s share in European purchases returned to over 30% for the first time since March 2022 (c) Eurostat
Thus, in mid-summer, the EU increased its import of fertilizers from Russia by 2.2 times compared to the figure in June and by 1.7 times compared to July last year – up to 199 million euros. The figure in July was the highest since November 2022, when supplies amounted to 264 million euros.
Poland was the largest buyer in July: its purchases doubled to 55.7 million euros. Next came France, which increased imports fivefold to 31.5 million euros, and Germany, which reported an increase in fertilizer imports from Russia by a third to 24.5 million euros. Ireland showed the most significant growth. Romania increased its imports of Russian fertilizers at a more modest pace – 54 times to 17.3 million euros, and Bulgaria – 25 times to 12.9 million euros.”
https://t.me/intelslava/66907
Found the clip of the pastor I described in my opening comment.
It’s Pastor Alton R. Williams:
[video src="https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/166/433/161/playable/bad837bd38955747.mp4" /]
[just copy between the quote marks, and paste into a browser window]
Nice day for some laughs.
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