Leftist Thinking Is The Most Destructive Element In Existence

[Phoneman-777]

Actually, our medical system is excellent, and free to every person in Canada. My SIL had cancer, she is 9 years cancer free, treated in Canada. I have multiple autoimmune diseases, the meds are very expensive. It is all free for me. I'm talking $100,000s a year.

I frequent a lot of doctors. Besides my rheumatologist, I have a liver specialist (who is one of the best doctors I've ever had), a pulmonologist, kidney specialist allergy specialist, ophthalmologist, orthopaedic surgeon and a bone density specialist. No copay, and it really doesn't take long to see them.

I've also experienced American health care. I got food poisoning or a flu. I became extremely dehydrated, when we were driving back from California to Alberta. We stopped in a small town in Idaho, with a brand new hospital. No one was in the ER waiting room. I got taken into a room, that was fancier than any hotel I have ever stayed in. I had my own washroom with ceramic tiles on the floor. I had a remote for the flat screened tv I wasn't well enough to watch.

The doctor said I had a flu, and gave me 3 litres of fluid, and 2 types of anti nausea drugs. Sent me home.

The bill for those 2 hours was $3000 and another $550 for the doctor. My husband had private insurance through work, and they negotiated and paid for the whole thing. But the hospital collection agency harassed me for more money for a year, and said I had not paid anything. It was totally incompetent, and my insurance gave them a piece of their minds, and the harassment finally stopped.

Meanwhile, the next day, my husband got sick after eating the same pizza that made me sick. (Not the flu at all!) I drove through a snow storm in the mountains of Montana to get him back to Canada. He was put on IV fluids and given a gravol, and sent home (to our hotel) in 2 hours. Cost- $0. It wasn't as fancy as the American hospital, but I wanted medical treatment, not a room that was better than anything I'd ever stayed in.

My American cousin had jaw problems. She was a nurse, snd her husband an ER doc. They had all the doctors, nurses and techs donate their time. It still cost them $30K just for the surgical room, and a hospital bed. Most people could never afford that!

The American health care system is literally screwed up. So many overlapping services, HMOs, it costs over $9000 per person per year to run. The numbers of every other developed country in the world, are half or less with universal health care. The US is a bloated system set up for the rich.

I'll take my chances every time with Canada. As for Sophie and Justin Trudeau, they are a drain on the public purse. We just found out he spent $200,000 on a family Christmas vacation in Costa Rica at taxpayers expense. He is a total lefty, admires communism and involved in the UN and the Great Reset, or the NWO. Pretty dumb to use the worst prime minister Canada has ever had, as your example. They are Laurentian elitists, and hated by 1/2 of Canada!!

So you have totally gotten this wrong. I just took a course on Christianity and Politics for my PhD in an American Theological Institute. We talked extensively about universal versus private health care. Not one person in the class knew anything about universal health care, except the student from Cuba. But their system is very primitive compared to Canada or other developed nations. I got the same boring arguments about how much better American health care was. I explained our system, and most felt they had really had their eyes opened. Well, one or two hated the American system already, particularly one woman who got her drugs shipped from Canada, which she could not afford to buy in the US.

I'll close with a true story. In 2009, my RA meds failed, and I was put in a drug called Rituxan, a biologic given by infusion in a clinic. You get 2 doses 2 weeks apart, and then nothing for 6 months or longer, depending upon your response. I had two American friends with RA on the same drug. We were talking about the cost of the drug one day. The one from California paid $55,000 for his set of two infusions. The one from Chicago paid $75,000 for her two infusions.

Do you know how much I paid in Canada? $4000! And with insurance and public insurance, I had two copays of $25, although I would pay zero in BC. That is highway robbery. It is excessive gouging. I know our drug manufacturers were making money at $2000 per infusion. It was a giant rip off for my friends who paid thousand of times what I did.

That is what I think of your extremely poor and gouging system in the US.

Sorry, I don’t believe you. If you’re correct, I’m sure yours is the exception and not the rule. Is Trudeau printing money out of thin air in order to fund your portion? Then hyper inflation is on the way. My opinion is based on information from reputable sources.
PLEASE POINT TO JUST ONE OTHER AREA WHERE GOVERNMENT DOES A BETTER, MORE COST EFFICIENT JOB THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. And yet, we’re expected to believe the Canadian govt is setting the healthcare world on fire? They can’t even stop the Islamic invasion. It can’t even keep the potholes filled. Ever been down to the Office of Motor Vehicles?

When it comes to quality, quantity, and cost savings, there is no getting around this steadfast rule:

YOU CAN PICK ONLY TWO.

If you want quality and comprehensive coverage, it’s going to cost a tremendous amount of taxpayer funds.

If savings and quality, then not everyone gets covered.

The reason why our system is broken is because the communist Obama made healthcare a mandatory purchase so the healthcare industry naturally jacked up the already high prices and insurance companies block efforts to implement free market competitiveness.

 

[JaumeJ]

These days Canada is in the forefront of medical car3e for its citizens. Actually, it has been so for decades and more. Living in Spain and being a resident, I have full coverage on medical affairs and it is free, not even a yearly payment.Now there is that pesky co-pay for meds but the fees are very reasonable.

I recall in the US going to St. M ary-s hospital on 10th Ave. to the er, and I was treated and not charged a cent. Those days seem to be bygone. That was in the 50-s.

I am afraid many good authority sources are not so good, especially when touching on politics.

 

[Angela53510]

Sorry, I don’t believe you. If you’re correct, I’m sure yours is the exception and not the rule. Is Trudeau printing money out of thin air in order to fund your portion? Then hyper inflation is on the way. My opinion is based on information from reputable sources.
PLEASE POINT TO JUST ONE OTHER AREA WHERE GOVERNMENT DOES A BETTER, MORE COST EFFICIENT JOB THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. And yet, we’re expected to believe the Canadian govt is setting the healthcare world on fire? They can’t even stop the Islamic invasion. It can’t even keep the potholes filled. Ever been down to the Office of Motor Vehicles?

When it comes to quality, quantity, and cost savings, there is no getting around this steadfast rule:

YOU CAN PICK ONLY TWO.

If you want quality and comprehensive coverage, it’s going to cost a tremendous amount of taxpayer funds.

If savings and quality, then not everyone gets covered.

The reason why our system is broken is because the communist Obama made healthcare a mandatory purchase so the healthcare industry naturally jacked up the already high prices and insurance companies block efforts to implement free market competitiveness.

How dare you say I am lying?? Im well known in this forum, and not a person here would agree with you that I am a liar, even if they disagree with my stance on universal health care. And believe me, what is true for me, is true for every citizen of our country. I am not the exception, but the rule. We have a fabulous medical system, stop believing the lies from people who have never lived in Canada, and are producing these lies about Canada, and every other country in the G20, America is on its own with its bloated, expensive, health care. Almost every country in the 1st world has universal health care, because it works, and costs half as much per person to fund than the US. We get the quality, by have the provinces administrate the programs, instead of 100s of HMOs paying executives and other too heavy staff.

Every word of what I said is TRUE, and it happened to me! I am very ill with many serious diseases, and I have tested the Canadian medical system to its limits.

All you have is some hearsay from some crazy right wing extremist friends. In fact, you may not be lying intentionally, but what you have said is a lie. I just went through all these arguments last semester, and some even changed their minds about the American system not being better after all.

Trudeau is printing money, but it is to fund all his giant giveaways to 3rd world dictators and China. But as far as universal health care, it is indeed our biggest expense. The US chooses the military as their biggest expense, Canadians have chosen free medical care. We are proud that no one is without health care equality.

Believe me, our medical system is good, but no thanks to communist Trudeau. He is more left wing than any leader in the world, although Biden also looks to be on the fast track to beat Trudeau as the fastest leader to destroy their country.

"Wealthy countries, including the U.S., tend to spend more per person on health care and related expenses than lower-income countries. However, even as a high-income country, the U.S. spends more per person on health than comparable countries. Health spending per person in the U.S. was $10,966 in 2019, which was 42% higher than Switzerland, the country with the next highest per capita health spending.

On average, other wealthy countries spend about half as much per person on health than the U.S."

Canada spends $5418 per person on health care, so it costs us half as much to give health care to every single person in the country, where everyone is treated equally.

https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-spending-u-s-compare-countries/

The US spends twice as much as any other country in health care, but you have millions not insured, your drug costs are highway robbery, and you have a tiered system, where the poor are treated differently than the rich. So much for equality!

 

[Phoneman-777]

So basically you're turning the declining popularity of Christianity into a political issue

No, I'm pointing out the destructive influence of leftists in a few of the many areas of life they infiltrate.

then saying that all scientists are leftists and therefore wrong

Not all scientists are atheist, but all atheist scientists are moral leftists.

and that they should spend their education learning about religious dogma

They should cease from learning pseudo-science and get educated in true science - behind which is the Creator - after which the choice is theirs to either accept the authority of God or ignore Him.

rather than something as evil as rationality?

God desires us to think rationally (Isaiah 1:18 KJV) - rationalism is only evil when it's used to deny the Word of God, which Christian leftists do constantly in order to accommodate their carnal desires.

 

[Phoneman-777]

How dare you say I am lying?? Im well known in this forum, and not a person here would agree with you that I am a liar, even if they disagree with my stance on universal health care.

Saying I don't believe you is not the same thing as saying you're a liar because you could have 1) misremembered, 2) drawn a wrong conclusion, or 3) been misinformed by others who are misinformed/lying like those of the unofficial communist propagandist ministry of Canada.

That opening sentence was a litmus test for you.

If your first thought was to offer an apology for leveling such a childish accusation, congratulations, you're human, and we can continue the discussion later when I will present data that I can assure you is not "just hearsay from my crazy right wing extremist friends".

If your first thought had nothing to do with apologies, congratulations, you're an emotionally unstable leftist with a PhD in Selective Outrage who is primed and ready to blow her stack at the first sign of a Conservative challenge to your leftist bulldookey. I will present the data anyway for public benefit but decline further discussion, seeing I don't waste time with such people.

Which are you?

 

[DesertWanderer]

Without theology, you really can't begin to touch on the multiplicity of concepts and realities that God speaks in Scripture. I've been studying theology for 2 years towards a PhD. It is astounding how much it has opened my eyes even more to the majesty, grace and wisdom of God.

Of course, I've read the Bible over 50 times, including the NT in Koine Greek and the OT in Biblical Hebrew. I trust God totally, he is the one leading and guiding me.

As for you, stop spreading your vicious jealous nonsense about something you know nothing about. Going to seminary and now working on a PhD are the most life changing things I've ever done. My professors have been godly men and women, most of them spent years in foreign missions fields.

How many years have you spent in foreign countries doing missionary work? How many times have you read the Bible, cover to cover, for that matter?

Let me see if I can translate all this double-speak for the rest of us peasants who are obviously not as enlightened.

Without theology, you really can't begin to touch on the multiplicity of concepts and realities that God speaks in Scripture.

This is the first argument most pastors make about people coming to church and throwing money into the collection plates. "You need theology," they declare. "Without it, you will never become as brilliant as me at quoting scripture and discovering its meaning."

The Pharisees tried to make that same argument. Thank the Father that he sent Jesus to rescue us from such rubes.

The really insidious thing about this comical diatribe is that it comes across as the person being able to know scripture inside and out; to really understand the mind of God, so to speak. By having the Bible memorized, you can use it as a weapon to bend other's way of thinking to your will.

I've been on the receiving end of this way of thinking. And I'm here to tell you, it's a horrific experience, mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you want to cause the most harm to people as a pastor, continue on with your current paradigm.

I've been studying theology for 2 years towards a PhD.

Good for you. I sincerely hope you finish your education. But it's your attitude toward it that stinks. By the way, it's annotated as Ph.D. You will need to know that if you are going to continue to flaunt the title and shove it in others' faces.

Of course, I've read the Bible over 50 times,

Of course, you have, because you are a better Christian than everyone else. I, on the other hand, like so many, have a real job where I make a real living. I, unfortunately, don't have time to read the Bible as much as you.

I suppose, when you become a pastor and start making over two to three times what the average congregant makes, you will be telling everyone how you send your kids to private school, and anyone who doesn't is a heathen.

As for you, stop spreading your vicious jealous nonsense about something you know nothing about.

This brings us to the second argument every pastor makes:

"You have no idea what you are talking about. You don't know the life of a pastor and what we go through. And as for me making the money I do and living in the enormous house and driving the nice cars and taking vacations every year and sending my kids to private school and having everyone else pay for it; don't be jealous that I am more blessed than you, peasant!"

Yes, I know the typical rebuttal: Pastors make their money from books. After all, that's how Franklin Graham is worth over $30 million. That would be a great argument if he also made disciples, but he doesn't. Instead, he is busy being the CEO of a multi-million-dollar corporate empire (every new millennial pastor's dream), all in the name of Jesus, of course.

My professors have been godly men and women, most of them spent years in foreign missions fields.

The third argument every pastor makes: "You are not truly committed to God unless you have spent time somewhere in a foreign country spreading the Gospel. Only the greatest Christians, I included, have made that supreme sacrifice. Therefore, I am far superior to you for evangelizing to these impoverished people rather than those privileged brats at home."

The problem with this " I am going to make a name for myself by saving the world" mentality is that there are truly pressing needs at home. They may not be in the form of poverty, but they are certainly spiritual.

But instead of taking on those challenges, at least within the church membership, pastors shut people out. They are so afraid of people wasting their precious time that they put up barriers and enlist various forms of gatekeepers. Here are just a few:

• Websites
• Contact forms
• Prayer requests (what a joke)
• Locked pastor's offices
• Bullet-proof glass partitions (yes, I've really witnessed that!)

The list is almost endless. You can't even email a pastor any more to tell them what a great sermon they gave last week. What a shame!

So much for making disciples at home. No problem, though. Just hop on a plane to the Philippines and that should ease even the grottiest conscience.

Going to seminary and now working on a PhD are the most life changing things I've ever done.

The fourth argument every pastor makes: "Because I have bought into the hype of the high-dollar educational institutions, and I am thoroughly convinced that a seminary degree is the only way to truly connect with God, you should be in awe of me. You too should aspire to such greatness."

No thanks. Instead, I will aspire to be like Jesus. He did four things that most pastors today do not:

1. Quoted directly from scripture
2. Preached the will of the Father, instead of the will of the institutional church
3. Made disciples
4. Taught His disciples to go out and make more disciples

I wish you all the best, Miss Angela. I hope as a pastor you will go and make disciples instead of making yet another pagan god in the form of institutional debauchery. I pray you will one day receive the largest crown of glory Peter describes here:

" So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away." 1 Peter 5:1-4

 

[Angela53510]

Saying I don't believe you is not the same thing as saying you're a liar because you could have 1) misremembered, 2) drawn a wrong conclusion, or 3) been misinformed by others who are misinformed/lying like those of the unofficial communist propagandist ministry of Canada.

That opening sentence was a litmus test for you.

If your first thought was to offer an apology for leveling such a childish accusation, congratulations, you're human, and we can continue the discussion later when I will present data that I can assure you is not "just hearsay from my crazy right wing extremist friends".

If your first thought had nothing to do with apologies, congratulations, you're an emotionally unstable leftist with a PhD in Selective Outrage who is primed and ready to blow her stack at the first sign of a Conservative challenge to your leftist bulldookey. I will present the data anyway for public benefit but decline further discussion, seeing I don't waste time with such people.

Which are you?

I'm Canadian, as I have said. I'm very right wing in Canada. Except everyone, no matter what their political preferences, believes in universal healthcare in Canada. It has nothing to do with "sides" but rather, taking care of our own people.

I absolutely believe in free enterprise, free speech and freedom to believe in God. But with a real leftie in power, Justin Trudeau, we may not have that much longer they way things are going. The country of Canada is a mess, with no chance to rectify the issue by voting, because our electoral system is totally rigged. Last election, in 2019, the Conservatives won by 200,000 votes. So why does Trudeau have 36 more seats? Because the eastern provinces have 35K to 75 K per riding. The west has 135K votes per riding.

I have always believed in the West separating, now it is crucial. That is my goal, the inequities in Canada make the west drawers or water and hewers of wood.

Don't impose your extremist views on me. I am definitely right wing, but not in American terms. In fact, I really await the return of Jesus Christ, because I think this world is near done. But not a dispie, either. Dispensationalism is madness, verses desperately pulled out of context.

Your American definitions mean nothing to me. You are enthno-centric, ignorant because of the extreme right wing propaganda you have immersed yourself in. I was hoping for a Trump win. Trump didn't know it, but he was standing in the gap for Canada too. I simply don't see how either of our countries are going last with these UN loving leaders, globalists all, funded by China, and Democrats like Warren Buffet and Wall Street traders. I think we can agree in that!

PS Any time you want to apologize to me for putting me into your extreme American right wing mold, I'm listening.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I have always believed in the West separating, now it is crucial.

I am of the same opinion. As a matter of fact I prepared a complete blueprint for a "Republic of the Prairies", then contacted a couple of key individuals who could possibly take action. But to no avail. Canada simply does not have even one man of courage and vision, like Donald Trump.

 

[Angela53510]

Let me see if I can translate all this double-speak for the rest of us peasants who are obviously not as enlightened.



This is the first argument most pastors make about people coming to church and throwing money into the collection plates. "You need theology," they declare. "Without it, you will never become as brilliant as me at quoting scripture and discovering its meaning."

The Pharisees tried to make that same argument. Thank the Father that he sent Jesus to rescue us from such rubes.

The really insidious thing about this comical diatribe is that it comes across as the person being able to know scripture inside and out; to really understand the mind of God, so to speak. By having the Bible memorized, you can use it as a weapon to bend other's way of thinking to your will.

I've been on the receiving end of this way of thinking. And I'm here to tell you, it's a horrific experience, mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you want to cause the most harm to people as a pastor, continue on with your current paradigm.



Good for you. I sincerely hope you finish your education. But it's your attitude toward it that stinks. By the way, it's annotated as Ph.D. You will need to know that if you are going to continue to flaunt the title and shove it in others' faces.



Of course, you have, because you are a better Christian than everyone else. I, on the other hand, like so many, have a real job where I make a real living. I, unfortunately, don't have time to read the Bible as much as you.

I suppose, when you become a pastor and start making over two to three times what the average congregant makes, you will be telling everyone how you send your kids to private school, and anyone who doesn't is a heathen.



This brings us to the second argument every pastor makes:

"You have no idea what you are talking about. You don't know the life of a pastor and what we go through. And as for me making the money I do and living in the enormous house and driving the nice cars and taking vacations every year and sending my kids to private school and having everyone else pay for it; don't be jealous that I am more blessed than you, peasant!"

Yes, I know the typical rebuttal: Pastors make their money from books. After all, that's how Franklin Graham is worth over $30 million. That would be a great argument if he also made disciples, but he doesn't. Instead, he is busy being the CEO of a multi-million-dollar corporate empire (every new millennial pastor's dream), all in the name of Jesus, of course.



The third argument every pastor makes: "You are not truly committed to God unless you have spent time somewhere in a foreign country spreading the Gospel. Only the greatest Christians, I included, have made that supreme sacrifice. Therefore, I am far superior to you for evangelizing to these impoverished people rather than those privileged brats at home."

The problem with this " I am going to make a name for myself by saving the world" mentality is that there are truly pressing needs at home. They may not be in the form of poverty, but they are certainly spiritual.

But instead of taking on those challenges, at least within the church membership, pastors shut people out. They are so afraid of people wasting their precious time that they put up barriers and enlist various forms of gatekeepers. Here are just a few:

• Websites
• Contact forms
• Prayer requests (what a joke)
• Locked pastor's offices
• Bullet-proof glass partitions (yes, I've really witnessed that!)

The list is almost endless. You can't even email a pastor any more to tell them what a great sermon they gave last week. What a shame!

So much for making disciples at home. No problem, though. Just hop on a plane to the Philippines and that should ease even the grottiest conscience.



The fourth argument every pastor makes: "Because I have bought into the hype of the high-dollar educational institutions, and I am thoroughly convinced that a seminary degree is the only way to truly connect with God, you should be in awe of me. You too should aspire to such greatness."

No thanks. Instead, I will aspire to be like Jesus. He did four things that most pastors today do not:

1. Quoted directly from scripture
2. Preached the will of the Father, instead of the will of the institutional church
3. Made disciples
4. Taught His disciples to go out and make more disciples

I wish you all the best, Miss Angela. I hope as a pastor you will go and make disciples instead of making yet another pagan god in the form of institutional debauchery. I pray you will one day receive the largest crown of glory Peter describes here:

" So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away." 1 Peter 5:1-4

Well, aren't you clueless about me!! First, I am 67 and retired. I use my pension from teaching to pay for my courses. I have no desire or calling to be a pastor, although I respect those who are, it is a difficult job.

My calling is to train and learn about disability theology, and practical theology. I have been disabled since 1999, and my search of the Bible is to learn to help people who are broken and hurting.

My goal is to contribute to the practical literature on helping people. I run an RA forum in FB, and I have run other health forums. God opens doors for me to talk about Christ. I believe the internet is an important connection for people who are isolated, but today, because of COVID, maybe it applies to everyone.

I am part of the preaching team in my church. I have never taken a penny for preaching, nor did I when I taught children's Sunday School, or when I play and sing on one of our worship teams.

I don't think I am alone, when you make all these unfounded accusations. Yes, there are definitely greedy people out there in positions of power in church. The mega churches are a prime example of destroying God's church and replacing it with one of Satan's. Very sad, but I prefer to be positive and do the work God has called me to. I hope you understand better where I am coming from, instead of all these baseless conclusions.

PS. My father had a PhD, I certainly know where the periods go. But, I use shortened terms on the internet, unless I am published a peer reviewed paper. And that applies to a lot of other things I write.

It's kind of funny, most people in this forum think I am too formal in my writing, and they are probably right. Ironical you are the first person to criticize me for not being formal enough.

 

[Angela53510]

I am of the same opinion. As a matter of fact I prepared a complete blueprint for a "Republic of the Prairies", then contacted a couple of key individuals who could possibly take action. But to no avail. Canada simply does not have even one man of courage and vision, like Donald Trump.

I agree with you. And finding the right leader for western Canada, whatever we call it, is the biggest issue. I wish Trump was still in the US, and we could find a powerful man like him.

I would love to see your plans. Alberta is really leading the fight, but I've spent 1/2 my life being born and raised there, and 15 years there as an adult. And the interior of BC is solidly conservative, with most realizing the west needs to leave Confederation

I appreciate your comments!

 

[Dino246]

If your first thought had nothing to do with apologies, congratulations, you're an emotionally unstable leftist with a PhD in Selective Outrage who is primed and ready to blow her stack at the first sign of a Conservative challenge to your leftist bulldookey. I will present the data anyway for public benefit but decline further discussion, seeing I don't waste time with such people.

Which are you?

This is utter stupidity. You have adopted the leftist ideal that disagreement is to be met with derision and dismissal. You have embraced your enemy, and have become him. I could see the trend in your opening post, and you have fully confirmed it.

 

[oldethennew]

I was obviously offended by phone's accusation and would very much
like to hear an apology given to a person that hub and I both know
loves and adores and serves her Blessed, Holy, Saviour...

by the way, we should all take care and not allow our feet to slide
off of Jesus' never-ending learning curve/curb...

 

[Phoneman-777]

I'm Canadian, as I have said. I'm very right wing in Canada. Except everyone, no matter what their political preferences, believes in universal healthcare in Canada. It has nothing to do with "sides" but rather, taking care of our own people.

I absolutely believe in free enterprise, free speech and freedom to believe in God. But with a real leftie in power, Justin Trudeau, we may not have that much longer they way things are going. The country of Canada is a mess, with no chance to rectify the issue by voting, because our electoral system is totally rigged. Last election, in 2019, the Conservatives won by 200,000 votes. So why does Trudeau have 36 more seats? Because the eastern provinces have 35K to 75 K per riding. The west has 135K votes per riding.

I have always believed in the West separating, now it is crucial. That is my goal, the inequities in Canada make the west drawers or water and hewers of wood.

Don't impose your extremist views on me. I am definitely right wing, but not in American terms. In fact, I really await the return of Jesus Christ, because I think this world is near done. But not a dispie, either. Dispensationalism is madness, verses desperately pulled out of context.

Your American definitions mean nothing to me. You are enthno-centric, ignorant because of the extreme right wing propaganda you have immersed yourself in. I was hoping for a Trump win. Trump didn't know it, but he was standing in the gap for Canada too. I simply don't see how either of our countries are going last with these UN loving leaders, globalists all, funded by China, and Democrats like Warren Buffet and Wall Street traders. I think we can agree in that!

PS Any time you want to apologize to me for putting me into your extreme American right wing mold, I'm listening.

The reason why you'll get no apology from me, my emotionally charged Canadian neighbor, is that you are so ignorant to the fact that for the last 70 years, left-of-center Leftist thinking has shifted all the way over to far left with Communism, Marxism, Socialism, etc., while right-of-center conservative thinking has shifted all the way across the middle to left-of-center and is why you think historic, true, right-of-center Conservative thinking like mine is so "extreeeeeeeeeeeeeemist" to you.

True Conservatives demand government get the hell out of our way and let the private sector compete for excellence (the results of which were evident during the Trump years despite decades of Commie economic interference by our own officials), but you lefties see government as the solution, not the problem, and is why you are blinded to all the cons of your beloved single-payer system. You have no problem demanding millions of young, healthy Canadians with zero health issues pay for your numerous lifestyle diseases (which the Loma Linda Blue Zone proves can be avoided by responsibly following basic Biblical health principles), which is a textbook example of Communism!

After the former Homosexual-in-Chief forced Obamacare down our throats, I went from paying ZERO dollars, and a small deductible for employer provided health insurance to now paying hundreds of dollars a month with a massive deductible, and that is still very reasonable compared to what other Americans are paying.

I already told you that of these three desired qualities - low cost, quality product, availability - you can have ony two. You guys place emphasis on low cost and availability, which is why primary care is great but major problems like cancer is significantly behind when compared to the U.S., which you can read about in the provided links. We used to place emphasis on quality and lowering cost which is why availability suffered, but we still had some commie safety nets and both faith/non-faith charity to help with that. So, if you're happy with having to wait for care and hope that it comes in time before you die, great - but even our broken system was much better off than that before we too took a turn toward communist healthcare rather than the free market competition under Obama.

https://aimseducation.edu/blog/us-vs-canadian-healthcare-differences
https://www.sgu.edu/blog/medical/comparing-us-and-canadian-health-care-systems/
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/lessons-can-u-s-learn-canadian-health-care-system/

BTW, associates of the Peter G. Peterson Center for Health, the organization which provided all that data singing the praises of your commie Canada health care in that link you provided, donated over $40,000 to leftist U.S. candidate campaigns and PACs You're so "conservative" that you think Godless leftists will lie about everything from "climate change" to "wage gap" to "unnecessary police brutality" to "Biden victory", but will tell you the truth about commie healthcare, right?


Yep, an emotionally unhinged, unapologetic leftist...thank you for your thoughts, but I don't waste time with such so discussion over.

 

[Phoneman-777]

Let me see if I can translate all this double-speak for the rest of us peasants who are obviously not as enlightened.



This is the first argument most pastors make about people coming to church and throwing money into the collection plates. "You need theology," they declare. "Without it, you will never become as brilliant as me at quoting scripture and discovering its meaning."

The Pharisees tried to make that same argument. Thank the Father that he sent Jesus to rescue us from such rubes.

The really insidious thing about this comical diatribe is that it comes across as the person being able to know scripture inside and out; to really understand the mind of God, so to speak. By having the Bible memorized, you can use it as a weapon to bend other's way of thinking to your will.

I've been on the receiving end of this way of thinking. And I'm here to tell you, it's a horrific experience, mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you want to cause the most harm to people as a pastor, continue on with your current paradigm.



Good for you. I sincerely hope you finish your education. But it's your attitude toward it that stinks. By the way, it's annotated as Ph.D. You will need to know that if you are going to continue to flaunt the title and shove it in others' faces.



Of course, you have, because you are a better Christian than everyone else. I, on the other hand, like so many, have a real job where I make a real living. I, unfortunately, don't have time to read the Bible as much as you.

I suppose, when you become a pastor and start making over two to three times what the average congregant makes, you will be telling everyone how you send your kids to private school, and anyone who doesn't is a heathen.



This brings us to the second argument every pastor makes:

"You have no idea what you are talking about. You don't know the life of a pastor and what we go through. And as for me making the money I do and living in the enormous house and driving the nice cars and taking vacations every year and sending my kids to private school and having everyone else pay for it; don't be jealous that I am more blessed than you, peasant!"

Yes, I know the typical rebuttal: Pastors make their money from books. After all, that's how Franklin Graham is worth over $30 million. That would be a great argument if he also made disciples, but he doesn't. Instead, he is busy being the CEO of a multi-million-dollar corporate empire (every new millennial pastor's dream), all in the name of Jesus, of course.



The third argument every pastor makes: "You are not truly committed to God unless you have spent time somewhere in a foreign country spreading the Gospel. Only the greatest Christians, I included, have made that supreme sacrifice. Therefore, I am far superior to you for evangelizing to these impoverished people rather than those privileged brats at home."

The problem with this " I am going to make a name for myself by saving the world" mentality is that there are truly pressing needs at home. They may not be in the form of poverty, but they are certainly spiritual.

But instead of taking on those challenges, at least within the church membership, pastors shut people out. They are so afraid of people wasting their precious time that they put up barriers and enlist various forms of gatekeepers. Here are just a few:

• Websites
• Contact forms
• Prayer requests (what a joke)
• Locked pastor's offices
• Bullet-proof glass partitions (yes, I've really witnessed that!)

The list is almost endless. You can't even email a pastor any more to tell them what a great sermon they gave last week. What a shame!

So much for making disciples at home. No problem, though. Just hop on a plane to the Philippines and that should ease even the grottiest conscience.



The fourth argument every pastor makes: "Because I have bought into the hype of the high-dollar educational institutions, and I am thoroughly convinced that a seminary degree is the only way to truly connect with God, you should be in awe of me. You too should aspire to such greatness."

No thanks. Instead, I will aspire to be like Jesus. He did four things that most pastors today do not:

1. Quoted directly from scripture
2. Preached the will of the Father, instead of the will of the institutional church
3. Made disciples
4. Taught His disciples to go out and make more disciples

I wish you all the best, Miss Angela. I hope as a pastor you will go and make disciples instead of making yet another pagan god in the form of institutional debauchery. I pray you will one day receive the largest crown of glory Peter describes here:

" So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away." 1 Peter 5:1-4

Paul is clear that women are not to teach men - they are emotionally ill-equipped to handle such church duties which God has clearly ordained are to be handled by men. But, having dealt with her, I have no doubt she intends to try and exercise authority over men - weak men who themselves are incapable of leading their own lives, much less the body of Christ if called upon to do it.

I cringe every time I see a dude gushing over female pseudo-religious authoritarians like Paula White or Joyce Meyer. I want to haul them out of the building and force feed them red meat before dragging them to the gun range for some testosterone therapy

 

[Phoneman-777]

This is utter stupidity. You have adopted the leftist ideal that disagreement is to be met with derision and dismissal. You have embraced your enemy, and have become him. I could see the trend in your opening post, and you have fully confirmed it.

Nah, what's stupid is knowing that Jesus is about to come, but advocating that we sit around and sing Kumbaya instead of following our God-given mandate in Ephesians 5:11 KJV to expose Satanic error. And leftist don't even enter the arean of ideas, while we shake the dust from our sandals after it's evident that they are such.

 

[phil36]

act that for the last 70 years, left-of-center Leftist thinking has shifted all the way over to far left with Communism, Marxism, Socialism

That's an interest statement and quite audacious to claim it as fact? I could make the same claim about the Right.

 

[Dino246]

Nah, what's stupid is knowing that Jesus is about to come, but advocating that we sit around and sing Kumbaya instead of following our God-given mandate in Ephesians 5:11 KJV to expose Satanic error. And leftist don't even enter the arean of ideas, while we shake the dust from our sandals after it's evident that they are such.

Double fallacy: strawman argument and red herring. If you want a rational discussion of the ideas you have presented, you must lay off the insults. If you can't do that, you are no better than those you decry.

 

[DesertWanderer]

First, I am 67 and retired

Wonderful, but that doesn't exempt you from the need to show just a tiny bit of humility. Let me give you a quick example:

I once invited an older gentleman--78 I think he was-- to the Bible Study Fellowship program in my area. We were studying Isaiah at that time. I struggled with the subject and thought he could be a great asset to our younger, less-experienced study group.

When I approached him about joining us, he turned me down flat. In fact, he didn't give me a chance to even explain that we needed him because of his experience. He just immediately said no.

The reason, he explained, was that he had already studied the book of Isaiah. In fact, he stated, he was a teacher on the subject. Therefore, he had no reason to study it any further.

This is the type of arrogant snobbery that pervades the modern church. It's this vile condescension that repels younger people from entering through the doors of local sanctuaries.

And it's not just the regular members who are at fault. Pastors and elders are the worst offenders. In their minds, they can no longer be taught.

my search of the Bible is to learn to help people who are broken and hurting.

That's admirable. However, you and I both know you don't need "education" to help others. You just need the will to do it.

One of the other fallacies I did not touch on before is that most pastors foster this idiotic notion that no one else but them can discern God's word. You need a Ph. D in theology if you want to know what God is really saying. That may have been true before people realized it was okay to read something other than the King James Version of the Bible.

During the early to mid 20th century, pastors would pass themselves off as somehow being more able to understand what God was saying than everyone else. Each sermon would amount to a translation from KJV to ESV. They could get away with this scam because no one spoke middle English anymore. Thankfully, all of us undesirables today can discern God's word just fine, thanks to being able to read the Bible in plain English, French, German, or heaven forbid, Arabic.

My goal is to contribute to the practical literature on helping people.

Great, but please remember the humility thing. That's all I ask. Otherwise, you wind up with people like me who are hostile and angry with the institutional hierarchy of the church. And if you want things to be the way they were 30 years ago, it will take a lot more humility than what's on display by the current leadership.

You as much as anyone can affect the needed changes going forward.

 

[DesertWanderer]

Paul is clear that women are not to teach men - they are emotionally ill-equipped to handle such church duties which God has clearly ordained are to be handled by men.

I don't think it is in the best interest of the church to label all women as "emotionally ill-equipped." There are two main reasons why God prohibits women from having spiritual authority over men:

1. Adam was first. Eve was made from adam's flesh. Therefore, Adam was chosen to lead the way forward for Eve. I believe this one fact sets the president of men leading in the home, regardless of whether it actually happens or not.

2. Eve was deceived. This had nothing to do with emotions. Instead, I believe that since Eve took the bait first, God's eternal punishment toward women is that they are no longer equals to men.

I know that there are other views, but I am sure they don't include "emotionally ill-equipped" as their main argument.

I cringe every time I see a dude gushing over female pseudo-religious authoritarians like Paula White or Joyce Meyer. I want to haul them out of the building and force feed them red meat before dragging them to the gun range for some testosterone therapy

Yeah, this is another thing that drives me absolutely nuts about the kind of craziness pastors foster within their congregations. . But before I go any further, let me share a few of my personal views:

1. I despise feminism in all its forms. I think it is killing the US especially.

2. Even though I don't own a weapon of any kind, am a HUGE second amendment rights advocate. I personally think that Mexico would get rid of their drug cartels in a year if their citizens were armed. Just my opinion.

With all that said:

The silly notion that standing up and beating our chest while driving to the gun range is somehow going to make us better men pervades the pulpit, unfortunately. Pastors are especially complicit in feeding this insanity to younger men.

But instead of making disciples-- ones who teach others to stave off the oppression of ultra-feminism and government oppression through the word of God-- pastors and elders love to rant. The vitriol about how America is going to hell because of liberals is in the sermons, the podcast, the books, and the radio shows. And guess who's getting rich off of all of it: so-called pastors.

 

[Phoneman-777]

That's an interest statement and quite audacious to claim it as fact? I could make the same claim about the Right.

Very easily proven by just examining the ideological positions of the current right compared to the historic right.

So, why are you asking the question if that's the case?

The powers that be cannot help but openly boast of their evil intentions because they have no fear of any of anyone paying attention as they distract the populace with Superbowls and Hollywood and political theatre. Do you know who Antonio Gramsci is? Or Bertrand Russell? Sorry for the Asian subtitles, but the commies at Youtube must have pulled down the American version. Pretty soon, people will be asking, "What mass graves?"