TGHusker

Not just Mother Teresa - although she is/was the most visible but compared to most common Christians who volunteer to visit people in hospital, man food pantries, care for the sick, support republican candidates ( Caught you ! just kidding on that one)etc .

Yep, those "name it claim it, Word of Faith, prosperity gospel" (false gospel) guys are some of the worse in missing the true gospel of good news. I'm in Tulsa - one of the centers of it all. I get tired of hearing these guys say - send in money and receive a blessing meanwhile they buy jets - because they are too important to save contributors money by flying commercial. They promise prosperity but they alone build it on a list of contributors. They terribly misrepresent the gospel to the world.

Thank-you for your service.

And now the Adults in the room are backing Trump away from his remarks. Trump was speaking 'hurriedly' per his lawyer. Translation: Trump has no idea of the mess he'd be in if he testified under oath. He is a dufus and we have to protect him from himself. He could be heard whispering as he walked by Chief of Staff Gen Kelly "Who roped us into this gig and why did we listen?? " https://www.newsmax.com/politics/ty-cobb-walks-back-trump-remarks-robert-mueller/2018/01/25/id/839350/

You got that right - outside of oath to self. There is no one bigger, better than himself. Pride comes before the fall. I think we might see that scripture come to pass.

VV - tell us how you really feel. Blanket labeling does no good. And many good Christians & Christian organizations have lead in areas of science, social care, etc. Step out of your resentment and do a bit of investigation on the positive side and you'll find that blanket labeling is speaking out of ignorance - Not saying you are ignorant but that statement is. There are elements of unreasonableness in practically every group. Speaking of - I now address J Falwell Jr. I consider some of these evangelical leaders (use that term loosely) to be 'turncoats'. They have sold their faith for a political position and use their 'faith' as justification. Those words by Jerry Falwell Jr are beyond any comprehension that a Christian would state and yet so many are being led 'astray' by these religious / political swindlers who have sold their soul for the world of political gain. To think he leads a univ full of students that could be persuaded by this garbage. Yes, I understand the wants to support the 'pro-life' president, but at what cost? I've come to believe that in some ways the "Moral Majority" movement that his father led has become a Trojan horse within the church. It distracts from the church's true mission. Yes, Christians like everyone else can be involved in the political market place but that political marketplace should only be a tool for carrying out our mission (love, justice, mercy and evangelism various avenues of expression) and not a distraction to that mission. These group of leaders standing behind Trump don't speak for me as an evangelical and I know they don't speak for many others.

Trump says he will speak to Mueller under oath. That should be interesting. Arrogance meets reality. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/370620-trump-fighting-back-against-russia-probe-is-not-obstruction

Good points LL on the 'hell' discussion. I didn't take that into consideration. I'm going to go back and study those references.

Agree wt the bold - spot on. I think we should hold our doctrine somewhat loosely - be firm in conviction but open to ideas. As I mentioned above, none of us have the corner on knowing all of the truth of this world. I can learn from everyone on this board - at least I hope to. Doesn't mean I have to agree but at least I learn something about that person, where they are coming from and that opens me up to receiving from them some new insight that I may agree with. When can be on different ends of the political or religious spectrum and still be able to appreciate the other person's perspective and gain value from it. We are all on a journey thus we are co-travelers. "A mind once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its former shape" As a believer, I do have a prayer for everyone including myself. Apostle Paul's prayer from Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Lurch may run for president again. However, he may have violated the Logan Act. We'll see if Trump brings it up in a tweet today. He'll be 76 in 2020. Don't the dems have any big hitters under 70 - Warren, Bernie, Kerry. This old group needs to let go of the reigns and face reality and let the younger generation take over the party. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5308005/John-Kerry-says-run-president-2020.html John Kerry tells Mahmoud Abbas ally that he might run for president in 2020 as he urges Palestinians to 'play for time' and 'not give in to Trump' Former secretary of state told a close confidant of Mahmoud Abbas that he's considering another run for the White House Urged Palestinians to 'play for time' while Trump is president and said he could broker a separate peace deal with Israel Lebanese academic who met with Kerry in London relayed the conversation back to the Palestinian Authority, and an Israeli newspaper reported it Kerry, 74, was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 but lost to George W. Bush His attempt at foreign policy could be seen as a violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits unauthorized civilians from conducting foreign policy

Hey it is politically correct - It slams all of us!!

Sessions is in deep horse sh$t . I believe the noose is tightening - Congressional repubs know it too and are having counter hearings on the FBI.

The Bold &

Agreed

Yes I agree - but there was a clear cut when the evidence was presented. And maybe I'm too hard on the current repubs - maybe they will make the same cut but I'm concern that they may not because they have more power esp if the evidence comes in after 2018 elections and they are still in power. Now if Mueller comes out wt evidence prior to the election and the opinion polls are tracking hard against Trump, then the repubs may make a clean cut for political expediency reasons. But their current lack of calling this president into accountability on so many issues doesn't give me a lot of hope. They want to ride this camel as far and as long as possible even if they have one of their own sitting in the VP spot.

The difference between the Nixon and the Trump investigations is clearly seen in Congress. Trump supporters and the republicans as a whole are marching lock step (outside of a few notables) in protecting Trump. Thus we now have the counter investigation into the deep state, secret society whatever you want to call it in which congressional repubs want to defuse the Mueller investigation by going after Mueller himself. Perhaps the Repubs of the Nixon era, who participated in the Nixon investigation, had less to lose - they didn't control congress. The current repubs, however, are placing power over ethics. If something wrong has been done in the FBI - it should be investigated but not in the context of during back the current investigation of Trump. It seems that this FBI investigation, the investigation of Clinton Foundation and Uranium 1 are all timed to 'back down' the Mueller investigation. We have a real power struggle going on in DC and I don't think it ends well. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/23/congress-fbi-russia-republicans-escalate-probes-364616

Good post LL. I think the overwhelming theme of scriptures and the common thread woven through all of the books of the Bible is God's redemptive story - a story of God's love 'chasing after us' if you will to bring us into fellowship with Him. We push him aside because of deep hurt (perhaps loss of a loved one, job failure, etc), bitterness (if God was really God he would have protected me from ...) selfishness, bad relationships (we can't stand the idea of him as a "Father" based on our own sour relationship wt our real father), intellectual pride, intellectual honesty (honest pursuit of facts leads you elsewhere), bad witness from 'God's people' (hypocrites in the church -we expect more of God's people than what we expect from ourself) etc. I've gone through several of these in my search and running away from the concept of & relationship with God. Even as a believer these can be struggles. But God never seems to go away - the conversation is always there. He is still pursuing us for a relationship of love and not duty(religion does that duty thing pretty well and it damages the relationship part). That is his will and desire - not sending people to hell but to receive people to himself. I believe that the grace of God will be much more abundant than we can imagine in that regard. Man responds to the light that they have received (even if that only light is what they see in creation, or the witness of their conscious) and I believe grace is given accordingly. I still think our understanding 'on this side' is still cloudy and always will be. Is the Bible's discussion of hell an attempt of the people at that time to reconcile God's holiness and man's sinfulness and lack of faith? Perhaps. The same Jesus who spoke of grace, love and forgiveness also spoke of hell. How do we reconcile that? Perhaps His illustrations were pertaining to the period of the time - the period of being under 'law'. The period of 'grace' was ushered in after his resurrection and now we are under the new covenant of grace. Non of us have correct doctrine - we may have parts but not in whole. We all see through the glass dimly and I think what we will see on the other side is grace and love shining brightly.

Yes, I understand that - I just didn't want to get into a long discussion on it at this time. Many other threads exist wt that discussion. I was probably a bit abrupt - so forgive me for that part.

With the OT, I like to think of the broad themes that can be found. Many of those 'rules' were written for cultural, governmental reasons as they applied to Israel and OT believers in particular. Apostle Paul said the OT was given for our example - learn from the mistakes of the OT believers - Jews. Look for God's redemptive work in the midst of their failures. Look for comfort in the Psalms, wisdom in Proverbs - all to help us with our faith today.

Without wanting to open another rabbit trial off the original topic let me say this: This post isn't aimed at anyone - I just wanted to piggy back on Knapp's post to tell what I believe. God was physically here, He spoke to us and is still speaking to us. God became flesh, the Word became flesh. And we have His words in the Gospels and expanded upon in the writings of Paul, Peter, John, etc. Thus He is still speaking to us through scriptures. This may be too simplistic for some, to foolish to others, to unbelievable to many, but I believe Jesus Christ was God incarnate and rose from dead and still speaks to us and inspires us via scriptures, prayer and the magnificent things we see in creation (the macro and the micro that I mentioned in my previous post on Intelligent design. Romans 1:18-23English Standard Version (ESV)18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.) Next I'm going to give scriptural backing to what I'm saying. Yes, I know some of you think the scripture is unreliable, full of errors, out dated, self authenticating, etc, etc. We've had those discussions before. I offer not apologies for using scripture - I have come to believe it (I wasn't always a believer). It isn't my job or intent to try to persuade anyone, but for myself, I've considered the claims of atheism and agnosticism & I find both 'wanting". The atheist will speak of what they don't believe. The agnostic of what they don't know. I believe there is sufficient evidence for the claims of scripture on who Christ was to justify belief. One has to ask how much 'truth' or 'evidence' is enough. But that is a discussion we've had several times before. I don't want to get into point/counter point discussion on it as it is unfruitful - we typically just talk over each other unfortunately. (Unless someone wants a private PM discussion). So again, this post isn't aimed at anyone - I just wanted to piggy back on Knapp's post to tell what I believe. What does the Bible say? 1. John 10:30 The Father and I are one. 2. Philippians 2:5-6 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 3. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 4. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. 5. Colossians 2:9-10 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Jesus claimed to be God. 6. John 10:33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” 7. John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus is the Word. 8. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 9. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus Christ is the only way into Heaven. 10. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 11. Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I am He 12. John 8:57-58 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” 13. John 8:22-24 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” 14. John 13:18-19 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. First and last: There’s only one God 15. Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 16. 1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 17. Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 18. Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Only God can be worshiped. Jesus was worshiped. 19. Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 20. Matthew 28:8-9 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Prayed to 21. Acts 7:59-60 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. The Trinity 22. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 23. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Examples 24. John 20:27-28 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 25. 2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Bonus Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

I think the main emphasis behind the 75/25 - don't expect to have success if you haven't properly prepared. So we this thread I'm asking if preparation will set this staff apart from previous staffs and I think it will. The S&C thread is a prime example of prep work.

I guess we can say one must execute 100% of what comes first preparation. I think from a time and effort perspective, Prep takes up 75% or more of ones time and execution is 25% or less. To execute properly one has to prepare properly and that takes 75% of the total effort. At game time you are hopefully doing 100% proper execution because the prep time is done before the kickoff

I agree and you stated it well. I think Frost gets it just like Tom did. You play on Sat like you practiced on M-F or studied film on Sunday or lifted weights and did conditioning in the off season. I think this will be the biggest difference between this staff and the previous staffs. Year round commitment is expected and hard prep work to gain the goals. You don't turn a 0-12 team into a 13-0 team like they did at UCF without some real discipline, constant measuring, and pushing for excellence in every area. With preparation comes confidence. You could see it on the UCF team. They were prepared for Auburn. They didn't panic when they were down. Have you ever taken a test or been on stage to give a speech wtout feeling well prepared - your confidence isn't there. I think this was a problem wt the D last year - lack of confidence and belief in themselves because they weren't prepared properly. Sounds like a thread you can start without hijacking this one!!!

Sure it makes sense - you can only execute as well as you prepare. Yes ultimately the game is execution but the execution is only as good as your prep. And Redux - it goes wtout saying we are talking about perfect practice so we can get perfect execution.

I heard it said the other day that winning or success in general is "75% preparation and 25% execution". Some questions to consider: 1. Do you agree with this rule? 2. If so, how do you believe the current staff will be measured against this rule (will they show it to be true and succeed or fail)? 3. Do you believe they will be better in the preparation phase than previous staffs post TO era? If so what signs do you see now (or don't see) to justify your answer? Edit: Don't get hung up on the % but rather the concept that success follows prep work an execution is only as good as that prep work. Prep includes S&C, film work, practice all pre-kickoff stuff. Will this staff be better than previous staffs at NU and if so, how will it be reflected on the field during game day (execution).