This week's blog post . . .

[indianasmith]

Right.  Joshua Ch. 3 or thereabouts.
It's been a while since I read the Gospel of Thomas.

[lester1/2jr]

Irenaeus indeed quotes the fourth book of Papias for an otherwise-unknown saying of Jesus, recounted by John the Evangelist, which Eusebius doubtless has in mind:[36][37]

    The Lord used to teach about those times and say:

"The days will come when vines will grow, each having ten thousand shoots, and on each shoot ten thousand branches, and on each branch ten thousand twigs, and on each twig ten thousand clusters, and in each cluster ten thousand grapes, and each grape when crushed will yield twenty-five measures of wine. And when one of the saints takes hold of a cluster, another cluster will cry out, "I am better, take me, bless the Lord through me." Similarly a grain of wheat will produce ten thousand heads, and every head will have ten thousand grains, and every grain ten pounds of fine flour, white and clean. And the other fruits, seeds, and grass will produce in similar proportions, and all the animals feeding on these fruits produced by the soil will in turn become peaceful and harmonious toward one another, and fully subject to humankind.... "

[indianasmith]

Interesting.  Papias was far back in time enough that he learned from the apostles as a boy; it might be an authentic saying, or an embellishment of one.  It sounds a lot like the language in the parable of the sower, only expanded upon.  John himself said that Jesus said and did many things that were not written down.  Like I said, a shame Papias' works were lost.

[stine.greta]

Now, this is an interesting debate post. LOL.

[indianasmith]

Now, this is an interesting debate post. LOL.

Yeah, Lester and I do this about once on the quarter.  We both enjoy it, I think. I know I do.
He's a lot more fun to discuss these things with than one of my friends on FB who insists that Jesus never even existed.

[Trevor]

When I freed myself from the closet in 2003, my faith that I was raised with was still with me and still is, despite many life roadblocks that I just managed to get over. I always find it strange that some people think LGBTIQ members - I'm the B part - cannot have faith but I do and most of the peeps I know in that community are: all religions.

In short, my God made me the way I am and He don't make no rubbish. 

 

[ER]

When I freed myself from the closet in 2003, my faith that I was raised with was still with me and still is, despite many life roadblocks that I just managed to get over. I always find it strange that some people think LGBTIQ members - I'm the B part - cannot have faith but I do and most of the peeps I know in that community are: all religions.

In short, my God made me the way I am and He don't make no rubbish. 

 

Good for you, Trevor!

I think the Bible is clear that a member of the LGBTIQ community, or any community, who sincerely accepts Jesus will be be forgiven of wrongdoing of all variety, and can be part of the kingdom Jesus spoke of. I know some gay people who lead good lives that have a lot more in common with the teachings of Jesus than many of those who try to convince me all "deviants" will go to Hell. To say that perfection or even perfect adherence to Christian teachings is required to be "saved" is simply a distortion of Jesus' message, which was clearly that everyone is imperfect.

I wish more people understood: Judge not lest you be judged. Condemn not, lest you be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. (Not to mention not throwing stones.)

[Pacman000]

Careful. While it is clear that people can be forgiven of their sin, it's also clear that we cannot continue to sin.  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6&version=HCSB

[lester1/2jr]

It is similar to something found in enoch http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2013/09/papias-and-the-ten-thousand-branches/ which was once part of the general cannon and is of course referenced openly in Jude (and maybe more subtly elsewhere who can say)

He thought big you have to give him that. that's a lot of wine and bread