"‘And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim); and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.' Then all the congregation raised a loud cry; and the people wept that night." Numbers 13 : 33)
From Wiki...bad source to use, but fast enough for this....
Nephilim are beings who appear in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, and are also mentioned in other Biblical texts and in some non-canonical Jewish writings. In the Bible, specifically the Book of Genesis, Chapter 6, verses 1 through 4 describe the origin of the Nephilim:
"Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
And they were also found after the flood. But I don't remember the verse at the moment....
Actually, (and this isn't a cut down) you can't. It's a lost religion with most of it's actual documented history distroyed or lost.
Much like Biblical stories. Which were origionally passed by word of mouth and song, as was Hebrew tradition. So the accuracy of the stories would be like relying on a game of "telephone" or "Grapevine". It's all speculation. No facts to back any of it.
Yes, I'd rather have something good on the inside. Looks fade. Personality, intelligence and humor are the best of qualities I look for.
That being said....what about someone who is so repulsively "unkempt" that they are just nasty to look at? Honestly. Bad hygene leading to all sorts of stuff as a result. There's a difference between "not so good looking, but a great person" and "This guy/girl doesn't take care of themselves at all. Which could reflect what kind of person they are."
Unfortunately, it's not a clear "yes" or "no" answer for me.
And a quick blunt question for those who said "no."
Would you make out with a dirty bum on the street if they were a "nice person?"
Deut. 10:17 For the LORD (Yahweh) your god is god of gods and lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome," Yahweh is the chief god, like Zeus
And the "jealous God" scripture. Yahweh just wanted all the Glory for himself and none to the other gods. So strike fear in man with threats of eternal damnation and they'll give up on the other gods who seemed "less powerful."
I have my own vews on the Bible which I'll keep to myself for now. (I intend to keep this as academic as possible)
I disagree. Though the worshiping of other gods is abolished and made sinful, the other Gods were still recognized as existing according to scripture.
Though those who "believe" were monothiest (one god), the other Gods were still there. Polythiest(many gods).
And the Bible doesn't say that everyone believed in just Yahweh. Kind of interesting to think about. That all the Dogma could be wrong if you re read the Bible in a litteral sense.
Haven't had a good religious thread in a while. So I thought I'd throw this one in.
Elohim is the Plural form of Eloah in hebrew. Which none of us here can accurately read. In most English translations of the Bible (e.g. the King James Version), the letter G in "god" is capitalized in cases where Elohim refers to the God of Israel, but there is no distinction between upper and lower case in old Hebrew text.
Genesis 31:30-34. Laban had caught up to Jacob and demanded of him: "But why did you steal my gods?" Jacob replied "But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live" although he didn't know that Rachel had taken the gods. Here we have Jacob recognizing Laban's gods
Exodus 20:3 (The first commandment): You shall have no gods before me. The gods of other nations are recognized, and the same in the next 2 quotes
Exodus 31:14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD (Yahweh), whose name is Jealous, is a jealous god.
Exodus 23:24-25 Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. Worship the LORD (Yahweh) your god...
Deut. 10:17 For the LORD (Yahweh) your god is god of gods and lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, Yahweh is the chief god, like Zeus
1 Sam 5:2-3 Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD (Yahweh). Here is one of a number of competitions between Yahweh and the other gods showing that Yahweh is greater, but in so doing recognizing the other gods.
Exodus 12:12 'For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments--I am the LORD.
Gen 1:1 In the begining Elohim (the gods) created the heaven and the earth." The plural, Elohim, is used.
To see that this refers to an assembly of gods look at:
Gen 1:26 Then Elohim (gods) said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..."
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God (Yahweh-Elohim) said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil."
So man has become like one of the gods, as pointed out by Yahweh to the assembly of other gods.
Remember Elohim is a plural word. "im" being a masculine and plural suffix.
I challenge anyone to re read the bible without the preconcieved notion that it is a Monothiestic book.
Put personal faith aside for ONE MOMENT, and read it literally. How would you exlplain these verses?
Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:
Dear Mr. Price,
Your certified letter dated 12/17/06 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania .
A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials"debris."
I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.
My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.
(Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws,annotated.)
I have several dam concerns. My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal reppresentation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.
The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.
If you want the damed stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.
In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoySpring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).
So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2007 ? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health,problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!
Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania . This guy's response is hilarious, but read The State's letter before you get to the response letter.
State of Pennsylvania 's letter to Mr. DeVries:
SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor whodid the following unauthorized activity:
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2007.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action..
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
David L. Price District Representative and Water Management Division
if it's over $590.00, it's taxable. (unless they are going to consider it the "one time gift" exception when filing taxes. The country needs more than a "stimulus package" to boost the economy.
It's "borrowed money." Most people (in polls) are using it to catch up on bills, which IMO won't stimulate the economy in any way.
I'm giving mine to a tax deductable charity. Screw the man!!!
j_goose71 Forum Posts (849)
Does the Bible recognize the existence of other "gods"?
Post Flood Nephilim...."‘And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim); and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.' Then all the congregation raised a loud cry; and the people wept that night." Numbers 13 : 33)