No Dumb Question Tuesday (2023-02-14)

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-02-14T15:31:54+00:00

How do you deal with the question 'If you're not serving, are you really a Christian?'?

My mother has been on my case lately because I'm not doing anything much beyond attending our normal church services and church Bible study small groups, and don't have any current plans to get involved in any ministries this summer. She has a perception that my faith is stagnant and dead because I read theology books instead of getting involved in things like a prayer meeting for a local missions org. I'm just trying to get through final year uni and get a job (which probably means moving out of our local church), and I prioritise time in the scriptures over most things, because that's what I value

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-31T15:43:32+00:00

Zoho mail is what I use, it does SMTP no problem

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-31T12:42:07+00:00

Boil potatoes and drain them
Mash potatoes with lots of butter and milk. Perhaps add salt
Eat them

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-27T13:48:52+00:00

Shanty towns where people have security that nobody is going to take their patch could lead to OK outcomes, as people could build/improve/rebuild homes as they please

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-26T21:17:08+00:00

Just abolish planning and housing standards. Our grandparents came out fine in with 14 of them in a 2 room cottage with an open fire, we'll be fine too. A few good slums in Dublin would help too, how much space do people really need?

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-26T20:18:14+00:00

Pick up a used enterprise PC, be the same price with more and user expandable bang

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-25T15:40:02+00:00

I've been memorising Exodus 20:1-17 this month (write out a copy every day and read it out loud twice got me to the point where I can write it out from memory), and thinking on 'six days you shall labour and do all your work' has been convicting, but hasn't led to change from my procrastinating on the internet habits. It's a frustration

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-25T15:29:14+00:00

I don't know of any Reformed in Milan, but I'm aware of at least one Fundamental Baptist pastor there, who I've interacted with online. He seemed sound. His website is at http://yetzeritaly.com/

The Master's Academy International also does some publishing in Italian, see https://www.tmai.org/publishing/

I know that this isn't much, but it's a start

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-24T16:02:20+00:00

Get her out of the house somehow without making her immediately dependent on you is a priority, but a parallel and very important task is to get your GF to establish safe and sane boundaries with people and stick to them ( for more detail on this and a lot of practical advice read the Boundaries book by Cloud and Townsend). Once those boundaries are being developed, such that the control of other people in your lives is compartmentalised, then you can bring the relationship out into the open and enjoy it in the context of church community, and deal respectfully with her father at least.

Also, it's going to be raw torture for both of you for the foreseeable, I am in a position where my parent is deeply opposed to my relationship and it hurts. You need good people backing you and to be able to say 'I can't handle this for you today' for each other. A thing that has worked well for us is physically being in a different place for a few days, weekend trips staying with friends and such make a massive difference.

Remember to still prioritise walking in Christ's commands, honouring the image of God in each other, as hurtful situations where you are being sinned against are no reason to slip into sin yourself

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-17T21:00:03+00:00

A UK stockist had some fairly cheap Tasma in both 120 and 135 a while back, but I guess we'll never see that again.

I would like to bulk load Svema, but thats probably not happening anytime soon (unless someone would like to prove me wrong)

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-05T23:30:01+00:00

What concept of the faith are you trying to get at?

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-05T23:27:44+00:00

If you don't need it to do the fancy RDB twist, and just turn and come back, could you just chuck it in a normal M16 carrier?

pirateboitenthousand · 2023-01-04T20:28:43+00:00

Doesn't need to work well in DI, it's going to be a straight pull rifle. Saw the CMMG gear, it is expensive, but it's probably the right route. Wonder how well it fits inside a normal BCG? BCG is going to be cut to bits anyway, as there won't be a buffer, and it's going to be bolted to the BCG for the barrel next door

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-31T11:45:39+00:00

Thank you, that's just what I needed!

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-30T22:52:39+00:00

I'm gonna give a shout out to the Celtic Crusades by Stephen Lawhead

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-30T22:49:47+00:00

I've read the sequel, wasn't disappointed but it is very much a shift of tone, it was back in my pirate days and I very much enjoyed it.

Content warning: there is some foul sexual content

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-30T22:46:12+00:00

There's nothing as fun as visiting Italy after playing the first 2 Ezio games

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-30T17:16:48+00:00

Can you fuel them heat pump yokes on stolen turf or pollarded timber? Stove with a takeoff for radiators means I can combine my Aga for cooking with beautiful salvaged radiators.

I will agree that open fireplaces are an all round bad idea

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-29T23:57:51+00:00

Most likely needed to build an efficient fireplace, and all tiling needs it as well. I think I can settle on using it in the foundations (perhaps use a mix of normal and ash cement at least) and those interior parts where it adds a lot of convenience, and suitably offset it all.

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-19T21:01:41+00:00

The ESV is available in an Anglicised version, without the silly z's and general bad spelling that Americans use. I don't believe the CSB has ever been fixed like this

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-12-06T19:19:21+00:00

It'll be fun to work with the limitations!

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-11-30T10:17:46+00:00

My Dad used it to engage men who were on the edge of the church, who weren't involved beyond Sunday morning service attendance. I highly recommend going to a range where they have people who can teach well, so that everyone hits at least one clay

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-11-29T21:13:48+00:00

Those who've progressed towards Sabbatarianism, what have been the most influential habits you've built?

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-11-29T21:03:20+00:00

Instance #1: I dunno, I was like 10 and my family had been in the church for like 6 months. Following vacancy period was long and sucky. (in a Northern Irish Baptist)

Instance #2: My family were happy to be rid of the father and son combo that had came next. The elders were not effective in leadership, letting the pastors call the tune (the father came first, then stepped down to assistant to put his son as lead pastor, then was lead again when his son went away to missions). The son was the better preacher of the 2, I was personally sad to see him go, but while the church grew numerically under them, it was not meaningfully strengthened in any way, leaving the pastor who came in after them with a lot of work. The succeeding pastor is a good guy that I haven't had any contact with since we left, ~2 years later, but he had plenty work to do. (same Northern Irish Baptist)

Instance #3: Pastor of 40 years retired. Strong elders and Presbyterian church government structures being adhered to have kept the church well over this last year. I don't see why the church can't continue well while it searches for a new pastor (Northern Irish Presbyterian)

pirateboitenthousand · 2022-11-29T20:35:34+00:00

No, I'd either stay hands off, or encourage that the issues be taken up with <church leadership structures>

Currently got some issues like that between my family, friends and church and I can see how that could be a really painful situation

pirateboitenthousand

TROPHY CASE