I say this without a shred of hyperbole: nearly all the problems of contemporary Christendom can be traced back to a defective view of worship.

Even most of the best churches, that otherwise seriously believe the Bible, don't pay attention to what it says about worship.

What the contemporary church believes worship is for:

Evangelism
Outreach
Marketing
Entertainment
TEDtalks w/Bible verses
Theology lectures
Impressive rock concerts

What the Bible says worship is for:

God's people gathering before His presence
God renewing His covenant relationship with His people
God's people receiving grace from Him
God's people responding with praise
God's people returning a portion of the grace He has given

If you want a simple, one-sentence definition of what the Bible says worship is it is this:

GOD'S PEOPLE DRAWING NEAR TO HIM.

Read that again, and again, and again. THAT is what worship according to the Bible is.

God gave His people a pattern of how He is to be approached.

He CALLS us into his presence (Lev. 9:3-5).

He speaks, and we respond by gathering before His face.

Historically, this is where the "call to worship" is derived.

#BREAKING
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Al-Qaeda has a new home base. It is the Islamic Republic of #Iran. We ignore this Iran/al-Qaeda nexus at our own peril.

Al-Qaeda has had a relationship with Iran for nearly three decades.

Taoiseach singles out the finding that mother and baby homes had significantly higher mortality rates than broader society

He also singles out Catherine Corless for the work she did on researching the burial records of Tuam which prompted this State inquiry

Taoiseach says he will issue the State apology in Dáil Éireann tomorrow

Roderic O'Gorman says the report reflects a society which was "stifling, oppressive and deeply misogynistic"

O'Gorman: Every person who spoke out led us to the truth that we see today… this is an extraordinary moment for those for whom this is not history, but everyday living pain

O'Gorman: Legislation allowing dignified excavation of Tuam, and testing on remains, will be passed this year

As an Emergency physician and a Navy veteran, I'm calling on social media companies to permanently ban Dr. Simone Gold and America's Frontline Doctors from their platform. Here's why. 1/x

Gold may now state that she regrets being part of the group of insurrectionists who attacked our democracy on Jan. 6th. But she WAS a part of it, and their traitorous actions resulted in five unnecessary deaths. 2/x

Not only that, but from a medical perspective, Gold was extremely reckless in joining a group of largely maskless rioters who didn't socially distance whatsoever. These actions go directly against the science we know helps prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease. 3/x

Sadly, this isn't the only thing Gold and her extremist "America's Frontline Doctors" have done to worsen the pandemic. Since summer, they've spread dangerous disinformation, like touting hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 cure, even though it's not and can be harmful. 4/x

And while the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is the best tool we have to eradicate the pandemic and save lives, Gold has incorrectly referred to it as an “experimental, biological agent deceptively named a vaccine.” 5/x

They found his car, parked on the bridge between two towns, the brown sooty water of the Ohio passing beneath. After they issued his description two welders working on the bridge remember seeing a man in a topcoat and hat. /1

Friends say he was despondent. His mother had died just a few weeks before, and everyone said his was such a kind, gentle soul. His sisters already knew the worse. They understood Jimmy just as their mother had. 2/

There was no "indian summer" that year. October came in cold, stayed cold, and blew into a cold November. The local police weren't enough, so they called in the Coast Guard to drag the river. 3/

There was only time. Time to wait, but not to worry, only to find out. When they, a sister took to her bed, another retreated to her books, and my mother, the youngest, had to keep it from all falling apart. She was his kid sister, and the adoration was mutual. 4/

She kept the story from her own youngest son, who was only four. When she spoke of him at all, she simply said that he died, honey, and that he was sad. When her son was older, long left, she sent him a photo. 5/

Company
Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump
By Twitter Inc.
Friday, 8 January 2021
After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter —

we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence. 

In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action.

Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open. 

However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are

not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement. 

The below is a comprehensive analysis of our policy enforcement approach in this case.

Overview

On January 8, 2021, President Donald J. Trump Tweeted:

“The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form

(Thread) Over the Cliff Notes: Impeachment #2

Let’s start with the Article of Impeachment itself: https://t.co/KRiPGstRwi

The charge: Incitement of Insurrection.

Spoiler: This is a slam-dunk in the impeach-and-convict department, and will create a moment of truth for the GOP.

1/ The basics:

🔹Impeachment requires a majority vote in the House. 

🔹Impeachment is followed by a Senate Trial.

🔹Conviction requires 2/3 of the Senate.

After conviction, preventing Trump from holding office again requires a simple majority vote.

2/ This is not a criminal trial.

The Constitution specifically says that a criminal trial may be appropriate AFTER impeachment and removal.

Defendants in a criminal trial have special protections because they stand to lose their liberty, property, or even their life.

3/ An impeached president stands to lose his job and the ability to hold the job again.

Therefore certain requirements for a criminal trial, such as the requirement that allegations be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, do not apply.

4/ In addition to charging Incitement of Insurrection, the Article invokes the 14th Amendment (sec 3) and Trump’s duty to faithfully execute the oath of office. 

Notice the 14th Amendment doesn’t give the procedure for determining when Section 3 applies.

1. I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT $493,000 of $ROKU stock.

I missed the +217% one year run up in 2020. But as of today, I'm up about 27% for a 2 month hold so far.

Here's my extensive 25-post due diligence on #ROKU.

(read the full thread)

2. First, stop thinking of $ROKU as a hardware company.

STOP!

They started that way, but have shifted into a much more lucrative space - their 'Platform.'

More on that shortly.

Think of them as having part of their biz as hardware, but most of it as their Platform.

3. Most people I talk to say, "Why do I need #ROKU if my TV already has its own build in apps?"

I get it. People don't yet realize what ROKU offers. But they will. Just like people didn't understand other tech at the start (Paypal, Amazon, Netflix, etc.)

4. Beginnings - #ROKU is the japanese word for "6." CEO Anthony Wood named it this because it's his 6th company.

Anthony created the world's first DVR and then sold the company in 2002 and founded $ROKU.

He also worked as a VP at $NTFLX.

5. In 2008, $ROKU released the Netflix player.

Later they added more hardware: sticks, TVs, etc.

People still associate $ROKU as a hardware company.

They're missing the big picture. That's the BIGGEST confusion with $ROKU.

The play here is... "The Platform."

The U.S. Attorney's office announced an update on charges related to the U.S. Capitol insurrection soon.

As I cover that, my colleague @ColinKalmbacher will live-tweet the Aaron Mostofsky hearing.

The briefing is about to begin.

FBI Washington Field office's Steven M. D'Antuono is up first.

"We have opened 160 case files, and that is just the tip of the iceberg."

D'Antuono:

We have received more than 100K pieces of digital media.

He solicits more at 1-800-CALL-FBI

D'Antuono:

He credits pre-siege intelligence to the arrest of Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio before Jan. 6

I know that most VCU students--really most college students in general--do not pay attention to their local politics.

Well, I'd like to enlighten them on something that is happening in RVA City Council ... something all VCU students should be aware of (THREAD)

1/ We're talking about Ordinance # 2020-117 ... Which would continue and expand an agreement between RPD and VCU that allows the school's police force to use RPD's records management system.

It was first introduced on May 11, 2020, by Mayor @LevarStoney

2/ It has since bounced around council for several months. The last motion was made on Jan 11, 2021, where it was tabled for an upcoming subcommittee meeting on Feb 8.

You can read the whole bill by clicking the link

3/ Now, some important context:

-VCU has the largest campus police force in VA
-VCUPD has assisted RPD and VSPD with crowd control at protests
-VCU is seeking leads on the $100,000 of windows broken at protests

These are all facts that have been verified publicly.

I'd like to also state that, while the information presented below may seem authoritative, a lot of this is a guessing game because the bill is written so vaguely. There's only so much a person can actually understand about this ordinance.

So, do your own research.

VENDING EXPENSES

For everyone who is interested in a vending business, I am going through all of the steps of creating one right now.

And

I want to show you everything so let’s talk about it

-A THREAD-

Your Largest costs are always going to be

- Transportation of the machine (if you have to rent a Uhaul)
- The Machine
- Product

I want to go over all of this with you all

Let’s talk about transporting them first

If you don’t have a way to transport the machine I would always recommend borrowing a truck from someone you know first.

If that’s not the case generally a 1 day uhaul rental will be fine.

P.S. rent a dolly as well

Depending on the machine size the uhaul rental will vary but shouldn’t break the bank. $100-$200 max.

Now is the fun part.

Purchasing the machine

I got this machine on Facebook Marketplace for $1050

Seaga SM22 combo snack/drink machine

In remarks today at the southern border, @POTUS: Millions of our citizens watched on Wednesday as a mob stormed the Capitol and trashed the halls of government.  As I have consistently said throughout my administration, we believe in respecting America's history and traditions...

That is why we are here today: to talk about what we must do to uphold the rule of law in America and how we must continue to support our law enforcement heroes.

For years, politicians ran for office promising to secure the border – only to get elected and do the exact opposite.  But unlike those who came before me, I KEPT MY PROMISES. Today, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the completion of the promised 450 miles of Border Wall.

We arrested nearly 500K illegal aliens with criminal records. We removed nearly 20K gang members from the US, including 4,500 members of MS-13.
...
Through the landmark reforms we have put into place, we have ended the immigration chaos and re-established American Sovereignty.

Now, instead of Catch-and-Release we have DETAIN-AND-REMOVE.
...
We instituted a series of historic policy changes to shut down asylum fraud.

FBI official Steven D'Antuono says the bureau has opened 160 case files relatd to U.S. Capitol insurrection.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg."

Acting U.S. attorney Michael Sherwin on U.S. Capitol investigation.

"I think the scope and scale of this investigation in these cases are really unprecedented not only in FBI history but really in DOJ history."

He says the Capitol Grounds are, essentially, a crime scene.

SHERWIN describes "mind-blowing" range of criminality. Range of charges include:

-Simple trespassing
-Theft of mail
-Theft of digital devices
-Assault on local/fed officers
-Theft of potential national security info
-Felony murder

SHERWIN adds this is just the beginning.

He says they're charging some of these suspects quickly on the first possible charge, which buys law enforcement time to develop far more significant investigations leading to bigger charges.

🚨SHERWIN: "We're looking at significant felony cases tied to sedition and conspiracy."

NOW: 6 days after the insurrection, the FBI says it’s ready to prove a “quick” update.
Here goes with updates from FBI:
•160 cases files have been opened
•100,000 digital media tips have been received
•they FBI admits they had intelligence warning of an attack

•FBI says an arrest the night before the Capitol attack indicates they took action
•@AndyTriay has previously reported: FBI “disrupted” a number of individuals from traveling to DC. Which means they were urged not to come – or somehow stopped.

•FBI says there will be hundreds of criminal cases against suspects at the Capitol and prosecuting them could take months
•the acting D.C. U.S. attorney says most investigations were opened on misdemeanor charges but now the feds will indict those people on federal felonies

BREAKING: The acting U.S. Attorney in Washington D.C. says he’s ordered prosecutors to build cases to charge Americans who stormed the Capitol with sedition & conspiracy, if the evidence warrants charges against them depending on how they were involved.

NOW: Acting U.S. Attorney in D.C. says charges will also be brought against people who attacked members of the media.

A good theory of consciousness is one that predicts behavior that is unexplained by other current theories of consciousness. Einstein's General Theory was given credence because it predicted the bending of light.

What do current theories of consciousness predict that is outside common intuition about the nature of consciousness?

Many theories of consciousness are elegant, but do they predict anything out of the ordinary?

A theory of consciousness must be expressed in a formulation, consists of interpretations that are valid and predict something unexpected.

A bad theory of consciousness has ambiguous interpretations and predicts nothing out of the ordinary.

The subject of true and false prophesying has been raised recently. See @derekradney especially. It’s important because as @PLeithart notes in his fine commentary on 1&2 Kings, Israel’s history is not so much political as it is prophetic.

One example - Ahab. Not only does he despise & reject the three prophets God mercifully sends him, but he embraces the hundreds who falsely prophesy in God’s name. That latter fact is the issue. It’s not that the false prophets are invoking Baal but YHWH.

Ahab’s prophets are false for numerous reasons but let me cite just one. They aimed to reinforce an unholy alliance between Judah’s future king and Ahab’s daughter Athaliah, a disaster that resulted in the attempted destruction of the Messianic hope.

Prophetically backing unholy alliances - defending the union of what God has separated - nearly led to the disastrous destruction of Judah. They are false not simply because of false predictions but because of errant theology.

I’m going to put this as plainly as I can. The Church today is disturbed, divided, and misled because of false prophets. They aren’t false in an obvious sense (or only in a narrow ‘charismatic’ sense) because they operate within otherwise orthodox settings & use orthodox terms.