Jesus own example is precisely the reason why some of Dr Piper’s arguments are less than convincing. I respect his and other Christian’s right to abstain. But I don’t think total abstinence is always and in every situation the “higher ground.” In fact, there are times in 21st century America where a godly Christian may choose “to make a [biblically positive] social statement” by drinking in public settings as Jesus did.

For example, I have found that far too many unbelievers in the southeast (Bible belt) tend to view total abstinence as a condition for salvation. Moreover, many professing Christians see it as a condition for sanctification. In order to disabuse these people from such unbiblical notions, it may be warranted for a Christian (with a strong conscience) to have a glass of wine or mug of beer to show the world and the church how to use without abusing as well as to make it clear that the Christian gospel is distinct from false religions (doctrines of demons) which tell us “don’t touch,” “don’t eat,” “don’t drink,” etc. If the Son of Man “came drinking” on his mission, it can’t be wrong or unwise for modern Christians to do the same. In some circumstances and for some believers, it may be wrong and unwise not to do so.

My problem with so many of the “balanced” arguments against alcohol is that they come from people who have grown up in anti-alcohol pasts and who do not like it at all anyway. Piper is no exception. I think that you gave some good arguments (not sufficient for me albeit), but that they are weakened by the fact that you freely admit that you don’t even like alcohol in the first place.

When you say God is one person or one consciousness who thinks wills and loves. While at the same time remaining 3 distinct persons or consciousnesses who think will and love.

Are you saying when they come together as one consciousness there is a mixture of the 3 consciousnesses and with respect to the one consciousness the 3 are no longer distinct while at the same time in another sense with respect to the 3 consciousness they are distinct?

Or are you saying that because each knows each other fully including their thoughts and fully indwell each other. Although the 3 conscioussnesses don’t mix they are together in perfect unity and when speaking about them as a unit they could be considered one consciousness or person?

Thanks God bless

Peter

If any company other than Google had released Keep and positioned it as “an Evernote killer,” they would be ridiculed. Keep is, at best, a Google Drive extension. Granted, it makes Google Drive better. But it will take magnitudes of evolution and innovation before it would even approach the utility and capabilities of Evernote.

I cannot think a paid service could reasonably be guaranteed to last a lifetime. Agreed.

But in my experience, a mature and successful firm such as Ever does not go bankrupt in 2 years’ time. Nor stops products abruptly like Google did with GReader. Why don’t they do it as abruptly ? Because users *pay*.

It’s not Google. Agreed.

It’s paid services by middle to big size firms v/ free services. Paying increases a lot the chances you’re going to get stability. It does not guarantee it, though, thats’s right.