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Yes, Ellen White and the General Conference wanted to get this anti-Trinitarian book into the hands of as many people as possible. This is something I've collected material on from the General Conference Archives - I'll dig it out of my creature-christ folder this weekend.

AJ, This has nothing to do with spirituality. Anti-vaxxers who cite spiritual reasons for refusing a shot are like those who conflate Christianity and democracy. One has nothing to do with the other.

How American houses of worship speak out on contentious public issues without forfeiting their tax exemption. The post The Pulpit, the Ballot, and the Law appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Frank Beard, drummer of boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, dies at 77 NEW YORK (AP) — Frank Beard, the drummer for the Texas boogie-rock trio ZZ Top who kept the tempo for the band’s biggest hits like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Legs,” has died. He was 77. https://apnews.com/article/frank-beard-died-zz-top-obit-72139238d1dbf3d277bdb3b8584eecc9?

Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries Democratic voters elevated Angie Nixon, a progressive Senate candidate in Florida, while President Donald Trump’s chosen candidate in his adopted home state, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, won the nomination as he vies to be the state’s first Black governor. Read more. Why this matters: It was a mixed bag for incumbents in Florida, where Republican-led redistricting efforts scrambled congressional maps. Meanwhile, longtime U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won a diverse, redistricted Florida seat. Voters in Alaska, Wyoming and California were also choosing their nominees. Our free politics newsletter, Ground Game, is soon expanding to five days a week. Sign up to get more politics coverage. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Full results Sen. Sullivan, former congresswoman Peltola will face off for Alaska US Senate seat in November Sen. Darline Graham in debate: ‘I’m not that informed on national security’ AP Interview: Ralph Norman questions Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham in South Carolina runoff Fake polling from mysterious company highlights danger of unvetted election surveys Governors’ races are being increasingly buffeted by the toxic politics of data centers Senator presses Hegseth, Caine for commitment to keep US military out of the midterm elections

South Korean and US militaries shorten exercises at Trump’s order South Korea’s military said in a statement the ongoing drills with the U.S. would end Friday, not Aug. 27 as initially planned, while the allies also agreed to downsize some joint field training exercises. Read more. Why this matters: President Donald Trump had ordered his Pentagon chief to downsize joint drills just before they began Monday. Trump cited what he said was a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over Iran. The move likely reflected Trump’s hopes to reengage with Kim but could undermine U.S.-South Korean defense readiness. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump says US has no talks planned with Iran Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?

Trump says US and Canada reached last-minute deal to delay 50% tariffs The two sides reached agreement less than two hours before the sanctions were to go into effect for about 5% of Canadian exports to the United States. They agreed to a three-day delay while negotiations continued. Read more. Why this matters: The deal avoids, for now, another strain in already tense relations between the historic allies. A White House proclamation said Canada had expressed a commitment to remove measures the Trump administration considers discriminatory against U.S. alcohol, dairy and motor vehicle exports. Canada did not immediately confirm those commitments. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement “substantial progress” had been made but that important work remained. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Ex-Fauci adviser pleads guilty to plotting to conceal COVID-19 research records during pandemic Trump administration moves ahead to end roadless rule on national forests Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools ICC slams US decision to sanction the court’s president and a senior prosecution lawyer Preservation group urges Supreme Court to suspend Trump’s White House ballroom project Judge rules paint tests on Eisenhower Building can proceed, advancing Trump’s makeover plans for now

Democrats see a path to the Senate through Alaska Democrats believe former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola could bring them one step closer to controlling the Senate in 2027. On Tuesday, Peltola advanced to November’s general election, where CNN’s Decision Desk projects she will face Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola, a former congresswoman, has centered her campaign on protecting Alaska’s fisheries and seafood economy. She had considered running for governor but was urged by national Democrats to enter the Senate race as the party works to gain four seats and retake the chamber. Alaska last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 2008, but the state has long had an independent streak, leaving the door open for a competitive race. + Read more: Key takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming + Video highlights: MAGA has mixed record in Trump’s home state + Democratic socialists see another victory

$40 trillion and counting The US is nearing a record $40 trillion in debt and will likely cross that threshold today. This milestone reflects decades of the federal government spending more than it collects in revenue, creating annual deficits that add to the national debt. That imbalance is nothing new: The US has carried debt since its inception, according to the Treasury Department, with wars, economic downturns and, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic adding significantly to the total. President Donald Trump has promised to use tariffs, among other measures, to help pay down the figure. But his tariff agenda has been marked by shifting deadlines and tensions with America’s closest trading partners. (Just hours ago, Trump postponed a 50% tariff he had threatened on some Canadian goods that was set to take effect today.) At this rate, though, another major debt fight may not be far off. The US could hit its $41.1 trillion debt ceiling early next year, putting Congress back in the familiar position of debating whether to raise it once again. + Read more: Trump postpones 50% tariff he threatened for some Canadian goods + Plus: Inflation and national debt concerns are rattling bond markets. Here’s how that may affect you

THIS DAY IN HISTORY August 19 1909 First race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway The first race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, now the home of the world’s most famous motor racing competition, the Indianapolis 500. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1812 Old Ironsides earns its name 1895 John Wesley Hardin killed in Texas Arts & Entertainment 1964 The Beatles kick off first U.S. tour at San Francisco’s Cow Palace 1993 Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin marry Cold War 1953 CIA-assisted coup overthrows government of Iran 1960 Captured U.S. spy pilot sentenced in Russia Crime 1991 A Jewish student is killed by a mob in Crown Heights, Brooklyn 2011 “West Memphis Three” released from prison after 18 years Early U.S. 1791 Benjamin Banneker writes to Thomas Jefferson, urging justice for African Americans European History 1934 Adolf Hitler cements his position of supreme power U.S. Presidents 1946 Bill Clinton is born World War I 1919 President Wilson appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

📺 Trump's media legal battles skyrocket Data: Axios research. Chart: Christine Wang/Axios Media-related lawsuits involving President Trump — along with a broader set of Trump-related defamation cases — have surged over the past two years compared with the decade prior, Axios' Sara Fischer and Kerry Flynn write. Trump, his businesses and his administration have been involved in 61 media and defamation lawsuits since 2015, including 16 in 2025 and nine so far in 2026, according to an Axios analysis. Keep reading ...

⚠️ OpenAI blinks first in safety standoff Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios OpenAI said yesterday it's pausing some model work over safety concerns, days after rival Anthropic insisted its safety measures were solid enough that it didn't need to slow down, Axios' Madison Mills and Ina Fried write. Why it matters: This is a script flip. Anthropic has traditionally been more publicly cautious and safety-oriented than OpenAI. Keep reading.

🤖 The new existential threat to AI Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Forget energy. Forget chips. Forget China. The most clear and present danger to AI and any AI-related economic boom is rapidly rising public opposition to U.S. data centers, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Why it matters: Republicans and AI CEOs are in full panic mode watching politicians and the public turn on the physical engines of AI growth. In private, they tell us they can't find a compelling message to shift opinion fast enough. Their nightmare — a political and economic daisy chain that cripples the AI revolution — is already taking shape: Voters revolt against data centers over electricity bills, water use, giant warehouse-like developments and fears about AI eliminating jobs. Democrats race to capitalize, competing to impose tougher restrictions or block projects altogether. Republicans — watching candidates get punished in places like Ohio — retreat from an industry they've spent years championing. The pipeline of new data centers slows, constraining the computing power AI companies need to keep improving their models and products. Investors question the staggering spending, borrowing and valuations built on expectations of relentless AI growth. 🔭 Zoom out: The AI boom has become dangerously intertwined with the U.S. economy, meaning this will ricochet far beyond Silicon Valley. Goldman Sachs estimates U.S. AI investment will hit about $600 billion this year, equal to roughly 2% of GDP and 10% of business fixed investment. Big Tech has already locked itself into trillions of dollars in future spending: The Financial Times found six hyperscalers have nearly $1.5 trillion in purchase commitments, much of it tied to AI infrastructure, plus roughly $1.5 trillion in lease obligations. Even the richest companies in history are now turning to debt markets to bankroll the buildout. A handful of those AI-heavy tech giants dominate the stock market's gains, swelling the portfolios of wealthy Americans who account for an outsized share of consumer spending. 🎨 The big picture: The increasingly toxic politics of data centers are surfacing in several of this fall's governors' races. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), a 2028 hopeful, had welcomed data centers as an economic-development boon, boasting last year that an Amazon plan to build $20 billion in AI infrastructure was the "largest private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania." Yesterday, Shapiro, whose Republican opponent in November is campaigning on halting data-center development, went from AI cheerleader to critic and signed an executive order imposing stringent new requirements for data-center developers. 👀 The intrigue: In Wisconsin, GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany — a close Trump ally — is running ads attacking his Democratic opponent for suggesting the state could become an AI data hub "for the entire globe." It's a striking crack in Trump's pro-AI coalition, as Republicans in swing states scramble to get on the right side of the new populist wave upending the midterms. The other side: OpenAI is aggressively courting state and local officials to try to persuade them of the economic benefits of data centers. Chris Lehane, OpenAI's chief global affairs officer, told us: "As the late, great Tip O'Neill famously said, 'All politics is local.'" "That is especially true of AI data centers, where you have to show up, listen, and directly respond with specifics to the concerns of locals," Lehane added. "You have to answer the mail on issues like electricity and water, while also demonstrating a seriousness of purpose when it comes to ensuring the community gets a good deal. ... That is democracy in action." Meta last week announced its Future Is for Everyone Fund, with $1 billion in spending planned to benefit teachers, law enforcement and fire departments in communities where the company owns or plans data centers. Meta is also aggressively highlighting direct economic benefits for localities, including thousands of jobs and an increased tax base. Data: Pew. Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios 🔢 By the numbers: In Pew Research Center polling published yesterday, 52% of Americans said they're "more concerned than excited" about increased use of AI in daily life — up from 37% in 2021. Even adults under 30 have soured on AI, with 55% now saying they're more concerned than excited — mainly because of fears the technology will take jobs. Excitement has faded across all age groups over the past five years, Pew found. A June Echelon Insights poll found AI data centers are uniquely toxic: Just 27% of voters say they would support building one in their community, dead last among the projects tested — including a nuclear power plant. Zachary Basu and Alex Thompson contributed reporting. Go deeper: "AI optimism fades among young adults," by Axios' Josephine Walker.

Exclusive: GOP's stark AI warning Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios The Senate GOP campaign arm, in a private memo to top AI companies, warns that toxic views of U.S. data centers are killing the party's chances of holding a vital seat in Ohio, Axios' Alex Isenstadt scoops. In the memo, obtained by Axios, the National Republican Senatorial Committee says Democrats have made data centers a "centerpiece" of their campaign to defeat Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) — and that it's working. "If he loses and data centers get the blame, politicians across the country will take notice — and they will not go near the next one," the memo says. "This has become a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle." Why it matters: Republicans want AI companies to do whatever it takes to stem the public backlash. 🖼️ The big picture: AI CEOs and top Republicans share in the rising panic. They tell us internal polls show data centers are as popular as spent nuclear waste, and more broadly have become a proxy for feelings about AI. Tech giants are scrambling to pull together media campaigns to try to shift opinion before it hardens locally and nationally. But Democrats aren't dummies. They see the same polls and are moving fast. Even politicians who previously embraced data centers are racing to crack down on them this election year. There are now more than 4,000 data centers online across the U.S., with another 3,000-plus proposed or in progress. They're designed to power the AI transforming the American economy, but have drawn protests from communities nationwide because they require massive amounts of electricity and water, can drive up utility bills, involve enormous warehouse-like structures and provide few jobs. They also have become local proxies for anxiety about AI-driven job loss. Obtained by Axios 🔎 Zoom in: Husted's opponent, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), has spent millions of dollars on a summer ad campaign calling Husted "the face of data centers in Ohio." Republicans say the issue is especially potent in heavily blue-collar Ohio because the state has several big data center projects in the works. Nvidia and OpenAI have announced one in the last few days. Meta, Vantage and QTS also have projects there. The NRSC memo says Brown has made data centers his "de facto opponent." A Fox News poll last week showed Brown leading Husted by 8 points. The bottom line: The memo, headlined "Ohio Data Center Risk," argues that a Husted loss would cause long-lasting damage to AI companies' push to build data centers nationwide to power future generations of AI. "If voters' perceptions of data centers are not fixed quickly, the campaign against them will expand far beyond Ohio," the party warns. Read the memo ...

Fraternity Drug Ring A 24-year-old accused of leading a fraternity-affiliated drug ring at Penn State surrendered to authorities yesterday. He is being held in jail without bail after failing to appear for an arraignment Monday. Agostino Abbatiello is one of 14 people, including 13 current or former students, charged in connection with the alleged drug ring. Court documents released this week allege the operation was run out of off-campus fraternity houses from 2023 to 2024, with Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi brothers and pledges accused of cutting, bagging, and distributing cocaine to the student body. Abbatiello and fellow former student Thomas Robinson, 23, allegedly sourced bulk cocaine from Philadelphia and New York (see how cocaine gets to the US here). Records show Robinson and his father, a Pittsburgh lawyer charged with concealing evidence, posted bail Monday. In 2020, federal prosecutors charged several current and former UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Appalachian State University students in connection with a drug ring that generated an estimated $1.5M in sales.

Another somewhat preposterous story was perpetuated by Benjamin Wilkinson, author of two books that caused some confusion. One was "The Authorized Version Vindicated." The other was "Truth Triumphant." One of the two claimed that there was a Jesuit teaching at Union College. He was discovered and just disappeared. His identity would not be hard to discover. Simply check school records for a teacher who suddenly disappeared. Cliff Goldstein offered a reward for any proof that a Jesuit was connected to the denomination in an official capacity, such as college teacher. Surely someone at Union college could have used the money. Truth stranger than fiction can be discovered by reading the volumes Gill Ford has published on her husband's career. Tales of inappropriate conduct followed by blackmail in order to secure the sacking of Dr. Ford, threats of lawsuits, highly unethical behavior, cowardice, subterfuge, and so forth abound. Apparently Neal Wilson's conscience pricked him. He sought reconciliation with Dr. Ford in hope of bringing him back into the fold. When that failed, Pastor Wilson went to great lengths to have Dr. Ford disfellowshipped, which the PUC church refused to do. It is also a great narrative of SDA modern history in Australia, denominational politics, cover ups and, unfortunately, spite and infighting among the Adventist academy. Included in these comprehensive volumes are accounts of committees, including the names of participants, that studied various issues, especially D&R. These committees usually conclude that the IJ doctrine is not in the Bible. Some accept it based on the authority of EGW, others simply remain silent. Dr. Ford was dismissed because his views contradicted SDA tradition, not the Bible. A lot of people think Dr. Ford was on trial at Glacier View. It was actually his numerous sympathizers who were too scared to stand and be counted. They were the ones on trial. Only Jack Provonsha publicly stood up at GV, a physician who didn't require a denominational paycheck with benefits, including retirement, eyeglasses and dental. A typical plan might also include accidental death, dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance. Then there is the education benefit for children. A comfy job for those who can get it, as long as you keep your mouth shut regarding inconveniient truth.

Record Drone Strike Ukraine launched roughly 800 drones against Russia yesterday, potentially its second-biggest drone strike since 2025. The attack is the latest example of Ukraine’s monthslong strategy to pressure Moscow into peace negotiations by attacking deep within Russian territory. The strike came days after another large-scale Ukrainian attack killed at least seven people and wounded dozens more. Many recent strikes have targeted Wildberries, Moscow’s main e-commerce site, destroying up to $10B in goods and property (why target "Russia’s Amazon"?). Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike yesterday reportedly killed at least 10 people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and wounded 17 others. See updates here. Russia reiterated last week that it would not accept a ceasefire on the current front lines, and has also rejected Turkey’s request for a moratorium on strikes against ships in the Black Sea. See how attacks on shipping routes are affecting global trade. ... and what it's like inside Ukraine's "kill zone."

Attributing survival on September 11 to divine intervention offers comfort to the living, but it distorts the teachings of Jesus on human suffering. The post The False Mercy of the Missed Connection appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Earth's oceans hold an estimated 20 million tons of gold dissolved directly into seawater. This massive reserve equals about 9 pounds of gold for every person on Earth, but it is diluted to microscopic levels of roughly 13 billionths of a gram per liter, making it impossible to extract at a profit. James

Trump says US and Canada have reached last-minute deal to delay 50% US tariffs on Canadian imports WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was delaying the 50% U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports after the two countries reached a last-minute deal less than two hours before the sanctions were to go into effect. https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-canada-usmca-trade-aae597c22617bec7a99f670a2c787ef9? Trump's 6 months of war Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP and Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images The Iran war will hit the half-year mark next week (Aug. 28), with Washington and Tehran each betting it can outlast the other, Axios Future of Defense author Colin Demarest writes. Why it matters: The war's length is pushing once-niche national-security issues — munitions levels, defense contracting, at-sea replenishment — into everyday conversation. 🌐 Trump said this week he wants to claim the Strait of Hormuz and posted a map on Truth Social labeling it a "U.S. territory." Go deeper: Navy's chaotic news cycle ...

US Rep Byron Donalds wins GOP nod for Florida governor against Ex-Rep David Jolly for the Democrats ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for Florida governor and former Rep. David Jolly picked up the Democratic nod in Tuesday’s primaries, setting the stage for a fall campaign to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis and decide the state’s future political direction. https://apnews.com/article/florida-primaries-donald-trump-wasserman-schultz-917984c2f08603498180e824cd7304ad? 🐊 Florida's Democratic Socialist surprise A stunning Florida Senate primary win by Angie Nixon (D) made her the first member of the Democratic Socialists of America to ever win a major-party nomination for statewide office, Axios' Andrew Pantazi, Marc Caputo and Holly Otterbein write. Nixon beat former Trump impeachment witness Alex Vindman in a major upset (56.1% to 43.9%). Nixon faces an extreme uphill battle against incumbent Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who's heavily favored. 🌴 More Florida results: In an open contest to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination. Scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) lost his primary to former TV reporter Ryan Elijah (34.1% to 47.3%). Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) won her primary (45.3%) in a historically Black-represented district after her district was eliminated, but the majority of the vote split among four Black challengers. Keep reading.

I know many antivaxers that has a close spiritual relationship to God. What is missing in therse discussions is God's position. God speaks to us through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. If we devote time to Him, he is sure to bless us and leed us in the right direction.

Beware of these 15 fake Trump Truth Social posts While Trump is known for making provocative statements on social media, many fabricated posts attributed to the president also spread online. https://www.snopes.com/collections/fake-trump-truth-social-posts/? 9 questionable Pope Leo XIV quotes we've inspected Social media users often falsely attribute quotes to Leo that he supposedly said about U.S. President Donald Trump. https://www.snopes.com/collections/pope-leo-questionable-quotes/?

When a neutral public-health or child-protection law imposes an incidental burden on a religious practice, the law must stand unless it crosses into overt discrimination. The post Faith, Mercy, and the Necessary Limits of Religious Exemptions appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article