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Historic Adventism: The following article is written by a person who is both an administrator and an academic. He speaks to an important issue related to our relationship today to our past history. https://atoday.org/why-historic-adventism-isnt-the-answer/

I would not argue against the position that Gustave has stated. However, I will expand upon it a bit. The common understanding in Adventism, is that the human person in life is a living soul, to use the Biblical term. From that perspective the common belief would be that the human person does not have an identifiable part which is called a soul. However, this is not a fundamental belief that is required for one to become a SDA member. I am reminded of an important SDA member in Europe, who is now dead. His name has slipped my mind. In his lifetime he probably did more to support the mission and ministry of the SDA Church in Europe, and has been done by any other person. It was his strong belief that humans had an independent soul. His identity as a SDA, was not challenged. It should be noted that he believed that at the death of the person, the independent soul assumed an unconscious state. That is actually the fundamental belief in Adventism. So, a person who believes that humans have an independent soul that becomes unconscious at death can be considered to be within the accepted bounds of Adventism. I understand that many Adventists would be surprised at my statement. I simply point out that Adventism has a greater range of accepted belief than is often understood.

Gustave: The Seventh-day Adventist Church has always had a greater diversity of belief and practice than many people have realized. In part this is due to our general belief that the Christian life is a life of growth and therefore, SDA congregations should be a place where followers of Christ can come and experience the individual growth that the Holy Spirit brings. That growth is individualized and we are not to be expected to be in the same position at the same time. However, the reality that we are now a denomination of more than 21-million members plus many more who may attend but have not yet decided to formally join has resulted in major changes that have reduced the power of the North American Adventists. Africa now has considerable influence over the selection of the General Conference President. Some today believe that the current GC President owes his election to Africa, and the next election for the GC President will ultimately be decided by Africa. Australia is becoming more influential in doctrinal matters, as North America is losing influence. Individual theologians from Europe are gaining in influence. Current SDA leadership in North America, seemingly fearful of a loss of power, is struggling to tighten their power over the various organizational levels and departments that exist within the SDA Church, both in North America and in the world at large. This was clearly evident at a recent set of Spring meetings of SDA officials. Some predict that such will ultimately result in a large split in the SDA Church, at least on the local level, if not the international level. I do not agree with this. However, it is thought that there are SDA leaders who would welcome such as something that is needed prior to the 2nd Advent of Christ. I do not welcome such, as I believe that the Holy Spirit would not lead in that direction. In my personal opinion, I believe that the Holy Spirit is expecting the Seventh-day Adventist Church of today to experience further growth in faith, understanding and practice. While based upon the leading of God in the past, we must grow beyond that foundation to experience what God would want of us today. I do not attempt to predict either how or where God will lead in the future. I am confident that God will lead beyond what I can imagine.

I should possibly talk about a creed later. For now, I will mention EGW. A person who joins the SDA Church is asked to believe in the "gift of prophecy," as defined in the Bible, in the chapter on spiritual gifts. Most people associate that spiritual gift with Ellen White. However, the individual is not required, according to our official requirements, to believe that Ellen White had that spiritual gift. Today, there are SDAs who do not beleive that EGW had that gift and many of them remain members of the SDA Church. Some chose to leave the SDA Church.

(N) Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

(N) Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

If Gertrude Bell (1868-1928) had been born a male, she would likely have become a well-known historical figure studied by most high-school students. However, she was born a female, who is survived today by a number to websites that inform as to her life and accomplishments. The ones listed below are a few of those websites. Among her accomplishments: * she was an advisor to the young Winston S. Churchill. * she, In an association with the British military, had the probably honorific title of Major Gertrude Bell. * She drew the boundaries for what today is the nation of Iraq. * She was an accomplished archaeologist. * At the end of a working day, she could don the clothes of the aristocratic woman that she was. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Bell https://www.mei.edu/publications/gertrude-bell-new-documentary-sheds-light-woman-who-helped-shape-iraq https://www.worldhistory.org/Gertrude_Bell/#:~:text=Gertrude Bell (l. 1868-1926) was an archaeologist%2C travel,the foundation of the modern state of Iraq. https://www.pbs.org/show/letters-baghdad/

Employment and Wages: The following article lists the 75 most common college majors, their common wages and likelihood of employment. I find the wages for people who become pastors (Theology) to be of interest, especially in comparison to the wages paid to Adventist pastors. https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market#--:explore:outcomes-by-major

(N) Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

(N) Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Kekpler-442b is a recently discovered planet that is thought to be suitable for life. It is located 1,200 light years away from this Earth. Some would like to suggest that in the future we should send humans to that planet to establish human life on it. If those humans could travel at the speed of light, which is impossible now, it would take them 1,200 Earth yeas to reach it. If that were to be successfully attempted, what age would the people be when they reached that planet? https://www.msn.com/en-US/news/scienceandtechnology/scientists-discover-a-planet-that-may-be-even-more-habitable-than-earth/ar-AA1no98B The answer to our question lies in an interesting effect of living on the International Space Station. Let us say that NASA obtained two clocks that were totally in sync with each other. IOW, over all periods of extended time, they maintained exactly the same time. No difference of any amount ever existed between them. One clock remains on Earth, while the second clock it taken to the International Space Station. one-hundred years pass and the second clock is returned to Earth. At the time it is noted that it differs from the first clock by one second. In short, it is one second behind the time on the first clock. If he second clock had been further from the Earth, it would have slowed more. It the International Space station had been traveling faster, the second clock would have been slower. If that second clock had been traveling at the speed of light, it would have stopped completely and 100 years later it would have reported the exact same time as it was when it departed the Earth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation NOTE: In asking the question, I have gone beyond the information found in the two cited articles.

introversion & Church: The article linked below is an interesting comment on doing Church. It links to two books that have been written on this subject. Give it some thought. https://atoday.org/an-introvert-in-a-happy-church-world/

Medicare and Social Security go-broke dates are pushed back The go-broke dates for Medicare and Social Security have been pushed back five years to 2036 as an improving economy has contributed to changed projected depletion dates, according to the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report Monday. Still, officials warn that policy changes are needed or the programs will become unable to pay full benefits to retiring Americans. Read more. Why this matters: Medicare covered more than 66 million people last year, with most being 65 and older. Once the fund’s reserves become depleted, Medicare would be able to cover only 89% of costs for patients’ hospital visits, hospice and nursing home stays or home health care. Lawmakers have for years kicked Social Security and Medicare’s troubling math to the next generation. Social Security benefits were last reformed roughly 40 years ago, when the federal government raised the eligibility age for the program from 65 to 67. President Joe Biden responded to the report by saying that “as long as I am president, I will keep strengthening Social Security and Medicare.” The future of Social Security and Medicare has become a top political talking point as President Joe Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump both campaign for reelection this year. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Medicare can pay for obesity drugs like Wegovy in certain heart patients Man confesses to killing hospitalized wife because he couldn’t afford to care for her, police say Biden says that all 10 drugs targeted for the first Medicare price negotiations will participate

ATT Hack: If you have an account with ATT, you may have received a letter informing you that your personal information has been compromised and that ATT is offering you one-year of free identity theft protection. This will include informing you of the personal information about you that is publicly available on the so-called “Dark Web.” More information on this may be obtained by calling ATT at: 800-924-0962 or by visiting; att.com/accountsafety

(N) Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord ; and beside me there is no saviour.

St. Mary's Catholic High School has some 600 students all of whom are Black females. Students are admitted without any testing for academic achievement. The primary requirement is that the student will agree to a rigorous testing of their abilities. In a typical year 100 per-cent of the students graduate and 100 per-cent are accepted into well-known colleges and universities. Early in the school year a math teacher challenged her class to work on a problem that was thought to have multiple correct answers. However, in the past 2,000 years, only one such answer had been discovered. Two of the students worked separately on that challenge for multiple months. Each arrived at a different, correct answer! For more information on this, to include more on the two students, see the following article. My information is based in part on the TV program, Sixty Minutes. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/high-school-students-pythagorean-theorem-trigonometry-proof-60-minutes/

(N) Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

That article, in my humble opinion, is absolutely SPECTACULAR! Am I the only one who thinks this way about what William DeMary said?

(N) Psalm 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

(N) John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Washington Adventist University speaks on the situation in the Middle East involving Israel and Hamas. See: https://spectrummagazine.org/views/wau-center-for-law-and-public-policy-statement-on-israel-and-hamas/

In the following article, you will be given two photographs to consider. One will be a real photograph of a real person. The other will be an AI generated picture of the same woman. There are differences. Will you be able to determine which is the AI generated picture? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/one-of-these-pictures-of-me-is-real-and-the-other-is-ai-but-which-is-which/ar-BB1lfr0c?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=3d29630bb9f348a8b761334edaf56127&ei=30

What deep things do you want to share about this promise?

(N) Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

George McCready Price was a very inflexible fundamentalist when it came to the creation stories, but he was much more liberal and flexible when it came to the book of Revelation and wrote one of the best commentaries on Revelation that ever came from an Adventist pen. It is interesting how historically Adventism encouraged such independent thinking. We find a similar situation with how Elder Butler and his nephew Elder Washburn were united in their dislike of Jones and Wagner in 1888, yet they were on opposite ends of the issue of Fundamentalism. How different from todays world were we all need to become uniformity as members of our specific subgroups; whether it be religion or politics.

Which planet is closest to the Earth? https://www.livescience.com/space/planets/which-planet-is-closest-to-earth-hint-theres-more-than-1-right-answer

Paganism & Christianity: The following article will probably have something in it to offend everyone. However, I will suggest that it will have something of value to consider if one can get past what they might find offensive. https://atoday.org/the-pagan-contamination-conspiracy/

(N) Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The He referenced here is God. hope that answers the question

The so-called 28 Fundamental Beliefs were never intended to become a creed. Sadly, they are often used as a creed today. Those beliefs are stated in short paragraphs, general only one, on a page just before the chapter which explains the belief. The short statement is the official SDA statement. The expanded chapter which follows, is not In the original book, Chapter 17 deals with Spiritual Gifts. The Statement at the beginning mentions EGW and is therefore the official statement of SDA belief. It is on the basis of #8, in the set above of 13, which has been the standard for many years, and is still the one most often used, that I say that the official position of the SDA Church does not require a member to believe that EGW was a Biblical Prophet.

* Elderly man rear-ends an expensive car in front of him at a Stop Sign. * Joe, driver of the expensive car begins to berate the elderly driver and demand $10,000 for the damage. * Elderly man responds that he will telephone his son, John, who trains dolphins, who will take care of the situation. * Joe takes the cell phone and informs John that the wants an immediate $10,000. John responds that he understands and will be there in a few minutes. * John arrives and shortly pounds Joe into a quivering heap. * John then turns to his Father and says: "Dad, for the last time I do not train dolphins. I train Navy Seals.

Personally, I do not like the idea of sending the following out to a wide audience, and then making the discount available only to those who register by July 31, and then pick it up in Wyoming between August 5 - 11. Gregory Matthews The Andrews Bible Commentary was commissioned by the General Conference to be an accessible commentary written by the scholars of the church for the people of the church. It comes in just two volumes (OT and NT) and is the perfect companion to the Andrews Study Bible. Everyone is eligible to receive the Andrews Bible Commentary set at the Believe the Promise Camporee sale price of $89.99 (normally $139.99). But it will only be available for pick up in Gillette, so be sure to designate someone to pick it up for you if you will not be in attendance at the Camporee. In addition, each order will receive a free copy of the Chronology of the Bible. This wall-mountable poster sized chronology will help Pathfinders and leaders quickly identify biblical events and their supporting biblical passages. It is being offered to the public for the first time, exclusively to Pathfinder Clubs for this event. Use code BTP2024 and select "Pick up in store" at checkout for a 35% discount on the "Andrews Bible Commentary" until the end of July. Pre-Order Now Andrews University Press: 800-467-6369 or universitypress.andrews.edu

Terry Anderson, AP reporter abducted in Lebanon and held captive for years, has died at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Terry Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages after he was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years, has died at 76. https://apnews.com/article/terry-anderson-dies-associated-press-c266353298c04dbf874ab4d94536f2b3?

Seeking ‘the right side of history,’ Speaker Mike Johnson risks his job to deliver aid to Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) — Staring down a decision so consequential it could alter the course of history -- but also end his own career -- House Speaker Mike Johnson prayed for guidance. https://apnews.com/article/house-ukraine-aid-speaker-ouster-c525efc953d532242d6d441c55724992?

Brain & Life is a magazine to which I subscribe and it is free of charge. Its purpose is to help elderly people and their caregivers to understand and deal with the changes that commonly take place in the elderly. The URL below links to the current issue. I find it to be helpful in articles which discuss Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), which was a new condition to me, Parkinsons' Disease and on driving an automobile by the elderly. I consider it to be a valued magazine that helps people to better understand the elderly and their needs. I recommend it to clergy, caregivers and older people. Subscribe to it. It is free. I have done so for several years. https://www.brainandlife.org/the-magazine/bl-current-issue/

Women in Combat: I often tell people that I am the first U.S. Army Chaplain in modern times to go into combat with a COED unit. What most people do not know, is that 885 female members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion served in Europe during World war II. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6888th_Central_Postal_Directory_Battalion NOTE: Later this year a movie about this unit, titled Six Triple Eight will be released to theaters.

Also see: https://adventistreview.org/profile/the-hopeful-film-about-adventist-origins-debuts-in-theaters/

(N) Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

There is tension in today’s world between the order of the old age and the chaos of the current age - a sense that we are in a transitory phase and either headed toward rigid regimentalism or anarchy. This in-between time we are currently experiencing is what British-Pakastani scholar Ziauddin Sardar calls “Postnormal times” or PNT.View the full article

While the counter-arguments against equating Jesus and Michael are impressive in their own right, they overlook another line of evidence. Portraying Jesus as an angelic figure is compatible with early Judaism, which often portrayed the coming Messiah in angelic terms. Some scholars have referred to the picture of Christ in Revelation 1 as “angelomorphic Christology”. […] The post Response to the Counter-Arguments appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

You opinions on this matter are a great example of the collective disillusion that has swept through the conservative movement. Conservatives are increasingly attaching themselves to wild opinions that they have to walk back when the get a moment of sanity or perhaps a word with their advisers. Unfortunately for them they are ensuring that another Bush will get the nod. Jesus did not say the world would hate Christians. He said they would hate his disciples/followers. I don't know where you get "the jews" bit from. The Jews hated Him and demanded his execution. It's quite interesting that Christians give millions to a people who reject Jesus. The Bible has some stiff things to say about those who reject the reality of Jesus Christ. Culture, money and power tops truth and the Word of God for Christianity in the western world. Evangelical support for Israel is the greatest example of apostasy at work.

I do not know if the report that President Obama threatened to shoot down the fighter jets is accurate. However, I do know that such would be in compliance with International law. Anyone who might want to begin their study of this subject will find a lot of reference material that would be helpful at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_wa

Heh. Right. 'Earth Day's Dirty Little Secret' has zero agenda.

OK, no assumptions on my part then. What is the 'take away' message we are meant to get from reading this article? You tell me.