Leaderboard

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.

(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/

It too will pass

Now look at that. I don't think that take the bate hch

(N) Lamentations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

(N) Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

There is a message in the following worth reading. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/just-before-my-mom-died-she-said-6-words-that-changed-my-life-and-made-me-a-better-mother/ar-BB1mfxCd?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=820b28323e244342a6a694c6f3dc3696&ei=25

The following was posted in Club Adventist in 2017. I am posting the link to it because I suggest that it has value to us today.

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

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/

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.

Adventist Diversity: The following important article reflects on the diversity that exists within Adventism, and how the NAD can work to include the various groups, including youth, women and others, in a denomination that remains united in its diversity. See: https://spectrummagazine.org/news/proximity-changed-my-perspective-nad-youth-and-young-adult-committee-report/

Needed, SDA Pastors & Teachers: During the next five years, the NAD is expected to need to hire some 2,000 new pastors. Additional teachers will also be required. In an effort to support students who want to train for such positions, the Lake Union Conference has pledged to provide $1,000.000 in scholarships to college students who will pledge to work in the Lake Union. See the following article. https://atoday.org/lake-union-conference-dedicates-1-million-in-scholarships-to-attract-more-pastors-and-teachers/

Red Dynamite: Creationism, Culture Wars, and Anticommunism in America, is a book that challenges Protestant Christianity in general. Chapter 2 focuses on Adventism. I will add that George McCready Price was neither a scientist, nor a geologist. But, his impact, even if uninformed and in error, on the study of creationism, cannot be dismissed. https://spectrummagazine.org/culture/books-film/red-dynamite-places-adventists-alongside-protestant-culture-warriors/

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.

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/

[Sigh] CNN strikes again! Democrats have depended on dividing people into special interest groups for years. Trump brought everyone together into one of the best economies with the best emplyment rates for blacks, latinos, and women ever. Nothing helps bring people together more than economic prosperity. Many problems originate out of bad economies. Trump is credited with saving tens of thousands of lives by his actions at the beginning of the pandemic. And if Biden had been running things, we still wouldn't have a vaccine. 0 diplomatic skills?! many people were brought together in peace in the Middle East. Now the current regime is just trying to grow the dictatorship in Iran making the entire region a more volatile dangerous place.