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Thank you for sharing. Sometimes we separate the religious world from the rest of the world. It reminds me of a few other stories. One of them is how for years Little Richard either felt that he had to be a Rock and Roll singer with the typical Rock and Role lifestyle and have nothing to do with God. Then he would become completely religious and not sing his songs but try to be a preacher or colporteur and find that except for the initial novelty, people were not that interested in his services. Then he would go back into the rock world and give up his religious life. Finally people challenged him to the idea that he had to be a sinner as a singer and that he became a Christian and a strong Christian living the Christian life and making a living with his songs. He has been able to minister to people who would have nothing to do with him when he tried to leave his music behind and work for church. It also reminds me of the story of Alice Cooper. He would be very spooky and feed into the idea that he sold his soul to the Devil and was demon possessed to become a Rock Star. His dad was a minister, and he wanted nothing to do with God or religion. Well after a little bit with the promiscuity, drugs and alcohol, as he matured his life style off stage was nothing like his image on stage. He finally confessed that his on stage image was only an image, that he never sold his soul to the devil, and that while he was not religious that he felt that his parent's religion must have influenced his life and that the apple does not fall far from the tree. He married, had a family and became a responsible father, gave up drugs and became a strong family man, although he did not want to be religious. However one thing that he could not give up no matter what he tried was alcohol. Finally he fell to his knees and asked Jesus into his life and asked Jesus to help him to gain a victory over alcohol and trusted in Jesus to help as he worked with programs that have been successful with others but not him doing alone. He is now a Christian and also helping others. Lets pray for Katy Perry and for her to grow into a deeper relationship with God and learn more about him.

I think perhaps before we presume to hold up a mirror for others, we may need to take a long hard look in it ourselves... Not sure about others, but there are enough massive logs in my eyes that I need to keep looking in the mirror a while longer... probably the rest of my life. I'll leave the specks of dust in others' eyes as a matter between them and the Spirit.

When a person finds the Lord and starts reading the Bible, they come to grips with trying to understand Good and Evil -- and how we are supposed to "love the sinner" but "hate the sin".... and like it or not, a born-again person is going to have to come to grips with "hating" sin! And when they write about it or speak against it, they may not exactly do it in a "lukewarm" manner -- and the people who read it have to deal with the possible intense negative aspect of it. God Himself has very strong "critical" views of sin and sinners -- it's just the way it is on this planet. Being "critical" is a part of the refining process. Just ask my wife. <grin>

Another example of solid born-again Christians is Reggie Arvizu and Jonathan Davis of Korn. At a concert about a year ago, I saw them with a minister named Todd White laying hands on people and praying before the concert, calling people to Christ. I was shocked, but blessed at the same time.

Interesting quote that I heard on a Katy Perry Documentary that is airing on cable in Australia at the moment, "I think that people love the idea of a good girl gone bad, and they think that my parents have disowned me, but that's not the story at all. I really do believe in God. I probably don't believe in the same detail that my mum believes. But I have a spiritual relationship with God and its one on one and its continually evolving". It is mentioned in the documentary that her parents were and are Pentecostal ministers and that they have no problem with her music or the career that she has taken up with. It does come across interestingly enough that there has been pressure on her to suggest that there is some type of problem there for publicity, yet as she states, that is not the case at all.

I am reminded of Paul's words to the effect that he rejoiced that Christ is preached regardless of the merit or motives of the one proclaim the gospel of Christ. (Phil. 1:15-18) I don't think we can really judge whether these people are sincere, right with God or the value of what they are doing. God can use anyone or anything no matter how flawed or worldly to his glory. Keeping things in perspectives, relative to where people Katy Perry, or others out there, may reach and touch with this simple testimony of faith, she may be saintly in comparison. They may never hear it from anyone else. A tiny seed planted can grow to be a tree... Such is the kingdom of heaven according to the One being professed.

Well, off the top of my head. (1) They are hurting so much that they are bitter and don't realize how their words sounds. (2) They really think that they are helping and don't realize how they are coming across. I'm sure there are probably more reasons.

Stone the crows, Stan's been flat out like a lizard drinkin'.

This is feel is something we need to be giving much thought at the moment. I had a great discussion with an elder of our local church on the fact that Adventists reject Creeds because we remain open to new revelation. Tongues is perhaps the hardest one to deal with simply because of the diverse theological views on it, mine are that it has to be a real language not babble and that it has to be one at a time and that interpretation has to occur on each occasion. Healing - The Bible is pretty clear that Elders are to annoint the sick with oil and pray for healing. This should always be offered wherever Adventists gather. Prophecy along with Word of Knowledge should be encouraged for the fact that it is a valid spiritual gift exercised openly by Ellen White and other Adventists. There is no reason that it needs to be viewed as historical. Trances - I have reservations about the tales of Ellen White going into Trances. I believe that to be exaggeration. I don't see Scriptural support for any one doing that as a part of a Spiritual Gift.

Thanks my friend. If you contact them with specific they might had them. My approach was finding things the readers wanted, without asking them, that is important.

another winner .... (sure wish the NPUC Gleaner would have some of those features..)

Quote: For example, the stories about holding a Bible at arms length are likely to be expanded from what actually happened. Agreed. I expanded on it even further by making it a 100lb bible just for the irony. I also agree that not everything we hear and read about EGW (or anyone else, for that matter) is true. That being said, the things I posted from John Crowder and Steve Daily are well documented. Are we as Adventists denying our true destiny by discouraging or even prohibiting manifestations like speaking in tongues, supernatural healing, trances, and prophesying in our churches? Our own prophetess started out involved in these activities.

Pulled our last copy off the shelf and put it on my pile to purchase and then got an order for one. I told the customer we needed to order it in but as I walked up to the girl who fills the orders I brought the book from my pile. I told her to give it to the customer and order me another one. So I am going to have to wait for a bit before I get to enjoy the book.

I got the book when I saw it at the local ABC. It has been a very interesting read (I've read the first 260 pages or so). In her early years as a prophet in her late teens and early twenties, Ellen White had to navigate among God's requests, her family's demands, Satan's direct attacks, and other events like spiritualism taking place in the Christian world. She also had to deal with senior church leaders who made drastic mistakes i.e. Joseph Bates and those who profited from his mistakes (poorer members who soaked up the money richer members made from selling off property in response to God's supposed demand that they do so). Quite a full plate we'd say. But with God's direction (sometimes very direct) she made it through.

Obama may not be a "war criminal", but he is a criminal. He has violated his oath of office many times, and his administration has outright broken the law many times.