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Woody is on the right track. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. Spiritual growth is the work of a lifetime. We are all human. In our human condition, we are unable to understand the sum total of what God has in mind for us. Therefore the Holy Spirit, who is in charge of our spiritual development, has to lead us spiritually in a progressive manner, one step at a time. In doing this, spiritual error is dwelt with in a progressive manner, one step at a time and on an individual basis. God has more to teach us in the future than what we are being taught today. So, until that time comes, we remain in error on that point.

I think many (if not most) of us would like to submit our will to Christ, but we end up leasing our will to Him, and retaining landlord status and rights....

There is a strong misconception here that Christ drank alcohol. This is not the teaching of the Adventist church or the Bible. Did the same God who inspired the words of Solomon ("wine is a mocker"), create more posion for a wedding party? Did the same God who commanded Hannah and Samson to never so much as taste strong drink imbibe it Himself? Did the same God who refused alcohol while dying on a cross accept it at a party? The fate of every human being depended on Christ's perfect obedience to the law. Yet some here teach that He decided to risk falling into sin by loosening His inhibitions through alcohol. That sounds like slander which when speaking of God is actually blasphemy.

There is a lot written about women's ordination, and the support for women's ordination. This typically comes from someone or an institution in USA. Almost all the writing I have read on the Internet about this topic from the church, has come from a North American perspective. I do not want to take sides in this issue. I merely want to present another viewpoint that you may not have heard. I live in the Philippines, I have very many friends were church administrators, and I know how they think. And while I will not speak for them, I will share with you their viewpoints. I have friends in Africa who also share the same views on this topic, and I suspect the Latin Americans also share these views. In these cultures, there is a defined role for women. Even though in the Philippines, the former president is a woman, there are many women in leadership roles, there are no women in religious leadership roles. There are no women pastors. There are no women elders. It is true that the women have a very strong voice, the women here are very powerful, they are very active in ministry, but they have no official position. If the Seventh-day Adventist church in this country in many countries were to ordain women, it would become very controversial With other churches. It would seriously hamper evangelistic efforts. The focus would no longer be on Jesus, but what those Adventists are doing. For this reason, this division along with many other divisions has voted against women's ordination in 2000, 2005, 2010 and I'm sure in 2015. I really do not expect my brothers and sisters in North America to understand this. I mean no disrespect in that statement. When I came here in 2009, the biggest mistake I made, was underestimating the complexity of the Asian culture. It is 10 times more complex than the North American culture I was raised in. Within this culture there are many subcultures that are equally as complex. With in each country, there are additional subcultures. The success or failure of any organization in this part of the world is tied directly to the culture. Any organization that is counter culture will fail. I guarantee that. I have learned so much about complex cultures. The leadership in this part of the world and probably Africa and Latin America, is annoyed that this issue is coming up again. They thought they dealt with it in 2000, 2005, 2010. Some, are very annoyed. Then there is the second part of this problem. And this is actually the biggest part. The biggest problem. In these three major portions of the church, the culture is one of strict obedience. I am really amazed about how even local meetings go here. If there is a discussion among church elders in a district, there is a free flow of ideas. It's an amazing thing. And then they will have a vote. What ever the outcome of the vote is, all of the people will abide by that. Even if their original views were opposed to the idea. They suppress their own feelings, because the group has voted a certain way. And they follow that vote explicitly in their own church. Whether or not it's their personal view is irrelevant. This is what the majority decided. So that's the way it's going to be. They can hope it will be different in the future, but the majority decided ____. I will give you an example. Let's say were going to hold a men's retreat. Several people recommend a nice church at the far end of the district. It's a great distance for most of the people to travel and for some very hard if it's raining. A majority decides it's going to be at that church, and everyone goes along. On the day of the event, there are people from those far-flung churches. No one is complaining. This is what the group decided on, so this is where they have to go. There's no even discussion about it. If I were to voice some opinion about whether or not it was a good idea, they would scold me for challenging the group's decision. It doesn't matter what my personal opinion is. My individual opinions are to be suppressed for the benefit of the group (church). Third part of the problem. This could also be a big issue in San Antonio. The church appointed a study committee. Before the study committee could finish their work, some unions ran ahead and ordained women. I would say almost everyone I know in the church here, both members and leaders view this as a disobedience problem. Disobedience is dealt with swiftly in these parts of the world. An employee of the church who was disobedient, is quickly dismissed. Some may say that's right or wrong, my point is that's the way life is here. I would be surprised, if there was not some discipline issued towards those people who are deemed disobedient to the general conference. From what I read about Pastor Wilson, he is doing everything he can, to mediate between these two great forces. To me it's like two ships running full speed in the middle of the night right at each other. Neither one wants to change. This is my biggest fear. That neither side of change, neither side will compromise, and July in San Antonio Texas, can be a very hot time. I'm not saying that these divisions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are right. I'm just trying to explain to you their are side of the story.

One time in New York when I was working there I went to eat lunch on a bench on the outside perimeter of Central Park. (not usually in the area) This was in the 90s when crime was much higher there. I heard a voice in my mind saying " Laura this is not a safe place for you to be. You don't belong here. I looked around, finished quickly and left. There was evidence of a transient or transient individuals nearby. That week, someone was killed in the park. I think knowing the still small voice is the greatest protection, and also being prudent and cautious and avoiding intoxicants.

When I was in third gradein Ohio, our teacher told us all about the WCTU (Women's Christian Temperance Union). She offered us the opportunity to sign an abstinence promise, which I gladly did, I being a very consciencious sort of child. Probably that promise is what has kept me from drinking alcohol, though I have more recently tasted champagne (didn't like it) and very expensive chardonnay (so-so). Now my main reason for not getting into it is the unnecessary calories. I don't drink much in the way of fruit juice either, since I feel better if I don't; water is my favorite drink, and we have really good water around here.

SAVED 02421 hy:x' chayah {khaw-yaw'} Meaning: 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to live 1a1a) to have life 1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive 1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon 1a1d) to live (prosperously) 1a2) to revive, be quickened 1a2a) from sickness 1a2b) from discouragement 1a2c) from faintness 1a2d) from death 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to preserve alive, let live 1b2) to give life 1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh 1b3a) to restore to life 1b3b) to cause to grow 1b3c) to restore 1b3d) to revive 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to preserve alive, let live 1c2) to quicken, revive 1c2a) to restore (to health) 1c2b) to revive 1c2c) to restore to life The word always seems connected with the preservation or restoration of life. But life itself is certainly NOT ENOUGH. My life has been filled with a moderate dose of chronic pain. Pain - in various forms - is present everywhere. So just being alive is NOT "salvation". At present - we have only the promise. We have His promise that we will - one day - be free from the presence and power of Evil (both within and without). We have His promise of healing - of body, of mind, of environment. Some of us have experienced miracles. I have - several times. Those are a small vision of what is to come. The most important aspect of my salvation - presently (I have already experienced it.) is that I have been saved from a feeling of worthlessness. Before I knew Jesus, I felt that I was no better than any other animal - dog/cat/etc. I thought we were all just struggling for survival, and pleasure. I was taught the Bible stories by my Mom, but I had no real personal encounter with the LORD. When I actually experienced Jesus - I KNEW that I was loved, that I was of inestimable WORTH. Just knowing THAT - changed my life. Blessings, Rachel Cory Prophecy Viewpoint

Tres bien Stan.

Statistics show that there are more alcohol related deaths than death by all other recreational drugs combined.

Yes. I agree with the quote. LOL. If you quote EGW like you quote me ....

Zeeland, MI (meaning is The Sea Land)

I'm not advocating alcohol, just truth. The truth is, there are risks to using alcohol. Those risks mean that choosing abstinence is a prudent and laudable choice. There are also benefits. A truthful consideration weighs the risks versus the benefits, and makes a decision. Focusing only on the risks is not, in my view, honest. Cars, for example, have both risks and benefits. The number of people killed by cars is enormous. Most of us decide that the benefits outweigh the risks. Some do not, and avoid using cars. But deciding to avoid using cars by looking *only* at the risks is unbalanced, and advocating avoiding using cars on that basis is not honest. Perhaps it's just imprecision - and, to be fair, the thread did ask for your reasons for avoiding alcohol. But being able to say 'on balance, I choose to avoid alcohol' is a better position than saying 'alcohol is poison and no-one should use it'. Cars are dangerous, and no-one should use them.

Walter Veith has a very balanced and simple message. He reaches the unlearned and highly educated at the same time. He tends to dwell on Jesuits a little to much but his lecture series "Total Onslaught" is basically a Daniel and Revelation seminar. He does not mince words.He is very to the point. Some people may not like his style of preaching. So far i have found nothing false about his messages.

Racism is not unique to white people. Racism is as popular among the black,red or any other race as it is to those that are white and racist

Absolutely! Always make it a point to correct......your self!(although some are more comfortable correcting others)

the Pacific Union Conference Creative Ministries is sponsoring a writing contest, open to all SDA members in the North American Division. Entries can be in any or all of three categories: Devotional - Thoughts that inspire and spiritually motivate Stories - Stories that describe God's deliverance, blessing or guidance Missional - Essays or stories that focus on serving others 1st prize: iPad Mini 2nd prize: $200 3rd prize: $100 Immediate family members of PUC employees are not eligible for the prizes. More information: http://www.visitinspire.org/article/213/news/inspire-2014-writing-contest

"In the very time in which we live the Lord has called His people and has given them a message to bear. He has called them to expose the wickedness of the man of sin who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who has thought to change times and laws, and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to honor Him by keeping the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath of creation, as holy unto the Lord."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 118. (1903) {Ev 233.2}

Dying well must be in the eyes of the remaining family/friends. If there is friction and dissention in the air at the end of a person's life it is not dying well. So it behoves us to have our relationships in order so there will be no regrets when we are gone.

I don't care to be around those who drink while they are drinking. So --- I am sure people would not like to be around me while I was drinking. So --- WHY drink?

Although I have reservations about the extent of his conspiracy theories, I like his messages in general. Anyone who thinks that the Jesuits have given up the Counter-reformation or that they are friends of governments without an agenda are being naive, imho. Many seem to have forgotten that the Jesuits were once banned from many nations of Europe because of their perfidy. I am glad we have a Walter Veith to remind people. "How the Roman church can clear herself from the charge of idolatry we cannot see. . . . And this is the religion which Protestants are beginning to look upon with so much favor, and which will eventually be united with Protestantism. This union will not, however, be effected by a change in Catholicism, for Rome never changes. She claims infallibility. It is Protestantism that will change. The adoption of liberal ideas on its part will bring it where it can clasp the hand of Catholicism."--RH June 1, 1886. {LDE 130.2} White, E. G. (1992). Last Day Events (p. 130). Pacific Press Publishing Association. We are seeing this fulfilled today. Do you hear any protesting voices today? Protestants should be labeled "Capitulants" today, because one by one they are all going back to Mama. The charge that Veith is somehow taking the place of a prophet is a bald misrepresentation of what he is doing. I am proud to be a supporter of ADTV.