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A Movement Towards Compassion When Jesus looked upon the lost people in first-century Palestine, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). And then He proclaimed something remarkable: these lost souls were a “plentiful harvest” that only lacked harvesters. Therefore, it is tragic when Christians look at Muslims, not with compassion, but with a default to fear, anger, and rejection. If Christians were to be highly intentional about approaching Islam in a way that is inviting and attractive, without compromise, staying as consistently biblical as possible, here are some of the characteristics that we should expect to see: Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/How-Thousands-of-Muslims-Are-Falling-in-Love-with-Jesus.aspx#SDRqVq7HgmQf9f3R.99

So far this month we have earned $15.87 on 13 items purchased.. Thanks to those who are supporting this way.

How believing in the Bible can get you canned in today's America By David and Jason Benham Published February 10, 2015 If you want to get fired, sued or lose your business in today's America, stand with Biblical convictions. In Oregon, our friends Aaron and Melissa Klein were found guilty of discrimination by the state just this week, and could face up to $150,000 in fines for not baking a cake for a same-sex wedding. In Wisconsin, a 15-year-old boy was reprimanded and reportedly punished by his school for backing traditional family in adoption cases. In New Jersey, a high school teacher was suspended for stating her Biblical beliefs about homosexuality on her personal Facebook page (while at home, off the clock).When we were fired by HGTV for standing by our Biblical beliefs about marriage and life, countless men and women in the LGBTQ community reached out to us in support. We had, and continue to have, healthy conversations, even though we disagree. And isn’t that the point? In Illinois, a university professor was fired for saying that homosexual acts are “morally wrong.” The list goes on, yet we can’t forget the grandmotherly florist in Washington Statebeing sued by the Attorney General of Washington for refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding (to a man, who by the way, she had faithfully served and befriended for over a decade). Grandma (70-year-old Baronelle Stutzman) summed it all up when she said,"Little by little, they are stripping us of any thought we might have, or any difference of opinion. This is our religious freedom at stake." You know what—Grandma is right. Our religious freedoms are at stake here. The “tyranny of tolerance” claims that the sexual rights of some are more important than the religious rights of others. First of all, we must draw a distinction between those that identify as LGBTQ and militant gay activists. When we were fired by HGTV for standing by our Biblical beliefs about marriage and life, countless men and women in the LGBTQ community reached out to us in support. We had, and continue to have, healthy conversations, even though we disagree. And isn’t that the point? We’re Americans—we can disagree and still get along. We don’t steal the rights of dissenters. That’s when all intellectual, spiritual, and civil progress stops. Yet this remnant of militant activists refuses to tolerate dissenters to their lifestyle choices. And unfortunately, they have the United States Government in their back pockets (not to mention the media and Hollywood). At first, homosexual activists wanted acceptance. Then they wanted appreciation. Now they demand celebration. It's not enough to live and let live, these activists are now forcing their lifestyle choices on everyone, even if it means bullying a 70-year-old florist. We’ve shifted from religious freedom to forced acceptance in America. The idea of forced acceptance infringes on our constitutional rights as Americans. As Alliance Defending Freedom succinctly states, the First Amendment guarantees that the government cannot tell its citizens what they can and can’t say or force them to express a positive message about something they believe is morally wrong. My brother and I are perfectly okay with a gay owned t-shirt company refusing to make t-shirts that say, “Homosexuality is sin.” And we’re fine with a Jewish baker refusing to cater an event on the Sabbath. And we’d certainly agree with the gun range owner refusing to let self-identifying ISIS members practice shooting at his facility. These are their Constitutional rights as Americans. Thank God! But what activists are asking is to flip the coin and make Christian companies that are asked to do something against their convictions, like support same-sex marriage or abortion, comply with whole-hearted enthusiasm. Isn’t there a double standard here? The question is not should we as Americans be involved in the battle for freedom, the question is: are you willing to stand with courage at any cost if and when the battle comes knocking on your door? So before it comes to you, here are a few simple things you can do to prepare: 1. Make up your mind. Decide that whatever the cost you will stand for freedom. 2. Prepare yourself. Get informed—don’t be ignorant of the issues and your rights. 3. Join the conversation. Speak up. Don’t be silent. 4. Separate ideas from individuals. You can disagree with someone’s idea and not dislike them as a person. 5. Be kind. Love triumphs over evil; don’t demonize others. 6. Stand strong. Don’t back down. Our children are depending on us! Thomas Jefferson once said, “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?” Our liberties are God-given. And, as such, we must be willing to defend these freedoms no matter the cost. Now is the time for all Americans – regardless of our differences – to join hands in the greatest battle for liberty in our generation! It’s time to take a stand. David and Jason Benham are twin brothers, nationally acclaimed real estate entrepreneurs, and the authors of the forthcoming book, "Whatever the Cost: Facing Your Fears, Dying to Your Dreams, and Living Powerfully" (Thomas Nelson, February 2015).

If I remember correctly Abell ended up getting smacked upside the head because Cain,altho willing to offer a sacrifice as commanded by God chose to decide for himself what his obedience would look like. God was not pleased

... to returning to this forum in 2017 when fewer threads are about Obama.

The Sabbath is likened to a birthday celebration. Such as celebrating the birth of the earth. My birthday is Feb. 6. If my family and friends come to me saying that we would like to give your birthday party on Feb. 7 because it is convenient for us would I be happy with it? I do not know about you, but I won't be. I don't think God would be happy for such a thing either. Better yet, today is the Valentine's day. If I tell my wife " I would like to celebrate this valentine's day tomorrow and send you a gift tomorrow" I wonder how thrilled my wife would be!

Basketball coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian dies at 84 http://sports.yahoo.com/news/basketball-coaching-legend-jerry-tarkanian-dies-at-84-171240684.html

Firefighter's Prayer When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert, and hear the weakest shout, quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling, to give the best in me, to guard my friend and neighbor, and protect his property. And if according to Your will I must answer death's call, bless with your protecting hand, my family one and all.

A lot of discussion has taken place in this forum that has been related to whether or not SDAs should be involved in having services on Sunday, especially in the morning. I would like to place this issue in another perspective: Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) is a Department in the General Conference and is now leading toward the formation of a Department in the North American Division. As such it supervises SDA Clergy who are serving as chaplains, some of which are in SDA institutions, but many are in governmental and private, non-SDA positions. In the United States, all chaplains who work for the Federal government can only be hired with the permission of the endorsing denomination, which for us is ACM. In addition, once hired, they can remain employed by the Federal government only as long as the endorsing denomination (ACM) agrees. ACM, as required, only endorses SDA Clergy who are fully qualified by the denomination to act as SDA clergy. Presently, ACM, in the NAD, has female as well as male chaplains serving in Federal and other positions. IOW, we have female military chaplains. On the world-wide level, ACM currently endorses more than 500 SDA Clergy for service as chaplains. In the 50 years of service that I have given to the United States and to the SDA Church, during the 40 years or so that I have been a SDA Chaplain, my credentials have either come from the General Conference of from the North American Division. How does this relate to the question of Sunday services? To put it in a brief statement: On any Sunday, probably several hundred SDA Chaplains are conducting a worship service, most of which will be in the morning. They are doing this with the full knowledge and permission of the General Conference/NAD. During the majority of the time that I was a U. S. Army Chaplain I conducted Sunday morning services either on a rotating basis with a couple of other chaplains, or on an every Sunday morning. On Saturday mornings, when I had soldiers who were without their own transportation, I picked them up, took them to a SDA Church and brought them back to my home to spend a quiet Sabbath afternoon. Did I preach distinctive SDA doctrines? In every assignment, where I had a responsibility to preach, I spoke on the 3-angels messages of Revelation 14. Once, in Seoul, Korea, my assignment was to a Protestant congregation. That is all that I did. As congregational members said to me after a sermon I preached on the 7th day of the week being the Biblical Sabbath, You really challenged us today. Don't tell me that one can not preach distinctive SDA doctrines in a Protestant congregation on Sunday morning. I have done it. No, I could not in a congregational sermon tell the people that Protestants were going to go to hell because they worshiped on Sunday. But, that is not the core of our message. One can preach the truth of the Sabbath without telling other groups that they are going to hell. Folks, the SDA Denomination does not object to its pastors conducting services on Sunday. The Biblical position is a positive one for a 7th day Sabbath. There is nothing new in SDA Clergy conducting a Sunday service. That in itself is not in violation of the Biblical position. When I once preached, on Sunday morning, to a Methodist congregation, I preached on the primacy of the Word, the Bible and Christ's call to submit ourselves to whatever the Bible said and wherever it and the Holy Spirit led. I have been asked to come to other congregations, of other denominations and speak to their members about the beliefs and practices of Seventh-day Adventists. You can come here to CA and debate whether or not SDA Clergy should conduct services on Sunday. But, be aware that this is already being done and with the approval of ACM in the General Conference.

8thdaypriestsays: "Some - like me - believe that God's Son was "begotten" from His Father, before the creation of anything. (I do not believe "the Spirit" is a third divine being.)" I agree. I think this is wahat the writer of Proverbs was talking about in Proverbs 8 where (IMO) the Being who became Jesus is saying: 22“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23 I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. 24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; 25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, 26 before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. 30 Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, 31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind." The jury is still out for me on the HS as a 3rd Person of the Trinity. Sometimes, I am tempted to view the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Christ - the "God Stuff" He had to leave behind in heaven to become fully human. I say this because Jesus said He could not send the Comfortoer unless he went away. Why else would Jesus say "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7) Earlier in the gospel Jesus says "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:16-18) Is the Spirit of Christ the Comforter?

Without the infilling spirit of God - giving life - death results. But HOW does death result? Is it because God Himself kills people, and creatures? NO. It is because God withdraws His spirit. God designed man and all of creation, to function by His indwelling. THAT is our design. Without the indwelling - our design dictates our slow death. In THAT SENSE only, the "strong eats weaker" - food chain - that we see in the world today, IS the result of God's design. So - God IS ultimately responsible. He is the designer. And HE paid the ultimate price. He took on the nature of the created man. He died as the victim of "strong destroys weak". Our part in witnessing this terrible pain and destruction, is to plead for the full return of the Indwelling. Perhaps 50,000 years into eternity, I may have a thought that I'd like to do something "my way". But THEN I remember what happened when created beings tried things their "own way". And I am repulsed. The pain of 6000 years, witnessed by the entire Universe (not simply by mankind) is the greatest deterrent to another "rebellion".

C.D. BROOKS WEIGHS IN ON ADVENTIST SUNDAY SERVICES In light of Huntsville First SDA Church's decision to hold worship meetings on Sunday mornings, some have justified this action by saying Adventist evangelists in the past have held meetings on Sunday. Elder C.D. Brooks was asked about this in what appears to be a telephone interview posted on YouTube Feb. 12, 2015. What follows is a transcription of the audio recording posted above. He had this to say: My friends, this is CD Brooks. You all know me because I’m old. I have been a part of God’s ministry for 63 years. And issues arise now and then, and they lack clear wisdom and experience. And I have heard [about] this Sabbath experience for Sunday keepers [referring to the Huntsville, Alabama SDA surge church Sunday worship meetings]. It hit me suddenly. And I imagine you tend to jump to some conclusion once you hear it. But the truth is—it is in my judgment, a very dangerous undertaking. In the last days, Sabbath itself will become the key to whether you will obey God and receive the seal, or whether you will obey man and receive the mark of the beast. That will be central in the last days. That’s what the church is looking to, and that’s what God is going to allow. You have to be easily distinguished. God has always been that way—He told the children of Israel ‘You shall be a peculiar people unto Me.’ The word peculiar means distinctive. You will be unusual. And when people look at you, and when people listen to you, they will not be lost in a mystery, they will know that these are God’s people. And the sign—the sign—is Sabbath. That stands in distinction with the sign of disfavor with God, which is Sunday. Man-made Sabbath. I am not intending to condemn anybody, but I did hear that some are concerned when they heard that C.D. Brooks conducted Sunday meetings. Well, now [laughs] my dear friends, if you really have followed that closely you will know that God called me and blessed me to evangelism. I’m certainly not the only one, there are many that He chose. And He proved the choosing by the favor of the church and the baptism of hundreds and hundreds of souls. To God be the glory for every one [souls]. As a matter of fact, I have a statement that men don’t win souls. They are won by the Holy Spirit. The man becomes a conveyor. So...C.D. Brooks ran Sunday meetings. Of course he did! Every evangelist that I know of, began their meetings on Sunday night. But never on Sabbath at eleven o’clock! From what I’ve heard they [Huntsville SDA] are putting the same emphasis on making Sunday morning like our Sabbath morning. Same program, same music and so forth. And then the public...or some reporter or something grabs a pen and he is given the impression that this is a duplicate of their Sabbath morning program. If that’s true, we [evangelists] have never done one program like that, and I would not endorse it. It’s not that it’s wrong....let me tell you something. The devil is called the arch deceiver. That means the leader of deception—the worst of the bunch. God can only use truth. Satan will use truth and error to deceive. What appears to be good might be indeed harmless, Satan will twist and turn and smile over it until he makes a concoction that kills those who receive the mark of the beast. The last days will hide the seventh day. I just want to be clear about myself and I want to be clear about my brethren also. We all opened our meetings on Sunday night. In fact when I was a young man we preached every night of the week, God gave us strength to do it. To Him goes all the glory and grace. That’s enough about it. I just want you to consider it as it was. It was true of all of us [evangelists], the best night for attendance was Sunday night, after sunset (which means you were really on Monday). And I personally would not venture to do this [referring to the Huntsville Surge Sunday]. And I’m not taking sides and condemning somebody. Men are always trying to do things—trying their best to make something work. But believe me, a lot of confusion is following this one. And God is not the Author of confusion. He blesses men who are innovative, he blesses men who will try new things. But, in my judgment we should probably pass a matter like this off to administration. Somebody said “they did” they asked the president. I’m not condemning anybody—you have to understand that. I’d rather not be saying these things. But when I said administration I didn’t mean just a president or secretary or whatever. It should go before a committee to be discussed, like the General conference. And if the Brethren say let’s do it--lets do it. I’m not a contender but I don’t want to be given credit for things I didn’t do. I have never ever had one single Sabbath morning type service on Sunday morning—which would somehow elevate the whole idea that I had ever done that. Do a lot of praying in these last days, folk. The devil is going to shake this church and God is going to allow it so He can purify. How else would it be done? And so Satan will do it. Now Ellen White says that thousands will leave us and join the enemy. Other thousands will come in and take their places. This is the comment: ‘The ranks of the Lord’s army will not be diminished.’ So we who expect to go through the end—whether we do or not—we’ve gotta be saved by faith. Faith in what God has said. It is a real blessing to know that whatever God has said concerning his remnant church I believe. I believe in the SOP. I believe that Saturday is the Sabbath. I believe in an honest tithe being returned to the Lord. I believe in the idea that we are a peculiar people, and that women especially—especially—should gird themselves as women professing godliness—is what the Bible says. Which means dress reform. We had seven reforms when I was helping in evangelistic crusades, and these seven reforms had to be met in the life of every would-be baptized member. Or else we had not completed our work. That’s why we gave so many minutes to questions at the meetings. You ask and we will answer it with Scripture as our authority. And so, if you want to please God you come to church on Sabbath. It is a sign. Church on Sunday is not a sign—and I’m not meaning to condemn anybody—we are all condemned but for the grace of God. And with that grace, God leads people into complete harmony with His will. That makes his people distinctive, or distinguishable. You look at them and can tell....it’s getting harder and harder to do that. And if you say such, you are looked at as old fashioned and ultra conservative. I don’t buy it a’tall! You are right in harmony with God’s expressed and written will. If you have questions that you can’t answer, keep the Bible nearby! And also consider the spirit of prophecy—it is a special guide for God’s people in the last days. Ok? God bless everyone--and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. - See more at: http://advindicate.com/articles/2015/2/14/cd-brooks-weighs-in-on-adventist-sunday-services#sthash.p9k2yEq6.uDOfcNFW.dpuf

Interesting thread! Some believe that God's Son did not exist until He was conceived by God's Spirit in the womb of Mary. Some believe that He had no "beginning". He was co-existent with the Father, and another divine being called "the Spirit" from eternity. Some - like me - believe that God's Son was "begotten" from His Father, before the creation of anything. (I do not believe "the Spirit" is a third divine being.) Cell division - the process resulting in identical twins - crudely represents how the Father produced the Son from Himself. He - the originally existent One - had to decide to produce another being "in his express image" (Heb. 1:3). An express image, represents an exact copy. The Son was an exact copy of His Father, which would mean that they were BOTH divine (omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent). The Son existed from eternity, in the same sense that Levi existed with "the loins of Abraham". The plan of salvation required TWO divine beings. One must continue to uphold all things, while the Other became mortal (NOT omnipotent) and then lay dead. If Christ was NOT originally 100% divine, then God did NOT die for our Sins. The Father foreknew that creation of beings with free will, would ultimately necessitate His death. But He could not actually, truly DIE, while upholding all things. There had to be TWO of HIM. There is a series of studies at my website, which question the doctrine of the Trinity, and presents Christ as originally begotten FROM His Father. Rachel Cory Prophecy Viewpoint

Attending a church service on the 1st day of the week is not keeping a Sunday Sabbath, regardless of what anyone might think. Attending a church service on the 1st day of the week, is not in any sense, breaking the Sabbath. Attending a church service on the 7th day of the week, is not keeping the Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath is much more than attending a church service on the 7th day of the week. In many ways, the SDA Church has failed to communicate to its members the richness of the blessings that are attached to Sabbath keeping due to the fact that all to often its focus has been on simply attending a worship service that was held on the 7th day of the week. God has much more to teach us on this issue. If we as a church fail to rise to the standard that God would want us to have, God will raise up people from outside of our denomination to proclaim his message for "end time" Lyndon, is correct. The Sabbath message is critical for people living in "end time." However, the critical element of that message is much deeper than a mere day on which people spend two hours in worship. Where we as a denomination have lost our way and have become much like the Protestant world is where have focused on a mere two hour and the day on which we spend those two hours. Satan is delighted to have us do that, for in doing that we deprive ourselves of the Sabbath blessing that God has in mind for us, on the 7th day.

Paul never wrote anything about "two kinds of circumcision" - simple and Pharisaic. In all his letters, doesn't it seem likely that he would have written something about continuing the "simple circumcision? Instead - he wrote that "circumcision is nothing". It really does NOT matter. And just to be clear, Paul circumcised Timothy BECAUSE OF THE JEWS, not because circumcision was something required by God. (Timothy was half Jewish.) Paul did NOT circumcised Titus who accompanied him to Jerusalem, because he was Greek, and his un-circumcision would not inflame the Jews. So - we have to accept that Paul was NOT inspired, and was preaching heresy. Or we have to accept that the whole system changed, when Christ fulfilled the ancient Tabernacle/sacrifice prophecy.

Back in Genesis 1, when God created man, they were to have dominion over all other life forms on this planet (verse 28). Everything there before sin served all others beneficially under God's Laws. When man sinned, they gave both themselves AND all they had dominion over, to Satan. Satan controls and dispenses of it as he wishes. (Luke 4:6) Hence, the strong rule the weak, the swift are victorious over the slow, and the cunning win by greater deceit against the trusting and careless...just like it is among people. Paul writes of this in Romans, when he links the redemption of man to the redemption of creation. It groans currently, awaiting its new birth. Romans 8:22 Simply put, survival of the fittest is nothing less than might makes right - the hall mark of Satan's kingdom. It affects all of nature, because it affects all of man. Along with man's redemption will also come the redemption of all he once had dominion over. Christ will return the eco system back to the way it was created, because He has won the right to be the new Adam...not through might making right, but by sacrificial love laying life down for all others. Blessings,

This land is your land This land is my land From California to the New York island From the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters This land was made for you and me. Woody Guthrie.

I have enjoyed all the responses. They are all so true. I would add to them social mobility. In this country, one does not have to be defined by one's lineage or ancestry.

And then there is the amazing fact that Ellen White herself regularly stood in the pulpit and preached. On Sunday. In Sunday keeping churches. For their Sunday worship service.

Amen! I believe it will be the result of the second coming.

There is a rapture, but it ain't gonna be secret. Between massive earthquakes, gigantic hail, loud trumpets, the voice of an archangel, and astounding cosmic disturbances, it will be very visible. And it will occur just before or during the 2nd Coming.

I was named Deputy Head of School (Learning and Teaching) in my current university, Griffith. I convened one large program for teaching high school teachers last year, and this is the next step up that ladder - I'm now responsible for managing all the learning and teaching in all of the 29 degree programs, both undergraduate and postgraduate, offered in our School to more than 4000 students. It's daunting but exciting, and I'm already enjoying it a lot. I'm off to the University Senior Leadership Conference this coming week. Or, as my beloved puts it, "hobnobbing with the bigwigs". (of course, I'm now the newest and tiniest tadpole in that particular pond!)

In the previous blogs Dave Thomas showed how religious entities shift from movements to institutions. One of the key elements of that shift is the move from persuasive power to coercive power. That shift is not planned, but tends to happen because coercive power is more efficient and gets things done. But when managerial power […] The post How the Organized Church Changes, Part 5 (Conclusion) appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

Prayer for Travelers Anonymous For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air [or through outer space], let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.