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Adam had to offer a lamb. Did he build an altar? The picture we see of Cain's offering is on square grey dull stones. I've been thinking, those stones we are used to are from flood results, In Eden stones were gold, silver, emierald, opal, saphire etc. I think IF they did build an altar it would have been stunning, and I doubt if they were square.

California Bill Would Eliminate Religious Belief Exemption to Vaccines Today, Cal­i­for­nia law­mak­ers intro­duced leg­is­la­tion (SB 277) that would elim­i­nate the “per­sonal belief” exemp­tion for par­ents who choose not to vac­ci­nate their children. http://religiousliberty.tv/unintended-consequences-california-bill-would-eliminate-religious-belief-exemption-to-vaccines.html

Beauties of the New Earth. "For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind... And the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying... And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them... And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. The glorious City of God has twelve gates, set with pearls most glorious. It also has twelve foundations of various colors. The streets of the City are of pure gold. In this city is the throne of God, and a pure, beautiful river proceeding out of it, as clear as crystal. Its sparkling purity and beauty makes glad the City of God. The saints will drink freely of the healing waters of the river of life. (YI, October 1, 1852) On either side of this beautiful river is the tree of life. And the redeemed saints, who have loved God and kept his commandments here, will enter in through the gates of the City, and have right to the tree of life. They will eat freely of it, as our first parents did before their fall. The leaves of that immortal wide-spread tree will be for the healing of the nations. All their woes will then be gone. Sickness, sorrow and death they will never again feel, for the leaves of the tree of life have healed them. Jesus will then see of the travail of his soul [isa. liii, 11] and be satisfied, when the redeemed, who have been subject to sorrow, toil and afflictions, who have groaned beneath the curse, are gathered up around that tree of life to eat of its immortal fruit, that our first parents forfeited all right to, by breaking God's commands. There will be no danger of their ever losing right to the tree of life again, for he that tempted our first parents to sin, will be destroyed by the second death. (YI, October 1, 1852) All faces will reflect the image of their Redeemer. There will then be no anxious, troubled countenances, but all will be bright, and smiling in spotless purity. The angels will be there, also the resurrected saints with the martyrs, and the best of all, and what will cause us the most joy, our lovely Saviour who suffered and died that we might enjoy that happiness and freedom, will be there.--His glorious face will shine brighter than the sun, and light up the beautiful City, and reflect glory all around. (YI, October 1, 1852) Children will be there. They will never be engaged in strife or discord. Their love will be fervent and holy. They will also have a crown of gold upon their heads, and a harp in their hands. And their little countenances, that we here see so often troubled and perplexed, will beam with holy joy, expressive of their perfect freedom and happiness. They will express in child-like purity their wonder and delight, as they behold every thing around them so new and lovely. They will look to the blessed Saviour who has given himself for them, and, with admiration and love for him who is smiling upon them, raise their voices and sing to his praise and glory, while they feel and realized the matchless depths of a Saviour's love. (YI, October 1, 1852) This earth, dear children, is to be purified with fire; then it will be much more beautiful. The grass will be living green, and will never wither. There will be roses and lilies, and all kinds of flowers there. They will never blight or fade, or lose their beauty and fragrance. (YI, October 1, 1852) The lion, we should much dread and fear here, will then lie down with the lamb, and everything in the New Earth will be peace and harmony.--The trees of the New Earth will be straight and lofty, without deformity. (YI, October 1, 1852) The saints will have crowns of glory upon their heads, and harps of gold in their hands. They will play upon the golden harp, and sing redeeming love, and make melody unto God. Their former trials and suffering in this world will be forgotten and lost amid the glories of the New Earth. And they will ever have the approving smiles of Jesus upon them, and their happiness will be complete. There will be glory, glory all around. (YI, October 1, 1852)

I am curious to know if Adventist doctors are required by law to swear by this oath? "I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius the surgeon, likewise Hygeia and Panacea, and call all the gods and goddesses to witness, that I will observe and keep this underwritten oath, to the utmost of my power and judgment. I will reverence my master who taught me the art. Equally with my parents, will I allow him things necessary for his support, and will consider his sons as brothers. I will teach them my art without reward or agreement; and I will impart all my acquirement, instructions, and whatever I know, to my master's children, as to my own; and likewise to all my pupils, who shall bind and tie themselves by a professional oath, but to none else. With regard to healing the sick, I will devise and order for them the best diet, according to my judgment and means; and I will take care that they suffer no hurt or damage. Nor shall any man's entreaty prevail upon me to administer poison to anyone; neither will I counsel any man to do so. Moreover, I will get no sort of medicine to any pregnant woman, with a view to destroy the child. Further, I will comport myself and use my knowledge in a godly manner. I will not cut for the stone, but will commit that affair entirely to the surgeons. Whatsoever house I may enter, my visit shall be for the convenience and advantage of the patient; and I will willingly refrain from doing any injury or wrong from falsehood, and (in an especial manner) from acts of an amorous nature, whatever may be the rank of those who it may be my duty to cure, whether mistress or servant, bond or free. Whatever, in the course of my practice, I may see or hear (even when not invited), whatever I may happen to obtain knowledge of, if it be not proper to repeat it, I will keep sacred and secret within my own breast. If I faithfully observe this oath, may I thrive and prosper in my fortune and profession, and live in the estimation of posterity; or on breach thereof, may the reverse be my fate!"

https://www.youtube.com/embed/DeYjyhrgjCE

Pastor Gary Buddoo-Fletcher was appointed as Executive Secretary of North Jamaica Conference (NJC) during a meeting of its Executive Committee on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at its headquarters in Drax Hall, St. Ann. View the full article

Some years ago, a woman joined Club Adventist. She had been born and raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But, her life was very hard and with the passage of time and circumstances, the time came when she was no longer associated with the denomination. But, God was not finished with her. Sitting on a stool in a bar on a Friday evening she had a life-changing experience. On that evening she began her return to the Lord and to the SDA Church. But, her spiritual journey was not an easy one. While she achieved her goal to return to the Lord, she died prior to returning to the SDA Church. The first part, of the introduction to her spiritual journey has been posted on the Internet. It may be accessed at: http://atoday.org/welcome-home-maybe-part-one.html This is the first part of an introduction to a series on her life that may last for as much as six months. The introduction sums up the major issues that she faced in her life. Some of the members of Club Adventist will recognize her and may be generally aware of what is published in the introduction. However, the following extended material on her life will likely contain much new material. My goals in being involved in the posting of this material are to stimulate thought: 1) As how former SDAs may be treated when they start a spiritual journey back to God and the SDA Church. 2) As to the efforts of God to do whatever is needed to effect the salvation of every person. Adventist Today is publishing this story because the editors believe that there is a message there. The story is being published in the Internet edition, rather than the print edition as the Internet edition has a larger audience. The story is being published in a restricted section of the Internet edition. That section is open to people who are subscribers to the print edition and to others who have paid a fee of $10 to obtain access for a year. While I do not have an exact figure for the time that it will take to publish the full story, I am expecting about six months. I will later open this thread up for comments. I that time I will strictly moderate it; The following will not be allowed:: 1) The mention of actual names, to include the name of the member, her family members, and others. 2) Negative comments directed against people. Positive comments will be accepted. 3) A focus on the problems and failures of the SDA Church and its congregations. All human organizations can be criticized, but that is neither the focus, nor my intent. Personally, I believe that this story, while it has its sad parts, will be helpful as can be related to my two listed goals above. Later I will open this thread up for comments and discussion. NOTE: It was the desire of the woman that her story be published and prior to her death she worked with me in assembling the material for publication.

24 Cheshvan Yahrtzeit of Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934). A member of the Rothschild banking dynasty, he preferred to pursue artistic interests, acquiring an important collection of drawings and engravings that he bequeathed to the Louvre. In 1882, Rothschild became a leading proponent of the Zionist movement, buying land throughout Israel and subsidizing Jewish settlements. He financed the first new Jewish town, Rishon Letzion ("the first of Zion"), as well as Zichron Yaakov, Caesarea and some 30 other settlements. He also established Israel's wine industry when he helped Russian Jews flee pogroms in the 1880s and plant vineyards in Israel. In 1954, Rothschild's remains were re-interred to Israel. To honor his memory, his son paid for the construction of the Knesset building in Jerusalem.

The Assassination of Scott Walker By The Coward Liberal Media Matt Vespa We all knew this was coming: liberal attacks on Gov. Scott Walker for not having a college degree. In 1990, Walker decided to drop out of Marquette University during the spring semester of his senior year - a decision that’s mystified the political left. But then there’s former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who–as Dan wrote–basically questioned Walker’s intelligence: "This is a particular problem for Scott Walker which has not been an issue yet, but it will. Scott Walker, were he to become president, would be the first president in many generations who did not have a college degree. So the issue here is not just the issue of dancing around the question of evolution for political reasons, the issue is, how well educated is this guy?" This is emblematic of the politics of condescension and elitism that’s fraught within American liberalism; that one is not qualified for any public office lest he be a college graduate (preferably from an elite school) and has acquired a lexicon that shocks the masses. Dean is a Yale alumnus. So, what do we know about Walker’s years in college? Well, the Washington Post noted that he was active in student government. He won a senate position his freshman year and worked frenetically to combat wasteful spending. He ran for student body president his sophomore year and lost. After the loss, his influence on student politics waned. By the way, as the Media Research Center's Tim Graham wrote, the Post devoted a 2,223-word story about this whole ordeal. Oh, and they never devoted a single piece to Barack Obama’s undergraduate years prior to the 2008 election, but we digress. The Post mentioned that Walker seemed more concerned about his student government work than his studies, often interrupting French class by arriving late. He also didn’t seem interested in his politics classes either. By the time he hit the spring semester of his senior year, he vanished. Mr. Walker had decided to get a job with the American Red Cross; that’s it! That’s the shocking revelation of why Walker left college. Walker left in good standing with Marquette–and is 34 credits short of earning his Bachelor’s Degree: Walker’s disappearance from campus became a mystery that his political rivals seized on. As recently as 2013, the state’s Democrats were still alleging that he might have been kicked out for election-related misdeeds. They dropped that after Marquette officials told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Walker had left “in good standing.” What friends remember is that Walker got a good job, at the American Red Cross office near campus. Some also remember hearing that one of his parents had a health problem or about financial stress on the family. A spokeswoman for Walker’s political committee declined to comment about those suggestions. “I think I need to take this opportunity,” [Mary] Riordan [Walker’s college friend] remembered Walker saying. “I don’t think he ever said to me, ‘I’m not going to finish school.’ I don’t think that was his intention.” At the time, the Journal Sentinel found, Walker was not close to graduating. After four years, he was at least 34 credits short — about one-quarter of the required total away from earning his degree, according to its report. Walker’s political spokeswoman said she would not contest that finding. He still has not found the time to finish. A spokeswoman for Walker’s state office said he is interested in a new University of Wisconsin program — begun during Walker’s tenure — that lets older students get academic credit for things they’ve learned in life. But he’s not taking courses now. Walker has won three elections in four years; one of which carries the historical note of him being the first governor to survive a recall election in American history. The debate about college degrees is ongoing, but certainly it’s not THEprerequisite for public office. We also have to understand that even the highly educated have driven this nation into disastrous situations. Kennedy and Johnson surrounded themselves with the smartest folks in the country when they built their administrations–Johnson mostly kept Kennedy’s people after his assassination–and they got us into Vietnam. A war–regardless of the reasons–that damaged America’s reputation abroad and the military–as an institution–at home. It wasn’t until we won the Gulf War that such issues were resolved. Relating to the rule of law, we had Robert H. Jackson and Stanley Reed serve as Associate Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. Both men never graduated from law school, and as far as I can tell; the institution still functions today. Yet, I think the National Review’s Charles Cooke has a better explanation of why this whole college dropout business is absurd: This being a democratic republic, it is dangerous in and of itself for our elites to condemn as unsuitable for office those they consider to be “less educated” than themselves. But it is downright repugnant to watch certain members of the journalistic class meditating on the question of whether a man who has been infinitely more successful than themselves should be deemed ineligible for want of their preferred credentials. It is difficult, too, not to divine a touch of caste-system snobbery in the initial inquiry. As higher education becomes increasingly fetishized, those who do not possess the right letters after their names will be increasingly in danger of marginalization — even, it should be said, when they are successful and happy and full of self-assurance. If Scott Walker is the nominee, there is no doubt his detractors will play as subtly but as brutally as they can on his being a “dropout,” nor that the professional class that determines the shape of the debates will mutter in irritation that he is not one of them. If he has any sense about him, he will refuse to entertain the premise. “Sure I didn’t finish college,” he will say. “But look where I am now. This is America, goddamnit.” This narrative–and his recent punt on a question about evolution–will sadly only confirm such biases within elite media and political circles. Walker was on a trade mission in London when he was asked about his belief in the theory of evolution. "I'm going to punt on that one as well," Walker said. "I'm here to talk about trade, not to pontificate about other things," he said. When asked about foreign policy, Gov. Walker rightly stated, “I just don't think you talk about foreign policy while you're on foreign soil…I don't think it's wise to undermine your own president." The latter response is completely understandable. The former elicited the typical liberal “we’re pro-science, my gosh how dumb are Republicans” response that you’d expect. All of this despite the fact that affluent liberals in California are mostly responsible for the measles outbreak because–wait for it–they didn't get their kids vaccinated. In all, any rational person shouldn't really care about one's personal feelings about evolution or creationism. Then again, we're talking about the liberal media; they love this stuff. If you want to watch some serious trolling on Twitter about this, just read how The Federalist’s Sean Davis asked Ben White of Politico and Amanda Terkel of theHuffington Post if they knew about the dynamics of evolution when they mocked the Wisconsin Governor for his remarks.

Obama: 'Islam Has Been Woven Into the Fabric of Our Country Since Its Founding' February 19, 2015 - 10:57 AM By Susan Jones That's what the president told a White House conference on "countering violent extremism" on Wednesday.(CNSNews.com) - We hear a lot about the United States' Judeo-Christian heritage, but according to President Obama, "Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding." Obama has said similar things in the past: "I also know that Islam has always been a part of America’s story,” Obama said in a June 2009 speech in Cairo, Egypt. "Islam has always been part of America," he said in a 2010 statement marking the start of Ramadan. And in a 2014 statement marking Eid, Obama said the holiday "also reminds us of the many achievements and contributions of Muslim Americans to building the very fabric of our nation and strengthening the core of our democracy." In his speech on Wednesday, Obama was making the point that Western nations must show that they "welcome people of all faiths," at a time when "extremists" are saying that Western nations are "hostile to Muslims." "Here in America, Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding. Generations -- (applause) -- Generations of Muslim immigrants came here and went to work as farmers and merchants and factory workers, helped to lay railroads and to build up America. "The first Islamic center in New York City was founded in the 1890s. America's first mosque, this was an interesting fact, was in North Dakota." (It was established in 1929). Both of those milestones happened well after America's founding, however. In fact, the new nation's first dealings with Islam were tense and unpleasant. According to a Heritage Foundation paper, shortly after America's founding, the United States "was dragged into the affairs of the Islamic world by an escalating series of unprovoked attacks on Americans by Muslim pirates, the terrorists of the era," who looted American ships and captured American sailors, holding them for ransom or selling them as slaves. The paper notes that America's struggle with Muslim pirates from the Barbary States (modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya) began soon after the 13 colonies declared their independence from Britain in 1776 and continued for roughly four decades. In his remarks on Wednesday, President Obama said Muslim Americans now serve as police officers, firefighters, soldiers, "and in our intelligence communities and in homeland security." He said Muslim American heroes are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, "having given their lives in defense of all of us." "And, of course, that's the story extremists and terrorists don't want the world to know -- Muslims succeeding and thriving in America. Because when that truth is known, it exposes their propaganda as the lie that it is. "It's also a story that every American must never forget, because it reminds us all that hatred and bigotry and prejudice have no place in our country. It is not just counterproductive. It doesn't just aid terrorists. It's wrong. It's contrary to who we are." So-called hate crimes against Muslims escalated in this country after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 -- attacks perpetrated by Islamic radicals -- but they have never reached the level of hate crimes against Jews, according to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Reporting statistics. In 2013, for example, 62.4 percent of hate crime victims were attacked because of anti-Jewish bias, while 11.6 percent were victims of anti-Islamic bias. Compare that with the year before the 2001 terror attacks: In 2000, of the1,699 victims of anti-religious hate crime, 74.6 percent were victims of an offender's anti-Jewish bias; and only 2.1 percent were victims of an offender's anti-Islamic bias. President Obama on Wednesday stressed that U.S. is not at war with Islam:"We are at war with people who have perverted Islam," he said. He also said the West and Islam are not in conflict; and that Islam is not incompatible with modern life, although in the same speech he urged other countries to invest in the education of both males and females -- "because countries will not be truly successful if half their populations, if their girls and their women, are denied opportunity." In a speech to the same summit on Thursday, Obama noted that many Americans don't personally know a single Muslim, and they form a distorted impression about Islam by what they hear on the news.

Seventh-day Adventist staffers distributed tens of thousands of copies of "Steps to Christ" and other Adventist books at the biggest book fair in the Arab world as they shared their love for Jesus and sought to dispel misinformation that the Adventist Church is not a Christian denomination. View the full article

I'm encouraged when you write your conviction in support for the One Project. Basicly I am positive toward the mission. They are emphasizing a spiritual commitment to God through Jesus His only begotten son, and when we experience that which they teach about Him, we have liberty in our spirit. As far as I can see there are not fanatics or extremes leading the crowds. The people go away to home and tell of having uplift, encouragement, joy and a new sense of love to God then what they ever had before. I am not in "the know" if much emphasis on SDAism is being pushed. If not then that must make the orthodox died-in-the-wool church members rattle their chains and cry 'faul'.

Sorry I wasn't more clear. I'm saying that ISIS may not be merely a bunch of crooks; but that they may be following what they think the Koran instructs them to do - to bring about the appearance of the Al Mahdi and Prophet Jesus. Furthermore, Islam is more than a religion - it is a way of life, a defined culture, and a form of government (Sharia law). Many Muslims are much more devoted (fanatical?) than most Christians. Like Christianity; I'm confident that the fervency of Muslims runs the spectrum of mental assent only to "living" every aspect of their faith 24/7. I barely know what a true Christian looks like much less what a true Muslim looks like. I have been all over the Christian spectrum; all the time thinking I am being true to the Word. Thing is, my understanding changes as time goes on. All I know is that, from what I have been learning about Islam lately, it is not unreasonable to think that ISIS is indeed following the precepts of some twisted interpretation of the Koran and hadiths. I also know God has as much of a heart for Muslims as He has for Christians - we are all His kids. Don't you think that there are misguided "Christans" out there who would love to nail a few Muslims in the name of Jesus?

There is a school in Protestant Christianity that is attempting to reach Islamics through the Quran. It believes that there is a very basic level of truth I the Quran that lays the foundation for conversion to Christianity. As such it attempts to teach those basic truths from the Quran. In doing so it attempts to lay a foundation that can be built upon which will lead to an acceptance of truth beyond what I in the Quran. One such is an independent effort by a SDA Arabic scholar who had a booth at the 2010 General Conference in Atlanta. purchased some of his writings and found them to be very interesting. Although, I have no knowledge of the Arabic.

Is there any difference between a mediator from an intercessor? If Yes, then would you please explain? Romans 8:26-27 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God

Hmmmm, being a Muslim is not an ethenicity, nationality,etc, correct? It is a religious system, correct? So are you suggesting that ISIS are the only true Muslims, but those who don't are......what? What is the diffinition of a "true Muslim"? Is that like tryig to define a "true Christian"?

"The administration's current plan (at least their public plan) of "loving" terrorists into changing their ways by giving them jobs and money is a dumb plan. " You think there actually aren't any US military forces active in Syria, Iraq etc? The bombing in Syria and special forces in Iraq is not real? It's propoganda? I'm puzzled.

I would only say something if they asked for your medical advice/opinion. Otherwise, it's their body, their disease, their treatment option. They probably know they are grasping at straws, but there is no need to kick them when they are down. As for the church helping, the church can decide if or in what capacity they will help, maybe give X amount to help but no more, but that is for the church to decide.

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.

SDAs are probably equipped better to approach Muslims because of our commonality with them in the matter of alcohol and unclean meat avoidance.

Shevat 28 In 163 BCE, King Antiochus V lifted the siege of Jerusalem. The day was observed in subsequent years as a holiday. Antiochus V was only nine years old when he became head of the Seleucid dynasty, following the death of his father Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the oppressor of the Jews who provoked the Maccabees' revolt.

So it comes down to motive....Abraham's motive for circumcision and the Jews, especially the Judaizers, were diametrically opposite. Abraham was circumcised as a sign of having no confidence in the flesh. The Jews demanded circumcision in order to gain heaven. That's having confidence in flesh.

You know, I am glad that she did find friendship online that she was unable to accomplish in real life. The rejection she experienced was a real shame. I do hope that those of us who knew her then will remember that even if a person is our enemy Jesus told us to love our enemies. The mistreatment of others is something that happens across the board in Chrisitanity. Some persons are challenging to understand but we need to remind ourselves that we are mandated to love, period.

announced a few minutes ago by WWU: We are saddened to inform you that Walla Walla University lost a treasured member of our campus family this evening with the death of Madison Baird. At the time of her death, Maddy was surrounded by family and friends, who were singing together and sharing messages of hope from the hundreds who loved her. Maddy was a bright light on our campus and in our community, and our hearts are broken. Campus chaplains, counselors, and pastors are available this evening in Conard Chapel for students, faculty, and staff, and will be available as needed in the days to come. We will keep you informed about opportunities to celebrate Maddy’s life. (Maddy was riding her bicycle yesterday, Tuesday Feb 10, when she was hit by a truck. She was airlifted to Seattle in critical condition.)

So good to see this...I have been here long enough to identify the person in this story, I had some personal communication with her occasionally, and look forward to seeing her within the walls of the New Jerusalem.

John Ortberg spent an hour in telling The One Project people that discipleship requires full obedience to Christ. I will comment more on his talk which extended well beyond one hour when I post in my church section.

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