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I came across this bit of trivia today. This shows the most "selective" college for each US state, meaning the college with the lowest acceptance rate. Some are not surprising: Massachusetts – Harvard University – 6% California – Stanford University – 6% Connecticut – Yale University – 7% Maryland – United States Naval Academy – 7% New Jersey – Princeton University – 7% New York – The Juilliard School – 7% But the schools in Alabama and Florida were surprising, as both are SDA schools: Alabama – Oakwood University Location – Huntsville, Alabama Acceptance Rate – 34% Number of Applications Received – 2,728 Total Undergraduates – 1,966 Florida – Adventist University of Health Sciences Location – Orlando, Florida Acceptance Rate – 13% Number of Applications Received – 2,110 Total Undergraduates – 2,576 Kinda sad that so many want to attend the Adventist schools, but get rejected.... it makes a person wonder what happened to those who didn't get accepted... (I know -- some will go to other schools, but I imagine there might be a substantial number who don't...) https://www.ecollegefinder.org/most-selective-colleges-map.aspx

Article written by Dwayne Leslie, Director of Legislative Affairs for the General Conference. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dwayne-leslie/abercrombie-fitch-the-supreme-court_b_6750602.html

When the Bible says something came from God or came from heaven it doesn't literally mean it was in heaven before it came from God. It just means God is the power and authority for it being here. Look at it this way, let's say the President of the United States is sitting in the White House in Washington DC. He gives the order to send troops from Fort Hood Texas to Iran. The generals in Iran will tell their subordinates that Washington is sending troops. That does not mean the troops are coming from Washington. It just means Washington is the authority for them being sent. Let me give you biblical support for this. Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. God does not have bushel baskets of bread in heaven that He throws down. All the Bible is saying is that the bread is from God. God sent fire, frogs, manna, ice and many other things from heaven but it doesn't mean they literally came from God's throne in heaven it just means God is the authority and power for them being here.. When the Bible says someone is sent from God it doesn't mean they literally came from heaven. It just means God is the power and authority for the person being sent. John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. When someone is sent into the world it does not mean they came from heaven. The sending into the world is a horizontal sending into the world, not a vertical sending into the world. John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. When the Bible says someone came into the world it doesn't mean he came from heaven or outer space. It just means he was born. John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. When the Bible says we are not of this world it does not mean we are from heaven or outer space. It just means we live by a different set of standards we are under a different government and ruler. John 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Just like Jesus is not of this world, we are not of this world. Where are we from? Heaven? Mars? No, we are not part of the ways of the world. John 17:16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Scuba, You have asked for scripture verses; In John 3:16,17 it say's: 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. * These verses tell us that God had a begotten Son and he loved His Son and sent him into the world to save mankind. * This Son is begotten before he is sent into to word. John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. * Clearly Jesus had an existence before the world was even created. Where do we find this information? Read this: 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: * Christ is wisdom to us. 1 Peter 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. * The Spirit of Christ, {which was in the prophets} testified through the prophets beforehand {before it happened} of his own {Christ's} sufferings * Speaking under the title of wisdom in the old testament we are given a vital piece of information. Proverbs 8:22-30 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 8:24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water. 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 8:30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him; * Christ speaks under the title of wisdom * These verses tell us that The Son of God was set up from the beginning before there was ever an earth made. * Before anything was made God's Son was brought forth. As John 3:16 tells us he(the Son of God) is begotten. * When the Son of God was by His Fathers side then the world was created. * We are not to understand how the Son was begotten from the Father but to believe by faith. * The Son was brought forth, came from, issued out of, came out of the Father. Because He is the Son of God he rightfully takes the same name of the Father because he is the Son of God. Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he {the Son} hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? * It was ONLY to His Son that he gave a more excellent name be cause he (his Son) had obtained it by inheritance. WHY? because he was God's Son. A Son rightfully takes the name of his Father. Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; * God (the Father) made the worlds through His Son Ephesians 3:9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if thou canst tell? * Clearly this shows 2 divine beings here: Father and Son. **Clearly the scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ is the same Son of God who was begotten before the worlds were made.

very interesting thread. I personally don't have a problem believing that Moses and Elijah did, in fact, ascend to heaven, and that both spoke to Jesus at the transfiguration. Is it necessarily so, that Elijah and Moses saw God face to face when they were taken to heaven?

Every good gift comes from God The apostle Paul reminds us “in all things to give thanks.” Here’s a list of things we can take for granted and forget to appreciate. Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Galleries/7-Things-We-Forget-To-Thank-God-For.aspx#VAMH6w62dvtVe2Ej.99

“If you plant for a year, plant grain. If you plant for ten years, plant trees. If you plant for a 100 years, plant men. If you plant for eternity, plant the word. ” - Unknown?

Sometimes, we think too big when we think "exotic vacation abroad." Why not look a little closer to home for your next international vacation? We give you eight reasons to put Canada at the top of the list for your next trip. http://www.smartertravel.com/photo-galleries/editorial/reasons-why-canada-should-be-your-next-international-vacation.html?id=968&all=1

Obama's regs will make Internet slow as in Europe, warn FCC, FEC commissioners BY PAUL BEDARD | FEBRUARY 23, 2015 | 2:14 PM As the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Election Commission toy with regulating aspects of the Internet, critics on those agencies are warning that speed and freedom of speech are in jeopardy. In a joint column, Federal Communications Commission member Ajit Pai and Federal Election Commission member Lee Goodman, leveled the boom on the Obama-favored regulations, essentially charging that it will muck up the freedom the nation has come to expect from the Internet. In one key passage of the column published in Politico, the duo wrote Monday that heavy-handed FCC regulations like those imposed in Europe will significantly slow down Internet speech. “These Internet regulations will deter broadband deployment, depress network investment and slow broadband speeds. How do we know? Compare Europe, which has long had utility-style regulations, with the United States, which has embraced a light-touch regulatory model. Broadband speeds in the United States, both wired and wireless, are significantly faster than those in Europe. Broadband investment in the United States is several multiples that of Europe. And broadband’s reach is much wider in the United States, despite its much lower population density,” the two wrote. They also joined to warn about the Democrat-chaired Federal Election Commission eyeing regulation of political speech on the Internet. Noting recent votes on the issue that ended in a political deadlock, the two wrote, “these close votes and the risk of idiosyncratic case-by-case enforcement inevitably discourage citizens and groups from speaking freely online about politics.” Bottom line, they warned: “Internet freedom works. It is difficult to imagine where we would be today had the government micromanaged the Internet for the past two decades as it does Amtrak and the U.S. Postal Service. Neither of us wants to find out where the Internet will be two decades from now if the federal government tightens its regulatory grip. We don’t need to shift control of the Internet to bureaucracies in Washington. Let’s leave the power where it belongs — with the American people. When it comes to Americans’ ability to access online content or offer political speech online, there isn’t anything broken for the government to “fix.” To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, Internet regulation isn’t the solution to a problem. Internet regulation is the problem.”

This question was probably answered on another thread, and if so perhaps someone could just give me that link. NIV John 3:13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-- the Son of Man.1 (Joh 3:13 NIV) Also “No one has seen God at any time (John 1:18). and Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father” (Jn 6:46). God the Father dwells in "unapproachable light whom no one has seen or can see" (I Tim 6:14). Enoch, Elijah, and Moses could have been translated to "heaven" but still not have entered that light, or have "seen God". How do we answer folks who say that Enoch, Moses and Elijah did not go to heaven? Who say that Enoch and Elijah were just transported to another location on the earth, and later died like everyone else. Like Philip was transported in the NT. If "no one has ascended" - at least at the time Jesus spoke those words, that would mean that those three men were/are still sleeping in death. There is a clue in Romans where Paul said, "death reigned from Adam to Moses" (Rom 5:14). Something involving death changed with Moses. If death no longer reigned supreme and unchallenged that sounds like a resurrection to me. Of course, I've always had a question concerning just who buried Moses. Why would Michael bury him, if he planned to resurrect him right away? I think I understand why only Moses and Elijah came to speak with Christ prior to His ordeal. According to the law, only two witnesses were required. Thanks - in advance - for any input Rachel

As the masses argue about their rhetorical differences our governments quietly continue work on their real agenda: AMERICAN AND BRITISH spies hacked into the internal computer network of the largest manufacturer of SIM cards in the world, stealing encryption keys used to protect the privacy of cellphone communications across the globe, according to top-secret documents provided to The Intercept by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. The hack was perpetrated by a joint unit consisting of operatives from the NSA and its British counterpart Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ. The breach, detailed in a secret 2010 GCHQ document, gave the surveillance agencies the potential to secretly monitor a large portion of the world’s cellular communications, including both voice and data. https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/02/19/great-sim-heist/

I mean, Who spoke these words: KJV Exodus 20: 1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Was it the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, or all of them?

you aren't creepy, Scuba! Post #3 just struck me that way..

this thread is kinda creepy (even though I know the intent is to be explanatory)....

“Circumstances alter cases.” The phrase was often used by Ellen White. A positive example can be found in Testimonies for the Church, Volume Six (339:2), “While we present methods of work we cannot lay out an undeviating line in which everyone shall move, for circumstances alter cases. God will impress those whose hearts are open […] The post Thoughts on Ordination and San Antonio (GC Session) appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

I'm on-board with Rachel on this one. "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain." (2 Peter 1:16-18) This certainly doesn't sound like a vision to me - it sounds like an eyewitness account of an actual event. Moses and Elijah were both ALIVE and PRESENT at the transfiguration - an actual even - not a vision. Maybe this is why Jesus had 3 witnesses. See 2 Cor. 3:1; Matt. 18:16, 1 Timothy 5:19, and Hebrews 10:28 for examples of this principle.

More than 2,000 Seventh-day Adventist youth took to the streets in Central Jamaica to share the love of Jesus during a district-wide impact in several communities in Manchester on February 22, 2015. View the full article

I don't write for you Samie. There are others who read these posts, who may think I'm making a lot of sense. Now you're telling me that I'm committing the unpardonable sin. Come on Samie. How do you expect to dialog with folks, if you lob such accusations.

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.

Some may be interested to see a thought from the Spirit of Prophecy on this question. "It was Christ who spoke the law from Sinai. It was Christ who gave the law to Moses" on the tables of stone. (Signs of the Times Sep.4,1884) Perhaps some of the Scriptures on this side of the question would be: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1Tim 2:5). The one mediator, the one "go-between", between Israel and God in the wilderness, was Christ. True, at Sinai it was not then "the man Christ Jesus" conducting affairs between heaven and earth. (He had not yet taken on the limitations of humanity.) But I believe that Christ was, even then, the true "mediator". And the law "was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator" (Gal 3:19) -- the same singular Mediator that would finally take on the infirmities of humanity. Many have taught that Moses was that mediator, and it is true that the people put him into that role/position, but the real mediator was Christ, the "Messenger of the covenant". (Mal 3:1.) "It was Christ who spoke the law from Sinai. It was Christ who gave the law to Moses" written on tables of stone. (EGW, Signs of the Times Sep.4,1884)