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I think it's a great testimonial. In my view it's great when Adventist schools welcome students of other faiths and give them a great education. They enrich us, we enrich them, we all learn together. The following is a side tangent, and really only about my own issues - feel free to ignore! (I do think sometimes there's a tendency in Adventist schools to unfairly bash public schools. I know she was just contrasting her own public school experience with what she found at the Adventist school, but the implication left is sometimes that all public school teachers teach only from the textbook and don't care about students. This isn't the case. Adventist schools are great - I studied in them from Grade 1 to the end of my first degree and enjoyed them and learned a lot - but to support one we don't need to knock the other. There are some excellent public schools and teachers too.)

We had the privilege of winning a significant award. with the Associated Church Press, for this article in a magazine I am glad to be the editor of. Interested in your thoughts Untitled.pdf

not necessarily... God isn't required to give reasons or justification for anything... If He *has* given reasons in the past, it was because He thought it necessary for His people to know. But I don't think it's particularly useful to engage in speculation as to God's reasoning when He hasn't given a specific reason... that's where people can fall into the "it doesn't follow the nature of creation" trap. There are a lot of things done today that are "unnatural." Flying in airplanes comes to mind... There's nothing wrong with people asking questions. And there's nothing wrong with saying, "I don't know." There IS an issue, however, when some pose "unanswerable" questions with the intent of entrapment or arguing for argument's sake.... i.e., "can God create a stone He can't lift?"

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/tomb-of-apostle-philip-found/

My concern is that "unity" does not equal "unison." Our church as a whole can have unity without mandating similar administrative practices in each geographical area. There must be some deference to the cultural mores of each country.

Rachel, I agree with everything in your previus post; thanks for your great input. But I don't understand your last question (That's why I didn't hit the "LIKE" button). Again, I don't think anyone here is saying homosexual activity is not sinful (in fact I think all parties agree that it is sinful) ; they are (at least I am) saying that having homosexual desires (without the activity) is temptation - not sin. There is no excuse for "dallying" in homosexual or any other sinful activity. There is no excuse for habitual sinful activity, period. Yet, we all remain sinful... There is also no excuse for passing judgement or condemnation on anyone - gay, drug addict, "Madventist", "Badventist" or whatever - when they are seeking Christ. That's God's job.

In the time of Ellen White, the "kingly power" that she referenced was manifested by one to a very few men. Today I will suggest, she would say the same about any person who exercised power by the control of who is placed on a committee and/or who chairs that committee.

​It is an "abomination" BECAUSE God said so.

Since everyone who ever lived, except for the 144K, is resurrected at the end of the 1K years for a relatively short period of time, we might see that it is during this time that the Kingdom of YHVH is fully explained to everyone in this surging ocean of humanity by the "3 Angels" and the "2 Witnesses". Now everyone will have a fair chance at understanding the Kingdom and be able to make an informed choice as to which Kingdom they will declare their allegiance: the Kingdom of Light or the Kingdom of Darkness.

silly me.. and I thought this Thread was talking about belly buttons! But seriously I want to add something to all this. God not only calls us to be Citizens of Heaven. God actually bids us to bring Heaven to everyone you meet or interact with Math 6:10. Let's flesh that out for a moment. When friends,family,co workers,acquaintances,strangers look in your eyes- they will see non condemnation and impartial love. They will see Jesus love for them in all you say and do. Oh GOD what a tall order! How on earth do we do that? When in prayer..in devotions..bible study etc. You yourself find God looking at you as His Beloved Son! You are a child of God ! You see God rejoicing and dancing over you! You see what HE sees! What He says about you! He loves all of the you. Your good days and bad days are HIS! So many scriptures apply to you! All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[b] 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. ... and walking in that reality -it will spill unto everyone you come across! This is a good way to tell if indeed who is of the Kingdom of GOD! God Help Us All walk in HIS REALITY OF His heart toward us! ..if we fail or fall short in any of this .. God still loves on us and forgives and leads to grow even more with HIM and HIS BODY!

gotta ask WHY? yet it is cool that he figured that out.

Why should there have been any discussion as to whether or not the lady is a Sikh should be published? It's beyond me that anyone should have a problem with that. So what if she is a Sikh? To quote Hillary Clinton, what difference does it make?

It's a beautiful testimony. Christian education is truly a mission! Wish we didn't spend so much money on big evangelistic meetings held in sports stadiums and more on grass-roots education! Our children need it!

This is the first time that this site has come up for me since last Friday. I also lost the format this morning, it was all in script and on the left side of the page. I thought it was my computer. It is working now though, so not sure what is wrong.

D_Bishop: You and I actually agree on some points. You said that you did not think that he will last long. I question whether or not he will make it to the lConvention, and if he does, I do not think he will be the Republican candidate. But, I could be wrong. I also believe that it will be interesting. One of your comments that I believe is both interesting and well worth discussion is whether or not one can be a devout SDA and a candidate for President. You challenged me to think and my personal answer was that I probably could not do so. If you would like to discuss that, I suggest that you do so from your personal position, your understanding of the issues as they apply to you and what the challenges would be for you. However, if your were to approach it from the position that looked to be judgmental of Dr. Carson, I would have a real problem with that. This forum is not a place for that. I would also expect you so show a bit more knowledge. If you want to talk about his appearance at a book signing, at a minimum be aware of the book he actually signed and its content. If you want to talk about Sabbath observance, do so respectfully. So, you are not concerned as to whether or not I take your comments seriously. I did not expect you to be so concerned. Actually that was not the issue that I raised. The substance of my comment was to how your presented yourself when making your comments. You may be very well informed. Based on your knowledge you may be able to make reasoned comments that are worth considering. But, in my opinion, that is not how your presented yourself. In my opinion, you presented yourself in a manner in which you lacked information (ignorance) and therefore, I suggested that there would be people who would not take you seriously. I stand by that opinion. Of course, that would not be 100%. There would be those who would not see you in that manner. There might even be some who would see you as having great wisdom and knowledge. O.K. I simply suggested something different, with which you can clearly disagree. What you do with my comment is up to you and I do not have a problem with that. As to shutting your mouth and mind: You have got to be kidding. No one who knows me would ever suggest that I would think you should do such. Yes, in sections that I moderate, I set boundaries and when people cross those boundaries, I let them know. You have not crossed those boundaries. Disagreement with me is not one of those boundaries.

Right, Kevin. We must never surrender our consciences to any human authority. That would amount to creature-worship. When in history has the majority ever been right? When has Satan not attempted to hijack the church--every church--in every age? Rasell, please recall that some years after Ellen G. White made the statement that she regarded the word of the General Conferece to be "the voice of God on earth," she issued a new statement that she could no longer regard the General Conference as the voice of God on earth. As long as men insist upon excercizing their strict control over the church, the Holy Spirit will not be given freedom to hold the reins in His own hands. But TM 300 tells us that eventually the Lord will take the reins into His own hands. That means that men who are used to controlling everything will be set aside.

The whole Ford affair soured me on the politics of the church, then along came issues about EGW and her plagiarisms etc, etc. Glad i didn't keep up with all of the fights over WO in the past! Makes me wonder about and think of the 40 years in the wilderness of the Israelite's. Has all of this delayed the spread of the 'Good News'. Lost focus?

​Yes, because while Lot was a sinner and had besetting sins, Lot repented. It's the heart, the attitude that God looks at with all struggling sinners. A sinner who condones, yea practices known sin as a lifestyle cannot have God in his/her life. 1 John 3:8 "...the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from he beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him....." Again, John does not say the believer doesn't sin (whatever sin that may be). It states he doesn't condone it as a legitimate lifestyle. Gay men may fall back into sin, but then will not condone it if God's Spirit is present. They will repent...they will struggle, but they will never say "God made me this way" or "gay sex is okay". The same with heterosexuals. To excuse sin is to justify sin. That's the issue.