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To counter the minimum wage increase either the business must raise prices for their goods or services, or, absorb the increase by reducing costs, which might mean lower staffing, if possible. Now, if a CEO is making a modest $1,000,000 per year, which is only $83,333 per month, how can he/she possibly make ends meet? So, having CEO's voluntarily reducing their salaries and boosting their lower-end employees wages to a living, single-parent wage would be out of the question. That's why Jesus taught that it will be quite difficult for rich people to enter his Kingdom, because they are too greedy to care about the very people, their employees with no degrees, who are making them rich. Sadly, franchisees are victims of blood-thirsty corporations making it difficult for them to turn a profit even with minimum wage employees.

I'm sure that many believers prayed for escape from death or torture at the hands of the Romans. But they had to be ready to suffer for Christ's sake. Today, we're not put into burning oil, or stretched on the rack, or burned alive, or crucified. Here in the West, we have life pretty good - compared with the rest of the world. But we are tormented in OTHER WAYS. I wonder if we can think of our sufferings, as a testing. I was born without a C1. It's called Chiari Malformation. I've had chronic headaches and neck and shoulder pain for 37 years. When I get to feeling too sorry for myself, I try to think of others who have it worse off. I'm not in a wheelchair. I'm not living in a mud hut, or forced into marriage to a Muslim who beats me 4 times a day with a switch. I wasn't born with one of the terrible disfiguring birth defects, you see on the ad's for children's hospital. I have access to medical care and medications. My Mom had Alzheimer's. We finally had to put her into assisted living. She could not be left alone, and my husband and I both worked. (She microwaved a muffin for 30 minutes. Next thing the fire department was calling me from my house.) Anyway, I prayed and prayed that the LORD would just take her before she disintegrated further. My husband believed, but wasn't fully "settled" into it. One weekend he came over to see me, where I was covering at a hospital 2 hours away. He said the prayer before he left to go home. He told the LORD that if it was OK with HIM, and if HE would let Momma go, that he would continue to go over to the Sterling House to visit the folks there. The NEXT MORNING Mom had a massive stroke. She died 4 days later. My husband STILL visits the Sterling House to serve breakfast coffee every weekday morning on his way to work. Since 2002. He has to let them know if he's going to be gone for a few days. The ladies will worry. TALK ABOUT A WITNESS!! The night Momma died, two of the staff sat with us. One of them began asking questions about death and the afterlife. After 5 hours of Bible study by Momma's bedside, it was midnight and the staff suggested we needed rest. I kissed Momma, and whispered, "Your work is done Momma." "It's OK to go now." We barely made it to the car, and they came out to say she had passed. She will be very happy to learn about her last Bible study.

(also, medicos apparently think they are the experts on everything. Would be interested to hear the views of an actual economist on economics. Or would we prefer the views of an economist about what to do about that nasty growing lump on our person...?)

One other piece of that puzzle that is completely ignored, though: there have to be buyers for the market to function. If wages are so low people can't consume, who's buying the goods and services produced? It's a race to feudalism.

The young couple invited their aged pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. "Goat," the little boy replied. "Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?" "Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Pa say to Ma, 'Might as well have the old goat for dinner today as any other day.'"

Many of these are beautiful testimonies. My mom died of bladder cancer about 1.5 years ago. As her children hovered around her, she often apologized for being such a bother. About 2 weeks before she passed, she quit apologizing and just thanked us for being there; and told us each seperately how much she cherished and loved us. She relived precious memories of our childhood family life - vacations; successes, overcoming defeats, etc. On the last day of her life, after we all had left the room for like 1 minute; she died. It's almost like she chose to die while we were gone, so as not to "upset" us. She had assured each of us of her love for us; and we for her. She died well. For me, I see 3 ways of dying well: 1. A massive combination heart attack and stroke in the middle of deepest sleep 2. Being martyred (but not slowly in pain, I hope) while screaming "Jesus is Lord!" 3. (Preferred) Not dying at all - just being changed in the twinkling of an eye!

​Ah, but we are talking about some people who lived under a theocracy, and others who did not. It's one more example of how you are comparing apples and oranges. I've already given two examples of how your comparisons and examples are far from convincing. Do you really think if Moses and David had not confessed their sins God would have let them go unpunished and continued to use them? It's plain from the Bible that their lives would have been much different if they had not.

None of these verses say that everybody's name is written in the book of life. None of them say that every baby's name is written in the book of life. Even worse, none of them are even discussing this as a subject. You're committing a cardinal error of Biblical hermeneutics by trying to construct a doctrine from texts which have nothing to do with the subject under consideration. This is the same "logic" non-SDA's use to "prove" that the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man teaches that those who die have an immortal soul.

​ Remember that we're talking about the law of the land. Secular law doesn't distinguish between “repentant” and “unrepentant” sinners when it comes to capital punishment. There's only one thing that matters, and that is that you have been found guilty in court! Even if you find Jesus while you're on death row you are still given the lethal injection in the end. Your religious profession doesn't matter to the judicial system. Who knows, perhaps some of the men who each year are executed would have become a Paul or a Moses if they had been pardoned?

​I'd like to point out at one reason why our justice system does so little to restrain evil. It has been shown by those who study human behavior(psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists) that intermittent punishment of undesirable behavior actually strengthens undesirable behavior. We say we will punish certain crimes with specific punishments and then when we don't the criminal mind, just like the juvenile mind, thinks that they personally will not get caught and even if they do get caught won't be punished. Every time they see a criminal get away with his criminal act it strengthens that belief. When they see someone get caught and punished they tell themselves they aren't the one who will get caught and punished. The above has been proven time and time again. It's why lazy parents raise children with major behavior problems. And it's why an inconsistent judicial system encourages criminal behavior.

​I don't think we can trust a “system” unless the majority of the people in responsible positions are converted. God's chosen people had a system in previous times too, yet the Sanhedrin chose to reject the person who was the Truth and the Way. But yes, we agree that the way forward is to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and word of God. But whether or not the delegates present at the GC session will do the right thing depends wholly on whether or not their hearts are receptive to the Spirit.

I hear you Gerry, joeb, etc. I see my Mom everyday struggle with pain in her leg from something that she had no control over. She, me, and many others have prayed for months, if not longer, actually almost coming on a year now, for healing to her leg. She even went through the process of having an anointing a few Sabbaths ago, the Pastor, and a number of deacons and elders prayed and yet she is in more pain today than then. I sometimes just want to scream at God!! Why can't you just heal her, but than I think about Job and some of the other great people in the Bible that had problems. So I start to think and wonder, there has to be a reason why he's not healing her! Is there a lesson that he's trying to teach someone that is observing her, me, my wife, a uncle, cousin, etc. I'm with joeb, I continue to have Faith that one day we will have an answer of some kind, and than look back and be able to reflect at why God allowed this to go on for so long.

​and amen! God is Love! Jesus saves!

Just before I read what you posted I thought the very same thing. Live well assures that not matter what you can and will die well. Because it will be OK. My sister-in-law drowned while snorkeling in Hawaii and by good fortune a rescue team was just up the beach as her husband dragged her ashore. They were able to revive her and bring her back. She described what you said about feeling an unimaginable sense of peace as she drowned. It had a profound impact on her.

Numerous times have I read and considered the implications of this question, still no real idea of what I consider "to die well" I held the hands of both parents as they were taking their last breath, they were finally released from the pain they suffered the last months. Is that to die well? I have sit with family and friends as their loved ones were in the final stages of life on this earth ... I don't understand how one could say they died well. They were good people, but to die well?? They left people who loved them, their footprints remain in various venues. Perhaps that is what it is all about Sometime ago I had a serious stroke and as the darkness seemed to take over and I could hear voices discussing my situation it was an unreal experience. Peaceful and really not wanting to be disturbed with their questions, needles, etc. When I heard them say, "We are loosing her" I only felt peace....it was okay. While I am thankful for the miracle that has allowed me to trade 6 months of paralyzation for another 20 years of being fully recovered if they had not revived me, I suspect that would mean that I died well. I dare say that I suspect that it is as simple as to be that if you make your peace with the Lord each day; If you leave more people with good memories than perhaps you die well. OR (I believe it has already been said), but at the end of the day if we live well, we will die well Life is about living well

((((((Gerry))))) I'm so sorry, keeping you both in my prayers.

My wife of 47 yrs and I are facing this right now, so this is a very timely question. She woke up with near total paralysis from the waist down Wed. CT & MRI showed metastatic dz (primary unknown at the moment). She had been wanting to die for several yrs because of severe pain. We had a little insight on dying well when our cat of 21 yrs died 2 yrs ago. The cat started lying on Marge's abdomen or chest when my wife's health deteriorated 5 yrs ago, even sleeping there through the night. One morning we woke up with the cat dead on her abdomen. To us dying well is dying in the comfort of one's home pain-free, and the last images one sees are the faces of those you love, not those of strangers in a strange place like a hospital. Hopefully, I'll be able to take her home and do just that.

​There's an idea referred to from the Amplified bible that I've made effort to follow that says this; 1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. That promise has to be being applied by the Holy Spirit since the way you expressed it above is the way it registered in my mind. One of God's ways when accepted, of keeping peace among His children. God is Love! Jesus saves!

I did lose my friend, Lester Zombie, this week. He was an online friend, and that wasn't his real name, but he said he felt like the undead when he survived some major illnesses a few years ago and got a second shot at life. In the end his body just gave up, but he was surrounded by admiring friends and family, both in the room and online, and faced his end with courage and calmness.

debbym, Thank you for saying that! When I worked for the Conference I met so many ex SDA's who shared such stories ..some from my own personal church I was attending at the time and it weighed on me. in some cases I knew the people involved on the offending end.And they were great Godly people. All us christians have made profound mistakes in dealing with both newbies in our church as well as with the Pillars. We offend and don't even know it sometimes. We must carry in our hearts what Jesus carried everywhere He went The Spirit of Forgiveness.

​Hi debbym GBU i did put up something in a slight small way among a big thing "and many times it is not your own experience but in pain or/and rejoicing about a friend or family in the same apparent struggles that you love very much and that love and concern transfers to another in your Sight. . what wisdom u have gleamed! and sometimes you find out (cause you have established a relationship and find out that's not the issue at all with them) Your projecting. Or simply wrong. oopsie" Let me tell you where all this stem from I grew up in church (well..kinda grew up in) in a small SDA good old fashioned country church. We had all kinds of people and alot of self supporting ministerial people and followers came by trying to have their way etc. thru the years. They mistaken wholesome friendliness for easy to direct in their own ways of thinking We had the most godliest fiercest strong older ladies in our church. They all shared they had the Gift of Discernment. Sometimes to everyone they met. (the men were more more quiet about whar they thought- in general ..well more or less) ( err ...i hung around the old Ladies more) and Everyone was under their scrutiny that come by and it also made a messy spill all over the congregation. I was one of the charter members who saw the church from the beginning to end (still going on). None of the Godly old ladies agreed with one another. hmmm.. And it was corroding our church from the inside out I became one of the casualties years later, among so many. They were all self pointed sentinels cause of elements waxing and waning all about I loved these ladies.. I was in the INNER SACTUM of the church and heard everything about everybody else And as a kid and young man I thought that was what Being JESUS was to inspect fruit all the time and every time. when they came in and left to leave. It is with a great cry I scream they are judging not discerning one night in prayer ! I know the quotes the Ladies gave from the Word. I hung on every word. but what about the Spirit? I studied this matter out years later and found out what real discernment looks like. It is for them I write this a few could possibly be here and I am making a case in the Spirit of Christ on the Cross There are people who think they have discernment and people who do have discernment. You can only tell by following the fruit of their labor. and this Thread can open for discussion of this terribble problem in churches. Maybe my beloved church is the only one? I am spelling out how deeply we must be involved in peoples lives. "in connection and transparency and deep fellowship" you really get to know them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not just say 'I have discernment! that person is a PHONEY!"and leave. There is discernment and sentinels written in the Bible for us to be and to be respected and welcomed. but in my church.. in many cases the fruit it yielded was rotten. and my heart breaks I want be able to bring people to my church and have them thrive without jaundiced eyes looking at them. I could take it but they can't.