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On the other hand if God is in it we should beware of not giving Him the glory. While driving to work, I thought "Wouldn't it be nice to have Ann's job?" I was driving all over the place and the pay was not so great. Ann had a plush job with a salary. Covetousness! I rebuked myself and prayed for forgiveness right then and there as I drove. Adding "I don't know what put that thought in my head Lord, but bless Ann and if it is from You; Thy will be done." That afternoon Ann knocked on my door, "I just resigned and your name came to mind. I suggested you to the boss and he is open to having you apply if you are interested." I didn't get the job. Then the man that got it left abruptly after only a few months, the boss that had passed me by called to offer me the job with an $8.00 raise above what Ann had been making. God led me to that job. And I have no doubt that He has led me on other occasions. Does that mean that I cannot be self deceived? No! It only means that God leads in the affairs of men and we should follow and we should give Him the glory. If we stop following or stop giving Him the glory, will He stop leading? I don't want to try to find out. I'd rather have folks scratch their head when I say "God led me to" "God gave me an impression" "God gave me this Bible passage..." because I know He has done it for me and He will continue to do it for me if I will let Him lead.

Just came across this EG White quote: "Sunday, August 27. Today we are to...speak to those who want to hear the words of truth. I have thought how profitable it would be to have minute men, laborers together with God, who would be instant in season and out of season. The Lord's work is not to stand on ceremony, with a precise time to be observed for every line of work. When a great and decisive work is to be done, God chooses men and women to do this work, and it will feel the loss if the talents of both are not combined." {17MR 218.1}

I've certainly been educated by this thread But people ask me that all the time about my daughters and it has always like water off a ducks back

We should not use arguments that have some evidence to suggest that they are false, even if we believe them to be true. The VFD of the 666 has reason to be rejected as false. We should do better and only use arguments that have better support and evidence than this one. We should never base our beliefs on just one argument.

I think its aggressive only if the person asking it is intending it to be aggressive. I love to know where different accents are from, I'm not trying to be rude or aggressive or racist, I'm just curious. Heaven forbid we ever try to get to know one another for fear of being too politically incorrect.

Sorry to hear that. That's exactly what Satan wants you to see and hear. You need to keep your eyes on Christ, when things seem to be going out of control. Could you give a link to where EGW mentions climate change and the Pope? Thanks

I came across a group called "Jubilee USA" which has a number of interesting articles and work in providing debt relief to poor nations. I came across them whilst reading an article on the current situation in Greece. Reading this caused me to wonder where we stand as Christians on the OT theology of Jubilee and debt relief? Also the concept of the 50 year Super Jubilee? Here is a cut and paste from their page, "A Religious Call for Debt Relief Texts in both the Hebrew Scriptures and throughout the New Testament call for debt cancellation and the righting of relationships every seven years with a super Jubilee every 50th year. The Qu'ran challenges debt by strongly criticizing usury. The Jubilee movement began with an interfaith call for debt cancellation from groups like American Jewish World Service and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. "Proclaim liberty throughout the lands and to all the inhabitants thereof, it shall be a jubilee for you." Leviticus 25:10 Faith groups continue to play a pivotal role in the debt relief movement. Jubilee USA is a coalition of 400 faith communities around the country and a host of national faith organizations, including the national Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Methodist and Episcopal churches, American Jewish World Service, the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism and the leadership of numerous Catholic religious orders".

There you go, reading your Bible again, some people here may not tolerate that.

The problem IMO is that we are living in the age of the "outrage". Reasoned, nuanced discourse is shunted aside in favour of outrageous headlines. The outrage is not the province of the right, the left, the religious or the non-religious. It is ubiquitous. Not to long ago a Texas state legislator introduced a bill shielding from civil action and prosecution those use used a firearm in self-defence or defence of others or property. The leftwing "outrage industry" proclaimed that Texas was legalising the shooting of students. Never mind the fact that close to 30 or more states allow school personnel to be armed (usually at the discretion of the school board); never mind the fact that long-standing self defense laws already allow the use of deadly force in defence of self, others or property - the outraged proclaimed that Texas wanted open season on students. In Canada many years back, a law was passed creating a "bubble zone" outside abortion clinics wherein it was illegal to accost or harass persons entering or exiting the clinic and wherein it was illegal to demonstrate, protest, etc. Some guy made a sign with a bible verse and stood inside the forbidden zone. He was arrested, and then the "outrage industry" proclaimed that Canada was throwing people in jail/gaol for quoting the Bible (never mind that had he held up his sign outside the forbidden zone, he'd not have been arrested - the arrest was not for quoting the bible, it was for protesting inside the forbidden zone). We saw this with the mis-reporting and misunderstanding of the infamous McDonalds coffee burn case (never mind that the evidence showed that McDonalds served their coffee 20+ degrees hotter than industry norms, that there had been hundreds of reported 3rd degree burn cases, and that the ultimate award to the injured party didn't cover her medical costs (we have much less of this tort litigation in Canada as medical costs are picked up by the state). But the "outrage" industry had a field day complaining about the stupid lady, the greedy lawyers and the stupid juries. By the time the injured lady was able to tell her story, the media had moved on. I don't know how many, if any, of the comedians, new-casters, reporters, internet pundits, etc. ever apologized to her.

The "few" have carried the ball on this. Just as sad to fail to see the obvious even when it hits them in the face. Instead of the somewhat snarky comments and the "Thank you God I am not like "those others" attitude can you refute /deny the success of the excerpts from "After The Ball

Probably they just forgot about cola and teas.

The views of a few may not be the views of the majority. Any group will have people on the edges who do not reflect the majority view.

Certainly I can appreciate your position, I still cannot see that if asked in a "polite, get-to-know-you" manner that it would be considered aggression. Having been in several countries and lived for a while in one I had lots of people ask my origin. Even living in this local people often ask, "Where you from?" Perhaps I am just dense and don't think of it as anything out of the ordinary.

Just because things are not offensive to us, when we are being asked that in our own culture, does not mean it is not offensive to others. It is like saying "you do not belong here do you?"

While a bit of humor in the video, it is over-the-top in making it's point. I'm not sure aggressive is the word I would use for his behavior .. perhaps rude be a more accurate description.

What, 666 and the Pope? If that is slander against the Pope then a belief in evolution is slandering God's law, which states that Christ created a perfect & sinless world and then rested from that perfection.

Why not?? God gave me my wife! Pretty much all in my life are a result of God's guidence!! Is that BS too????? By the way, its probably not God the Father or God the Son, but more likely God the HS!! Didn't Jesus say that his father would sent us the Comforter?? Or did he also lie and lets put in in your words "BS all of us??"

As a church, I think we want to be very hesitant to be drawn into a political debate. The first right in the First Amendment is that of religious liberty. The Constitution doesn't even mention anything about a right to be gay, gay marriage, abortion, etc. These rights have been added by judges, not through amendments. Yet I think it an error to get into this debate at the water cooler or in the copy room. It is best for us to be above it all. Today at work we had an undocumented worker offering money to anyone willing to marry him and clarifying no gay sex would be required. This is a topic we are going to come across over and over in the next few years. I doubt it will fall out of the news. Yet our job as Adventists is to spread the gospel hope of Christ's soon return. Getting overly involved in political debate can hinder us in that regard.

I've read all of these and have no problem with them. I'm interested in reading the ones on EGW saying that the pope would talk about climate change. I personally have not read one before, so am very interested.

I personally know many folks in this small Texas town, who fear loosing their social support system (friends) more than they fear breaking the Laws of God. God will forgive them. Their friends will NOT !! If your Christian beliefs tell you that you are already saved, and God will forgive you for breaking His law (if that's what you HAVE to do for food, clothing, and shelter) - then why obey? There's no danger to your soul. It's easy to see how Christians will blend in.

What a shock for you. Yes, will put her on my prayer list. As you learn of her condition please let us know.

Actually that is true, and is too often said in a derogatory way.

You have been given a plethora of good advice. I do believe the most important issue you appear to be facing is those with whom you are dialoging. GIGO ... sure we have issues to be dealt with, so what. Life is filled with issues. It will become even more so before our Lord returns. When we see these things happening in our church, world and personal lives we should take heart because they are indicators that the return of our Creator is drawing closer. The church can't save you, but it can be there to give you courage and a shelter. One day soon we may not be able to gather together in public worship ... let's gleam as much strength from those true Christians and from our Bibles today as possible. Soon we may not have that opportunity. FYI Focus Your faith in God and His holy Word ... not the church.

I really, really, really wish that alleged Christians would not resort to propagating bald-faced lies. The Supreme Court of Canada did not, and I emphasize did not, hold that "Biblical Speech opposing Homosexual Behaviour is a Hate Crime."

I remember some of those photos from before. I'm glad you figured out how to post them! Well done! :) I hope that you will be able to spend some time here. You have been missed!

//we have no reason to believe the gays in Sodom and Gomorrah we getting married and adopting children. So it is quite possible they were very narcissistic// We have no reason to believe the people in Sodom and Gomorrah were gay at all. We know they were indiscriminate rapists, we don't know anything about whether any of them were gay by orientation, or the kinds of gay people who might like to marry each other. You're drawing a long, long bow on very flimsy evidence, Shane. I think gay people are people: with all the vices and virtues of people, and probably distributed in about the same ratios. hch - right: you skip the prawns and oysters, but do you also skip haircuts and shaving and wearing clothes woven from mixed fibres? All those things are in that couple of chapters too. Here's an interesting one from Leviticus 19: 33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself,for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. How do *you* feel about 'illegals'?

In regard to your opening post: As a knowledgeable attorney would say: Your position is a novel one.

Oooh, I'll have to watch this later. Just saw a video on Mitichondrial Eve and Chromosomal Y Adam a couple days ago.