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Many years ago, Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg made a movie filmed in Eastern Oregon up in the Wallowa Mtns called "Paint Your Wagon". I was one of the extras in that movie. If memory serves me well, Clint Eastwood did the Moriah song. Unhappily for my mom and her more conservative SDA beliefs than mine, I was always into the whole film industry and film making. Even had more distant family members in the industry - one was a director, among his several roles, for Alfred Hitchcock. A stepfather was a personal assistant to Louie B Mayer of MGM. And Carole Lombard was a cousin by marriage to my Grandmother. My great-grandmother was a Lombard, her maiden name was Coleman. http://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Herbert_Coleman Herbert Coleman's book is somewhere in my long list of books to read!

https://video.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xpl1/v/t42.1790-2/11158255_599920156777337_647195578_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjM0NywicmxhIjo3MDJ9&rl=347&vabr=193&oh=debc9a9e5d4aba0e9ecafb45f4e25fe1&oe=55E0A121

Actually according to Jesus, ALL LIVES Matter!! Period!!

Great comments, everyone! I am enjoying this discussion a lot JoeMo can correct me if I am wrong, but I think what he is describing feeling is a spirit of condemnation. Romans 8:1 says that in Christ there is therefore now NO condemnation for Christ's children. I did hang around with some very conservative folk for a short time but there condemnation of others made me wonder what they were noticing and saying about me when I was not in their presence. I don't know what I felt when around them, shame or fear, but it wasn't the love of God that leads to repentance. there is a book I recommended in the "We Offer" section written by James Rafferty, called A Ministry of Reconciliation. In it he has collected Scripture and SOP passages on how church members can show the love of Jesus in their dealings with their erring brethren and with secular people. You might be surprised how tolerant EGW was and how strongly she spoke about how God's people can do damage to the truth if they have a spirit that drives the hearer away from God rather than restoring them. It is serious stuff.

You're misunderstanding what's being said, Samie, if you think Satan has a major role in the atonement process. I suggest re-reading the posts if this is what you're thinking, because no one has asserted what you are saying. Satan will be held responsible for his role causing others to sin, but atonement has to do with reconciliation, and there is nothing in what Satan is doing which is dealing directly with that theme.

Yes sir! Powerful message.

Firefighters' Lives Matter

How to have an income living in the country: http://permies.com/t/49613/forest-garden/Living-acre-Permaculture-Orchard http://permacultureapprentice.com/here-is-how-you-make-a-living-from-a-4-acre-permaculture-orchard/ I'd probably settle for being able to eat well enough from the site, minus the meat of course. Having lived on ranches those critters were for getting to know, study, befriend and console.

One incident I remember living on the ranch was when a pig was slaughtered. The animal was slaughtered in full view of its companions tho I made sure not to be anywhere, ever, in viewing distance. Such things break my heart. Animals are for studying, befriending, loving, comforting, helping. Later I went out with the surviving companions running to the fence as I neared squealing their hearts out. I could swear they were telling me what had happened, an incident they were none too happy with. I could only console as best I knew how. So sad, nor will I ever forget that, nor other incidents, that show how close to human critters truly are as noted by EGW.

Each of us has our own set of "rules" that we "consult" in our daily lives. These "rules" are based upon our life experiences and shaped by our understanding of scripture. We might call these "rules" our conscience. Now, Jesus Christ learned his "rules" telepathically from his Father and the Messengers, not to mention some input from his parents. He taught by example wherever he was rather than creating a new denomination that catered to his "rules" and excluded those with different rule books. Of course, his "rules" were based upon the requirement of "holiness" before the LORD. Without that purity, anyone standing before the LORD would perish. If Christ had tried to enforce the rules of holiness upon everyone he met, he may have been unable to complete his mission to explain the Kingdom of YHVH to mankind. He did keep the rules of holiness himself, but he also gave his listeners clues about the requirements of holiness, that is, the state of being free of evil in thought and deed. After the wash-up in the River of Life purges our minds of evil and selfishness, we can then stand before YHVH without fear and with the greatest love. If, today, we seek to be holy in this life, the Spirit will help us grow closer to the LORD by revealing to us the changes we need to make. Due to our life experiences we will likely all have different "lists" of acceptable behaviors, which are all, unfortunately, somewhat different from the true list of Jesus Christ. Those who seek to grow closer to the LORD daily will be different from those who lay down, roll over, and say, "Let God Do It" or, "Christ did it all for us on the Cross". Jesus sweat drops of blood while resisting temptation. Maybe we could sweat one, tiny, microscopic droplet of normal sweat as we resist the temptations that come to us as a result of our in-born selfishness. I think that it is after the 2nd Resurrection that we will be given the opportunity to join the real Kingdom of YHVH by consenting to the wash-up in the River of Life and the resulting memory wipe. Those who join the Kingdom will then receive the Mark on their foreheads that indicates that the bearers are now servants, servants owned by the LORD. The reformed SDA denomination may be a good fit for some, providing associations of like-minded individuals, but it's not the cure. The members of those churches are no closer to the Kingdom than the rest of us.

Flowing on... this colour is oxidizing nicely :)

Amen, Jess. Here's where things get sticky. In my opinion after trying to live that law for 25 years with "historical" or "reformed" SDA's- including the sins of the mind and heart that Jesus talks about, I found it impossible to meet that standard. No matter how well I submitted, I never felt like it was enough. I always needed to be "more perfect" if that is even logical. I became frustrated and bitter on one side; and self-righteous on the other thinking "at least I'm better than that guy". So I gave up trying. I just said "Jesus, I can't do this or I will end up resenting you. If you are who you say You are and did what You say You did, then I trust that You have my back." It was so freeing! Plus, it's like I fell in love with Him all over again; and I think about Him and His Father so much I don't think about "me" as much any more; and some real burdens are just seeming to melt away. I'm not perfect (or even "good") by any stretch of the imagination; but I have a Big Brother and Father who are watching out for me; because I am reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus. It is by His loving kindness to me that I am drawn to Him and "want" to honor Him (rather than "have" to honor Him) - not by fear of retribution. We have 2 choices - either believing that Jesus did a good enough job on the cross to save us, or believe that He didn't; and we must "help" Him fulfill our salvation by keeping all aspects of His law; hoping we become sinless before His Coming. If I have to become sinless before Jesus comes (which will be soon, hopefully); I'm DOOMED! Think twice about allying yourself with any movement that demands efforts for external perfection and discounts the power of grace. It's like having to wear a "mask" every week; because if you're not as perfect as they are; you WILL be judged. Stick with a place that welcomes both saints and sinners who are seeking salvation.

How do you prove in Scripture that Jesus only had rules for Himself, when He taught people and told them to keep His commandments if they love Him? He also expounded on the commandments, going deeper, saying that if we even lust after someone in our hearts, we have committed adultery. To say that Jesus only had a list of rules for himself is not biblical. I'm not ignoring what else was said. Just thought that needed commentary.

Great if the Trumpkin likes you, not so great if he fires you.

I went down to the valley to run errands and to get a badly needed haircut. My regular barber lady was not there and her co worker went at it. I think there was communication problem. I told her the usual and she must have thought I said I wanted to look like one of the Three Stooges! I'm wearing a hat now! let the topic flow

I was involved with the reform movement and smoe of the more legalistic independent ministries several years ago. It first I thought it to be a "purified" church; but learned over time that most people in those movements were bitter and judgemental; and harder on each other than they were on outsiders. While claimimg to show love, many of them showed much judgement and condemnation of those who did not believe exactly as they did. I got drummed out when I showed concern that some were calling mainstream SDA's "Babylon". I think EGW once said something like "if one is to err on the side of justice or the side of mercy, it is better to err on the side of mercy." That statement was either inspired, or it's just plain good advice. I didn't find much mercy in reformed Adventism or the "independent" ministries. I can't speak for everyone, but, as a recovering legalist, I find that hanging around with people who understand that they are as broken as I am rather than those who claim to be so much better is healthier from both an emotional and a spiritual aspext. I understand that some people like strct rules and a comprehenive list of do's and don'ts. That's okay; it just didn't work for me. It made me feel so unworthy all of the time.

We need to make our schools available and affordable. We need to work on our high schools to avoid turning our youth against the church.