Leaderboard

Yes. In person and online. In the SDA church and out. Too bad the SDA church really doesn't get the rotation of "leaders" bit. :( But that may not be across the board. Our abuse program is also something, a start. Too bad they are so hidden for the most part. :( http://www.adventistrecovery.org/article/56/resources/get-started-and-involve-your-church I have found no hindrance whatsoever to practicing the program in my personal life. I think if we are stuck on the addiction part we can be blind to seeing how it is really pure bible put in a step format and life-changing. I practiced it to some degree over the decades since late 70's but not as deep as I should. Still it did work continual changes in me. Now I have found reason to "get serious" and boy am a I double timing. Still some faults are fighting to the death for survival, I swear! LOL Step One I am a sinner. I am powerless over being a sinner. I am powerless over sinning. Step two God can and will help me if sought. Step three I think I'll let Him. "It is God Who works in me both to will and to do." And boy does He if I just stay in surrender mode. There seem to be degrees in practice, those/we who want to go all the way, and those who want to go just as much as they/we have to, much like church. This is just one instance where it seems to me that God had to bypass the church entirely to be able to reach people. Now how sad is that!

The temptation to immediately project our own obsessions onto a tragedy of this kind is very strong, and I admit to being tempted, but I'm going to resist. Let's resist the mythmaking on all sides and wait for some clarity and evidence. It seems to me as though taking advantage of a tragedy of this kind to bolster *any* personal, political or religious point is disrespectful.

We'll see. Given that Western interventions tend to cause more soldiers to be recruited as they are killed, the assumption that it's 'kill these few thousand soldiers and its all over' is wildly optimistic.

Yes, back in the days when I worked in a alcoholism treatment unit, I attended AA meetings. I have often said that I wish that the same openness and honest confession and supportiveness among fellow strugglers could be found in church. I think that was a very real part of what we can see in the NT church.

Yes, it is a disturbing trend to see political views trump religious values. We are seeing that in other areas as well. It is as if politics is becoming a religion. Kind of an oxymoronic joining of faith and force, religion and power.

Not really. Nobody is taking their equipment or themselves out of the game by doing this. It is affirmatively staying in the game playing by the rules they are given. The rules as they are right now do not require men to be ordained or to carry a credential of an ordained minister to serve as a pastor. Men have been issued commissioned minister credentials for years. Those rules quite clearly permit men to carry a credential of a commissioned minister and serve the Church as a pastor or in a variety of other roles. (There was a time when that was the credential issued to me by the General Conference, until an Administrative Ministries credential was added to the policy to distinguish those of us not in predominantly religious roles.) And more to the action taken by the Scandinavian conferences, the rules do not require that pastors be issued either credential for that matter. As many opponents have repeatedly said, "Why all the fuss about women needing to be ordained. They can do all kinds of ministry without it." So can men. And this action really is more faithful to our Fundamental beliefs anyway. (See #14 and #17) It really is not negative reaction to not getting their way. It is quite simply a positive response to move forward and get on with the work of the Church that says, "If the rules won't be changed to make sense consistent with the real facts of the situation, then we will change the facts of the situation to make sense consistent with the rules."

I was invited to one, and was amazed of the people. It was an open mic or something like that, where a speaker from another group came in and shared her story. As I looked around the room I saw those with struggles that I would not want to ever have, yet they were at peace over the peace they had found, and success. It was very moving to say the least. I knew of an adventist Church that would host a NA meeting Saturday midnight, was told if they can make it through Saturday night, they can usually make it through the rest of the week.. I was asked if our Church could ever be as open and accepting as they are. I think the answer is a clear no. ANYONE else attended something like that?

I don't think your rant is coherent: an all-out war made Iraq worse, but will make Syria better? Or is it purely about America remaining the biggest aggressor in the world? As I think someone said above: best outcome for America is likely to withdraw and leave Russia to it. Reverse what Russia did with Afghanistan...

I think I'd work with all of them, or, as many as I could. Maybe just 2 Greek manuscripts (Textus Receptus and something else), and then as many others as I could from as many languages as I know. I'd be looking for ideas more than anything else, and the Greek would just be a sanity check. I'm saying this because you said a paraphrase, in which case I'd be most interested in trying to convey my understanding of the text more than anything else.

As I look back on my personal past experiences, when far greater disasters could have taken place, I tend to agree wholeheartedly with what you are proposing Samie. OTOH it has been a long journey of learning until I realized how much I could have avoided in difficulty if I had taken God at His Word at a much younger age. IOW the blessings were true and available but I had not yet the faith and/or biblical knowledge yet to access them. Contrarywise; 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive....Matthew 21 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full....John 16 God is Love! Jesus saves!

Rachel - the SDA bible study Lesson 13 (Sept 19-25) titled "Must the whole world hear?" actually leaves the door open to believe as Samie does (Which I agree with you is completely wrong). This lesson quotes Desire of Ages p 638. Ask yourself if Ellen is saying what Samie says or not? "Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognised as the children of God" - Ellen G. White. We had this discussion 3 weeks ago in Church and I could see some leaning to what Samie says, that one can, as a pagan, learn from nature, as a pagan, keep the law (as if keeping the law ever saved a soul), and somehow slip into the kingdom through some door other than Christ (by having a clear conscience- as if having a clear conscience ever saved anyone). There is only one name given among men whereby we might be saved, and that is Jesus - through adult repentance and baptism (unless you are a thief on the cross, or lived in the Old Testament etc.)

Hi Rachel, Thanks for the feedback. My response: 1. Yes; "prophecy is given aforetime, that we may believe". Thing is, we don't always understand yhe prophecy until the event prophesied either does or doesn't occur. Onbiously, the Millerite "1884 2nd Coming" interpretation didn't happen. Is that because the prophecy was false or that their interptretation was false? I would say the latter. The prophecy is sure, but we frequently dont "know" the interpretation until the manifestation of the prophecied event. 2. "Souls under the altar" - your allegorical description is entirely reasonable; but using a literal transation, these souls are in heaven. Arguably, if one chooses a literal translaction, these souls were either translated to heaven; or people do go to heaven right after they die. Personally, I think your allegorical interpretation is the most likely. 3. "Two Witnesses" - either way you look at it (two individuals or two groups of people), being called up to heaven is a "rapture" or "translation". 4 I agree that translation is a better term than rapture. I also agree that translation does not occur until AFTER the AntiChrist comes to power. The entire living church will have to suffer through the first 5 seals and likely the forst 4 trumpets; but they will be gone (or otherwise protected) from earth when the seven bowls fall.

Thanks Joe. Personally, I prefer the word "translation". The term "rapture" is not in the Bible, and it has been used by the Baptists to describe something I do not believe in. I do NOT believe that the redeemed will be "raptured" BEFORE the Antichrist comes to power.

I attended an AA meeting to observe for a class I was taking some years ago. I had the immediate feeling that this is how a prayer meeting should be. Folks were accepting, respectful, eager to hear, and receive the experiences of others. They treated me as if I had been there a thousand times before. The meeting room as grubby and smelly but I felt comfortable. I said nothing for the whole meeting but three people came to me and offered their numbers just in case I needed anything. It was humbling and inspiring. We have much to learn.

One thing I and my spouse pray for just before attending either midweek prayer meeting or Sabbath school on Sabbath morning, is to bless the members of the group that is meeting together and to help us to speak as the Holy Spirit gives us the words He would have us voice as well as letting us know when to be silent. Then claim this promise for all involved. 23"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24"Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. 25"These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.…John 16 I'm sure Jesus prayed for these same things and you know how they treated Him. If we are true to the Word, what are we to expect, without complaining? 12Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.…2 Timothy 3 God is Love! Jesus saves!

We're seeing this promise being fulfilled NOW, in the lives of multiplied scores of evangelists preaching around the world, Seventh Day Adventists not excepted. 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.....Acts 2 God is Love! Jesus saves!

I went to college with him. We have become friends. I did not know that he posts here on Club Adventists.

The author of this article is full of it. No matter what this guy says, in Islam, women are subservient to men and are treated as second-class citizens. Muslim women in western countries may be treated differently for a time, but only until sharia is the law of the land and Islam is the religion of the land. A devout, strict Muslim as president will transform this country at the cost of much blood and many lives. Pure Islam is a religion based on the death of infidels, Christians, and Jews. Incidentally, the red areas in the quoted article are highlighted by the author. Imagine that, blaming Ben Carson for all that racism and anti-Islam sentiment sweeping across the USA.

The individual that Phkruse referenced has been very open about his past history and the spiritual journey that he has taken. And, yes, he does post in CA. As I know him very well, I will give a very brief statement of his past. Actually it is more complex than I am posting. 1) He did graduate from a SDA College. 2) He did become a Lutheran clergyperson. 3) He did leave the Lutheran denomination and become a Roman Catholic lay person, and was employed for several years by a division of the Roman Catholic Church, as a lay person. 4) He did leave the Roman Catholic Church and became an ordained SDA minister, several years later. 5) He is presently a SDA clergyperson who is employed by the North American Division. 6) The woman he married while attending the SDA College remains his wife, and has remained an active SDA member during the entire time that I have covered above. All of us have a spiritual journey that we walk. Sometimes that journey goes in strange directions. But, through it all, God has a purpose and is attempting to lead and direct. I must say blessings on the woman who remained with him throughout the years of his journey.

Roman Catholic... Not that it should matter, but context and the fact of the use of capital "C" should have made that sufficiently obvious. And if we were merely speaking of catholic in the general and universal sense of the word, one wouldn't become that by leaving Adventism and remaining Christian since no change of being catholic in that sense has occurred. One remains the same, and does not "become" something different.

One thing that helps to make people real is persecution. When life is tough then people feel their dependence on those with whom they share their worldview.

I have heard of a number of former Adventists becoming Catholic. If one carefully compares many of the beliefs and interpretations of Scripture of the most conservative Adventists with Catholic theology, shocking similarities will appear.

just out of curiosity, why was this video posted in the Theology forum? Teresa and her husband Arthur Beem chose to condemn Seventh-day Adventism and hopped on board the Catholic hay wagon. If you take a gander at their open letter to "family and friends," you'll see all sorts of twisted takes on SDA theology. http://www.formeradventist.com/stories/teresaarthurbeem.html I'm not impressed.

I so hear ya! I don't know how many times I have been a stumbling block to someone. It is shameful, but I guess awareness is the first step toward change. A real challenge is to surrender personal comfort for the Biblical principles that we read about and look for in others. It's US that need to share mercy and kindness and all the stuff the church is to be. The dysfunction doesn't go away on its own.

Iit is not religion that creates walls between classes or groups of people, it is the flesh, the fallen human nature that will do this. and if your religion does not enable you to rise above your flesh, your fallen nature, you will still do this. We escape from this by the indwelling power of God's love, God's spirit that sees all people as in the same boat of being sinners in need of redemption.

We all have something... Blessed is the one fortunate enough to have found some others understanding enough to trust with life's burdens. Even one friend can make a difference in the courage another rustles up for the day.

Never been to an AA meeting, but have been to years of NA meetings. The openness you see in AA or NA meetings comes from a group of people who have a common experience. That is where the acceptance comes from, and the courage to speak out. Most of those same people would be very hesitant to speak out like that under different circumstances, or in a group made up of people without the same common experiences. That common experience is what creates the acceptance, for everyone that is a member knows exactly what the speakers are going through. To expect people that have no common experience to draw on to have the same understanding and experience is foolish for only heart experience can create the acceptance you see in an AA or NA meeting. Everyone there knows and understands the pain, heartache, and self-destructiveness from personal experience. That said, I have found individuals within the church who are just as accepting and understanding of the problems an addict faces. Do they have the same experiences? No. But, they have a common understanding when they see sin as the underlying problem and acknowledge their own addiction to sin. You will not find a significant difference between the response from many inside the SDA church and those from other denominations and the reason for that is the lack of common experience that says there can be no heart knowledge of the issues. To expece someone who has never been an addict to understand the issues and the weaknesses is an unreasonable expectation. Only those with a great ability to generalize from one set of circumstances to another can even come close to understanding, and from thence to accepting. That said, even within the AA and NA people you will find a lot of human cruelty and intolerance once you get outside of the common experience they share. Many of them will refuse to associate with the very people they will support inside a meeting once they are out in the "real" world. They share the same dislikes, prejudices, and judgmentalism that the rest of humanity has within it. I'm sort of a rarity in that I will talk about the pain, the issues, etc... that lead to addiction. The reason isn't because I'm courageous, but because I learned a long time ago that I just don't care what people think of me. If someone can be encouraged by hearing/reading of someone else who has the same common experience they have, then anything anyone else has to say is just so much noise. If they want to excoriate me, talk behind my back, refuse to associate with me, etc... I just don't care. As long as I do what my conscience tells me is the right thing to do, consequences be hanged. The only person whose love and acceptance I crave is God's. I learned at a young age the human race is pretty unreliable and people will always let you down. Only God has never done me dirt.

October 2015 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues ofSigns and These Times. *************************** A story is told of Lapaux, a member of the French Directory, that with much thought and study he had invented a new religion, to be called “Theophilanthropy,” a kind of organized Rousseauism, and that, being disappointed in its not being readily approved and adopted, he complained to Talleyrand of the difficulty found in introducing it. “I’m not surprised,” said Talleyrand, “at the difficulty you find in your effort. It is no easy matter to introduce a new religion. But there is one thing I would advise you to do, and then, perhaps, you might succeed.” “What is it? What is it?” asked the other with eagerness. “It is this,” said Talleyrand; “go and be crucified, then be buried, and then rise again on the third day, and then go on working miracles, raising the dead, and healing all manner of diseases, and casting out devils, and then it is possible that you might accomplish your end.” And the philosopher, crestfallen and confounded, went away silent.—Selected, Signs of the Times, February 24, 1904. Quote: “When a man is a god to himself, he is a devil to others.”—By Charles G. Bellah,Signs of the Times, September 17, 1929. *************************** Don't miss the November 2015 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or ONLINE! *************************** The story is told of a Persian prince who was about to ascend the throne. Acutely aware of his need for more knowledge, he summoned his wise men and commanded them to prepare a history of mankind. Twenty years later the scholars brought him six thousand books. Too busy with the affairs of state to wade through that many books, the king told his wise men to edit their work and to condense their findings into one book. Another twenty years passed, and the scholars presented the king with the book he had asked for. The king, however, was dying and was not able to read any of the book. From his deathbed he looked up at his wise men and cried, “Then I shall die without knowing the history of mankind!” “Sir,” said one of the group, “I will sum it up for you in a few words: They were born; they suffered; they died.”—By C. William Fisher, These Times, June 1969. Quote: “I wish I were big enough to honestly admit all my shortcomings; brilliant enough to accept flattery without it making me arrogant; tall enough to tower above deceit; strong enough to welcome criticism; compassionate enough to understand human frailties; wise enough to recognize my mistakes; humble enough to appreciate greatness; staunch enough to stand by my friends; human enough to be thoughtful of my neighbor; and righteous enough to be devoted to the love of God.”—Unknown, These Times, January 1968. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Charmed by Darkness by Roger Morneau. Charmed by Darkness is the full account of Roger Morneau’s miraculous deliverance from Satan’s altar to God’s mercy seat. It sheds light on the titanic struggle taking place in the world today and warns of the subtle, hypnotic lure exerted by spiritualism. It is a life-changing story that affirms our only hope is to be found in Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice and death on the cross. Read the first chapter of this book online. ORDER online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955. *************************** We speak a strange language.—The construction of the English language must appear most formidable to a foreigner. One of them, looking at a picture of a number of vessels, said, “See, what a flock of ships!” He was told that a flock of ships was called a fleet, and that a fleet of sheep was called a flock. And it might have been added for his guidance in mastering the intricacies of our language that a flock of girls is called a bevy, that a bevy of wolves is called a pack, and a pack of thieves is called a gang, and a gang of angels is called a host, and a host of porpoises is called a shoal, and a shoal of buffaloes is called a herd, and a herd of children is called a troop, and a troop of partridges is called a covey, and a covey of beauties is called a galaxy, and a galaxy of ruffians is called a horde, and a horde of rubbish is called a heap, and a heap of oxen is called a drove, and a drove of blackguards is called a mob, and a mob of whales is called a school, and a school of worshipers is called a congregation, and a congregation of engineers is called a corps, and a corps of robbers is called a band, and a band of locusts is called a swarm, and a swarm of people is called a crowd.—Selected, Signs of the Times, April 9, 1894. Quote: “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.”—By Phillips Brooks, These Times, February 1968. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Want to connect with your neighbor? Maybe a loved one far away? Why not send Signs of the Times®? Each monthly issue offers a colorful and interesting presentation of the full gospel message. The result is changed lives! Send a subscription today. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-yearly-us-subscription.html *************************** One of the simplest and best illustrations of “faith” which I remember to have seen is a story told by M. Theodore Monod. A Sabbath-school teacher, when teaching his class on one occasion, left his seat and went around among his scholars with his watch in his hand. Holding it out to the first child he said: “I give you that watch.” The boy stared at it and stood still. He then went to the next and repeated: “I give you that watch.” The boy blushed, but that was all. One by one the teacher repeated the words and action to each. Some stared, some blushed, some smiled incredulously but none took the watch. But when he came nearly to the bottom of the class a small boy put out his hand and took the watch which the teacher handed to him. As the latter returned to his seat the little fellow said gently: “Then, if you please, sir, the watch is mine?” “Yes, it is yours.” The elder boys were fairly roused by this time. “Do you mean to say, sir, that he may keep the watch?” “Certainly, I gave it to any boy who would have it.” “Oh, if I had known that,” exclaimed one of them, “I would have taken it.” “Did I not tell you I gave it to you?” “Oh, yes; but I did not believe you were in earnest.” “So much the worse for you; he believed me, and he has the watch.” Saving faith is as simple as this. It just takes God at His word and trusts Him. Though it sounds too good to be true, yet Christ is the gift of God, freely and fully offered (John 3:19), “his unspeakable gift.”—By James Neill, Signs of the Times, June 28, 1883. Quote: “When a man sings his own praises, his song is pretty sure to be a solo.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, September 17, 1929. *************************** FREE! Are you looking for a daily devotional? Right to your smartphone? Get the FREE “Devoted” App for your phone: The DEVOTED app for iPhone is available here. The DEVOTED app for android is available here. Or visit the app store on your phone and look for: "Devoted Pacific Press". *************************** Dr. W. J. Dawson tells of six genuine surprises which will come to the person who begins to tithe their income: 1. At the amount of money they have for the Lord’s work. 2. At the deepening of their spiritual life in paying tithe. 3. At their ease in meeting their own obligations with the nine tenths. 4. At the ease in going on from one tenth to larger giving. 5. At the preparation this gives to be a faithful, wise steward of the nine tenths that remain. 6. At himself in not adopting the plan sooner.”—By H.M.S. Richards, Present Truth, Vol. 27, No. 20. Quote: “I never look upon the money I earn as my own. It is only a fund entrusted to my care for proper disbursement.”—Fritz Kreisler, Present Truth, Vol. 27, No.20. *************************** A company of monks in the olden time lived together in a monastery, working busily tilling the land and caring for the sick and poor, yet ever hallowing their work with prayer. Every evening they sang the beautiful hymn “Magnificat” at their vesper service, but as they grew old their voices became harsh and broken, and they almost lost all tune, but they still sang on. One evening a stranger youth came in to see them. He was strong and handsome, and when they began the “Magnificat,” his lovely, clear voice soared upward, as if to sing at the very gate of heaven. The poor old monks listened, enraptured with the wonderful music, until they forgot to sing themselves. That night an angel, so the legend runs, appeared to the eldest monk and asked, “Why did not the holy hymn ascend to heaven at evensong as heretofore?” And the monk, astonished, replied: “Oh blessed angel, surely it did ascend! Heard you not in heaven those almost angelic strains from the voice of our gifted brother? So sweetly he sang that our poor voices were hushed, lest we should mar the music.” But the angel answered: “Beautiful it may have been, but no note of it reached to heaven. Into those gates only music of the heart can enter.”—Selected, Signs of the Times, March 6, 1901. Quote: “The biggest brain is the one that can think most of others.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, April 27, 1915. *************************** Read an eBook today—visit www.AdventisteBooks.com You’ll find the largest assortment of Adventist eBooks available. *************************** A newsboy, to sell his papers, told a lie. The matter came up in Sunday school. “Would you tell a lie for three cents?” asked a teacher of one of her boys. “No, ma’am.” “For a thousand dollars?” Dick was staggered. A thousand dollars looked large. “Oh,” thought he, “would it not buy lots of things?”” While thus he was meditating, another boy said, “No, ma’am.” “Why not?” asked the teacher. “Because, when the thousand dollars is all gone, and all the things I got with them are gone too, the lie is there all the same,” answered the boy.—Selected, Signs of the Times, March 19, 1896. Quote: “When Christ told Peter to ‘feed my sheep,’ He did not mean for Peter to fill them up with ice-cream and cake.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, April 30, 1896. *************************** Share your faith using Pocket Signs. See the great topics available: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/pocket-signs.html *************************** Be the Best of Whatever You Are! If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill, Be a scrub in the valley—but be The best little scrub by the side of the rill; Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass, Some highway happier make; If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass— But the liveliest bass in the lake! We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew, There’s something for all of us here, There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do, And the task we must do is the near. If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail, If you can’t be the sun, be a star; It isn’t by size that you win or you fail— Be the best of whatever you are!—By Douglas Malloch, These Times, May 1961 *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.

It seems to me that God's laws are not just a set of standards that He has set but that they are a short list of things based on LOVE that if followed correctly will allow us to live, kind of like adding the correct fuel to an engine. Problem is, we cannot follow this list correctly and so Jesus came to rescue us from the pit of sin we are in and the only way for us to live is to trust in Him totally. And dealing with the topic of sinners living and burning forever mentioned above, John 3:16 talks about only two choices: Live or perish. There will be only one or the other. God will take us back to Plan A, a life of joy and peace FOREVER! Sin and sinners will be no more, and sin will never rise again. If sinners are still alive then sin has not been destroyed. Back to the original question of God's love dying though, I agree that there is NOTHING that we can do that will change the fact that God loves us. And His love for us will not die just because we no longer exist. Even humans still love their dead pets, right? They are gone forever, not just sleeping.

I think whenever i read the bible i do a mental paraphrase, which is my understanding of what i heard. Whenever we communicate we are interpreting or understanding what others are saying to us in our own terms. When we have no reference for we simply supply our own conmtext to do our best to understand. And i think we all do the same thing with the Scriptures. And if we have access to more knowledge and education we have better references for understanding the Bible. I Like the New International Version and the New Living Translation. I think i would use either of them.

I agree we can only handle it with His help. Sometimes we get ourselves in trouble by trying to handle it without any special help from God, whether temptation or suffering. A wise friend once suggested when I had cancer and my emotions were depressed from the chemo, I could pray and say to God that I could not hang on to him then, and for Him to please hang on to me. If you feel overburdened, I hope things get better soon.