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Dr. Gottfried Oosterwal, a leading Seventh-day Adventist theologian, died last week at the age of 86. He was living in Berrien Springs, Michigan at the time of his death. He had been teaching on the faculty of Andrews University for many years. He also labored in Papua New Guinea for many years. His lectures and his writing brought many to a wider understanding of the mission of our church to those in unbelieving territories. He loved people. He was a native of Holland, and never lost his Dutch accent. He was a giant in our denomination.

I heard a comment by a Dallas Baptist preacher, interviewed on FoxNews. He pointed out that individual Christians are to love their enemies, but rulers are especially appointed of God to deal with evil.

thanku thanku You said it best!

I am so sad to hear this. Prayers and condolences for his family. Grateful for his ministry and grateful for the blessed hope.

Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day." -Charles Kingsley

“A gentle hand may lead an elephant with a single hair.” - Persian proverb

The terrorists may scream from the roof tops that their crimes are God’s will; but you can’t frame God for what thugs do. This is a kind of criminal anarchy that we are witnessing. Any idiot can murder a human being, but there isn’t a sword sharp enough to destroy truth. — John Kerry, Remarks at the Swearing-in Ceremony for Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom David Saperstein – February 20, 2015

I think the opposite of Jesus' words are the prevailing attitudes of the day. I posted this on Facebook.... But I say unto you, bomb your enemies, hate them that curse you, hunt down and assasinate them that hate you, and drone strike them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45.That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45. New International Community Version.

I remember a woman who became a member at an SDA church I attended years ago. She was divorced with three kids. She kept asking for more handouts, and more handouts, and more handouts. She would take LARGE portions of pot-luck food, and put it into Tupper containers to take home "for her kids". Everything was always "for my kids". She was really good at pushing the "guilt buttons". She couldn't get a job, because of her kids. She couldn't help out with church needs, because she was busy with her kids. Of course she had applied for welfare too. Everyone in the church ended up just hoping she would move on.... One wonders - How far do we take it? Is it like the forgiveness instruction - seventy times seven?

Although we may place value on art as part of our cultural heritage, some view sculptures or photos or paintings as idols and objects of worship that must be destroyed. Even though we may admire human skill and creativity in art, ultimately, all works of man will be destroyed, leaving no trace of human existence on this planet. We won't miss it, or even remember it, though, after we are born again into new bodies with memories of the past all deleted.