Leaderboard

Praise God for the young woman who discovered God's love for her. She was suffering and then bumped into something that helped her see God's love for real and it touched her heart. Now her whole world is changed. Hallelujah!

It seems our worship services have began to include rock and roll music, drumming, and dancing in many of our churches to say nothing of the clapping, applause. You go on Sabbath Morning, and the drums are on the pulpit along with electrified instruments of every kind and then Stadium or theater sound systems to amplify them further. My wife and I had to leave one church as the speakers were bigger than my car and hung right above us and you can imagine how loud they had them. We went to the Spanish churches thinking they would be more conservative, but they are building their churches with the same seating and huge booming speakers that cant be for the preaching of the word, but certainly to wake the dead in my opinion. Then the unseemly and provocative dancing, we just came from a Camporee where the young people were "shaking" and "swinging" parts of their bodies best left unsaid and pumping and cheering on the others to join in during Sabbath and vespers. Needless to say our club didn't budge, and our kids stayed reverent, and I couldn't sing a word I was so stunned at the behavior from the pulpit/stage. Have we so lost our way that anything is permissible during worship, is there any reverence left in our churches or are we bringing the next generation to Led Zep and Grateful Dead concerts in our worship service. Whats happened to Christian principles and worship, to say nothing of the warnings from SOP... A Bedlam of Noise Which Confuses the Senses. --The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working. No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by a power thought to be the power of God. --Letter 132, 1900, to S. N. Haskell. (Published in Selected Messages, Book 2, pp. 36, 37.) Music Acceptable if "Properly Conducted," Made Satan’s Snare. --The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such a confusion of noise and multitude of sounds as passed before me last January. Satan works amid the din and confusion of such music, which, properly conducted, would be a praise and glory to God. He makes its effect like the poison sting of the serpent. Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls upon His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite instruction has been given in order that all may understand. But the itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines, and largely destroys the influence of those who would be a power for good if they held firm the beginning of their confidence in the truth the Lord had given them. --Letter 132, 1900 to S. N. Haskell. (Published in Selected Messages, Book 2, pp. 37, 38.) (Emphasis Supplied) These [in Indiana] were carried away by a spiritualistic delusion. --Evangelism, p. 595.

Empowering communities. Changing Lives. Helping in Nepal Mobile Health Clinics Despite the fuel and other shortages currently plaguing Nepal, ADRA’s work continues. Mukta is 76 years old. He lives in the Chainpur district. The closest health centre is an hour’s walk from his village. There is no doctor, no nurse, and no testing. The health assistants do basic checks and then refer patients to the hospital, which is a three hour walk away. ADRA, with the generous support of our donors and the Canadian government, arranged for a special three day mobile clinic at the health centre. The doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists traveled to the health centre, taking with them all the tents, equipment, and medicines they would need. Over the course of three days, hundreds of people made their way to the health centre for medical attention. Lines snaked across the grass. Everyone waited patiently to see the doctors, have their tests run, and collect their medication. No one was turned away. Afterwards those who needed them received a hygiene kit full of items such as soap and toothpaste. Mukta was one of the people seen at the mobile health clinic. He is proud of his general good health, boasting that he can still thread a needle, but he had been experiencing an issue. The doctors at the clinic diagnosed the problem and gave him the needed medication. Mukta’s house was destroyed by the April earthquake and he still lives in a tarp, but he is grateful for the support provided by ADRA. For more information on our work in Nepal visit http://www.adra.ca/nepal-earthquake-response/ and http://www.adra.ca/shelters-for-nepal/. Giving Tuesday A Wonderful Way to Give Back! This Tuesday, December 1, is a global day of giving. Along with all of the other gift planning you are doing this year, don't forget the wonderful joy of giving to help people in need! At ADRA Canada we have made it easy! You can shop our Gift Catalogue online! You can use it as a way to give a unique gift to your loved ones or, with our gift card option, you can let your loved ones pick the gift they would like to use. Get your kids involved! Whether you are a teacher, Pathfinder leader or parent, the gift catalogue is a great way to get your kids into the spirit of giving to people in need at Christmas! Shop Today! Faith to Change the World John Howard and ADRA Canada Here is a great gift idea for the people on your list this year! Faith to Change the World is the inspiring story of the life of John Howard and how he started ADRA Canada with faith and prayer. "The story of John Howard challenges me to live more on the edge of my faith, to trust God in all things and surrender myself totally to His will. How John lived his life and so often stepped out in faith is an inspiration to us all. God through John has been able to impact millions of lives in a sustainable way."Jonathan Duffy, President, ADRA International. Order your copies at our website today for delivery by Christmas!

Happy Holidays from Oakwood University The holidays are a time of celebration, as well as a time of generosity. As we enter this special season, there is no better time to support Oakwood. Take a moment to view the holiday message from the Pollard Family (on the Oakwood website) and prayerfully make your gift to the University today. There has never been a better time to invest in our students and the advancement of Oakwood University. We look forward to hearing from you soon! May God bless you and yours as you welcome the holiday season. Giving Tuesday is December 1 The #oakwoodgivingtuesdaycampaign starts at midnight, Tuesday, December 1, and will end at 11:59 p.m. For just 24 hours on December 1, our goal is to raise $25,000 for Oakwood University in celebration of giving and generosity. As Cyber Monday winds down, plan to invest your resources in the mission of Oakwood University. Whether $10,000, $1,000, $100, or $25, your gift is valuable at any level and will help us reach our December 1st goal of $25,000 in one day. We are especially reaching out to our GOLD - that's "Graduates Of the Last Decade." All of our alumni from the classes of 2005 to 2015 are challenged to give a collective minimum of $5,000 to your alma mater. It's simple: Go to www.ougiving.com. Enter your donation amount. Select a campaign, any campaign you like. Scroll down and you choose. Complete required fields. Be sure to enter your class year if you are an alum. Make a comment, such as, "I designate my gift to the Business Department." Spread the word. Invite 10 of your friends and family to join you in #oakwoodgivingtuesday You can also text your donation. Text "OAKS" to 56512. Both one-time gifts and reccurring gifts count towards our Giving Tuesday goal. For more information, please call (256) 726-7201. About Oakwood The mission of Oakwood University, a historically black, Seventh-day Adventist institution, is to transform students through biblically-based education for service to God and humanity. In This Issue - 11/30/15 Happy Holidays from Oakwood University Giving Tuesday is December 1 (256) 726-7418 1-844-FRUIT OU STORE #819 5000 Whitesburg Dr. S, #148 Huntsville, AL 35802 (256) 881-7575 STORE #759 6290 University Blvd. Huntsville, AL 35806 (256) 721-7999 Share Love, Support Students Click here to see the Fall 2015 issue of Oakwood Magazine, or visit www.oakwoodmagazine.com Join Our Mailing List insideOakwood is published by the Office of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations Editor: George Johnson Jr. | Managing Editor: Debbe Millet | Student Writer: Naomi Coggs | Student Photographer: Teymi Townsend www.oakwood.edu

No, John 6:4 fits the context: in fact it probably is even in the earliest form of the book of John. It appears that John started out as a book focused on the 7 signs and it fits very much with the Adventist understanding of the 70 weeks. Anyway if the 7 signs were the first version or not we still find the pattern as we look at the signs: We start out with the fullness of time and John the Baptist saying "Behold the lamb of God who Scapegoats the sins of the world" (an equally valid translation of "Behold the lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world" indicating that John was announcing Jesus starting his ministry on Yom Kippur. (Remember Ezra's decree was announced and implemented on Yom Kippur, so this would set the start of Jesus' ministry right on the start of the 70th week). From this beginning on Yom Kippur we then find 7 signs. 3 related to Passover, 3 related to the feast of tabernacles and one for Hanukkah. While they do not always follow this order they all contain these elements: A temple holyday, Jesus saying something based on an aspect of that holyday either in a public or private discourse. An "I am" statement based on the aspect of the holyday that Jesus wanted to emphasis, and a sign or miracle again built on one aspect of that holyday. The emphases on bread is part of the Passover: Thus even if John 6:4 did not mention Passover it is still implied by both the bread and the structure of the 7 signs relating to the temple holydays. And if you try to separate this story from a Temple Holyday, you will have broken John's structure. And especially since you have the balance of 3 Passover I AM's and 3 Tabernacle I AM's. Now Jesus was at 3 different places for the 3 Passover signs, thus clear that they were 3 different years. The 3 Tabernacles signs all took place in Jerusalem, so they are all grouped together and appears to have happened only on that last feast of Tabernacles, which it could well have been. But we also need to be open to the possibility that the stories were telescoped together but may have happened on 3 different Tabernacles just as we have the 3 different Passovers. And an interesting side note: It was Jesus and the raising of Lazarus that made Hanukkah a Biblical holyday. Which shows that God would respect and accept our additional holidays and is not a stickler for just the ones we find in the Old Testament. And now that it is December 1 let's remember to add the message of Hanukkah and the raising of Lazarus and the looking forward to being reunited with our loved ones at the resurrection. Remember this is the only New Testament Biblical holiday. We have room for not only remembering Jesus' birth, and family get togethers, snow and winter wonderlands, Frosty, Santa, Rudolf, Scrooge, Elves, even Grandma getting run over by a reindeer, surely this holiday season has room for us to add Hanukkah, Lazarus and our own coming reunion with our loved ones when the long staying away resurrection and the life will finally come.

Gail good point. However Buddha never considered himself a god and he was anti-idols.

We are discovering in this cycle that NON-sense gets votes.

Scuba, The Bible is more reliable that the comments you made.

I hope what I say isn't adding to the craziness. I don't think sending troops to the Middle East is the answer. radical Islam is not simply a Middle Eastern phenomena - it is world-wide. Stopping it in the Middle East doesn't stop it in the other 80% of the Muslim world. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. If only 15% of them are radicalized, that's 240 million people inclined towards jihad. The world has yet to figure out how to defeat or control a prevalent world-wide ideology. How do you declare war on an ideology? Islamic terror has been a global issue since the 1970's. Attacking the ideology of radical Islam involves invading sovereign countries; so politics and diplomacy get mixed up with religion. I personally don't see a feasible economic, diplomatic, or military solution to the issues being discussed. Rather than continue my rant from other threads, I want to propose a possible spiritual solution. With God, all things are possible. Pray for the power of the true God - the outpouring of the Spirit as prophesied in Joel - to fall upon all men - including Islam. Pray that we as Christians can put away some of our petty differences and unite in spiritual warfare against the evil one who continues to lead the earth towards destruction. Love those who hate us; pray for those who persecute us. Forgive those torment and martyr us. God loves Muslims and all other people as much as He loves Christians and Jews. Jesus died that all men might be saved - not just Christians and Jews.

Because God wants us to remind ourselves that He is in control; and we look forward to the literal, final "Day of Atonement" redemption of the planet where God's will WILL be done on earth; just as it is in heaven!

What is really crazy is those perpetuating the craziness continue and continue and.......with out shame!

Yep, I understood it. Still hold the same thought in my head, "I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of the day-to-day criticism Dr Carson faces as an Adventist and now a candidate for presidency."

Does everybody realize that OP article is SATIRE?!

Interesting question Gail! Probably a little of both. I'd say first they followed other Gods and than the progression would be that they started following even more because they had become wicked!

I would say they are exactly right. The Bible predicts it, sister White predicts it but not many in the church will admit it is happening now. I would also say that Christ is ultimately in charge and all the terrible things happening in the church at present will be shaken out eventually. I wondered about this for some time and prayed a lot about it because I want the best for my church and I see frankly disgusting things starting to take place. I realized that all one can do is to make sure our own life is surrendered 110% to Christ and we are walking in His righteousness being a good example and then try to share with our fellow church members and help them understand the times we are living in. I preached in our church a couple weeks ago a pretty hard sermon. Some were angry but others were relieved and thanked me because they had felt like they were all alone. All we can do is plainly speak the Truth in love and let the Word cut and leave the results with God. (Prov 27:6) Sister White states the reason pastors are so ineffective is because they are afraid of hurting peoples feelings so they cover up the truth. Sometimes it is discouraging but don't focus on the negative focus on Jesus. The key is we must see the big picture. We are in a spiritual war. Don't take it personally when you see someone from the conference or a local pastor working in a manner that seems they are decieving people we are told about wolves entering in and killing the sheep. We are told over and over these deceptions will happen. Just realize that this is just part of the battle and take it to Christ and ask Him for the strategy to beat whatever attack satan is making. God loves each and every person and wants all to be saved and we should work...really work to try and reach those in our churches who are not studying or are being deceived. And not everyone in the conference or pastoral positions are bad, there are still men of God trying to do the good work for the Lord. They need our prayers because they are fighting a very hard battle.

It can be used for Gods glory and to praise Him, the question is are we doing that? 2 Chronicles 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;

Saying "Missing the point... " with no content seems pretty empty in my view...

So you say....but still you give no insight..

SOP gave us the warning....""Music, when not abused, is a great blessing; but when put to a wrong use, it is a terrible curse. It excites, but does not impart that strength and courage which the Christian can find only at the throne of grace while humbly making known his wants and with strong cries and tears pleading for heavenly strength to be fortified against the powerful temptations of the evil one. Satan is leading the young captive. Oh, what can I say to lead them to break his power of infatuation! He is a skillful charmer, luring them on to perdition. --Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 496-497. Music has occupied the hours which should have been devoted to prayer. Music is the idol which many professed Sabbath keeping Christians worship. Satan has no objection to music if he can make that a channel through which to gain access to the minds of the youth. Anything will suit his purpose that will divert the mind from God and engage the time which should be devoted to His service. He works through the means which will exert the strongest influence to hold the largest numbers in a pleasing infatuation, while they are paralyzed by his power. When turned to good account, music is a blessing; but it is often made one of Satan's most attractive agencies to ensnare souls. When abused, it leads the unconsecrated to pride, vanity, and folly. When allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse. Young persons assemble to sing, and, although professed Christians, frequently dishonor God and their faith by their frivolous conversation and their choice of music. Sacred music is not congenial to their taste. I was directed to the plain teachings of God's word, which have been passed by unnoticed. In the judgment all these words of inspiration will condemn those who have not heeded them. --Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 585-586. "Rightly employed, . . . [music] is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and elevate the souls. It is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth... As a part of religious service, singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer. Indeed, many a song is prayer. --Education, pp. 167, 168. "

I think you may be right..... "Whose carnal nature on the occasion in question was excited and stirred? Were the kids' movements on the stage really crudely sexual as you described it? Really? Do you honestly think they had any sexual motive, excitation or intent in there minds? Or were your adult perceptions and thoughts of the movements of those kids what was crudely sexualized? Seems more than a little creepy and perverted that you would see them that way, don't you think? Whose carnal nature exactly was excited that such ideas so easily came to mind? "

Reverence in most of our churches now is seen as a drag, a turn off, boring, to be avoided at every point. But we have been warned.. We have abundant reason to maintain a fervent, devoted spirit in the worship of God. We have reason even to be more thoughtful and reverential in our worship than had the Jews. But an enemy has been at work to destroy our faith in the sacredness of Christian worship. 5T page 496.

it certainly has changed! The manner of keeping the Sabbath has been changed. The behavior of the people in the church during the worship hour has been changed. There is not reverence in the church any more. Mrs. White wrote that as we enter the sanctuary we should sit quietly and meditate about out savior. People sit in the sanctuary look around who are here and get up shake hands in middle of the worship service as though this is the part of worship service. I do not think it will get better any time soon as the Satan works hard.