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You should not be tail-gating me while I am doing 50 in a 35 zone. Those flashing red lights on your roof do not make you look like Santa.

UPDATE ON THE WOMAN: She survived the surgery. That is really not a surprise. Modern medicine is such that people can generally be kept alive during the surgery. She has a serious infection that the docs are fighting.

In addition to the issue you raise of not sinning to prolong life which is very valid issue, there is another issue which is that some believe things such as blood transfusions to be sin which are not sin. In our church there are also those who believe things such as chemo to be sin in cases where there is a real chance it may help. So it is not just avoiding sin that is important, but having a balanced view of sin and right.

I remember a JW patient I had, who had signed the forms to refuse blood. I visited with him pre-op, and I asked him, just out of curiosity, why JWs have no problem EATING a rare steak. He said that the blood was cooked, and therefore was no longer "alive", so then it was OK to eat. I just said, "Very interesting". Wow! What a twist of Scripture. God told the Israelites that they were to EAT neither blood nor fat. They were to drain all the blood from the carcass before roasting. How many - non-vegetarians - eat Khosher meat. Most seem to have left that commandment behind.

This may not be a "theological" issue, but it is a lifestyle choice that could have life-and-death implications: Many people out there claim they would refuse chemotherapy or radiation treatment if recommended to treat cancer because of the residual damage. I can see refusing the therapy if it is only palliative rather than curative. But if there is a reasonable chance that radiation or chemo will actually "cure" the disease rather than simply delay death, IMHO it is a foolish choice to turn down something that has been proven helpful in preference of some unproven (usually fraudulent) "holistic" or "natural" cure only available in Mexico or China. Before I got cancer, I was sure I would never bow to traditional western treatments. But once I learned I had cancer, it was not difficult to choose radiation as a curative treatment rather than die a slow and painful premature death. That was 8 years ago; and I'm cancer free and as healthy as a horse (albeit an old horse). My new mantra - "Never say never".

A few days after Thanksgiving, my wife and I, met with other friends and relatives with a relative. They had all of the traditional foods, turkey and more. But it was after Thanksgiving and it was not called a Thanksgiving celebration. The woman had converted to the Jehovah's Witness faith and therefore could not celebrate Thanksgiving. She could only celebrate a simple time for family and friends to get together and relate to each other. It should be noted that her husband and two children had not converted. None of the rest of us who attended were JWs. Last night we were notified that she was in an emergency situation and would be going into surgery in 20 minutes. As might be expected, she had refused permission for the surgical team to transfuse certain blood products into her during the surgery. The JW faith requires that its members refuse to receive whole blood and certain other products derived from blood. However, they do allow their members to exercise individual choice as to certain other blood products which may be available. I do not know where this woman drew the line and what she was willing to accept and I do not know the boundaries of her refusal. In the hospital where I previously worked, we successfully did surgery on JWs who refused certain blood products. As a member of the hospital ethics committee, I fully support the right of this adult, competent, woman to chose whether or not to receive those blood products. But, also know that outside of various lab findings of hemoglobin levels, red blood cell count and more there are limits beyond which life can not likely be sustained without the transfusion of whole blood products which JWs prohibit. I do not know the laboratory findings as to those levels in her blood. But, I do know enough about her condition to know that she was in a potentially critical condition where her blood loss was such that there is little likelihood that her life could be sustained. Perhaps not in her case? Perhaps that worst case situation was not her situation? I simply do not know. But, I do know enough to know that if she survives, she will face a long recovery. I also know that the surgical team has carefully explained to her the consequences of her choices. When she went into surgery, she understood the consequences of the decision that she was making. NOTE: To survive, she must not only live through the surgery but also the recovery period. The real issue is not her choice. The issue is: If you and I were to be in an apparent situation where following our theological beliefs would lead to death and violating them, in even an apparent small way would lead to life, what would we decide?

Miriam, a registered nurse, once fussed over every pain or mishap that came her new husband Moishe’s way. Recently, however, Moishe got an indication that the honeymoon is over. Moishe was about to fix the attic fan, and as he lifted himself from the ladder in the attic, he scratched his forehead on a crossbeam. Crawling along, he picked up splinters in both hands, and cut one hand replacing the fan belt. On the way down the ladder, he missed the last two rungs and turned his ankle. When he limped into the kitchen, his wife Miriam took one look and said, "Are those your good pants?"

At her Bubbie and Zadie’s 50th wedding anniversary, Rachel Weinstein was looking through their wedding album. "Bubbie,” said Rachel, “so many of these styles have come back over the years.” Bubbie didn’t hesitate. "That's why I've kept Zadie all this time," she said. "I know he'll be back in style again one of these days."

He's a keeper!

Raafat Kamal, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division, said the migrant crisis revived memories of his own childhood in a Middle East war. He grew up in Beirut. He is urging Adventists to unite in prayer and support for ADRA and those Adventist churches that are assisting refugees. - See more at: http://adventist.org.uk/news/news-archive/buc/adra-and-the-refugee-crisis-facing-europe#sthash.RPXV6mjv.dpuf

To start with we first must define what self-defense is: 1. Dictionary.com: n. “the act of defending one’s person when physically attacked, as by countering blows or overcoming an assailant.” 2. Law.com: n. “the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or members of the family from bodily harm from the attack of an aggressor, if the defender has reason to believe he/she/they is/are in danger.” … “The force used in self-defense may be sufficient for protection from apparent harm (not just an empty verbal threat) or to halt any danger from attack, but cannot be an excuse to continue the attack or use excessive force.” It is not a lack of faith or a sin to carry a weapon for self-defense or use it in self-defense. Yes, I have faith that God will provide and keep me safe and if it is my time I will see him in Heaven. Just as when I'm sick I go to the doctor, or when a small fire breaks out I call 911 and use my fire extinguisher, or when I get in the car I put on my seatbelt. I use the tools that are available to me. Most people need to study the principles set forth in the Bible. It is written and the Bible is very clear that life is VERY precious and we are REQUIRED to do what we can to protect it. Some quick examples: Abraham with his more than 318 trained servants recovering Lot... David and his men leaving Ziklag to recover their families... the thief breaking into your house and dies at your hands his blood is not on your hands... David as a boy carried the equivalent of a 44 magnum... Nehemiah armed by family all the people... the store of Queen Ester and the people defending themselves... You find these principles in both the old and new testaments of the Bible. Not to mention Peter wasn't scolded for using the sword the Jesus himself told them they should buy if they didn't have one just hour earlier. He did told "permit even this" because he had to be taken and to die to save us. I have spent MANY hours in study and research on this subject and have presented what I have found to several pastors, elders, and others challenging them to find where I'm wrong. To date I have been given only suggestions regarding changing certain words... and have been told they can't find anything in in the Bible contrary to what I presented. Keep in mind God, his laws and principles never change. Nothing in the Bible contradict itself and if we think it does we are reading something wrong. The use of a firearm should be the LAST option we choose to use but it is still a tool that we have been given the same as swords, spears, bows,... Warning, be careful and not be guilty of the sin of presumption, which according to the Bible is a "great sin". If you choose not to use a tool available to you because "God will take care", you are guilty of the sin of presumption. A firearm is nothing more than a tool, just as a fire extinguisher or a seat belt that I have available to me. When used properly they all SAVE lives. Evil will exist until Christ returns, we have to do what we can to share Gods' Love and desire to save ALL. But the Bible is clear we are to defend those around us and ourselves for it is written you are "worse than an infidel" if you do not. Yes, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends". We all should be willing and ready to die to keep others safe. This subject is way to large to cover in a post like this but I challenge you to open Gods word and study it. I know my eyes were opened and some things I was taught as a child are NOT Biblical and were uncomfortable (not politically correct). Our goal is to be like Jesus and follow ALL of the commandments of GOD. Remember it is written that there is NO TRUTH in those who teach contrary to the word of GOD. This includes those in and out of leadership positions. It is not a lack of faith or a sin to carry a weapon for self defense. Yes, I have faith that God will provide and keep me safe (may require action on my part) and if it is my time I will see him in Heaven.

Reddogs: I cannot testify as to the truth of what you have personally experienced. I can testify as to the truth of what you imply as applicable to The One Project and the implication is not true. You mention how EGW was slowly muted and then taken away. For years I attended a Sabbath School class at Boulder. It was taught, on a rotating basis by a person deeply involved with TOP, who also preached sometimes. In his SS classes (to include discussions when he was not in charge) and in his sermons he frequently quoted/referenced/cited Ellen White. This was a SS class that sometimes used the Quarterly and sometimes did not. E.G. On one occasion a book written by a well known SDA on the life and ministry of EGW was purchased and given to every person attending the class, with no expectation that they would be required to pay for it. A chapter in the book was discussed each week. The church that I attended is a congregation that has classes that purchase SDA books and study them, chapter by chapter each week. It also has classes that focus on the ministry and life of Jesus Christ as well as classes that focus on the 28 fundamental beliefs of SDAs. It is a congregation that welcomes people to its services who are not SDA and may not be Christian. The class that I attended typically has non-SDAs attending. One of those non-SDA persons probably knows more about what Ellen White has written than do some SDAs. He regularly presents to the class his understanding of what she has written. He has attended for several years. No, he is not ready to become a member. However, over the years that he has attended, we have seen the influence of the ministry provided him by the congregation move him along in his growing spiritual maturity. He is further along in his spiritual life than he was when he first began to attend. I am certain that if you were to attend you could find something to criticize, something that did not live up to your standards. So, perhaps the Boulder congregation is not for you. If so, please do not attend it. Do not view its services which are streamed over the Internet. Rather associate with a congregation that is able to lead you spiritually. May the Lord bless you on yo ur spiritual journey. But, in the meantime I will suggest that you devote your life and ministry to a more positive approach to leading others to Christ. The time that you are spending in presenting an organization in a negative manner that does not represent the truth, in some aspects, is not helpful. I do believe that Christ had something to say to those who came to him with questions about some who were working a bit differently than they were working.

Yes, as soon as I saw this question I knew the answer. Just as TIME magazine can put in a figure that has done much damage in the world as "Man of the Year," so also could we consider a man who has done more to take Adventism down the garden path than any other, on two counts: 1. His leadership role in the Martin-Barnhouse evangelical conferences and the muddying of the doctrinal waters of standard Adventism, apparent in subsequent changes to SdA publications and the production of QoD, and; 2. His authorship of the 1971 volume, "Movement of Destiny," which is a revisionist history regarding 1888, a rejection of the 2nd call messengers Wieland and Short, and a general capitulation to Protestant Reformationism, which holds that the SdA belief on justification by faith is no more than what the great reformers taught. LeRoy Froom is my vote. The late Elder Herb E. Douglass was good friends with Froom. The latter would call him up to chat, often. He would say, "What is happening to our church, Herb?" Herbert tells us in his book, "A Fork in the Road," that he didn't have the heart to tell him that the current mess was a result of what he (Froom) had done.

someone ought to come up with an "Adventist Monopoly" game... "Go to Jail" could be "Go before the Church Board"... "Park Place and Boardwalk" could be the GC and NAD "Luxury Tax" could be "Tithe and Offerings" There could be Mission Trips and building churches and hospitals.. "Chance" could be "Church Potlucks"... "Community Chest" could be related to SDA education.. and more.....

Oh, the game sounds like a grand idea. However, "Community Chest" could be related to SDA education.. I would think more like Community Services *(aka food pantry and clothing and health/cooking), etc, AND Luxury Tax ought to be for SDA Christian Education since we are only retuning His $ and helping to maintain the House of God.

Isn't that what freedom of choice is all about, though? Sometimes we are surprised at what people do with that freedom.

Please provide the reference for where EGW said what you have stated above. I realize that what you have quoted may sound reasonable and true. But, that fact does not mean that she actually said it. In addition, an actual reference provides context that will help us to understand the circumstances in which she said. I ask in part because often people attribute sayings to her that she did not actually say.

theological beliefs: We can create our own system of beliefs which may or may not be supported by the Laws of God. While important for us to obey them to the best of our ability in this life, God's Laws teach us about what is expected of those permitted entrance into his perpetual Kingdom.

And here is the place you can do that!: Makers of custom Monopoly games

All of the above suggestions have merit. I cannot suggest one person as influential. Rather, I am inclined to think of a list of people. From that perspective, I would add to the list Alden Thompson.

Le Roy Froom

aside from the President of Adventistan, H.M.S. Richards comes to mind...