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By the way: We should believe in Ellen White. It is just that we should not believe in her in the manner that some present her. The two extreams have it wrong about her.

How? Only by an act of mercy, grace, forgiveness. It really isn't about the law. This idea of the second death is an interesting concept. I think God had to come up with that idea to make the time mechanics of salvation actually work. But what we should really be talking about is the second life. When Jesus proved he was more powerful than death, he made all things possible. He proved that nothing can prevent him from doing the one thing that he most wants to do - save us and give us eternal life.

I have to disagree that justice from a divine perspective never rests on grace. If God's Justice never rested on grace/mercy, Adam and Eve would never have survived the Garden and we would not exist. Salvation would never have even been considered. From a human perspective the idea of justice without mercy may be very true. But I am becoming more convinced that when Scripture is speaking of God's justice, it is inextricably wedded to mercy. God's Justice is always an act of mercy. Not necessarily or obviously for the wrong doer, but it is about having mercy on the victims of the wrong that is done. His supreme objective is restoration, of humanity and his entire creation. The end of the story in Revelation is a final declaration of restoration - "I make all things new." From a Hebrew language standpoint, a frequent parallelism, especially if in reference to God, is justice and mercy. The Hebrew puts them together as two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other.

As some of you know we have moved and we have been looking for a new home to purchase. The picture below is one that we would have liked to purchase. But, our offer was not accepted.

A major part of our reason for moving to California was to build relationships with relatives. One of those is a Nephew with whom I have only had a relationship in recent times. A few days ago we had a dinner to which we invited our family and close friends. At this dinner, he gave me a copy of a photo that he once took. I have posted it below. For other photos that he has taken, you may view them at: http://www.jeffreyjohnstonphoto.net/ I thought it was a very thoughtful gift. NOTE: This photograph has lost a bit in the reproduction.

No. I am asking why did Jesus have to go through all the doing and dying part himself to, as you say, legally establish the justice of the law? If I am understanding you correctly, what is required to do that is to essentially fulfill the wages of sin - death. A command (law) of God disobeyed, the consequence of which is death, legally fulfills the "justice" required of the law. At the begining, Adam and Eve would have done so when they died as a result of their own sin. Justice would have more than adequately been legally satisfied. The death of a person that is sinless (the doing part) doesn't actually establish the justice of the law. That seems a rather unjust result, that an innocent person, not deserving any punishment for any sin, should have to die, except for one purpose and only one purpose. Why this particular person? If just any innocent person (or creature free of spot or blemish) would do, why not allow for sacrifices of innocent children before they have any opportunity to sin? And how just is it to accept the death of one innocent person in the place of billions of sinners? The point that I am trying to make, is that God's plan all along was heading toward mercy. The whole point of the doing and dying was to show mercy to all who did not deserve it. It wasn't about merely satisfying a legal penalty of violating the law. It was all about mercy and grace. Nobody else could do it except the one who had been wronged. You have to unpack what forgiveness is all about to understand why God went to all the trouble of doing it himself. If forgiveness is just a matter of paying a debt owed, a legal transaction, then I could forgive you for stealing your neighbor's car and pay your neighbor for his loss. But only your neighbor can forgive you. Forgiveness is absorbing the harm of the wrong done to you personally, and not requiring that the wrong be made right by the one who in fact wronged you. It is specifically not seeking that justice be done, giving up the right for revenge. God said "Vengence is mine." He said, "I will take the harm of the sin of all of mankind against me onto my own shoulders and absorb it completely myself and give up my right under the law to let everyone die because they sinned against me." That is an act of mercy. It is grace. It is forgiveness.

He figured it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! famous Christian Comedian and friends of Tony Compolo and wrote "Mary Did You Know"

https://youtu.be/-GD-5mRyaJw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GD-5mRyaJw (can't get the video to appear in my post)

Seventh-day Adventist believer has been jailed for two years in Kazakhstan for “inciting religious hatred” with a profession of faith, a court ruling that has raised concerns about religious freedom in the former Soviet republic. [url={url}]View the full article[/url]

Jesus, the only one who could forgive her, the only one who could extend her mercy and grace. It was an offense against him that only he could choose to seek to penalize or forgive. It is because his nature is not to condemn but to save, not to take life, but to give it.

Sorry Wingnut, I have to disagree. IMO, grace WAS indeed given as a blanket gist to the entire world. It has been and always will be (in this age, at least) expended to all who would receive it. The question is, will we receive it? A few years ago, I gave one of my children a $5,000 check to help him out. He tore it up in front of me and told me he didn't need my charity; that He would dig himself out of his situation. Pride cost him $5,000. Isn't it similar to us? God offers everyone a "get out of hell free" card; and some of us say "No thanks, I don't need your charity: I'll work this out myself".

I remember 2015 like it was just yesterday.. fantastic memory I scored.

Nope- no Alzheimer's there!

Robert Instead of have us play "1000 Questions" why don't you just get right to the bottom line?

When I grow up I want to be Scottish and play the 'pipes.

All have been saved in Christ doing & dying, but not all will accept what He has accomplished. Answer: No

January 2016 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 college boy, from a Christian home, a little inclined to be sporty and very popular with his companions, had the walls of his room lined with questionable pictures such as come in cigarette packages; but when the holidays came his good old Christian mother sent him a portrait of Hofmann’s head of the Christ. After the holiday vacation one of his chums came into his room and, looking around in astonishment said, “Dick, what’s become of all your pictures?” Dick hesitated a moment and then said, pointing to the Christ, “They didn’t seem in place in His presence.”—Association Men, Signs of the Times, April 18, 1911. Quote: “The devil knows more about the second coming of Christ than do many modern preachers, for ‘he knoweth that he hath but a short time.’” Revelation 12:12—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, February 25, 1919. *************************** Don't miss the February 2016 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or ONLINE! *************************** Major Gordon Cooper was on the seventeenth course of his twenty-two-orbit flight around the earth. It was the night of May 15-16, 1963. A hundred miles below him lay the Indian Ocean. A canopy of stars stretched infinite distances above him. Overwhelmingly impressed by God’s guidance as he moved serenely through the vastness of outer space, he pushed the button of his tape recorder and recorded a prayer for himself and for all who had to do with the building and launching of his space capsule. Here is his prayer: “Father, thank You, especially for letting me fly this flight. “Thank You for the privilege of being able to be in this position; to be up in this wondrous place, seeing all these many startling, wonderful things that You have created. “Help guide and direct all of us that we may shape our lives to be much better Christians, trying to help one another, and to work with one another, rather than fighting and bickering. Help us to complete this mission successfully. “Help us in our future space endeavors, that we may show the world that a democracy can really compete and still is able to do things in a big way, and is able to do research, development, and can conduct many scientific and very technical programs. “Be with all our families. Give them guidance and encouragement, and let them know that everything will be okay. “We ask in Thy name. Amen.”—By Charles E. Weniger, These Times, February 1964. Quote: ”Thank God every morning that you have something to do, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness, contentment and a hundred other virtues the idle never know.”—By Charles Kingsley, These Times, September 1971. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Rebellion and Redemption by David Tasker is the Sabbath School Companion Book for the first quarter of 2016. It is a must read to understand God’s wonderful dealings with humanity. CLICK to read the first chapter of this book online FREE! Order ONLINE or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955. *************************** George Renton was a poor man, and often said “If I were rich, I would show people how to give.” In a dream he saw a pyramid of dollars—all new, bright, and beautiful. Just then a voice said to him, “Now is your time; you are rich at last; you now have an opportunity to exercise your generosity.” So he arose from his seat and went to the pile to take some money for charitable purposes. But the pyramid was so perfect that he could not bear to break it; he walked all around it, but found no place where he could take a dollar without spoiling the heap. So he decided that the pyramid should not be broken, then awoke to know himself, and to see that he would be generous only while comparatively poor.—Selected, Signs of the Times, December 23, 1903. Quote: “No man who is in a hurry is ever quite civilized.”—By Will Durant, These Times, August 1969. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: A new year brings new opportunities to share your faith. Why not use Signs of the Times® to help your friends and neighbors find hope and meaning? Each monthly issue takes on a broken world and directs hearts to Jesus for relevant answers. The result is changed lives! Send a subscription today. Go to www.AdventistBookCenter.com or phone 1-800-545-2449. *************************** One of the strangest cases of jurisprudence in American history was the criminal case of George Wilson, who was condemned to die because of robbery of a mail train near Reading, Pennsylvania in 1829. On the fourteenth of June in 1830 President Andrew Jackson granted him a pardon, but because of the antipathy that he held toward the president, the condemned man refused to accept the pardon. Because he refused to accept the pardon, the courts then faced the dilemma as to what ought to be done in such a case. Here was a man who was pardoned for a crime and refused to accept it. Should the pardon be forced upon him? The Supreme Court of the United States, in reviewing this case, made the decision that “a pardon is a deed to the validity of which delivery is essential; and delivery is not complete without acceptance; it may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him.” George Wilson went to his death because he stubbornly refused to accept the presidential pardon. Strange as this may seem, and foolish as we might think this decision to be, yet how many there are who go on and on in their lives rejecting the only provision that will ever help them when they have their day in court. Therefore let us by faith lay hold upon this great provision, knowing full well that “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:1, 2—By Lucretia L. Harmon, Present Truth, Vol. 26, No. 18. Quote: “Happiness is where you find it. One doesn’t have to go away from home to look for it.”—By Carey Williams, These Times, March 1964. *************************** CLICK here for a FREE packet of sharing materials! Offer good in the US and Canada, and expires on January 15, 2016. *************************** Roger Morneau was facing a real-life test of his driving ability. Winter had arrived in full force in western New York State, and some of the snow had thawed during the day and then frozen again as the sun went down, leaving the road extremely slippery. Just keeping his car on the highway took all the skill he had. The road descended a gentle slope that led into a curve. Morneau let the car coast down the slope, touching neither the brakes nor the accelerator lest he lose control. As he approached the curve at the bottom of the slope, he hoped that no cars or trucks were coming the other way. Rounding the curve revealed no other vehicles; but there was something nearly as threatening—a large horse stood in the middle of the road. Morneau had time for only the briefest of prayers: “Dear Jesus, help me!” Instantly, a force outside of himself took control of the steering wheel and guided the car toward the animal’s front legs. Just as the car was about to hit them, the horse reared onto its hind legs and pawed the air. Morneau ducked to avoid the hooves that he feared would smash through the windshield, but the animal’s feet cleared the top of the car, and it did not drop down on all fours again until the car had passed completely by. Morneau is convinced that God intervened with a miracle.—By Cezar Luchian, Signs of the Times, May 1997. Roger Morneau was known as a man of prayer. Charmed by Darkness is an incredible book available at the Adventist Book Center. CLICK to order! READ first chapter FREE online! Quote: “What God is in Himself, not what we may chance to feel Him in this or that movement to be, that is our hope.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, January 8, 1902. *************************** CLICK to see a great selection of Adventist eBooks! *************************** Aunt Flora was making some walnut creams that last afternoon in March. She had to crack the nuts very carefully to get them out whole, and some halves of shells were not broken at all. Jack’s sharp eyes discovered them in the coal bin. “Oh, goody!” cried he, “they’ll be just the thing to fool Teddy with tomorrow, Aunt Flo. I’ll stick them together and he’ll think they are regular walnuts.” “I wouldn’t,” said Aunt Flora. “He is such a little boy, and he will be so disappointed; I wouldn’t Jack.” But Jack would. He picked out shells enough to make three walnuts; then he got the glue bottle and stuck them together so carefully you wouldn’t have known they were cracked. “Don’t they look just good enough to eat?” laughed he. “Now, when they get dry I’ll put them in a paper bag, and give them to Teddy in the morning.” Then he ran out to his play, whistling; and he played so long and so hard that he didn’t think of the walnuts until he came home from school next day at noon. Aunt Flora had put them away for him, however. She told him where to find them. “On the second shelf of the dining room closet, in a paper bag,” said she. Jack’s face had a sober look. He thought, perhaps, Aunt Flora didn’t like his joke. “Maybe I hadn’t best fool Teddy,” said he. “Guess I’ll take them out and fool Johnny Wilson. I haven’t been fooled today, Aunt Flo.” But Aunt Flo did not answer, and when Jack got to the dining room he found Teddy there. It did seem too good a chance to be lost. Jack took the bag of walnuts from the closet shelf. “Hello, Teddy!” he said, “have some nuts?” “Oh, yes!” cried Teddy, running to get the tack hammer. He liked walnuts almost better than anything else. “You’re the bestest boy, Jack,” he said. At this Jack looked sober again. I think he felt a little bit ashamed. After all, it wasn’t the best of fun to fool a little five year old boy, and his own brother, too. But he gave Teddy the bag. In less than two seconds down came the hammer on the first walnut. It cracked very easily, indeed, and it had the funniest kernel you ever saw in a nut—a bright, new dime! It didn’t take long to crack the other two, you may be sure; and there were thirty cents—enough to buy two whole pounds of walnuts. “Oh! Oh!” cried Teddy, astonished beyond measure. “Are they mine? Where did they come from?” Jack’s face was aa red as a rose. He was almost ready to feel cross about it; but looking up, he saw Aunt Flo standing in the doorway, and laughed instead, a little sheepishly. “I guess I’m like the story you told about the man that threw the boomerang, Aunt Flo, and it came back and hit him,” said he. But I’m glad of it, just the same.”—Selected, Signs of the Times, December 9, 1903. Quote: “You may juggle human laws, you may fool with human courts, but there is a judgment to come, and from it there is no appeal.”—By Orin Philip Gifford, Signs of the Times, August 1986. *************************** This last piece is not from Signs of the Times. I found it this week in a back corner of a drawer in my office desk. It was on a yellowing piece of paper, clipped and saved by someone before the desk had become mine. It is a good reminder for the new year! Do It Now! Life is short and time is fleeting, Days are here and quickly gone; Though we think it worth repeating, Time has ruled it must go on. We can’t save a single minute, Precious though it seems to be; Though a world of joy be in it, It must pass for you and me. Life must never be tomorrows, Dream your dreams, but live today, Putting off will bring you sorrows, Much is lost along the way. If a task is worth the doing, Do it now, and do not wait; Heed life’s fast and certain ruling, “Sometime soon” may be too late. Take the years that life is giving, Make each day a day worthwhile; Troubles are a part of living, Always, you can find a smile. God His promise is fulfilling, Wasted time He won’t allow; Keep a heart and mind that’s willing, If you’d do it, do it now!—Selected. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.

I think that Jesus explained and demonstrated that the OT system was imperfect. It could not save anyone. That was not its purpose. It was to teach the people about the real plan. And to keep fresh and in the forefront of these slow learners (not at all unlike us) that disobedience has consequences. If not, mercy is not needed. Redemption is not needed. And then there is the very distinct possibility that there was a serious amount of human embellishment of the details of the Sabbath rule. Jesus clearly showed that to be true and rather pointedly referred to "Moses law" in distinction from God's law. "You have heard that its has been said..." There were a number of times where He pointedly brought in to sharp distinction the OT mosaic law vs. His own.

God's justice was fulfilled "in Christ" from the foundation of the world. That's why Adam and Eve didn't die the 2nd death, i.e., the curse of the law. The justice of the law was legally established in the doing & dying of Christ as the Son of Man.

Robert First of all, nice question Read Josephus [Flavius'] account of life in Judea at the time of Christ. It makes today's Western corruption look like a Sunday School picnic. I think I have seen it all on TV but reading Josephus distresses me. Life then was putrid, evil, rotten. The Pharisees were no different. With that background, this bunch of snakes bring a woman caught in adultery to Christ for the express purpose of catching Him out. Adultery back then was as common as adultery today. The Pharisees had figured out that Jesus was REALLY progressive in his attitude towards, and treatment of women. They watched Him treat women with never-before seen respect, watched him have women friends, heard He healed a Gentile woman's son of a demon etc. Here they thought they had an Achillies heel. So they deliberately go seeking a sinful woman. There were so many, it was not hard to find one, and they may even have set her up since no man is brought before Him. They want to get Jesus to speak against the OT law, and they hope his love and grace will get Him to deny the operation of the law in this case. Jesus is aware of all of this. The woman is thrown at His feet, probably with her dress in a state of disarray as she is trying to cover herself to look more modest. Jesus knows He cannot deny or renounce His own law. What they do not know is that Justice rests on two pillars viz. Law AND Grace. Even today's legal system makes allowance for extenuating circumstances. Jesus thus makes a qualifying statement. "Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone" (John 8:7) Jesus was not just stalling for time writing on the ground. He MUST [imho] have been writing the sins of each accuser in the dust, not necessarily the name of the accuser, but a sin only he knew about. This was like Christ will do when He sits to judge the world. He started with the hidden sins of the most influential, who probably appeared the most righteous. This guy read his sin, and left convicted by his conscience and the next hypocrite stepped up to see what Christ was writing. Christ had erased the previous sin like an Etch-A-Sketch, and was busy writing the sins of the observing Pharisee without so much as looking up to see the face. Christ was shown the whole life of that sinner in an instant. When all had left, Christ then exercised His discretion as the only one without sin - NOT to cast the first stone. Notice His judgement was to "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). Thus Christ had confirmed the existence and penalty of the law as still in operation (by calling what she did a "sin"), while at the same time letting her off with a warning [don't we all love it when the traffic policeman does that to us? Do we ever question whether the traffic policeman has done away with the traffic laws by giving a warning?]. If Christ had just been doodling randomly, why would the most self-righteous brood of snakes ever have had a conscience attack right then? When Christ rules the earth, which I believe He will do at His return, during the 7th millennium, those surviving the Great Tribulation will gather around Him in Jerusalem, and begin living by all the OT laws, including Sabbath and Feast days. (Zech 14:16). THEN when ALL are keeping all of the law, and some one in a thousand person commits adultery, they will probably be given a warning, and if they do it again, will be stoned. If it were a second offence, they might go straight to the stoning. If we had to try to apply OT law to today's society, nobody would be left alive who had not committed a Biblical capital crime.

Beats me. All I can testify is that God has given me ten years of teaching me to sympathize with atheists.

Orange Joke Q: What happens when you step on an orange? A: You hurt its peelings

The problem is, he's not cutout for politics! He needs to do more trash talking, not to be so nice and soft spoken. He should've taken a look at what happen to Colin Powel, or at least spoken to him. Unfortunately he says things and than has to take his foot out of his mouth.

There are many reasons why folks suffer, but one reason is sick thinking. I know some folk who are chronic worriers. The person they cannot get away from is themselves. I know many folk say "Be yourself". But if one is a big worrier, a grudge holder, envious of others, an addict, having an inferiority complex, etc. then the last person I would want to be is myself. So we look around for role models to copy. Jesus and Socrates come to mind, or whoever one admires. To me, one's whole life's goal should NOT be "Being oneself" but should rather be "Become better than your current self". If one can end the day having learned and changed something about oneself, then that was a good day.

I love astromony.

Twinkie, Twinkie, little star...

Coloring the multiplication table a certain way produces hyperbolic arcs resembling the rainbow. Pretty neat. Check it out. http://www.mathrecreation.com/2009/06/multiplication-table-rainbows.html

probably the Hubble Bubble Gum telescope...

Thanks for my first chuckle of the day!

I wonder what type of telescope was needed to get this view!

to all here! ..and yet so many don't see it or don't want to see it! A frightening culture that has always been. The worst acts in history has always been by trying to keep the church pure by fixating on sins of others John 16:2 People will put you out of their synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. There are many ways people can kill joy. BTW Hi Tom Wetmore ..thanku for weighing in hi Coaspen! I speak on this a lot and post these things to no end... For good reason! To be so fixated on peoples sins closes the eyes to GOD and drives so many away. JESUS says If I be lifted up ..I will draw all people. I believe the True Remnant People will draw people..not repel them. Joy is infectious. Let the JOY of the LORD be your Strength! . The great man Jack Blanco (Author of 'THE CLEAR WORD) said "take a short look at sin and take along long Look at JESUS!" looking at your own sin for too long discourages and looking at others sins too long creates Such Bitterness, You get a church discouraged and bitter. That aint gonna spread the Gospel..the facts we have are not that charming in the that cesspool! But a Church held up in the Light of the CRoSS ..Gazing at Him continuously !!!!! Thats a BAM BAM! . Now I will share one of the Secrets of JOY ( its actually Christianity 101 and many have stumbled upon this) When you go into your prayer closet and thru out the day..among all the tears and disappointments of yourself/others and lifting up and blessing others before HIM and Worship of HIM ..In Thanksgiving and Praise.... imagine GOD Himself delighting in you as you are and where you stand. Understanding Wherever you go HE is there with you Whatever you are doing whatever you are thinking (good.bad.indifferent) .. HE Is In your face with NonCondemnation. God's thoughts of you are so precious as many as the sands of the sea. There is no where you can go without HIM..HE by your side Even in your complete darkness He is there! No matter how far you run (into self pity or addiction or self loathing or loathing of others) He is not going to leave you.. HIS right Hand holds you!!! He sings and dances over you regardless of who u r or what you have done..Cause that is How HE IS..That's what LOVE Does! To get this ..gets everything the Spirit has promised you. It is your jumping off point every morning and thru the Day! It is what draws others to you .. to HIM and that Brings even more JOY. It is what draws you to HIM in Joy. And being around others who are so JESUS Center also spurs you on even more so in your Healing and Growth..One of the great Reasons to FELLOWSHIP! I shared a bit of that in the 7th Post on this Thread.. Why I had to see God differently. Any other way I engaged with GOD does not create LIFE in HIM..but death.