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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".

This is pretty intricate!

To have the laughter and happiness of a child would do wonders for the adult world. She changed people, if only for a moment, and gave them some joy to remember.

That just reinforces what I have been saying. He forgave her even though she wasn't asking for it. She knew she deserved to be stoned. She didn't expect or ask for mercy. But she got it anyway. Because that is what he was here to do. Save and forgive and heal people. To set the captives of sin free. How do you set sinners free? You forgive them.

See: http://barelyadventist.com/ted-wilson-toasting-2016-jesus-turned-water-into-martinellis/

Tevet 21 In 1485, the first printed edition of Rabbi Yosef Albo's Ikkarim was published -- an exposition on the Jewish fundamentals of faith. Israel Nathan Soncino had founded the first Hebrew printing house in Soncino, Italy 24 years after Gutenberg brought movable type to the world's attention. Soncino's first publication was a volume of the Talmud, and over the next 70 years more than 130 Hebrew books were printed by the Soncino family. In 1988, an Italian postage stamp was issued to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the printing of the Soncino Bible.

Celtic Hunterston brooch, ca 700 source: https://imgur.com/b4J1Otd

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]

I do not know the details of this specific issue and therefore I cannot comment on it. However, I can make a more generalized statement. Some people think that the heart of the SDA message is to attack the beliefs that others sincerely hold and/or their denominations. That is false. The heart of the gospel (and the SDA message) is a positive one and every one of its doctrinal statements can be proclaimed in a positive manner that does not attack.

when i was preparing this most succulent thread I thought of this quote by EGW This thread is deeply spiritual and her quote opened the door to start with this most wonderful meme i posted then my mind jumped to the Spiritual 12 steps.. I see a great big picture here! Its too wonderful for me to even weakly convey There are people here who Love Jesus with great minds and I can't wait for their input! and Hi Wingnut! Happy New Year! good to see u 2!

Why does that surprise you? To not condem someone who really deserves it, to suffer the consequences for the wrong done to you instead of heaping that upon the one who did you wrong - is that not simply forgiveness? Listen to how many times Jesus surprised someone by saying to them, "Your sins are forgiven", even when they were not even seeking that. The words he uttered when he healed someone were often words of forgiveness. Forgiveness and healing are perhaps really the same thing anyway.

In developing countries it could be that there is still more of a "village" mindset, more community spirit, than we have here in the West, say, in Europe or N. America. Having freedom and wealth may mean less interdependence.

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.

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.

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

Nope- no Alzheimer's there!

A familiar face. I suppose that Alan Alda, Elliot Gould and Donald Sutherland (movie version) are all up there in age, too. It's like an old friend has passed away, isn't it?

Tevet 20 Yahrtzeit of Maimonides (1135-1204), also known as the Rambam (an acronym for his name, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon). Maimonides was born in Spain, but was forced to flee due to a radical Muslim regime that gave the Jews a choice of accepting Mohammed or leaving. Maimonides finally settled in Cairo, where in addition to leading the Jewish community, he was a top physician who served in the royal court of the Sultan of Egypt. Maimonides' magnum opus is Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive 14-volume code of Jewish law which has since been the subject of more than 300 commentaries. Maimonides' great philosophical treatise, Guide for the Perplexed, explains Jewish theology in light of Aristotelian philosophy and science. A popular saying is that "from Moses [of the Torah] to Moses [Maimonides], there has never been one like Moses." Maimonides is recognized today as the greatest medieval Jewish philosopher. He is buried in Tiberias, Israel.

See: http://barelyadventist.com/affluenza-teen-avoids-jail-by-enrolling-at-montemorelos-adventist-university-in-mexico/

4 Biggest Stories That Shaped the Adventist Church in 2015 As war and rumors of war rattled the world in 2015, the Seventh-day Adventist Church sought to act as the hands of Jesus in sharing medical treatment with the sick, food and shelter with the homeless, and heavenly peace with the distraught. Those efforts were most clearly seen in Comprehensive Health Ministry, a church initiative to bring physical and spiritual healing to people that tops our list of the biggest stories that shaped the Adventist Church over the past year. Leading the way were a series of church-organized mega-clinics that have provided free medical care to scores of people in Zimbabwe, the United States, Papua New Guinea, and elsewhere. Read more A weekly GraceNote from Adventist Review editor Bill Knott "Fear persuades us to look downward and look back, to find in our muddiness and brokenness a cause to dread the future. But "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim 1:7). Only grace allows us, through the sacrifice of Jesus, to forget what lies behind and press forward to what lies ahead. So only grace can make the New Year truly new. It heals what fear corrodes, reminding us that the future can yet be the landscape of the Spirit. Come boldly to the throne, and stay in grace. " -Bill Knott 5 Adventist Students Killed in Papua New Guinea Crash Five Seventh-day Adventist students died and another 11 were injured when the 36-seat vehicle that... Read more Adventist Jailed in Kazakhstan for 'Inciting Religious Hatred' Church leaders encourage Astana to adhere to its commitment of religious freedom for all citizens. Read more Their Faith Still Speaks: Notable Adventist Deaths in 2015 Death took some of the brightest lights in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2015. Read more A Movement Must Have Momentum To truly be a movement, we need one Adventist church for every 25,000 people in the North American Division. Read more Egg-Free Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Gingersnap Crusts With a creamy spiced cashew-pumpkin batter, gingersnap crusts, and topped with whipped... Read more Adventist Community Services provides you with opportunities to serve communities in Christ’s name. ACS volunteers provide support and assistance in disaster relief, elder care, crisis care, urban ministries, youth and young adult engagement, tutoring, and mentoring. Your financial gifts to the Adventist Community Services offering on December 12 will make it possible to continue touching one heart and transforming communities. Adventist Review Adventist World AR On the Air Photo Galleries Contribute Photo Submissions Screening Room Twitter Facebook In This Issue News Blogs Reader Response Contact Us Log In Copyright © 2016 Adventist Review, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Adventist Review 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904

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

Tevet 19 In 1901, the Jewish National Fund was founded for the purpose of purchasing settlement land in Israel. JNF had the idea of placing a collection box in every Jewish home, and by the 1920s about one million of the famous "Blue Boxes" were in Jewish homes throughout the world. Besides purchasing land throughout Israel, JNF expanded into afforestation, water projects, agricultural innovation, roadworks, schools, and immigrant services. JNF operates under the principle that the Land of Israel belongs to the entire Jewish people; based on this, the Israeli Knesset later adopted a law stating that JNF lands cannot be sold, but only leased for periods of 49 years at a time. Over the past century, JNF has planted over 220 million trees throughout Israel -- the only nation in the world to end the 20th century with more trees than it had at the beginning.

Thanks Gregory. I wasn't planning to leave Club Adventist. I was talking about people who really study their Bibles - or not - and why not. I was an AVID believer in the Trinity doctrine, just 'cause Mrs White wrote statements supporting it. I didn't know those were written after 50 years of writing statements that did not support the doctrine. I didn't know that 1 John 5:7 was added to the text. I didn't know that Matthew 28:19 had also been changed. I was an AVID SDA. It was only after a fellow SDA challanged me on the Trinity doctrine that I really began to study it. I was determined to prove my friend wrong. Finally - after almost 4 years of study and searching, I came to believe that the Bible does not support a Trinity. During those years, I continued as a faithful, tithe-paying SDA. But I would bring up questions concerning what the Bible said, because I myself was searching. I talked with the pastor too, who only quoted EGW, or recommended books like the "Fundamental Doctrines". He really was no help. I didn't start out to "make trouble". It all just gradually happened as I studied and searched. After I "left", I began to question everything. I felt like I was swimming in an ocean without a rock to crawl up on. Over many years, I confirmed or rejected other things. I rejected the 1844 doctrine. I rejected the teaching that any jewelry is immoral. And I rejected the teaching that "the rest of the dead" will be the lost, from 6000 years of earth history. I believe "the rest" will be those who never had the chance to accept or reject Christ during their lives, because they lived and died in ignorance (for whatever reason). I believe that one must CHOOSE, before one can receive eternal life. Gregory, you live in a big city where there are many "flavors" of SDA congregations, some more "traditional", some less so. I live in a SMALL TOWN. There is only one - VERY traditional SDA church here. I would NOT be welcome there. The first time I attended there, an elder did a whole sermon on why we should believe in Ellen White. THAT was a clue.

I very much appreciate Rachel's careful study of Scriptures, and especially her alternative ideas. We should always keep our minds open when studying the Scriptures rather than locking ourselves up into a particular mindset. Recall that Jesus had to keep explaining the scriptures to his disciples, and it wasn't until after he died that they began to understand. Their thinking had been corrupted by the Keepers of Religion of the day, and so we, too, must be wary of denominational doctrines and dogma.

“Norway’s child welfare agency has reportedly seized a Christian couple’s five children, aged 9 to three months, on charges that parents Marius and Ruth Bodnariu subjected them to “Christian radicalization and indoctrination.” …” More: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/norways-child-welfare-seizes-familys-five-kids-for-alleged-christian-indoct?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=84c67bcdc5-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines_06_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0caba610ac-84c67bcdc5-397582101

“After an atheist group forced one Minnesota city to take down its Nativity scene, residents took matters into their own hands, blanketing the town with nativity scenes in response…hundreds of them. … Other folks began to buy and put up Nativity scenes on their yards and in their shop windows. Hundreds of them. There are four sets in a craft store window, three at a local café, two at the local bookstore. Some stores painted their display windows with the Nativity scene. …” More: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/thousands-of-nativity-scenes-pop-up-to-challenge-freedom-from-religion-grou?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1c9f8a705d-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines_06_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0caba610ac-1c9f8a705d-397582101

“The Islamic State has issued a “safety contract” for Christians living in Qaryatian, Syria comprised of 11 specific commandments, including one which prohibits praying out loud to Jesus Christ under penalty of death. … The desire to invade Rome is still throbbing like a beating heart; it is alive and remains vibrant like a torrent within the very soul of the Muslim world. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the most influential Sunni scholar today, made the prediction in 2002 that the Muslims will soon rise and invade Rome, making references to the declaration of Muhammad himself: …” More: http://shoebat.com/2015/09/04/isis-declares-a-new-set-of-rules-for-christians-if-you-say-the-name-of-christ-and-we-hear-it-you-will-be-killed/

Tevet 18 Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Shapiro of Dinov (1783-1841), author of the chassidic work, B'nei Yissachar. A brilliant scholar, kabbalist, and leader of Polish Jewry, Rabbi Shapiro worked vigorously to strengthen the Jewish community in light of the assimilationist trends brought about by the Enlightenment.

Tevet 17 In 1728, Congregation Shearith Israel purchased a plot of land in lower Manhattan, site of the first structure ever designed and built as a synagogue in continental North America. At the time, New York had the only Jewish community in the country; it would be some two decades later before organized Jewish settlement began in Philadelphia, Lancaster and Charleston. Shearith Israel was the only Jewish congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825, having been founded by Brazilian Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin. Governor Peter Stuyvesant, known for his anti-Semitic views, had initially denied Jews the right to worship in a public gathering; these Jews fought for their rights and won permission. Today, Shearith Israel occupies a grand structure at 70th Street and Central Park West. ps:if I'm not mistaken the old building is now a Chinese Temple!! But am not positive!!

Tevet 16 In 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant was instructed to revoke Order No. 11, which had called for the expulsion of all Jews from Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. During the Civil War, smugglers were illegally selling southern cotton to the northern textile factories. Grant, commander of U.S. Army forces, believed that Jews were primarily behind this illegal cotton trade, and he decided to expel all Jews from southern territory. Grant wrote: "No Jews are to be permitted to travel on the railroad southward from any point... The [region] must be purged of them." Based on Grant's orders, Jews were expelled from their homes, including 20 families from the town of Paducah alone. Some Jews were denied rail transportation and had to flee northward on foot. Those who did not cooperate were thrown into prison. Jewish community leaders immediately arranged a meeting at the White House with President Lincoln, who cancelled the expulsion order. Grant, who would later become U.S. president, never offered any explanation or apology and Grant deliberately omitted the episode from his autobiography. He did, however, show some "remorse" by appointing many Jews to public office, speaking out against anti-Semitism in Europe, and becoming the first president to visit the land of Israel.

Tevet 15 In 1963, Israel's first desalinating water facility opened in Eilat. Israel is inherently poor in water bodies -- about 90% of the land area is dryland, and 60% of the country is covered by the Negev desert. Desalination is a process of producing water from salty and/or contaminated water. Today, Israel's national water company, Mekorot, operates 29 desalination plants, mainly in the south of the country.

Really, none of this makes any sense. Why would Jesus, the great Physician, send someone to a doctor? Saying he never did so means quite literally, nothing. And what is perhaps even more sad is glibly accusing SDAs, or anyone, of worshipping doctors. Especially in light of the apparent, albeit superficial, attempt at considering the meaning of words. Look up the word "worship" in the dictionary. I think perhaps another word to also look up is exaggeration...

Tevet 14 Yahrtzeit of Pinchas Rutenberg (1879-1942), founder of the Israel Electric Corporation. A Russian Jewish immigrant, Rutenberg was a visionary and pioneer, whose efforts to bring electricity to Israel is regarded as a crucial factor in building a strong modern economy. Rutenberg's flagship project was a hydroelectric plant on the Jordan River in 1931, which he built after gaining Winston Churchill's political backing and Baron Edmond de Rothschild's financial support. In 1948, the plant was destroyed by the Arab Legion.

Tevet 13 In 1944, Simon Wiesenthal barely escaped death at the Janwska concentration camp. Wiesenthal had been imprisoned in a total of 12 concentration camps, and at the time of his liberation from Mauthausen in May 1945, his six-foot frame weighed just 99 pounds. Nearly all of Wiesenthal's close relatives were murdered by the Nazis, and after the war he worked for the U.S. Army gathering documentation for Nazi war crimes trials. Wiesenthal continued this work privately, and became known as the "Nazi hunter" whose research led to capture of Adolf Eichmann in Argentina, and dozens of other war criminals including Karl Silberbauer, the Gestapo officer responsible for the arrest of Anne Frank. Wiesenthal said: "When history looks back I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it." The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which operates the Museums of Tolerance, is named in his honor. In 1981, the Center's film, "Genocide," won the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. Wiesenthal died at age 96 in Vienna and was buried in Herzliya, Israel.

The above is exactly right. There is nothing wrong with having a worship service on Sunday. What is wrong is substituting Sunday for the Sabbath. In my many years as a clergyperson, I have, in working for the Federal government, preached more often on Sunday morning than on Saturday morning. I kept the Sabbath, as much as I in my human way could do. But, I never kept Sunday as the Sabbath.

Tevet 12 In 1936, the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra performed its inaugural concert, consisting of 75 Jewish musicians from major European orchestras who had made aliyah. The opening concert (of the "Palestine Orchestra," as it was then known) was conducted by the great Arturo Toscanini, who had escaped the rise of fascism in his native Italy. Said Toscanini: "I am doing this for humanity." The IPO has earned a reputation as one of the pre-eminent orchestras in the world: over the decades it has featured Isaac Stern, Leonard Bernstein, Yehuda Menuhin and Itzhak Perlman. One profound moment came in 1991 when Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra during a Scud missile attack.

Tevet 11 In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln pledged to amend a federal law granting only Christian clergy the right to serve as military chaplains. During the Civil War (in which 6,500 Jews served for the North, and another 2,000 for the South), a religious Jew named Michael Allen had been elected as the non-denominational chaplain of his army regiment. When Allen's Jewishness became "publicized," rather than subject his family to the humiliating ordeal of his dismissal, Allen resigned, citing poor health. The regiment then elected Rabbi Arnold Fischel as its chaplain, in order to test the constitutionality of the "Christian-only" law. Much lobbying ensued, including Fischel traveling to Washington to meet with Lincoln. Six months later, the law was amended to permit Jewish clergy to become military chaplains. It is regarded historically as the first case of American Jews successfully challenging federal legislation.

Tevet 10 In 424 BCE, Babylonia King Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem. Actually, there was little damage on that first day and no Jews were killed, yet it began a chain of disasters which ended with the destruction of the Holy Temple. The 10th of Tevet is still observed today by Jews as a public fast day, as mentioned by the prophet Zechariah (8:19). One year after Nebuchadnezzar's siege, on this date in 423 BCE, Jeremiah purchased a field and prophesized that "Houses, fields and vineyards will yet again be bought in this land" (Jeremiah 32:15). This gave hope to generations of Jews for a return to the Holy Land -- a prophecy that we have seen fulfilled in modern times.

I have thought about this along with a related subject (Has God promised more than He could deliver?} over the years. Here are some thoughts: 1) The human condition and all the promises of God are book-ended or framed by two Biblical truths, (a) God's original creation was very good, Gen 1. As a result of sin, that paradise was lost. The ground was cursed, pain and death became the human experience, Gen 3. (b) Someday, that paradise will be restored where there will be no more pain, crying, or death. No matter how healthily you will still die. And how we die is not specified. It could by accident, old age, or a slow painful cancer death. 2) Another piece of that frame is the law of cause and effect. Defy the law of gravity by jumping off a tall building and the result is pretty certain, 100 prayers not withstanding. Eat foods that interfere with circulation and the result could a stroke, or a heart attack or something else. In my line of work, my observation is that many if not most human ailments/suffering are self-inflicted. 3) Innocent bystander/collateral damage. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 4) Refining aspect of hardships/trials/suffering. Not popular concept, but the Bible presents this nonetheless. 5) We are caught between two warring supernatural forces. If you choose God's side, Jesus guaranteed that you will have tribulation. 6) Hebrews 11:39-40 guarantees that all the promises of God cannot/will not be realized in this life. 7) Nothing can happen to the believer without God's permission, so in the meantime I just have to trust my God.

The above two passages betrays the author's extreme bias. Conservatives are no more prone to being hateful than are liberals. And suggesting that Fox News and Rush Limbaugh, rather than from the intellectual lineage of John Locke, Ludwig von Mises, Milton Friedman, William Buckley up to the contemporary thinkers like Newt Gingrich (that's the thinker Newt Gingrich, not the politician - same man, but a different focus), Paul Ryan, John Roberts and a host of others, forms the basis of conservative thought reveals the author's ignorance.