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If a pastor's car is parked out in front of a known prostitute's home overnight, does that mean the pastor is participating in illicit sex with a prostitute? Appearances can be deceiving. That's why it's best to consider one's own besetting sins, instead of judging (yes, JUDGING) someone else. Some will quote the text, to "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess 5:22) as scriptural "back-up" to not be involved with other gay people if one is gay. That's not what the verse means, in my opinion. The verse means that if *you* perceive something as evil, *you* shouldn't do it. But no one has the right to insist that others be under the same compunction as oneself. For instance, suppose one feels strongly that coffee is an evil drink. Should that preclude everyone else from drinking it? Of course, not. It's not wise to set one's scriptural interpretations as the measure by which everyone else must abide. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts persons of their sins. He doesn't need our help in doing that.

\Read More Daily Jesus Scripture: Hebrew 4:15,16 Starting Question: What part of today are you most excited about? He's Been There Just 25 years old, the theology student walked with the pastor up the stairs toward the group of boys he was to study with. “I just can’t get through to them,” the old pastor said. “They seem to take pleasure in persecuting me.” Less than 14 years later, the youth minister would be dead. But today, it was only 1931, not 1945 when he would face the Nazi war machine - accused and hanged for plotting Hitler’s death. Today was just the training ground. Deitrich tightened his tie as they reached the landing in front of the door to the classroom. There were boys, literally, hanging from the rafters. The others stood ready, with wadded paper and waiting insults. The elderly pastor threw the door open and shouted, “This is your new Bible Study leader!” Then, turning to Bonhoeffer, he said, “Their all yours. I’m sorry!” The door hadn’t even finished closing from their entrance before the pastor was headed down the stairs. Deitrich, known today for his amazing practical theology and his written legacy ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ stood quietly with his hands in his pockets. Then he began to speak. He didn’t raise his voice. He just began talking to the room of German boys about one of his experiences in New York. Only the boys in the front row could make out what he was saying. They angrily shushed the others. Just a few moments after being warned about the sinful impossible rabble of these ruffians, he had them in the palm of his hand. “Listen now,” Dietrich said, “and next week, I will tell you another story about America.” Telling stories of his travels and life experiences, young Bonhoeffer connected Bible stories and the teachings of the Word of God to the lives of these young men. Like Jesus, young Deitrich knew what it was like to be a man trapped in a boys body. He had been where they sat. And he knew there was nothing more powerful than a story of greater places, bigger things and better times. Jesus calls us to do the same. Tell our story. Connect it to His story. We’ve been where our listers are now. Jesus has been where we are - He has faced all that we have or will face. The story of Jesus’ love, demonstrated in His willingness to die for us, gives us the confidence and assurance of Dietrich Bonhoeffer because, like him, we have Jesus. Reflection Question: What story from your life would you tell to connect a group of friends to Jesus? Prayer time: Before you pray together, ask: What would you like to say to Jesus today? Further Reading: The Desire of Ages, 24, 25 -x-x-x-x-X-x-x-x-x GET ONE OF DAVE'S BOOKS, FREE! Support this project by clicking here and pledging a small monthly amount. View the full article

Again, you are accusing him of sinning. It's like condemning a reformed alcoholic of drinking or a diabetic of wrong diet. Why would any gay person want to come to church after being treated like this? In the Bible God is supportive of the oppressed and afflicted. He takes them from where they are and shows them a better way. They already know condemnation from what man heaps on them. And too often it is Christians keeping gays from Jesus. Here is someone who is active in the church, who loves others and while identifying with his brothers does not partake of their sin. He has accepted the blood of Christ. Just because he posts of the affliction of people like him you accuse him of sinning.

We thank God for His guidance and leading during the “10 Days of Prayer” initiative we had earlier this year, and praise Him for what was accomplished. As the country embarks on General Election, we believe that it is necessary for us to engage in united prayer for God’s will to cover the length and breadth of Jamaica… View the full article

Stan, It is with great embarrassment I share this. I never shared this before. The Church I grew up with ... had people inspecting the fellowship dishes (even guests) and if people mixing fruits and vegies you would never hear the end of it. One member in good standing told me :he gauges people's Spiritual Life by their weight. Imagine every Sabbath walking in and people quoting scriptures about the Body is the temple and the fat is for GOD and waving 'Counsels on Diet and Health' Every time! conversely Imagine every time a QUEER walks into Church or this Forum and Scriptures are thrown about about abominations and Sodom. Every time! Both gets old very quickly for decades for the survivors. Now why would anyone go to where Christians congregate online or in real life? thanku Stan for the IGNORE FEATURE! And you know what the most idiotic foolish thing in all this? After years of the rude condescending overlording patronizing .bullying ugly backwards unkind socially inept and not to mention VOID OF CHRIST and repulsive statements and warnings and sermons and chit chat and debate.. and Scriptures and EGW used as a bat The people doing it still have no clue that it doest work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! o boy! These people have a miserable picture of JESUS if they think this is how to be in church or even here.! insane! And God still calls us to love and forgive! Ahhh mazing! # God forgive them for they really don't know what the heck they are doing .

The way it comes across to me, any effort on our part to make our self comfortable with the norm of the world we live in, is counter productive to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the sooner than later coming of the Lord Jesus. …24"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.…John 12 God is Love!~Jesus saves!

You are labeling someone you don't know. In a way, your responses could lead someone to think that if you (if you are a straight single male) were living in the same household as a single female, that you would be having intimate relations with that female. Assumptions such as that, and of those you are placing on Gay, are ridiculous and without justification. It reminds me of a newspaper clipping I have from 1913. It's a report of a group of men visiting women & staying overnight at a house of "ill repute"... Neighbors were infuriated and called the police to arrest the men and women having the illicit interludes. The police barged into the house -- only to find that the House of Ill Repute was the city home of four sisters, and the young men who came on the weekends were their brothers who worked at the family farm in the country during the week. True story. My grandmother was one of the young ladies. As far as "subjectivising" the Bible, well, that's open to debate. Seriously, though, many of the Scriptural texts can have different messages to different people. That's why the Bible is not merely a list of "Thou shalt not's"... It is to be a personal message to each individual. You may or may not agree... but my, nor anyone else's salvation and relationship with God does not rest with your interpretation of the Scriptures, nor your errant evaluation of others.

Good Morning Everyone, I am so happy to share a new book with you all, from our dear friend David B. Smith. David, has written many books before, so I am sure his name is familiar to most of you. Here is the info on David's New Book - ""Love in a Distant Land" is now also up and running as an e-book on Amazon! The print version’s being offered by BigUmbrella.tv, LLUC's new media ministry. This is our debut novel in an extended series all set in my childhood home of Bangkok. I promise you’ll enjoy spending part of your day, with this robust love story, and the Kindle book’s just $7.99. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Distant-Land-Rachel…/…/B01BL4XEQU http://bigumbrellatv.businesscatalyst.com/love-in-a-distant…" Here is David's Bio - David cites a trio of variables which spice up his fiction. His dad, Pastor Ken Smith, had a three-year gig playing the comic role of Waldo in the old Our Gang film series. David possesses just enough Venden DNA (his mom, Jean, is cousin to Lou and Morrie) to occasionally accept preaching assignments or academy chapel talks. And along with his three brothers, he spent thirteen years as a missionary kid in Bangkok and put in two school terms writing the irreverent humor column for FEA’s student newspaper Ripples. He admits, “My brother Dan was the editor and spent most of his tenure apologizing about me.” Sandwiched in between his years as a math professor, David also logged over a decade as the Voice of Prophecy’s main scriptwriter for the Adventist Church’s official daily broadcast. He credits those fast-paced deadlines with helping him develop a knack for finding that elusive story twist that might intrigue a secular audience. Now, in writing Christian fiction, he cites a quote by favorite author C. S. Lewis, who once suggested: “We must attack the enemy’s lines of communication. What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects – with their Christianity latent.” The Rachel Marie series of books is set in David’s childhood home, where Rachel Marie and a growing cast of characters work and witness at Bangkok Christian School. He describes these as adult love stories where relationships are healed; the plot lines are infused with Asia’s risqué culture and a thoughtfully evangelical mind-set.

Thank you Thomas. I intend to use this to supplement a Sabbath School class series on "The History of the Antichrist". Even though there is a scarcity of SDA's on CA that give much credence to an Islamic beast power, there is a large and growing contingent of SDA's and Messianic Jews in our area who are waking up to this scenario. Part of our response is a growing prayer ministry that Jesus would reveal Himself openly to Muslims who are seeking a way out of salvation by works and religious terrorism. Joel Richardson just spoke here on a ministry he is working with in a predominantly Shiite area where hundreds of discrete converts are being baptized; and are praying for the security of Israel. He said many of the converts show up because of a dream about a nice man with holes in His hands directing them to this ministry to learn more about Him and a more sure way to Paradise.

When Jesus returned to Heaven, and was "glorified" at Pentecost - I believe the Father filled Christ with His spirit - "without measure". In effect, the Father restored to Christ His divine powers - the powers that He gave up when He incarnated to become a human being. With new power, Christ could Himself pour out His spirit presence upon His disciples on the earth. He could empower them to do miracles, just as His Father had done FOR Him, during His earthly ministry.

I believe that the Son of God - known as Michael (meaning like unto God) was begotten out of God the Father BEFORE anything was created. The Son was "the beginning of His way" - the beginning of the Father's way. Michael was NOT created. He was BEGOTTEN. Michael then became the agent of His Father, in creation, in mediation, and in reconciliation. The Father's glory is "covered" by the "covering cherub". It is absolutely correct to say that no human being had ever "seen the Father". Michael appeared to men on earth - to Abraham, to Moses, to Joshua, PRIOR to His incarnation into human nature and form. When He incarnated, He "emptied Himself" of divine power. He must live perfectly obedient AS A MAN. In so doing, He fulfilled the one CONDITION for dominion - perfect obedience. Jesus told the woman at the well, "God is spirit". He also said, "the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (NKJ) This doesn't sound like the true worshipers will worship 3 divine beings. They "will worship the Father". It reminds me of I Corinthians 15:24-28. "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. [The Father put all things under Christ.] 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." So, in the END we have Christ "subject to" His Father. I don't see 3 divine beings in this.

On Sabbath, February 13 almost 700 Israeli Seventh-day Adventist brothers and sisters were blessed with a beautiful sunny day. Gathered at the YMCA Auditorium in Jerusalem, congregants enjoyed peace and the blessings of a special Sabbath. Children and adult choirs, plus instrumental ensembles, praised God through music. View the full article

It's been said that “a man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done.” Many fathers have stretched the time they work from before and until after the sun makes its journey through the sky. A young boy, after watching his father leave one morning, asked his mother, “Where does Dad go when he leaves every day?” His mother explained that his father had a job where he got paid for his time. The little boy ran to his room and returned with a handful of coins. He laid them out on the table, saying, “Mum, how much of Dad's time will this buy me?” Fathers who spend time with their children bring untold blessing into the lives of those youngsters. But, like mothers, there are benefits to the male brain that result from spending time with their kids. One research program studied marmoset monkeys and found that the male monkeys who were fathers (marmoset fathers help raise the babies) were faster and more accurate at finding containers with food in them. In human homes, the more time a father spends in the house, the less likely he is to be told, “It's behind the milk.” I have become so suspicious of the milk in our fridge that I have been known to check behind the milk before asking if anyone has seen my socks. In all seriousness, dads, we've got a lot to answer for. We shouldn't be grunting, “I brought you into this world and I'll take you out” unless we are willing to spend time loving and being loved by our children. Dad, your kids need you. They need you in their lives when they are living it – at home and engaged when they are awake and active. Dads, when we spend time with our kids we give them a good start in life. Your example as a father, a husband and grown man will help them become all they can be. ----- ----- ----- ----- For more parenting pondering, see the "Parently" section of this blog. View the full article

Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Rev 13:3 NKJ) The Beast with its little horn, persecutes the saints AFTER its deadly wound is healed. NOT BEFORE. Has the deadly wound been healed? Yet? If so - when?

Folks who want to PROVE the Trinity, always quote 1John 5:7 and Matthew 28:19. Both verses are suspect. Most scholars agree that 1John 5:7 was added to the text by the Catholic church - eager to prove a Trinity. Recent scholarship has made a strong case for the baptismal formula also being altered. It is suspect that every manuscript up through Constantine, has the last page torn out. One Aramaic manuscript survived intact. In that manuscript, Jesus says, "baptizing them in My name." Jesus own disciples went about baptizing "in the name of Jesus Christ". There are SIX examples of this. There is NOT ONE example of a disciple baptizing in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Besides the Holy Spirit does not have a name. The Son is Jesus, and the Father is Yahweh - the One True God (See John Cpt 17).

Kevin, When Western churches want to explain the Trinity, they always go to the argument that it is just to far beyond human understanding. Me - I just want to keep it simple. Paul wrote, "Grace to you and peace FROM (#1) God our Father and (#2) the Lord Jesus Christ." (14 times) That's simple. 1 Corinthians 8:6 "yet for us there is one God, the Father, (#1) of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, (#2) through whom are all things, and through whom we live." That's simple. Revelation 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne (#1), and to the Lamb (#2)!" That's simple. Revelation 5:13 "And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, (#1) And to the Lamb (#2), forever and ever1!" That's simple. 1 John 1:3 "and truly our fellowship is with the Father (#1) and with His Son Jesus Christ (#2). Simple. (No fellowship with the Spirit?) 1 John 2:24 "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son (#1) and in the Father (#2). Simple.

Missing the point.....

So much speculation about the 7 heads, especially since we have told what the Bible says but people choose to follow speculation rather than the Holy Scriptures. Deuteronomy 4 gives 2 possible futures for the Hebrews. If faithful God would bless them, Nations would join or reject them and things would improve into the Kingdom of God. If unfaithful God would send curses and if nothing else worked they would go into exile. The exile could be the last days if they share with their neighbors about God's faithfulness and their unfaithfulness. This would have spread the gospel and the exile would have ended in a grand second exodus lead by the Messiah. Hezekiah was a faithful king and brought about a reformation. He got sick, prayed for a healing and was healed. Because of this representatives came from Babylon. If Hezekiah showed them his true riches (his God) they could have carried the gospel back to Babylon. This could have lead to the Gospel spreading to the whole world and with in a couple of generations the world would have been ready for the Messiah to rule over them. But instead Hezekiah showed them his stuff and they went home with the memory of this stuff and instead of a few generations later they came back for the stuff. Therefore instead of having Christ ruling over them they started the first of 7 periods of someone besides Christ ruling over them. The Greek word for in place of is "Anti" If Hezekiah shared the Gospel it would have been Christ. Since he did not it was ruled by someone else, the first of the 7 periods of AntiChrist. Instead of the son of David ruling over them, there was a period of 7 who were to rule over God's people until they were able to again be ruled by the son of David. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. An image with 7 parts: 1.) Head of God 2.) Breast and arms of silver. 3.) Belly and thighs of silver. 4) legs of iron. 5) Feet of iron and clay. 6.) Toes of iron and clay. 7.) An attempt for the toes to join together, may even appear to for a short time but then end in utter chaos, followed by the stone cut out without mans hands when again God's people are ruled by the Christ, a son of David. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar "Assyria is the head of Gold" At least according to a number of people here this is what Daniel should have said and they are so much wiser than Daniel. The beast in Revelation is on 7 mountains. In a smaller sense this can mean the 7 hills of Rome, but in a larger sense it is talking about the true and 7 false holy mountains. Mt. Zion being the true Holy Mountain. Babylon is flat so they tried to build a Holy mountain, the tower of Babel. Greece had Mt. Olympus. The 7 mountains represent 7 kingdoms. Actually Daniel 2, had God's people been faithful in exile would have had 4 kings: 1.) Nebuchadnezzar 2.) Belshazzar, 3.) Darius and 4.) Cyrus. 5.) Then Cyrus' kingdom could have weakened and the strife between the Persians and Greeks leading to 6.) divisions and 7.) an attempt to unite followed by utter chaos and the rock without hands taking over. But by Daniel 9 it reapplies the dream from 4 kings to 4 kingdoms Thus we have the 7 heads of Revelation which is simply the 7 parts of Nebuchadnezzar's dream: 1.) Head of Gold: Babylon 2.) Breast and arms of silver: Medio Persia. 3.) Belly and thighs of brass: Greece. 4.) legs of iron: Rome 5.) Feet of iron and clay: Clay in the Bible represents what God works with and forms. But here the clay is not being formed by God but being formed by the politics. A church state, the Holy Roman Empire with Papal supremacy. 6.) Then we had the American and French Revolutions which brought about the end of one government ruling over most of God's church but a bunch of independent nations. Some following the American Revolution offering freedom. Others following the French Revolution offered control over the people under communism. The head has a deadly wound, the crowns are on the horns. These are the toes of iron and clay. They were united as a foot under the Holy Roman Empire and separated into independent nations under the deadly wound 7.) The deadly wound being healed, world unification under economic cooperation. A fragile peace but a time of peace and prosperity as never before in a carefully balanced system that everyone has to cooperate with for it not to fall apart. Everyone will be faced with compromising their beliefs and conscience to make this system work out. Satan will be here claiming to be Jesus and the demons will pretend to be the Bible writers, prophets, Mrs. White, and your loved ones encouraging you to join the system and compromise your conscience. Too many people today do not trust the Bible but trust in Fundamentalism and what it says about the Bible. At this time the issues that Walter Rea brought up against Mrs. White will be clearly seen in the Bible. and too many would be willing to give up the Bible because it does not fit with Fundamentalism, than give up Fundamentalism. So why follow this old book by plagiarists when we have Jesus and the Bible writers and our beloved loved ones risen from the dead to guide us. For those of us who say "I'm sorry but Jesus is Satan" we will hear him say with tears in his eyes "How can Satan cast out Satan?" All our 5 senses will tell us this is Jesus, and that the others are the Bible writers and our loved ones. The counterfeit will be perfect. We will believe that we are rejecting Christ to follow the Bible. Everything we do is tainted with selfishness. Even our good and hope to go to heaven is tainted with selfishness. Here we will feel like we are giving up heaven for following the Bible. Thus giving us a victory over selfishness. People willing to do what is right because it is right. People willing to follow the Bible even it means eternal death, just as Jesus was willing to go to the cross for us even if it meant eternal death for him. Will we be willing to follow our conscience and the Bible in this situation? This fragile system will fall to utter chaos. The merchants of the earth (the corporations) who lead the 7th head (rather than a political leader like the first 5 heads, thus making it something out of the ordinary or an 8th) will be the first to mourn. They will blame those of us who decided to hold on to that book and follow our conscience and say that they can restore order and return to the peace and prosperity if they kill those who caused it to fail. The death decree and the events leading to the last events and God's people will be delivered and finally for the first time since Zedekiah God's people would be ruled by a son of David. The 7 heads are the 7 periods from being ruled by Zedekiah son of David to Jesus son of David. The 7 periods of someone else ruling God's people.