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Green said: This is the kind of a personal attack that is not appropriate in this forum. It appears to me to be the same kind of attack that Green has suggested violates Matthew 7:1, Joe and Rachel are not setting themselves above the Bible. They are simply proposing their understanding of what the Bible teaches.

I live in a county where the Latino population outnumbers the Caucasians. No, it wasn't that way when Reagan was president, but it was close. I actually have seen no difference in the attitudes of Hispanics today than from 30 years ago. They had their Cinco de Mayo celebrations, they spoke Spanish and some didn't learn English, they needed interpreters, there were gangs and shootings. Many Caucasians were less than enthusiastic about have Hispanics for neighbors. But by and large, the Hispanic population was quiet and friendly. People who are Muslim have been immigrating to the US for over 200 years. Yes, there are bad Muslims...just as there are bad Catholics, bad Baptists, bad Methodists, bad Mormons, and bad Adventists. Asians (Buddhists and Hindu) have been immigrating to the US for eons, as well. And the Caucasian "Christian" population looked upon them with derision and contempt. This happened with to Jewish population in the US, as well. Jews were not welcome in many parts of America. Why? because of their religion and because of the idea that Jews were sneaky and underhanded. (I think jealousy played a big part, in that many Jewish men were brilliant businessmen.) However, the focus of the article wasn't "immigration," though it was mentioned. The focus was how and why the Republican Party has changed into the "swamp of nativism, ideological extremism and pessimism about the country's future." As a Republican, I thought the author brought up some REALLY good points. And the notion that came to my mind when reading the article was that Donald Trump (who many now claim is the face of Republicanism) is the uncanny reincarnation of Archie Bunker.

Responses may be started in several ways. 1) In a given situation, I could say: Frank, does not live by what he preaches. He does not walk his talk. He is a hypocrite. Or I could say: 2) In post X, Frank sets down a standard by which he believes Biblically we should follow in our posts. In post Y, Frank, seems to me to violate the standard that he set in Post X. There is a major difference between # 1 & # 2. # 1 is clearly a personal attack. It calls him a hypocrite and states that he does not walk his talk. #2 does none of the above. It's focus is on the content of the posts, rather than Frank.

Jackson, Let's not forget: "if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out..."(Deut. 28:15-67). That is one of my favorites. All I can say is that I don't believe the way you do. Good luck on your path to trying to earn your salvation. I'm gonna trust that Jesus did a good enough job on the cross to save me; and work together with Him to incorporate the Family Values. He has promised to forgive my sin and cleanse me from my unrighteousness if I just confess and believe. He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. All I have to do is cooperate.

Green said: I acknowledge your sarcasm. All translations of the Bible are imperfect as they are human. But God has chosen to use such to proclaim his mess to we who are human. I consider it quite inappropriate for Green to attack a translation that God is using to bring people to salvation as Green has attacked it. But, perhaps (?) Green does not believe that God has ever brought one to salvation through the NIV? I do not know. The basic issues that involve translation issues are that of the selection of the text that is translated and how to translate that text. As I understand Green, he has no (none) personal understanding of the Biblical languages. In addition, he does not, as I understand it, have any real knowledge of the texts (MSS) that are used in the translation of the Bible. Yet, he has set himself up as one who is capable of translating the Bible and, as he has time, he is working of his own translation of the Bible, which he intends to publish and distribute. [NOTE: Perhaps he has already accomplished this/ I do not know.] I happen to agree with Green's theological position on the Trinity, at least as I understand him. I disagree with the position that Rachel has taken. However, I can clearly state that Rachel is honest. I have had honest discussions with her on this point. Green also said: So, is your translation authoritative? Is your translation available to any of us who might like to have a copy in order to see for ourselves exactly what value it might have?

Firefighter's Prayer When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert, and hear the weakest shout, quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling, to give the best in me, to guard my friend and neighbor, and protect his property. And if according to Your will I must answer death's call, bless with your protecting hand, my family one and all.

And you thought it was another nomination?

Read More Daily Jesus More Sabbath School Resources Preparation Day Bonus - Thoughts for Sabbath School Scripture: Acts 11:15-18 Starting Question: If you had to write one sentence defining yourself, what would it say? Three Visions The story of Cornelius’ conversion begins with three verses (Acts 10:1-3) that are one power-packed sentence in the original Greek. It is a detailed introduction to a story of epic change in the way God’s people are to see their mission and method of ministry. In this single sentence we learn Cornelius is an Italian soldier in charge of 100 men - a centurion. We learn he is spiritually devoted to three things: Israel’s God, generosity, and prayer. His pious practices demonstrated a readiness of heart for the Gospel and the “new story” of God, through His Son Jesus Christ. Acts 10 tells a riveting story of two visions that lead to a new vision of the Kingdom of God. The first vision came to Cornelius, a gentile who loved God. The next vision came a day later to Peter as he was about to receive an invitation. And the third vision (Acts 11:1-19) is the one the Early Church received when they heard the story of Gentile and Jew joining together for food, faith and family. After hearing the story, and a shocked silence, the Jewish Christians rejoiced that repentance resulting in life was now available even to the Gentiles! Peter stayed in their home, ate at their table, and listened to Cornelius’ vision story: “God sees you, Cornelius; call for Simon Peter.” Inside Cornelius’ home, Peter responds by telling of his own vision, received a day later, just moments before Cornelius’ men arrived with the invitation. “A sheet descended from Heaven,” Peter said. “Three times the command came to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’ and three times I said, ‘No, Lord! It is unclean!’ After the third time the voice replied to me, “What God has made clean, you must not call unworthy.” Peter pauses, his eyes clouding over, “I am sorry that I saw you as unclean, my brother! God has clearly spoken to you and through you into your beautiful family. I came here today, because you are as righteous - through Christ Jesus - as I am.” Life changing moments come in threes for Peter. He denied Christ three times - and thought it was the end of his ministry. He was asked three times by Jesus, “Do you love me?” - and was reinstated as a pillar of the early Christian movement. And, now, God is teaching Peter the reality of what happened on the Cross - the floodgates of Heaven have been opened to all of humanity. None are to be rejected. Food brings people together when it is shared. And food separates people when it is withheld for any number of reasons. God knew the Jews finickiness in this area and used it to teach the Church a new way of thinking - His way. The Jews were careful, due to their social taboos, to avoid ever eating with a gentile. So, the voice from Heaven said, in effect, “I have set the table and invited everyone in. Do come. Sit next to anyone - you’re all equals in this Kingdom!” ** Continued tomorrow in Baptism By Fire ** Reflection Question: When was the last time you sat with someone, other than your family, for a meal? Prayer time: Before you pray together, ask: What would you like to say to Jesus today? Further Reading: EGW Reference -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

Thanks for the resources, Kevin. I'm at work right now and can't read them thoroughly; but I will later. If the Trinity is such a central premise of Christianity, why is it not more obvious in scripture? Why does it take professors and theologians and prophets to explain it to us? If I were totally ignorant of the Bible and its contents; and stumbled across one and studied it with an open mind without the input of rabbis, priests, pastors theologians, etc., I don't think I would ever arrive at a "Trinity doctrine" on my own. I am a student of scripture and a believer; and I still don't see explicit evidence of a Trinity in scripture until I read some human's esoteric logic based on extra-biblical sources, mistranslation, and strained assumptions. Other central themes are crystal clear - the sovereignty of God, Jesus' divinity, salvation by grace Jesus as Redeemer, 2nd coming, 10 commandments, etc. I don't fault or judge anyone for being a Trinitarian any more than I would fault them for being Baptist. It's just not part of my belief system based on my study. As a hippie in another lifetime I was taught to "question all the answers". That's what I'm doing here.

I'm sorry that I cannot give a more specific quote, but I've listened to some recorded lectures of one of my former professors Dr. Jim Fleming* says that one of his colleagues (sadly he does not name him) from Hebrew University is a Jewish Rabbi and was quite upset at his discovery since he was anti-trinity and assumed that it was a doctrine made by the Catholic church well into the Christian era. However this Rabbi is the world's leading scholar on second temple Judaism. According to Dr. Fleming his colleague discovered that the trinity was developed by second temple Rabbis trying to explain concepts that are implied in the Old Testament as Israel moved from a more ancient/eastern thought to a more modern/western thought process which did not see or recognize these concepts in the Bible. However after the church-synagogue split of 135 AD the Jews and Christians ended up splitting the doctrine between them with the Jews going from holding the view of the trinity into focusing more on the oneness of God, and the Christians went more for the threeness of God, which evolved into the view of trinity formed by the Catholic Church. Among the Eastern Orthodox views of the trinity you can find preserved what is closer to the original Jewish/Early Christian view. I believe that the lecture series where he discusses the trinity is the series "Biblical Imagery in the Prophets and Jesus" http://www.biblicalresources.net/product.cfm?product=32 He also deals with it in "Act's New Discoveries from the Early Church" http://www.biblicalresources.net/product.cfm?product=37 And in his lecture series "Lest we forget: A history of Anti-Jewishness in the church" What I found fascinating is that the way Dr. Fleming describes second temple Trinity is exactly how Mrs. White's view of the trinity developed. Also you talk about how Mrs. White is not infallible, which is true (and no I don't hold to the Adventist tradition "Mrs. White was not infallible it's just that she never made any mistakes.") but her errors are more in using something to illustrate the larger message. She says that the framework that she is working with is what comes directly from God. This included that God did lead in the Millerite movement and that we should not give it up as not being lead by God. the formation of the church and guidance in say evangelizing cities. Setting up the health and education work, and finally the issues of the Great Controversy. When we come to the issues of the Great Controversy the trinity becomes central. It is a theme of 3s. that are all interrelated: The three aspects of the trinity, That Satan has 3 lies against God and that each one attacks a member of the trinity. Different stories in the Old Testament. (while she does not mention it the 3 thirds of the 10 commandments fit her structure.) Events in the New Testament, especially the 3 wilderness temptations which deal with the 3 aspects of the trinity, the events that Mrs. White focuses on in the chapters of the passion of Christ, and that the trinity if fully vindicated in the 3 angels messages. These are not things like "What is the meaning of the daily" or whether or not there was an innkeeper in the birth story of Jesus in Luke or if there were Jews keeping pigs when Jesus healed the man etc. These are central themes to her writing and to Adventist theology. Satan tries to get us to chase off on all these subtopics where Mrs. White says we will find errors or things where she gives some advice for one situation but has "balancing statements or practices" that shows that what she said on those are not the final answer. I hope this helps. * Dr. James Fleming, lecturer, is the director of Biblical Resources, LLC and the CEO of Biblical History Center, a museum of daily life in biblical times, located in LaGrange, GA. He obtained his Ed.D. degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX. He has lived and worked as an archaeologist and educator in Israel since 1974 and has taught classes in the School for Overseas Students at Hebrew University and the Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem. Dr. Fleming has developed courses in historical geography and biblical history, uniquely tying the studies with the biblical text, with an emphasis on the theological implications. He is the author of several dozen notebooks and teaching materials that are an excellent help to pastors and leaders.

When we are born into this world, we inherit a citizenship based on our birthplace. For myself, I am a Canadian citizen by birth and by residence. My husband is both a Brazilian and an Italian citizen. In the future,... View the rest of this great article

Sadly Dr. Kiss died Tuesday of a heart attack. At graduations he had the best robes. Sadly never studied with him. Had a few conversations. https://www.andrews.edu/agenda/40688/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=agenda-2016-02-24

wow. I hadn't heard about Dr. Kîs' death. I met him at campmeeting, and we had a wonderful conversation. Such a caring and warm person. Very sad that he's gone..

I have stepped out of airborne airplanes, as high as 4,000 feet above the ground. I have stepped out of a helicopter at 90 feet above the ground, but I consider a motorcycle to be to dangerous for me to ride.

In the book of Matthew, it mentions the Wise Men seeing the Star two times (once that brought them to Jerusalem, and again that led them to Bethlehem. The amount of time to travel from the farthest reaches of Alexander's Empire to Jerusalem would have caused a natural phenomenon to have burned out and be done, yet Matthew specifically says that they saw it again.

When I was growing up my parents, both brothers and a brother-in-law all had bikes, I rode in the side-car. Now just one brother and both of his boys and the one brother-in-law still ride.

The play and counter play of present day society speaks clearly to the subject of being deceived and deceiving, making the study of the Scripture of paramount importance. It would appear this principle established by the Word can be ignored only at the peril of our own future. 6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon! Let every man save his life! Let not destruction come upon you through her [punishment for] sin and guilt. For it is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He will render to her a recompense.....Jeremiah 51 God is Love!~Jesus saves!

I more or less agree with you here, Jackson. But what comes first - the relationship or the obedience? I propose that without the relationship, the proper motivation for obedience doesn't exist. When you are in a healthy relationship, you are more motivated to obey because you enjoy the other person's companionship and support - you "naturally" want to please then to enhance the relationship. Obedience without (or before) relationship amounts to nothing more than compliance with the terms of a contract; and one becomes susceptible to feeling "entitled" to salvation because of their excellent compliance with the Law rather than desiring closer companionship with Jesus. In the long term, both relationship and obedience are desired; but for the times that our obedience is less than perfect, Jesus' blood covers us. When we reach the point that we think we obey so well that we don't need grace and forgiveness any more, we cut ourselves off from grace and are entirely under the Law. My relationship empowers and motivates me to obey rather than the other way around. The more I get to know Jesus, the more I want to be like Him, please Him, and get to know Him even better. To quote a popular Christian song (referring to Jesus): It's not because of who I am, it's because of what You've done! It's not because of what I've done, its because of Who You are!

Read More Daily Jesus Scripture: Luke 2:51 Starting Question: Parents, what would be like to raise Jesus as your child? Kids, what would it be like if Jesus was your brother? Heart’s Treasure Imagine what it would have been like to the be Earthly parents of Jesus when he was just a boy, growing up in an everyday setting. Many authors have tried. Some early writers, approximately a hundred years after the apostles wrote the gospels, wrote stories about Jesus making birds out of clay and then bringing them to life to entertain other children. Another story is told of Jesus learning the ropes of his power by hurting and then healing boys he played with. It is interesting how little the Gospel writers actually say about boy Jesus. What they do say is telling - Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favour with men and with God. Four ways to mature - smarts, heights, friends and faith. Jesus was well on his way to becoming the prophesied Messiah. But, back to the question, what would it have been like to be Jesus’ mum or dad? Our verse for today tells us something about the impact Jesus had on His mum. It is from the end of the story of Jesus wowing the scholars in the temple. Jesus is oddly surprised when his parents do not know where to look for Him. And, deep in theological reflection, He seems to have lost track of the time - Three days, no less! Mary loved this little story. So much that Luke says, “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” Luke 2 is a snapshot - an overview, of sorts - of Jesus’ life from birth until age 12. It starts and finishes with a comment about his mother, Mary. After the shepherds heard angels testify of the Saviour's birth, they rushed to find the babe in a manger. After cooing at the baby and telling His parents all they had heard, Luke records that, “Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” If you read this in the flowing context of Luke 2, you see that this is a reflective statement - an after the fact remembrance - almost as if Mary was sitting next to Luke as he wrote the words and, clutching her hands to her chest she said, “Oh Luke, the moments, hours and days I spent meditating on those early moments! The treasure of those shepherds words lasted far longer than the gold, frankincense or Myrrh.” What was it like to parent Jesus? Evidently, it was something to treasure, something to hold close to your heart, something to meditation upon. Much like parenting the children God gave you. Think of all the stories from their infancy - the first smile, first step, first Dad joke, first birthday. The special stories of struggles and achievements unique to the children in your family. Like Mary, hold them close to your heart. Meditate upon them. Every child is a priceless treasure! Reflection Question: What is a favourite childhood story that you hold close to your heart? Prayer time: Before you pray together, ask: What would you like to say to Jesus today? Further Reading: Being Like Jesus, Feb 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

The Sinner's Prayer Augustus Toplady Try me, O God, and search the ground of my heart: prove me and examine my thoughts. Look well if there be any wickedness in me, any root of bitterness yet undiscovered; and lead me in the way everlasting. Show me the true state of my soul. Bring me out from every false refuge. Strip off every deceitful covering, every covering that is not of Thy Spirit. Forbid that the anchor of my hope should be cast, or the house of my dependence built, on any but Christ, the Rock of Ages. Forbid that I should rest short of that repentance which is Thy gift, and is connected with life eternal: and forbid, O forbid, that I should sit down without aspiring to that conformity unto Thee in righteousness and true holiness, abstracted from which repentance is false and faith is dead.

That is inaccurate. It is true that Ellen White does not replace the Bible, which is the standard. It is not true that Ellen White was only given for the church's developing stage. I take exception to such an implication, whether or not it was intended. Our church still needs Ellen White today, and God designs that her writings should still guide us. Blessings, Green Cochoa.

The second death is only eternal for sinners. Christ had not sinned, therefore was resurrected. The "second death" comes about via a separation from the Father (God) which causes such agony of soul that it results in death. Jesus died, not of the nails, thorns, nor cross, but of the broken heart from sensing the separating from His Father. Sinners who die the first death do not feel this soul-agony. That is the judgment/second death. And Christ was judged in our place as if He had committed our sins--He bore our sins for us. Because He was perfect, and had not sinned, He broke the barrier of the tomb, not only for Himself, but also for all who should accept Him via saving faith. As for His sonship, Jesus was not a literal son until the fullness of time had come. Prior to that, He was only a son by promise--having committed Himself to the plan before the creation of the world. Because He who knows the end from the beginning knew what would come to pass, He could legitimately refer to Himself as God's "son" from eternity, for it had always been part of the plan. According to John 3:16, Jesus is the only One of God to have become a Son, as I understand that verse. Numbers 23:19 tells us that Jesus was not yet a son at that point. Nevertheless, the Bible speaks of His sonship even before He had been begotten, for He had already been begotten by promise. Blessings, Green Cochoa.

True that is where you see the phrase, but you see that Romans 6 is discussing this. Remember the original did not have chapter and verse divisions, and there are places in the Bible where the divisions are in the wrong place. But you see from the area above Romans 7 and the area just after this you see the law of sin and death being discussed, so why not in Roman's 7 as well?

Maybe the chapter division causes part of the problem. Romans 6 talks about Jesus freeing us from the law of sin and death. In Colossians 2:14 Paul says "having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross." Too often we try to read into this the law and too many of our pastors missing what the verse is saying try to argue for it to be the so-called "ceremonial law." However the charge of our legal indebtedness that was nailed to the cross is our record of sin. So here it may be that the law discussed is not God's law of self sacrificing love as presented in the 2 great principles of love God supremely and our neighbor as our selves, that is broken down further into 10 commandments and what the so called "Ceremonial Law" actually is, applications of God's law to different situations and learning tools where the law of God is absolute but the applications are not absolute. Rather it could be the law of sin and death that Paul was just talking about in Roman's 6, and which was really nailed to the cross.

true story

The suggestion that this star was some natural astronomical object, isn't a new one. Several suggestions has been made to explain this, such as planetary conjunctions, a supernova, and now, a comet. There are some theological difficulties here, though… First and foremost, the Bible explicitly tell us to avoid attaching any significance to natural astronomical events: “This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.” - Jeremiah 10:2. The ancients were especially afraid of comets, which due to its shape (a comet resembles a sword) was interpreted as a sign of impending war or death. Secondly, the link between history, chronology and ancient astronomical events is a lot more shaky than most people realize. It's impossible to conclude that the Star of Bethlehem was a comet without making multiple assumptions. So, my personal opinion is that this theory is tenuous at best, misleading at worst. Explaining away the miracles in the Bible won't make it easier for seculars to believe, either... Finally, Ellen White's take on this is very interesting. She denied that this star was a natural event, instead she claimed that what they saw were of a supernatural origin. “The wise men had seen a mysterious light in the heavens upon that night when the glory of God flooded the hills of Bethlehem. As the light faded, a luminous star appeared, and lingered in the sky. It was not a fixed star nor a planet, and the phenomenon excited the keenest interest. That star was a distant company of shining angels, but of this the wise men were ignorant. Yet they were impressed that the star was of special import to them. They consulted priests and philosophers, and searched the scrolls of the ancient records. The prophecy of Balaam had declared, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17. Could this strange star have been sent as a harbinger of the Promised One? The magi had welcomed the light of heaven-sent truth; now it was shed upon them in brighter rays. Through dreams they were instructed to go in search of the newborn Prince. {DA 60.1}