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What a horrible situation! I pray that each and every person find safety and a place to sleep, eat, and regroup!

Myths Debunked Some myths are easy to discredit. Others, not so much. Here are seven urban legends that just aren’t true. Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Galleries/7-Urban-Legends-You-Thought-Were-True.aspx

Here is the story of a dog who saved a hummingbird's life. Now the hummingbird doesn't want to leave the dog's side. Animal love

Thanks for the update Stan. We here where we're situated in California, wonder each year if this will be the year for our turn. od is Love!~Jesus saves!

And Jesus also said, "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:6. Read the context of that statement and may see how directly it applies to the question at hand. What you have done is turn a simple expression of gratitude to God into a means of showing others we are Christians. That is part of the point of my asking the question. Is it really intended as a witnessing tool a way to communicate our devotion to God to strangers who may be dining in proximity to us? Or is it simply as Scripture records of Jesus' own practice to just "give thanks", or show our gratitude to God. My sense of it is that I am communicating that specifically to God and not to put on a display of my piety and devotion to God for the rest of the world. The story in Matthew 6 and Jesus' reaction to it suggests to me a caution to be careful of our motivation and keep perspective of the relevant relationship that our words and actions are a part of. It really is important to think about why we do what we do and say what we say.

I was watching a news report last night. What an inferno! How frightening that must have been to try and drive out with it being so close.

That's awful, will be praying!

That's interesting, Aubrey, because I was wondering if it might be David McIntyre, who was a pastor and a missionary in Brazil for 15 years. Of course, Adventists aren't the only missionaries! Thanks for answering.

Personally I don't pray because I'm a Christian. I pray because I'm thankful for what God has given me. If it wasn't for him I would not have anything!!

Of what sort of discrimination by universities are LGBT students now subjected? I thought universities were supposed to teach students. Are LGBT students unable to attend classes due to discrimination?

Quote: Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidablefoes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. (See Appendix.) The gospel of Christ had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy. 234 When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good. But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed. It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants to act as spies upon their masters. They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites. All the outward pomp and display of the Romish worship was brought to bear to confuse the mind and dazzle and captivate the imagination, and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery. To give them greater power, a bull was issued re-establishing the inquisition. (See Appendix.) Notwithstanding the general abhorrence with which it was regarded, even in Catholic countries, this terrible tribunal was again set up by popish rulers, and atrocities too terrible to bear the light of day were repeated in its secret dungeons. In many countries, thousands upon thousands of the very flower of the nation, the purest and noblest, the most intellectual and highly educated, pious and devoted pastors, industrious and patriotic citizens, brilliant scholars, talented artists, skillful artisans, were slain or forced to flee to other lands. Such were the means which Rome had invoked to quench the light of the Reformation, to withdraw from men the Bible, and to restore the ignorance and superstition of the Dark 235 Ages. - Great Controversy (1911) p.234-235

Excellent post John, and on top of that aren't we admonished, especially by EGW, to prove all preachers by what's written in the Bible?