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'Metanao' is the Greek verb that corresponds to the noun ‘metanoia’. The latter means a change of mind, view or perspective, and the former means the act of changing one’s perspective.

the Inquisition is generally thought to have begun in in 1231. The Jesuit order wasn't founded until 1541 by Loyola. Tomás de Torquemada was named Grand Inquisitor in 1483, but again, he was not a Jesuit; rather, he was a Dominican friar. Interestingly, Torquemada's bones were incinerated in 1832 (334 years after his death) in a form of an auto-de-fé (public penitence) for his part in the Inquisition.

I'm not "guest" but I can answer this very simply. It's such a fundamental truth I'm pretty amazed that you can't see it. Tom reveals what he knows and does not know by what he posts. We all do that. It's a fundamental truth of human nature that we can only speak knowledgeably about the things we know thoroughly and understand well. It's really apparent that Tom has never read and understood the lessons found Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire". If he had he could not have honestly said what he did. It's also apparent that he doesn't even know the history of the US. Our founding fathers set up our government with a very weak Presidency. Now we have a President who has given himself the power to hold any US citizen for as long as he desires without due process. The only thing he is required to do is accuse the person of being a terrorist. He can also kill US citizens anywhere in the world on nothing more than an accusation of terrorism.... Also, our founding fathers made right to have and hold personal property an almost sacred right. There was very little leeway given in how this could be done. Now? The government can come in and take your business away from you, not tell you why, and if you speak about this publicly they have given themselves the power to jail you for their violation of your consitituion rights. Our current government has also weaponized the IRS to attack it's political opponents. This is not a government of which we shoud be distrustful? Tom is displaying massive ignorance.

This is another area where I question EGW. The Lord has an appointed time for the return of Jesus, just like there was an appointed time for Him to come the first time. Only the Father knows when that is; but it will occur on HIS timeline; not ours. We can do nothing to either expedite or delay it. God will determine when we are in the Kingdom and who will be there; and He will allow or arrange the events and circumstances that surround the establishment of the Kingdom.

Joeb, You say many wonderful things, but i clearly see a thrust in your words that does not place the weight of our salvation upon Jesus but on our efforts in response to Jesus great Labors for us. The responses of others who have a different emphasis seems to bring from you the concern that they make nothing of our accountability to God. When we focus on Jesus we focus on the source of every right impulse, of every inclination to Heaven, He is good seed that brings a harvest of praise and love and submission to God. Jesus did His Father's will and did bring salvation to every human being that has ever and will ever live. Not all will receive it. and the ways to turn from the Holy Spirit be lost are uncountable, but the way to come alive, whatever individual way it is found is is only in Jesus. When i stand right before God, i did absolutely nothing to bring this about. In fact it is completely in spite of everything i am. let me share some quotes... from dear EGW. Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit. Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt, that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him. {1888 812.2} The light given me of God places this important subject above any question in my mind. Justification is wholly of grace and not procured by any works that fallen man can do. The matter has been presented before me in clear lines that if the rich man has money and possessions, and he makes an offering of the same to the Lord, false ideas come in to spoil the offering by the thought he has merited the favor of God, that the Lord is under obligation to him to regard him with special favor because of this gift. {1888 812.3

Catechism #882 states: “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.” Vicar of Christ: "The pope, with reference to his claim to stand in the place of Jesus Christ" Ref: Dictionary.com "...Christ is the head of the church..." Ephesians 5:23 Therefore any man claiming to stand in the place of Christ is anti-Christ.

The Scriptures say that the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest. In Christ's day, the tares turned out to be the church leaders. In 1888, history repeated itself (the leadership was on the wrong side of the issue). Should we expect it to be different on the eve of Christ's Advent? God worked through His faithful people to accomplish His will in the past and He will do it again in spite of who are the wheat and who are the tares. God knows who is who and we don't have to judge the matter, we just have to do what God requires of us.

You don't know "most high school students" these days, do you? Mine had quite a full schedule with classes, homework, studying for entrance exams, volunteer work, extra curriculars (like theater, robotics, art club, driver's ed), sports, part-time employment, church, youth group outings, family chores and other family-oriented activities they were expected to do. On top of all that, most schools require their teenagers to get to school 2 to 3 hours before their natural circadian rhythms would like them to be alert. I am not quite sure why you have chosen to make this so personal. As for judging your kids,I don't know anything about your kids. Perhaps it is time you take your own advice. But regardless there is a simple solution to forgotten lunches and homework. For us,lunches and homework were by the door,they couldn't forget.Had they not picked it up they would have stepped on it. And this was every morning before school?......Mine had quite a full schedule with classes, homework, studying for entrance exams, volunteer work, extra curriculars (like theater, robotics, art club, driver's ed), sports, part-time employment, church, youth group outings, family chores and other family-oriented activities they were expected to do It might surprise you that out of all the children we raised their schedule was not so different. They did have to get up at 5:30 every morning to do over an hours worth of chores before getting ready for school. Summer time from the age of 12? they still had to gt up at that hour to go to work with their dad. Sometimes six days a week. A cure for .....On top of all that, most schools require their teenagers to get to school 2 to 3 hours before their natural circadian rhythms would like them to be alert. they soon learned that 5:30 came every morning at the same time so they learned to regulate their own bedtime regardless of their natural circadian rhythms I gladly helped my children in whatever capacity they needed; I continue to help them in their early-adulthood; and likewise, I help my husband, my mother, my in-laws, and my grandmother. I've even "helped" a few people here on this forum (without going into names or specifics). People are forgetful, when it's a one-off, who's to judge? And if it's my kids you're judging, walk a mile in my shoes first, then we can talk. We all have different viewpoints on raising our children. It might surprise you that those that don't choose your method also help their children even after they have become adults. Just not in the same way you see as important I am at a loss as to why this is relevant in discussing high school students........I help my husband, my mother, my in-laws, and my grandmother. I've even "helped" a few people here on this forum (without going into names or specifics). Many of us can make the same claim. That hardly makes you unique. It doesn't say but it is entirely possible forgotten homework and lunches etc had become a problem for this school and this was their way of addressing it. People are forgetful, when it's a one-off, who's to judge? And if it's my kids you're judging, walk a mile in my shoes first, then we can talk. There is a difference between passing judgement on someone and stating an opinion. Some seem to have difficulty telling the difference. A lot of people think they have it tougher than others,perhaps for those that do they should take the same walk.

HCH said, below: I apologize for a lack of clarity. The congregation that split was not in Boulder, Colorado, It was in a different town. Further, while these two congregations can be called conservative and liberal (within limits), the reason for the split was more involved than that. Personal relationships were a big factor. It is probably personal relationships that prevent the two congregations from uniting at this period of time. Speaking personally, I will make two comments about this split: 1) I believe that at the time of the split, the local Conference could have been helpful, but was not. 2) I believe that a retired denominational administrator, who was a congregational member, contributed to the split at a time when he should have been more helpful. 3) At this point in time, I question whether or not the issues can be resolved and the split healed in a manner that joins the congregations and increases the effectiveness of the SDA Church in that area. The Boulder SDA congregation is the 3rd largest congregation in the Conference. It is an eclectic congregation with a range of members who get along. It is true that when it has a change in pastors, some members leave to join other congregations and others move their memberships to the Boulder congregation. But, that is to be expected. Regardless, those who remain constitute a good range of people in their theology, economic status, and in other characteristics.

Rachel said below: In RC Doctrine, the Pope is only infallible when he speaks ex cathedra. Most of the time the pope does not so speak. Under RC doctrine the Church was not responsible for the inquisition. It was the civil authorities who were responsible for the inquisition. The responsibility of the Church lies in the fact that the church only turned people over to the civil authorities. At that point the civil authorities became responsible.

We did have a nice thread going here at one time on SOP wisdom on dealing with Catholics... did not involve bashing, but rather pointing out what was wright rather than what was wrong... Would like someone to find that...

I hope this doesn't get turned into a Catholic-bashing thread. The roots of the SDA church isn't without its wrong teachings. How would we like for Catholics to start pointing out all the mistakes believed and practiced by early (and current) Adventists? Not much, I suspect. (I come from this perspective because I have a number of relatives, including two close cousins, who are Catholics priests. They don't consider themselves to be "God's voice" because their title is "Father Bob", anymore than my SDA brother whose title is "Elder T." considers himself as God's voice.) **back to topic** .... I guess...

President Obama will implement the mark of the Beast??? That would make him "the little horn". Not very likely. Not impossible. Who knows what roles he will assume after he leaves office in six months. The nation of Israel - as a nation - observes the 7th day Sabbath. If the MARK of the Beast power is Sunday worship observance, then it seems possible all Sabbath keepers will be caught up in the same net. My current thinking on "the mark" is an identifier with six digits, six digits, six digits. Example: 123456-789012-345678 This would be "the number of a man" (Rev. 13 18). Using 18 digits, it would be possible to identify every human being on the planet. Chip technology would allow implantation or a tattoo. Just as with our present credit cards (4 x 4 digits) one must agree to certain TERMS when activating the number. Those activating their "number of the Beast" account, would be required to agree to the terms. The terms, of course, would include complete loyalty to and service of, the Beast system. And - if your number is deactivated (or never activated) you "cannot buy or sell". The world - I believe - will soon convert to electronic "money". The governments of all nations want to track all transactions. They want to TAX them. They will use the excuse that it will be easier to catch criminals, and it will prevent theft of cash. In order to USE electronic money, one will need an identifier number.

The "God" in the First Angel's Message has changed from what the pioneers of the SDA Church believed and taught to different god. The pioneers defined "God" as "That there is one God, a personal, spiritual being, the creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal, infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and mercy; unchangeable, and everywhere present by his representative, the Holy Spirit. Ps. 139:7." Since 1980, "God" has been defined as " There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation."

It is very much alive, but very much unknown.