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Showing content with the highest reputation on 10/28/2016 in all areas
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Dr. Agatha Thrash
Kevin H and one other gave a reaction for a topic
Drs.Thrash (especially Dr. Agatha) created an environment in which wonderful improvements were made to the spiritual and physical well being of thousands of people. The love they generated will always be a part of me.2 points -
Don't Lie- It Changes Your Brain
teresaq reacted to pierrepaul for a topic
Many scientific studies confirm what we intuitively know. Some confirm what we intuitively know but they help answer the question "why?" For example, we know from experience that repeated behaviour becomes commonplace and one gets desensitized to repeated stimuli. Compare the first time you held hands on a date with holding one's spouse's hand after 25 years of marriage. The emotional response is not the same. A sky-diver's first jump is a bigger rush than his 50th jump. Regular drug users need to take stronger and stronger doses to achieve the same "high". A study like this may help answer questions about the brain's process. This phenomenon has positive and negative aspects. A pastor's first sermon, a pianist's first concert, an attorney's first trial, a physician's first surgery, a pilot's first flight, are nerve-wracking experiences for many. If the brain didn't get used to these things and if the brain didn't diminish the nervous response, few could pursue such careers without rapid emotional burnout. This is positive. On the negative side, familiarity can cause us to take for granted many blessings. For example familiar love doesn't generate the same emotional high as a new interest - and many have fallen into sin tempted by the excitement of that new "in love" feeling. Also on the negative side, inhibition to sin is reduced as one becomes accustomed to it. Whether it's lying, cheating, stealing, infidelity - once one's line between good and evil, sin and righteousness, is blurred, it becomes easier and easier to keep sinning, and it is then difficult to to right the ship. We are fearfully and wonderfully made!1 point -
Washington Adventist University & Unity
debbym reacted to debbym for a topic
i am not sure exactly why but i find these photos hilarious!!1 point -
The FBI will re-open the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server
Tom Wetmore reacted to CoAspen for a topic
Wow! You are fast....now I have to go and find something hot off the press about Trump....shouldn't be too difficult!!1 point -
Are the three Angels' Messages Dead or Alive?
JoeMo reacted to Martn for a topic
"it is the end time" "we know that it is the end time" 1 John 2:18; Jude 16-18. His coming has always been near, right from the beginning. At such a time as we think not, he said, that is when he will appear. At a time of peace and comfort, when we least expect it.1 point -
I voted!
phkrause reacted to CoAspen for a topic
Yep, not delivered to box yet. I only vote on state or local elections if I know something about the person. Our county judges are all 'voted' into their position but come up for reelection to keep in office. I do not vote on them as it is really just a formality. We get a rather large 'booklet' that explains the pros and cons of other issues being voted on. So that makes it much easier.1 point -
Washington Adventist University & Unity
Gregory Matthews reacted to debbym for a topic
TI believe the GC is addressing a conflict in the church that is not merely a conflict between members and those at the GC. This conflict of views extends throughout the membership. It not an us vs them, the people versus the GC. So when readers take Issue with the actions and policy generation of the GC it appears as though it is an us the people vs them the GC. Efforts to conflict resolve with the GC level is not a dialogue that is effectively taking place through out the world church where this issue is causing disunity. When people look to the GC to solve this by generating an enforceable policy, it will not solve anything. This conflict is deep in the whole body of the church, and it is divisive. I view it as being a spiritual issue that human hands and hearts and efforts will not be able to resolve. The GC actions seem like an attempt to make peace, a very human attempt to make peace. It seems to merely exposes more clearly the reality of the disunity church wide and that human bandages will not mend this problem. In surrender to Christ is unity, outside of any other contrivance it is not a reality. When you love the church i understand it is natural to try anything to bring about agreement and peace, and goodwill throughout the whole body of believers. But this is something God alone can bring about. To pray and wait and watch God work, ready to be and do whatever God alone is truly asking you to do, is also something we cannot humanly do. God asks us to do those things we can only do in His strength, and that is offered abundantly, with tests of love and obedience coming closer and cutting closer each step towards heaven. So truly the Ark is coming home and no one is to put their hand out to steady it. The consequences are swift. But God makes alive again does he not, if we will be open to Him and respond to Him. This seems another struggling and growing chapter in church history, and we cannot see all the outcomes, but it is not pretty as we go.1 point -
Don't Lie- It Changes Your Brain
teresaq reacted to Tom Wetmore for a topic
I think it is important for the simple reason that whenever science confirms or helps explain what we know to be the Truth, it helps reinforce and validate our beliefs and provides a resource to help persuade the skeptics and modern secular minds that may not have even a basic foundation of faith in Scripture that we have or even a rudimentary familiarity with the language, terminology or basic concepts of religion of those of us that are already in the Church. There is no need to denigrate and cast aspersions on science or to foster an anti-intellectual spirit, especially when it really can help to spread and reinforce the Good News. Yes, it only takes the simple faith of a child to be a part of the Kingdom. It is good if you have it. But that is not an attribute that many in the modern era have. We need tools and methods that appeal to and work with those who have confidence in science and learning, more now than ever. In fact, I believe that an anti-intellectual and and anti-science approach of some of the faithful will turn more away from even considering faith in God than will ever be drawn to Him by such an approach, or that will ever be lead away from faith in God by science and learning.1 point -
Did God the Father kill Christ so that we might be justified?
phkrause reacted to joeb for a topic
Why not just take Jesus at His word on this subject? He made this statement more than once.1 point -
Don't Lie- It Changes Your Brain
phkrause reacted to joeb for a topic
All sinning changes the brain. It becomes easier and easier to sin the more we do it. This is why sanctification is a must. Continued sinning means a mind/brain more in tune with the devil than with God. Continual sanctification means a mind/brain in tune with God, not the devil.... Why we need to scientific study to "prove" this is beyond me. Six thousand years of humanity degrading itself due to sin is all the proof we need.1 point -
Women do not die...... James White
Unchained reacted to Martn for a topic
No wonder Sister White really loved that man!1 point -
Defending A Cultural Adventist
JoeMo reacted to rudywoofs (Pam) for a topic
the above was so true... But I was fortunate in that my father was not Adventist when I was growing up, and I had far more interesting and diverse childhood experiences than that of my SDA friends.1 point -
Denominational Authority
Tom Wetmore reacted to skyblue888 for a topic
Here is what the pen of inspiration considers as the only authority Heaven approves in matters of faith and conscience. "The church is God's fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world." A.A.11. "The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own." Desire of Ages, 324. Therefore in the commission to His disciples "Human teaching is shut out. There is no place for tradition, for man's theories and conclusions, or for church legislation. No laws ordained by ecclesiastical authority are included in the commission. None of these are Christ's servants to teach." Desire of Ages, 826.1 point -
Are the three Angels' Messages Dead or Alive?
Martn reacted to Gregory Matthews for a topic
Martn said below: I have some differences with the statement below: 1) JW beginnings can be traced through Charles Taze Russell back to the Millerite Movement and some of the same people associated with the beginnings of the SDA denomination. But, I can not say that they actually have SDA roots. 2) Considered in depth, their view of the return of Christ in 1914 is substantially different from the SDA view of what happened in 1844. So, I cannot say that the two are the same spiritual event.1 point -
Are the three Angels' Messages Dead or Alive?
Martn reacted to CoAspen for a topic
Not to disagree, but a different view.....He is waiting for us to spread the good news to the world and in return we are improving our understanding of God. I am not sure what other people are referring too, when they say 'improve ourselves', that is not my understanding of sin. I can only 'impove ' in Gods eyes by being behind Christ. Anything I do is simply not enough. By 'doing' for others, I am simply following Gods message to us, others first, ourselves last. For me that is the gospel.1 point -
Basic income promised to everyone
rudywoofs (Pam) reacted to Alchemy for a topic
I like the idea of a minimum wage for retired seniors. I don't like the idea for an entire population. Now, I understand they will use it to replace unemployment benefits and so on. And maybe that will cut costs for the government. But, it still doesn't seem responsible to me for the whole population.1 point