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when Church leaders fail me, i am reminded of the weakness of all humanity. It is humbling to be reminded that I too in my humanity may inadvertently deeply fail others. I am thankful that when one person fails another person, or when one leader fails their sheep that this one is not the only option God has for bringing about His will. And i consider their failure is an opportunity for me to show the patience and wisdom I can claim in Jesus' name, and hunker down closer to God and pray for them, and do not let go of the blessings of God, and become controlling or angry, or fearful. It is time for me to humble myself and realize that i too can be tempted, and I need to consider my own weakness and vulnerability.

I have personal knowledge of an Adventist church who has an associate pastor who is homosexual. He has been on the pastoral staff there for many years.

Holding myself up on the table with the record player bouncing up and down to "How Much is That Doggie in the Window?" in my grandparent's house. I have no idea how old I was; but I was still in diapers.

Answer: According to data from Measure of America's Human Development study, citizens of different states have very differing average life expectancies, ranging from 75 to over 81 years. Hawaii has remained the state with the longest life span for quite some time. With an expectancy of 81.3 years, Hawaii exceeds the national age of 79 by 2.3 years. Mississippi was ranked the state with the shortest life span out of all US territories. Their life expectancy at birth, 75 years, is four years below the country average.

Getting a group photo done in preschool. The photographers got our attention with finger puppets from Sesame Street. I can still see Oscar the Grouch in my mind's eye!

Another excellent example of your extreme bias coloring your perception of others and their statements. It causes you to misunderstand what is said and read everything through the cloudy lens of your own partisan POV. Putting words in others mouth that are actually from your own head, not theirs.

Apparently Terry is not seeking ordination, but confirmation as an SDA clergy for the purpose of employment. It seems to me he may be overt about his orientation because there are others in this struggle and he may well be attempting to make a change in how this situation is addressed, for those others who are struggling with this issue. Setting precedents can be very effective. Being attracted is not committing adultery or fornication in your heart. It is not sexual sin to have an alternative orientation. People who have concerns about homosexuality take in steps the distinctions between orientation and gender identity, and perhaps the issues of cross dressing, and latency. Those who have fears and distrust and condemnation, and judgement of various degrees may find it very difficult to sort these issues out and see clear to a healthy conscientious position. Tests of character in the area of sensuality are serious, and sin in every area is blinding to us and numbing. We continually need the Holy Spirit to tune and re-tune us. Just personal trauma or loss and strong emotions may leave us Spiritually vulnerable and impact our discernment. There isn't anyone who does not need to be careful. No one is so above their their humanity that they can just live heedless and confident in themselves. Paul said, "i keep my body in subjection lest i myself be a castaway." And he was a Godly spiritual powerhouse.

Bonnie, you fail to get the message......I have mentioned no names and kept my comments generic, should work well for either one or anyone.

Recounts and audits of election results are a legitimate part of the American electoral process. Not really about being a sore loser. If you took the time to statement by the Clinton campaign and the legal counsel for the campaign, it really doesn't sound like being a sore loser. What is wrong with insuring fairness and integrity of elections? I would say the "winner" being upset is showing poor "sportsmanship". Sort of like he is afraid that his sore loser claims ahead of the election of a rigged election might have actually come from a certain knowledge of things to come... He is now sounding like he has something to hide.

I remember fleeing from the Japanese soldiers during WW2. One evening, I could see the !/3 moon shining brightly through our window when my Uncle-in-law came by our house warning us that the Japanese were getting close to our village. My Dad quickly hitched the carabao and we left for the hills. I was probably 4 at the time.

Board sidewalks and splinters, small aluminum trailer housing park in Portland,Oregon. Post WW2 GI housing. Sister and I going skinny dipping in wading pond at same place, neighbors complaining about us being naked in the park! Probaly about 4y/o.

Not really sure of my exact age or which very early memory was the first, but I am fairly certain I was no more than 3 or 4. The first is walking through a dark and scary hallway past an alcove going into the empty south wing of the big old farmhouse before my father tore that wing off, and later throwing stones into the bonfire of the debris. I remember the stones exploding which was great fun for a little kid. The other memory is being with my oldest brother in the haymow in the barn in a tunnel of a hay fort that was up high enough that the tunnel passed by a small window under the edge of the barn roof. We were looking out the window and saw a black bear walking across hillside behind the barn. My childish memory is of a scary large bear with big claws. (That may have been the source of later nightmares of being chased through the barn by a large bear.) Years later recalling that memory with my Dad he said it was really only a scrawny yearling bear. He added a detail that I did not remember of the cows in the field between the barn and the bear. They were huddling together with their horns facing outward protecting their calves in the middle of the huddle. Bonnie, I remember well that gruesome and bloody dehorning process...

If the Son of God could "incarnate" to take on human form, why is it so difficult to believe that He could change FORM once again - into a "spiritual body", to become the Spirit comforter with us? Won't we all be "changed" at the Second Coming, and receive "spiritual bodies", so that we will be "like Him" - at least in the type of "form" that we will have.

Philippians 2:5 Prior to His incarnation, the Son of God existed “in the form of God” but did not “consider it robbery [something to be grasped] to be equal with God.” Hebrews 1:3 Prior to His incarnation, the Son of God was “the brightness” of His Father’s glory” and “the express image of His person.” He upheld “all things by the word of His power.” Hebrews 1:2 Prior to His incarnation, the Son of God was the agent “through whom” the Father “made the worlds.” (See also I Cor 8:6, Jn 1:3, Eph 3:9, Col 1:19.) Hebrews 1:8-10 “But to the son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than your companions.’ And: ‘You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.” If HE created all things, then certainly He EXISTED. And God called Him God. That being said, He also has one who is above Him - "God, Your God" - God the Father.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the Archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first;” RSV John 5:25 Yeshua said, “The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God.” Put these two verses together. The “voice is the Son of God” IS the “Archangel’s call.” He IS the Archangel - the Chief Messenger, the "Word" who was with God, and was God. Certainly no one thinks that an angel can raise the dead.

I do believe that Jesus - the man - began to exist in the womb of Mary his mother. But I also believe "the Angel of His presence" (the Messenger of Yahweh's presence) WAS the Son of God. And as God's "son" He began to EXIST long BEFORE He took on human nature. Remember: Jesus said that "no man has SEEN the Father" ( ). He appeared to Abraham. Genesis 17:1-22 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD [ADONAI] appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.’” ... “Then He finished talking with him, and God [‘elohiym] went up from Abraham.” Genesis 18:1-33 “Then the Lord [Yehovah] appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinth trees of Mamre” . . . “three men were standing by him.” [One of the men said to Abraham] “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son” (v.10). [As the “men” are ready to depart] “And the Lord [ADONAI] said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . .?” (v.17). Genesis 22:1-18 “But the Angel of the LORD [Yehovah] called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son your only son, from Me.’” Exodus 6:3 “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” HE appeared to the elders of Israel, on Mount Sinai, standing on a blue pavement. Exodus 24:11 "But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank." If no man has seen the Father, then who did these men SEE? Jacob wrestled with HIM: Genesis 32:24-30 Jacob wrestled with “a Man” who blessed him and changed his name to Israel. Jacob said “I have seen God [‘elohiym] face to face and my life has been preserved.” Hosea 12:3 Writing of Jacob and the Angel, Hosea says of Jacob, “He struggled with God.” The Angel of the LORD spoke as Yahweh - to Moses: Exodus 3:2-6 “And the Angel of the LORD [Yehovah] appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of the burning bush:”(v.4). “God [‘elohiym] called to him out of the midst of the bush,”(v.5). “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”(v.6). “I am the God [‘elohiym] of your father--the God [‘elohiym] of Abraham, the God [‘elohiym] of Isaac, and the God [‘elohiym] of Jacob.” Exodus 33:9-11 “. . . the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.” “So the LORD [Yehovah] spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” From Exo. 33:18-23, we understand that Moses did NOT “see” the face of Yahweh. My point here, is that the Angel of Yahweh speaks the words of the LORD. He speaks AS the LORD, and is called Yahweh. Exodus 23:20-21 “And God [‘elohiym] spoke all these words, saying . . .” (Exo 20:1). “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice: do not provoke Him for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.” NOTE: To an ancient Israelite - to Moses, the phrase “My name is in Him” meant, “He is My Son.” Judges 2:1-2 “And the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto Your fathers, and I said, I will never break My covenant with you.” “. . . but you have not obeyed My voice” (v.2). When Christ came to earth as a man, He said, “I have come in my Father’s name” (John 5:43). When the Son acted as the agent of His Father, He took His Father’s name. The same applies, when He acted for His Father as “the Angel of the LORD” during the period called ‘the Old Testament.” Isaiah 63:9 “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them.” Christ is The Messenger of the Lord's presence, the mediator between God and men. (See 1Cor. 10:1-4.) He is the "comforter" of the OT. Numbers 22:32 “The Angel of the Lord [Yehovah] said to him . . . ‘your way is perverse before Me.’” The Angel did NOT say, “Your way is perverse before the LORD” Joshua 5:13-15 “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD [Yehovah] I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped. He appeared to Gideon, and to Samson's father. He appeared to Daniel.