Leaderboard

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the thought was shared with me that there are only two groups in the world and then inadvertently reflected in the SDA church... those who live by faith and those who live by their works. Righteousness by works takes a myriad of forms, as represented in every false religion, and system of thought and living that leaves a person standing in their own defense when they meet God face to face. This is the element present in every false religion and was also lived by people who held the living word in their hands but it gave them no life when they still lived by their own strength. Jesus experienced this in those who went about to kill him even though they claimed to follow the word of God. the line between those who live by faith and those who do not... is not necessarily able to be easily recognized. between the sheep and the goats... the goats believed they were sheep and the sheep believed they had done nothing. The two women are at the grinding stone, one is taken one is left. Having true scriptural dogma is no defense against living by works and not by faith. Their is an incredible diversity of education thought and experience in the SDA Church members. This is well and good. But to have the finger pointing and judging, by the "perfect" among us... this is not going to draw other's to Christ. Those who live by faith recognize everyone's humanity and everyone's dependence on God, even the "perfect"

The book I am reading now, Kenneth Bailey's book on Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, has a chapter all about the place of women in Jewish society at the time. The stuff he has recorded agrees with what our friend Kevin H has been posting for a while: That Jewish women had it not too bad in OT times. It was in the Intertestamental period and thanks to Ben Sirach that men got very strict regarding the place of women in the home and in the synagogue. The author lauds Mary, the mother of Jesus, for instilling in Jesus a big respect for women. He did things that were culturally quite revolutionary. Namely, that Mary sitting at Jesus' feet was typically not done as it was telling everyone that she was a disciple of His. A woman! The passage in Luke 8:1-3 about Jesus being accompanied with both men and women disciples and that He also was provided for out of their means would not bat an eye today but in the culture of the area even today is considered shocking. Women are allowed to travel with men but were only permitted to sleep with relatives. Bailey found this statement of Luke's absolutely astonishing, first, because women were included as disciples, secondly as they helped provide for Him of their personal means, and thirdly because a mixed group travelled and lived together.

Cilantro, lemons, pickles and vinegar "perk" my taste buds, but I really love cheeeeese! Unfortunately, I'm trying to give that up. Did you know that umami is considered our "fifth" sense?

Hovering the cursor over the name of the person you wish to ignore will highlight an option to ignore them. I wouldn't know how to block someone from seeing the things I post. I only know how to keep myself from seeing theirs.

Is it I, Lord?

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. NIV says, "because fear has to do with punishment." We will be punished, no doubt, but by the natural outworking of our course. God does not come into the picture as the "executioner of the sentence against transgression." EGW clearly stated these principles OVER and OVER. Yet we cling to the human model of wrath and punishment, insisting that God does it the way that we do it, and we hide behind the Bible language in this assertion. But you know who else hides there? Satan. So, look beside you and see where those ideas come from. "Their sufferings are often represented [represented where? IN THE BIBLE!] as a punishment visited upon them by the direct decree of God. It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his own work. By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them, and Satan was permitted to rule them according to his will. The horrible cruelties enacted in the destruction of Jerusalem are a demonstration of Satan's vindictive power over those who yield to his control." {GC88 36.1} Matt. 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Who? Not the wicked others, not the devil, not God. SELF. "The character revealed by Pharaoh is similar to that of all the impenitent. God destroys no man; but after a time the wicked are given up to the destruction they have wrought for themselves." {YI, November 30, 1893 par. 6} John 10:10 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

We cannot compare their darkness of mind to our day. Biblically, in the commandment, is no distinction. That argument is groundless. read tract #1 in my new CGA series (standard layout format for computer reading) https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/107170239/CG Series/CGA series standard layout/%231CGA Do As I Say%2C Not As I Do_Is God Above His Law_std layout.docx

I think it is narrow because only Jesus can walk through that way, and when we are depending on Jesus and following in His steps we are empowered to get through. It is a scriptural promise that anyone who comes to Jesus he accepts, and in Jesus time of the population very few came to him. He received each one fully. And the work in their heart was just beginning. we can only come at His invitation and he opens the door. He would never invite and draw someone and then shut the door when they show up. But few respond to that invitation. In the beatitudes every group described and blessed was empowered to get through the narrow way. Like the monkey with it's fist in the jar, it is a trap, it cannot remove it's hand till it lets go of the goody it is holding onto.

Of course. We need to regulate our society and force is used to protect us from elements of evil. All of this is conducted under a system of rewards and punishments that are arbitrary and imposed. It is not like God's ways at all, but it is what we must have, seeing as we have chosen our own way. As such, what we have here is "ordained of God." It is still wrath. We have been given over to find our own governance, our own way of keeping order and safety. Look at the world around you, man. How well has that worked out, under "God's will"?

I haven't found this topic but just today. After reading through page 168 I got my curiosity rived up for reading the other 167 pages. I say there, Peter, you must have a strong German DNA for the evidence of working hard and tenaciously on all that you post. I appreciate your contributions. (if I'd give in to an urge to heap you with more praise all will begin to look like sticky maple syrup being coated over your head. I will avoid that at all costs

From my understanding Adventism has always been divided. Even when looking at the preamble to our early beliefs list it appears to be talking about what we tend to have in common so that people know that they can join us and not believe exactly like brother so and so who holds these beliefs as well as his own understanding of scripture. In our good times we learn how to play together; allow sharing and people listening and deciding if what is being taught is useful to them or to agree to disagree. In our bad times one of our sub groups thinks that they should be the only true form of Adventism and force their views on the rest of us.

Ah yes! The old 'hellfire and brimstone' message of the past. Fear works wonders, good works, etc.....or God will get you!!! Deeply rooted in pagan beliefs and the gods of mythology!!!

There is so much to learn...

I think we will be very much surprised about the Who's Who in God's kingdom. More and more it seems to me to be not the Christian against all others but according to the Bible, the rich, famous, educated and advantaged against the material poor as well as the poor in spirit, widows and fatherless. And guess which side God is for... That is a big food for thought!

I thought that the reason that we are to support the earthly governments because they have the work of providing justice and only those guilty of crimes of the land need be afraid of them? (Romans 13) Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same

“During our lives, each of us faces a choice: to think only about yourself, to get as much as you can for yourself, or to think about others, to serve, to be helpful to those who are in need. I believe that it is very important to develop your brains, your knowledge, but it is more important to develop your heart, to have a heart open to the suffering of others. As for myself, I am just an ordinary person, just someone who wants to help his neighbor.” —Johan Hendrik Weidner

Both groups have things to say We are all "looking through a glass dimly" The gospel does change us as we look more towards Christ and learn more of him. On the other hand I see both of these groups actually focusing on works. One is focusing on the works that Jesus is to do in us, but in a way that too often encourages strong demanding leaders and meek followers. The other just focused on the works of Jesus for me where often changes do not end up coming in their lives but an attitude of "It's Jesus' works in my place" they call it righteousness by faith, but often end up having no room for the Sabbath and 1844. God's love should awaken love in us. Both groups in my understanding appear fearful of the judgment and one group wants to show God that they are ready to be with him the other just wants to hide behind "Jesus" since only his righteousness will get them in. One has a long list of works and often is focused on the good news that the church is going to hell in a handbasket and love to lament that Shakespeare is taught in the English department, etc. The other has a short list, say the magic words about Jesus and be saved, that's all there is to it, and some do stay here as good members of our church, but others end up leaving the church for typical Fundamentalist Evangelical churches, give up the Sabbath and 1844 and try to force us to give these up and in the typical evangelical churches they end up adding additional works such as becoming strict Republicans and enforce the strict Republican agenda on the world. Also, in my traveling I have developed some very close friends who are Palestinian Catholics, Jewish, Muslims, and Buddhist. I understand the Holy Spirit to be working with everyone and people are either following the spirit's prompting or rejecting it. In the "Say the magic words about Jesus and you are saved that's all there is to it (oh, join the Republican party)" religion there is not room for these dear souls without making them say those magic words and give the history lesson about how Jesus died for them on the cross.

One more quote on the serpents. The same Hand that kept the fiery serpents of the wilderness from entering the camp of the Israelites, until God's chosen people provoked Him with their constant murmurs and complaints, is today guarding the honest in heart. Were this restraining Hand withdrawn, the enemy of our souls would at once begin the work of destruction that he has so long desired to accomplish. And because God's long-continued forbearance is not now recognized, the forces of evil are already, to a limited degree, permitted to destroy. How soon human agencies will see blotted out of existence their magnificent buildings, which are their pride! {Ms153-1902} YES! All punishment comes from Sin. God suspends the consequences for a time and we do not recognize it that fact that it is God that is holding in check the consequences. Uzzah's situation is the same. Have you ever asked yourself why the Philistines did not die when them moved the Ark around?

When I read something in the Bible that I don't understand, I will read the SDABC, to see what they have to say about a verse or passage that doesn't make sense. Also I like to see what EGW has to say about passages in the Bible that don't make sense. There are other commentaries that also are a help.