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Interestingly enough, I think focusing on and understanding the "process" of inspiration is a stumbling block to many across wide spectrum of Adventists in particular, but Christianity in general. Although, I do think the more conservative/fundamentalist ones POV, the more difficult this sort of information and understanding becomes to reconcile with that POV. As pointed out in the artiicle, the real crux of the matter is a verbal/mechanical view of inspiration that many in that camp tend to hold. I believe that some of our harshest critics of EGW are those that are, or were, of that POV. They simply could not reconcile the reality of a very human, or in reality, seemingly quite ordinary process of, writing/developing so much of EGW's written work. Their view of inspiration has an almost inerrant, perfectionistic view of inspiration.it places a great burden on the prophet, an aura of being supernatural and not quite human. So rather than reconsidering, modifying or rejecting that conservative/fundamentalist POV, they reject EGW entirely. I think it is important for us to get a clear view of what is behind the curtain. Demystifying ( removing the mystical) the prophetic gift to me is encouraging. It enables one to reconcile the humanity of the one receiving the gift with the relentless effort of the Divine source of the inspiration to reach and get through to us despite our deeply flawed humanity. Maintaining a cloak of secrecy today is impossible and imprudent anyway. And it often results in the reaction that there is really something to hide so that people feel duped. Not a perfect analogy, but to me it is like understanding a magician's tricks. The understanding does not make me enjoy the magic any less, but increases the appreciation for the talent and skill and creativity of the craft.

If that was a condition of employment, that the owner could have fired her if he choose to do so and she should not have recourse in my opinion. Not a good example as the employee has a choice to accept job requirements or not before employment. To do so afterwards, if there is a change of position, an honest person would request a waiver or resign. So I take it that your position is that it is okay to discriminate, when you have a business to serve the public, if it doesn't meet your Biblical values. Discrimination! Sorry, do not want to live in that environment. That is truly a slippery slope. This country is not a theocracy but a democracy. Your scenario opens the system to a wide multitude of abuses. Individual convictions are not being abused in the all to common business environment stories. It is akin to saying that a gay person has no right to eat or live if everyone felt the same as those who refuse to serve them or provide goods. Lets not forget all of the other 'sexual' misconducts! Oh, wait! Lets not forget about all sins! Wow, Lets live in a place where perfection is a requirement for life. (I think that is callled heaven, courtesy of Christ) Our freedom stops where anothers begins. We can make choices, operate a business for all or don't. Work for an employer or not. If you can't practice your religion in the way you want, than don't open a business where you feel you should be able to discriminate based on your beliefs. No, I do not believe in a God that allows us to treat others in that manner. I also find it offensive to see the Bible used in such a manner. Sorry, I do not see this in any way a matter of conscience, just plain old garden variety discrimination.

There are three ways it is related to salvation: 1.) Too many people give up Mrs. White and trade her in for an (abridged) version of Paul. They think that Paul surely must fit their view of what a prophet should be. They become focused on salvation as legal status (reading in later theologians thoughts into Paul's words) and reject the Sabbath. And while they use to clobber people with Ellen White they now clobber people with Paul. 2.) This popular but false view of inspiration affects how we see the whole Bible. Too many people base their faith not on the words of the Bible, but on the belief that the Bible is inerrant and completely perfect. As we face the crisis of the last days people are going to face the same problems in Paul and the rest of the Bible that they found with Mrs. White. Many are going to leave over this issue. Besides at the high point of this Satan will impersonate Christ and demons impersonate the Bible writers and Mrs. White and our precious loved ones, so why would they need this untrustworthy book when they can actually go to Jesus and Paul and Moses? 3.) It makes us miss the major themes. You end up giving each quote of Mrs. White equal weight and people latch on to parts by random. She writes things that superficial reading sounds like she is a very strict "Don't do this and Never ever do that" person. and we have a thread of Adventism who loves those quotes and builds their whole theology on this and love the gospel of the church going to hell in a hand basket as they see inconsistencies between us and their "Don't do" list. Others are completely turned off by that thread of Adventism and just rebel against it often leaving the church and completely misrepresent us to others. You have those who are trying to get the church to give up the trinity, which ends up destroying the very core of Mrs. White's theology, yet they have their favorite quotes. You have the last generation theology people who sees the difference between the last generation as one of quality of any that have gone before, while for Mrs. White the issue is not a different quality, but a different quantity of those who have come to totally trust in Christ or completely reject him, where there have only been a few who have reached those stages in other generations.

their are occupations i would not seek because of my convictions, i would not be bartender in a bar, i would not choose to be a pole dancer, i would not seek to be a military commander and lead others onto a battle field, outside of the system i would not start dealing drugs, or run a tobacco shop or work in one, i would not work in a liqueur store, i would not join a rock and roll band, i would not be a bouncer in a bar. i would not be employed in a house of prostitution in Nevada, or be the madame, or run an escort service. i would not choose to be in a job that required non essential to life services on Sabbath. the conviction that i do not agree with living the homosexual lifestyle does not mean i will not provide public services to those so living. if i was a personal home caregiver, i would not refuse a patient because they were living the gay lifestyle. it in no way means that i like that they are doing if i serve them. should doctors not accept gay patients because they don't like their lifestyle? is it conscience or homophobia?

There is a point at which people who do not believe that they can obey the law must decide to place themselves in a situation where that law does not apply to them.

After the service was finished, we had communion as this was 13th Sabbath. First we did foot washing. Then men outside and the women in the church. Joseph and I washed each others feet and prayed together. Then he washed my hands and offered his to me, to wash. It is customary to wash your hands after foot washing to prepare for taking the bread and wine. But, I had never had someone else wash them. It was a remarkably humbling and touching moment. As we finished the hand washing, Joseph took my hands in his and prayed for me. Then we went into the church for the bread and wine. Courtney and I were unsure if we should drink the ‘wine’ as it could be watered down with river water - which the people drink - and we could get sick. After being assured the juice was received from the conference and then boiled, Mercy said to Courtney, “But you need not worry, it has been prayed for. You will not get sick.” She was right, we are both fine and healthy, a day later. Communion finished at 2.30. Leon had arrived at the end of the service and gave his greetings to the people. He told them how much he and Carole had enjoyed their time with them and how much they would miss them when they left on Wednesday. As we exited the church and stood around outside, a few ladies started looking over at the Prado, parked just beyond the fence, and laughing. A wet weather jacket was hanging from the window as it has not been closing properly. I said to Joseph, “Are they laughing about the coat in the window?” “No,” Joseph said, “they are talking about you.” “Me?” I said, “Why?” “They are wondering if you will fit through the hole in the fence to get to the Prado.” Joseph laughed. The fence had a gate that you ducked through, rather than opened. It consisted of a number of sticks crossed and nailed together. There was a hole, clearly big enough for a Maasai to go through, but not a goat or cow. I laughed and headed toward the fence, “I’ll show them!” I said over my shoulder. I ducked and squeezed through the hole as casually as I could. Then, popping up on the other side, I spun around and blew them a rasberry. They all laughed. Heading back up the hill in the Prado, Leon gave us an update. Michelle had a badly infected ankle. It was treated and wrapped, she now has medicine to take regularly to get rid of the infection. The X-ray shows that Little Vivian has a chipped bone in her angle. Her leg is now wrapped and she is under strict orders not to walk on it. She gets around with a stick and a smile. She will need to stay home for the next week and then join the children who are heading to school on Wednesday after their two month year end holiday. After a lunch of Spagetti on toast we all headed up to the ridge for a walk, surrounded by the most amazing views. All of the children walked with us and we were joined by neighbouring kids as we walked. Walking along the ridge, I was intrigued by an empty metal frame. Clearly it once had a sign in it. I asked Joseph about it. “People from the Netherlands planted trees and put up the sign.” Joseph said. I looked across the barren mountain top. “What trees?” I asked. Joseph pointed at one lone tree some ways up the ridge, “That is the last one.” Then he pointed at rocky circles in the ground, “These are holes where the trees were.” Perceiving them for the first time I saw a huge gridwork of holes in all directions. “What happened to the rest of the trees?” “They planted them and left,” Joseph said. “The government said they would care for them but they did nothing.” “The people from the Netherlands went home thinking they had done a great thing,” I said. “I wonder what they would think now?” “True.” Joseph said. “Why did they plant the trees here?” I asked. “The government owns tops of all the highest ridges,” Joseph said, “They allow good things like schools and clinics there. But, the government does not run them, so they keep going.” We continued walking up the ridge. Leon led songs as he walked with a group far in front of us. I made animal noises at the occasional donkey, cow and sheep. The kids laughed and joined in. A top the ridge, we were blessed with the most amazing views and a beautiful lengthy sunset. The children ran and played as the Mzungus took photos of themselves, the kids, the views and everything else. As we walked the children held our hands. Some got rides of the shoulders of Joseph and myself. It was a perfect finish to a blessed Sabbath day. The day that had started with frustration and angst at the slowness of this place ended with a gratefulness for the same thing. The peace and tranquility are revitalising. Knowing that the two girls who were injured are now on the mend allowed everyone to rest their worried minds and enjoy the ebbing minutes of the Sabbath. We returned to the house, had a quick dinner of pan fried potatoes - Leon’s specialty. Then we headed into a time of singing and stories about the great plan God has for our eternal lives and the intricate plan he has for each of our lives here on Earth, should we choose to follow Him. We closed the Sabbath, as we had opened it, with prayer. And we all headed to bed.View the full article

Incorrect! Read again What i said. If you can refuse service for a wedding cake, food, or flowers, what keeps you from withholding other services? Oh, we can have a law that allows you to pick and choose which service you won't provide! Great! Ah, no. The law would have to spell it out and you would still have discrimination. So basicly your arguement is for discrimination based on your values. We either treat everyone the same or we don't. There is no in between. Look, this is all about one 'sin', as I have have already said and has been agreed to. We have no 'freedom of conscience' requests for anything else but on the issue of sexual orientation. We have all types of fears around this issue that just seep out of the woodwork. Not going to change your mind and that is okay. I believe in equality for all and non-discrimination. I try not to treat anyone else differently than God treats me.

Christ was a carpenter. I don't think he would have refused to build any furniture for anyone. Would he have refused to build a bed for homosexuals? "Go, and sin no more" works only on those that see their need. Matthew 5:43-45 AKJV 43 You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. He provides flowers for everyone.

I am agreeable to being corrected..if he did not give them a form that left off former employment. It would also depend on how far back they asked for previous employment or occupation. Leaving a blank period would also set off flags. My statemnt is made on the available info provided.More to come??

my brother can recite the lyrics to Mr. Terrific. I can only remember the first lines: "A scientist both wise and bold, set out to cure the common cold.... Instead he found this power pill which, he said, most certainly will turn a lamb into a lion, like an eagle he'll be flying..."

Little Moishie Morris wanted a new clock for his room. So he went to the clock counter at the department store. But the store clerk helped all of the adult customers first – even the ones behind him in line. Finally he got around to Moishie, who made his purchase and hurried out to the curb, where his father was impatiently waiting in his car. "What took you so long, son?" Moishie’s father asked. "The man helped everyone in the store before me," Moishie replied. "But I got even." "How?" asked his father. "I set all the alarm clocks while I was waiting," Moishie explained happily. "Let’s just say it's going to be fun at four o'clock."

There was once a small boy named Johnny who banged a drum all day and loved every moment of it. He would not be quiet, no matter what anyone else said or did. Various attempts were made to do something about the child. One person told Johnny that he would, if he continued to make so much noise, perforate his eardrums. This reasoning was too advanced for the child, who was neither a scientist nor a scholar. A second person told Johnny that drum beating was a special activity and should be carried out only on rare occasions. The third person offered the neighbors plugs for their ears; a fourth gave Johnny a book; a fifth person gave Johnny meditation exercises to make him placid and docile. None of these attempts worked. Eventually, old Moishe Tennenbaum walked by wondering what all of the ruckus was about. He surveyed the situation, handed the child a hammer and chisel, and asked, "I vuner what's inside the drum?"