Leaderboard

I must warn you that if you read my post on 50 year old (almost) life and ministry you will find that the positive part in the beginning is followed by the negative. If you are not prepared for that, do not read this. NOTE: This is simply a reflection on two (2) events and not on all of my life. Recently a new member of CA sent me a private message and asked me some questions. After I responded she told me that she had been raised from birth on stories from her mother and aunt about my wife and I. So, as an adult, she had spent several years searching the Internet for us. In 1968. fresh out of the Seminary my wife and I were sent to a place where some people lived in 100 year-old log homes with dirt floors. The entire county only had three (3) physicians--a surgeon, a GP and a GP who specialized in OB/GYN along with his general practice. The main GP had a case load of about 200 patients a day! My medical care was provided by the GP who specialized in OB/GYN. In that environment we became aquainted with two teen-age girls who came from a background that you would probably not believe. For reasons of privacy, I am not going into detail. But, we let them visit in our home on weekends and we got them into the Conference boarding academy. Here they had to work very hard, but they graduated and we lost track of them, until I was contacted by this new CA member. In that time and place the 8th grade was considered to be the end of normal schooling. One who graduated form High School was one who achieved and was outside of the norm. These two girls graduated from the SDA boarding academy, both have received advanced education beyond HS and have been employed in positions that required advanced training. In a conversation with one of them yesterday I asked about a SDA school teacher who taught in that area. In 2012 he pled guilty to nine (9) counts of carnal knowledge and rape of a minor female. He is now serving a 62 year sentence that began with his conviction at the age of 74. He can not get out until 2053. He is in for life. I wanted some answers, so I accessed his criminal convictions and his prison records. The nine counts to which he pled guilty began in 1966 and ended in 1977. IOW, he was doing this at the very time my wife and I were living in the community. All nine counts to which he pled guilty, I believe involved a daughter of his. In talking to one of the now adult women that we gave a helping hand, it seems that he was only involved with this one daughter of his. This has served to send me to thinking: How much may be going on in the lives of people that we closely associate with of which we are not aware. On that I leave you to also consider. . . .

inherited things, an embroidered table scarf, an embroidered pillow case, photos, telling stories to grand kids, eating foods as they were prepared long ago, a figurine in the window sill, a knick knack on the shelf.

Do you have personal traditions that you keep as memorials to your departed loved ones? Do you view the old photo album on your granddad's birthday? Do you visit your mother's grave and put fresh flowers there on the anniversary of her passing? How do you keep the memories alive?

Gregory's was Airedale, Gay's was Pug, Sojourner liked the retrieving breeds. Please help!

I have tried clearing the text editor and the attachment stays. So you are stuck looking at our dogs sideways.

((( LHC )))

I am not certain as to the exact meaning of Stan's request to stop posting threads about gays. I think that he focused on the personal posts that focused on individuals and their relation to God and the SDA denomination. I do not think that he meant we should not post information as to how this issue is being addressed by the denomination and our congregations today. If I am wrong I can be corrected.

“And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” - Luke 11:9-10 (Revised Standard Version)

As a person who grew up in no less than four foster homes and two step-mothers, with my highest education three years in the Marine Corps after graduating highschool, I've begun to realize why it has been easy for me to forget most of my life. Especially when learning of the promises our Father in Heaven holds out to those who know Him, and the Son Who gave so much to live with me and mine. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also....John 14 Never let it be said though, that the last almost 40 happy years with my loving wife, hasn't made up for all the previous disappointments. God is Love!~Jesus saves!

Forgiveness is God's act. What verse in the Bible contradicts this, jackson?