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Last night I called up one of our members to see how life was going. During the course of our chat he mentioned that he hasn't been visiting here as often. The reason he gave was that he has gone elsewhere for his warm fuzzies. I thought about that... Then considered the three groups for artists that I recently joined. In all of them, newbies are freely posting their primal attempts in order to get feedback and help. They are absolutely inundated with encouragement and love. Paintings that look like they were done by elementary schoolchildren are met with, "I like it! Keep going!" "I like your vivid, happy colors!" "Don't give up!" As Adventists, we are cautioned against getting too emotional. But I believe there is a place for warm fuzzies. Okay, let's call it, "encouragement".

It can depend on ones 'sources'! Give a listen to his eulogies by former Presidents from both parties and amongst his peers. His daughters was the best.

Approximately 1/2 of 1% (.05) of Folks that identify themselves as Christians are SDA's. Approximately 2.2. billion Catholics Vs. 17 Million SDA's. The below links are just a few news articles of SDA's buggering little boys and girls - from a Church that represents 1/2 of a percent of the worlds Christians. Can you imagine what news coverage of SDA's would look like IF they represented 50 percent. https://articles.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/08/lawuit_accuses_seventh_day_adv.amp https://abc30.com/lawsuit-says-adventist-church-shouldve-prevented-teachers-sex-abuse/3421778/ http://dumaslawgroup.com/7th-day-adventists-ignored-claims-teachers-sexual-abuse/ https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/pastor-allegedly-neglects-to-report-confession-of-girls-sex-abuse-15298731 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/columbia/ph-sex-abuse-sentencing-20130711-story.html https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/royal-commission/seventhday-adventists-admit-they-failed-teen-abuse-victim/news-story/5dcff3c47b7f55d5251e2d3aea262e5d https://www.chronicle.co.zw/high-court-rules-against-seventh-day-adventist-church/ https://www.click2houston.com/news/deacon-of-west-houston-church-accused-of-molesting-2-children-police-believe-there-are-more-victims I would be the last person to defend the Catholic Church when it comes time to homosexuality / Pedo's in the Priesthood - far be it. I'm proudly in the camp of : https://www.churchmilitant.com/ https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/pope-francis-must-resign-zero-tolerance

One is NOT part of "Israel" because he is "Jewish". Only those who serve Jesus as Lord, are Israel. Only those attached to "the Tree" of Romans 11, are Israel. Most were "broken off" because of unbelief. Yes - I know - they can be "grafted in again". But I don't believe the Lord will accept a sudden massive conversion when Jesus returns gloriously, not after they had the testimony about Jesus available to them for almost 2000 years. Messianic Judaism was recently acknowledged as a branch of Judaism in the present nation called Israel, but it is a very small group. Only a small percent of citizens of (geopolitical) Israel even believe that "God" exists. Only a tiny fraction of those believe in Jesus as Messiah.

Narcah: I find your comment as to a statement from an AFL/CIO President to be of interest. I previously mentioned that while I had never been hired by a labor union to provide pastoral care to labor union member I developed a relationship with a Local President that was such that he sent members to me for pastoral care. As a result of my friendship with this Local President, I met other national labor union leaders and included in what happened was the following: * I spent 40 minutes with a national labor union leader telling him why SDAs had concerns about labor union membership and why SDA members often requested exemption from a requirement to join a labor union. To this day I have his personal telephone number and I can telephone him. * On another occasion, I told a group of national labor union leaders that if they did change their approach they were going fail to attract new members to join their labor union. All of this happened due to the relationship that I developed with the President of a labor union local where I worked. He spoke at my retirement and mentioned how I had often given him advice, with which he disagreed, but when he followed it he had found it to be the correct advice. The bottom line is: The people whom God places in positions of influence in the world, can have an impact on the world. Just maybe, God will sometimes place people in unexpected places in the world in order to accomplish God's will. It just might be that sometime God will place someone in a labor union in order to accomplish the will of God. That might be in the case of a person hired by a labor union to provide pastoral care who was required to join that Union in order to be hired to provide that pastoral care.

Narcah: No one has raised the question in this forum as to whether or not labor unions are good. That may be a political/economic question. In actual fact, no one has raised the question as to whether or not someone should join any/every labor union. The questions raised here has been: * What were the specific reasons for which EGW said that one should not join a labor union? * Would EGWs counsel apply to a situation in which none of the reasons EGW gave for not joining a labor union applied to a person joining a specific labor union? * How would her advice apply to a labor union that supported the rights of Sabbath-keepers to have the Sabbath free from work and I gave a specific example of such? * How would her advice apply to a labor union that wanted to hire you to provide pastoral care to it members, but required you to join in order to do so?

My Holy mountain ⛰

Salvation is about FAITH - not DNA. No one will be saved, or govern the world, because they have a bit of Abraham's DNA.

Neither Peter nor Moses molested little boys, or taught falsehood. The LORD would have struck Moses dead, if Moses had lied in His name.

5 Things You Need to Know About Princess Diana On August 31, 1997, Great Britain's Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris at the age of 36. Here are five shocking facts you probably didn't know about the princess who enchanted the world... Lady Diana and Prince Charles Only Saw Each Other a Few Times Before Getting Engaged. Prince Charles had met Lady Diana when she was 16, while he was dating her sister, Lady Sarah. At the time they became engaged some years later, Charles had been pressured to find a wife after being refused by one woman and seeing other women but not settling on any. It is reported that Charles and Diana only spent time with each other 13 times before their marriage. When Lady Diana Became Engaged, She Was Working as an Aide at a Kindergarten. Lady Diana did not do particularly well at her schooling. However, she was talented at playing the piano. After she finished her education, she took a post working part-time in the Pimlico District of London as a kindergarten teacher. She shared an apartment with three others and also worked as a housekeeper for her elder sister and nanny for an American woman. Lady Diana Had to be Sewn Into Her Wedding Dress. After she became engaged, Lady Diana started losing weight, whether from her eating disorder or just nerves, and her gown had to be refitted numerous times. The bodice was remade five times to accommodate her shrinking waist, but she still had to be sewn into the gown right before the ceremony to make it fit properly. One thing wedding guests didn’t get to see were the remade antique parasols that matched the wedding gown in the event of rain. The Royal Couple Separated in 1992. Due to reported infidelity by both Charles and Diana and Diana’s depression, bulimia and other problems, the couple divorced in 1996. Princess Diana continued with her charitable work, cutting down to concentrate on a few specific charities, and she began dating again. In 1997, she began going out with film producer and known playboy Dodi Al Fayed, the son of an Egyptian billionaire, who was the owner of Harrods Department Store at the time. The Chauffeur Driving the Car When the Princess Died Was Drunk. The princess and Dodi Al Fayed were in Paris at the Ritz Hotel and departed in a Mercedes accompanied by the driver, Henri Paul, and a bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, when paparazzi spotted the vehicle and chased after them. The driver lost control of the vehicle as they passed through a tunnel, and the vehicle struck one of the pillars. The bodyguard was the only one to survive the accident and was hospitalized for several months due to his injuries, and it was later revealed that Henri Paul had been drinking and driving.

Correct me if I'm mistaken, Gustave, but I think the RCC has a procedure for totally "defrocking" an ordained priest Failing that, there is always excommunication.

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, widowed, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like a person who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion;” we’ve been there too. If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts... and you! [The above is the printed welcome extended to visitors at the Desert Valley SDA Church--GM-.]

What a great message! The new church I have attended in Parker, CO extends a similar greeting. I hope that the entire denomination (indeed - all Christians) can attain this same attitude.

You know, perhaps this crisis will save many, those whose dependence upon the safety net of an organization is producing complacency or misguided focus. In my personal experience, I was craving the salt experience. For the most part I served either the converted or those whose hearts were already opened. But I desired to show God’s love, as best I can, to more groups. I wanted to exercise my understanding of God’s love to grow myself as well as providing positive PR for the case of a loving Creator at a time when Christians are becoming known for their hatred. If the official denomination self-destructs, the work may become more difficult but we need not fear. It may be what we need to return to the rudiments. It may make us a movement again and I see that as a good thing.

Trump is doing what he has alwasy done...fear mongering and division. I call them 'cheese and crackers' parties!!

Garden of Eden ?

comfort one another with these words...

We are witnessing the potential breakup of the SDA organization, as we know it, to an extent that I would not have imagined. I previously have stated that in the future, SDA historians might be able to state that President Ted did more to bring about the ordination of women than any other person could have done. I have dismissed those who have suggested that President Tec actually wants to split this denomination. I am still not willing to accept that position. But, I cannot dismiss the events taking place that seem to be driving in that direction. As I see it, this denomination, at least in North America, faces a number of problems, of which financial support is one, along with others, for which I do not believe have a human solution. As I look at these present issues, it seems to me that the consequences of decisions that are being made are reducing the likelihood of our resolving those issues. One reason being that we are spending valuable time going in a direction that ignores and leaves for a later time some critical issues that can not wait to be addressed. I do not suggest that certain issues being addressed are not important. Perhaps some of these could have been resolved in local areas. Perhaps we should trust each other to do what is best in their area and not expect all issues to be addressed by overworked people on the highest levels of our denomination. Yes, that would mean that some differences exist from place to place. What must people do not know that that such actually already exists. The SDA denomination does not do everything the same in each country in the world. Differences already exist.

I got wind of this GC move from Reinder Bruisma, who was also very concerned. It sometimes seems amazing that anyone would want to belong to a Christian organization at all when there are the same politics going on as in the world. I would rather that reform come from the ground up than from the top down. This is an interesting situation, indeed

I read Knight's Brief History of Seventh-day Adventists, Organizing to Beat the Devil, and A Search for Identity. These three mini-books were published in 1999, 2000 and 2001, long before the Ted Wilson era. I found Dr Knight's observations to be insightful and interesting. The question of church authority is as old as the church itself. The schism of the Eastern Church and the mutual, reciprocal anathemas pronounced by the various bishops of the day form the model. But back in those days, schism was a major step, one on which kingdoms and empires could rise and fall (cue the investiture crisis and the Henry/Gregory Canossa incident). Following the Reformation, with the idea that believers can read and interpret the scripture for themselves, together with the Enlightenment ideas of freedom of worship and conscience, shook the concept of ecclesiastical authority to the bone. Today schism happens regularly and few take note outside of the affected denomination. Were schism to occur in the SdA church, some careers might be derailed, others would be launched; some power plays might be thwarted, others might be realized; members would leave and join as the denomination reorganises itself and there may even be the specter of lawsuits between brethren before the secular courts to settle property and trademark claims. But life would go on, and few outside of Adventism would care.

I am dumbfounded that a man of his stature would say what he said. It is NOT that I believe him to be either right or wrong. I am not passing judgment on what he said. I do not claim what he said to be either true or false. But, no thinking person should simply dismiss what he said. It is worthy of consideration by all.

I have read and enjoyed many of Dr Knight's published works, especially the historical summarizing published under the Adventist Heritage Series, but also his reflections, commentaries and study guides on some of the books of the Bible. However, as of late, his post-retirement outbursts and over-the-top rhetoric leave me unimpressed. I don't know if Mr Wilson is prone to fits of anger and juvenile temper tantrums, nor do I know if his style is "dictatorial", and frankly I don't really care. Little that goes on at the GC is of any consequence to our congregation and our local mission.

The only example in scripture of which I'm aware was the Jerusalem council. However, in the Bible we have no record of Peter and James trying to manipulate the procedures, protocols and votes; rather they humbly accepted Paul's advice. How would Paul have dealt with Peter and James had those two manipulated the council vote, declared Paul a dissident, and ordered that he had one year to submit to the Judaizing and circumcising doctrine, failing which he'd face serious consequences? We don't know the answer to this.

"shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:" This is key. Jesus' feet will not touch the ground at the second coming. We go together and meet him in the air. The earth has not been purified yet so he will not touch the ground. Many are confusing the 2nd and 3rd comings unfortunately. r

Rend your heart ?

I agree with what the Bible says ...from the east. r

I think he is rapidly destroying that "respected writer" thing! Really? Every religion has or should have in place a method of dealing with divergences from the truth of that religion. To attempt to tie President Wilson to the Catholic inquisition is really disingenuous. What really separates church discipline in the SDA church and the Roman church is no one is setting up any stakes for burning or other implements of torture for dissidents over at the general conference headquarters! So, for those upset regarding President Wilson, perhaps they should go back to their Scripture for it is even discussed in Scripture on how to deal with those who would preach heresy.

That some leadership ideas have paralleled the RC is not exactly news, it is just that so many people do not recognize it. "...... the churches right/responibility to make public statements to reinforce what the church does believe, on an official basis?", is not the question to me but rather is it what the 'church/Christ' would be teaching? We need to recognize that when a circle the wagons mentality is adopted by the top structure, we have began the wander in the wilderness journey....perhaps. He does come on strong, which will offend many people, but that is his opinion from his perspective. With out parsing the whole article, I am not uncomfortable with it.

Job 9: 6: Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. Psalm 46: 2: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Isaiah 13: 13: Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. Those 3 scriptures have always bothered me…….… What does this mean Lord? Then one day I read this: “As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. . . . The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, "Christ has come! Christ has come!" The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him. . . . In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. . . . “ {FLB 346.2} We know that Satan will not be able to duplicate the coming of Christ exactly so he will do the best he can to show the whole world at once the coming of something… he will appear in different parts of the earth. Remember what Christ said in Matthew 24: 26: Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. Now go back and re read the first 3 scriptures and then read these. Isaiah 40: 3: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4: Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 54: 10: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. In plain words, this is how I understand this now. During the 7th plague: Rev. 16: 18: And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19: And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20: And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. These verses and SOP along with what I heard recently, I have come to this conclusion: During this time of the last plague, I believe that the bible is saying that there will be a great shift in all the land masses like a coming together so that all the peoples still remaining alive on this earth will all see Jesus at the same time coming in the clouds. Matthew 24:27: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. this is so wonderful an idea. It also correlates with Gen 10:25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided.... Satan's Personation After the Close of Probation The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction reaches its culmination in the time of trouble. God's long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation, and the Lord withdraws His protection, and leaves them to the mercy of the leader they have chosen. . . . {TA 273.1} As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will attempt to personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, “Christ has come! Christ has come!” {TA 273.2}

Sanctify a fast

The strait gate

The New Testament genre “gospel” was an invention of the apostles. The genre “epistle,” as used in the New Testament, adopting a common writing style, was also largely an invention of the apostles. But the genre of Revelation, “apocalypse,” is an adopted genre. It is the only work of its kind in the New Testament, […] The post The Genre of Revelation (Rev 6) appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

Hear me speedily

As I understand it, and Gustave can correct me if I am wrong, the following are the seven (7) sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church: 1) Baptism. 2) Confirmation. 3) The Blessed Eucharist. 4) Penance. 5) Anointing of the Sick. 6) Orders. [of clergy] 7) Marriage. I do not believe that the Roman Catholic Church has any other sacraments. As to saints and relics, those teachings fall into the category of "Other Acts of divine Worship." As to celibacy of the clergy that is an administrative decision that the Pope can change as the Pope wishes. I once knew a Roman Catholic priest who was married as the Pope had allowed him to be both married and a priest.

Gustave, Last time I looked, there was a forum where one could post questionable EGW quotations. I posted several there awhile back. It's just not an issue for me any longer. I find that dissing EGW, just turns SDAs away from anything ELSE I might have to say, and bores non-SDAs. Non-SDAs will NOT be convinced of any truth, because Ellen White endorsed it. And SDAs will not be convinced to take a fresh look at a Scriptural interpretation, because you criticize her writings.

There are four major ways that people have approached the book of Revelation. The approach you decide on determines to a large degree the results you find from studying Revelation. (1) The book of Revelation was written to seven churches located in the Roman province of Asia (Rev 1:4– Asia Minor). So one way to […] The post Four Ways to Approach Revelation (Rev 5) appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article