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I don't know if this is an original thought for others or not - it was for me. When we debate points of doctrine/faith on this forum, people ask for "proof"; and if the initial "proof isnb't sufficient, they ask for more "proof". If they don't ask for "proof", they provide "proof that the other person is wrong and they are right. This frequently leads to arguments and accusations hinting at heresy or apostasy. It got me to thinking - what is the basis of personal faith? Do we require "proof beyond a shadow of a doubt, or do we lean on the preponderance of evidence? In my walk as a Christian, I find that my faith constantly evolves. As a Catholic, I was a Trinitarian. When I became a JW, I wasn't. When I was baptized an SDA I was again. Now I'm not again. When I first heard about EGW, I thought it she was full of it. As I read her more and more, I began to believe she might indeed be a true prophet. As my Bible Study deepened, I found things in scripture that didn't jive with EGW's writings. So now I think of her as an inspired writer; but not a prophet. When I went through my "Taliban" SDA phase, I was convicted that I needed to keep the law perfectly or else I would burn. I found my efforts to be futile; and I never witnessed anything close to a "perfect" Christian. As my Bible study deepened, I realized that I am saved by grace alone; and anything "good" in me is a result of grace, not my own efforts. I guess I'm trying to say that my faith has evolved over my life as a Christian. Things I was once convicted of, I now reject; and vice-versa. As I study scripture, I discover "evidence" that I may not have seen before. As that evidence is realized, it modifies my faith. As I think about it, my "faith" is guided by the preponderance of evidence rather than "proof beyond the shadow of a doubt". If it was "proof beyond a shadow of a doubt, it would be "fact" not "faith". Faith by definition is hope for things not seen. When people challenge me on this forum, I don't always have strong responses. Sometimes my response should be "I don't know". In conclusion, some of my faith involves things that I believe I have been shown; but I can't "prove" it beyond the shadow of a doubt. I can only go on the evidence I have received, and as new evidence is revealed, sometimes my faith is revised. What thinkest thou?

Shloimie, who was struggling with his weight, went into Yitz’s Bakery, marveling at the delicious looking pastries displayed on trays in the glass cases. When a clerk approached him and asked, "What would you like?" Shloimie answered, "I'd like that chocolate-covered, cream-filled doughnut, that jelly-filled doughnut and that cheese Danish." Then with a sigh he added, "But I'll take an oat-bran muffin."

Chaim Yankel rented a sports car for the day and was speeding down the highway when he was pulled over by a police officer. Chaim Yankel didn't have his seat belt on so as soon as he stopped, he quickly slipped it on before the officer got to his window. After talking to him about speeding, the officer said, "I see you are wearing your seat belt. Do you believe in wearing it at all times?" "Yes, I do, officer," Chaim Yankel replied. "Well," asked the officer, "do you always do it up with it looped through your steering wheel?"

JoMo has hit upon a couple of important points that are often true of Biblical prophecy. I would add that such assures us that God knew about it prior to it happening and was prepared for it. IOW, God's ultimate plan will succeed.

They were cleansed

The Samaritans were not a sect of Judaism. They were a mixed blood group from leftovers of the ten tribes who were taken captive and other people sent to occupy the land. They also had a mixed religion with some parts of the Jewish religion and parts of heathen religion. They considered Mount Gerazim to be the true place for the temple. They accepted the Torah but not the rest of the Old Testament (Tanach).

If God were the kind of person his enemies have made Him out to be; arbitrary, vengeful and severe; there could be no real freedom, and our worship and obedience would be driven by our fears. Sadly, millions have been turned away from God by Satan’s perversion of the truth. But Jesus came to bring […] The post Conversations About God: Summary of Chapter Nine, “There Is No Need to Be Afraid of God” appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

The intent of the following article is to tell members how they may better understand for themselves the Biblical book of Revelation: https://atoday.org/44933-2/

And quietness therewith ?

The package that the House approved amounted to more than 18 billion dollars. None of it was funded. Where do you think that will come from. Do you really want us to go into more debt. In addition, it is agreed that the Wall will ultimately cost much more than the 5 billion dollars that has been mentioned. Again, . . . .?

Today, December 22, I awoke early. I decided to watch the movie, Newton's Grace, which I had previously recorded, before going to church later today. It is an inspirational, true story, of God leading a man who became the captain of a slave ship to become a pastor. I encourage any to view it as part of their devotional life.

✨ Pleasures for evermore ✨

The Wanderer: * You are absolutely wrong in your suggestion that another person has been given free range to attack SDA beliefs.. Some of that has occurred in a public discussion and you should know better than to make such a remark. Some of that has occurred privately.. In this case you should be aware that the other person has complied and is no longer making the statements. * The focus of the discussions here has been a person from another denomination who has wanted to better understand SDA beliefs, and in a number of cases has changed his understanding of SDA beliefs as a result of coming here and asking the questions. * We will continue to encourage this type of discussion. * The focus of this discussion has NOT been to convince that person of the errors in his beliefs. While we will allow some of that in an attempt to obtain mutual understanding, I am not going to allow unlimited attacks on the beliefs of that person and the denomination that he represents. * In this conversation, it is appropriate for him to tell us how he understands our belief system, even if we do not like it. * It will also be appropriate for all to recognize the road-blocks to conversation that may be present in the terms that we use and to further define them in an attempt to understand what the other is actually saying. * Cool it and tone down your responses.

In the post above, Photodude gave the following website to support his claim that Catholic Popes have claimed to be God on Earth: http://www.geoffhorton.com/PapalClaims.html I invite all to go to that website and to read the entire article. I especially invite Photodude to go there and to read that article as I suspect that he has never read the entire article. That article lists seven (7) claims in which the Pope has claimed to be God on Earth. The article then addressed each claim and refuted it. IOW, each of the seven (7) claims is said by the article to be false, misleading or otherwise distorted. In actual fact, the article that Photodude listed supports the opposite of what Photodude implied it said.