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See: https://www.adventistreview.org/not-a-single-convert This story will tug at your heart strings.

I can certainly agree with that. Of course, I can only speak for myself, but I have seen very little connection between what I believe and how I behave. Good breeding is probably much more important than good religion. The very special hope that Scripture offers us is that faith is counted for righteousness.

Thank you, Pastor, for showing that man also need to be responsible for lusting. I truly agree that the reading made excellent points. Both male and female have to check themselves for the lust they have in their mind, instead of blaming it on others! Happy Sabbath!

I'm grateful ( not that grateful) that old age has pretty much removed that temptation from me. I still appreciate a beautiful woman; but appreciation is as far as it goes.

Excellent article! Is it perfect? Few articles are. He may have taken a point or two just a bit too far, but I have to agree wholeheartedly with his main points. Is the article anti-male? Absolutely not! It's anti-sin, which should appeal to every regenerate heart. If I've found one method that is better than another, when it comes to avoiding lust, it's to remember that you are looking at a human being -- a soul to be saved or lost -- not at an object.

Thanks for posting, I think he makes many good points!! Especially the one where he says, "we can look the other way!"

See: https://atoday.org/men-take-responsibility-for-your-own-temptations/

Got it. You believe that Islam is the big threat. Not knowing much about your background, nor how you have reached this conclusion, I can at least respect the consistency of your position. I could even respect your opinion that Trump's arrival on the scene was providential, so long as you do not politically support such a vile man. In my view, these events may indeed be a part of God's ultimate plan. Even Judas fulfilled prophecy. The final crisis must come, and I believe the most essential preparation is a heart united with Jesus, in love with His person, His character, and His law.

Ron Amnsn had just said: "It was the pre-incarnate Jesus that taught the Israelites the Old Testament instructions and statutes found in the Law of Moses, including the Decalogue." Jesus' gospel teachings included the Sermon of the Mount, in which He not only upheld His own Ten Words from the Old Testament, but enlightened His hearers as the breadth and depth of their meaning and application. The effect of the gospel is not to make people more careless in regard to the moral requirements of the Ten Words. Rather, it has the effect of creating in the heart a love for that law, in all of its implications, and a natural desire to honour God by living out its principles.

Yes what an awesome story!! I also teared up and it definitely wasn't allergies ?!!

See: https://atoday.org/picking-up-the-trash/

Or, to put it another way: Dating, The Black & White of it: https://atoday.org/dating-while-black/ NOTE: Yes, on the surface this article might be thought to be revelent to a part of the people reading here. I have posted it in part because I believe that it speaks to issues that pertain to a much larger group of people.

I love that last sentence. My concept of true religion includes a vital connection with Christ through our faith and the working of the Holy Spirit. This creates a miraculous heart change. That means it works from the inside out, but it will inevitably affect our behaviour in a noticeable way. Others will see it, but our hope remains in the righteousness of Christ alone, imputed (counted) to those who believe.

You are right. That verse is not saying that we establish the law by keeping the Decalogue. This may or may not be true, depending on how the matter is approached, but that's not the point of Romans 3:31. That verse states that our coming to genuine faith does not void the law. Rather, it establishes the law (i.e. the Torah, the five books of Moses). So, we need to understand what those five books are all about. They include a system of ceremonial law which the New Testament clearly teaches is obsolete. Yet, their thrust was the gospel, and that purpose is promoted by our coming to true faith. The Decalogue is obviously the core of the Torah, and when we put our faith in Christ's death on the cross, we acknowledge that every sin -- every violation of the Decalogue -- must meet its penalty, which is death. That's why we find it necessary to accept that He died in our place, by giving our lives to Him in loving service. The Torah also includes much moral instruction that helps to explain the application of the principles of the Decalogue. Obviously, the true believer will show due regard for these precepts as well.

I might suggest that none of us is in a position to fully answer your question. When it comes to doctrine, we have four or five "pillars" on which we all agree, or the person might as well not pretend to be one of us. These would include the Saturday Sabbath, the doctrine of the heavenly sanctuary, the unconscious state of the dead, and the pre-millennial glorious Second Coming of Christ. Beyond that, each local congregation has the responsibility to exclude from membership those who persist in living in open sin. I suppose that, in some cases, this might include the persistent promotion of abhorrently false doctrine, or teachings contrary to the above-mentioned pillars. Obviously, neither of the above facts, nor both together, are sufficient to exclude every spurious Christian, much less every spurious Seventh-day Adventist. What is God's solution to this? To me, it appears to be II Timothy 2:19. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Ultimately, we are saved as individuals. If we know our Shepherd, no one can snatch us out of His hand. As for the effectiveness of a church where the wheat and tares grow together, that's God's problem, not yours or mine. We just need to humbly do what we can to help.

I don't know your background, but I grew up in the SDA Church, as a pastor's son. We never had any "understanding" other than that the angels are an order of created being separate from mankind. Our primary spokesperson, Ellen White, explained this Bible passage as the entire world becoming corrupted when the sons of Seth, who should have been faithful to God, chose to marry the godless daughters of Cain.

By googling "Does Iran have a coastline?" This came up on my phone: Sometimes when we are trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together, it is difficult to know how they fit . Sometimes seeing a picture of the puzzle that is being assembled makes it easier to know where the pieces go. I once had a collection of hand made wooden jig saw puzzles that my family really enjoyed. While I was at work one day, our kids decided to make several puzzles at once and all the pieces from all the puzzles got mixed together. My wife decided that it would be a hopeless task to try to sort the thousands of pieces in the fifty 2 x 3 foot puzzles and she took it upon herself to put the entire collection in two large trash bags and set it out with the trash. They were gone before I came home from work. She thought that her quick action would solve the problem that the kids ruined my collection. What she didn't know is that my friend had custom cut each puzzle from different panels. Turn the pieces over and everything would have gotten sorted and boxed without any difficulty. (My friend was handicaped and never made another wooden puzzle). My wife just didn't know. She thought that her solution would settle a problem (though she actually enjoyed making the puzzles more than I did. She would make a puzzle every few days. And she had some favorites that she made repeatedly.) But she only looked at the side that she was putting together. And it bothered her if pieces that did not go to a puzzle got mixed up with the wrong puzzle. Chittim is a Greek name. It is linked to Javan. The Greek empire extended to Persia (Iran). In Bible prophecy, through the years, the identity of the "King of the South" moved from Egypt to Iran as the identity of the "King of the North" has gone from Babylon to the United States of America. Without understanding the prophetic fine points, it is unlikely that anyone would consider linking the island of Chittim to a country like Iran that "doesn't even have a coastline"

People have to do what is right for others as well, and I think it would be more helpful to our readers if you were to find the true cause of the evils that you mention, and to change your opinion about God's special messenger. She either spoke for God, or she didn't. Those marked supernatural manifestations were from either a good or an evil source. "You will know them by their fruits." If I look at the state of Christendom today, I can see the need for an emphasis on the Law of God and on sanctification. There is no cause for confusion, if we know our Bibles, and if our hearts are willing and obedient. There is a balance to be sought, in our teaching and beliefs. Of course we need to know the difference between justification and sanctification. No one has ever stated more clearly than Ellen White that we need to take God at His naked word. We also need to understand that the absence of holiness indicates the absence of true justification. Today's Christianity is a mile wide, and an inch deep. Myriads claim justification by a kind of "faith" that has no practical value. Those who show no regard for the Law of God do not have His Spirit, and they are not His. I recently saw an episode of Paternity Court where the potential father was a pastor and a bishop. By any moral standard, he was obviously reprehensible in his attitude and in his conduct. He showed zero awareness that, as a "man of God," he should have been upholding a higher standard. Now I fully understand why most young people today want nothing whatsoever to do with organised religion.

I have just read the long comment as to what a proposed bill would actually do: * To force hospitals and physicians to do sex reassignment surgery against their will is simply false and a failure to understand the present health-care system. Hospitals may limit their services. Some hospitals do not do labor and delivery. Some hospitals do not have an Emergency department. All such is allowed. * I once lived in a culture where males and females freely went into the others bathroom. * I worked my way through the Seminary at Andrews University by cleaning bathrooms in the college. I quickly learned that the female college students were not going to stay out of the bathrooms when I was cleaning them. [NOTE: I normally did my bathroom cleaning in the evening after most classes were finished.] I got used to it. I did not bother the women and they did not bother me. * In commercial activities, one should not be allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. IOW, if you are a photographer who takes wedding photographs, you should not be allowed to discriminate against same sex weddings. If however, you are a photographer who does not do wedding photographs, you should not be required to photograph any wedding.

How did Jesus treat Samaritans who 'worshiped wrong', lepers who were believed to be cursed by God, the lame man at the Pool of Siloam likewise (the disciples' 'who sinned?' question and His answer), the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, prostitutes and publicans?

Too me this is political confusion that Satan stirs up to keep our minds from the truth. Trump is here to try and divert all of our effort from the beast and the false prophet. It is his greatist triumph to have us fighting over this man! This is a diversion from Bible prophecy and being honest we have never seen the things that are happening today. The time is getting close to the remnant of the woman seed to be selected. Trump appears to start a fight with Iran and Korea is still making nuclear weapons. Nothing has change wars and rumors of wars, but the time is not yet. All that is been revealed is that sin and sinners are becoming more vicious and violent. Hatred is at a new high and church folks are the ring leaders, throwing children into cages like animals, hating people base on their color. Yes, homosexual is here but no one talks about oral sex, why and other unholy sexual acts? Most of all 2/3 of the world has not heard of the Gospel and the way America is acting they do not believe we actually believe in A SUPREME BEING! How are we going to preach to them with all this mess is going on, folks it is Satan! He wants us to burn with him and many are following him just like the pipe piper! Get ready, look at your garments, love one another, obey and keep the Commandments it is not too late! We all need prayer! Happy Sabbath and be bless!

Time and time again, we try to question the mystery of the Universe. The Bible makes it clear: Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. Gen 2:1 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Job 38:2, 33 The secret things belong unto YAHWEH our ELOHEINU: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the Words of this Law. Deut 29:29 Sometimes I think many do not really believe that THE THREE ALMIGHTY ONES truly exist. We rather accept man's concept over THEIR'S! Einstein’s general theory of relativity is only a theory; it has not been proven if it had they would not continue to call it a theory! Again, we continue to speculate about the heavens/universe instead of accepting that it is finished and that our ancient ancestors know more then we do. YAHWEH stopped them, but they provided maps and sacred places about the stars. We today think they were jungle bunnies with long sharp sticks. These people after the flood were exploring and were using 100-90% of their brains. All the drawings were done after YAHWEH stopped them and confounded their language. Even after that, they were able to start writing down their new languages and they had huge libraries of tablets that were found. There are still languages today that we have not even decipher. Some had huge observatories and India temples look like landing pads. Drawings have been done that can only be seen from the sky and we cannot fathom things here on earth and think we know what's in the universe. If so explain to me how planets can orbit and what keep them hanging out in space! Why are some gaseous and some are not in our solar system? Explain Saturn's rings or how Uranus tilts on its side? Why have all the planets in our solar system have not collided? We do not know anything about what looks like a black hole! All are theories and speculations. We can't even figure out how we are made let alone the universe. My plan is to pray, obey and watch for the signs that will soon come. The Bible said if YAHSHUA would not hurry up and come, Satan will eventually deceive even the elect. That is something to think about! I will say this again if Trump a man can deceive so many people today like never before, then we are no match for the beast and Satan that is to come! I know some of you will get upset with me, but I just ask you to sincerely think about it, please! I'm not here to fight about parties or what you think he's supposed to have done, just pray and ask THE HOLY SPIRIT to show you his character, nothing else! I am not better than anybody and I just want to stand and call sin by its right name that's all! Accept that we need to know YAHWEH and HIS Wisdom! Happy Sabbath and be bless!

Wow! What a great story! I teared up (it was probably allergies?).

That's interesting. I've been reading the Bible through every year for over ten years now, and I am 100% convinced of Ellen White's inspiration -- more strongly, all the time, if that's possible.

I see so much approval of evil under the guise of "love." I think that is very wrong. Problem with that kind of behavior is that is emboldens others in their evildoing and help guarantee their trip to perdition. Those participating in it will be held accountable.

Teaching the Word ? Act 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Samuel Morse_2 On May 24, 1844, Samuel F.B. Morse demonstrated the telegraph for the first time. Here are 5 things you things you probably didn’t know about this talented artist and inventor... Morse Was a Talented Artist Samuel Finley Breese Morse helped pay his way through Yale University by painting portraits and studied painting in England. Some of the commissions he received for portraits were of Presidents James Monroe and John Adams, as well as paintings that were hung in the U.S. Capitol. Probably one of his most famous paintings is of one of the galleries inside the Louvre in Paris, France, where he depicts a number of the famous artworks there. His Wife’s Death Sparked His Interest in a Faster Method of Communication Morse was in Washington, D.C. working on a commissioned painting of Lafayette when he got a letter saying that his wife was seriously ill. He left Washington immediately to travel home, but his wife had died and was already buried by the time he got there. He was so grief-stricken that he decided to devote his time from then on to improving communication. A Teenager Chose the First Words to Be Transmitted by Telegraph The first words sent by telegraph, “what hath God wrought,” were chosen by Annie Ellsworth, age 17, and the daughter of Henry Ellsworth, the U.S. Patent Office commissioner. Although Morse had held a patent for the telegraph since 1838, it took him until 1844 to receive the funding necessary to institute it. Morse, grateful for the support of Ellsworth, let Annie choose the message, which was sent from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore. He Exited Public Life With a Flourish Phone lines went silent in 1922 when Alexander Graham Bell died, and lights were dimmed for the death of Thomas Edison, but Morse was still living when he said his farewell to public life. June 10, 1871, was unofficially declared “Samuel Morse Day,” and a cruise in New York Harbor, parade and dedication of a statue of Morse was held in Central Park in New York City, drawing a large crowd. Telegraph instruments around the country received a message from Morse at the same time, extending his greetings and thanks. The Supreme Court Had to Rule That Morse Was the Inventor Upon traveling to Europe after his wife died, Morse met Charles Thomas Jackson, a scientist working on electromagnetism, which inspired Morse to use electricity to send a long-distance message. At the same time, inventors William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone were working on their own electrical telegraphy. They invented a multiple wire system, while Morse’s invention used a single wire, so he was given credit for the invention in the U.S. Supreme Court.

And when so many others treat all Christians as inferior dogs and pigs, that's okay? It works both ways. Shouldn't we as Christians take a stand against celebrating what God has called evil? It has been said that for evil men to accomplish their purpose it is only necessary that good men should do nothing. So which shows the love and concern of God more - "live and let live", or warning people against celebrating people calling good evil and evil good?

Pretty good article, JoeMo, for the most part! I believe the demos are trying to do a good thing, but obviously taking it to far!!

Confused not because you posted this; but because of how shocking and draconian this bill is. Looks like something that Trump would veto; or that the Supreme Court (with its present makeup) would overturn. At least I would hope so.

When I see that Mr Trump blames someone, or tries to say someone else is at fault, than I know its not true. The article that I tried to post was an interesting one, as I mentioned when its back I'll repost!!

Well I take Jesus' opinion over all others and he says that the Angels don't procreate!!!!! I think I'll go with my Savior on this!!

Morwenna, I will attempt to again responds to your question as to the central beliefs that are required to be considered as Seventh-day Adventist: * The central issue here is that the individual congregation decides who is a SDA member. The SDA denomination does not have a centralized authority that makes this decision. This decision is not made by SDA Clergy. It is made by the local congregation. * In actual fact, some SDA members believe that the decision as to member ship should be based upon compliance with the so-called 28 Fundamentals. These people may not want to allow any difference on even one of the 28. Others may be willing to allow some differences. This position, in my opinion is wrong. The intention of the people who wrote the so-called 28 was NOT to make it a test of fellowship. Those who believe that it should be such, are essentially making it a creed. This is wrong. * My practice, over many years of ministry is to see the so-call 13 statements in the Baptismal Covenant as being the basis for joining the SDA Church. Even this allows for some freedom and differences in understanding. Those 13 are not clear and explicit in every detail. It should be noted while this use of the 13, is not a statement of reasons for removal from membership. * In actual practice today, some SDA clergy and individual congregations admit people into SDA membership more freely that would be indicted by this 13. Morwenna, the bottom line is that a definitive answer to your question can not be given that applies to every congregation in the SDA Church.

In my understanding (and I may be wrong), the fundamentals are provided as a guideline for what SDA's believe rather than a mandatory creed. The Fundamentals have changed significantly over the history of the SDA Church. For example, the Fundies did not previously contain an item specifically addressing the Trinity. That being said, there are certain Biblical principles embedded in the Fundies (e.g., the Sabbath, Jesus as Savior, salvation by grace, the physical return of Jesus) that people do need to accept. I ain't no pastor; so I won't be assessing anyone's baptismal qualifications in the near future.

Have to agree 100% B/W!!

Yes, frequently when I'm reading in her writings and thinking similar thoughts that you have expressed, I stop and say to myself "No!!" Then I pray and say, "What about me? Show me what I need to see for myself."

The truth as I see it, is there are people who want to get away from whatever persecution that's happening in there countries!! Just like the Jews from Europe, Eastern Europe, and Russia. The article was pretty much right on!!

I wonder if that doesn't make this Word more significant? 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13 God is Love!~Jesus saves!

Samie, I know not whether taking time to respond here will be profitable. You may be fully entrenched in your opinion and unwilling to look at any other possible manner of interpretation. I will say this: I will not spend long debating on this. FIRSTLY Most of what you included in evidence above is true and correct. We differ simply in interpretations. Similarly, biologists look at the same evidence and come up with opposite conclusions regarding the origin of life. So as pertains to the evidence, I largely agree with you. As regards your conclusions, we differ. I will make an attempt at explaining how the evidence can be interpreted in another way, supported by some additional evidences. EVIDENCES REGARDING "SONS OF GOD" Adam was called "the son of God." He was said to be made in God's image and likeness. Seth was made in Adam's likeness, not God's, according to Genesis 5:3. John 1:12 tells us "as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God." The distinction of being a "son of God" is granted to those who are in the image of His character. The Bible would not call fallen angels "sons of God" and yet call the righteous by the same term. So, even if angels could copulate with humans and procreate, it could not have been the fallen ones who are called "sons of God." Jesus Himself refers to the Jewish leaders as being children of the devil, the father of lies, in contrast to their thinking that they were children of God. And again, if angels could copulate with mankind, it would be nonsense to reason that heavenly angels had corrupted men to the point of bringing upon themselves God's wrath. Where we may agree regarding some of your evidences above is that some of those "daughters of men" may have descended from Seth. Essentially, the term speaks of the worldly-minded, which largely were of the line of Cain in those days but I would make no attempt to limit it strictly to such as if I were there to know. Any godless woman would have been a "daughter of men." OTHER BIBLICAL EXAMPLES Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6, KJV) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. (Job 2:1, KJV) Clearly, Satan was not classed as a "son of God," for he gets express mention of being "also" among them. That distinction would have been unnecessary had he been one of them. Furthermore... When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7, KJV) ...this text does not refer to demons. THE CLEAREST BIBLE DEFINITION For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14, KJV) ANYONE CAN BE But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12, KJV) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:15, KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1, KJV) REGARDING "GIANTS" This term is not related to race, nor stature. It is not related particularly to Cain, nor to Seth, nor does it refer to angels particularly. The Bible itself provides a definition for its usage of the word, using parallel speech (parallelism). There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4, KJV) The three highlighted terms in the above are used in parallel. One way of thinking of them would be almost as "celebrities" in the sense of "stars." Gesenius alludes they are fallen, rebels, apostates. (See http://www.blbclassic.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5303&t=KJV.) Consider also the parallels elsewhere: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: (Numbers 16:2, KJV) Obviously, those "men of renown" were "famous" and were apostate rebels, later consumed by fire from the Lord. The "giants" (rebels) of Noah's day all perished in the Flood on account of their crimes. MY CONCLUSIONS The "sons of God" are the righteous. The "giants," the "men of renown," are the worldly rebels who have made a name for themselves. The "daughters of men" are the unvirtuous women of the world. How do you know? We can only be certain of the fact that Noah and his sons had descended from Seth. We cannot know for sure whom the sons married.

I wasn't impressed by the article. Not that I am surprised that Seibold would write it as it is just more of the anti-male hysteria going on today. And again, wonder why men just aren't so interested in church these days?