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I agree with this. I would also add that in this life we should learn the Heavenly Family business as well as the Family values - part of which is unconditional love, trust, and dependence on our Creator. I disagree with this. We will have a free will throughout eternity. IMHO, we are born sinners in this age - we are genetically predisposed to sin. We sin because we are sinners; we are not sinners because we sin. Part of our rebirth in the spirit will be to have a genetic predisposal to NOT sin. We will have the free will to sin or not sin; but the saved will never choose to sin. Just my opinion.

That doesn't work well in the flow of a thread, especially when you start quoting someone they will want to know the response. Also not really friendly to put the burden on someone else to ignore and/or move around one's bad behavior. The first response could have been followed by a "sorry, I misinterpreted what you said." then we could be all done.

See: https://spectrummagazine.org/news/2019/room-everyone-swedish-union-issues-statement-about-lgbt-individuals

* More than 90% of the SDA members believe in the Trinity. * About 9% of the SDA members drink some alcoholic beverage. * Less than 3% of the SDA members use tobacco. * More vegetarian and vegan members live in the NAD, than in other parts of the world. * About 80% of the SDAs believe that the dead are unconscious. * About 30% of the SDAs believe that there is a soul that lives on after death. NOTE: I have personally met High-level SDA leaders in other parts of the world who believed in a soul that survives death, but that at death goes into an unconscious state. This belief is actually in harmony with the actual statement of SDA fundamental belief, even if not in harmony with the prevailing view which does not posit an independent soul. * More than 70% believe that the 2nd Advent is near, but, only about 34% believe it will be in their lifetime. The above information is taken from: Duane McBride, "The Global Church Member Survey: Encouragement and Challenges," Focus, Winter 2018, page 9. NOTE: Duane McBride is a research professor of sociology and the director for the Institute for Prevention of addictions at Andrews University. The above information is based upon a 2018 research survey that extended to all of the Divisions of the SDA denomination. Over 65,000 surveys were analyzed in the production of the above results..

Not really related.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25

Interesting article. Don't know about the part of openly LGBTQ's (especially if they are openly participating in LGBTQ activities) serving in the Church. Other than that, I could live with the rest of the stuff.

I'm in agreement!!

I would say we are only to study that which is of the Bible and other Holy Spirit inspired writers. I do not believe we are obligated to study the works of everyone who comes along claiming "special light," especially when they have a track record of failure. Here is two quotes I found in a paper I am working on: It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God. – {GC 598.2} Those who have access to the words written in Scripture are without excuse if they do not apply these words to themselves, if they do not thus cleanse their hearts from sin. By the lights shining from the throne of God upon our pathway, we shall be judged at the last great day.... – {Upward Look 159.3} All that said, will there be those in heaven who were not able to study deeply the Scriptures? The thief on the cross is a good example. Doubt he had that much study of Scriptures in the past. So, it can be done. However, he really is an exception. The vast majority of the population, at least in "Christianized" countries know about Jesus and the Bible but fail to take it serious. This will be to their ruin. I would further submit that if you have neglected to diligently study the Scriptures then you do not really know Jesus and will be one of those He will not know in the judgement. If you are standing for yourself without the covering of the righteousness of Jesus, you will have to answer for your neglect of Scripture.

No, I never heard of them until I read your comment above. My primary sources are the Bible and Spirit of prophecy.

Knew their thoughts Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

If you don't like it be the bigger Christian and ignore my posts.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Joan of Arc On May 30, 1431, the military leader and patron saint of France, Joan of Arc, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France before a crowd of 10,000 people. Here are 5 things you never knew about the young woman who believed she was mandated by God to oust the British from France... Joan Never Fought in Battle Joan was lauded as a heroine and warrior during the Hundred Years’ War, but she did not fight in battle. She went along with the French troops as an inspiration and carried a banner instead of a weapon. Despite this, she was wounded twice during the battles she attended, first by an arrow in her shoulder and later by when a crossbow bolt struck her in the thigh. She Was Nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans" Visions told Joan to get to Charles, the Dauphin of France, to convince him to expel the British and to help elevate him to be the king of France, so she cut off her hair, dressed in men’s clothing and met with him. She was 17 when she went to the battle at Orleans and was on the front lines to offer inspiration to the soldiers. Although she was injured, she returned to the battle for the final charge, and was nicknamed “The Maid of Orleans.” Joan of Arc Inspired a Popular 1909 Haircut That Began in France Joan chopped her hair off after hearing voices that commanded her to put on men’s clothing and help the Dauphin remove the English from her country, so it was cut similar to a pageboy, which was a common style among the knights. A Paris hairdresser picked up the style in 1909, saying that Joan of Arc was the inspiration for the haircut. It became even more popular during the 1920s, and some women still wear this haircut in modern times. She Was Burned at the Stake for Heresy The British captured Joan of Arc in 1430 and put her on trial at Rouen, France, charging her with 70 crimes from horse theft to sorcery. By the time May 1431 rolled around, the charges had been reduced to 12, and most of them related to her statement that her involvement in the war was due to God and that she wore men’s clothing. She signed a confession, but later put her male clothing back on and began hearing voices again. She told the judges, so they sent her to be burned at the stake as a relapsed heretic. Her Brothers Passed off a Fake Joan After She Died Pierre and Jean, Joan’s brothers, along with a woman named Claude des Armoises, who resembled Joan of Arc, devised a scheme to pass des Armoises off as their sister by saying she had not been executed. They were given festive receptions and gifts galore until des Armoises admitted the ruse to Charles VII, whom Joan had helped elevate to be the leader of France.

IMO... I believe there is another class of people regarding views on the sabbath, that being those legitimate, sincere God-fearing Christians who HAVE studied the question, sincerely and deeply, and have NOT come to the conclusion that God requires 7th-day observance, based on evidence they feel is stronger.

Certainly we will be held accountable for any rejection of an attempt by the Holy Spirit to teach us. If we refuse to be taught by the Holy Spirit, that is a rejection of God. But, my salvation does not in any way depend upon my lack of study in a direction that does not come from the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit does not lead me to study the Satanic Bible, my failure to study that book will not result in my loss of salvation. In the same sense, if the Holy Spirit does not lead me to study a message from HCH, my failure to study his message will not lead to my loss of my salvation.

Faith without works is dead. "Loving one another" without helping those very people is the height of arrogance. God loves us... and He doesn't just sit on His laurels, thinking that it's just good enough; indeed, He is doing good works for people all the live-long day. That said, some people do seem to hold the *keeping* of the Sabbath as a "look at me" banner of self-pride. That's just annoying, presumptive, and pharisaical. Those people may be well-meaning, but they're not people I find particularly fun to be around. It's imperative for one to do what God has instructed, insofar we understand those instructions. (And really, He's asked for precious little from us...) For those who, through no fault of their own, don't understand the importance of the Sabbath, God won't hold them accountable. But for those who simply *choose* to ignore God's instructions, well....... And, btw, God (being the Almighty God that He is), can choose whatever He likes to test His people — including honoring the Sabbath. (And *honoring* the Sabbath can be done in a myriad of ways, according to one's convictions.) just imho

The issue is simple. An active shooter has begun shooting into a group of people. Two persons obtain their weapons and begin firing at the shooter. Well, if you read the following news account of this incident, it is not as simple as one might think. NOTE: The fact that one of the persons is a former police officil does not simplify it. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/‘in-all-reality-there-were-three-shooters’-oklahomans-kill-an-active-shooter-and-it’s-not-as-simple-as-it-sounds/ar-AAA1hQP?ocid=spartandhp

You drew first blood.