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This book is a thorough investigation of the life of John Nevins Andrews, one of our early Adventist preachers. Its 718 pages follow Elder Andrew's life from birth in a community northeast of Portland, Maine to his death of T.B. in Switzerland. Along the way, he had a hand in establishing the Review (magazine and print shop), running the General Conference when James White was unable to do so, helping start the Adventist work in Switzerland, and researching and writing an epic book on the Sabbath as well as leading the work in several conferences and church districts. The book is not always an easy read because Dr. Valentine wants to make sure that everything he says is thoroughly documented and explained. The picture of James White - and even of Ellen White at times - is not always a pretty one because the couple labored to make sure that the new Adventist church was fully and completely in line with the Bible and what God revealed to Ellen White. You'll appreciate the dedication that Andrews gave to the church's work and the sacrifices that his wife, his son, and his daughter made so he could do this (only his son was alive by the time Elder Andrews died). It's a very different and thorough picture of early Adventist history that is painted for you as you read through its 718 pages (note: each chapter has many pages of footnotes). Try it. If you stick with it, I think you'll appreciate the work and dedication of our early Seventh-day Adventist pioneers. Note: this book is the latest in the Adventist Pioneer series edited by George Knight.

As we considered last time, we have all sinned and we continue to come short of God’s glorious ideal (based on Romans 3:23). You recall that sin is rebelliousness and disorderliness. Sin is cheating on our relationships. Sin is knowing what’s right to do and not doing it. Sin is a breakdown of trust. We […] The post The Biblical Meaning of Salvation (14:3) appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

If thick fog, three feet deep, was covering an acre of land, how much water would be contained in that fog? In other words, if you could take the water contained in that fog, what size container would it take to contain that water. NOTE: The answer to the above question may be found in a widely distributed SDA publication dated July 2019 and on page 19 of that publication.

The facts as to the above question may be found in the July, 2019 issue of Adventist World, in the article "Your Future is Behind," written by Hensley Moorooven. The correct answer to the question that I asked is: The actual amount of water contained in fog, as I stated it above, would NOT fill an ordinary drinking glass. As fog, the water in an ordinary drinking glass would consist of some 400,000,000,000 (400 billion) tiny droplets. which would more than cover the area that I described in the post above. I just thought that you needed to know this. Aren't you glad that I have informed you? :)

I probably should have been clearer as to my intent in writing what I wrote. The study of theology can take more than one direction. Biblical theology can be stated as comprising the teaching of doctrines from the position of what the 'Bible teaches. From this perspective, SDA clergy are generally well equipped to consider and discuss. This is due , as you stated to SDA clergy, in the U.S, generally having both a bachelor's and a master degree, which actually give a background of 6 or 7 years of training, as the Master of Divinity requires at least two years of schooling. Yes, there will be exceptions as some SDA clergy will lack that background. When I wrote that the majority of SDA clergy are not theologians, I was thinking of the field of historical theology. The standard SDA educational program for SDA clergy has little involvement with the development of Christin doctrine over the years. In actual fact, Gustave who is a member of this forum, probably has more training in historical theology than does the typical SDA clergyperson. That was my intended focus which I continue to hold.

Gustave, has raised a very important point in his comment quoted below. On the first point, it is true that a number early leaders in the movement that became the SDA denomination were not Trinitarians. James White, as an example was not. There is debate as to actually where Ellen White was, and as to the extent to which she changed. But, without debating some of the aspects of those issues, it can truthfully be said that in the early days of the developing SDA denomination she was not Trinitarian and that over time her understanding developed into a Trinitarian understanding of God. This should not be a problem to any student of SDA history. The development of Christian faith and understanding is progressive and is not given to a person in a vision that occurs in an instant. Rather, it comes from on-going study of teh Bible and from an application of that Bible study to ones life. The statement that Gustave has made below, as to a completed Atonement raises another issue that has plagued this denomination. Classic Christianity has taught that the Atonement was completed at the cross. Period. Any group that appears to teach that the Atonement was not completed at the cross, immediately becomes suspect and is generally considered to be outside of Christianity. The SDA denomination has been understood by many to have taught that the Atonement was not completed at the Cross. This issue is due in part to the reality that the SDA denomination was not founded by theologians. Rather it was founded by relatively simple Christians where were not versed in and did not understand theological terms. To some extent, this issue is with the SDA denomination today. I do not consider myself to be a theologian. Further, I consider that the majority of SDA clergy are not theologians. In reality, conversations that SDA clergy, to include myself, get into that are related to theology, often lead to limited communication and misunderstandings. SDAs, have in the past, used the word "Atonement" as to include the final end of things at the 2nd Advent. IOW, SDAs have used it to extend beyond the cross. This has NOT meant that salvation was not completed/finished at the cross. It has not meant that God had to do something more to effect our salvation than had been done at the cross. I firmly believe that our salvation was effected at the cross and nothing more needed to be done to accomplish our salvation. I differ slightly with what Gustave has stated below. I do not understand this miscommunication to have resulted from an 1844 issue. Rather, as I have stated it, I understand it to be related to SDA belief in the 2nd Advent. That is how I have heard it. I have not heard it associated with 1844. \

Be not overcome Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues ofSigns and These Times. *************************** Charles Wesley’s most important part of the great work of revival was in writing hymns, for he is remembered as the author of a vast collection. The versatile circuit rider was able to turn one out at the mere mention of a Bible text. As fast as he put them down on paper, his brother John published them. The number printed mounted into the scores, then into the hundreds, and finally into the thousands. Today most of them may be forgotten, but certain old favorites have found a permanent place in the hymnal. Charles Wesley could match lines to almost any occasion. Is it Advent? For that he wrote, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” Is it Christmas? Tens of thousands now sing his “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Is it Easter? Everybody knows his “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” Besides these, he was the author of countless songs of praise and consecration, among the most familiar of which are “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies,” “Rejoice, the Lord Is King,” “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim,” “Soldiers of Christ, Arise,” “Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow!” “Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown,” “O for a Heart to Praise My God,” and “A Charge to Keep I Have.” The most popular of all his hymns is, of course, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” First published in 1740, it has been translated into every known language and sung in every country under the sun. In wartime it brought comfort to hundreds of dying soldiers. It has lifted the spirits of millions of forlorn sufferers. Charles Wesley carried on his hymn-writing into the late evening of life. An acquaintance who saw him as he traveled about furnishes this striking picture: When he was nearing eighty, “he rode every day (clothed for winter even in summer) a little horse, gray with age. When he mounted, if a subject struck him, he proceeded to expand and put it in order. He would write a hymn thus given him, on a card kept for that purpose, with his pencil, in shorthand. Not infrequently he has come to the house in the City Road, and having left the pony in the garden in front, he would enter, crying out, ‘Pen and ink! Pen and ink!’ These being supplied, he wrote the hymn he had been composing. When this was done, he would look round on those present and salute them with much kindness, and thus put all in mind of eternity.”—By Vincent Edwards, These Times, May 1968. Quote: “Religion was intended to bring peace on earth, and good will towards men; and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, May 22, 1917. *************************** Don't miss the August 2019 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, CLICK HERE or call: 1-800-765-6955. *************************** Charles Froelich, a farmer’s lad, living near Wellston, Ohio, was ambitious to complete a liberal education but did not have means sufficient to do so. He went to a physician in that city, Dr. E. S. Higley, and borrowed from him $700, and graduated from college as a mining engineer. This was in 1880. Soon after, the young man went to Australia. Not a word was heard from him for twenty-five years, when one morning he came into Dr. Higley’s office and said he owed the doctor some money. He had changed in his appearance so that the doctor did not recognize him, and then he revealed his identity, and paid the $700 principal and compound interest on the same to date. He informed his benefactor that he had been successful in Australia and South Africa, and had amassed a fortune. Mr. Froelich returned to Australia, and nothing was heard from him again until the day, when Henry K. Thornecroft, a lawyer of Melbourne, Australia, arrived in Wellston and notified Dr. Higley that Mr. Froelich had died without relatives, and had left his entire estate, valued at a million dollars, to his benefactor.—From The Christian Herald, Signs of the Times, September 9, 1913. Quote: “Quarrel not with God’s unfinished providences.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, November 25, 1913. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Mightier Than A Lion, stories from Guide Magazine that inspire the entire family. Read the first chapter of this book online. Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955. *************************** Be kind to yourself and stop allowing failure to tie you in knots. Look at baseball. We immortalize players like Mantle, Mays, Aaron, and Ruth. But how perfect were they? In an 18-year career Mickey Mantle batted .289. Willie Mays in 22 years batted .302. Home-run king Hank Aaron batted .305. Even the legendary Babe Ruth batted only .342. And in the process, he struck out 1,330 times. That’s a hit only once every three times at bat. Give yourself permission to be imperfect; permission to bat less than 1,000; permission to be human.—By Larry Neagle, Signs of the Times, March 1988. Quote: “Never bear more than one trouble at a time. Some people bear three—all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.”—By Edward Everett Hale,Signs of the Times, November 25, 1913. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Now is a great time to offer hope to your friends and neighbors. Signs of the Times® takes on a broken world and directs hearts to Jesus for relevant answers. The result is changed lives! Send a subscription today. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-yearly-us-subscription.html *************************** Think of the great speed-up in transportation in the last generation. Compare the stagecoach with the railroad train. In the year 1817, a member of the New York Legislature came to be regarded as a proper subject for a straitjacket because he expressed his belief that steam carriages would be operated successfully on land. A little later—in Lancaster, Ohio—the use of the schoolhouse for a discussion on railroads was denied the young people of the community, the board giving their reasons as follows: “You are welcome to use the school to debate all proper questions, but such things as railroads and telegraphs are impossibilities and rank infidelity. If God had designed that His intelligent creatures should travel at the frightful speed of fifteen miles an hour by steam, He would have clearly foretold it through His holy prophets. It is a device of Satan to lead immortal souls down to hell.”—By H. M. S. Richards, Signs of the Times, September 1, 1942. Quote: “Temptation is Satan looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, November 19, 1929. *************************** Looking for a great eBook? Visit www.AdventistEBooks.Com *************************** The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations progressed through this sequence: “From Bondage to Spiritual Faith “From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage “From Courage to Liberty “From Liberty to Abundance “From Abundance to Selfishness “From Selfishness to Complacency “From Complacency to Apathy “From Apathy to Dependence “From Dependence Back Again to Bondage.”—By Alexander Fraser Tytler, quoted by Arthur S. Maxwell, Signs of the Times, December 1962. Quote: “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and never sufficiently tried.”—By G. K. Chesterton, These Times, September 1967. *************************** Visit www.ToolsForEvangelism.Com for everything you need to give a Bible Study! *************************** We pray, as we are taught, “Give us this day our daily bread.” A simple petition, but a wonderful one. It opens before us, if we will think, whole worlds of science. Let us speak of its origin first. We are at the table, eating our dinner. A child, and we will have him a very intelligent child, a thinking child, for through his answers to our questions we must trace this truth, a child says, “Please give me some bread,” and he is given bread. If we ask, “Who gave you bread?” he may answer, “My mother. She handed it to me, she had cut it into slices; before that she had made it out of flour, and baked it. My mother gave me bread.” “But,” you say to him, “your mother made it out of flour. Where did she get the flour?” “Oh, my father bought it. So my father, too, gave me bread.” “But where did father get it?” “From the grocer. And the grocer got it from the miller. And the miller got it from the farmer.” “So the farmer gave you bread. Where did he get it?” “Oh, he grew it.” “But what did he grow it from?” “Well, you see, you take wheat and you sow it in the ground, and it makes more wheat. That is the way the farmer grew it.” “But who gave the wheat to the farmer? And why does wheat make more wheat?” At last we come to God. Within those seeds reposes life, marvelous life, which no man can fathom though he has it before him daily in multitudinous forms. That life is a gift of God. Before ever the request, “Give us this day our daily bread,” can be answered, there has had to come a long foresighted process made by the hand of God to bring that bread into being.—By A. W. Spalding, Signs of the Times. Quote: David Livingstone is recognized as one of the world’s foremost explorers and Christian missionaries. For thirty years he traveled through Africa, making friends wherever he went. His example and his death acted like an inspiration, filling Africa with an army of explorers and missionaries. In recognition of his sufferings and many compulsory delays to opening up the vast continent of Africa to Christian influence, his words, “I never made a sacrifice” have made an indelible impression on men’s hearts. Here is the glorious statement of this pure and tenderhearted man in its original setting: People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own best reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It was emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life may make us pause and cause the spirit to waver and the soul to sink, but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father’s throne on high to give Himself for us: “Who, being the brightness of that Father’s glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”—These Times, January 1962. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others. Copyright © 2019 Pacific Press, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you asked to receive it. Our mailing address is: Pacific Press P.O. Box 5353 Nampa, ID 83653

Those are more towards the ones I remember! Thanks GM

5 Things You Didn't Know About Forrest Gump On July 6, 1994, the film Forrest Gump opened to great acclaim. Based on a book that had been released a decade earlier, Forrest Gump told the story of a boy who ended up becoming involved in some of the more intense moments of U.S. history. Here are five things you didn't know about Forrest Gump... The Film Made Tom Hanks the Second Actor to Win Back-to-Back Oscars It's not that unusual for an actor to win multiple Academy Awards over an entire career. However, it's not that easy to win those awards in the Best Actor category two years in a row. Not only does your performance have to be worth it, but you also have to win over not just one group of terrific actors, but two groups of terrific actors. Hanks won the Best Actor Oscar for Forrest Gump a year after winning the Best Actor Oscar for Philadelphia. The only actor to do that before Hanks was Spencer Tracy in 1937 and 1938. There have been other actors who won consecutive awards for other categories, such as Jason Robards (1976, 1977) in the Supporting Actor category, and Luise Rainer (1936, 1937) and Katherine Hepburn (1967, 1968) in the Best Actress category. The Film Became a Darling of the Conservative Movement Forrest Gump's depiction of abusive hippies and violent Black Panthers, and its implication that promiscuous women will be punished with disease, gave many viewers the impression that the film was championing conservative values. While many fans still watch the film because they like the homey, comforting quality of many of the scenes, the film also became a darling of the growing conservative movement that was in the process of winning over voters (remember, 1994 was the year of Newt Gingrich's "Contract With America"). The Film Spawned a Restaurant Franchise If you had ever wondered if the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurants you'd see around town had any link to the movie, yes, they were directly linked. (That may sound obvious to those who have seen the film, but believe it or not, many people never saw the movie and thus did not know about Forrest's shrimp business.) The restaurant was founded by Viacom Consumer Products a couple of years after the film's release, eventually becoming a worldwide chain. In 2010, however, Landry's bought the chain, so while each restaurant still has the name and references to the movie, it's no longer that directly affiliated with the movie studio itself. Co-star Gary Sinise Became Involved in Military Veteran Charity Work Because of the Film Sinise played Lt. Dan Taylor in the movie, a character who ultimately lost his legs in Vietnam and who goes on to work at that shrimp restaurant with Forrest. As a result of Sinise's portrayal of the character, the charity Disabled American Veterans asked Sinise to accept an award at an event just a few weeks after the movie opened. Since then, Sinise has remained a staunch supporter of veterans, including starting a foundation dedicated to helping military members, veterans, and their families. Forrest's Interactions With the "Real World" Continued in a Self-Referential Book Sequel The movie Forrest Gump was based on a book by Winston Groom, and the movie was known for its special effects that inserted Tom Hanks' character into scenes with famous people. In 1995, Groom came back with a sequel, Gump & Co., that took the blending of reality and fiction even further. In the book, the movie Forrest Gump is treated as an actual biographical film that was made of Forrest's life and even starts out with the advice never to let people turn your life into a movie.

Stensonmari: By posting what you did above, you have grown in the estimation of people reading your posts. No one is perfect, neither you nor I. Everyone may be wrong, to include both you and I. You have grown in our estimation of you by posting what you said.

Pastor: You are correct and I am truly sorry. I will like to ask all to forgive me. I do not want anyone to believe that EGW or others believed or knew certain things they stood for at the time were lies. It was very disrespectful how I presented that comment. Yes, many do not know what they were taught to believe it is not correct. I too were told many things that I once believed were true and know today it was incorrect. That doesn't make a liar and my mother always told me be careful how I used that word. Please everyone forgive me and I will address things not correct in a more humble and professional manner. Happy Sabbath to All and be blessed!

For some reason, I came across this topic today. I did not take the time to read the 26 pages of responses that people have made. But, I did read the beginning posts that Bravus has made. I can understand why he would call himself a "former Adventist." I appreciate his commitment to following his conscience. We should all do that. If I were a congregational pastor, I would welcome Bravus into my congregation, as a member. I do not think that we have to all agree on every point. I welcome here in this forum and as he now posts in Adventist Today. I went through a period of struggle once which included my questioning the extent to which I was a Seventh-day Adventist. That struggle extended beyond the boundaries of Adventism. It reached the place where I decided that I needed professional help, which I then got. As to the part of Adventism, I made a decision that I would not let anyone define Adventism for me. I would define it for myself. As a result, I decided to remain in Adventism, and if others (the denomination) wanted to expel me from Adventism, they would have to do so and I was not going to initiate it myself. This was only my personal decision and I can not tell others what they should do. I consider myself to be a SDA and I have no intention of making a change. SDAs are imperfect. There are issues within Adventism. But, I am willing to live with that and will continue to be true to what I understand and believe. Bravus, stick around. You are appreciated and I am glad you are here.

I see Islam as a force capable of destroying the followers of YHVH worldwide, thinking it is doing "god" a favor. Unlike Christianity, Islam is a religion of death, not life, even though Islam borrows from the laws of Moses.

I disagree; but I'm not saying you're wrong; it's just my current opinion that Islam will be the beast power. Nonetheless, Catholicism and apostate Protestantism will both be key players in end-time events. Many Muslims are currently experiencing dreams and visions of Christ. AFM missionaries in Muslim countries estimate that up to 80% of the Muslims who come to them are directed to their ministry by a vision or dream of Christ. Many of them don't even know who the Guy in the dream is until the missionaries tell them.