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Don't know if anybody can relate to this, but I have never in my life responded with any kind of a praise or thanks during a "praise" time. You know, like before prayer they offer a time when they pass a mic to you if you raise your hand and want to thank God for something. Our church does it a couple times a year, one time being at Thanksgiving time. This time I responded for the first time. For the last several years I've thought more and more about it, from verses I read, and/or being convicted about the need to consciously make an effort to do so. Many times in a sermon there will be something the speaker says that is such a wonderful truth and I just sit silently. Finally, in the last couple years I have managed a very, very quiet "amen". It just seems that we should be more enthusiastic about worship. I'm thinking there could be several reasons why a person would always be unresponsive. A big one might be that it's a reflection of their spiritual walk, like showing a lack of a personal relationship with Jesus. Being raised in conservative Adventist churches is bound to affect a person or personality types. What do you think? I found it interesting that in the service that I gave my first praise, the sermon that day had something to do with giving thanks (frustrating to me that I don't remember better so I can give a better summary), and he said that it is actually "irreverent to come to church and be silent."

maybe it's just me, but when the microphone starts getting passed around, it's always the same people who say the same thing, and I think to myself, "C'mon.... let's get on with the program" — public "praise" has never been particularly impressive to me. If someone has a great story to tell, then, by all means, s/he should be allowed to get up in front of folks (at a scheduled time) to speak. It's kinda like public "altar calls" — everyone thinks they're a good idea, but the moment the call is made, people start getting uncomfortable, and suddenly find really interesting things in their purses or pockets to look at.

There are certainly some churches who practice this idea VERY well. I used to live in a basement suite right beside what I was told was a Baptist Church. Every Sunday morning I would hear, first a bit of singing, then as the crescendo was building, some would start pounding on the floorboards with some sort of "holy rolling" praise stuff. It was a little bit disturbing to have to put up with it every week, I ended up having to remember to keep the offending window closed. Some weeks their racket would literally shake the cups and glasses in my kitchen cupboards. But what you are talking about here is a beautiful thing! It seems that you are expressing your personal spiritual growth, and enjoying the thoughts of gratitude; yet wondering why others don't also seem to be joining in? My thought on that is that many have certain fears and inhibitions when they are in public, and while they may not readily show it, they will feel hesitant to do anything in a public setting such as the church congregation, while others won't hesitate: Sometimes, I will "praise the Lord" in a quieter, less public sort of way when I am walking in the forests or parks. Just feeling grateful for the beautiful things around me: Praise & gratitude, in my mind is totally fine, whether quietly & private, or louder, and more public. But sometimes we will have to plug our ears.

? be Holy still ? Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2018/02/13/untold-tale-tenth-brief-history-adventist-benevolence-historical-context

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About James Monroe On December 4, 1816, James Monroe of Virginia was elected the fifth president of the United States. Here are 5 surprising facts you probably didn’t know about James Monroe... He Beat George Washington Across The Delaware River Washington is famous for crossing the Delaware River to engage in a surprise attack against the Hessian (German mercenaries) forces in Trenton, New Jersey in 1776. Emanuel Leutze’s iconic painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware” depicts Monroe just behind Washington, holding up the army’s early American flag. Leutze took a bit of artistic license as Monroe was actually part of an advance unit that crossed the river hours before Washington. James Monroe and Captain William Washington led their men in attempt to capture a Hessian position at the Battle of Trenton. Monroe was shot in the shoulder but received a promotion to captain for his bravery. He later spent the infamous winter at Valley Forge. He Was The Last Founding Father to Serve as President While not all of the Founding Fathers served as President, Monroe was the last to hold the honored position. George Washington served from 1789–1797; John Adams from 1797–1801; Thomas Jefferson from 1801–1809; and James Madison from 1809–1817. Monroe served as President of the United States of America from 1817–1825. He Is The Only Person In History To Hold Two Cabinet Positions At Once During his political career, Monroe held a number of positions before becoming President in 1817. He served in the Virginia assembly, was a delegate to the Virginia Convention, and was a strong supporter of adding a Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. He was Minister to France and Great Britain and governor of Virginia. But under his friend, President James Madison, Monroe was appointed as both Secretary of State (1811-1817) and Secretary of War (1814–1815) simultaneously. A first that hasn’t been repeated by any other politician since. Monroe Had No Opponent in His 1820 Reelection The election of 1820 was the last presidential contest in which the ticket ran virtually unopposed. President James Monroe won all but one electoral vote, which went to John Quincy Adams. The only other president elected without opposition had been George Washington in 1788 and 1792. William Plumer of New Hampshire, the one elector who voted against Monroe, did so because he thought Monroe was incompetent. He cast his ballot for John Quincy Adams. Later in the century, the fable arose that Plumer had cast his dissenting vote so that only George Washington would have the honor of unanimous election. Monroe Died on The Fourth of July Three Founding Fathers who were elected president died on July 4. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Monroe died on July 4, 1831. Monroe was also the last president who was never photographed in his lifetime.

You are free to believe whatever you want. In the OT, those described as sons of God are indeed (IMHO) angels. They are called sons of God because they are direct creations of God. It wasn't until the NT that humans were called sons of God; and that is simply because we were adopted as sons. The only humans who were called sons (direct creations) of God are Adam and Jesus. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15) "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. "(Romans 8:23) "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;" (Romans 9:4) "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Gal. 4:5) "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Eph 1:5) Show me some OT scriptures where beings other than angels or Christ are called "sons of God". I haven't found any.