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The following is a true story from several years ago that I have been legally prevented from telling. But, now my contract has expired and I can tell it. We had recently moved from Colorado to California. In my mail one day I received a letter telling me that if I wanted to earn some extra money their company would employ me. I threw the letter in the trash, as I consider it to be a scam. A short time letter, I found a note on my front door again inviting me to consider working for that company. This interested me, but I was still concerned. So, I began to investigate. I researched the offer and discovered that it was a legitimate offer. It was from a company that did want to employ me. I asked a representative to visit me and tell me more as to what was involved. The company pays tens of thousands of people to allow them to install computerized equipment in their home that will report to the company those television programs that are being watched. It reports which members of the family were watching the programs. It reports whether or not the commercials are being watched and whether or not the programs are being recorded and watched at a later time. In addition, while not required, for additional payments, we could allow the websites that were visited on household computers and how long someone was on that website. We would receive payments each 3-months and would be required to certify that we had not told anyone other than friends who might visit us and notice the equipment, that we were involved in this program. My wife and I agreed to the program. Several thousand dollars of computerized equipment was installed on the several televisions in our home. A computerized cell phone was established to report to the company. The required software was installed on our computers. For the required period of time every time we watched a TV program, for any length of time, and any time we viewed a website, the company was notified in detail. I was amazed as to the amount of detailed information that was transmitted to the company. But, it reminded me that God knows much more about our activities than does any other human organization.

For those interested in Racial Justice in the SDA Church, overs the years, the following link will take you to many sources of information. https://www.nadadventist.org/resources-racial-justice

The website that Photodude cited raised multiple issues and some very valid questions that are important and should be addressed. I do not have the time or space in this forum to address every question. So, I will simply state a couple of responses which will not address most of the issues raised in that website. 1) If you take Federal tax funds, you submit to some levels of Federal control. Recently a SDA organization fired an employee. It is alleged that the SDA organization has received some $1,700,00 of Federal money from one source and additional Federal money from another source. Common sense tells us that accepting such amounts of Federal money should involve a requirement to operate under some level of Federal control. I happen to believe that in this case firing that employee may have been legal. But, I do not consider it to be a violation of religious rights for an organization that accepted that amount of Federal money to be subject to Federal oversight of their operation. 2) Citizens in the United States are entitled to equal application of the law. Government agents who administer the law should not be allowed to discriminate in the application of the law. As an example, a clerk who gives a marriage license to a couple legally entitled to receive one should not be allowed to refuse to issue such to a couple based upon the religious beliefs of that clerk. A person who has religious objections to such should not take that position. 3) A person engaged offering services to the public at large, should not be allowed to discriminate in the provision of those services. This may require a balance. Under current law, a baker who sells cakes, must sell to all. But, that baker is not required to decorate in any manner requested by the person purchasing that cake. In another example, If I want to rent out a room in my home, I can discriminate in any manner that I want as to who I rent that room to. However, If I own an apartment building, I can not discriminate as to whom I rent an apartment to.

??‍♂️ ??‍♀️ ??‍♀️ Promise sorrow and mourning shall flee away Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

?‍?‍?‍? Promise I will save thy children Isaiah 49:25 But thus saith the Lord , Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.