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? Jimmy Carter rides again Photo from video: @erikka2ks08/Reuters Former President Jimmy Carter, who turns 99 on Sunday, and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, 96, took a ride through the Plains (Ga.) Peanut Festival this weekend, as spotted in the social media image above. Looking ahead to birthday festivities, the Carter Center said: "We're betting peanut butter ice cream is on the menu for lunch!" Why it matters: Carter, the longest-living president ever, entered hospice care on Feb. 18 — just over seven months ago.

At this point, I am going to make a statement as to my thinking about Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church. I consider there to be central, core elements of belief that determine whether or not a religious group is a part of Christianity. Those core elements are: * The salvation was provided humanity by the work and ministry of Jesus Christ that included the events of Calvary and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. * That Jesus Christ was fully God in all aspects of being God. * That the Bible, in what it teaches about God and the Christian life is true and valid. The Roman Catholic accepts all of the above, and therefore, I consider it to be a part of the Christian community. I do have some differences with some aspects of Roman Catholic teaching. I do not agree with their understanding of tradition in one's Christian life. I have some other disagreements on their doctrinal understandings which include sacramental teachings among others. But, this is true for my disagreements with the doctrinal understandings of other religious groups that I consider to be Christian. There is a reality that there is a human element in every Christian group. None are perfect in all of their ways. The SDA denomination is not perfect in all of its ways. That is why it has moved over the years on some doctrinal issues. it is also why the SDA Chruch follows in some ways is a so-called "Big Tent" philosophy in which its members do not all agree on everything. But, through all of our imperfections, God is leading.

Their sexual orientation probably would not change when they decided to become celibate. It wouldn't change if they decided to become vegetarian, enter a monastery, or marry a woman. It could change if they decided to accept Christ as their Saviour and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. There is not more evidence of this kind of change because people who experience it are mortified by their previous homosexual debauchery. They are thoroughly ashamed of their past life; consequently, they do not talk about it. People who enter xgay ministry, in general, are making a big mistake. They should be smiting their chests and asking God for mercy, not parading themselves around like a queen, telling others how to be Christians. SDA, for some reason have a penchant for from "trash to treasure" testimonies. They like to hear about the degradation and defilement others have passed through. Not only x gays. Former drug abusers, criminals, adulteresses and adulterers, all like to get their time in the SDA limelight. People are entertained by pastor's wives telling about their affairs with academy teachers, criminals telling their stories of illegal behavior, disrespectful children going on about the shame they brought to their parents, alcoholics rolling around in their vomit, all this before they got "saved." Tales like this appeal to a certain class of people who make up a good part of those who join the denomination. An acquaintance of mine, a physician, told me about his Christian pastor who was a physician in Viet Nam, fled the country, was a refugee, and then repeated medical school in America to continue practicing medicine. Both he and his wife, also a well educated professional, appreciated that kind of testimony. They would be appalled by the stories that some SDA "converts" trade in. They don't want to hear about a guy who sold his rear end on street corners.

The Seventh-day Adventist Chruch faces homosexual issues that are real. SDA members, including denominational clergy and leaders have homosexual family members. The answers to the issues that this church faces are not easy and at the present are not always clear. I do not have answers to all of these issues. Hanseng, as I read your posts, I do not believe that you have answers to some of those issues. In your post above, I sense your sarcasm. I sense more than that. The post above goes well beyond what I consider to be the civil discussion that we ask of people who post here. Perhaps, I should edit it. But, that would involve more extensive editing than I chose to do. I could remove the entire post. But, I chose not to do that. In any case, your printed descriptions of humans who happen to be loved by God, are well beyond the civil level that we ask people who post here to adhere to. So, I am going ot lock this thread. Discussion in this thread has ended. I have not removed your ability to post in this forum. However, do not continue posting on homosexuality n the manner that you posted in the post just above this, if you want to be able to continue to post in this forum. Do not push it. Contrary to what you may believe: Gender preference is not a choice There is no evidence that as a general rule, people can change their gender preference. It is what it is and it remains throughout one's life. If there is a rare exception, that is subject to challenge and even if true, which it probably is not true, is not symptomatic of the general population as a whole.