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European Union overcomes threat of Hungary veto to seal $54 billion aid package for Ukraine BRUSSELS (AP) — Leaders of the 27 European Union countries sealed a deal Thursday to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in support for its war-ravaged economy after Hungary dropped weeks of threats to veto the measure. https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-russia-hungary-eu-summit-budget-6d0f11bc16b4b21073f92925de2046e4? ps:Good for them!! ?

On a periodic basis Spectrum magazine visits and reports on the Sabbath services at a SDA Church in the United States. The following link takes you to an article on a visit to a SDA Church in Orlando, Florida. https://spectrummagazine.org/culture/spirituality/a-place-of-connection-visiting-wholelife-church/

(N). Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Adventist Today is a magazine that reports on SDA issues and sometimes challenges the Church. If you would like to review past issues, currently all issues published 1993 through 2023 are available on the Internet, at: https://atoday.org/magazine-archives/

Thanks Pastor Matthews, what you say is true.

Recent headlines and news articles have often commented, sometimes falsely, on the recent statement of the Pope on homosexual couples. The truth of the matter is that the Pope did not in any way state that homosexual marriages was approved by God. Any such inference is false. Rather, the statement of the Pope should be understood as saying that God loves the people involved in such marriages and the Priest, in addition to affirming the love of God for them, is asking God to further lead them in Christian growth. Gustave, you are welcome to comment on my statement.

Doesn't the President of SDA stand before the SDA Church from time to time to speak on topics that in one way or another effect the SDA Church and its members?

Seventh-day Adventism has two different "Last Generation Theologies" One which is very popular among our members and different so called "Historic Adventist" groups, including the understanding/teaching of M. L. Andreasen. This view sees the last generation reaching a different quality of perfection from any other generation, with the possible exceptions of Jesus, Elijah and Enoch. Also they tend to hold to a Greek understanding of perfection. There are at least some in this group who sees us as sinners because we perform the act of committing sins, and that perfection is no longer being a sinner for no longer committing sins. The second view is not too popular in the church, but if you do a full reading from Mrs. White, you find her teaching this second view. For Mrs. White the last generation perfection is not a difference in quality as the popular view teaches, but she sees it as a difference in quantity, She sees every generation as having had a few people who have come to totally trust Jesus so that nothing can shake their faith. Some of our scholars have independently from each other noticed that, while she does not name names, her description is the same as how people had described John Wesley. I've also noticed similarities to the Norwegian religious figure Hans Nielsen Hauge. Her understanding of the last generation perfection is that many more reach the same trusting in Jesus that some of every generation has reached. Also, it's been pointed out that she does not use the Greek view of perfection, but a more eastern, especially Hebrew view where instead of a uniformed perfection, that it is being where they should be at their state of growth. Let's take a fruit tree for example: in early spring it is perfect for them to have buds. Then a little later leaves, and then blossoms, then the blossoms forming the early stage of fruit, continues to mature over the summer and early fall. In her view, we are sinners because we have the sinful nature. I think that she gives an excellent description of the sinful nature in her quote "There is in man a disposition to esteem himself more highly than his breatheren, to serve self, to seek the highest place and often this results in bitterness of spirit." Just because we become aware of this and examine ourselves to choose against this, it does not mean that we are not still sinners. Even our best is tainted with selfishness.

Seventh-day Adventism at it's best!!!

I unknowingly stood in solidarity / support of the LGBT Community this last year when I (by a total fluke) had my colonoscopy scheduled and performed on the 1st day of gay pride month. I wasn't even aware the dates lined up until a co-worker called me late that afternoon and told me how proud he was of me - in my bravery of doing that. In all honesty I was totally clueless and didn't even realize it was gay pride month, let alone the 1st day of it. This question also causes another question to pop-up. The question of "moral" or "natural law"! today, as it was in ancient cultures homosexuality was primarily considered an embarrassment to the family and your ancestors. It was tolerated in ancient Greece, Rome and Arabia and generally kept in the closet. The people who have same sex attraction (for real) wouldn't be convinced in their own mind what they were doing was a sin beyond what an unmarried heterosexual couple would like they would know stealing was wrong. This definitely causes some cognitive dissonance within me. Anyone who knows the mechanics of moral and ceremonial law will understand what I'm getting at here.