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Remember, this is satire. https://atoday.org/satire-adventist-babys-first-words-happy-sabbath/

The creation account begins with a formless earth covered by water (Gen 1:2). The flood story begins with the chaos of sin (Gen 6:5-7) and then describes the earth’s return to the condition it was in before creation began (Gen 1:2; 7:18-20; 8:1). But in the Exodus story there is a significant difference. Instead of […] The post The Exodus Story Patterned After Creation and the Flood appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

An Open SDA Chruch: The following article explores the boundaries that we sometimes draw around our circle of Adventism. It also informs us as to our purpose for Club Adventist. https://atoday.org/editorial-why-do-you-let-people-who-arent-adventists-anymore-write-for-adventist-today/

more COVID stuff. Are we still on that? I think anyone who works in health care should be vaccinated, but Im not behind a pulpit about it. "Mandating a vaccine is not inherently related to Marxism. Vaccine mandates are typically a public health measure aimed at controlling the spread of contagious diseases. These mandates are usually implemented by governments to protect public health, and they can exist within various political and economic systems, including capitalist, socialist, and other forms of governance. Marxism, as a theory, is primarily concerned with class struggle, economic systems, and the distribution of resources and power within society. It doesn't specifically address public health policies like vaccine mandates. Whether a government enforces vaccine mandates can be influenced by factors such as the government's structure, public health priorities, and societal values, but this isn't directly connected to Marxist ideology. In discussions about vaccine mandates, some people might frame the debate in terms of individual rights versus collective responsibility, but this is more about political philosophy and ethics rather than Marxism" Thanks, chat.

1) The requirements to marry someone are spelled out in the State where you live. They differ quite a bit. * I once lived in a State where any citizen could who was 18 years old, or older, could officiate at a wedding. * I once lived in a State where clergy had to register and purchase a performance bond before they could officiate at a wedding. * I once lived in a State where people ordained by a certain Internet group were not allowed to officiate at a wedding. NOTE: in all of the above, people who violated the law could be charged with a crime. 2) In my opinion, people who purchase ordination from the Internet have no respect. If you want to be a religious person, join a denomination, meet their requirements for ordination, and work within that group. IOW, if you are a SDA, meet the requirements that the SDA denomination has, and work within the SDA church. Do not expect to have any respect if you work within the SDA Church with some ordination that you purchased on-line. 3) I am personally aware of a person who purchased an ordination from an Internet group that had ordained a dog, and a person from a Satanic group. That person then attempted to work within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination as an ordained minister.

The Northern New Egland Conference has issued the following letter in response to the above. See:

SDA Ministry in Iceland: SThe following article is extensive and goes beyond the point where one might think that it has ended. In any case, it raises some interesting issues. https://spectrummagazine.org/news/million-dollar-mountains-a-saga-on-stewardship-in-the-iceland-conference-part-1/

SDA Evangelism: The following article reflects on how we do public evangelism, to include comments on the recent event that brought some 300,000 people into SDA membership. The article is worthy of consideration. https://spectrummagazine.org/views/evangelism-is-marketing-can-adventists-do-it-ethically/

If you do not think it to be funny, welcome to Club Adventist. In this forum, there is no expectation that all will think alike.

For reviews of Guiding Families see: https://atoday.org/guiding-families-of-lgbt-loved-ones/

The URL link at the beginning of this thread is to a copy of Advent Messenger, which is an independent publication produced by Andrew Roman. The purpose of this publication, as I understand it, seems to be to point out ways in which the SDA Church has departed from what God would want it to be. It seems to be to have a focus on the Romah Catholic Church. The citations in the article listed at the start, actually refer to other sources. In short, they suggest that the "Guiding Families" publication for Adventists promotes the "gay agenda," and Roman Catholic theology. I have a major problem with the position presented in the Advent Messenger article, that is common to the thinking of both SDAs and other Christians. That issues relates to how one defines a homosexual. People today generally operate from two very different understandings as to how to define the word "homosexual." One group that often includes SDAs and other Christians, considers homosexuality to e defined by whether or not one engages in sexuality with persons of the same gender. From this perspective, if one ceases to engage in sexuality with a person of the same gender, one is no longer a homosexual. IOW, one has been cured, and is no longer a homosexual. A second understanding suggests that one is a homosexual based upon their preference for sexual activity. This perspective says that a person may be celibate, and homosexual. From my background, I have worked with people who were celibate and clearly considered themselves to be homosexual. This is generally the perspective of the clinical community. I first became aware of this distinction when I read the 1988book, by Ronald Springett, Homosexuality in History and the Scriptures, see chapter 1. I find this book to be of value, even if dated. It remains in print today. For a more recent book, see the 2012, 578-page book, Homosexuality, Marriage, and the Church: Biblical, Counseling, and Religious Liberty Issues. I consider the Adventist Edition of "Guiding families of LGBT+ Loved Ones to be of value.

Clergy Sex Abuse: The following article is dated, but it contains important information on this subject. https://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s01-ussc.html

One does not know what is in the mind of a person at their death. All we know for certain is that the Holy Spirit is continuing to work for their salvation. The Biblical example is found at the Cross. Two criminals were at the point of their death. One responded to the HS, and will spend eternity with God. The other exercised his choice to refuse the offer and to cease to exist. God is good. The Holy Spirit works forever to bring us to salvation. It is only our free choice that keeps us from spending eternity with God.