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I had noticed that Paul often starts and/or ends his letters giving honor to God, Jesus, and sometimes the Holy Spirit, so I went through them to check. Here is my report, using the ESV. New Testament books greetings and closings (G = God, J = Jesus, S = Son, H = Holy Spirit) G JS H Romans 1:1-8 G J Romans 16:25-27 G J 1 Corinthians 1:1-4 J 1 Corinthians 16:23 G J 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 G J H 2 Corinthians 13:14 G J Galatians 1:1-3 J Galatians 6:18 G J H Ephesians 1:3, 13 G J Ephesians 6:23 G J Philippians 1:2 J Philippians 4:21, 23 G J Colossians 1:1-2 G JS H 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 10 J 1 Thessalonians 5:28 G J 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2 J 2 Thessalonians 3:18 G J 1 Timothy 1:1-2 G J 1 Timothy 6:11-16 G J 2 Timothy 1:1-2 G J Titus 1:1-4 J H Titus 3:5-6 G J Philemon 3 J Philemon 23 (Jesus G JS Hebrews 1:1-2 G J Hebrews 13:20-21 G J James 1:1 G J H 1 Peter 1:2-3 G J 1 Peter 5:14 (Jesus) G J 2 Peter 1:1-2 G JS 1 John 1:3-4 G J 1 John 5:20 G JS 2 John 1 G JS 2 John 9 G JS Jude 1 G J H Jude 20, 25 G J Revelation 1:1-2 G J ? Revelation 22:17-21

Why should I believe in the validity of the New Testament? Why should I believe that Christ rose from the dead? Powerful preachers exist in Adventism, whom I never mention in comments that I post in this forum. A new one has arisen on the Adventist scene who cannot be ignored and demands my recognition. That person is Shane Anderson, the senior pastor at Andrews University. The following is an exceptional series of sermons. # 1: https://www.pmchurch.org/service/2026/03/07/part-1-sahara-surprise # 2: https://www.pmchurch.org/service/2026/03/28/part-2-when-knowing-truth-not-enough # 3: https://www.pmchurch.org/service/2026/04/04/part-3-tomb-raider

Wow. Wow, Wow, wow

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Hebrews 2 New International Version We are warned not to drift away. Over the years, I have seen many people drift away. Studying the word of God every day, keeps us from drifting away. I have never seen someone drift away who was studying the bible every day.

There are many in our church who believe that we have the truth, and that only people who fit a certain mold will be in heaven. Philippines is about 80% catholic. Probably more in my area. There are MANY devoted catholics here. I have had the opportunity to visit, get to know and observe. The faith and dedication to God that some of these people have is humbling. They don't have the truth we have, but they have the faith the bible talks about. Complete trust in God. Sometimes, we are not so smart as we think we are.

I was talking to a friend in Michigan this week. He was at Dr Weavers church about 6 months ago. The Doc was teaching his regular Sabbath school. At 102 years old. They had a birthday party for him at the church when he turned 100. I bet it was well attended. He held stop smoking clinics all over the Detroit area for many years. Some of those former smokers are members of that church.

Arthur Weaver was 102 years old. He had cancer surgery about two years ago. He was ill with a cold, that later must have become worse. He founded a church with help of others in Plymouth Michigan. It is in a residential area. Very peaceful surroundings. There is one long winding driveway. On the way out is a small sign. I will paraphrase it from memory. You are now entering the most difficult mission field in the world.

Pastor Mark was injured in a fall in the woods on northern Virginia. He has had surgery to his hip and is in a wheelchair. The bones heal relatively quick. 6-8 weeks. But the muscles atrophy during this time. Rebuilding muscle is not an easy thing, especially for seniors. As someone who is recovering from a broken ankle, I know he has a long road ahead of him. Let's keep him in our prayers.

On April 21, 2026, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Texas law called Senate Bill 10. The vote was 9 to 8. The law says every public school… The post The Texas Ten Commandments Poster Decision: Should Adventists Sit This One Out? appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Well we had a eye opening enforcement during the Covid19 spread. During the COVID-19 "zero-Covid" lockdowns in China , residents in cities like Wuhan, Xi'an, and Guiyang were put under severe restrictions that prevented them from buying food, medicine, and necessities, or selling goods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China implemented a nationwide system of color-coded health apps on citizens' mobile phones to control movement and restrict any purchase or selling by the person or persons. These systems functioned as a digital "good citizen certificate" which determined whether an individual could buy goods, use transportation, or enter buildings, so it was a complete social enforcement. Here is some background.. "Wang Yu, hailed by the U.S. as an International Woman of Courage, has already been arrested, imprisoned and harassed by the Chinese Communist Party for her work as a human rights lawyer representing activists, Uyghur scholars and Falun Gong practitioners. Now, her movements within her home country have been restricted by a color-coded app on her phone that’s supposed to protect people from COVID-19. The app and its color codes have become ubiquitous in China as the country has struggled to contain the coronavirus, pushing the public to a breaking point that resulted in protests over COVID restrictions late last month. The government announced last week that it would discontinue the national color-coded health app, but cities and provinces have their own versions, which have been more dominant. In Beijing last week, restaurants, offices, hotels and gyms were still requiring approved color codes to enter. Drawing on telecommunications network data and PCR test results, the app is relatively simple. Everyone is assigned a QR code on their phone that switches between green, yellow and red, depending on factors such as whether they’ve been in the same spot as someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (yellow) or if they themselves have tested positive (red). Only people with green codes can go about normal daily life." https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-12-20/china-covid-health-apps-tool-social-political-control

Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the legendary 1960s girls group The Ronettes, has died at the age of 80. Her death was announced on social media by her daughter. No cause of death was given. “At approximately 8:30 (Sunday) morning our mother Nedra Talley Ross went home to be with the Lord,” the post said. “She was safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved. Thank you, Lord.” A post on the group’s Facebook page called Ross “a light to those who knew and loved her.” “As a founding member of The Ronettes, along with her beloved cousins Ronnie (Spector) and Estelle (Bennett Vann), Nedra’s voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group’s story and their defining influence will live forever. “Rest peacefully dear Nedra. Thanks for the magic.” The Ronettes originated in New York City and were signed by Phil Spector‘s Philles Records in 1963. They went on to place nine singles in Billboard’s Hot 100. Their iconic hits include “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You,” “Walking in the Rain” and “I Can Hear Music.” Variety reports the group released only one studio album but were cited as an influence by multiple acts over decades, including the New York Dolls, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, the Ramones and Blondie. The Rolling Stones opened for The Ronettes during a tour of the United Kingdom in 1964, The Guardian reports. The Ronettes opened for the Beatles during a tour in 1966. The Ronettes broke up in 1967, The Guardian reports. “I hated the ‘dog-eat-dog’ side of show-business,” Talley Ross said. “I hated pushing for the next record and the feeling of failure if we didn’t get it. There was a continual demand on us to produce that I thought was unfair. My personality didn’t like that.” Talley Ross also cited her religious beliefs for leaving the group, saying she wanted to focus on her family. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she recorded several Christian songs after leaving The Ronettes. Bennett died in 2009, while Ronnie Spector died in 2022. The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

El Shaddai is usually translated as God Almighty in the KJV. YHVH is usually translated as LORD. Rather than use the sacred name, some Jews use the Hebrew term Ha Shem. Ha Shem means "the name." A Jewish legend describes a creature made of sand who could be brought to life by inscribing יְהוָה YHVH in his forehead. Another version of the story says he was activated by putting a piece of paper with the sacred name in his ear. This being, known as a golem, was said to have helped the Jews during difficult times. The Golem of Prague is the best known. Exodus 6:3 says that the patriarchs knew God as El Shaddai but not as YHVH. Why Scripture says this is a puzzle. Several verses in Genesis include the term YHVH in a sense that indicates that the God of Abraham was also known as YHVH, e.g., Genesis 16:2, 22:14. Genesis 15:7, God identifies himself to Abraham as YHVH, yet Exodus 6:3 says the patriarchs did not know God by that name. Any thoughts?

Joe Mulhattan, sometimes spelled with variations of his name, was a well-known American in his time. Today he is little known. Yet, there are multiple Internet websites that tell his story. My position on him is that his story has lessons for us today. The following two links will provide you with interesting information that could include stories in sermons today. The following link tells you the story of a man called a "professional liar," and the author of more hoaxes than any other person. https://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/joseph_mulhattan/ The following link actually provides actual hoax's that he published: https://hatch.kookscience.com/wiki/Joseph_Mulhatton

There is something quietly heartbreaking in a survey that should have been unremarkable. The post When the Shepherd Doubts the Garden: Do American Pastors Truly Believe the Bible? appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

They met in a Methodist church because they couldn’t meet in an Adventist one. Eight hours, three livestreams, a roster of men whose names Michigan Conference administrators have spent two… The post The borrowed sanctuary: how institutional grievance became prophecy in Berrien Springs this weekend appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

A complaint filed in federal court in Utah raises hard questions about intellectual property rights, public confusion, and how religions protect their brands online. The Church of Jesus Christ of… The post Latter Day Saints Church Sues Independent Podcaster Over Branding appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The Oxford handbook of Adventism is a 605-page book on Adventism. It is one of some 1,600+ handbooks produced by the Oxford University Press. Many, not all, of the editors and contributors to the book are Seventh-day Adventists. While its price may be beyond many people, I consider it to be well worth the purchase. For more information check out the review by Reinder Bruinsma Spectrum has published a review of this book which may be accessed at: https://spectrummagazine.org/culture/books-film/does-the-oxford-handbook-of-seventh-day-adventism-accurately-represent-the-faith-community-a-review/ Amazon is currently selling this book. See: https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Handbook-Seventh-day-Adventism-Handbooks/dp/0197502296/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WMR5ZD1T0VBC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.O_zzT3LLu3Y9vU7t84-OarxAJ9CPvHCr2fjc_331PJjQCGVRbqqX0nv9oVNUdb1kpXcKCfEzhviYWSrctBWMkhF8tgA2e1MFfu-AZ4Mq136hXEpZMmzUbIzOf-T9wrTX.et6VA9bkmcVSgiILPq76HZ-NR7nFe5Y6jRdoTXQjebo&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+oxford+handbook+of+seventhl-dayl+adventism&qid=1776557123&sprefix=%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1

32 More Countries Will Stop Stamping Passports In 2026 https://www.traveloffpath.com/32-more-countries-will-stop-stamping-passports-in-2026/

The following essay is by Michael Peabody. His analysis of Iranian eschatology is spot on in my analysis. Michael’s site is outstanding on many of the issues of today. You can subscribe at the website below. “What the West Gets Wrong About Iran” An analysis of a theology-driven state, the martyrdom doctrine that shapes its […] The post The Role of Eschatology in the Iran War: What You Are Not Hearing in the News appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

WASHINGTON — When the most powerful military in human history summons a priest and tells him to fall in line, something has shifted in the architecture of American power. That… The post When Caesar Calls the Bishop: The Pentagon Told the Vatican's Ambassador That God Is on America's Side. The Pope Disagrees. appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Trump goes nuclear on Leo XIV, then posts himself as Jesus Christ There is something genuinely embarrassing about having to write this story. Not because it lacks importance, but because… The post POPE VS. POTUS appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Ninth Circuit Rejection of Religious Bias Claim Sparks Heated Judicial Debate A divided federal appeals court refused to rehear a case involving a healthcare worker fired for refusing COVID-19 testing… The post Dismissed and Divided: Judges Clash Over Religious "Nexus" in COVID-19 Testing Case appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

I don't say automatically the amount of Catholics. There are/were many Catholics who understand the difference between the Catholic office holder, and the American office holder who happens to worship in the Roman Catholic church. What scares me is the number, both Catholic and Protestant, who does NOT know this difference. The issue is liberty of conscience, office holders who respect this in their choices I support no matter where they worship or don't worship. But we are finding too many are being put in office who do not realize this difference. The dragon in Revelation 12 is first of all the devil and direct demonic activity, and their first lie that God is not God and does not have a right to place a law over us. We are all demigods and have our own truth and that the final authority is not God and God's law that we grow towards and set as a goal to travel towards, but our own subjective dispensationa experience are our own personal truths and thus our own final authority. Spiritualism/Despensationalism, where we exalt our subjective, dispensational experience. On a second level it can represent secularism, which reaches to the religion of the French Revolution that evolved into Napoleon and then into Marxism. A counterfeit Holy Spirit. In a lot of ways the beast is the opposit of the dragon. In it's largest sence it is any orginazation that replaces Christ in our lives. A counterfeit God the Father, where we submit our subject, existencial experience to this counterfeit authority. The true trinity has a oneness between an outside ultamate truth but where the God of ultamate objective truth workes with us individually with our subjective experience. The lamblike beast in the fullest sense are us as individuals dealing with the dragon and beast and the true Lamb influencing our lives and making choices. On a second level, we have a version of Christianity focused on the individual, Protestantism, and out of this grew a country based on the individual, the United States of America, a very christlike nation but dragonlike in how we treated the natives and very beastlike in how we tolerated slavery; but had an initial goal to go towards the Lamb. However, the Bible predicts this ends up speaking as a dragon (secularism) but then forms an image to the beast (controling government sticking it's nose where it does not belong and using government to enforce religion.) those who have the mark of the beast in their foreheads are those who really believe that the government has gotten too secular and we need to restore proper religion. Sadly, too many, not only Catholics, but also Protestants want to make this change. Those who accept it in their right hands are those who don't like this control and enforced religion, but sees it as to their existential advantage to go along with it. I think that Biden understands the difference between being a Catholic office holder, and an American office holder who happens to worship in the United States. Yet, his first way of helping Ukraine was by setting into places that limits how people can buy and sell. We have been finding this economic control even growing more. With the uniting the world through economic cooperation, gaining more control over individual lives and bias, comming up with excuses for pushing and crossing the line of dicency, including, making excuses for the picture dressed as Jesus. (the picture dressed as the Pope tends to go along with what we are finding in our current politics). Putting people who want to use their office to set up their religion scares me.

Rest well good and faithful servant.

Not sure how you got to that...

When we think of Jesus, we often think about his life hereon earth. It's only natural, because so much of the bible talks about Him here. The whole new testament is about the life of Jesus and His instructions for our life. This is good and important. Very important. In Hebrews it says: 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 [a]in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the [c]world. NASB. But there is more to Jesus. through whom He also made the [c]world. NASB. So the bible clearly says Jesus created the world. There is no doubt about it. Jesus is the creator God. Now lets look at something else. Luke 15 Now all the tax collectors and [a]sinners were coming near [b]Jesus to listen to Him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 And so He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the [c]open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. NASB Who does not need repentance? Everyone on this planet. So Jesus is referring to 99 other planets HE created. In the Hebrews text above, some translations say worlds, plural. Some say ages. Some say the universe. All of them fit. Jesus created our planet and all the others. The Jesus that we reference in the New Testament, is only a portion of Jesus. When we understand the bigger picture of Jesus, it is difficult to comprehend. The very great in size, extent, and complexity of Jesus, is beyond our human understanding. - We can better appreciate, the sacrifice he made for us. The humility of Jesus, the compassion that is beyond any human compassion. - We can better understand the great slander that the evil ones perpetrate. The whole picture becomes clearer. Much clearer.

Gustave, I agree. Let's step back a moment and survey the damage done in the Middle East recently. As I watch smuggled videos about Israel, it appears the area above ground is 90% destroyed. Gaza is destroyed, Lebanon is pretty much destroyed. Syria is pretty much destroyed. Iran has been damaged, but it is hard to tell how much. However, things are not over, and I think it is likely to be destroyed like the others. In our lifetime, or the last 250 years, we have never seen war and destruction like this in the Middle East. The destruction is almost as complete as Europe in the 1940s. This is very historic. The Middle East will not recover economically for another 20-30 or 40 years, if the pattern of post-war Europe is followed. What does this mean? Many people are focusing on the trees and not seeing the forest or the future.

The following is an official statement from the Pacific Union Conference, and the author of the article: https://www.adventistfaith.com/news/a-message-to-our-community-regarding-honoring-god-through-science-and-scripture/

Another essay from Michael Peabody, balanced the political perspective in his last essay. I find his work very relevant and balanced. I share for the benefit of readers who value my opinion. The Art of the Ultimatum: Trump, Iran, and the Importance of Being PresidentialReligiousLiberty.TV Apr 7 This essay does not exist to defend what […] The post Trying to Understand What Trump Is Doing appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

🎢 Parting shot: Lunar incline Photo: Michael Probst/AP For fairgoers in Frankfurt, one ride offered two thrills for the price of one: riding a rollercoaster alongside a full moon.

Many Evangelical Christians will argue that there is no such thing as “Christian antisemitism.” For them, it is a contradiction of terms—an oxymoron. They do not believe a “true” Christian can be antisemitic. Unfortunately, history has proven otherwise. https://www.crosswalk.com/sponsored-content/why-christian-antisemitism-is-making-a-dangerous-comeback.html?

Five weeks into the conflict, the US and Israel have expanded strikes across Iran, hitting infrastructure in and around Tehran, while Iran keeps launching missiles and drones against Israel, US… The post Why the Iran War Isn’t Going as Planned: The Religion the West Keeps Misreading appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

As the people looked upon [Jesus], they saw a face where divine compassion was blended with conscious power. Every glance of the eye, every feature of the countenance, was marked with humility, and expressive of unutterable love. He seemed to be surrounded by an atmosphere of spiritual influence. While His manners were gentle and unassuming, He impressed men with a sense of power that was hidden, yet could not be wholly concealed. Desire of Ages, pp. 137, 138.

We should be concerned! It won't be long and many blue laws that are the books that haven't been enforced in the past number of years, but they're there and can easily be re-enforced when needed and become Sunday laws with no problem!!

The following blog is from Marcos Torres, who offers an apolitical analysis of the Iran war with a special focus on how followers of Jesus can and should look at these things. I thought it was worth sharing with my audience. Used with permission: I’m an Ordained SDA Minister. Here’s What I Think About the […] The post Some Spiritual Thoughts on the Iran War appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

In the opening post Jon Paulien is mentioned. In the following post, about a dozen pages, dr. Paulien comments on Armageddon. In my superficial review of that material, I did not see Michael mentioned. But, some of you might find his comments interesting. https://revelation-armageddon.com/

Amen to that!! He's definitely shaping the US into the image of the beast!!

I do not believe the 24 Elders are symbolic. Based on this, I believe they were from Earth. Overcomers, as Revelation calls it. Certainly Enoch and Moses would fit the title. I am inclined to believe others came from the resurrection, and were the first fruits offering.

His Father did "save" Him - from death. He would not have "saved" Him from sin. IF Christ had sinned, the Father would have left His Son dead in the grave. We've gone over it a dozen times. "Could" He sin, is not the same as "would" He sin. Of course He "would not". The Father sees the future and knew He would not. Therefore the prophecies all said He "will not". Is there one that says "He cannot?" One who believes that "God" IS "the Father", "the Son", and "the Holy Spirit" - three divine persons, cannot help but believe that "God the Son" cannot act any differently from "God the Father" or "God the Holy Spirit". The "three" are one, and are not separate. One who believes as I do - that "God" is not a Trinity, but IS rather "our Father", who beget a Son, can believe that Son could act differently from His Father - could even act against His Father if He chose to do so. He had a separate will and mind. Because Church "councils" - under the control of Roman Emperors - later decided points of doctrine, does not constrain me to agree always with their conclusions. Neither do later decrees of Popes, or Lutheran councils, or Episcopal councils, or SDA councils. The majority is not always right. Those in power, with authority over members of the congregation, are not always right - as Old Testament prophets right up to Christ clearly showed, and Christ Himself so clearly pointed out. Acts 17:11 "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (NIV) We should respect authorities, and should not try to overthrow authorities by violent means, but we must search the Scriptures for ourselves - to find what is truth. For a thousand years Church "authorities" kept the Scriptures away from the common people. (Lest they search and understand?) Just that action, would make me doubt those "authorities" and any doctrinal teachings they pushed. In rare places, even Bible translations themselves have been altered to facilitate a certain view or teaching. Thank God those instances were very rare. Sometimes - we must simply agree to disagree, with casting moral dispersion s. One is not immoral, because he/she holds a certain doctrinal view.

I think we talked awhile back about "would not" vs "could not". One has to do with God's all-knowledge (including the future), and the other has to do with Christ's nature (human, divine, combination, fully both). Because the LORD prophesies a thing concerning a human subject, does not mean that person has no choice. Choice is not removed because the LORD has prophesied a future action. On the other point: I believe that Jesus Christ "emptied himself" to take the form and the nature "of a servant". Of what did He empty himself? The Greek word means "void" or "empty". Jesus said, "The Father who dwells in me, does the works" (John 14:10). Why would Jesus need His Father to do the works? If He was equal in power, why not just do the works Himself? More still, if Jesus was the same divine being/person (God), then He would have no need to be indwelt by His Father (a second being). Without the indwelling of His Father - the "fullness of the God" would Jesus have been able to do the works? "The works" to include not just miracles, but also perfect conformity to the will of His Father. Did Jesus have the choice - to receive or reject the indwelling of His Father, or was Jesus (because of His existence as God) simply part of "God" with no separate identity or existence? I personally believe that Father and Son are two separate persons/beings - each with individual will. Therefore Christ could have resisted/rejected His Father's will. One does not need to suffer from "violent cognitive dissonance", to believe that God (defined as "the Father") beget a second divine being out of Himself (in His exact image), and that He "sent" His begotten "Son" into this world.

EGW: Angels were expelled from heaven because they would not work in harmony with God. They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves, and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. This fact the angels would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and they came to consider that they were not to consult Christ. One angel began the controversy and carried it on until there was rebellion in the heavenly courts among the angels. They were lifted up because of their beauty. {Lt42-1910}