California Earthquake

[Gregory Matthews]

Jim, the issue as to how it got there is of major importance to some people.  I have no problem with your position that it is not an important issue to you.  As you surely should be aware, this issue as to how it got there has caused many people to leave the SDA Church.   To them it was important.   To them it was vital..Just because the issue may be settled for you and I, we are doing a disservice if we dismiss those who consider it to be important.  In doing so, we simply help them on their way out of the  church.  The GC would not have spent more than $125,000 on this one study if the GC had not considered it to be important.

 

 

My personal position is that truth is important and we have nothing to fear from the truth.  When truth is raised as an  objection to the SDA Church, w hen truth does not meet our personal preferences, we should meet it head on, and I believe that is in harmony with what EGW said.  While it may not be your God-given mission in life to deal with this one, that does not mean that others should not do so.

 

Again, in the discussion that has gone  on here, the issue has not been that EGW inserted into her publications material taken from others.  That she did has been widely published in Adventism. 

 

To me, the issue has been a statement that you made.  It was so far away from the known truth that I felt that I had to challenge you on it. 

 

In any case, you do not consider it to be an important issue.  O.K.  That is where you are.  But, for others that I deal with on a regular basis, it is very important.  And it was considered important enough that in 1980 the G eneral Conference thought it important enough that they spent more than $125,000 on that study.  What would that be in today's dollars?

 

The best to you.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

 

But, for others that I deal with on a regular basis, it is very important.  And it was considered important enough that in 1980 the G eneral Conference thought it important enough that they spent more than $125,000 on that study.  What would that be in today's dollars?

 

 

the economic power of the GC's $125,000 in 1980 would equal $732,000.00, as of 2013... 

 

kinda interesting..

 

http://www.measuringworth.com/m/calculators/uscompare/index.php

[Gregory Matthews]

Thank you Pam.  The General Conference spent that money due to the fact that the Church was in crisis.  It was a major issue.  It had to be met.

[JimTN]

In any case, you do not consider it to be an important issue.

Uh, ahem, now you're misquoting me! I wrote: <I won't call it "petty," because it has its importance...> -- it's just on the list of what is truly IMPORTANT, the material inside The Desire of Ages is more important that how it got there.

It's interesting what causes people to "fall away" from our church -- it's sad to see it happen, but it seems to be how God is testing each and every person. But as I've said, people can focus on the Truth in the material, or get caught up in stumbling over it. Sister White wrote that "God never removes all doubt"...

I was outside of this church out in the world for my first 34 years -- so when I finally found this church, I really appreciated it -- so I know that there is no other place like it on this planet! And NOTHING will ever shake me out of it. I get very disappointed in many of the things I see, but still the Truth is the Truth is the Truth -- and this church HAS that Truth!

I investigated Ellen White for several years when I joined the church, I moved to Takoma Park and met the people running this church -- I got involved helping to provide printed material that can be spread as "the leaves of autumn" around the world, and in the past 25 years my 8 books have sold a half million copies that were all printed at the R&H...

As an "editor" of what material is of major importance and what is of secondary importance, that is the "filtering" process -- I am glad that someone took the time to research the issue and diligently gave it their best effort (and got paid for it), but all I need is the conclusion in the matter.

I've investigated every single "bump in the road" that has presented itself to this church over the past 150 years, and now I've set it all aside to focus on the truly IMPORTANT aspects that a person has to deal with on a personal level.

As I said earlier, if I was trying to get a job at the White Estate I would immerse myself in Dr. V's material and everything related to it -- but I'm just not going that route.

It's important that the church dealt with it and that it's available -- then people need to MOVE ON!

And do so without falling away from God's Remnant Church.

[Gregory Matthews]

Jim, any time you believe that I have misquoted/misrepresented you, please do correct me.

[Gregory Matthews]

Jim, thank your for your testimony.  Things are now beginning to clear up for me.  I believe that you are Jim PInkoski and that you previously posted here in Club Adventist some years ago.  Well, welcome back.  You are challenging and that is O.K.

 

I believe that you and your wife were deeply involved with Ron Wyatt.  [For those reading here, Ron is the guy who claimed to have discovered the living shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Actually, the best that can be said on that point is that Ron may have discovered Brownian Movement.]  Didn't you manage his museum for a short period of time and work with Ron for a longer period?

 

You are clearly a prolific writer.  I believe that Amazon lists 12 of your books for sale today.  The majority of your published writings appear in the comic book format--quite effective in reaching some people.  NOTE:  I do not intend it as a negative comment.  Your books range from Biblical topics to the story of the Bounty.  Probably of greatest interest to some is your solution to the economic issues that face the world today and your idea that these would be solved by a transition to a One World Bank.

 

Based upon your statement that your R & H books have sold over 500,000 copies (That is how I understood it.)  and your other books with their current listed prices on your website and Amazon, it is likely that you have been blessed with the financial resources which enables you to do a great work for the Lord.  That is potentiated by your other obvious gifts.  Blessings on you as you seek to use your gifts in the service of God.

 

Any way, welcome to Club Adventist.  You challenge.  I expect that you will continue to challenge.  That is O.K.

 

NOTE:  If any of the above misrepresents you, please correct me.

[JimTN]

Hmmm, I wasn't trying to hide who I was when I picked my screen name, and frankly I don't even remember being here on this forum "years ago" -- on my profile I listed my webpage which has everything about me on it -- but I guess I should say "Congratulations, you figured out who I am!" <grin>

I grew up in a secular Presbyterian household, I collected comic books in the 1960's and traced them to become a cartoonist -- when I joined the church in 1984 at the age of 34 I brought my talents along with me... when I moved to the D.C. area I met Roland Hegstad who took me on a tour of the R&H in 1985... Ken McFarland suggested that I try doing a book on the prophecies, so for a year I prepared/wrote/drew my 56-page "comic book" The Prophecies of Daniel and Revelation... I submitted it to the R&H, but they rejected it (mainly because it looked too much like a dreaded "comic book")... Dennis Crews (a son of Joe Crews who founded Amazing Facts)(Larry Crews currently works at the Ellen White Estate) came by one day to borrow some camera equipment from a friend whose house I was staying at, and as he was heading out the door my friend said, "Why don't you give him your book to take back to AFacts?" We knew that AFacts was even more conservative that the R&H, so we figured they probably wouldn't go for it, but a few hours later Joe Crews contacted me and wanted to talk about publishing it! And everything that AFacts has published/printed has been printed at the R&H in Hagerstown, so even after the R&H "rejected" my 1st book, the R&H has since printed all 8 of my AFacts' books since 1986 and they have totaled around half a million copies (and made AFacts half a million dollars in the process)! PRAISE THE LORD! Joe Crews knew that our message HAD to be printed in formats that the worldly people will read, and the "comic book" format is the #1 Easy-to-Read format on the planet! Thus I've done 8 books, and they have sold very well. The final side-note here is that every one of the 7 Bible Study books were done by me with no pay until they went on sale, and I got royalties -- each book took around a year to do -- without pay -- until they sold. When it comes to doing work for the Lord, I've never placed "money" before the work -- so I've lived humbly -- and the Lord has blessed.

Yes, I met Ron Wyatt in 1989 and spent 10 years working for him to help him publish his biblical archaeological discoveries -- and since Ron died in 1999, I've continued working with his materials. As seen on my website, in 1994-1996 I managed Ron's 1st Museum in Gatlinburg, TN -- I drew 2 comics/magazines for him, illustrated his Newsletters, and drew art for his videos... Yes, Ron's material is "controversial," but my personal testimony is that in these past 25 years I have never heard a viable criticism that has stopped me from believing in any of his discoveries. Currently Tim Mahoney is showing his $2 million documentary film about the Exodus and Ron's discoveries at film festivals around the country, and they are winning awards for it; and a scientist in Sweden (where they do the Nobel Prizes) Dr. Lennart Moller has written 3 editions of THE EXODUS CASE that totally supports Ron's discoveries!

So while there are people who doubt Ron's discoveries, there are also people who have seriously studied them and BELIEVE in them!

When I was growing up and wanting to draw comics, I never knew what it would lead to -- but my whole life I was searching for God and for Truth -- and in 1981 God gave me my Banking Solution, in 1984 He lead me to the Adventist Church via a 5-week seminar that used lots of Harry Anderson's art (whom I met in 1986), and in 1989 He let me met Ron Wyatt -- so my life's work has been with these 3 personal ministries... and here I am at 64 and believing that this world has very little Time left, and I'm watching to see how everything regarding my 3 ministries plays out!

[Gregory Matthews]

No thought on my part that you were attempting to hide who you are.  As a matter of fact, it is you that gave me the major clue to my discoveries today.

 

I am not positive that you were on this forum some years ago.

 

Something about what I have learned about you has triggered some long forgotten memory of some past experience with you on my part.  It seems most reasonable to me that it might have been here  on CA, but perhaps not.  Perhaps it was in connection with Ron Wyatt?  I really am not positive.

 

So, you are 64:  Still a young person who potentially has a lot of learning experiences ahead of him.       I hope that you do not take offense at statements like that.  I say stuff like that to others.  Sunday, speaking to a retired SDA evangelist, I told him that at 71, and a young  man, he could learn a bit from me, as an older person.  He  has gotten used to me and just laughed.  I have a dry sense of humor which people sometimes do not understand.  Such things are actually poking fun at myself--the very idea that a 71 YO retired evangelist could learn from me because I am older than him!  Although, it just might be true!   

 

Anyway, on a more serious note, what I have learned about you today helps me to understand you and where you are coming from.

 

But, I am serious, if I misrepresent you, please correct me.

[JimTN]

Being the age we are is all relative -- my whole life I've had weak lungs and problems breathing/exercising -- so for me 64 feels more like 84 -- I've often told God that I really don't want to be here in this world when the End Times arrive, it will be a truly horrible and difficult experience, so I'm hoping He puts me in the grave before it happens!

Hey, I'm amazed I've even lasted this long...

And whatever witnessing is to be done by me will be done via my books and websites and all that.

I really don't need to be here to do it -- nor do I want to be here...

[Gregory Matthews]

Since I retired I have been involved in an exercise program.  I am telling people that I am training to take my shirt off and be a calendar model--just my dry sense of humor that can poke fun at myself and people who do not know me may not get.

 

The main issue that I face is with my vision.  The potential is there for me to go blind.  I have problems now.  For the moment, it is what it is and I can function.  As to the future, I have the best care that clinical specialists can provide.  We live in a world where with age comes a decrease in function.  That is simply life.  

[Robdog]

Greetings,

 

Actually the Adventist Church was very aware of plagiarism and expressly condemned the practice as "literary theft" . In this attached article on page 120 of the Review and Herald, you can read the condemnation concerning plagiarizing Adventist church owned material. Apparently it was ok for EGW to plagiarize other sources, but not for Luthera B. Weaver. Notice the Adventist request "all we ask is that simple justice be done us, by due credit being given" something that Ellen White failed to do! 

Plagerism 09-06-1864-V24-15.pdf

[Gregory Matthews]

The piece you cited was the personal opinion of the Editor of the REVIEW.  [NOTE:  I have shortened the name.]  It cannot be said to be the opinion of the SDA Church.

The definition of the word "plagiarism" is different today from what it was in 1864 when that your cited piece was written.  Today "plagiarism" has a legal definition that did not exist in law in 1864.

However, notwithstanding the above, you have raised an interesting point which I acknowledge,