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The Bible is not a book of science. Rather it is a revelation of God and how God has interacted in human life on the planet Earth. As a revelation of God, the Bible is authoritative. However, our understanding as to what the Bible actually teaches is not always accurate. I acknowledge that there may appear to be some contradictions between what the Bible teaches and what science understands. I believe that some of those contradictions are only in the minds of those who have not understood what the Bible actually teaches. But, some remain and await our better understanding of both science and the Bible.

* I believe that God has given the SDA Church a mission and a ministry in End Time. * I believe that if we are not in End Time, we are very near to it. * I believe that at least in North America we are not organized as a denomination to accomplish what God wants us to do in End Time. * I believe that as the SDA Chruch fails to accomplish the mission given to it by God, that God will use other members of God's Chruch, which are outside of the SDA denomination, to do what God wants accomplished in End Time. * Other specific thoughts on this have been published by The Adventist Review and in other places. I do not see a need to re-post them here and now.

In one word, I am suggesting compassion for people.

Try the following: 1) Click on the following: https://atoday.org/?msclkid=ae17618acf8e11ecbfbf715730682c28 2) On that page, click the link to the article on the 4 Biblical texts that are misused. NOTE: You may have to wait until the rotating links comes to the one on the Biblical texts.

This is an important subject. The "Cosmic Week" theory makes Mrs. White's comment that "The Lord could have come err this" heresy. And the chapter of the SDABC the Role of Israel in Old Testament prophecy equally a lie. God has given his people different times that could have finished the work and the end come, dating back to Biblical times. To study the text in their current framework of eschatology gives us information on how to apply the prophecies to our day. But the "Cosmic Week" destroys this way how God is trying to reach us. 1844 was the dawn of the age of exegesis that has opened the doors to where we can study this context. Also, those who like the cosmic week heresy turn to the texts that says that a day to the Lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. The context is how timeless God is. In Leviticus 23 and 25 and here and there in Deuteronomy gives the Hebrew cycles. As Leviticus 23 points out the Hebrew week was 6 days and the Sabbath, 6 months and the Passover or Day of Atonement, 6 years and the Sabbatical year, and while not in Deuteronomy, 6 Sabbatical years and the Jubilee. Thus the Hebrew cycles are the day, the growing season (or half year) the full year, and in some cases the Sabbatical year. None of these passages speaking directly about the time cycle includes "Day = Thousand years" and the texts that say that a day to the Lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day does not include the words "Oh, the Holy Spirit forgot to bring this up in the passages which discuss the Hebrew cycles. so please add these words to Leviticus and Deuteronomy". The cosmic week is taking a couple of texts out of context and ignoring the texts who's context is dealing with these cycles. Thus it is preparing hearts to how Satan will use the Bible when he comes claiming to be Jesus.

I am not a baptized Adventist but I do regularly attend a Seventh-Day Adventist church. I feel drawn to Adventism for several reasons, in no particular order. The doctrines of soul sleep and annihilationism seem more rational than the doctrines of the innate immortality of the soul and eternal conscious torment in hell. The writings of Ellen White provide much-needed clarity to the meaning of scripture. Her writings are the "lesser-light" which point to the "greater-light" of the Bible. The Saturday Sabbath seems to be the Biblical day of worship. The first Christians in the New Testament continued worshiping on Saturday. There are so many nice people at my local Adventist church, and you've got to love sharing those fellowship meals after service gets over.

Witeh thanks to the Adventist Review for the following pledge made to employees by AdventHealth. NOTE: AdventHealth is one of several SDA organizations that provides health services in the United States. My comment: It would be nice if all SDA organizations woold take the same stand toward their employees.

I do not focus about what I see in Adventism. It is human and imperfect. Rather, my focus is on my perception that it is where God wants me to be. If God ever wants me to be out of Adventism, I will be O.K. with that.

Ko Ko Was a Gorilla born in 1971 who was orphaned early in life and was raised in a human environment afterwards. There she was taught sign language and is reported to have communicated with a large number of signs. I have a close scientist friend (Joe) who interacted with Ko Ko. He told her that he liked the way that gorillas smelled and she responded with a loud fart. Later Ko Ko told her human handler that she thought that Joe was a “divisive force.” Ko Ko died in 2018. Whatever the truth of the debates about Ko Ko, there are wonders of God’s creation that we do not understand. You can read about Ko Ko in the article below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_(gorilla)#Later_life_and_death

Theophilus, your comment: " . . . why can't you take God at his Word?" appears to be directed at me and a personalization that says that I do not take God at his word. We allow considerable freedom to discuss in this forum. We do ask that the discussion be carried on at a higher level than you appear to have done. The central issue in much of the discussion is not whether or not to take God at his word, rather it is a discussion as to what God has actually said. If you do not understand this, you will not understand much of what is discussed in this forum. It presents you as failing to understand the issues. People can differ and be honest. People can differ and be committed to following God. In addition, many of the people who post in this forum are not members of the SDA Chruch. We welcome their discussions with others, some of whom may be SDA members. We need to treat them with respect and not accuse them of not wanting to follow God. If your faith and your beliefs are so weak that you cannot engage in respectful conversation without accusing people of not wanting to follow God, you need to give further thought to the basis of your beliefs.

The Genesis record does leave room for people to discuss and differ as to their understandings: Genesis 1:1 tells us that at the time God began the creation described in that 1st chapter, something already existed. Honest people can differ as to what it was that existed. Genesis 1:14-19 tells us that God created the sun, moon and stars. But it is not clear as to whether those were created at the same time as Earth, or at a different time. Honest people can differ on this. There are other issues that I could cite. But, I will simply illustrate with those two.

Also, when Christianity spread different countries wanted part of the Bible to have occurred in their land. But since we know where most of the Bible took place, there was little they could choose for their land. One popular idea was that they had Mt. Ararat. So there were many Mt. Ararat's around. The one in Turkey was one of these named after the spread of Christianity. It became THE Mt. Ararat as the crusaders came into contact with it on their travels to and from the Holy Land. The Bible said that the people traveled west from Ararat to Babylon, and the Mt. Ararat in Turkey is north of Babylon.

First, private, but no. Special friendships that may have lead to deeper relationships if we had the time. As for the unequally yoked, we could have crossed that bridge if we got to them. All three of them were very deep into the Bible and love the God of the Bible. None were fundamentalists/dispensationalists. So while if our relationship did get to the point of marriage we would have needed to look a little closer. But they were/are sisters in God's word and the God of his word. The point was that the special friendship opened up life to deeper thinking and wider perceptions. A lot of people who visit Israel only see the Jewish or the Arab perspective. They do not get a good perspective of the two. And the Christian Arab perspective is even a third perspective. Too many people, even with assumptions don't see any of these perspectives. A number of dispensationalists do not see the Jewish perspective, despite claiming to; they are just trying to bring about fulfillments for what they think is Bible prophecy so they can be raptured. Seventh-day Adventism has a stronger potential from others, such as the dispensationalists, to develop a perspective where you can less haphazardly listen to and respect all the views involved.

(N) Gives us the Holy Spirit 🕊 Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The following is an additional source for research on Adventist issues. Thanks to Adventist Today for the above.

(N) deliver from enemies 🚚. .. 2 Kings 17:39 But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

I've struggled with extra pounds myself, without cancer. Point well taken!

I am reminded of an influential SDA clergy person who could shed some weight. What most do not know is the battle that he has had with cancer, which has affected his weight. We must be careful of judging others.

(N) God will hide us 🏔 Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

No one is limiting your discussion.

Loma Linda University has sold a painting given to them for $13,500,000! For information on this see: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/05/18/how-did-loma-linda-university-end-up-with-a-12-million-painting/ and https://spectrummagazine.org/news/2022/loma-linda-university-painting-sells-sothebys-135-million

With thanks to The Adventist Review of 5/20/2022 and the article by Laurel Damsteegt, “Headship Matters.”

The following article on Orthodox Christianity is both informative and interesting. https://adventistreview.org/commentary/divisions-in-the-orthodox-world-an-unfolding-tragedy-that-challenges-christian-witness/

HD, The reasons you go to SDA church are commendable. Fellowship is an important element of being Christian. What do you like about Adventism is a good question. Consider reading the Tyndale Commentary on Romans to balance your study of E.G. White. If you are feeling ambitious, Cranfield's Shorter Commentary on Romans is a good one. Blessings on your journey.

I regard to: "a tinge of orange." Jaundice in an infant can cause brain damage. This does not happen often, but it is a danger. For the Mayo Clinic on infant jaundice, see: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infant-jaundice/symptoms-causes/syc-20373865

You can find the basics on flamingos and their red color at: https://www.atshq.org/what-do-flamingos-eat/#:~:text= 1 Algae – algae is,or crustaceans small enough to be... More

(N) More on your side 🕊🕊🕊 2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

The following news item reports on property damage to a SDA school and serious injury to 9 people. p https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/two-students-teacher-remanded-for-attacking-neighboring-school-over-football-match-in-ntungamo-3816940 see also;: https://atoday.org/

People don’t need as much protein as our government recommends. Actually people eat too much protein and it is causing much kidney damage. carrots grown organically have everything we need to be healthy I’m very worried about people adding water to formula to make it last longer. Water is not sufficient for the baby. carrots have fat and after juicing there is always a film of fat left in all the equipment that has to be cleaned off

(N) 🌱 They shall come forth John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Thank you for your diligence and seeking to understand fully what God is promising us.

In this forum, abortion is a closed subject that we do not allow to be discussed. This situation has come about due to the fact that people were not able to discuss it in an appropriate manner.. I am posting a reference to an important article related to abortion and the SDA Chruch. It addresses some of the accusations that have been made in the past with helpful information. Do not consider this to be an opening of this forum to a free-wheeling discussion of this subject. If the discussion in this thread becomes inappropriate, the thread will be locked. In the interests of Adventist history, the following article is a recent reprint of a 2019 article on the history of abortion within the SDA Church. It is not going to either change or resolve theological issues that you may have with abortion. But, its story of such history is informative. https://spectrummagazine.org/views/2022/adventists-abortion-and-principled-integrity

Ukraine to hold first war crimes trial of captured Russian ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s top prosecutor disclosed plans Wednesday for the first war crimes trial of a captured Russian soldier, as fighting raged in the east and south and the Kremlin left open the possibility of annexing a corner of the country it seized early in the invasion. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-kyiv-europe-d38703c060c6b066f2bd9012d147c6e1?

Olive Hemmings of Washington Adventist University suggest four Biblical texts that are often misused. See: https://atoday.org/four-misused-texts-about-biblical-interpretation/on/

Mother’s day comment: Mom, sometimes your hair looks good. With thanks to NBC television.

(N) an eternal body 2 Corinthians 5:1 🫥For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The following 2017 research suggests that US Protestants have moved closer to Catholic beliefs than some might think. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/08/31/u-s-protestants-are-not-defined-by-reformation-era-controversies-500-years-later/

Mrs. White's last great battle was against Fundamentalism. She died while fighting it and she lost the fight. At best she got most of us on the liberal end of the spectrum of Fundamentalism. But she had a balanced view between both Modernism and Fundamentalism. In the book on the 1922 General Conference, it pointed out that a big part of the rising ideas of Fundamentalism was a decrease in women's leadership roles in the church. We know that in the 1800s out west when Elder Loughborough would raise up churches and leave them in the best hands whether they were men or women, and he would ordain them as the pastors, and some churches back East were planning to ordain some women pastors in the first decade of the 20th century. But due to the increasing influence of Fundamentalism, Elder Daniels requested that the eastern conferences wait a little bit until the church was educated to know that it was indeed Biblical to ordain women, and for those who were ordained in the west, they received licensing papers that omitted the word "Ordination" again it was just to be a temporary measure due to the number of members who were not yet comfortable with women being ordained. Mrs. White started to educate here, but events caused her to change her focus on to the larger problem of Fundamentalism and how inspiration really worked. As I started with, this was her last great battle, a battle that she died while still fighting, and a battle that she lost and the closest she came to success was to get us, not to her balanced view, but to embrace Fundamentalism, but at best from the more liberal end of the Fundamentalism spectrum. While others embracing a more militant spectrum of Fundamentalism. While Elder Campbell did not mention this in his book. our early work was to share Seventh-day Adventism to our Christian neighbors. Then our first missionaries went to Europe and shared Adventism with their Christian neighbors; but also ran into Jewish communities. The church met them by offering them a Jewish version of Adventism. When I was in Israel in 1982 and back for a class on Christmas break 1983-84, there were still some of these Seventh-day Adventist Jews still alive, but they were in their 80s and 90s. (sadly, I did not meet any, only learned about them from the church and some student missionaries who did work with the churches where they were members). Along with the different issues that are described in Campbell's book, our church decided to only be a "Christian" church. That those who were Seventh-day Adventists Jews did not need to convert to Christianity, but if any other Jew wanted to become a Seventh-day Adventist that they would first need to convert to Christianity. It has been 100 years since the 1922 General Conference, yet we are still fighting the same battle. Quote Reply to this topic... Go to topic listing Next unread topic If you find some value to this community, please help out with a few dollars per month.

Mrs. White's last great battle was against Fundamentalism. She died while fighting it and she lost the fight. At best she got most of us on the liberal end of the spectrum of Fundamentalism. But she had a balanced view between both Modernism and Fundamentalism. In the book on the 1922 General Conference, it pointed out that a big part of the rising ideas of Fundamentalism was a decrease in women's leadership roles in the church. We know that in the 1800s out west when Elder Loughborough would raise up churches and leave them in the best hands whether they were men or women, and he would ordain them as the pastors, and some churches back East were planning to ordain some women pastors in the first decade of the 20th century. But due to the increasing influence of Fundamentalism, Elder Daniels requested that the eastern conferences wait a little bit until the church was educated to know that it was indeed Biblical to ordain women, and for those who were ordained in the west, they received licensing papers that omitted the word "Ordination" again it was just to be a temporary measure due to the number of members who were not yet comfortable with women being ordained. Mrs. White started to educate here, but events caused her to change her focus on to the larger problem of Fundamentalism and how inspiration really worked. As I started with, this was her last great battle, a battle that she died while still fighting, and a battle that she lost and the closest she came to success was to get us, not to her balanced view, but to embrace Fundamentalism, but at best from the more liberal end of the Fundamentalism spectrum. While others embracing a more militant spectrum of Fundamentalism. It has been 100 years since the 1922 General Conference, yet we are still fighting the same battle.

Mental health: With thanks to Spectrum & Dr. Courtney Ray: If you or a loved one need resources for mental health, including crisis intervention for potential suicide, contact the corresponding hotline in your country. Some are listed here: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm https://checkpointorg.com/global/

For more on this case see: https://www.becketlaw.org/case/oakwood-adventist-academy-v-alabama-high-school-athletic-associatiob/ https://atoday.org/fighting-for-their-rights-oakwood-adventist-academy-files-religious-discrimination-lawsuit-against-athletic-association/ https://atoday.org/alabama-athletic-association-disappointed-oakwood-adventist-academy-is-suing-them/

(N) God is mindful of His covenant Psalm 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

The following article reports on some little known aspects of SDA history. https://spectrummagazine.org/arts-essays/2022/thomas-murphy-deep-south-and-flow-diasporas

(N) Enemies will flee 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️ Deuteronomy 28:7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

For a heartwarming story see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THMwV7GxmEc

The following article will give you the best update on how the war in the Ukraine has affected the SDA Church. https://atoday.org/death-toll-rises-to-7-among-adventist-church-members-in-ukraine/

For a 30 minute video interview with Michael Campbell, see:

(N) Ransomed 💥 Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

1922: The Rise of Adventist "Fundamentalism, written by the head of Archives, Statistics & Research for the NAD & the General Conference is one of the most interesting and important books that has come off the SDA press in recent years. It is important for the typical NAD SDA members as well as those who educate and inform others. The following are two quotes from near the end of the book. " . . . the temptation to a rigid and narrow reading of Ellen White, one that prioritizes her writings above scripture, is a temptation that the church continues to face." Page 114. " . . . history over the past century has demonstrated, Adventists fundamentalism, not modernism, has reliably been the key temptation that Adventism has struggled with, and the way a person understands and interprets inspired writings matters a great deal;" Page 116.