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The following will challenge: https://atoday.org/the-problem-with-the-day-year-principle/

Well, apparently, some scientists, with impressive initials after their names, are voting for international Sunday legislation: A Modest Proposal for a Day of Rest Zac JohnsonZac JohnsonBusiness EducationJanuary 29, 2018 The CST "Common Good Theology" is alive and well.

Allegedly, BIG Industry like fossil fuel burning power plants and transportation that is belching out all these harmful gases; and burning of forests to create agricultural space is a large cause of climate change - allegedly.

I will start it off: Today I will receive an injection of Avastin in each of my eyes. That will govern my activities for the nexr16 hours or so.

When Paul says we are "NOT under the law" if "led by the Spirit", I believe he is saying we are "not under the condemnation required by the Law". The condemnation has been abrogated (taken away). Doesn't mean - at all - that we are no longer governed/guided by the Ten Commandments. Of course we are. Under Grace, we are enabled to keep them, AND the penalty for not keeping them is "already paid".

If you are having problems with your 3ABN satellite dish or your receiver we have produced more videos to help you figure out or fix your problems. Visit our sister website: http://christiandish.com/support/ to find our helpful videos.

Yes!!! What Jesus and His Father did - when the Son of God incarnated, when He walked the dusty roads, and when He died publicly by torture, was the greatest love letter of all time! They did it to win our hearts - to win us back. Christ did it to recover dominion of this earth - because dominion over this earth meant dominion over the human beings on this earth. There is a study titled "Dominion" on my website: https://prophecyviewpoint.com/htdocs/11-DOMINION.htm

This verse demonstrates one of the great deceptions in the Church. Isaiah plainly says that Christ [voluntarily] took up our pain and suffering. I would guess His motivation was infinite selfless love. Yet, many of us have been taught that Jesus came to be punished by God - that our sin is so awful that God had to kill His Son to be appeased. Just one more lie of satan to try to convince us that we serve a restrictive, vindictive, and angry God that is only held at bay (possibly reluctantly so)by the blood of His Son. I have to think that Jesus volunteered for the mission. Who is ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus - His Father, men, or satan? "None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Cor. 2:8)

Jesus also became sin for us; hence the serpent representation. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21)

According to Webster, globalism is defined as "a national policy of treating the whole world as a proper sphere for political influence". I'm good with that; but IMHO (based on scripture and EGW) religion will be part of it. No religion (atheism) is itself a religion.

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know about Willie Nelson_2 On November 9, 1990, Willie Nelson's assets were seized by the IRS to pay back part of the $16.7 million he owed in taxes. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about country singer and songwriter Willie Nelson... Nelson Recorded a Special Album to Pay the IRS Debt After Nelson’s home and other assets were seized by the IRS in 1990, he was left with a debt to the government of $32 million. While it was negotiated downward, it was still a great deal of money to owe. Nelson recorded a new album called “The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories” to help pay that debt off. The limited-edition album cost $19.95 and 15 cents out of every dollar went toward paying down his IRS debt. “On the Road Again” Was Written on an Airline Vomit Bag Nelson said he was in an airplane with directors Jerry Schatzberg and Sydney Pollack, who were looking for songs to include in Honeysuckle Rose. He said the song just clicked inside his head, so he wrote the lyrics on one of the airline sickness bags that was provided. Nelson Calls His Favorite Guitar Trigger Nelson has had his Martin N-20 guitar since 1969, and it creates the sound that the entertainer wants in his songs. Over the years, the guitar has been autographed by more than 100 people, including Leon Russel, who was the first to sign it. The guitar was rescued more than once, first when it was pulled from Nelson's burning house and again when the IRS was seizing Nelson’s assets. (Nelson hid it.) Getting Into a Fight With Nelson Would Be a Mistake He’s been training for several decades in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, which is a type of martial arts practiced in Korea, and he was awarded a 5th-degree black belt in 2014 at age 81. His interest in martial arts began early when he was writing songs in Nashville. He also holds a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, so despite his age, he probably isn’t someone to challenge. He Saved His Pot From a Burning House Nelson got home one day during the evening hours to find out his house in Ridgetop, Tennessee, was on fire. He ran into the house to retrieve a pound of marijuana that he had there but said he went to get it because he didn’t want to get arrested by police if the firemen found it. Unfortunately, about 100 tapes full of songs that hadn’t been recorded yet were lost in the blaze.

Susan Fodor Magaitis is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor who works for the North New South Wales Conference. She and her husband, Steve, are co-pastors at the Avondale Memorial Church located next door to Avondale College in Australia. Susan Fodor Magaitis was also commissioned as a pastor through the laying of hands during a ceremony presided over by Neil R. Thompson, Ministerial Association Director for the North New South Wales Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. When things couldn't be getting worse, we have this "pastor" writing literature that would usually get any male pastor fired immediately! The recurring theme of “Ghost Girl” from start to finish is an explicit, oral sex act or sex scene penned by the Seventh-day Adventist Youth Pastor in Australia, Susan Fodor Magaitis, not once but several times! This is equivalent to pornography. And even though Susan, the porn-writing theologian, tries to clean up the story by teaching important life lessons, it’s still depicting literary porn. http://adventmessenger.org/seventh-day-adventist-female-pastor-theologian-and-published-author-from-australia-peddles-dirty-novels-on-amazon/

See: https://atoday.org/more-kenyan-churches-seek-to-leave-adventist-conferences/ This issue has been present for some time. The General Conference has intervened, but been ineffective in resolving the underlying problems.

Forget the flue clinics, or the mental health services folks! lets just go to our neighborhood Kill Clinic. Assisted Killing is here. Legalized Kill Clinics No need for depression medication or treatment anymore folks! Kill Clinics are just around the corner, and coming to a town near you soon: Here in Canada; it will soon be "legal" to just kill your Mother or yourself, "assisted" by your friendly family "Physician;" just because they are depressed. The Liberal government goes back on a promise. THIS is what people in Canada voted for this time around. Please, someone explain to me how that is "democracy?"

Test over!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s4d3kls8k45fanw/Negotiating Identities%3A The Case of Adventist-raised Gays and Lesbians in Norway.pdf?dl=0

Thank you for sharing.

What you have stated is a common understanding of that Biblical passage by people who are not SDA. I happen to prefer the common SDA understanding on that point. However, I consider several of his comments to be worthy of consideration.

🌿 Patient in tribulation Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

5 Things You Didn't Know About Princeton University On October 22, 1746, Princeton University received its charter as one of only nine universities founded before the American Revolution. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about Princeton University... It Was Founded as a Religious School Princeton University was founded by the New Light Presbyterians to train ministers. It was considered the religious and educational capital for those in America of Scottish and Irish descent. The theological seminary was separated from the rest of the college in 1812. When the school was chartered by New Jersey in 1746, it was unusual because admittance was not limited to one religious denomination. The School Went by a Different Name for Many Years The school was founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, and the name wasn’t changed to Princeton University until 1896. This happened toward the end of the school’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. It was often referred to by different names, including “Nassau Hall,” “Nassau,” “Old North,” or “Princeton College.” Princeton University Penned the Word “Campus” Back during the 1770s, John Witherspoon, the university president and signer of the Declaration of Independence, referred to the areas that surrounded the buildings as a campus. This word refers to the Latin word for field. This is the first known instance of the areas around a school of higher education being referred to in this way, and it caught on until all schools were using the same term. Nassau Hall at Princeton Hosted the Continental Congress Nassau Hall was the largest structure built of stone in colonial America, and during the Revolutionary War, the building was damaged by both the British and American troops. In 1783, it was used as the nation’s capitol building, and the Continental Congress met there between June and November. Nassau Hall was the location where the word was received that a peace treaty had been signed between the two countries. Many Famous People Attended Princeton University James Madison, the fourth president, and Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, both graduated from Princeton, and Wilson served as its president from 1902 until 1910. Famous actors who graduated from Princeton include Jimmy Stewart, Brooke Shields, and David Duchovny. Prestigious writers who graduated from Princeton include F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W.S. Merwin, and Booth Tarkington.

https://atoday.org/the-ministry-of-missed-possibilities/

I've been talking about this very issue for years here. Glad someone with some"influence" agrees.

I have chatted with some who have attended ministerial meetings and they reported figures in the church to be very dismal regarding such things as daily Bible study and even what per cent of the church even reads the Spirit of Prophecy (SOP) books by Sister Ellen White. Seems it is currently about 2% of the church even read SOP. I would assume this to be the NAD. Other divisions, while maybe not having access to SOP books, are much more into their Bible study. I often hear things like Sister White was a good writer or some of what she wrote is meaningful, but more and more it seems that her writings are dismissed as being of no more value in today's times. I would suggest that those who have no use for her writings ponder the chapter "The Testimonies Slighted" in Volume 5 of the Testimonies for the Church. If you do not have this volume, the link will bring you to a .pdf file of the whole book. http://truthfortheendtime.com/SOPText/Testimonies_for_the_Church/Testimonies for the Church Volume 5.pdf

👑 I am holy 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Happy Blessed 8th Day Did you know there is a Feast of the 8th Day? It follows Tabernacles. Some call it the 8th day of Tabernacles, but it is really a "convocation" of its own. Leviticus 23:36 "For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it." Numbers 29:35 "On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work." Seven days they commemorated wandering in the wilderness, in temporary shelters. On the 8th Day they celebrated home coming. No longer wandering. At the dedication of Solomon's Temple: 2 Chronicles 7:9 "And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days, and the feast seven days." v.11 "Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house, and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house." We know this was at the Feast in the 7th month from 2Chron 5:3. At the rebuilding of the Temple after the return from Babylon: Nehemiah 8:17-18 "And the entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. And he read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance." Did you notice the whopping long time they had not celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles - all the time from Joshua to Nehemiah. Wow! That's a lot of neglect. But how can that be true if the 8th day "solemn assembly" took place at the dedication of Solomon's Temple? That happened long after Joshua, and hundreds of years before the Babylonian captivity. Just asking. Is this a contradiction?

Greetings again JoeMo, I do not believe that the sins were literally transferred to the sacrificial animal, but the whole of the sacrificial system, including the Day of Atonement were only typical procedures pointing forward to what would be accomplished in Jesus Hebrews 10:1-4 (KJV): 1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Even on the Day of Atonement there was a repeat of the remembrance of all past sins, showing that the ritual had not achieved forgiveness. The sins being placed upon the goat going into the wilderness was teaching the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Christ, not sins being placed upon satan. Kind regards Trevor

I like that. Some folks make the Word "of no effect" by the way they quote it.

Yes! The Ten Commandments are a burden to carry for SadAdventists, and a promise of what HE will do in us for GladAdventists. Our part is to respond to Him, believing and asking for His indwelling. No one is trying to throw out the Commandments, or to say they are irrelevant.

I think the argument CAN be made, that the saved will be standing before the throne in Heaven,JUST BEFORE the last plagues are poured out. Why? Because the sealed are NOT MENTIONED during the 7 bowl plagues. They ARE MENTIONED during the trumpet plagues. NOTE: Mrs White says the saints will be on earth during the 7 last plagues. She also says "these plagues are not universal". Now which plagues might those be? Answer: the trumpet plagues. (NOTE: I do not personally believe in her "gift of prophecy".) Those who want to support her writings argue for the bowl plagues before Christ appears. Jesus is described as coming at least FOUR TIMES in the book of Revelation (probably six). The story is told again and again, each time giving different details. The Book of Revelation is not sequential from 1:1 to the end. It's called a chiastic structure. Rev 6:12-17 is Christ coming. Rev 11:15-19 is events in Heaven on the day Christ leaves for earth Rev 14:16 the earth is reaped Rev 19:11-2-:6 Christ on the white horse arrives to tread the winepress of God's wrath. Beast and kings of the earth gathered. Beast captured and also False Prophet. Both thrown into the Lake of Fire. Dragon bound in bottomless pit From Wikipedia: Chiastic structure, or chiastic pattern, is a literary technique in narrative motifs and other textual passages. An example of chiastic structure would be two ideas, A and B, together with variants A' and B', being presented as A,B,B',A'. ... It may be regarded as chiasmus scaled up from clauses to larger units of text.

5 Things You Didn't Know About The Guggenheim Museum On October 21, 1959, the Guggenheim Museum, which holds one of the largest collections in the world of contemporary artworks, opened in New York City. Here are 5 things you never knew about this famous art gallery that attracts more than one million visitors every year... Guggenheim Came From an Enormously Wealthy Family The Guggenheim family was among the world’s wealthiest during the 19th and 20th centuries and made a large part of their money in mining and smelting. Meyer Guggenheim and his wife, Barbara, had 10 children. Solomon, their fourth son, was the founder of the Guggenheim Museum. As an interesting side note, their fifth son, Benjamin, died after helping some of the women and children to board the lifeboats when the ship Titanic sunk in the North Atlantic. Frank Lloyd Wright Designed Every Facet of the Museum Frank Lloyd Wright, the acclaimed architect, was commissioned to construct the Guggenheim in 1943. Wright had a dislike of urban settings, so being asked to build the museum may have seemed an interesting but unexpected choice. Wright created over 700 sketches for the design of the Guggenheim Museum. The completed building was considered a work of art itself with its spiral ramp and seashell with rooms that opened into each other. Wright Originally Wanted to Make The Guggenheim Out of Red Marble Discussion surrounding Wright’s innovative design for the Guggenheim Museum in New York has most often focused on its spiral. But, had the architect been able to realize his initial vision, we might have had something more startling to talk about. Wright wrote of his plans for the project in January 1944: “exterior: red-marble and long-slim pottery red bricks.” Hilla Rebay, the art advisor to Solomon R. Guggenheim at the time, quickly quashed this in a 1945 letter by saying: “Red is a color which displeases S. R. G. as much as it does me.” Wright, who was usually uncompromising, designed a new scheme with an exterior made of white concrete and polished marble gravel. Many People Criticized Wright’s Design of the Building Critics of Wright's building design objected to its imaginative construction, saying that it wasn’t suitable for the display of sculptures and paintings. Some of the critics were artists who signed a letter addressed to the second director of the museum, James Sweeney. They included Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell, and Adolph Gottlieb. Sweeney might have been sympathetic to their views because it was known that his relationship with Wright was somewhat antagonistic. Guggenheim Died Before the Building Was Even Started The project had already experienced significant delays because of World War II and the shortage of materials, but it was delayed even further by Guggenheim's death in 1949. Guggenheim and his wife had begun collecting works of art in the 1890s, and it was their impressive collection that provided the initial collection for the museum. Guggenheim started collecting modern art around 1927, and his collection included works by Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, Albert Gleizes, and more than 150 works painted by Vasily Kandinsky.

Rejoicing in hope Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

You know we are not THE ALMIGHTY ONES, there is a reason for everything THEY do! Why allow sin, why did THE FATHER let Satan take 1/3 of the angels, why didn't THEY destroy the Adams and create two new flesh beings. Why, why, why! I personally will not deal with the whys! I know what happens doubt and then rejection, and finally chaos! What I deal on is acceptance by faith, that's it! If you want the answer be saved and then asked THE FATHER! I leave the secrets that HE had not reveal alone and accept the ones HE has given and I am at peace! Blessings!

Grief! Jesus said, "I know my sheep." "My sheep hear me." He certainly doesn't need 175 years plus (since 1844) to determine which of us hear Him. Neither does God the Father. The judgment of Daniel 8:7:9-14, 22, 26-27 is ABOUT Christ. It's not about us, except in a secondary way. Christ is the one being judged. When He is judged worthy of dominion, and Satan is judged guilty, then dominion will be taken from Satan and given to Christ. THEN as the One with dominion, Christ will rescue those who "heard" Him - those He knew and knows. THEN He will judge those who persecuted His people. THEN He will sadly leave behind those who rejected Him. John 5:22 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son." To me, the question being asked by the unfallen beings of "the court" is: "Can Christ rehabilitate humans infected with sin, to the point where they will not mess things up again. He wants to give eternal life to sin infected humans. Has He proved that He can 100% heal/restore them without violating/manipulating their free will?

You know; I had never thought about this "under the law" thing so much in the past, because all of my focus has usually been about the grace. Which I certainly don't deserve. But these two texts have got me thinking! Could it be that when we are "under the law" that we would be those Sadventists who "justify themselves" BY the law; and could it be that those who are truly "under grace," are JUSTIFIED by Jesus Himself? Being "under grace" seems like the total opposite from "under the law!" As Christians, we choose to be either "under His Law, or under His grace, mercy, and peace. Thats the official recipe for a Gladventist!

We are under grace, according to the scriptures. "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." (Rom. 6:14) "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." (Gal. 5:4) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8) "I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power." (Eph.3:7) A gift is something giving to you that you did not earn. It is unmerited favor. Rewards are things that people earn. I think you are confusing gifts with rewards. Thinking that grace is the result of obedience and good deeds is backwards thinking. Obedience and good deeds are the result of grace.

Overall Question: How did Nehemiah handle opposition? Memory Text: Ezra 5:5 New Century Version But their God was watching over the elders of the Jewish people. The builders were not stopped until a report could go to King Darius and his written answer could be received. Sunday – Opposition Begins Ezra 4:1-5 Good News Translation The enemies of the people of Judah and Benjamin heard that those who had returned from exile were rebuilding the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 So they went to see Zerubbabel and the heads of the clans and said, “Let us join you in building the Temple. We worship the same God you worship, and we have been offering sacrifices to him ever since Emperor Esarhaddon of Assyria sent us here to live.” 3 Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the heads of the clans told them, “We don't need your help to build a temple for the Lord our God. We will build it ourselves, just as Emperor Cyrus of Persia commanded us.” 4 Then the people who had been living in the land tried to discourage and frighten the Jews and keep them from building. 5 They also bribed Persian government officials to work against them. They kept on doing this throughout the reign of Emperor Cyrus and into the reign of Emperor Darius. Ezra 4:4-5 Common English Bible 4 The neighboring peoples discouraged the people of Judah, made them afraid to build, 5 and bribed officials to frustrate their plan. They did this throughout the rule of Persia’s King Cyrus until the rule of Persia’s King Darius. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? Monday – Prophets Encourage Ezra 5:1-5 Contemporary English Version Then the Lord God of Israel told the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speak in his name to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And they did. 2 So Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the priest urged the people to start working on the temple again, and God’s prophets encouraged them. 3 Governor Tattenai of Western Province and his assistant Shethar Bozenai got together with some of their officials. Then they went to Jerusalem and said to the people, “Who told you to rebuild this temple? 4 Give us the names of the workers!” 5 But God was looking after the Jewish leaders. So the governor and his group decided not to make the people stop working on the temple until they could report to Darius and get his advice. Haggai 1 New Living Translation On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’” 3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! 7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. 9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. 11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” 14 So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, 15 on September 21 of the second year of King Darius’s reign. Tuesday – Work Stoppage Ezra 4:6-24 New English Translation 6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus they filed an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And during the reign of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter was first written in Aramaic but then translated. 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: 9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues—the judges, the rulers, the officials, the secretaries, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites), 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and other places in Trans-Euphrates. 11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:) “To King Artaxerxes, from your servants in Trans-Euphrates: 12 Now let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 13 Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury will suffer loss. 14 In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information 15 so that he may initiate a search of the records of his predecessors and discover in those records that this city is rebellious and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago. It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.” 17 The king sent the following response: “To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings! 18 The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence. 19 So I gave orders, and it was determined that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in rebellion and revolt. 20 Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates and who were the beneficiaries of tribute, custom, and toll. 21 Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. 22 Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?” 23 Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them with threat of armed force. 24 So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. Ezra 4:23-24 Easy-to-Read Version 23 So a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes sent was read to Rehum, Shimshai the secretary, and the people with them. They went very quickly to the Jews in Jerusalem and forced them to stop building.24 So the work stopped on God’s Temple in Jerusalem. The work did not continue until the second year that Darius was king of Persia. Wednesday – Nehemiah Takes Action (444 B.C.) Nehemiah 4 God’s Word Translation When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he became enraged and made fun of the Jews. 2 In front of his allies and the army from Samaria, he said, “What do these miserable Jews think they’re doing? Can they rebuild it by themselves? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Will they get the stones out of the rubbish heaps, burned as these stones are, and give them new strength?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside Sanballat, said, “Even a fox would make their stone wall collapse if it walked on top of what they’re building!” 4 Nehemiah prayed, “Our God, hear us. We are despised. Turn their insults back on them, and let them be robbed in the land where they are prisoners. 5 Don’t ignore their guilt, and don’t let their sins disappear from your records. They have insulted you in front of these builders.” 6 So we rebuilt the wall, which was rebuilt to about half its original height. The people worked with determination. 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod heard that the repair work on the walls of Jerusalem was making progress and that the gaps were being filled in, they became furious. 8 All of them plotted to attack Jerusalem to create confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and set guards to protect us day and night. 10 Then the people of Judah said, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.” 11 Our enemies said, “Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We’ll kill them and bring the work to an end.” 12 Jews who were living near our enemies warned us ten times that our enemies would attack us from every direction. 13 That is why I positioned people by their families behind the wall where it was lowest and most exposed. The people were armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14 I looked them over and proceeded to tell the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and awe-inspiring the Lord is. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” 15 When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job. 16 From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other, 18 and each builder had his sword fastened to his side. The man who was supposed to sound the trumpet alarm was with me. 19 I told the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “So much work has to be done in different places that we are widely separated from one another on the wall. 20 When you hear the trumpet, assemble around me. Our God will fight for us!” 21 So we continued to work. Half of us held spears from early dawn until the stars came out. 22 At that time I told the people, “Every man and his servant should stay overnight in Jerusalem so that we can set a guard at night and work during the day.” 23 My brothers, my servants, and the guards assigned to me never changed their clothes. Neither did I. We each kept our weapons at hand. Thursday – Doing a “Great Work” Nehemiah 6:1-13 New Century Version Then Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there was not one gap in it. But I had not yet set the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, Nehemiah, let’s meet together in Kephirim on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them with this answer: “I am doing a great work, and I can’t come down. I don’t want the work to stop while I leave to meet you.” 4 Sanballat and Geshem sent the same message to me four times, and each time I sent back the same answer. 5 The fifth time Sanballat sent his helper to me with the message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter. 6 This is what was written: A report is going around to all the nations, and Geshem says it is true, that you and the Jewish people are planning to turn against the king and that you are rebuilding the wall. They say you are going to be their king 7 and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem: “There is a king of Judah!” The king will hear about this. So come, let’s discuss this together. 8 So I sent him back this answer: “Nothing you are saying is really happening. You are just making it up in your own mind.” 9 Our enemies were trying to scare us, thinking, “They will get too weak to work. Then the wall will not be finished.” But I prayed, “God, make me strong.” 10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. Shemaiah had to stay at home. He said, “Nehemiah, let’s meet in the Temple of God. Let’s go inside the Temple and close the doors, because men are coming at night to kill you.” 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Should I run for my life into the Temple? I will not go.” 12 I knew that God had not sent him but that Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to prophesy against me. 13 They paid him to frighten me so I would do this and sin. Then they could give me a bad name to shame me. Nehemiah 6:10 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY As distinguished from the “house of God,” “temple” means the sanctuary, and not simply a room in some building within the Temple area. Of course, no layman was allowed to enter the Temple.

https://atoday.org/german-unions-issue-joint-statement-on-gc-excom-warning/

Deceitfulness of sin Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'" (NIV) The Jews regarded anyone who was "hung up" to be under God's curse. The Serpent in the Garden was literally "cursed" by God. Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." (NIV) In truth, God did treat His own Son, as if He was a great sinner. He did not protect His Son from torment by men under Satan's control, or from torment by demons. If you have ever been harassed by demons, you know they can cloud the mind with a darkness to the point where one cannot sense the comforting presence of God. I believe they did such to Jesus (to a far greater degree than they are ever allowed to do to one of us). When Jesus cried out, "Why have you forsaken me?", I believe he did so when the darkness was so thick He could not sense His Father with Him.

Greetings Jeff W, While not endorsing all that is said in the video, another perspective is that the word Seraphim in Isaiah 6 seems to be related to the word used for fiery serpents. This could also be a link to John 3:14-15, and also to John 12:32 and John 12 has other links to Isaiah 6, for example John 12:40-41. I understand the brasen serpent to represent the flesh, but uniquely connected with Jesus he is the same human flesh as descended from Adam, but with Jesus he never sinned. Nevertheless, even though he never sinned, and his flesh was purified by fire, as with the altar of burnt offering, Jesus was teaching by his voluntary death, the need to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts. Kind regards Trevor

Instant in prayer Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Isaiah 58:1-14 THE FAST THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN The divorce between outward rites and inward piety has been the curse of every age. When the Pharisees were plotting our Lord’s death, they refused to enter Pilate’s hall. Not the bowed head, but the broken heart; not the sackcloth and ashes of the flesh, but the contrition of the soul! Notice the three paragraphs descriptive of the experiences of the devout and consecrated soul: (1.) The conditions of blessedness, Isa 58:6-7. (2.) The successive items which go to make a blessed life, Isa 58:8-12. (3.) The true Sabbath-keeping, Isa 58:13-14. Primarily, it is inward, not outward. Let us be on our watch against the entrance into our hearts of all thoughts that would break the holy inward calm. Remember to imitate Nehemiah’s instructions: Neh 13:16-22. Let the divine peace rule within and be as a sentinel keeping the outward gate, Col 3:15; Phil 4:7. Cease to follow your own ways, or find your own pleasures, or speak your own words. Delight yourself in God; so shall you sit with Christ in heavenly places and feed at the heavenly table. (taken from FB Meyer Bible Commentary)

5 Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Al Gore On October 12, 2007, Al Gore won the Nobel Prize for his book, “An Inconvenient Truth.” Here are 5 surprising facts you didn’t know about this politician turned environmentalist... Gore Became Interested in the Environment While at Harvard While attending his last year at Harvard, Gore was in a class taught by oceanographer Roger Revelle, which heightened Gore’s interest in the environment, particularly in the area of global warming. While he was a member of the U.S. Senate, Gore released his first book on the environment, entitled “Earth in the Balance,” and has written others, including “An Inconvenient Truth.” In 2007, Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work, which was shared with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, for their work on climate change. Actor Tommy Lee Jones Was His College Roomie Future actor Tommy Lee Jones was Gore’s college roommate at Harvard in the 1960s at one of the dorms called Dunster House. Appearing at the Democratic National Convention in 2000, Jones said they spent some of their time shooting pool, viewing Star Trek, cooking their Thanksgiving turkey in the fireplace hearth in their room and chasing cows. Gore, of course, went into politics and became involved in environmentalism. Jones created memorable movie characters who, among other things, battled aliens and went into outer space. He Met His Future Wife at a Dance While attending his senior prom with another girl in 1965, Gore met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth “Tipper” Aitcheson. They were married in Washington D.C. at the National Cathedral in 1970. Aitcheson went to a nearby high school, and both attended college in Boston. It’s an Urban Legend That Gore Claimed to Be the Inventor of the Internet Pioneers of the internet, Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf, said that Gore’s efforts as a U.S. Senator had a significant impact on the development of the internet—but he never intended to say it was his invention. Gore saw what had happened with a bill introduced as by his father called the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act. It contributed to the development of suburbs and increased housing because of expanded mobility, and Gore recognized that his efforts in support of the internet would allow it to grow. Gore’s Young Son Almost Died After Being Struck by a Car In 1989, Al, Tipper and their six-year-old son Albert were leaving a baseball game. Albert ran across the street to see his friend and was hit by a car. He was thrown 30 feet and then traveled along the pavement for another 20 feet. Gore later recalled: "I ran to his side and held him and called his name, but he was motionless, limp and still, without breath or pulse.... His eyes were open with the nothingness stare of death, and we prayed, the two of us, there in the gutter, with only my voice. In August 1991, Gore announced that his son's accident was a factor in his decision not to run for president during the 1992 presidential election.

I think I need to give some perspective to this discussion: * The book in question was published in 2015, and the individual chapter written by Susan earlier. * This piece is one of a number of things written by Susan. * The current Conference President had only been in office for a few days when I contacted him. * IOW, This whole issue is brand new to people who are now dealing with it. This is not a situation where this President could have dwelt with it years earlier. * A process has begun. But in a sense it must start from the beginning. Susan must be treated fairly. In addition to learning the demands of his new job, the President must be given time to become aquainted with the issues associated with these charges. * This is going to take time Let the process work.

With this story, it was well documented with links to research it. And the most telling of all is that her book is on sale on Amazon. When I say "her" book, she had a story in the book which was an anthology with many articles, but I suspect her story stands for itself. It is tempting to buy the book to see for myself that this most serious quote of hers was correctly rendered, but I did not really wish to reward her. So, while sometimes people may post falsehoods, it should be clearly stated if that is the belief regarding this story. I have communicated with other critics in Australia who have related their efforts to get information regarding what the conference planned to do regarding these charges and as noted prior, they have been unanswered. Regarding critics of misbehavior in the church, that is a topic without specific references I wish to look into very soon.

The problem Canada has regarding First Nation people does not just belong to Canada. I know the church in Australia is in turmoil over the past history of relating to the "Aborigines." The USA church may not give much thought to it's past in relating to Native Americans. While there was a very good work in Monument Valley among the Navajos, I had a very good friend one time who was of Navajo heritage who was taken by a white couple who taught in Monument Valley. So, she left her family and culture behind but never really successfully adapted to American culture and was like stuck in between. She could not go home. So, how the children of indigenous peoples are treated must carefully be considered and they have been very abused in the past. Which is one of the reasons that it is very difficult today to adopt a Native American child. To do so requires permission of the tribe or "nation.' Even if the creature comforts, education, and even safety are better, it is not good to remove them from their larger family of the tribe. This has even been a problem with the adoption of black children by white parents. I believe it is easier today, but at one time was very much fought against. Of course, if you are a movie star you will have an easier time. How many black children have movie stars adopted out of Africa? All that said, if anyone has considered adopting children, locally your child protective service can help you with an older child as babies seem hard to come by. In my state, it is a serious problem as over 50% of the children who are removed from a home never go back. You can also contact http://hostukraine.org . They can arrange for you to host a child for a few weeks (four weeks over the Christmas holidays or eleven weeks during the summer) at a time from orphanages in the Ukraine. According to their website, about 80% of temporary visitor children end up being adopted. (How can you host a child for eleven weeks thru a summer and not become very attached to them?!) Read their faq on the plight of children in the Ukraine who grew up in an orphanage. Their "papers" will always be stamped with their status as an orphan and they are second class citizens. So, they end up in human trafficking situations and worse. The war with Russia along with a number of other social problems have left many orphans in orphanages with little necessities of life. While I am concerned with how the child of indigenous people are treated, I do recall very much the lessons of last quarter's Sabbath school lessons on the caring of the poor, needy, hungry, and fatherless. James called it pure religion undefiled to care for these children.

There are multiple addresses for her on the original article including her website and her Facebook page (more than one). Others in Australia trying to get similar answers from the conference have been similarly stonewalled.

Others in Australia trying to get a response on this issue are not getting a response on the situation. Not sure if someone from America will have any better luck. And true, the story in question was part of an anthology of ghost stories of which Fodor's was one. Aside from the explicit comments in the story, even ghost stories are not really appropriate literature as it does go against the church teachings. So, there were a number of things about this situation which seemed unacceptable behavior for a pastor. She has written books solo as well as stories in collections with others. I would certainly hope the writers of this article actually read the story to know the comment attributed to her were actually her's. They did allude to other events in her stories which were not quoted, but were considered to be inappropriate for young people. The camel pic still is up on her Facebook page.

So no one has an idea?? Where are all those so-called patriotic posters?? D. Wearing the flag as apparel Wearing the flag as apparel -- including on those ubiquitous 4th of July bikinis and tees -- is considered disrespectful, according to the Code. Source: various web sites.

I believe that sometime ago I posted an article regarding the children's Christmas program at the Florida Hospital church. Seems they have outdone themselves. Their latest program involvement the story of Daniel and his companions. The program featured a band call "Danny and the Shacks." Seems the leader of this event was the children's pastor Vivian Cook. In the Bible, Daniel refused to contaminate himself with the king’s meat. But at Florida Hospital Seventh-day Adventist Church there is no need to reject the king’s meat. It was announced by female children’s Pastor Vivian Cook at the end of the performance that “a lot of Chick-fil-A” (chicken) and “ice-cream” would be made available for both the kids and parents (video minute 53:52). This is just another mockery of the biblical account of the Prophet Daniel. (You can see this event in the video Facebook link) Female Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Vivian Cook was the “director” for this entire project. She is a children’s pastor who works for Florida Hospital Seventh-day Adventist Church. http://adventmessenger.org/florida-adventist-hospital-church-makes-a-mockery-of-the-bible-during-their-childrens-program/ This article reminds me of one of the pictures you find in the comic sections of the newspapers. How many wrong things can you spot in this picture? If the founders of the church were still alive, how sad they would be. This is all done in the conference that denied Doug Batchelor speaking in one of their churches.