ADVINDICATE HITS 1,000,000 PAGEVIEWS
April 23, 2014 | Gerry Wagoner
I am pleased to inform you that ADvindicate has just passed an important milestone today--1,000,000 pageviews. Thanks to each one of you for your faithfulness and interest in ADvindicate. FULL ARTICLE
PROPHETS WITHOUT HONOR
April 22, 2014 | Kevin Paulson
Jesus declared in the synagogue at Nazareth, “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24). The Gospel of John records this statement with a slight variation: “A prophet hath no honor in his own country” (John 4:44). FULL ARTICLE
AN OPEN LETTER TO ANGEL RODRIGUEZ
April 20, 2014 | Phil Mills
I was blessed by the time I spent with you at the recent TOSC, when we sat together for breakfast. I enjoyed hearing your conversion story, and seeing your commitment to the Sabbath. It was instructive to learn how you and your wife worked through a difference in understanding of proper Sabbath observance without it dividing your home. I recognized we share a common desire to understand and follow truth, wherever it may lead. FULL ARTICLE
THEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS WITH “THE RECORD KEEPER”
April 19, 2014 | Biblical Research Institute
In contemplating the message conveyed through “The Record Keeper” film, those assigned in the Biblical Research Institute who watched the film noted the following theological problems. FULL ARTICLE
THE INSERTION OF GENDER-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE IN RECENT ELLEN WHITE COMPILATIONS
April 16, 2014 | Kevin Paulson
Many in the church are not aware that the language of certain recent compilations from the writings of Ellen White has been altered so as to make it “gender-inclusive.” This lack of awareness—and lack of resulting controversy, thus far—might be ascribed to the fact that perhaps few who read these writings take the time to read the forewords, introductions, or other comments made in these books by the compilers. FULL ARTICLE
HOMOSEXUALITY: SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE
April 13, 2014 | Ron Woolsey
A very popular social columnist recently suggested that we not refer to homosexuality as a sexual preference, but rather as a sexual orientation. Until this statement, I had really never given much thought to the difference between the two terms. They seemed synonymous, but obviously to the columnist there is a difference, a clear distinction between the two terms. FULL ARTICLE
DECISION TO SUSPEND “THE RECORD KEEPER” COMES WITH STRONG ENDORSEMENT FOR CREATIVE OUTREACH
April 11, 2014 | Adventist News Network
Seventh-day Adventist world church leadership today announced their decision to suspend the release of the 11-episode series called “The Record Keeper,” but agreed to explore the possibility of supporting similar creative outreach projects. FULL ARTICLE
ADVENTIST CHURCH INVITES CATHOLIC PRIEST FOR LENT
April 9, 2014 | Shane Hilde
The Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church, Calif., participated in an annual Lenten series that started March 5 and ended April 9. Auburn Church invited Catholic priest Arnold Parungao from from St. Teresa of Avila Parish to speak at its March 19 Lent service. FULL ARTICLE
FAKERS OF THE LOST ARK
April 8, 2014 | Gerry Wagoner
We have known for a long time that Satan gets special delight in counterfeiting the things of God. For instance, in place of God’s Sabbath day, he offers the Day of the Sun, or Sunday. In place of marriage, he offers cohabitation and divorce. In place of creation, he offers a long painful saga of progressive death, or evolution. In place of great leaders like Moses, he offers Bill Clinton. So buckle your seat belts as we look at a brand new counterfeit—straight out of Fakers of the Lost Ark. Are you ready? It’s called the Ark of Hope.
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FINISHING THE MYSTERY OF GOD
April 5, 2014 | David Arthur Miller
When the seventh angel sounds, Christ receives the "kingdoms of this world," in Revelation 11:15. What is the mystery? It’s "Christ in you." Paul wrote, “To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The mystery is having Christ in His people, but it seems strange that in Revelation just before the seventh trumpet we would begin to have Jesus living in us. FULL ARTICLE
DRUMMING FOR THE LORD?
March 31, 2014 | Danique Tersmette
This is a very familiar quotation used in any discussion of whether we should use drums in the church or not. The text explicitly says “just before the close of probation.” How do we know we are that close already? We can just look at the Pope’s message presented last week. That’s a prophesy being fulfilled. FULL ARTICLE
ARE ADVENTISTS COALESCING INTO OPPOSING PARTIES? PART II
March 27, 2014 | David Read
In part one, we compared the conservative and liberal ideologies, noted that conservatives and liberals have each established (or at least rallied around) annual meetings that function as party conventions, and also noted that Ellen White predicted that two parties would emerge within the SDA Church. FULL ARTICLE
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE COMMENT NOW
March 25, 2014 | Shane Hilde
Now you have the option of sharing comments from ADvindicate on Twitter or Facebook. All you have to do is highlight the text you want to share and these icons will appear. Choose the social network you want to share the comment on and a dialogue window will popup. FULL ARTICLE
ARE ADVENTISTS COALESCING INTO OPPOSING PARTIES? (PART I)
March 24, 2014 | David Read
Sociologist and political scientists have long understood that when people take positions on issues, they tend to do so not randomly but in predictable clusters or groups. FULL ARTICLE
COUCHSURFING IS POSTMODERN “WITNESSING” AT ITS BEST
I was in Nashville, Tennessee, this last November filming an online success course for young women. It was late Friday, nearing sundown, and I had a decision to make. I would either be spending the night ( miserably cold) in my compact car, or be feeling guilty about putting $64.99 plus tax on my mom’s credit card for a night at the Motel 6. I had been there a week already, staying at a friend’s house. Now there was a bit of a snag--the sleeper sofa was double-booked! FULL ARTICLE
'IN GOD’S IMAGE' SUMMIT ON SEXUALITY OPENS IN CAPE TOWN
Nearly 350 Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders, pastors, academics, and human services experts have gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, for a four-day summit intended to help the worldwide Church better address the experiences of homosexuality and alternative sexualities. FULL CIRCLE
TOO MUCH TOO HARD TOO FAST TOO QUICK
As I walked out into the hallway of the ocean-front condo this morning, I saw a USA Today paper lying by the door of our neighbor’s room. Like a downbeat doormat it sat there, its loud headlines easily summed up in two words: Bad, and News. I was reminded of this quote: “The final movements will be rapid ones.” FULL ARTICLE
BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS: BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS US
The World Church, in its General Conference (GC), has voted twice not to allow the ordination of women to the office of elder/minister. FULL ARTICLE
KINSHIP, IAGC AND SEVENTH-GAY ADVENTIST SPONSOR NEW WEBSITE
A new website claims lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) Adventists are being prevented from sharing their stories at the 'In God's Image:' Scripture, Sexuality, and Society Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, this month. The summit will discuss the challenges the church faces with issues surrounding alternative sexualities. FULL ARTICLE
CHURCH MUSIC AND GAY ACTIVISM
Last month, a story out of Indiana was picked up by numerous news outlets. The story was about a United Methodist congregation had rallied behind a dismissed gay choir director, and to show their support for him, had largely stopped attending the church after he was fired. FULL ARTICLE
LSU PROFESSOR: EXTREMISTS THINK BIBLE IS CHURCH MANUAL
Last Saturday while attending my local church, I read a flyer in the bulletin that invited me to attend a soup and salad study by La Sierra University professors Kendra and Gil Valentine.
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PSEUDONYMS WELCOME
ADvindicate has required commenters to use their first and last name since its conception, but starting now, this policy is no more. After much reflection and research, we no longer believe this policy is enforceable or contributes to our vision for comments. FULL ARTICLE
'MEAN' CONSERVATIVES
A prominent leader in North American Adventism recently stated, during a discussion in which I participated, that the term “nice conservative” has “almost become an oxymoron” in the contemporary church. I countered by acknowledging that while at times needless severity and harshness have certainly attended efforts to defend beliefs and practices peculiar to classic Adventism, one must beware of defining “niceness” pursuant to an agenda of pleasing as many and offending as few as possible. FULL ARTICLE
In God's Image
The principal purpose of the 'In God's Image:' Scripture, Sexuality, and Society Summit is to have a conversation with key people in the global leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to gain a greater understanding of the issues surrounding alternative sexualities, and to counsel together regarding the challenges the church is facing in this area, in order to find a way to be redemptive as well as obedient to the teachings of Scripture in a more consistent manner around the world. DISCUSS
JUDGMENT GRANTED IN FAVOR OF CHURCH IN LSU-3 LAWSUIT
On March 5, the Riverside County Superior Court granted Summary Judgment in favor of all defendants on all claims in what has come to be known as the LSU-3 lawsuit. The court has ruled that there are no disputed issues of material fact that would need to be decided by a jury, and the undisputed facts are sufficient to allow the court to rule on the case as a matter of law. FULL ARTICLEONE PROJECT: PRESENT OR EMERGENT TRUTH?
I had made no plans to attend the One Project scheduled for February 10 and 11 in Seattle, but a mid-morning phone call stirred me from my intended Sunday morning sleep-in. A friend on the phone urged, "I've been given two tickets to the One Project. They’re free! Do you want to go? Let's go! Free tickets!" That got me up and going. FULL ARTICLE
David danced
As we saw in my previous article "Shall we dance," the English word “dance” in the Old Testament, has been translated from six different Hebrew words. The nuances of meaning between these words are significant, and can be understood only by a lexicographical survey of them. In this article we will look at 2 Samuel 6:14-16 and 1 Chron. 15:29. FULL ARTICLEPOPE'S VIDEO FULFILLS PROPHECY
By now, I expect many Christians have seen the surprising viral video of Pope Francis’ recent appeal for unity with Protestants, presented at a Kenneth Copeland conference of charismatic leaders this past January. FULL ARTICLE
IS THE FLEUR-DE-LIS A SUITABLE DECORATION FOR AN ADVENTIST CHURCH?
A couple of friends recently approached me, four days apart, complaining of decorations recently added to the Keene Church sanctuary. Someone had placed two fleur-de-lis, separated by an arrangement of candles. FULL ARTICLEThe Right Book at the Right Time
A new GLOW tract was introduced at GYC, Orlando. The tract was written by David Asscherick and titled "The Right Book at the Right Time." Check out the new tracts.
How postmodern Adventists can engage in personal evangelism
I have been working for a few months now on a set of diaries written by a certain Mr. Dortch in the mid-1880's. The diaries are part of the original manuscript collection in the Southwestern Adventist University Library. In this lecture, I focus particularly on Dortch's relations with his rural neighbors in Tennessee. FULL ARTICLEThe final generation
Why will the last generation become the last generation and not any generation before it? Is something missing? I believe we need the latter rain, but what will bring that about? I had heard that we will not receive it until we are completely without sin, so I tried very hard to get rid of all the sin in my life. I’m not the person I was when I started on my Christian journey, but I have not attained perfection. FULL ARTICLE
The human race
I knew my dad would have been proud of me, as I raced through our town. Timing the traffic lights perfectly and squealing the tires around every turn bore frantic evidence to the desperation of my charge. Was it a matter of life and death, with each passing second ticking away someone’s life? Was it the extreme anxiety of a million dollars hanging in the balance that drove me to such reckless speeds? No, it was much more important than that. I was late for church. FULL ARTICLE