Fifty-eight gray t-shirt clad travelers with bleary eyes and excited faces stepped off the buses into the crisp air 4,681 miles away from home. We had arrived in Peru! Our group consisting of high school students, parents, and teachers from Fresno Adventist Academy, along with others from the community, had traveled from Fresno, California, to join Quiet Hour Ministries to share Jesus in Urcos, Pinipampa, Cusipata, and Quiquijana, Peru from March 12-24. None of us knew exactly what to expect, but we were hungry for an adventure with God. What would He do with twelve days of surrendered service to Him? Here are just a few ways God worked on this trip.
Read MoreLa Sierra embraces rebellious reputation
La Sierra University's student paper asked, “Are we the black sheep?” The theme of the 2013 holiday issue was identity--La Sierra's identity. Criterion editor Jonah Valdez kicked the issue off with a reference to David Read’s article “The failure of the Adventist Accrediting Association." After a brief summary of Read’s arguments, Valdez asked La Sierra students if Read’s critical remarks disturbed or angered them in some way.
Read MoreADvindicate hits 1,000,000 pageviews
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.
Read MoreProphets without honor
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).
Read MoreAn open letter to Angel Rodriguez
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.
Read MoreTheological Problems with “The Record Keeper”
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.
Read MoreThe insertion of gender-inclusive language in recent Ellen White compilations
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. Whatever the reason, due to the use of a particular statement from one of these compilations by a leading Adventist scholar promoting the ordination of women to the gospel ministry, the church in general and the Ellen White Estate in particular will likely be forced to confront the problematic nature of this recent doctoring of inspired language.
Read MoreHomosexuality: sexual orientation or sexual preference
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.
Read MoreDECISION TO SUSPEND “THE RECORD KEEPER” COMES WITH STRONG ENDORSEMENT FOR CREATIVE OUTREACH
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.
Read MoreAdventist church invites Catholic priest for Lent
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.
Read MoreFakers of the lost ark
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.
Read MoreFinishing the mystery of God
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.
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