One of the interesting subjects in Scripture is the topic of dance Most of the arguments in favor of Contemporary Christian Music rely on a few verses that supposedly give permission for Christians to dance during worship. The implication is, if dancing is acceptable, then the styles and genres of music that enable it are.
Read MoreGreen Spot Whiskey: drinking with the LSU-four
The lesson is clear: systematically attacking foundational Adventist beliefs will yield zero discipline—a gaping yawn—but personal slights to church officers or minor behavioral deviations will get you fired so quick your head will spin.
Read MoreBlessings in adversity
You might have heard the adage “That which does not kill me makes me stronger (1).” However, I imagine that for most of us, it isn’t difficult to think of instances in which this has not held true for us. Physically, we suffer many injuries that leave us weaker for life than we would have been otherwise, and as we age, many diseases threaten our mental capacities.
Read MoreThe Gospel: how to be saved and believing in Jesus
Too often Christians including many Seventh-day Adventists don’t know the gospel. When asked, “What is the gospel?”, I will hear a hesitant, “Believe in Jesus...?” In Revelation 14:6 & 7 the first angel preaches “the everlasting gospel to preach to every living creature” and that angel preaches, “for the hour of His judgment is come” and I ask, “How is the judgment a part of the everlasting gospel?” I get blank stares.
Read MoreBad tired, good tired
From playing with friends and relatives as a child, to working long hours in heavy construction, the inevitable bottom of our batteries still reads the same. “Dead” (tired, that is). But I have noticed that all weariness is not the same. In fact, there are two kinds.
Read MoreAdventists confused about church's position on abortion
The great majority of those present were shocked to learn that the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist’s was operating with two different sets of guidelines on abortion. The 1970 Abortion Guidelines, which were more restrictive, were the set made available to our own Adventist clergy and laity, as well as the general public. The 1971 Interruption of Pregnancy Guidelines superceded the 1970 Guidelines and opened the door to abortion on demand for any reason in our hospitals (16 months before Roe v. Wade). The liberalized 1971 guidelines were sent exclusively to our SDA medical institutions and never made known to our clergy and laity or the public.
Read MoreThe finest robe
For those who believe in Jesus, the robe of righteousness is the most valuable thing that we can possess. It is the only garment that the redeemed will wear inside the walls of the New Jerusalem. It is our ticket to paradise, the passport that allows members of the human family to pass from the kingdoms of this world to the Heavenly kingdom.
Read MoreA popular error in prophetic interpretation
Being a Seventh-day Adventist believer, with Adventist views on Bible prophecy and eschatology, I was oblivious to the latest mania of prophetic interpretation sweeping the evangelical Christian world. It seems that there are signs in the heavens. From spring of 2014 to autumn of 2015, there will be four “blood red moons,” plus one solar eclipse sandwiched in the middle of the four lunar eclipses. These signs portend something significant. No one knows what, but something is going to change!
Read MoreSelf and feeling take center in 'Seventh Gay Adventist' film
In the fall of 2009, the conference “Marriage, Homosexuality and The Church” took place at Andrews University. I was there as a speaker, and gave my testimony. Stephen Eyer and Daneen Akers, soon to be producers of the film Seventh Gay Adventists also attended this conference. After God’s transformation in my life, I was excited that at last a film would boldly proclaim that God redeems gays. I was in for a surprise.
Read MoreThe eternal flame: remembering a hinge of history
Fifty years ago this last Friday, on a sun-swept autumn Friday, unspeakable sorrow convulsed millions of hearts and drew the world together. On the campuses students stood weeping, in Berlin—on both sides of the infamous Wall—candles of remembrance flickered in countless windows, even in far-off New Guinea primitive tribesmen built rush mats in which to bury the leader whose inspiration had touched humanity everywhere.
Read MoreSouthern faculty release statement on the Emerging Church Movement
Southern Adventist University faculty from the religion department released a statement in October of this year denouncing the emerging church movement. The statement appears to also allude to Spectrum's Third Way conference that took place near Southern earlier in October. A student from the religion department shared her observations of the conference with ADvindicate. Southern's statement is a response to the growing impact of the Emerging Church in Seventh-day Adventist churches, colleges and universities, according to the religion department.
Read MoreA prophecy for parents
The Bible states that “children are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (New American Standard Bible, Psalm 127:3). Indeed they are. From dirty diapers to dirty rooms, my son has been the Lord’s reward to me, a gift that has caused me to lie down on the carpet with him crafting cool Lego destroyer vehicles when he was about seven.
Read MoreBarley loaves and fishes
Late in the summer of 2005, I opened a letter from ADRA. It said that 25 cents would feed one child for one day in Bangladesh. I had just finished paying bills and didn’t really have any extra that month. I prayed, “Lord, I really do want to give, but I can’t this month.”
Read MoreTed Wilson: State of the church address
A prophecy in Genesis 5
A few days ago, I was in Ohio at the invitation of Pastor Bob Helm and his small Seventh-day Adventist congregation in Harrison. I was there to give a weekend seminar on origins, highlighting some of the research I had compiled for my book, “Dinosaurs—an Adventist View.”
Read MoreLime green pants
Growing up without a TV provided some extra time in my life. After my chores were completed, I would fill those hours with three things — reading, baseball, and dirt bikes.
But I never took up golf.
Read MoreTed Wilson: Keeping the church at arm's length from state
A U.S. federal appeals court right now is considering whether for-profit businesses can be exempted from a contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act -- a mandate that is tantamount to a "war on Christianity" by the Obama administration, according to at least one elected official.
Read MoreYellow stripes and dead armadillos
Recent ideological clashes in American government and society have caused certain historians and commentators—and much of the public as well—to yearn wistfully for the days when compromise and moderation more easily bridged the gap between widely different convictions and courses of action.
Read MoreGeneral Conference officers respond to SECC
Seventh-day Adventist world church officials today released a statement regarding a local conference that recently elected as president a person who is not recognized by the world church as an ordained minister. Ordination is one of the criteria for being a conference president.
Read MoreSandy Roberts voted SECC president
Results of vote on Sandy Roberts' nomination to SECC president: 72% YES and 28% NO
Sandy Roberts' presidential nomination to Southeastern California Conference passed, 72 percent to 28 percent.
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