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.
Read MoreDavid danced
In this article we will look at 2 Samuel 6:14-16 and 1 Chron. 15:29. In 2 Samuel 6:14-16 the Hebrew word most often rendered “dance” in English versions for is Karar (pronounced kah-rar) and is only used these two times. In 1 Chron. 15:29, the Hebrew word is Raqad (pronounced raw-kad) and is used nine times in the Old Testament. In order to understand what David was doing in these passages, we must understand what these Hebrew words signify. We cannot impose contemporary meanings onto ancient words which have changed definitions over the centuries. The truism is still applicable: biblical words must be understood and interpreted based on the actual meaning of the terms, and in the contexts in which they are used.
Read MorePope'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.
Read MoreIs 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, on the organ console in the main sanctuary of the church. Both of my friends separately insisted that the fleur-de-lis is completely inappropriate for use as a church decoration in a Seventh-day Adventist Church. Both were very upset.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreHow 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; a relatively new convert to the SDA Church, Dortch, and a farmer, regularly socialized and met with his fellow farmers and frequently shared with them the SDA doctrine of the Seventh-Day Sabbath (Saturday) and other doctrines peculiar to Adventists (such as the 'Nature of Man' as in the rejection of the standard Christian belief in the immortality of the human soul).
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe role of Ellen White's writings
I have found many people are confused about the role Ellen White's writings play in our church. Many times it seems we consider them as an addition to the Bible or on the flip side we brush them aside altogether considering them optional or even as a friend of mine says, act like a stupid angel inspired them.
Read MoreBill Nye vs. Ken Ham
On Tuesday night, popular TV show host Bill Nye the Science Guy and biblical creationist Ken Ham (President of the creationist organization Answers in Genesis) squared off in a public debate on the topic of creationism vs. evolution. (As of today, you can watch a full video of the debate here.) I say “squared off,” but in reality, the debaters were actually very cordial, and to their credit, focused on attacking the arguments of the other person rather than resorting to personal insults.
Read MoreFact or fiction: The Record Keeper misguided
Character from "The Recorder Keeper" played by actor Aris Juson who was also the fight scene coordinator for the series.
Many think "The Record Keeper" is great witnessing tool, a conversation starter and a means to get unbelievers interested in our message. This is an understandable position, and one I can relate to as I am no technophobe and believe in using advancements in technology. My current occupation is in the technology sector and I acknowledge what modern techniques and technology have done in the advancement of truth. I am no cynic and I do not wish to judge the motives or the hearts of the producers, but with this being said I have concerns with this project.
Read MoreWhy you're not praying more
We should pray much. We need to pray much. Jesus prayed much. If He needed to pray much, how much more should we pray? Secret prayer is the breath of the soul, yet many of us are weak and easily overcome by sin because we do not pray much. We will never enter into the fullness of communion with God, understand His Word, or have the power to relieve the woes of sin and Satan all around us, nor will we will make it into God's kingdom, if we do not, "watch and pray" (Mark 13:33).
Read MoreReclaiming the biblical Jesus
Today, our Lord’s quest for the lost is still controversial. There are still those, to all our shame, who—like the older brother in the prodigal son story—would treat the penitent transgressor with contempt merely because of a sinful, embarrassing past. But others, perhaps many more in this age of self-accommodation, seem to profoundly misunderstand our Lord’s practice of receiving sinners.
Read MoreRoundup of divisional reports on female ordination
About a year prior to the first meeting of the Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC), each of the biblical research committees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's 13 divisions were tasked with producing its own report. Some of the divisions did not have a biblical research committee, and so some committees were formed for this specific project.
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit: What is He, and how to receive Him
“Have your received the Holy Spirit?” What would you say in answer to that question and how would you know how to receive Him? For many Christians, the gift of the Spirit is known through ecstatic feelings and experiences. “Being slain in the Spirit”, having the “Gift of Tongues,” etc. is the epitome of the “receiving the Spirit” experience.
Read MoreThe heart of it all
Most Seventh-day Adventists are aware there are many issues facing our church. Such problems range from women’s ordination to homosexuality in the church, the nature of Christ to the 2520 prophecy, the type of music in church to the emerging church, creation verses evolution to gospel entertainment, and many others.
Read MoreADvindicate Forums: we're expanding the conversation
We're expanding the conversation by introducing ADvindicate Forums. Now readers can converse on more than just the articles. We've created some new forums for discussion, but we're also looking for suggestions, so if you have an idea for a new forum, leave a comment under the suggestions forum.
Read MoreThe Record Keeper may be shut down
Rumors are circulating "The Record Keeper" is being reviewed this week by a committee and could potentially be shut down. ADvindicate has made numerous calls to the Director Jason Sutterlund, Executive Producer and General Conference PR Director Garrett Caldwell and others at the General Conference, but with no reply.
Read MoreBoundaries and binaries
Most proponents of feminist ordination vigorously deny any connection between feminism and homosexuality. It is to them that I dedicate this article, because I believe it is clear that homosexuality and feminism share an ethical trajectory. Feel free to draw your own conclusions after reading.
Read MoreReactions to 'The Record Keeper' world premiere
The General Conference's new web series "The Record Keeper" had its world premiere October 4, 2013 during the Brighter Hope meetings at Emmanuel-Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ashton, Md. The series is scheduled to be released Feb. 13, 2014. The first two episodes will be released at the same time online, and then one per week after that, according to director Jason Satterland.
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