tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185725752024-03-07T19:04:54.471-06:00Quarterlife Girl...This blog started in 2006 as a conversation among friends. I would write about things that were important to me--from eating organic and living a more natural life, media literacy and my general observations about the world. Along the way, I became a mother of 3, moved to 3 different states, and left the Adventist church. There's no rhyme or reason to this blog, just my thoughts on the journey.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-68536305266143359192011-06-01T21:04:00.000-05:002011-06-01T21:04:29.120-05:0031 Days to Clean - Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started the <a href="http://31daystoclean.com/">31 Days to Clean</a> ebook today. I'm not crazy enough to think that I will be able to blog about the journey every day this month, but I wanted to share my first assignment. I was to write down exactly why I want a clean home. Here it is. I want my home to be clean because I want it to be:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhhDJGbVik-3-Aj9xLMgB0v5nE6a8SVUNX-mbO5sC6yMekgTiB0vshE98SOfnT6vJbaPAoExDZwMRH4iFtuHXGUszC5b1F-tHnP30evS0oQ6aGD_ohBr2qs5w11euTAhnQ1ue/s1600/31+DAYS+to+clean+assignment+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhhDJGbVik-3-Aj9xLMgB0v5nE6a8SVUNX-mbO5sC6yMekgTiB0vshE98SOfnT6vJbaPAoExDZwMRH4iFtuHXGUszC5b1F-tHnP30evS0oQ6aGD_ohBr2qs5w11euTAhnQ1ue/s320/31+DAYS+to+clean+assignment+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's assignment was easy. Tomorrow I have to wipe down the refrigerator and freezer. Ugh! I mean, Yeah!</div>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-2935185216470504622011-05-31T20:01:00.000-05:002011-05-31T20:01:09.374-05:00Recycling BLACK LATINA<i>I wrote this article in college and it was published in Hispanic Magazine in 1999--before blogs, before Facebook, before Twitter. Even still, it was widely circulated online, cited in several research papers and was even reprinted in a sociology textbook reader. I found it on someone's website today and thought I'd share and preserve it on my blog.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Black Latina<br />
</b><br />
<i>By Delina D. Pryce <br />
</i><br />
I always thought of former major-league baseball player Ruben Sierra as the sexiest man in the world. His dark, chocolaty skin, spicy Puerto Rican accent, and cocky attitude--together with his home runs and $6 million contract--always made for an enjoyable day at the ballpark.<br />
<br />
But during my monologue of praise, nothing dampened my mood quicker than hearing, "Ruben's not black; he's Puerto Rican." It was a grim reminder of the ignorance that I've had to deal with ever since I was old enough to fully understand the truth.<br />
<br />
If I received a dollar for every time I heard " You're not black you're Hispanic" or "You're not Hispanic your black." I'd be well on my way to equaling Ruben's small fortune. To a lot of people, and to the majority of the people I've met, "black" and "Latino" are mutually exclusive terms.<br />
<br />
Reality couldn't be further from the truth.<br />
<br />
Many people don't realize that slave ships dropped Africans off not only in the United States but also in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Blacks in this country share a common history with those in the Caribbean and Latin America. Yet, because historical circumstances have created a variety of cultures within the black community in the Americas, people, including blacks themselves, are quick to make distinctions.<br />
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It saddens me that those with an obviously African ancestry refuse to acknowledge it, clinging instead to a lone term, "Hispanic" or "Latino".<br />
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Being labeled "black" in the United States carries a heavy burden of stereotypes that many black Latinos would rather not deal with. In my view, if you're being followed in a store or beaten by the police, it doesn't really matter what you check on a census form. To a racist you're still a nigger.<br />
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Because I was born in Costa Rica, people want me to choose. "What are you?" they ask. When I was growing up, sometimes I'd check "Hispanic" sometimes I'd check "black" sometimes I'd check both. Administrators at my school I was told, didn't like that. It made their statistics a little less scientific.<br />
<br />
I was born in Costa Rica, moved to Mexico when I was two years old, and have been living in Texas for almost fourteen years. Yes, my upbringing was unlike most of my black friends in the States. Still, I am more like them than I'm like my Hispanic friends from various countries. We listen to the same music, enjoy the same churches, use the same hair stylists, and experience the same strain of racism. In a lot of ways it's easier for my black friends to comprehend that there is an African Diaspora. They see the fact that I speak Spanish as an asset ("Can you help me with my Spanish homework?"). If anything has been harder for me to explain to them, it's that I'm not "mixed with Hispanic."<br />
<br />
On the other hand, my Latino friends see my race as a liability. "You're not black, like the African Americans in the United States," one told me recently. It bothers me that to accept me they want to distance me from being black, which carries negative connotations in the Americas. Some even have the audacity to tell me why they despise "those black people."<br />
<br />
They even wait for me to agree.<br />
<br />
In Peru, blacks are still being used as ornamental images--chauffeurs, pallbearers, valets, and servants. In Brazil, blacks are considered marginal members of society. In countless other Latin American countries, blacks are shut out of government and positions of power. Television shows, news programs, and beauty magazines omit dark faces. The denial of racial diversity in the media, government and business is much like what the United States faced 30 years ago. "We are looking for ways to improve our self-esteem because the society conveys to blacks that we are nothing We want to let people know that we are not only there to cook and play football "[soccer]" said Piedad Cordoba de Castro, the first black woman to become senator in Colombia, in a 1995 <i>Dallas Morning News</i> article.<br />
<br />
This is why I think it is foolish for black Latinos to overlook their blackness and believe they are Hispanic like their countrymen of European ancestry." The effort to build a black consciousness movement in Latin America has been hobbled by the low level of racial identification among blacks," Cordoba de Castro said. A hierarchy exists within Latin American countries. Those of European ancestry are at the top and those of African heritage are at the bottom, one notch below indigenous people. Those of mixed race-mestizos (indigenous and Caucasian) and mulattos (indigenous and Negroid)--fall some where in between. Many blacks are eager to point out their Indian blood thus elevating themselves above black.<br />
<br />
I realize the inaccuracy and silliness of racial and ethnic categories in this day and age. Contrary to neo-Nazi belief, no one is really any one thing anymore. What still remains, inequality and power, all over the world, is defined and determined in racial terms. For this reason, racial identification should be used to unite and struggle together for equality.<br />
<br />
The stupidity of useless racial identification stems from the ignorance of racism. Black Latinos, who don't identify themselves as such, try to be exceptions to the rules and stereotypes that govern blacks. But racists don't care if you're bilingual and international. The very nature of prejudice does not allow for exceptions; it looks at group traits, not at individuals. Racism is prejudice combined with power. Until black Hispanics believe this, they will continue to be happily oppressed, and not even realize it (and even deny it).<br />
<br />
It's time to know and celebrate who you really are. I know black culture in Costa Rica. I know black culture in the United States. I also know they both stem from the same place. Being Latina and black are not mutually exclusive, but mutually complementary. Being black and Latina has influenced and shaped my views, my thoughts, my experiences--who I am.<br />
<br />
Never would I deny either because they're both me. And I like me.<br />
<br />
Why don't others agree?<br />
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Copyright (c) 1999 HISPANIC Magazine. All rights reserved.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-15224720667055966112011-04-09T01:43:00.000-05:002011-04-09T01:43:39.539-05:00"I will give you rest." - Jesus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When I was studying the life of Moses, I was struck how God would give Israel a real, tangible *thing* and then in the New Testament, hundreds of years later, Jesus was that *thing* in a spiritual sense.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Here are some examples:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><table id="internal-source-marker_0.7553156935609877" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"><colgroup><col width="394"></col><col width="199"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Old Testament shadow</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus reality</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Passover lamb- Exodus 12:43-50 (*verse 46)</span></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 19:33, 36</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus, the lamb of God - John 1:29</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Rock -- Exodus 33:12-23 (this one blew my mind...to see how we hide in Jesus, the Rock, to get a glimpse of God's glory).</span></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Psalm 19:14 - describes the Lord as our rock and our redeemer</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Water from the Rock- Exodus 17</span></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus - 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 -</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 4:10-15</span></span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Manna (bread from heaven)- Exodus 16</span></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jesus is the "true bread from heaven" - John 6:31, 32</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<br />
Finally, one life-changing day when a <a href="http://kerianderson.wordpress.com/">friend </a>encouraged me to read Colossians 2:16-17 and Hebrews 3 and 4. I finally *got* that the very real Sabbath was realized in the person of Jesus.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was free to stop working to be counted as righteous before the Father. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I could stop working to prove my loyalty to the Creator.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I could rest in Him and His finished work at the cross.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's something that I haven't been able to articulate to many people so they <i>get </i>it. The other day I was reading John 6:48 and I wondered, if it was written like this (see below), would my sabbatarian friends <i>get </i>what it means that Jesus is our rest? But first, let's read the real passage and context:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">John 6 (you've gotta read all this or you won't even get what I'm talking about)</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26248" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">26</sup> Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26249" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">27</sup> <span class="woj">But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26250" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">28</sup> They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26251" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">29</sup> Jesus told them, <span class="woj">“This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26252" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">30</sup> They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26253" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">31</sup> After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26254" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">32</sup> Jesus said, <span class="woj">“I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26255" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">33</sup> <span class="woj">The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26256" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">34</sup> “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26257" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">35</sup> Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26258" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">36</sup> <span class="woj">But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26259" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">37</sup> <span class="woj">However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26260" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">38</sup> <span class="woj">For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26261" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">39</sup> <span class="woj">And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26262" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">40</sup> <span class="woj">For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”</span></i></span><br />
<i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26263" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">41</sup> Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, <span class="woj">“I am the bread that came down from heaven.”</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26264" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">42</sup> They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26265" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">43</sup> But Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“Stop complaining about what I said.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26266" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">44</sup> <span class="woj">For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26267" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">45</sup> <span class="woj">As it is written in the Scriptures,<sup class="footnote" style="line-height: 0.5em;" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-26267i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206&version=NLT#fen-NLT-26267i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]</sup> ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26268" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">46</sup> <span class="woj">(Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26269" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">47</sup> <span class="woj">“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26270" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">48</sup> <span class="woj">Yes, I am the bread of life!</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26271" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">49</sup> <span class="woj">Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26272" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">50</sup> <span class="woj">Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26273" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">51</sup> <span class="woj">I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26274" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">52</sup> Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26275" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">53</sup> So Jesus said again, <span class="woj">“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26276" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">54</sup><span class="woj">But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26277" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">55</sup> <span class="woj">For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26278" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">56</sup> <span class="woj">Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26279" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">57</sup> <span class="woj">I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-26280" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">58</sup> <span class="woj">I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”</span></i></span><br />
<br />
Here's my adaptation of verses 48-51 (with Jesus' words from Matthew 11:28-30):<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Yes, I am the Sabbath-rest. Your ancestors kept the 7th day but they never stopped working under the law. </i><i>Anyone who comes to me, will find rest for their souls. I am the Sabbath-rest. Anyone who is weary and carries heavy burdens may find rest in me. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light."</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOOJzi5PhLJiuRokgZtp87kGBJRoMubMPYHr1F3SUXFUqqSJELXw9Eh8Y4L5D-3VgV9-A1Kj2PH5cXglLp-V7tK3E_GSnt08It2jt9ZgNuKjCe3VK85e8QAirquGb1GAck_QV/s1600/IMG_9467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOOJzi5PhLJiuRokgZtp87kGBJRoMubMPYHr1F3SUXFUqqSJELXw9Eh8Y4L5D-3VgV9-A1Kj2PH5cXglLp-V7tK3E_GSnt08It2jt9ZgNuKjCe3VK85e8QAirquGb1GAck_QV/s320/IMG_9467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I guess this is the same confusion and dilemma when we Former Adventist try to explain the Jesus reality of Sabbath. You can almost hear the crowd saying, <i>“How can this man give us rest?”</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"And besides...we LOOOOOOOVE Sabbath," they say.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No SDA will ever admit that the Sabbath is part of her salvation package. They love it. They see it as something they <i>want </i>to do.It's a much needed-respite from a hectic week. It's unthinkable to give it up. It's unthinkable to even <i>want </i>to give it up (<i>"Yeah, yeah, spiritual rest, Jesus, what I need is my day off! Keep your "bread from heaven," Jesus, we're huuuuuuungry!"</i>)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Plus, it's part of God's immutable law, isn't it?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Plus, what about the Sunday Laws?!!?!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And the persecution of Sabbath-keepers in the end times?!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As a born and raised SDA, I can honestly say that Sabbath-keeping is part love of fellowship and disconnecting and part fear. So you <b>work hard</b> to make sure the Sabbath is a delight and all conversations and activities are pleasing in His sight.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But how can a soul find rest when it's working (obligatorily resting) under the fear of condemnation?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How can a soul find rest when it's busy "guarding the edges of the Sabbath," convinced that this is how you're supposed to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?"</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus said then, and TODAY he says: <i><span class="woj">“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.</span> <span class="woj">Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.</span> </i><span class="woj"><i>For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)</i> </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="woj" style="font-family: inherit;">I've come to realize that phrases like "Jesus is our Sabbath rest" don't mean a hill of beans to my Adventist friends. "What about the Sabbath?" is the number one asked question when people learn about <a href="http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/proclamation/2011/1/faithstorya.html">our story of leaving Adventism.</a> I try to explain as succinctly as possible, but I sense that people don't leave with their questions answered, with any satisfaction that they just had a light-bulb moment.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes I wonder. Can you understand what it means to rest in Jesus, <i>before </i>you rest in Jesus? Or is it one of those things you do out of obedience, in faith, and <i>then </i>you grasp the reality?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My sincere prayer is that anyone who reads this will find rest in Him. <i>Soften their hearts Lord, in order to discover the beauty, the sanctity, the reality of rest in You. Amen. </i></span></div>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-40516721865401117922011-02-17T20:53:00.004-06:002011-04-30T18:54:31.945-05:00Jesus is our example?After you say to an Adventist, "Jesus was a Jew, that's why He kept the Sabbath," nine times out of ten they'll reply, "Jesus is our example." They say that to prove that we're supposed to keep the law...but not the whole law, just the 10 commandments, emphasis on the 4th ("as was His custom").<br />
<br />
I did a search and the only verse in the Bible that talks about Jesus being our example is 1 Peter 2:21-25.<br />
It begins, "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow his steps."<br />
<br />
It continues.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">"He never sinned,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> nor ever deceived anyone.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-30382" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">23</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">He did not retaliate when he was insulted,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> nor threaten revenge when he suffered.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> He left his case in the hands of God,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> who always judges fairly.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-30383" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">24</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">He personally carried our sins</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> in his body on the cross</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> so that we can be dead to sin</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> and live for what is right.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> By his wounds</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> you are healed.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-30384" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">25</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Once you were like sheep</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> who wandered away.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> But now you have turned to your Shepherd,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> the Guardian of your souls."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
This says nothing about keeping the law. There's no hint of the law in this passage.<br />
But I did take something valuable out of studying this. Even though I may "suffer" (through insults, personal attacks and strained relationships) for the things I say here and elsewhere as I push back against mis-characterizations of what the Bible says, I will continue to do good and allow Jesus to be my example by not retaliating when I'm insulted or threatening revenge.<br />
<br />
The truth is, because He is God, He kept the law perfectly. He is perfect.<br />
The truth is, His perfection is the reason why He was a worthy sacrifice (the spotless lamb that the law required) to atone for our sins and redeem us. He could not have sinned. He could not have broken the law. He was God -- the Spirit of God, wrapped in a human body. If, through His Spirit, we are empowered to keep the law perfectly, why not just send the Spirit and skip the bloody Cross?!<br />
<br />
In Deuteronomy it says: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us," and Romans 10:5 says "For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But no one ever got it right, it just made them realize their need for a Savior! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span>Christ died to make us right with God.<br />
<br />
Galatians 2:16-21 says:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, <b>not by obeying the law</b>. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. <b>For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.</b>”</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29058" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">17</sup> But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29059" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">18</sup> Rather, <b>I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down.</b> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29060" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">19</sup> For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—<b>I stopped trying to meet all its requirements</b>—so that I might live for God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29061" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">20</sup> My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29062" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">21</sup> I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. <b>For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was going to write something about the notion that the Holy Spirit is given to empower us to keep the law. If anyone has a text to back that up, please share. In the meantime, I think the above text addresses that as well. The contrast is living under the law vs. living by the Spirit (See 2 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews and Romans and Galatians and Ephesians). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you think that the Spirit motivates you to keep the Mosaic law, please comment below and tell me when was the last time the Spirit asked you to attach gold bells to the hem of your clothing (Exodus 28:33).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you think that the law is separated into moral and ceremonial (the 10C being moral), please explain to me how the the texts below (not found in the 10C) are ceremonial.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Exodus 22:21 - "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way."</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Leviticus 19:16 - "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people."</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Deuteronomy 24:14 - "Never take advantage of poor or destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses," Galatians 5:18.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you think that living by the Spirit and doing away with the law, saying that it's obsolete, gone away, done away with and nailed to the Cross means that it's okay for born-again believers to steal, kill and commit adultery, then you need to check your definition of Spirit. Clearly, we're talking about two different spirits. Keep reading in Galatians 5 if you want to see what it looks like to walk in the Spirit.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When you see Jesus as merely your example, you reduce Him down to be the self-help guru. Emphasis on this overshadows His purpose and His plan to be our sacrificial Lamb, our sinless, spotless sacrifice, whose sacrifice on the Cross saved those who believe and cleansed our sins (past, present AND future), once and for all. (That's the Gospel, by the way.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You've got to sit down, study this stuff, recognize the assumptions you're making and weigh those assumptions with the TRUTH found in the Word.</span><br />
<br />
Question:<br />
What does the Bible mean when it calls Jesus our example?dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-45993615395978237082011-02-13T13:22:00.000-06:002011-02-13T13:22:19.467-06:00Just ask!Since leaving Adventism, I've found a strange silence and awkward moments with friends and family. It seems like people don't know how to act or whether they are free to ask questions. Nobody wants to bring up the touchy subject of religion. Others have heard strange rumors or made stranger assumptions about why we left and what our beliefs are now.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LaapLGgJ6h91Yf3UynUcO6aLWiSZV7GV6mppUYFFMjNF_LMtrE4jx-06bwTg63OWw6I3Gl0LYTEicLI4597Ze5Tms1vyj7gfkkbWDIwagm8CJTgJ08puDt40NhL-4JW-3pSO/s1600/questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LaapLGgJ6h91Yf3UynUcO6aLWiSZV7GV6mppUYFFMjNF_LMtrE4jx-06bwTg63OWw6I3Gl0LYTEicLI4597Ze5Tms1vyj7gfkkbWDIwagm8CJTgJ08puDt40NhL-4JW-3pSO/s320/questions.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's all totally unnecessary awkwardness and confusion. If you have a question, if you're wondering "what happened!?" Just ask! If you're wondering if we go to church or if we keep Sabbath or if we still believe in God (yes, some have wondered), just ask!<br />
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Seriously. There's nothing awry here. There's no juicy story. We have nothing to hide or anything to be ashamed of. We welcome your questions. No need to assume things or feel shy about asking. Accept this as an open invitation to JUST ASK.<br />
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Oh and one more thing. You don't have to ask "publicly" (on this blog or on Facebook). You can send us an email or text or tweet or even drop by (just call first so I can straighten up a little).dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-88982255906349122962011-01-17T07:19:00.000-06:002011-01-17T07:42:10.382-06:00Help my friend bring her son home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBszv8Pr-4pe2l_4fCsnE4z05hn2Uvmvi-4SJZwkMGuWLyGWtzyYunT7UI6W81r9wc20lUjqqkH9A05J1Nf7Sl3zatiG3fDxMzETHWhvAGlz9UQgD5aG-mQqp-rXt92vgQkwK4A/s187/profile+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBszv8Pr-4pe2l_4fCsnE4z05hn2Uvmvi-4SJZwkMGuWLyGWtzyYunT7UI6W81r9wc20lUjqqkH9A05J1Nf7Sl3zatiG3fDxMzETHWhvAGlz9UQgD5aG-mQqp-rXt92vgQkwK4A/s187/profile+pic.jpg" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px;">I met <a href="http://peoplesonline.blogspot.com/">Sandra </a>through a blog I used to be involved with for young pastor's wives. She's a pastor's wife and she blogs all over the Internet. We've stayed in touch since that first time I interviewed her and like to exchange thoughts on books we're reading and life in general. The woman is smart and funny, a great writer and a godly wife and mother. What has moved me the most though, is her commitment to brining her son, a son she's never met, home. Her family is adopting a toddler from Ethiopia. They've been fundraising for some months and this BUSY stay-at-home mom has even taken on a part-time job in retail for the extra cash it will add to the adoption fund. It's awesome to see how much they love their son already and how much he's already part of their family. I asked Sondra to share some of their journey to adoption, but if you want to skip that, and just donate ANYTHING...even $5 will help, click <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=H8WDt6NSF8b8cNkaslGLQBDet84tJc09bJKKBR3p6SIoJCtvFWbrhZ9s9Eq&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d9384d85353843a619606282818e091d0">here</a>.</span><br />
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<b>Tell us your journey to adoption. When and why did you decide to adopt?</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;">My husband Lee and I talked about adoption before we were even married. Our plan was to "have a couple kids, adopt a couple kids." We were married in 2003, had our first son in 2005 and our second son in 2007. At the end of 2009 we were trying to get pregnant again. It took longer than it had ever taken before. We talked and prayed about what to do. In early 2010 we were watching the TV show "The Office" where Pam had her baby. Lee looked at me and asked, "Are you ready for all that again?" and I surprised him by saying, "No." He asked if I was ready to look into the adoption process and I said yes! It's a funny way to officially start, but it's true!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;">Why did you pursue an international (vs. domestic) adoption and why Ethiopia?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;">Our #1 reason for wanting to adopt internationally was exposure to the gospel. To think that there are children out there who will likely die without hearing about Christ broke (and continues to break) our hearts. The more we researched other countries, the more we were drawn to Ethiopia. We read stats like these: there are more than 5 million orphans in Ethiopia and one-tenth of Ethiopian orphans will die before their first birthday, one-sixth will die before their 5th birthday. Even if they survive, education and medical care are not up to the standards they are for children in the foster care system in the US. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;">What do you know about your new son already? When do you expect to bring him home?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYvSeq8r8b4pyXTEzN8ALRVIVEC64ks02juSihq0hd4BrzqFsNUkgzISAenH2SNT1qLoa-scEqrlA4PoAHXCQeooDHL20wYItvCf6gZlJU_BQ9vVfdwM59fwlDCkE2t5RO5S3/s150/may+10+213+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYvSeq8r8b4pyXTEzN8ALRVIVEC64ks02juSihq0hd4BrzqFsNUkgzISAenH2SNT1qLoa-scEqrlA4PoAHXCQeooDHL20wYItvCf6gZlJU_BQ9vVfdwM59fwlDCkE2t5RO5S3/s150/may+10+213+(2).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peoples Family (-1)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;">We know nothing about our child specifically at this time. We are able to ask for certain parameters- like he will be between 12 months and 36 months old (our agency only places children into forever families if the child is at least 10 months younger than their youngest child, this isn't true of all agencies). We have chosen the name "Joel" for him to help us picture him in our minds and be able to pray specifically for him. We are currently finishing up our dossier (lots of paper work!) and hope to be on the wait list in the next few months. The expected wait time (currently for our specific agency) is 9-12 months for a toddler boy. When our number is up on the wait list, they will send us pictures and information about a child who needs a family. We can choose him or wait for another child. We are praying for a referral by next Christmas!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;">What are some God-things you've learned/experienced in this process?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;">Hmmm... where to start? First, that God is truly a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). He sees my son right now even though he's half a world away. He loves Joel more than I can comprehend and is preparing him for us as He prepares us for him. I've also learned God is not a dead-beat dad. He will provide. When we were accepted into the adoption program there was a stipulation--we had to raise $15,000 in 90 days. My husband is a pastor and I'm a stay-at-home mom. We didn't have $15,000. Some people may have seen that as a closed door. We saw it as an opportunity for God to show His power. About 60 days into our fundraising, our agency called again and said social services had changed their minds and we only had to have $7,000! God had already supplied that amount! I do want to point out that during that time we prayed for faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego--they told the king that God was able to save them, but even if He didn't, they would still worship Him (Daniel 3:17-18). </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;">What advice/encouragement would you give to someone who'd like to begin the process?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.6px; font-weight: normal;">My advice is to obey God. He calls us all to care for widows and orphans. How we do that may be different, but we should all be doing it. I believe many more Christians should be adopting. I believe Christians who aren't adopting should be supporting those who are. There are reportedly 146 million orphans in our world. We can all do something to help! I hope our story shows that you don't already have to have thousands in the bank to start the process. Just be faithful! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Got $20 to spare? Can you skip buying your latte for a couple of days and donate the cash to their adoption fund? I ENCOURAGE you to just do it. Just <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=bWbKXhpmOhLg6oGqQY1fNwmtqhR0Sit8vEEP3vjw2m3cAlsYe2blGowzSxa&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d9384d85353843a619606282818e091d0">click</a>, give and pray for Joel to come home to his family soon.</i></span>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-80753952441548245322010-10-26T22:34:00.000-05:002011-01-04T17:05:06.522-06:00Daddy's coming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iMfT9RmJab_g7VnplvPS7Z4dBfo7YtXuHfl9TZWZDCzkA1_MCWSvEOW-l3byf7B4rT8gZEfN6wC6Lc0_rxF1CW2lE7sI8I2Q_76TKrqYHKwswgYXHTpWghi3N4JmkX0hGb3j/s1600/dramatic+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="1195" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iMfT9RmJab_g7VnplvPS7Z4dBfo7YtXuHfl9TZWZDCzkA1_MCWSvEOW-l3byf7B4rT8gZEfN6wC6Lc0_rxF1CW2lE7sI8I2Q_76TKrqYHKwswgYXHTpWghi3N4JmkX0hGb3j/s320/dramatic+sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ben always calls from wherever he is to say he's on his way home. One day, when our son was a baby, I said to him, "Daddy's coming! Daddy's coming!" And it struck me, that that is how I feel about Jesus' soon return. Expectant. Excited. Relieved. At ease. Safe.<br />
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But it wasn't always this way.<br />
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Growing up Adventist the feeling was more like the proverbial warning, "Just WAIT 'til your father gets here!" or the rush to "hurry up and clean up! Daddy is on his way!"<br />
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The song (by the Heralds) was a solemn warning, not a jubilant hymn of praise and expectation.<br />
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"The Lord is coming, are you ready?<br />
The Lord is coming, are you ready?<br />
Would your heart be right, if He came tonight?<br />
The Lord is coming, are you ready?"<br />
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So here I am, growing up, observing people. Picture with me the holiest lady in church. She opens her mouth and she's usually saying something about "if" when she talks about her salvation. "If I remain faithful," "If the Lord is willing," "If I don't stay close to Him, I may not make it up there."<br />
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My thoughts: "If this lady who has lived 80 years going to church every time the church doors open, eating vegan, handing out tracts at the bus stop, living an above-and-beyond pious, humble, unenviable life, is still wondering, at age 89, if she will be fit for heaven, then I will never make it. Cause I ain't her and I will never be her."<br />
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I was assured that you didn't have to be "like that" to make it to heaven, but yet her answer to "The Lord is coming, are you ready," is still, "I don't know." If she can't know, how could I ever know?<br />
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But now I know. Am I ready? Heck yeah!<br />
Are you kidding me? Ready to see my Savior face to face? To worship Him LIVE? To be in awe of Him? To see who I've been talking to all this time? To thank Him for ordering my life so that I could be the wife of Ben McPhaull and the mother of Maxton, Maxwelle and Maxine? Are you kidding me? Yeah, I'm ready! (And it's not because I think I'm good enough, btw).<br />
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That day fills me with hope and if I don't live to see it, I'll get to be in His presence even sooner! (Philippians 1)<br />
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But back to the "Are you ready?" message. Even though Adventists will NEVER admit that they preach salvation by works, the whole concept of "Are you ready?" denotes exactly that. (It begs the question, "What do I need to do to be ready?") This approach is often used by SDA evangelists to induce feelings of inadequacy in their members and even in Christians who may be attending their meetings. (This question is irrelevant to the unchurched, un-Christian who neither knows Jesus nor cares if He's coming, much less if he is ready.)<br />
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If you ask an SDA what it takes to "be ready," you'll probably hear some variation of "Accept Jesus as your Savior and keep the 10 commandments (including the 4th). If you sin (defined as not keeping the 10 commandments) you must ask for forgiveness."<br />
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The Bible says (emphases mine): <span class="woj"><br />
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<blockquote><span class="woj"><br />
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me HAVE eternal life. They will NEVER be condemned for their sins, but they have ALREADY passed from death into life." - John 5:24</span><br />
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<sup>35</sup> Jesus replied, “I am the bread <span class="il">of</span> life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. <sup>36</sup> But <span class="il">you</span> haven’t believed in me even though <span class="il">you</span> have seen me. <sup>37</sup> However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will NEVER reject them. <sup>38</sup> For I have come down from heaven to do the will <span class="il">of</span> God who sent me, not to do my own will. <sup>39</sup> And this is the will <span class="il">of</span> God, that I should NOT LOSE even one <span class="il">of</span> all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. <sup>40</sup> For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and BELIEVE IN HIM should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” - John 6:35-40.<br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29197">8</sup> God SAVED YOU by his grace WHEN YOU BELIEVED. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-29198">9</sup> Salvation is NOT A REWARD for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. - Ephesians 2:8,9<br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-27973">21</sup> But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-27974">22</sup> We are MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY PLACING OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-27975">23</sup> For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-27976">24</sup> Yet God, with undeserved kindness, DECLARES THAT WE ARE RIGHTEOUS. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-27977">25</sup> For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. PEOPLE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD WHEN THEY BELIEVE that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-27978">26</sup> for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and HE DECLARES SINNERS TO BE RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT WHEN THEY BELIEVE IN JESUS. -Romans 3:21-26<br />
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Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28104">2</sup>because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:1,2</blockquote><br />
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I have friends who think the Investigative Judgment is some theological concept debated by theologians and pastors. It's way over their heads, out of their realm of interest and above their pay grade. Believing it has no implications in their everyday spiritual lives, they dismiss any challenges to it, yet keep believing it. This whole post is a living-color example of how this belief plays out in every day life. And I didn't make it up all in my head. To be fair, no SDA would deny the texts above, yet they simultaneously believe and internalize what Ellen G. White wrote in the Great Controversy. She spells it all out. Check it. (emphases mine)<br />
<ul><li> Every man's work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are<span style="font-weight: bold;"> chronicled by the recording angel.</span> <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment.</span></li>
<li>Those who in the judgment are <span style="font-weight: bold;">"accounted worthy"</span> will have a part in the resurrection of the just.</li>
<li>As the books of record are opened in the judgment,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> the lives of all who have believed on Jesus</span> come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance. </span></li>
<li>All who have <span style="font-weight: bold;">truly repented</span> of sin, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> by faith <span style="font-weight: bold;">claimed the blood of Christ</span> as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; <span style="font-weight: bold;">as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. </span></li>
<li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God.</span> He may have committed his evil deeds in the light of day or in the darkness of night; but they were open and manifest before Him with whom we have to do. Angels of God witnessed each sin and registered it in the unerring records. Sin may be concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates; no one but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong; but it is laid bare before the intelligences of heaven. The darkness of the darkest night, the secrecy of all deceptive arts, is not sufficient to veil one thought from the knowledge of the Eternal. God has an exact record of every unjust account and every unfair dealing. He is not deceived by appearances of piety. He makes no mistakes in His estimation of character. Men may be deceived by those who are corrupt in heart, but God pierces all disguises and reads the inner life. <br />
How solemn is the thought! Day after day, passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for the books of heaven. Words once spoken, deeds once done, can never be recalled. Angels have registered both the good and the evil. The mightiest conqueror upon the earth cannot call back the record of even a single day. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or woe. Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn.</span>(<span style="font-style: italic;">All quotes taken from Great Controversy chapter titled, "<a href="http://www.greatcontroversy.org/books/gc/gc28.html" linkindex="1196">Facing Life's Record</a>."</span>)</li>
</ul>It's no wonder the senile old lady wasn't sure if she was going to make it! What if she forgot to confess one sin?<br />
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Do you sometimes wonder if you WILL be saved?<br />
Do you ever think about what else you need to change or improve in order to be ready?<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
Are you secure that you're good enough and "safe to save."<br />
<br />
Neither of these positions is biblical.<br />
<br />
When you accept Jesus as your Savior, it's a done deal. You can KNOW you are saved. There's no UNDO button. His blood covers ALL of your sins, past, present and future, not just the ones for which you remembered to ask forgiveness.<br />
<br />
None of your righteous deeds can add to what Jesus did on the Cross or better secure or insure your salvation. It's all Jesus. He calls. He draws. He saves. He keeps. He comes back. He gets the glory.<br />
<br />
Believe it. Are you ready?dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-18167090306723016482010-09-03T19:00:00.000-05:002010-09-03T19:00:03.459-05:00I'm a Christ-follower who attends a Baptist church<font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">It's been almost 2 months since we attended our the New Member class at our new church. It's a Baptist church. To become members, we didn't have to raise our right hand and take a vow. We didn't have to sign anything saying that we're now Baptists. And we don't even have to get baptized again (unless we choose to be).</font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">If you're SDA, it's probably hard to understand that you can be "just a Christian" and attend any Christian church. Other denominations don't require you to take an oath that you believe in their distinctives in order to become a member or be baptized.<br /><br />There are several reasons why we decided on our particular church, and I'll blog about those specifics at another time. But the main thing we love about our church is the exegetical, verse-by-verse preaching of the Bible. And that's a major reason <a href="http://www.fbcburleson.com/">why we are where we are</a>.</font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Adventist evangelist, Mark Finley, teaches that Adventism takes the "gems of truth" from all denominations and puts it in one denomination, SDA. No matter what you think about Mark Finley, or traditional SDA evangelism, this is something that most SDAs believe.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">As an Adventist, it boggled my mind how my best friend's mother, who grew up Episcopalian, ended up raising Caroline in a Baptist church. One day I asked how they ended up being members of that church for 20+ years. Her answer? "Because it was right down the street." Back then, I didn't understand how you could switch denominations like that. I thought every denomination was as different from each other as Adventism is from, say, Baptists. It was unthinkable to choose membership in a different denomination's church on the basis of proximity.<br /><br />So, after Ben resigned from his position as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor and we left the Adventist church, we set out on the quest to join a local church. But we didn't get on a quest to examine every denomination's version of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs (as if every denomination had one).<br /></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br />We realized that we could be could be simply, "Christian" and worship at a Christian church, regardless of denomination. We could be part of the capital C church--the Body of Christ. Though previously we thought that as Adventists we held the basic beliefs of Christianity in common with other denominations, the more we studied, the more we realized that the gospel preached and proclaimed by the Adventist church is another gospel. The worldview of an Adventist is not a biblical worldview. Plain and simple.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Among the core, foundational beliefs that are central to Christianity and not found in Adventism: </font></div><div><ul><li><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoratative and inerrant Word of God and is the final authority of matters of faith and practice.</font></li><li><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Salvation comes through Christ alone (the receiving and the keeping of it)</font></li><li><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross was complete and enough to save us and keep us saved</font></li></ul></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Evangelical Christian churches (regardless of denomination) believe in these tenets. It's why, as Christ-followers, we have the freedom to attend any of these Bible-preaching churches, whether it's a Baptist, Evangelical Free, Presbyterian, Bible or non-denominational church. As an Adventist, I totally didn't get this.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">The differences in denominations (and even within denominations) are of secondary importance. Things like eschatology, predestination and free will. It's not over issues that divide "the Body." To join a church, you don't have to agree with everything. My friend, Colleen Tinker (editor of </font><i><a href="http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/proclamationmag.html"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Proclamation </font></a></i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">magazine) explains it this way:</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="medium" style=" "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"> "A</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="medium"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">s long as the church holds to an orthodox statement of faith: the Trinity, the centrality of the cross, and the inerrancy and necessity of Scripture as the source of teaching and spiritual growth. If those are there, we can have fellowship, and we can learn to live by the Spirit as we rub shoulders [with those with whom we disagree with on the secondary issues]."</font></font></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">There is belief propagated in Adventism that all of these different denominations are claiming to be the "one true church" or that they are all in competition with each other. The reality is that these different Christian denominations consider each other to all be part of the body of Christ and consider it their shared mission to share the Gospel with the world, love and serve. </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">As a matter of fact, when we first arrived to Texas, we visited a Bible Church. The pastors and their wives and the members were extremely welcoming and gracious and hospitable. We enjoyed the service and the people we met. Everything was right, except we preferred to be in a church that had a more formal curriculum for children under 4. This particular church had a different philosophy about how to teach young children. We shared our concerns and one of the pastors recommended that we try the Baptist church in town because their approach to Sunday school sounded like what we were looking for. A Bible church referred potential members to a Baptist church. Did you catch that? </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">Many of our friends have asked, "So, what are you now?"</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'"><br /></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'lucida grande'">"Christian," I answer. We are Christ-followers who have found a fellowship of believers in a Baptist church where we can worship together and grow in the Word. It's that simple.</font></div></div></div></div>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-45682772865391168722010-09-03T16:58:00.000-05:002010-09-03T17:12:51.010-05:0015,921,408 minus 2According to Seventh-day Adventist church <a href="http://www.adventist.org/world-church/facts-and-figures/index.html">statistics</a>, the membership stands at 15,921,408. Ben and I sent our membership removal letter this week, so soon, that number will stand at 15,921,406. Here's the letter:<br /><br />August 30, 2010<br /><br />Pastor ***** **********<br />Valley Crossroads SDA Church<br />11350 Glenoaks Boulevard<br />Pacoima, CA 91331<br /><br />Dear Pastor *********,<br /><br />We respectfully request that our membership be removed from the records of the Valley Crossroads Seventh-day Adventist Church and also removed from any and all the records of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination (including mailing lists).. <br /><br />We were truly blessed by the contacts and friendships we made during our time at Valley Crossroads. Please be assured that this decision is not based on any ill-treatment, negative experiences, crisis of faith or inappropriate behavior. We’ve simply chosen to trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and believe the Bible to be our sole and final authority. <br /><br />As outlined in my letter of resignation as pastor in the Southern California Conference, we do not believe that Scripture supports:<br />• The Mission of the Church (3 Angels’ Messages)<br />• The SDA Church is the remnant church (Fundamental Belief #13)<br />• Investigative Judgment/Pre-Advent Judgment (Fundamental Belief #24)<br />• Ellen G. White is a messenger of God (Fundamental Belief #18)<br />• Sabbath is the seal of God<br />• The Great Controversy worldview (Fundamental Belief #8)<br /><br />Please be clear that this decision is not personal. Though we can no longer be a part of this denomination, we love the people of Valley Crossroads and will always cherish the time we had together.<br /><br />To avoid any misunderstandings regarding this request, we will be sharing this letter online. Please provide us with written confirmation that this request has been voted/granted. <br /><br />We continue to pray for the people of Valley Crossroads as you sincerely seek the Lord through His Word.<br /><br />For His Glory,<br /><br /><br />Pastor Benjamin McPhaull<br /><br /><br />Delina Pryce McPhaulldpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-6560517797946961322010-05-15T12:50:00.000-05:002010-05-15T12:51:04.163-05:00Do you know what the Bible says?<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzM5NDU2NjAxNTYmcHQ9MTI3Mzk*NTcxNzAxNSZwPTE2MTYwMSZkPXd3dy5xdWliYmxvLmNvbSZnPTEmbz*2OTI1/ZWU3ZjBiYWI*ZDM4OTcwNTcwNWRlYTA1NzMyZCZvZj*w.gif" /><div align="center"> <object width="300" height="400" wmode="transparent" data="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=b-NbomR" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=b-NbomR"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><br /><param name="allownetworking" value="all"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="ffffff"><br /></object> <br> <font size="1"> <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/">Quizzes</a> by <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/b-NbomR/Biblical-Literacy-Quiz">Quibblo.com</a></font> </div>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-61271300596303096112009-12-13T13:30:00.000-06:002009-12-13T17:53:43.455-06:00All four verses!Caroline commanded me not to call her asking to say her verses. Cathy says she's going to call me on Monday with her verses. Becky...well, Becky is in my video, but she ain't saying verses. Virginah said she thought we were on vacation from verse memorization. Latoya well, her and Eugene Peterson (<span style="font-style:italic;">The Message</span>)are still trying to work on their New Bahamian Living Translation. <br /><br />Here's my video with all four verses. Really, really try to look past the hair.<br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/0mzpn3kla0o1" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/0mzpn3kla0o1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br />Here's Marlene with hers.<br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/foq55na6uzc2" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/foq55na6uzc2"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br />In your inbox you'll find the next verse chosen by Becky.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-8852456648612330752009-12-01T08:55:00.001-06:002009-12-01T09:07:53.214-06:00Latoya emerges AKA don't try this at homeLatoya has emerged and sent in her video for the Isaiah passage. Let's just say she chose to memorize the New Bahamian Paraphrase. LOL! A for effort Latoya! Can't wait to hear your 4-verse rendition.<br /><br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/7nvkem96wu22" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/7nvkem96wu22"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-40523621946978435082009-11-27T19:40:00.001-06:002009-11-28T09:22:10.587-06:00Isaiah 40: 28-31I was in the middle of a 22-hour stretch of no sleep, due mostly to the fact that I had been up getting ready for a friend's birthday party. Virginiah (she's part of this memorization thing too) texted and said something to the effect of... "I know he gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless, but I'm sure you would settle for just a nap." Ain't that the truth. "Don't want to soar, run or walk right now," I wrote.<br /><br />Anyway, I got to talk to most of you today (Latoya is missing in action). I wish, oh, I would pay MONEY to have a tape of Cathy's memorization song. It was a classic. The next person I spoke with was Caroline, she admitted to learning the first part as a rap, which she demonstrated. Sorry, don't have that on tape either.<br /><br />But here's Becky doing her verse. I think you'll love her:<br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/dvozw24zs03x" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/dvozw24zs03x"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br />And here's Marlene:<br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/42odgi9zm0ek" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/42odgi9zm0ek"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br />And me. I didn't quite have it down until the final hour. There is a question for you to answer at the end of my video, so watch the whole thing, or forward it to the end.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_jkvrF47-aMtPNNU05Cn3WEwXMa8_0bjTB6-ELhW2SL4it05sgNXthqfWFioc3bhimbTX5Pr7ZUs' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />And since singing seems to be the theme of this round of memorization, here's a related song. In our home, this song plays often. I first heard it at a Beth Moore event and love it. Now I love it even more. And yes, we listen to this style of praise music in our home. Thanks. Listen to it while you write your insightful answer to my question...<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jP2nz6PG8KM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jP2nz6PG8KM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-38331787142447215312009-11-24T18:13:00.000-06:002009-11-24T19:22:13.077-06:00how i memorize<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L5w4SGCfxNw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L5w4SGCfxNw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />How do you memorize?dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-61787298155329542542009-11-13T16:39:00.000-06:002009-11-13T18:18:27.904-06:00James 1:12-15Here's Caroline on why she chose the passage: (note--at the beginning, she recites all 3 verses that we've done.)<br /><br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/p2m7ho7lj5qj" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/p2m7ho7lj5qj"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br />When you were memorizing this week, did you think about instances in your life, where a temptation, stemming from a desire in your heart, led to sinful actions?<br />What are some of your desires that tempt you to do wrong?<br />And what do you think is the difference between being tempted and being tested?<br />Just some things to think about...<br /><br />Here's Marlene doing her verse:<br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/gcftxsfqujq2" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/gcftxsfqujq2"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br />Here I am doing my verse (with Maxine in tow).<br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/jta5t169imzt" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/jta5t169imzt"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">James 1:12-15</span> (NLT)<br />God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-77491810698508144722009-10-30T10:12:00.001-05:002009-10-30T22:27:15.460-05:00Matthew 6:25-27First, a here's Marlene on why she chose this passage:<br /><br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/n39dffv0z2qm" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/n39dffv0z2qm"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I memorized the NLT again, and started with verse 24 'cause I couldn't just start with "That is why... ." My mind kept asking the question, "WHAT is why?" So I went back to read why we shouldn't worry about everyday life when we're serving God. As I read on (though I didn't memorize the rest) I was struck by verse 32 that says "<span class="woj" style="">These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers...."</span> So, if I'm worrying about these things, then I'm acting like someone who doesn't know God. Wow!<br /><br /><div><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/d6xk4j1y66iy" width="425" height="319"><param name="movie" value="http://www.tokbox.com/vp/d6xk4j1y66iy"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></div><a href="http://www.tokbox.com/"><br /></a><span class="woj" style="">“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">your worries add a single moment to your life? (NLT)</span>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-2783583783867857412009-10-16T08:34:00.000-05:002009-10-16T09:29:19.970-05:005 years ago, I vowed<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhpIKjh3jS5JDD9cUBk8ooBoZ65D0lH-ZEdF-J6sDc67riKZBA9AnSwEYC9udZEM3wrY_ltjgn5wU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Five years ago, tomorrow. This video gets more fun to watch as the years go by. And what a blast to watch it with Maxton!<br /><br />Marriage has been a true blessing for me, due in no small part to the fact that I'm married to Benjamin McPhaull....who frustrates me, challenges me, loves me, teaches me and holds me accountable. I can't think of anything better than getting to do life with this guy. I look forward to our future --- ministry, parenting and living. We've been through enough drama to be secure that when times get rough, we lean on each other and grow stronger together. What joy there is in knowing THAT. It's the kind of thing that lets you sleep soundly...oh wait, we have 2 newborns...sleeping soundly is not an option.<br /><br />This weekend, I'm reminding myself of our vows. I want to be a better wife, a true life partner, encourager, supporter, lover and friend. Here's to 50 more years, Ben.<br /><br />What I vowed then, what I vow today:<br /><br />I, Delina, rejoice in the opportunity to be your wife<br />and choose you, Benjamin as my husband<br /><br />I accept you as you are and receive you as God’s gift to me.<br />I promise to love you as Christ loves you<br />And to forgive you as He forgives me<br /><br />I acknowledge my weakness before you<br />And vow to continually look to God for strength,<br />As I place your needs above my own<br /><br />I promise to trust and follow you, as you follow God<br />so together we can build a home that glorifies Him<br /><br />I promise to keep myself open to you,<br />revealing my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.<br />I will unfailingly share and support your hopes and aspirations.<br /><br />When you fall, I will catch you.<br />When you laugh, I will share your joy.<br />When you cry, I will comfort you.<br /><br />And in those difficult times<br />I will remember this moment and the love that brought us here.<br /><br />I will love you and you alone<br />Unconditionally<br />Limitlessly<br />Completely<br />As long as I livedpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-795794111251803642009-10-16T07:30:00.000-05:002009-10-16T08:34:23.510-05:00Romans 8:38, 39Ladies,<br />I'm really excited about memorizing Scripture with you guys. I know that it never feels like there are enough hours in the day and in-depth Bible study often gets pushed to the side. We've gotta find ways to stay in the Word though. Hopefully this will be a start and will ignite an unquenchable thirst for more of God and His word in all of our lives.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Romans 8:38, 39 (NLT)<br />And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5T2cU-P0iysGO5OBNT19fus0OpWGpshhU6QQ_-w4FdKS1CwuSEZooMo0LcYvzX1IezHV0VoI6cwc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*sorry for the video quality... it's like a kung-fu movie! Just close your eyes and listen. There's nothing to watch, really.... and whoops! Looks like I didn't do it word for word... Will do better next time.</span></span>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-6482121453293188182009-10-06T02:08:00.000-05:002009-10-06T02:11:36.419-05:00FIND YOUR STRONGEST LIFE book review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://brb.thomasnelson.com/art/_200_350_Book.88.cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 301px;" src="http://brb.thomasnelson.com/art/_200_350_Book.88.cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A note: I am a Thomas Nelson book review blogger and got this book free, in exchange for a review posted on my blog.<br /><br />When I first got the book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Find Your Strongest Life</span>, my first thought was, what’s so Christian about it and why is Thomas Nelson publishing it. I even twittered the question and @ThomasNelson wrote me back saying: “we publish all kinds of books that are from a Christian worldview, some aren't overtly Christian subjects.”<br />I continued reading with this in mind, but in the end, I still feel the same way. This book is decisively NOT from a Christian worldview. It’s not offering anything different, as a solution, than “the world” has to offer (and you have to wonder if the author did, would he be promoted by Oprah?).<br />The book is good and smart if you want more of the same --- a self-led checklist of how to improve your life and be more satisfied. In its defense, it does concentrate on a person’s unique gifts but it still doesn’t include your Creator’s role in your quest for satisfaction. It’s just another book to teach you how to attain the goals that the world has defined for you. The book is targeted to women, and doesn’t question the feminist values that women have grown up with and evaluate those values and goals from a biblical perspective. That’s what I would expect from a book about finding your strongest life published by a Christian publisher.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-54796741018811359312009-09-08T03:02:00.000-05:002009-09-08T03:40:36.253-05:00Fearless book review<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ih_L7w0-_p4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ih_L7w0-_p4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I was sorta dreading reading Fearless, the new Max Lucado book because after having read several of his books in the past, his writing style gets old. I start wondering if his style is computer-generated with all the similes and metaphors. Too much of a good thing...<br /><br />Anyway, I went into the book thinking that I'm not really a person who operates out of fear. But as I finished each chapter, I was able to see how applicable his fear solutions are for my life.<br /><br />The book is more of a collection of stand-alone chapters that would work fabulously as devotionals. There are some amazing concepts and illustrations. The stories will intrigue you. The thoughts will make you think. The challenge to live faith-fully vs. fearfully will motivate you.<br /><br />Lucado tackles fears surrounding loss of things/money, death, calamity, worry, the future and overwhelming challenges. I especially enjoyed the chapter about surrendering your kids to Christ. He helps you see how silly it is to try to live the safe life and do everything in our power to guard against every worst-case scenario. I was surprised at how much the Bible had to say directly about not being afraid!<br /><br />Though the book is a fast read In order for the truths in this book to soak in, this book is best read methodically, answering the questions in the included discussion guide. Read slowly and with intention to apply the principles and concepts, this book has the potential to be life-changing. Great devotional book. It's also one that would would be good for discussion with a prayer partner or small group. Get this book.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-72205602975738452012009-07-10T12:50:00.001-05:002009-07-10T12:50:50.906-05:00my workshop for nursesI'm not a nurse, but in the last 2 years I've had to deal with so many of them (as a patient) that I think they could learn a lot from a patient's perspective. My workshop for nurses in the field and nurses-in-training would be an overview of these lessons:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />If you hate your job, your co-workers, your hospital, the doctors and the patients annoy you, please, please find another line of work.</span> Or at the very least, keep your attitude in check and out of your patient's room. Don't argue with other nurses in the presence of the patient or bring your disgruntled-ness into a patient's room. Believe it or not, your mood does affect the patient's experience, it affects the way you do your job, the way you interpret data, the way you communicate with the other staff about the patient and his/her needs. Get a grip. It matters.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't assume that every patient believes like you do</span>. Don't assume that every woman wants an epidural. Don't assume that every woman is comfortable with a c-section. Instead of saying..."are you going to try to attempt a vaginal delivery," how about asking, what are your plans for delivery? I make it a point to answer the former question with, "No, I'm not going to "try to attempt," I'm going to do it!" Sure would be nice to get encouragement instead of doubt, from the very people who are trained to help you.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Use encouraging words and an encouraging tone.</span> Skip the horror stories of what happened to other patients. Skip the scare tactics to garner compliance. A positive and supportive attitude goes a loooong way in garnering trust and mutual respect. Just 'cause you have on scrubs doesn't mean I automatically trust you and am going to cooperate.<br /><br />Nursing is supposed to be a calling. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Try to remember you're there for the patient and you're not just there "doing your job."</span> This should be more than just a paycheck. What you're doing is providing a service, a ministry, it's more than a job. The minute you start thinking otherwise, then please take some deep breaths, go to a spa, take your vacation. You're doing more harm than good by spilling your bad vibes on your patients.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Remember than practicing medicine is more than just a clinical thing.</span> Your patients have moods, feelings, anxieties that affect their physical well-being and stress level. Talk to your patients. Don't rely primarily on machines and gadgets to evaluate the situations.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And one note for dealing with pregnant women.</span> It's not really useful (for the woman) if you say things like, "Are you sure you've felt the baby move recently?" or some other question based on the fact that your equipment is not working... I know it's all a ploy to make the woman fearful and at the mercy of the medical establishment, but c'mon. The next question inevitably is, "hmmmm, why is your blood pressure so high." Can you put yourself in the pregnant woman's shoes for 10 minutes?<br /><br />One of the worst things that happened during the drama of our first pregnancy was overhearing a doctor and a resident's conversation:<br />Doctor: "She needs an ultrasound every day."<br />Resident: "I don't really remember how to do them."<br />Doctor: "Okay, honestly, you just need to make sure that the baby is alive."<br /><br />Then, during the same ordeal, there was a team of residents in my room, discussing my "case" in front of me as if I were invisible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's just another case to you is real life to your patients.<br /></span>If you don't remember anything else, remember that.dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-83049272320416084812009-05-29T17:28:00.001-05:002009-05-29T17:32:45.860-05:00economic 6 degrees of separationThought these two videos were kinda cool. They're segments from CBS News.<br /><br />Part 1<br /><embed src="http://www.cbs.com/thunder/swf/rcpHolderCbs-prod.swf" width="370" height="361"allowFullScreen="true" FlashVars="link=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5012300n&releaseURL=http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=kZPux8AP0p7b6ZLLzY5cGEV1GMzxIbwt&partner=newsembed&autoPlayVid=false&prevImg=http://thumbnails.cbsig.net/CBS_Production_News/47/928/evening_bowers0513_480x360.jpg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"> </embed><br /><br /><br />Part 2<br /><embed src="http://www.cbs.com/thunder/swf/rcpHolderCbs-prod.swf" width="370" height="361"allowFullScreen="true" FlashVars="link=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5044653n&releaseURL=http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=E1l6AEH2w_uF4PwXJqMBA8mWRs7GmCGU&partner=newsembed&autoPlayVid=false&prevImg=http://thumbnails.cbsig.net/CBS_Production_News/59/312/Eve_Blackstone_0527_480x360.jpg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"> </embed>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-78208819173134194792009-05-04T14:09:00.001-05:002009-05-04T19:09:35.151-05:00my twitter experimentA week ago I started twittering, set up my phone to twitter and even set up twitpic. It's not something I'll soon become addicted to, that's for sure.<br /><br />Here's why:<br /><ul><li>There's hardly any interaction on Twitter. Maybe my contact list is too small. Maybe the people who are my contacts don't respond to tweets. But it's a little too monologue-ish for me...if this is indeed social networking media.</li><li>Not enough of my friends are twittering and not enough of them twitter consistently enough to keep me coming back for more updates.</li><li>Too much of what's on Twitter is on Facebook. I'm reading stuff twice.</li></ul>Here's why I will continue twittering:<br /><ul><li>My main purpose in twittering was to chronicle this twin pregnancy. I've been terrible at journaling. This way, I can journal as I go, no matter where I am and it's forever recorded.<br /></li><li>It's interesting to follow some of the people I don't know.</li><li>If I stick it out, maybe more and more of my friends will join and make it interesting.</li></ul><a href="http://twitter.com/mcpryce">Follow me on Twitter</a>!dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-59260986920931239662009-05-04T13:58:00.000-05:002009-05-04T14:01:49.219-05:00how to keep the Sabbath<span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >Right. On. The. Money.<br /><br />***<br /><i>by Chip Brogden</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/articles/sabbath.html" target="_blank">http://www.TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/articles/sabbath.html</a><br /><br /><i>"The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day" (Mt. 12:8).</i><br /><br />The Sabbath (and every other thing in the Old Covenant) points to a spiritual fulfillment in Christ. Jesus is not bound by any rule, or regulation, or tradition, that says thou shalt, or thou shalt not. He is Lord over the Sabbath; the Sabbath is not lord over Him.<br /><br />We who are in Christ do keep the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for us is not a day of the week. It is certainly not a day for attending religious services. It has nothing to do with the calendar. If we want to keep the Sabbath we need only abide, continue, and dwell in Christ, as the branch abides, continues, and dwells in the Vine. For the branch is resting in the Vine. The branch does not struggle or worry or force itself through sheer effort to produce fruit. Instead, it simply lives in union with the Vine, and in that sense, it rests. It trusts in the Life of the Vine to produce the fruit. And this is the principle of the Sabbath rest.<br /><br />Now we see this rest in Christ. You would suppose that, as the Son of God, He had the liberty and freedom to say and do whatever He pleased. But He frankly stated, "I do nothing of Myself. It is the Father that dwells in Me, and He does the works." This, my friend, is rest. He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus mastered the art of observing the Sabbath day. What does it mean? It means I do nothing of Myself. My teaching is not My own, but it belongs to the One Who sent Me. And I do nothing except what I see my Father do, and I speak nothing except what I hear my Father speak. That is extraordinary. But that is what it means to rest in the Lord.<br /><br />Now our relationship to Christ is to be exactly the same as Christ's relationship to the Father. I do nothing apart from Christ. I speak nothing apart from Christ. And I do nothing and speak nothing in my own strength, but I trust in the life of the Lord Jesus to do in me and through me what I cannot do.<br /><br />Or, if you like, it is the place Paul describes in Galatians 2:20: "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me." Not I, but Christ. This is the secret to the Christian life. And may I say that this: "not I, but Christ" is the normal Christian life. It is the way it is supposed to be, from the very beginning.<br /><br />Remember that Adam's first day of life, after he was created, was a day of rest. Now the Christian life begins the same way. If any one is in Christ, the Bible says that he or she is a new creation. You are born-again; you are born from above. And the first lesson you learn in this spiritual life in Christ is not doing, but being; it is not working, but resting.<br /><br />How disappointing that the harlot church -- the religious system -- does not teach you how to enter into rest. It wants to immediately put you to work. And so you wear yourself out, trying to be holy, trying to be more like Christ, trying to please people -- the pastor, the elders, your fellow church members. And you sometimes feel as if you can never do enough. You can never give enough, you can never volunteer enough, you can never attend enough. And my, the guilt you feel whenever you say no, or whenever you feel as if you aren't doing enough!<br /><br />Your first day in Christ is a day of rest. Now let's not get tied down to a calendar. That first "day" in Christ may take weeks or years. We are after the spiritual principle of the Sabbath day, and we are not talking about a twenty-four hour period. This is something you learn and you walk in the rest of your life. How unfortunate that people do not begin with resting in Christ. They get saved, and they go to work for religion, and they are like a slave living in Egypt instead of a Hebrew living in the land of milk and honey. Then after so many years of slavery they become institutionalized, and think this is the way the Christian life is supposed to be.<br /><br />Well, it is that way for many people, but it does not have to be that way. Your first day in Christ is a day of rest. Works will come. But your first day as a new creature in Christ is a day of rest. It will be a day of rest until you learn what it means to abide in Christ, to dwell in Him, to rest in His finished work. That is the basis of everything else. If the word "season" helps you to understand this better than a "day" then think of it as a Sabbath season. But the first lesson is how to rest. That is the principle of the Sabbath.<br /><br />I hope you are beginning to see how far and beyond this goes. From this perspective you see how silly it is to get all worked up into a lather over Sunday or Saturday, Sabbath day or Lord's day, what you can do and what you can't do. Those are arguments for little children. Let us go on to maturity. Let us put away childish things and become men and women of spiritual wisdom and discernment. God is after a spiritual condition, a spiritual result, and to get it He goes to work deep within your heart. That is the basis of the New Covenant.<br /><br />*****<br /><br /><i>CHRISTOLOGY JOURNAL is a publication of The School of Christ, PO Box 552, Canandaigua, NY 14424. ... If you benefit from this email please share it with others!<br /><br />©1997-2009 TheSchoolOfChrist.Org<br />Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears</i></span>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18572575.post-82440609519913793052009-04-29T13:58:00.001-05:002009-04-29T13:58:40.645-05:00Barack Obama greets Costa Rica President Oscar Arias<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3484863708/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3484863708_27d24ed609_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3484863708/">P041709PS-0305</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whitehouse/">The Official White House Photostream</a>.</span><br clear="all" /><p></p>dpmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03769753731954395328noreply@blogger.com0