Silver Spring, we have a problem. - Adventist Forum and Adventist Chat

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do.
And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with
– even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.
Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. Romans 14.1: The Message

You are not logged in. [Log In] ClubAdventist Forum » Forums » Main Discussion Topics » Townhall » Silver Spring, we have a problem.

Page 3 of 20

...

Topic Options

Rate This Topic

#14490 - 09/26/04 03:34 AM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
Anonymous Unregistered	LHC, Your profile shows retired.. I keep it no secret that I teach a sabbath school class and have mentioned my religious history on this forum. What is your experience? I am not on a tirade to fire preachers...my thrust is to get them to sow the word generously instead of sparingly..and if anything do a hyperseed...ya know what that means? That is where they spray grass seed on the dirt and it has fertilizer with the seed. With the way you seem to answer every post with scripture in red..I would lean to the notion that you would get my drift. It is a mystery to me what your gainsay is motivated by.
Top

#14491 - 09/26/04 07:00 AM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
LifeHiscost Registered: 06/14/03 Posts: 3842 Loc: Western United States	Quote: It is a mystery to me what your gainsay is motivated by. I think it probably stems, at least in part, from the fact that nary a problem was ever solved from the biblical standpoint, by individuals trying to improve things by making attempts to change the lives of others. In the case of Adam he blamed the woman, implying it was God's fault for the error since He gave her to him. In turn the woman blamed the serpent. No one said the real reason the world was getting worse was because they themselves failed their responsibility. It appears nothing has changed in the ensueing 6,000 years. When I "saw" that reality applied to my life as well, at last I could go to God with true repentance instead of looking for a better place in the grand scheme of things by finding scapegoats for my discontent in my children, my spouse, my "friends, my delinquent church, my employer, my government, my past, my future, my pastor, ad infinitum. Now if I see a problem that is worthy of my attention for the purpose of change, I ask God if there is somewhere He would like me to fit into the scenario, where my actions will bring about the necessary reform He is interested in. If it is too great for me to accomplish He has never asked me to go tell the world how terrible they are for not doing what I myself failed to accomplish. That doesn't mean to stop preaching the Word, part of the great commission, but it does mean it necessary for me to let God lead the ones who come in contact with it through my voice. Their reaction to the Word will define the part they wish to play without them having to be accountable to another fallible instrument of God's choice (me), to give them determination. I would not gainsay there will be a small number of people who will respond to your method of speaking out at the failures of others (whoever). And they will become zealous disciples on occasion. Each whether zealous or not, will stay motivated to action just as long as their guilty conscience convinces them they are in danger of losing out on the gifts of God if they slacken in response to another voice instead of Jesus' promise that they will indeed have His presence in their lives as long as it is invited. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:29 Blessings!! Lift Jesus up!!
Top

#14492 - 09/26/04 07:09 AM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: ]
Nicodema Registered: 11/22/03 Posts: 777 Loc: Beyond your grasp	Quote: No one said the real reason the world was getting worse was because they themselves failed their responsibility. Ahem. Those who know me personally, in real life, upon a deep and intimate level have heard me voice this concern for the past several years. Of course, they are sufficiently acquainted with my history and my deeper perspectives on things to give statements of that nature the proper context. There are some statements a person cannot make more openly because they can never be palatable for public consumption and can only be understood as something they are not if the attempt to make them in public were tried. And in fact if I were to try to explain such a thing, most people who have not had a close, intimate acquaintance with me would simply think I had some sort of delusion going on or a guilt complex or something. They wouldn't "get it". OK, we now return you to your regularly scheduled useful discussion ... _________________________ "After such knowledge, what forgiveness?" -- T.S. Eliot
Top

#14493 - 09/26/04 04:07 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: ]
Anonymous Unregistered	Quote: I think it probably stems, at least in part, from the fact that nary a problem was ever solved from the biblical standpoint, by individuals trying to improve things by making attempts to change the lives of others. You got to be kidding??? What warped teacher taught you this?? Ever read the bible?? Who wrote 2 Cor 3:18?? Quote: In the case of Adam he blamed the woman, implying it was God's fault for the error since He gave her to him. In turn the woman blamed the serpent. No one said the real reason the world was getting worse was because they themselves failed their responsibility. This was their initail reaction out of fear. Are we supposed to believe that they maintained this attitude? Maybe God had a plan to CHANGE them to embrace person responsibility? Quote: When I "saw" that reality applied to my life as well, at last I could go to God with true repentance instead of looking for a better place in the grand scheme of things by finding scapegoats for my discontent in my children, my spouse, my "friends, my delinquent church, my employer, my government, my past, my future, my pastor, ad infinitum. Granted people do that..pick out scapegoats...yet there are some who pick the beam out of their eye in true repentence and then approach others with the need to challenge them to sow the seed generously Quote: That doesn't mean to stop preaching the Word, part of the great commission, but it does mean it necessary for me to let God lead the ones who come in contact with it through my voice. Their reaction to the Word will define the part they wish to play without them having to be accountable to another fallible instrument of God's choice (me), to give them determination. So we tell them once and then just write them off...never go to them again? Is that what God did to Jonah? Also we should just let people be accountable to God...forget leaders, supervisors and managers?? Quote: I would not gainsay there will be a small number of people who will respond to your method of speaking out at the failures of others (whoever). And they will become zealous disciples on occasion. Each whether zealous or not, will stay motivated to action just as long as their guilty conscience convinces them they are in danger of losing out on the gifts of God if they slacken in response to another voice instead of Jesus' promise that they will indeed have His presence in their lives as long as it is invited. This is a pretty cynical attitude. The flavor I get from your reply smacks of Calvinism... TULIP T=total depravity of man... Seems you have walked down a pretty rough road and been burned. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:29 Blessings!! Lift Jesus up!! LHC...thanks for the reply...sincerely... it is very revealing....valid in a limited sense...yeah I know ..that didn't say much but I hope you know what I mean. The notions expressed remind me of those from SDA's who are taught by preachers of TYPICAL TOPICAL SERMONS...and not as Paul's manner where he was not remiss in sharing the whole counsel of God. I sense the laisez faire influence...CAPI complacent apathetic passive indifferent that has permeated SDA sermons and thinking the ones that minimizes personal invovlvement. At least you haven't totally succumbed to it since you are at least on this site and replying.
Top

#14494 - 09/26/04 06:12 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
Nicodema Registered: 11/22/03 Posts: 777 Loc: Beyond your grasp	Quote: (by JimBob) Granted people do that..pick out scapegoats...yet there are some who pick the beam out of their eye in true repentence and then approach others with the need to challenge them to sow the seed generously This is an interesting point and illustrates the aspect of judgment-passing that I call "two mirrors facing". What comes to my mind reading this is to ask whether or not we can sometimes fall into the trap of passing judgment on everyone who takes it upon themselves to "challenge" another as being someone who has a beam in their eye and is merely passing judgment. I.e., we pass a judgment that says another is judgment-passing, but is this not a judgment-passing on our own part when we do it? What evidence do we have that this or that person is, in fact, picking at someone else's speck without removing their own "beam"? And more to the point, what criteria do we use to evaluate such a question? Is it only the criteria of our own personal irritation at what they are saying? (I'm addressing this question unilaterally to myself as well as any others reading here.) Quote: by LHC: That doesn't mean to stop preaching the Word, part of the great commission, but it does mean it necessary for me to let God lead the ones who come in contact with it through my voice. Their reaction to the Word will define the part they wish to play without them having to be accountable to another fallible instrument of God's choice (me), to give them determination. The problem is, one simply cannot remove the element of oneself from one's communications -- it is impossible. Even by choosing to quote scripture, you "give yourself away" with regard to (a) the angle you are taking on a topic; (b) your own personal viewpoint about it; (c) the judgments or assessments you are making on the person you are addressing (questions above notwithstanding) -- and the recipient and even the "innocent bystanders" overhearing you KNOW this. A valid self-challenging question might be, am I really looking to their welfare and removing the factor of "accountability" to a "fallible instrument" by doing this? Or am I really simply trying to remove my OWN accountability in the matter for how it goes? And the place to direct this question is not to the subjective realm of your own heart and feelings and "intentions" but rather to the hard, practical realm of what actually transpires as a result. _________________________ "After such knowledge, what forgiveness?" -- T.S. Eliot
Top

#14495 - 09/30/04 05:25 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
Anonymous Unregistered	I just replied on the singles thread and wanted to post that reply here. _________________________________________ Quote: And God knows how much the SDA Church today is IN NEED of revival and reformation. ________________________________________ That's the problem.....it's just God. A reformation is needed among the people, but it should first begin its purifying work with the ministers . They are watchmen upon the walls of Zion, to sound the note of warning to the careless, the unsuspecting; also to portray the fate of the hypocrite in Zion. It seemed to me that some of the ministers had forgotten that Satan was yet alive, as persevering, earnest, and artful as ever; that he was still seeking to allure souls from the path of righteousness. {1T 469.3} Related to 1st lesson of Daniel>>>>>>> One important part of the work of the ministry is to faithfully present to the people the health reform as it stands connected with the third angel's message as part and parcel of the same work. They should not fail to adopt it themselves, and should urge it upon all who profess to believe the truth. HEY!! Pay attention I'm not through!! ------------------------------ Acts 20 "25": And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. "26": Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. "27": For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. "28": Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers , to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. "29": For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. "30": Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. "31": Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. There are over 30,000 verses in the bible. Some pastors are at churches 2 years..some longer... When you have the usual TYPICAL TOPICAL SERMON with a 2 to 3 verse text chosen and the clergy pulpit speaker rambles on with the topic/theme related to that portion of scripture with jokes and stories..minimal teaching..PUKE!!!..you get about 100 topics covered in 2 years...MAYBE.. you got to throw New year's resolution, Religious Liberty, Valentines, Easter, Mother's Day,..maybe Father's day, Patriotic 4th of July day, Pathfinder day, Back to school education day, Thansgiving Day, Christmas sermon, an all musical worship service..PUKE!!!, and gimme, gimmee, TITHE sermons. Then there are the testimonial no sermon days..and throw in the 4 micro sermons for the Communion sabbaths where the trite samo samo, shallow junk is presented...ZZZZZ Guess how much of those 30,000 verses get presented in 2 years????.....PUKE!!!! So don't get me wrong...but much preaching is so limited regarding the whole counsel of God ...in the SDA denomination.. It is really a preach eschatology, paranoia, prophecy, Laodicea, Jesus wil never leave you or forsake you no ,matter how fleshly worldly, backsliding, you are..just keep coming to church and don't ignore the offering plate..and kissie to the speaker, don't make waves...and we'll all be in Heaven....zzzzzzzzz
Top

#14496 - 09/30/04 05:39 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
Anonymous Unregistered	We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming... the 3ABN flap/gossip/bribe/corruption/affair/tabloid rag stuff
Top

#14497 - 09/30/04 06:53 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
Anonymous Unregistered	Quote: We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming... the 3ABN flap/gossip/bribe/corruption/affair/tabloid rag stuff =============================== Well JimBob since I am not a prophet or a son of a prophet, even being least in my fathers house I will tell you what is on the horizon. [take this with a grain of salt, since the warning label on my package now containes these words..."Ed is an eccentric"] But court is still in session in heaven. Just barely! Big money needs to be raised immediately due to mega millions in lawsuits, so look for a push for all churches to "GET OUT OF DEBT" and pay off their church morgages. Once that is done, then leadership will allow the big ones to be hocked to the hilt behind the members back. I would not [NEVER]say this as though it has never happened before.
Top

#14498 - 09/30/04 07:21 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: sweettrini]
Nicodema Registered: 11/22/03 Posts: 777 Loc: Beyond your grasp	You know ... there are so many human voices out there, with so many human emphases on different things ... that sometimes I find it impossible to sort out where God wants ME to be focused. Is health reform, for example, or any other "lifestyle alteration praxis" really that important to my relationship with God? Especially considering it's not the letting go or relaxing of these things that leads to messing up that relationship but rather (for me personally anyway) it happens the other way around -- first something gets in the way of the relationship and THEN those things will go slack in my life. Picking up that slack doesn't fix the gap in my relationship w/ God, though if/when the gap gets fixed eventually as a matter of course I tend to resume those things ... People will tell me all sorts of things that are Biblical and "sound", and well worth considering in themselves -- I'm talking of those who have good info and good counsel to share -- and yet I find myself wondering what does God really want me to focus on in my life? What is He looking at right now and deeming most important and most vital for me? And the problem is, just as I can't trust the flood of input from others -- all of whom have their various areas of focus that are currently important to THEM in "the work" -- so I cannot trust my own mind either. If I feel it is some area that is easy, how do I know I'm not just coddling myself? If I feel it's in some area that seems harshly indicting of myself, how do I know that's not the classic well of poison ploy from Satan rising up from within to drive me away from God through frustration and self-loathing and depressive reactions? I really need to hear from God but when I open my Bible, HE is "all over the place" too! No wonder -- He has to reach a gazillion people where THEY are in THEIR walk, life, faith, need, etc. -- but it doesn't help me determine any clearer what I need to be looking at, studying, and learning right now. I'm confused. _________________________ "After such knowledge, what forgiveness?" -- T.S. Eliot
Top

#14499 - 09/30/04 07:31 PM Re: Silver Spring, we have a problem. [Re: ]
Anonymous Unregistered	Yep...the bible is multifaceted... Here is what my brother usually says when we are getting on the fringe of conjecture/speculation Micah 6 "8": He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Now I know this simple verse is loaded with personal application..which the Holy Spirit can impress each individual where there is room for growth.
Top

Page 3 of 20

Hop to:

The Chat Room

Come Chat with others,
open 24/7