Oprah learns Sabbath is on Saturday from Adventist moviemaker

Many have probably heard or seen about this Oprah interview already. For those who have it might be a good refresher for encouragement. If you have not watched it, it’ll be of great motivation.

One of the lines that stood out the most was “If your faith won’t fit in the door that opens,…DO NOT WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR! The door that God has opened for you will fit your faith!”

It is of critical important to remember that God does not open doors that lead us away from Him, His Word or His commandments. We must not get into the the habit of redefining what God’s blessings are.

Drug Worship

Just finished reading something and decided to post. Normally don’t like to criticize publicly and nor do I intend to do so, though the wording of the post title may indicate otherwise.

The famous quote by Karl Marx regarding religion is that it is the opium of the masses. Unfortunately the wording of a new study swings in that direction. The University of Washington entitled the results of a study “God is like a drug”.

Yet the study focuses it’s title based on what happens at mega-churches not the average church. With so much state of the art technology, these church have succeeded in creating an non-intimidating ethos and aesthetic atmosphere. The researchers say when all the factors of mega-churches are combined the effect on the brain is like that of a high from illegal drugs (oxytocin – which strongly influences thoughts, decisions, etc of prefrontal cortex). When combined with hormones and other neurotransmitters it creates the feeling of trust and a reduction of stress.

The study found that the worshipers of mega-church described the effects from the worship service like those of drug users. and that the thinking is like that of a stadium full of fans.

This is one the inherit dangers as individuals move away from a Bible based belief system and more towards a post-denominational system that caters to the this is what works for me. In amoral situations that may work fine, but in religion it’s not about us but God.

That’s why it pains me to see those who have experiences the beautiful and biblical truths taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church go away to other churches. So many churches can teach the gospel (at least partially it) but only one church is preaching the everlasting gospel. Naturally one can declare that all churches can claim that, but under the context on which the everlasting gospel is mentioned in the Bible is the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. And there is only one church that is doing that. The Seventh-day Adventist Church.

This does not dismiss the mistakes and wrong doing that have been done that hurt people, but if God is faithful to us, we can continue to be faithful to His church. Being faithful to his church goes hand in hand with being faithful to Him.

 

The Rumor

Is it true or isn’t it? “The Rumor” is a digital short presented by the Office of Adventist Mission during its report to the Annual Council of the Executive Committee of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The video, which opens with the lines, “This is a false report about a false rumor,” takes a “what if” look at the church as it faces declining mission offerings. – Adventist Mission

Too often the $1 bill for kids seems to be a cute idea, and that is where the mentality has stayed, instead of the global outlook and the sacrifice about being a world church and really being serious about the gospel to every nation.

For adults, the easing of our conscious is a dangerous game to play. We need to ask ourselves the question, is this beautiful message worth it. Verbally we know the answer, but will that answer spread from the mouth to the heart which will touch the pocketbook?

Feel free to share you thoughts below in the comment section.

Nominating Committee Video

Thought I’d share this video from the Florida Hospital SDA Church

Since it’s that time of the year again, if you get a ring from a nominating committee member… remember this video 🙂

Pastoral Christmas

This past Sunday, the hispanic pastors of Michigan Conference came together at Carrabbas for a sorta end of the year lunch.  A time where strangely very few references to work was mentioned (I suppose because every pastor’s wife was there and also some of their children  –  hey we even had one of those mechanical babies that do do for Sex Ed class).

Anyway it was a good time, after lunch we all received a present (sweater: each pastor and each wife), the kids go gloves or house slippers.  Below you’ll see the pic of all of us wearing our sweaters.

Note: since it was a birthday of one of our colleagues (40th) it was planned to wear all black (a couple forgot), representing the famous Over-the-Hill motto.  Later on a few of us joined with others at his house for a surprise birthday party.