| Author |
Message |
Kelly (Kelly)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 02, 2002 - 11:34 am: |     |
While I was reading Dr. Cottrell's paper it occurred to me how ironic it is that Adventism began with those who were expecting the imminent return of Christ-immediately on the 22nd of October 1844 (before 7 years of tribulation) and how now they do not even look for Christs return to be "imminent" (instead their minds are on the mark of the beast)because the tribulation has not yet begun. |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 02, 2002 - 3:15 pm: | |
I'm still reading the document, lots to read! Thanks Dennis for the page. |
Dennis (Dennis)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 02, 2002 - 6:03 pm: | |
Sabra,
Of course, I differ with Dr. Cottrell that the investigative judgment EVER was present truth. They are desparately trying to save Ellen White as SOP doctrine, despite her having given strong support of this unbiblical, official alibi. At best, it is a compromise document. Although significant and historical, this study paper does not remove all the cobwebs.
Dennis J. Fischer |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 02, 2002 - 10:39 pm: | |
Dennis, Thanks for the hymns! Richard and I often comment about how wonderful it is to sing "It Is Well With My Soul" now, because we know it really is! When we sing that in church now, I always cry. It's like a completely new song!
Colleen |
Dennis (Dennis)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 5:09 pm: | |
Colleen,
It is comforting to know that Sylvia and I are not the only ones in the world that cry in church. We have frequently cried in church since leaving Adventism. The pure gospel of Jesus is so compeling and touching through word and music. The Holy Spirit is noticeably present when Jesus is truly exalted. For example, this morning at First Evangelical Free Church (known here as First Free), our senior pastor had a three-member musical team highlight his sermon on Ephesians 4. The soloist, with a doctorate in music, was accompanied by a violinist and pianist. She sang the familiar hymn "I surrender all." On another Sunday, during an altar call, Sylvia and I were touched by the message of the song "I'll never be the same again." Yes, I know that grown men are not supposed to cry, but there are exceptions when God speaks to the human heart--whether in private or in church.
Also, after I completed two one-hour lectures on Adventism last week, this morning they gave me more time to answer the many questions from the class members. Being Lincon, Nebraska is sometimes called OLD JERUSALEM by some Adventists, many in the class were acquainted in some way with Adventism. The SDA Mid-America Union office used to be next door to our church until recently. They were most appreciative that Sylvia and I presented these facts about Adventism during a CONTENDERS OF THE FAITH series. I told them this morning, that the best way to avoid being deceived by Adventism, is to fully understand the distinctions between the old and new covenants. Some that missed the video, THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE CHURCH, asked to borrow it for personal viewing. Others shared this morning how they had never thought of Jesus being our True Sabbath Rest before. They truly felt blessed to know that Jesus is the reality of the shadow. One of our pastors was visiting our class this morning also. Another Sunday School class has already indicated that they would like for me to repeat the presentation for them. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
Dennis J. Fischer |
In_His_Service (In_His_Service)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 5:14 pm: | |
Not to break the mood, but has anyone heard from the Taylors lately? The last I heard, he was still looking for a Charge.
Soli Deo gloria
Thomas
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Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Monday, March 04, 2002 - 4:40 pm: | |
I've been wondering about the Taylor's, too. I continue to pray for them.
Dennis, that is such good news about your seminars! Bravo for emphasizing the new covenant. That truly is the only way not to be deceived by Adventism.
Your mentioning "I Will Never Be the Same Again" reminds me of our second sunday at our church, Trinity Ev.Free. The pastor spoke on Ephesians 2:1-5, and twice durng the service we sang, I Will Never Be the Same Again. I remember tears running down my face when we got to the phrase, "I can never return; I've closed the door." As if that weren't enough for starters, they had communion that day, and I remember feeling so emotional and surreptitiously looking around as the bread and wine came down the aisle. I noticed many people looked emotional, and a fifty-or-sixty-something man near me was openly crying as he took communion. I was overwhelmed with the reality of the Holy Spirit's presence and by the fact that it wasn't an act. The people around me were actively and personally worshiping Godóeven MEN!óand not ashamed to cry!
How many times have you seen peopleñespecially menñcry during church in our past? For that matter, how many men actually sang during the hymns, especially if they didn't have trained voices?
Praising God for putting his song in our hearts,
Colleen |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Monday, March 04, 2002 - 5:28 pm: | |
Dennis,
Who says grown men shouldn't cry? I cry almost every church service, especially during praise and worship. It's so powerful to feel the Spirit move in church! I don't think we were ever exposed much to that power in Adventism. It's so touching to see our pastor (who is in his 60's) clap and raise his hands and just express such emotion during praise and worship and soloists songs. Our church is not charasmatic, in the charasmatic sense of the word-most don't raise hands or any of that, but he just can't contain the joy that is so evident in his life. I think it is wonderful to see so much emotion! I feel God is honored so much more by that than the congregation just singing a hymn out of obligation to follow the bulletin. Another thing? How often did we see baptisms in the SDA church? I'm guessing 20 in my entire 27 years there. I've witnessed like, 40 in the past 6 months! WOW!! Guess we will know them by thier fruits! |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Monday, March 04, 2002 - 5:32 pm: | |
PS- You're right about the "cob-webs" Dr. Cottrell is still grounded in a lot of un-truth. I do feel, however, that God can continue opening a little door at a time and planting a little seed of doubt in the teachings of the church here and there and those who will let Him work in their lives will be changed, in His time. It starts with the little doubt and question of "what if....."
So wonderful that you are educating people! Keep up God's great work! |
Dennis (Dennis)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 5:31 pm: | |
Thomas,
Pastor Greg Taylor has found a position as a pastor in Hagerstown, Maryland. God is truly faithful! Indeed, God has answered our prayers!
Dennis J. Fischer |
In_His_Service (In_His_Service)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 7:05 am: | |
That is good news! We haven't heard from him for awhile. I feared he was becoming discouraged.
Hopefully we will get a "good news" bulletin from him soon.
Soli Deo gloria,
Thomas
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Trippllb (Trippllb)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 12:21 pm: | |
Dennis,
Do you have any more information on which church Greg Taylor will be pastoring? I live close to Hagerstown and would love to drive up to hear him speak. |
Sabra (Sabra)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 4:04 pm: | |
How wonderful! Thanks for the update! Praise the Lord for being so faithful in answering our prayers! |
Loneviking (Loneviking)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 6:17 am: | |
There's a very interesting discussion going on over on the 'Adventist Tomorrow' site (the one that replaced 'A-Today) about the I.J. and Elder Cottrells work. Clifford Goldstein is defending the I.J. and doing his best to show the errors of Cottrell, despite some pretty able defenders working to show the error of the I.J. This new forum is much more open and free from censorship than A-Today was.
I know the feeling of praise and worship, especially as concerns Communion. IN my church, 'Thoughts on the Cross' is the lead up into Communion and is a major part of the service. It is such a joy to celebrate and renew the covenant relationship with my God every week. I can't think of a better way to start out my week! I really think SDA's miss so much by saddling communion with the unecessary foot-washing which limits the ability to do communion to a quarterly effort. On the other hand, having communion only quarterly is indicative of the short shrift given by the SDA church to the New Covenant, which is seen as not really different from the Old Covenant.
Praise God that I've been set free from that mess called SDA'ism! |
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