| Author | Message | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 420 Registered: 6-2002 |
My wife just received her two copies of her regional conference magazine "The . . . Herald" (a little discretion being exercized here). I am sure this has happened elsewhere, but I find it amusing that there was an article proudly touting the "practical solution to a theological problem" at one of the denominational schools. This school (a college) has implemented a "prepaid ID card" especially for cafeteria meals on Sabbath. That way, students who wish to "obey" the Sabbath command not to buy things on that day can pre-pay. How does it work, you ask? It is like a prepaid long distance card: you load it up with value and deduct the cost of the meal at the register as you are about to eat. Hmm. Of course, the exchange of value occurs on the Sabbath anyway, but "technically" they are not "buying" the meal at that time (I guess the theory goes) since the value does not go from one's bank account, credit balance, or pocket on that day. <<giggle>> Puh-lease!!! First, the prohibition against "commerce" does not occur "on stone" so that must be what they call "the law of Mosses" or "ceremonial." Second, they really are buying the meal on the Sabbath anyway. Pharasees are alive and well!!! | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 564 Registered: 7-2000 |
Jerry, It really is ridiculous, isn't it? Sad also... I remember years ago being admonished by some Adventist relatives to not go over to look at, or especially, BUY some trinkets/souveniers from a local vender on the "Sabbath". This was on a vacation to Italy and we had just paid for a boat trip over to an island to view a villa and also paid the villas' entrance fees. We were waiting until the tour started and I mistakenly wanted to go check out some of the local merchandise! Oops! Wrong idea... THAT would be compromising the "holiness" of the day! I count that experience as the beginning of the end of Adventism in my mind... I knew there had to be something WRONG with that picture since ALL the people involved on that "Sabbath" days' activities were having to make their living off us tourists! It can get convoluted indeed to figure out what constitutes "proper" Sabbath-keeping... I am very grateful for the simplicity and freedom Jesus gives! grace always, cindy | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 96 Registered: 3-2004 |
I am so happy and free in Christ at this time. I had to laugh when I read about the students having a prepaid card to get meals. It takes me back in memory to La Sierra and Loma Linda when I was a student there and bought my meals on Sabbath. When my son was small I did not want to raise him the way I was. I looked forward to the Sabbath ending so I could do fun things. I did not want to raise him with you CANNOT DO THIS OR THAT on Sabbath. So on sabbaths we would do fun wholesome things, like go to the park, walk along the river and dangle our feet in the water, go to the Smithonian Museum of Natural History and a host of other things. When it was to cold to go out in the winter I always had books about nature that I read to him or games about nature. Thank God I did not read anything to him about EGW and hold her up. I thank God for that. When he was ready for college, I had a small, very small twinge, that he did not choose to go to an SDA school. It was only a small twinge because my son thought the kids that went to the SDA boarding schools were snobs. I did not go to boarding school, but I did go to an SDA academy and the kids were snobs there also. But God knew what he wanted to do with my son and me and I an so thankful. I can get off the subject, but that just brought back memories. Diana | ||
| Kme Registered user Username: Kme Post Number: 37 Registered: 7-2000 |
Well it makes more sense at least to buy prepaid food cards than it does to go to the college cafeterria and pay cash for the meal there and not to a resturant and pay cash for the meal. Guess you get some credit for there being no meat, caffeine and no music, huh! Sorry that was just plain sarcastic but true. That never did make any sense to me, and I'm suprised it did to anyone. Talk about double standards. | ||
| Debandhenry Registered user Username: Debandhenry Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2004 |
Jerry, You brought up an interesting "mind set" with the SDA'a we knew also. We came into the church in 1997, the 20th of Dec. by baptism from a Kenny Cox seminar.(I was born/raised Lutheran, and Henry a Catholic)and we had only been out of the womb so to speak one Sabbath and were introduced to this concept on a church outing on the Sabbath. We did voice our opinion about this double standard and did we get the "if looks could kill" from the church, but being new they forgave us this insult. This for us was our beginning to the end, (looking back) what a short honeymoon! And, over the past 6 years this was just the beginning of several truth finding eipsodes to help us find out just what we got ourselves into and thanks to God's truth's in His Word...out of. By-the-way we never have gotten a clear, truthful explaination of how this is done and why. | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 585 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dear Deb and Henry, I was born into SDA'ism. Without going into great detale I have had a series of miracles throughout my life, all involving Jesus being presented to me by way of Luherans. I really believe Jesus was leading me to Lutheran and around 5 1/2 years ago began attending a local ELCA congreation regurally, becomming a member nearly 3 years ago. I believe this was by the Hand of God so I would get a clear and complete understanding of GRACE. SDA does not teach grace. Well, they think the do but they really don't. As I understnd the doctrine of grace as explained by the SDA is goes somethig like this: A person opens up their heart to the SDA truth and that is from God's grace that they get to learn the truth. Then once the person has become a bonified, fully bapitized SDA grace then helps that person to be a COMMANDMENT KEEPER, which is SDA code for KEEPING THE SABBATH as the SDA says one must. What a difference from the Lutheran! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 586 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dear Deb and Henry, I was born into SDA'ism. Without going into great detale I have had a series of miracles throughout my life, all involving Jesus being presented to me by way of Luherans. I really believe Jesus was leading me to Lutheran and around 5 1/2 years ago began attending a local ELCA congreation regurally, becomming a member nearly 3 years ago. I believe this was by the Hand of God so I would get a clear and complete understanding of GRACE. SDA does not teach grace. Well, they think the do but they really don't. As I understnd the doctrine of grace as explained by the SDA is goes somethig like this: A person opens up their heart to the SDA truth and that is from God's grace that they get to learn the truth. Then once the person has become a bonified, fully bapitized SDA grace then helps that person to be a COMMANDMENT KEEPER, which is SDA code for KEEPING THE SABBATH as the SDA says one must. What a difference from the Lutheran! | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 565 Registered: 7-2000 |
Welcome Deb & Henry.... It's always good to hear of fairly new converts to Adventism having their eyes opened by the Holy Spirit to the SDA false doctrine and escaping! cindy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 276 Registered: 12-2003 |
Welcome, Deb & Henry! I'm glad to see you here! (Sorry I'm tardy with my greeting; we were out of town for a wedding for a few days...speaking of weddings--that's another event that's different as a Christian. I loved that the couple celebrated communion during their ceremony!) Colleen | ||
| Sabra Registered user Username: Sabra Post Number: 90 Registered: 10-2001 |
Some weddings are having altar calls now too! I think that is great. Hey, If they can buy the cafeteria meal with a prepaid card, what's wrong with going to the mall on your bank/check card? It's the same thing eh? Mom thought it was so neat the way our church gift shop is open on Sunday and we serve coffee and doughnuts for Sunday School! She said, well, I've never been shopping at church before! (You have to know my mom, she's a shop-a-holic) I laughed and told her, "See what you've been missing out on." LOL Greetings to the newbies! Great to have you all here. | ||
| Dennisrainwater Registered user Username: Dennisrainwater Post Number: 92 Registered: 8-2000 |
Hey Sabra, Does that mean your mom is GETTING IT?? Sorry if I've missed good news!! God bless you, Den <>< | ||
| Sabra Registered user Username: Sabra Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2001 |
Well, I wouldn't go that far. She has chilled out a bunch. She asked if I would go to church with here when I come down there. I said, "Uh, I dunno, they might put me in a circle and try to exorcise me." LOL! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 630 Registered: 11-2002 |
Today is Sunday. I went to visit with my mom this morning. She turned on the t.v. to Mark Findley. It was a rerun so she switched to a different station that had on Doug Batchlar. She really doesn't care too much for him so she switched t.v. stations to watch world news. During the channel changing she passed a t.v. minister that I didn't recognise but I said, "He sounds interesting. Why not leave him on so we can hear what he's talking about?" I got a disguested look from her and was told she is not about to listen to a Sunday-keeper. You know, with the exception of my mom discussing the movie, The Passion of the Christ I don't remember her ever acknowledging the sacrafice of Jesus. She does though like to point out that Jesus is our example and He kept the Sabbath. He also observed the clean/uncleanmeat rules. That's as far as it ever gets. I did purchase a book awhile back by the daughter of Billy Graham. My mom came over and I had the book out. She looked at it and asked me if I'd gotten it from the library. I told her no, that I'd bought it at the local Christian bokstore here in town. She asked me how I can afford to spend my money on that trash. I told her I didn't know what she ment as it was a very interesting book and was 100% Christian. She said the author is a Sunday-keeper and I shouldn't be promoting Sunday worship with my money. I'm telling you, the older I get the more I'm beginning to think of the SDA organization in the same brain-washing, cult way that Ithink of the JW organization. Funny thing is, if someone were to ask my mom if Chrisians who attend worship on Sundays are real Christians, are truly members of the true body of Christ, I know she would say "yes". But, the contradictions are so apparent. And, my boozer Sabbath School teaching cousin was here for the day. I only waved at her, other than that I totally avoided any conversation or contact. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2004 |
Once upon a time I thought it would be fun to publish a list of the Sabbath "rules" I had been exposed to (spoken and unspoken) since becoming an SDA. Sometimes I thought the humor might help people see the pharisical spirit behind these rules; but usually I concluded that most people would miss both the humor and the point. But since pre-paid meal cards always hit that list, I'll let fly with a few others. A sabbath days journey equals a full tank of gas. Speaking of sabbath journeys, it is OK to arrive as late after sunset on Friday as you need, based on that tank of gas, BUT you can not begin a long journey before sunset Saturday. It is OK to cook rice, but not potatoes (you may only reheat those). No from a second person I learned that it was the other way around, you could cook potatoes but not rice. I'm still confused. Its OK to finish cleaning the house, preparing the meal, ironing your shirt, ... Friday after sundown but not Saturday morning. A walk, no matter how strenuous is OK, but a bike ride, no matter how casual is not. And my all time favorite--Sleeping all day, including at church is OK, but spending the day volunteering to help others is not. | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 614 Registered: 7-2000 |
Ric_b, Yes, it does get confusing, doesn't it!? Just this week I heard (in regards to the 206 mile Seattle-to-Portland bike race last weekend here in the Northwest) that it is okay for Adventists to take "country" bike rides on Sabbath, but that a long bike ride like this Seattle-to Portland was wrong...as it is "work". grace always, cindy | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 283 Registered: 3-2004 |
All these rules were so confusing and frustrating seeing as everyone did something different. THANK GOD I AM FREE OF ALL THAT. GOD IS AWESOME. Diana | ||
| Sheryl Registered user Username: Sheryl Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2004 |
It never ceased to amaze me, when I actively attended church, but occasionally went to the store on Saturday or out to eat, I would see or run into someone from church doing the same thing. I just assumed we were all sabbath breakers, but maybe those folks were realizing the truth even then. What a burden. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 620 Registered: 12-2003 |
I remember that, too, Sheryl! I remember getting something at the store on Friday evening that I needed but had forgotten, and I ran into another Adventist I knew. I realized that he could never really say anything about me to anyone because he would thereby be admitting he, also, was at the store! Colleen | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 96 Registered: 7-2004 |
Sounds like my son tattling on his sister for having her eyes open during prayer!  | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 883 Registered: 11-2002 |
My mother taught at a local elementary school for close to 30 years. She had told her kindergarten class that physical violence was against the rules. The next day a little boy came to tattle on another little boy and he started his tattleing with, "Mrs. ***, he hit me, you need to get him in trouble". My mom said, "Why did ***** hit you?" And the litle boy said, "Because I hit him first. Are you going to get him in trouble for hitting me?" Oh, the things a kindergarten teacher hears. |
