| Author | Message | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1485 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dennis, You must go to a huge church. For a body of members to give that much weekly there must be a lot of regulars. How many adults are part of the church you attend? How any people including the children? I'm always been drawn to churches that don't have many people. We have two Ltheran churches in my area. The one I usually attend has a membership of around 230 and even at that they two services. The other Lutheran church holds a Sunday evening service that I attend quite often and in that service are usually 12-15 people. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1385 Registered: 12-2003  |
So true, Dennis, about first impressions. I'm also amazed at the giving that results from personal conviction instead of pulpit appeals. God really does supply the needs for work that is His. What a privilege for you and Sylvia to be greeters at the church that so warmly enfolded you! Colleen | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 438 Registered: 6-2002 |
While the "Adventist Neighbor" piece is not particularly polished and subtle, we must remember that it can be very effective on the unwary and uninformed. The reason that this was produced is that the SDA church knows that this can be effective. They certainly have enough experience to know what works. While most on this board can instantly recognize the problems with the piece, others, who do not have a similar background in or around SDA's, often cannot see what seems so obvious to us. Sad, really. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1389 Registered: 12-2003 |
Jerry, I agree with you. I'm going to just go out on a limb and ask you how you are doing. It's good to be hearing from you again. How is everything? Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1038 Registered: 3-2004  |
Tonight I read something from Colossians 3:12-17. It reminded of the Adventist neighbor and you will see why. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you are called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Now, that is the kind of neighbor I want and that I want to be, talking about what Jesus has done for me. Who ever wrote that article misses the whole point of Jesus in our lives. God is awesome. Diana | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 439 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi, Colleen. I am in a different place with new internet access. I am away from anything SDA (whew!) I have no job for now, but I have some support and some hope of better days. No one should cry for me, I'll do fine. Currently, I am basking in the (near certain) assumption that I am being talked about in a condescending, pittying, "He never became SDA, so is it any wonder he sunk so low . . ." tone of voice. . . . and yet, I am also basking in the freedom from the dark cloud of the deceiver which was all around me for seven years. I will finally get to see my son soon. I have not been supported in any effort to see him for over one year. He and I have been communicating all along and we both have been missing the contact. (P.S. He is getting aggressive scholarship offers from his colleges of choice. Yay!!) Praise God for His mercy. May God have mercy on those still in darkness. Jerry | ||
| Goldenbear Registered user Username: Goldenbear Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2004  |
I am in the business of public relations and advertising. If I was going to write a publicity piece on the adventist church and their unique (odd) pecularities it would have sounded like what has been posted. The problem is that, for the most part, there is no such thing as a standard SDA. Depending on the country of origin, race, even the area that they live SDA's have a very different take on what the actual doctrines are. If you don't agree on the interpretation of the doctrines or have a large group of people that don't adhere to the doctrine you have a problem. With so many differing views and practices how do you produce a piece that will allow the economy of scale in production. Unfortunately, most of us have seen the "Real World" of adventism and it just isn't what is described. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1391 Registered: 12-2003 |
Very true, Goldenbear. It's not what it appears to be. Jerry, I am very sorry, but I also understand your sense of freedom from darkness. I'm glad you're back on the forum. We'll keep praying for you and supporting you! Colleen | ||
| Hrobinsonw Registered user Username: Hrobinsonw Post Number: 125 Registered: 7-2004 |
I have an SDA "associate". He resembles nothing of the type mentioned in the article. He is the most pompus, arrogant little prick that I have ever met. Scheming, conceited, feel free to fill in words for me. Since not only is he an SDA, he also has a PHD from Loma Linda. So that makes him just the smartest thing on the planet. I am working on that aspect of my spiritual walk because some people really push me. Not being an Adventist, and constantly being around them makes me razzled. He is not "like my good neighbor - State Farm Insurance" | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1494 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hrobinsonw, Are you currently at LLU? I can immagine being excluded in functions and being looked down over at LLU to someone who is not SDA. On another post I wote about a local audiologist. He is Catholic. He went through LLU. He knows the SDA religion very well. According to him SDA's don't like discussing religion with him as he knows the early Christian history very well. He can sure get us laughing about his LLU tales, usually the stories are about when the others overthere find out he's Catholic, as opposed to 'one of them'. He told me once when the SDA's over there found out he's Cathlic then the pressure was on to convert him. It would get really funky when the converter would realize he wasn't about to become converted to SDA. He does though have only good things to say about the academics. | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 479 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hrobinsonw...you crack me up! Remember the guy who was over here supposedly doing research...he is at CARM now...the guy thinks he is a total guide for the blind! Typical SDA. | ||
| Madelia Registered user Username: Madelia Post Number: 124 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hrobinsonw, I was chuckling at your post too. And Susan, I was reading your post and it reminded me of something I overheard my husband talking about last night. He was telling this guy that Promisekeepers' goal is to unite all Christians and that it is supported by the Catholic church. Any comments, anyone? All I know is from personal experience: it helped my cousin's husband come to terms with his infidelity and has really stengthened their marriage. | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 287 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jan Marcussen's newsletter a few months ago made the same accusation. He said that Promisekeepers is really a Jesuit-slash-Masonic cult set up to unite Christians for the puropse of furthering Catholic doctrine and set the stage for the National Sunday Law. It really is sad that this stuff sucks in so many unsuspecting, sincere Christians | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 250 Registered: 2-2002  |
I love it Hrobinsonw! You cracked me up too....was thinking, "now, tell us how you REALLY feel!" Haven't read CARM in a while Pheeki.....will have to check it out this weekend. Drives me crazy quite often, but also can be entertaining....again I don't know how you do it, but God bless you, and I know He uses you to open the eyes of lurkers. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 301 Registered: 6-2004 |
Hrobinsonw! I just about fell over with your post. I think you said what many of us actually are thinking regarding certain SDA's and their attitudes towards us. | ||
| Hrobinsonw Registered user Username: Hrobinsonw Post Number: 126 Registered: 7-2004 |
I fix his computers here in Huntsville at his doctor's office. He tries to get over on me every chance that he can. It is to the point that my wife doesn't even like to be with me when I am working on his computers. I wish that I would have never built him those computers. I am always fixing the machines because he continues to go to pornographic sites and download junk. Then he puts in an innocently named folder so his wife won't see it. So when my wife and I show up to clean his PC out. He asks us did we put all of that nasty stuff on his computer in front of his wife to save face. He should have gotten a Dell. | ||
| Madelia Registered user Username: Madelia Post Number: 126 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks Freeatlast. Maybe Sam has read Jan Marcusson's newsletter. Hrobinsonw, I just read your above post. That is just disgusting. What a "witness" he is for the SDA church! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1393 Registered: 12-2003 |
"Your" doctor, Hrob, illustrates so well my belief that Adventism is a really good place for people with out-of-control vices to hide. It gives a really clean, consientious, disciplined image to the world behind which one can hide his addictions, and that "disciplined" lifestyle can also serve to self-soothe a guilty conscience. After all, if one publicly espouses clean living and vegetarianism, one can't be polluted, right? After all, Ellen said meat, eggs, pepper, and vinegar (not to mention spices) inflamed the animal passions. If one abstains from those things (at least publicly!), surely one's passions can't be out-of-control! BTW, I have heard indirectly that the cafeteria at LLU Med Center has recently begun to serve pepper and mustard. Can you believe that?!! It's a slippery slope...! I realize, however, that vices don't hide only in Adventism. They hide in Christianity as well. Surrender to Jesus of all the parts of our lives is our only hope for freedom. He is faithful. Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1495 Registered: 11-2002 |
I used to get the Jan Marcussian newsletters. I wrote him some really funny stuff several times when I wanted to practice my creative writing skills. I wrote and told him I'm a Jesuit spy at the local SDA church and those SDA's had better watch out because I'll be reporting their activites to headquarters. I wrote several goofy letters. Then I got tired of it and wrote to him that I am a Christian and I hold my membership in a Christian denomination and I had figured out how many millions of dollars he has made from his National Sunday Law book and that the only people on the entire face of the earth that know about the soon national Sunday law are the SDA's. He took me off his mailing list. That's really vile about the porn doctor. I guess since EGW never admonished her faithful to avoid porn then it is approved. No, I think I am not correct on this because I think I can recall reading in SDA magazines counsil against it. However, she did not counsil against porn so it's probably not as bad as a ham sandwitch would be. When I go to the SDA potlucks I take a little pepper shaker in my purse with me. Often the other folks at the table will ask if they can sprinkle some on their food, too. I always am happy to share. And, what pray tell is wrong with mustard? It grows on a plant so it would be a vegetarian food. Besides, Jesus even gave the parable of the mustard seed so obiviousely Jesus was well acquainted with mustard. As far as CARM goes, I have never posted on there. I do frequently read it. There are several SDA's on the SDA forum that really annoy me. And, over on the Catholic forum was a discussion if it's o.k. to chew the Communion wafer. I don't think any JW's even venture on the JW forum. Some folks are really farout. I went to Dirk's site several days ago. He has some new and very interesting things on his site. I logged onto the actual EGW stuff he had available to link to. But, after a few minutes I start getting a very dreadful feeling come over me and my home and not wanting to court evil I quickly turned it off. I honestly do believe in the presence of evil and I don't want it it my home. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1042 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hrob, I just about fell off my chair as I read about your SDA "friend" and his ATTITUDE. Then I went down reading everyones postings and found the one about his porn sites. My immediate thought was "what a @!$#^$&*($)#++". I would not be allowed to post here again if I interpreted that. As an SDA I used to have that arrogant attitude. One day, when I am not so tired I will tell you how God took me down a couple of pegs. It was very interesting and I am glad it happened. God is awesome. What more can I say. Diana |
