Category: Personal

With Tears, Megachurch Pastor Defends $200K Lamborghini Gift to Wife

The new pastor of a South Carolina megachurch gave his wife a $200,000 Lamborghini SUV for their eighth anniversary five days ago, and he’s been getting heat on social media for it ever since.

U.K. Students to Learn that Boys Have Periods, Too

Students in one United Kingdom city now will be taught that boys have periods, too, as part of new curriculum recommendations approved by the city council.

Muslim Democrat Mocks Mike Pence’s Christian Faith

A Minnesota Muslim Democrat Congresswoman took to social media Tuesday to mock Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith.

Chance the Rapper Is Kicking Smoking After Embracing Bible Reading

Exceprt from the article:

“I’m going away to learn the Word of God which I am admittedly very unfamiliar with. I’ve been brought up by my family to know Christ but I haven’t taken it upon myself to really just take a couple days and read my bible. we all quote scripture and tell each other what God likes and doesn’t like but how much time do we spend as followers of Jesus to really just read and KNOW his Word. I’m definitely guilty of not devoting time to it … So don’t bother me, ill be back soon enough, with five or more books from bible read. Oh yeah and cigarette free.”

First Step Act recognizes that prisoners, too, are made in God’s image

The current rules and treatment of prisoners in the federal justice system are an affront to the dignity of men and women made in the image of God.

Harry Anderson Painting at the Center of Film Controversy

A new petition is calling for the pulling of a Deadpool movie poster that depicts the antihero as Jesus Christ.

Miss Universe Has Its First Trans Contestant — While Miss USA Stirs Criticism

A transgender Miss Universe contestant puts the contradictions of progressive feminism into sharp relief.

La Sierra University film student’s PBS, NAD projects aim for positive impact

Michelle Noland, a senior La Sierra University Film and Television Production major, recently launched into the world of professional storytelling where she is using her talents to impact others’ lives. PBS affiliate KQED inked a distribution deal with Noland in August for inclusion of her award-winning short film “She Isn’t Here” in the nationwide series, “Film School Shorts.” The film, which is expected to be released in April 2019, explores the anxiety disorder agoraphobia.

Ellen G. White and Intermittent Fasting

Our plain food, eaten twice a day, is enjoyed with a keen relish. We have no meat, cake, or any rich food upon our table. We use no lard, but in its place, milk, cream, and some butter. We have our food prepared with but little salt, and have dispensed with spices of all kinds. We breakfast at seven, and take our dinner at one…I have within eight months lost twenty-five pound of flesh. I am better without it. I have more strength than I have realized for years. – Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, 1864, Vol. 4, p. 154.

The World’s First Christian Airline Is Coming, and It Won’t Charge Missionaries for Luggage Fees

Suspensions Are Down In U.S. Schools But Large Racial Gaps Remain

Still, they documented some heartening changes between 2012 and 2016.

• The proportion of all students suspended from school at least once during the year fell from 5.6 percent to 4.7 percent.
• Among high school students, the percentage suspended fell even more, from 9.6 to 7.6 percent.
• Suspension rates fell around the country, in each of the biggest-population states. Only one state, Mississippi, saw a persistent increase year by year.
• Hispanic students experienced the largest decrease –a 30 percent drop in suspensions.
• Suspension rates fell faster for those most often suspended — Black students and students with a disability.

But, on the flip side:

• Black high school students are still twice as likely (12.8 percent) to be suspended as white (6.1 percent) or Hispanic (6.3 percent) high school students.
• And students with a disability are also twice as likely (12.8 percent) to be suspended as those without a disability (6.9 percent).

Uproar as Adventist University in Uganda Bans Miniskirts, Pants, Lipstick and Nail Polish

A recent tightening of the dress code at an Adventist University in Uganda has caused an uproar on social media. Bugema University has banned women from wearing pants, sleeveless tops, miniskirts, lipstick, earrings and nail polish next semester. “No student should come back with the above mentioned next semester.

Sorrel: The Ruby-Red Caribbean Christmas Drink Flavored With Black History

This festive punch, made from hibiscus, is the taste of the holidays throughout the islands. It is also a close cousin to African-American “red drink,” described as “liquid soul.”

Beware of ‘Selfie Wrist,’ Which Is Apparently an Actual Thing

A 2018 study discovered that over the past six years, around 259 deaths had been associated with taking a selfie!

North American Division Responds to False Claim | North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

Full Statement here

Teens and Social Media

We would never let a young child simply turn on a stovetop and begin playing with it, nor would we hand a 14-year-old the keys to a truck and expect them to have the knowledge, skill and good judgment to handle it. Likewise, we should not hand kids a smart phone or other connected device without first proactively shaping how they think about and interact with this new technology.

Five steps on what a parent can do to provide the knowledge, skill and good judgment to handle social media:

1. To start, talk with them about the biblical principle of stewardship. (Psalm 24:1)
2. Then, to keep the conversation going, develop a working knowledge and understanding of social media.
3. Use that knowledge to monitor and limit their activities online.
4. Teach safety skills online.
5. And finally, teach them personal responsibility and godly fidelity in whatever they do. (Colossians 3:23-24)

click for – Full Article

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What factors keep members coming back to their congregations week after week.

Results from seven Divisions (three African Divisions, South Asia-Pacific, South Pacific, South American, and Inter-American Divisions) show that the church doctrines were the top factor that influenced members’ decision as to where to attend, these doctrines are the top factor (54%) that influenced regular attendance.

In the North American Division, the three top factors that attracted members to attend their congregations were:

• The presentation of church doctrines (41%)
• Friends (40%)
• Worship style (35%).

Once again, it is important to note that the main reason that respondents come to (and keep coming back) to Adventist churches is because of strong doctrines; the things that make us distinctly “Adventist,” make us different than other churches – and in this case, that’s a good thing! Our fundamental beliefs are all ultimately different ways of helping people to see Jesus Christ. They need to be integrated into sermons and Sabbath school lessons, but more is needed. Church members should be taught how to apply these beliefs to their lifestyle and personal relationship with Jesus.  Full Article.

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Modesty

In our time, it’s more urgent than ever to rebut those who deny that truth is knowable. The intellectual left has long been under the sway of postmodernism, which denies that objective truth exists. Oprah Winfrey reflected this thinking (intellectual trends never remain cabined on campuses; they trickle down) when she spoke of “your truth” at the Golden Globes. In other words, you have your truth and I have mine, which means truth doesn’t exist. The populist right is feverishly denouncing all uncongenial facts as “fake news.”

Truth is not subjective. Water will freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit whether we believe it or not.  – Full Article.

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Seventh-day Adventist develops and releases a “meditation app for LGBTQ Christians, their friends, family and allies.” Full Article.

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