God, Sky & Land – by Brian Bull and Fritz Guy
Jody.

Sorry to be so slow answering your question as why they don’t form their own church instead of sticking with us.

It’s really quite simple. If they left they would simply be a “little frog in a big puddle” instead of “a big frog in a smaller puddle.” I could be wrong but I believe they want to take over LSU first–and then the rest of the church little by little–or maybe in one big swoop. Wouldn’t they just love to sit in the chair of the GC president?

But, thankfully, God has drawn a line which they cannot cross. They are not challenging weak human beings but the God of the universe and He will not be trifled with. He is giving them enough rope to hang themselves on but they cannot go beyond that line which He has made.

We have been told that there will be a big “shaking” of the Adventist church shortly before Jesus comes. I believe this is bringing it on–and it is just one more sign that Jesus coming is a whole lot closer than we think! The important thing (as I see it) is for us as individuals to be ready to meet Him. Let’s not get so tied up in this or any other distraction that we end up losing our own salvation.

EGW tells us over and over again that it is of the most importance that we, as individuals, understand the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. These are the most necessary books of the Bible for us to know, understand, and preach to the world at this time in history.

I’ll admit I do not know them as well as I should and my daughter (with whom I live) and I are endeavoring to make it our first priority–to study them until we understand them well enough to share them with others in a meaningful way. At 87 I probably don’t have a lot of time left but will do the best I can during it and hope I can be a help to my daughter since often “two heads can be better than one!”

“Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

God, Sky & Land – by Brian Bull and Fritz Guy
Bill–

“And if we are waiting for someone to “care” who will do anything about it, I suspect we are in for a long wait.”

*******************

And I more than suspect you are right, Bill!

It’s been several months since the GC met in Atlanta and we heard such wonderful promises about the problem being worked on–but, there has been since then, almost total silence.

I realize private sin must be handled quietly but this certainly isn’t “private.” The opposition is making sure it’s out there for the whole world to see and, to me anyway, the almost total silence from us these past months will lead the “world” to believe we are a pretty weak kneed bunch that really does’t have a position worth defending. Meanwhile, the evolution side is going all-out to publicly make their point–and to make us look silly. I just don’t understand it!

As for the GRI, I am shocked and saddened at their total lack of involvement. At the very least (or so it seems to me) they should be putting out some attractive information that defends our belief. There are other sites out there that are strongly standing up for Creation and putting out beautiful articles, videos, books and other information for all the world to see–and their offerings are for folks from the cradle to the grave–while we
are cowering in the background in total silence.

What in this world is wrong with US? Is the Michigan Conference the only organization in our whole church that is willing to stand up and be counted?

I don’t mean to be critical but I am simply bewildered at the way things have gone since the GC in Atlanta–and I am sure I’m not the only one.

Will the Lord find any sort of faith in our church when He comes? At the rate we rate we are going, I doubt it! (It’s no wonder that God calls us Laodiceans! How much longer will He wait before He spews us out of His mouth?

.

God, Sky & Land – by Brian Bull and Fritz Guy
There is something else I would like for someone to tell me—

Where in the world is the GRI in all of this? I have searched the internet and find virtually nothing there that would attract anybody to what it has to say–if it has anything to say.

There are several non-Adventists sites that are full of books, videos, etc. They have these things for Toddlers through University students and they are attractively presented and a lot that aren’t very expensive.

I thought we were supposed to be the head and not the tail in all things Biblical. From what I’ve been able to find our “outreach” on the web isn’t even a very impressive “tail”!

I asked this question once before and was told GRI was basically a “research center.” But nobody explained to me what earthly good a “research center” is if it’s “research” isn’t posted in an attractive way and made available to the public?

True, these centers do not yet teach the Sabbath but maybe God is holding His Hand over this right now for reasons only He knows about. My personal conviction is that the honest in heart–which these people seem to be–will see it and proclaim it when God sees the time is right. Will these folks be ready to meet Jesus when He comes while some of the rest of us are standing there wondering “what happened?”

A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
So here I sit–a “very old lady”–totally confused and not having a clue as to whether to donate or not–or where to donate if I should.

As things stand now I think I will just continue putting my own little amount to my current “missionary out reach” of buying “Steps to Christ” and “Who Do You Think You Are?” and passing them on to the clerks in the stores where I shop or other people I meet that I think would like them.

If and when you folks decide on what, how and where to help in this very worthy project let me know and I’ll do what I can then.

A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
I just noticed that there is such a program in place in northern California but I would want one that is nation wide. After all, if our kids aren’t already in danger here in the southern union also (as well the rest of the US) it’s most likely only a short matter of time till they will be.

A New Endowment Program for Adventist Education
I am far from a wealthy person who could and gladly would donate large sums of money to such a program but I could and would gladly donate some if such assurances were solidly in place. I’m sure there are many “old folks” like me “out there” who feel the same way. (Is there already such a program in place? If so please post all needed information.)

The God of the Gaps
While browsing my rather voluminous file of articles to “save” I ran across this jewel—I think it is worth saving and thinking about–especially the last statement by Darwin himself:
**************************
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

While Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a relatively young archetype, the evolutionary worldview itself is as old as antiquity. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Anaximander postulated the development of life from non-life and the evolutionary descent of man from animal. Charles Darwin simply brought something new to the old philosophy — a plausible mechanism called “natural selection.” Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous genetic mutations. Suppose a member of a species developed a functional advantage (it grew wings and learned to fly). Its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to their offspring. The inferior (disadvantaged) members of the same species would gradually die out, leaving only the superior (advantaged) members of the species. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild. Natural selection is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic breeding. Over the centuries, human breeders have produced dramatic changes in domestic animal populations by selecting individuals to breed. Breeders eliminate undesirable traits gradually over time. Similarly, natural selection eliminates inferior species gradually over time.
\
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – Slowly But Surely…

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a slow gradual process. Darwin wrote, “…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps.” [1] Thus, Darwin conceded that, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” [2] Such a complex organ would be known as an “irreducibly complex system”. An irreducibly complex system is one composed of multiple parts, all of which are necessary for the system to function. If even one part is missing, the entire system will fail to function. Every individual part is integral. [3] Thus, such a system could not have evolved slowly, piece by piece. The common mousetrap is an everyday non-biological example of irreducible complexity. It is composed of five basic parts: a catch (to hold the bait), a powerful spring, a thin rod called “the hammer,” a holding bar to secure the hammer in place, and a platform to mount the trap. If any one of these parts is missing, the mechanism will not work. Each individual part is integral. The mousetrap is irreducibly complex. [4]

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a theory in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we’ve made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. We now know that there are in fact tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level. Specified complexity pervades the microscopic biological world. Molecular biologist

Michael Denton wrote, “Although the tiniest bacterial cells are incredibly small, weighing less than 10-12 grams, each is in effect a veritable micro-miniaturized factory containing thousands of exquisitely designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery, made up altogether of one hundred thousand million atoms, far more complicated than any machinery built by man and absolutely without parallel in the non-living world.” [5]

And we don’t need a microscope to observe irreducible complexity. The eye, the ear and the heart are all examples of irreducible complexity, though they were not recognized as such in Darwin’s day. Nevertheless, Darwin confessed, “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” [6]

Footnotes:
1. Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life,” 1859, p. 162.
2. Ibid. p. 158.
3. Michael Behe, “Darwin’s Black Box,” 1996.
4. “Unlocking the Mystery of Life,” documentary by Illustra Media, 2002.
5. Michael Denton, “Evolution: A Theory in Crisis,” 1986, p. 250.
6. Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life,” 1859, p. 155.

****************
I don’t think Sean could have said it better himself!

Walla Walla University: The Collegian Debates Evolution vs. Creation
Sean, I guess I “bit off more than I can chew” when I subscribed to some of your other options.
All I can handle is the ^way it used to be”–like this column still is. Please put me back to this mode of information and I will be very happy. Thanks.