Northern California Conference Votes to Act Independent of the General Conference
Hi, Jody,
I checked and found that the correct spelling for the website is www.evangelicalbible.com
There is no “s” in it. Hope this works. If not try putting it in Google. If you still have a problem, send me an email, hfsturges@gmail.com

Northern California Conference Votes to Act Independent of the General Conference
Hello Bill,
Thanks for your reply. As for “Ten reasons that men should not be ordained” — it was simply humor, and intended to lighten up the conversation.
Seriously, we as a church desperately need to become more knowledgeable on the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, When I hear a sermon, it is clear to me as to whether the Spirit of Prophecy has been consulted. Ellen White has given us information and warnings that we all need. It is sad to see the blatant rebellion in the church over women’s ordination. It is also sad to see some churches still hanging onto “New Theology” (all of grace and none of keeping the law, salvation even for those who continue in sin.) Possibly even worse is to see “church growth” coming hand in hand with eastern forms of meditation, etc. But enough of that.
I consider myself to be a literate SDA. I have read much in the Spirit of Prophecy. I have the EGW CDROM on my computer. Which makes it easy to find answers in the SOP without having to read the context. I have all my life used the Bible as a reference book — looking up texts, reading portions here and there. Our Sabbath School Lessons promote this approach. About five years ago, I decided to read the Bible through cover to cover. It was an eye opener! It brought to mind many important messages I needed to know. Each year I choose a different Bible to read. — The King James Bible is my standard, The Andrews Study Bible (NKJV), Everett Fox’s translation of parts of the Bible – translating the Bible to be read aloud, The Reese Chronological Bible, etc.
I strongly recommend that every SDA read the Bible through cover to cover. Even if using just your own favorite translation. I like to mark my Bible, using four different colors to emphasize certain points.
One other thing, it is impossible to find a Bible in a bookstore of such quality that your highlighter does not bleed through to the next page. I would recommend looking at www.evangelicalbibles.com This is a source of really good Bibles. Such will cost from $150 – $220. But if you are going to spend many hours reading it through, it is worthwhile to have a high quality Bible. It makes it a joy to hold it and read it.
Pray while you read the Bible. It will strengthen your prayer life. Get up an hour early each morning to read and pray. It will brighten up the whole day

Northern California Conference Votes to Act Independent of the General Conference
When we got home after five years in Ethiopia, we attended first the Alhambra, CA church. It was the first “million dollar Adventist church” I had seen. I remember being a little confused. “What was going on.” In Ethiopia we attended a simple church with cement block walls, and a corrugated iron roof. I commented on this at another such church, and was informed that the church should be of such quality at least as the homes of the people. Hmm-m-m- maybe.

At a camp meeting I visited with some ministerial students at one of our colleges. As we talked, I got the impression that they were looking forward to being the “CEO of a large Adventist church!” From my observations elsewhere, I noted that the most “successful” ministers were those of charismatic personalities who were skilled at preaching interesting sermons.

Looking back to the 1940’s at our church in the Northern California Conference, we had a pastor who refused to conduct public “efforts.” He said it “was not his thing.” But he was constantly conducting personal Bible studies with people. Every month or so he brought in new people for baptism. As he aged, and was put in a nursing home, he was still writing letters to save souls. I have ever since been impressed with this pastor.

When it comes to women’s ordination, I have thought we need to examine our program of ordaining men! We need to ordain men who have an interest and ability to save souls. Especially from among people in the community. We have a liberal sprinkling of charismatic and talented pastors who can attract Adventists from other Adventist churches. We need to change our program to ordaining only those pastors who show an interest and a talent for reaching the community with our message. If some of those new pastors happen to be women, and they have a demonstrated interest and talent for winning souls, and are willing to see this as their most important work; I say “More power to them.” We need them.

What does it take to be a true Seventh-day Adventist?
I just looked in my WordSearch computer Bible program and “trinity” is not a Bible Term. “Godhead” is found in three places, all in the New Testament.
Ellen White made another comment, that we must recognize three persons in the Godhead, equal in their being divine and eternal. Beyond this, “silence is golden.”
It is so easy to want to know more. But we are only asked to believe, trust, and love.

Former LSU student letter reveals professor’s agenda
In the vernacular of WWII I am just a PFC (poor fool civilian). But I have been reading of this debacle at LSU and am more than concerned.

Recently I have been purposely spending an hour each day in Prayer and Bible study, with no agenda except to hear what God has to say to me. It has been a revelation. In a number of areas new ideas and new applications have been impressed on me.

Specifically to this issue, in Jeremiah and Ezekiel there are extensive denunciations of Israel and Judah because of their idolatry, oppression of the poor, Sabbath desecration, love of gain, and violence. From where we sit today, we look down on Israel and Judah. But are we any better? Is God pleased with the present day church? Don’t we have “other gods” but just with different names?

I can’t help but think that we as a church are just as deserving of judgment as were they. Yet even in the wickedness of Israel and Judah, there was always a righteous remnant to whom God had special regard, and to whom He gave special blessings. The warnings and the promises are still for us today.

Hubert F. Sturges

A “Christian Agnostic”?
I read with interest the article about Ervin Taylor, PhD, the “Christian agnostic.” He is reported to believe, “perhaps for political reasons in certain settings, that he does actually believe in God and in Jesus as the Son of God, born into this world from a virgin woman and raised from the dead after three days to ascend to heaven to intercede for us with the Father.” (This statement by Sean Pitman might not exactly reflect Dr. Taylor’s belief, but I quote it as it probably comes close.)

This statement describes the “crossless Christ.” It is a common belief among Christians who like also to say, “Jesus is enough.”

Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost.” The “lost?” The concept of being lost comes straight from Genesis. To believe that you are lost requires that you accept the Genesis story in total, or there is no basis for being “lost.”

Yet, Dr. Taylor, I will grant is an honest man. He is simply expressing the all too common belief of many Christians that Jesus Christ has no requirements. He is simply giving a philosophical basis for the lukewarm lifestyle of far too many even of Adventists. Jesus Himself said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

If we all from highest to lowest let this guide our lifestyle, many problems in the church would be solved. If we do not do this, let’s face it, we are not even Christians.

A big reason why so many people are leaving the church
Dear Sean,

Why do people leave the church? When you speak of relational – it is not just whether or not people have found friends and peers in the church, though this may be the most common reason. There is also disappointment on the part of some regarding the administration of the church. Once a person has left for those reasons, they will quickly find doctrinal reasons for their leaving, which are more acceptable. It is easier to claim that they left because the church was “wrong” doctrinally, than to leave for disagreements or lack of friends.

These doctrinal reasons quickly find a life of their own. People who have left will soon actually believe what was at first just an excuse. At this stage it is almost impossible to convince them that the doctrine of the church is reasonable and correct.

But, again, why do people leave the church? I will come back to the relational factor – but it is not human relations, but a living relation with Christ. We live in a time when every person is battered with hundreds, even thousands of impressions every day. It takes a real determined intentional effort to make time for prayer and Bible study. One has to clear away so much of the trash in which we all live.

Lacking this, a person becomes jaded, Biblically illiterate, and is pulled to the materialistic culture of the day. On this, I agree with Ted Wilson, our greatest need is for revival and reformation. We need to study the first of the Ten Commandments, and clear away all and everything that interferes with our own personal relation with Christ.

This also leads to the path a person must tread to come back to the church. His love and his commitment to Christ must be revived and strengthened. When a person is re-converted and spends real time in Bible study and prayer, he will find true doctrine and true friends too.

Hubert F. Sturges

A big reason why so many people are leaving the church
Sean,
About that “Social club” mentality … What if you called it “fellowship” would that affect your thinking? They say that if a new convert does not make real friends within the first six months, he will leave. Maybe that “social club” is a good idea?

I believe that doctrine is important — very important. I also suspect that people who don’t “believe” the doctrines of the church are more likely “ignorant” of what they are.

Evangelists and pastors over and over again will say that a relationship with Jesus Christ is primary. In this area, a young person will likely adopt the attitude and interests that his parents or mentors are excited about. What we need in this church is more “holy excitement!”

Doctrines? I believe that a person must have an understanding of the Bible and its doctrines that matches his level of education. If a PhD has a fourth grade understanding of the Bible, he is vulnerable to questions he cannot answer. With a PhD understanding of the Bible he will be ready with the answers he needs.