Comment on For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists by Lydian Belknap.
12-11-10
Dear D.Fender (11-19-10)
From a purely human standpoint, I agree with you that the problem truly isn’t “fixable” but with God in control it IS fixable!
However, for HIM to do it we fallen human beings must humble ourselves in earnest prayer, confess our own inability to make right the many wrongs we have mired ourselves in, be willing to let go of our own inability to solve the mess we have made for ourselves and truly open our hearts door to be cleansed of our own stubborn wills and faults. WE have to be emptied of sin and cleansed from our own wicked selves before He can truly work in us and through us to correct this humanly unfixable mess we find ourselves in.
God alone knows who has “not bent the knees to Baal.” He alone knows where to find honest, God-fearing teachers for us–many of whom may not at this time be members of our church. Look at Batchelor, Boonstra, and David A. (I can never remember how to spell his last name!)–not one of whom were reared “Adventist.” And there are others I might name. God knows where faithful jewels are, though hidden from our view, who can step in and do a mighty work for Him that those of us that were “raised” in the church cannot and have not done. We not only need to, with the help of divine wisdom, remove the bad branches from our educational “tree” but we had better start feeding the “roots” of that tree (our children) a lot better “fertilizer” that they are apparently not currently getting if we want them to be Daniels and Davids when they reach adulthood! We cannot expect them to carry the torch of truth through thick and thin if we haven’t given it to them in the first place!
God has a thousand ways to solve the problems we foolish mortals have brought upon ourselves but WE, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must be cleansed of our own human pride, opinions, and sin before He can–or will–work for us and through us.
The problem is not unsolvable for God. The problem is with US. As someone once said–”We have met the enemy and it is US!!” We must face the fact that WE are the cause of all of our problems and the only solution to these problems is by admitting this and letting His Holy Spirit come into out hearts and change US! Remember the Laodicean church–that’s US,–folks, is the only one of the seven churches that God has absolutely NOTHING good to say about! I believe the shaking time” is upon us and only those who have “fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.” Some of our “brightest lights ” will go out–but that does not necessarily mean they will leave the church. A light can go out and still remain securely in its socket until it is removed from it’s place by someone else. Let us “watch and pray” that WE will not be one of those “lights!”
Lydian
Table of Contents
Recent Comments by Lydian Belknap
Louie Bishop Testifies, Again, about His Experience at La Sierra University
@Larry:
Larry, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Just get rid of those who teach and and support that which is contrary to the 28 SDA fundamental beliefs.
The reality of creation is the basis of our name
This is a wonderful sermon. Due to problems with my Hope Chanel system I was unable to listen to it so was delighted to see it printed on your website. I was able to make a printed copies of it to share with some friends who also were not able to hear it. Thanks so much!
LSU graduate comments on LSU conflict
11-12-10
A short while back a dear friend sent me an email with lots of beautiful pictures showing a garden (somehow I lost the site) in which every bush had been transformed into a bird, an animal–even a child. It was absolutely magnificent!
As I looked at one of the amazing displays I started wondering what would happen if I was actually in that garden and approached a group of people who were also enjoying the beauty it held. And if after a few moments I said something like this:
“This is so beautiful–and to think Nature did it all on her own! It is truly amazing of what she can do if people will just back off and let her do her own thing.”
What would their reaction have been? (I suspect they would have thought I was somewhat deranged and slowly backed away and left before I became violent!)
Obviously that garden had a lot of very talented hands (and minds) behind all of that beauty and I suspect they were there every day clipping away the stray twigs and leaves that started appearing here and there.)
But is my disbelief in evolution unreasonable, and show my lack of knowledge (as some scientists contend), when I question that this beautiful world just “evolved” from chaos with no intelligent mind behind it? Why can’t we see it happening today? Who turned off the switch? And why?
I’m not a scientist but if this isn’t a case of “The Emperor Has No Clothes” I don’t know what one would be. We are often overwhelmed with the many wonderful and useful things humans have come up with that makes our lives more livable but every new invention or other things ALWAYS have a creative mind behind them. Why is it so difficult to recognize that the wonderful world we live in HAD to have an intelligent mind behind it? What ever happened to common sense?
Lydian
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.
LSU graduate comments on LSU conflict
When Man’s wisdom–however intelligent it may sound, or how many “letters” there are behind someone’s name (or even a lot of “someones”) that proclaim it–if it contradicts a single plain “Thus saith the Lord” it is NOT “present truth!” however much it may appeal to the liberal minds of millions who may wish an easier way to get to heaven.
I fear we are a long way from being the “people of the Book” we once were! But, guess what!–God knew this would happen and He called the last of the seven churches “Laodicea.” Truly, we are saying, “I am rich…and have need of nothing.” (After all, folks didn’t have the brilliant scientists such as we have today when You told Moses–and even our Adventist pioneers
–You did it is six literal days and rested the seventh!)
I am NOT against true science or scientists! There definitely is a real place for it (and them) and I truly believe it is “God given.” I have a LOT of respect for true science and true scientists but when someone–anyone–goes against a plain “Thus saith the Lord” they lose me. (Not that these folks really care if a very “ignorant”, very “old lady” doesn’t believe them!) But God does and that’s enough for me!
As Bob said–“All have free will. To each his own.” I agree! (But I still tremble for those who believe ideas contrary to what God says–even if it comes from the mouth of a renowned scientist, an “Adventist” teacher or an “Adventist” preacher. (Please forgive me if I have misunderstood or misjudged anyone.)
