Thank you for your comment, Bill. I agree with you that …

Comment on The Physiology of It – Faith vs. Evidence by Lydian.

Thank you for your comment, Bill.

I agree with you that the things that are happening do not hasten nor delay Jesus coming. My point was that I believe that they do show, at least to me,that the things happening all around us indicate that it is a lot nearer than we realize.

The nations are angry, violence is increasing,morals can’t get much worse and many thinking people are saying “something BIG is going to happen soon!” But they have no clue as to what it is.

It’s our responsibility to tell them and I am thankful for the many ministries that are doing just that. But what about the laity? Don’t we realize we have a responsibility too?

I think many–maybe the majority–of us are sleep at the wheel and unless we wake up and “be about our Father’s business” we may wake up too late and find ourselves, like the virgins who went to find more oil, “outside the door.”

Lydian Also Commented

The Physiology of It – Faith vs. Evidence
9-25-11
Bill said:

 “And for you and me, the final challenge is this, Is it possible the church God has ordained to give the last message of grace and judgment will become the final antichrist movement?

 “ I say it is possible. And unless church members take this possibility seriously, it will surely become a reality. To deny the possibility is to guarantee the final failure. For no one will act, if they think they don’t need to.

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Bill, Ellen White plainly say there will be a “falling away” and that “Many will leave our ranks.”  But I’ve never seen a quotation where she even intimates that it will become the final antichrist movement–but then, I confess, I haven’t read every sentence that she wrote.  

I do remember reading in several places that there will be a great “falling away from the truth” and that “many will leave our ranks and become some of our bitterest enemies.”  (These may not be quoted 100% accurately because I didn’t take the time to actually look them up but I think they are the general idea of what she said.)    I believe there are many honest hearted Adventists around the world that will be ready–and that many other honest hearted people  will join our ranks when they see all the signs taking place in the world.

We are plainly told that there will be a “great shaking” to take place among us–and I am more convinced every day that this mess we are in could well be the thing that will bring this shaking on.  Couple that with scientists telling us we will be running out of oil in 30-40 years and so far we do not have anything to take it’s place.  Since the world’s economy depends on oil (our airplanes, cars, boats and many other things) it  isn’t hard for me to see how the world’s economy can collapse and everything spin out of control.

However, I really don’t see Jesus waiting that long because the United States clearly has a place in the final events so it must remain a “super power” to do this.  What this does tell me–and many folks probably won’t agree–is that Jesus’ return is a whole lot closer than we dream of.  

Ellen White also tells us that it is vital that we study and really get to know and understand Daniel and the Revelation.  They are THE Books that are written for OUR TIME and if we do NOT know, understand, and share them with others we will not go through and be ready to meet Jesus when He does come. As I am beginning to think, all of this evolution thing–which I’ll agree is important–but it can become a distraction for many–that will bind our eyes to this other, vitally important, point.   We were once known as “the people of the Book” but I don’t think that is true today.

And I totally agree with this statement of yours that “no one will act, if they think they don’t need to.”


The Physiology of It – Faith vs. Evidence
I would just like to point out that there are signs all around us that tell us we are approaching the end of ttime more rapidly than many would wish to believe. To name a few:

Our economy runs on oil and the scientists tell us that we will run out of it in about 40-50 years. So far there is nothing to replace it except nuclear energy–which is, as we already know, extremely dangerous. One country, and I think it is Germany (someone please correct me if I’m wrong) is already beginning to stop using it.

That our monetary system is in a state of disaster and the financial crisis , which is still in its early stages,should be apparent to every thinking person, and will soon be upon us. Gas prices are over $4.00 a gallon now and will only get worse the closer we come to running out of oil. Medical and educational costs are skyrocketing, the housing bubble has collapsed, stock markets are plunging, unemployment is global even as it’s population is growing by leaps and bounds and starvation is every where–even here in America.

We have excessive government debt as well as tremendous personal debt. There doesn’t seems to be little doubt among thinkers that we are headed for another depression (which, “they” say that will make the one in the 20’s and 30’s look like good times.) As one who lived through it, I can assure you they weren’t!

The retirement checks many of you receive through the church will begin to drastically shrink–and may eventually be unpayable as unemployment grows and tithes begin to shrink. You don’t depend on those checks as you have ample investments as well as a good bank account? Well, don’t depend on them either.

One of my uncles was one of, if not THE richest man in our town, and laughed when my grandmother repeatedly begged him to go get his money out of the bank. The last time she called him he told her to mind her own business and slammed down the phone–he knew what he was doing and he didn’t need the advice of an old woman who only had a third grade education!

Well, that very night the banks closed and every one was surrounded by police with guns drawn–at least in our town. No one could enter a bank and he, as well as thousands of others, were instantly reduced to paupers. (What happened to their money or the thousands of dollars worth of jewelry my aunt owned will never be known this side of eternity.)

You don’t have yours in a bank? You may be feeling very safe and secure because you have many good investments–but even the stock market is also having it’s problems you know. (I was only 5 when the depression hit so I don’t know if there even was a stock market back in those days.)

The value of the dollar (which is no longer backed by gold) will shrink. It is only the faithful few that have the promise that their food and water will be sure in those awful times we are facing–and even that won’t be a banquet–but my God will see to it that it is enough! (Who knows, He may even be sending us manna from heaven and water from a rock at that time–and that’s fine with me! I’ve always wanted to taste manna anyway!)

Please, those of you who are preaching “another gospel” stop and think. Are you sure it is truly worth the price you will someday soon have to pay?


The Physiology of It – Faith vs. Evidence
From someone who really has a hard time understanding all the ins and outs of the “science” in favor of evolution, I feel I have all the “evidence” I need for believing the creation story in Genesis in the many prophecies contained in the Bible. Prophecies which, in many cases, were given centuries before the events took place in what is now history. (I’ve never been able to confirm this but I have read that almost 40% of the Bible is prophecy.) And I suspect there are many like me in the Adventist church–as well as believing Christians “out there somewhere.”

As Ellen White plainly says, there will be many in heaven that were never privileged to have even heard of the Adventist message which, as I see it, really puts to great shame those of us who have heard of it but turned our backs on it. What excuse will those who have done this have when the sky is “rolled back as a scroll” and they have to face the One who has returned to save His own? I suspect they will be the loudest crying out for the rocks to fall on them and hide them from the face of the One who created us, Who died to save us, and Who gave us so many reasons to believe in what He has said.

I don’t believe there will be much joking and finger pointing on that great and wonderful day. So enjoy your “fun” while you can. Someday–and I believe sooner than any of us think–you will wish with all your heart that you could live your life over.


Recent Comments by 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.


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:
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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.
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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.

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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.