I recently came across a website that implied that Jesus did not coexist with Christ.
Upon reviewing their site, they quote the Spirit of Prophecy and uphold Adventist health principles, but something to the left of the site caught my eye.
http://www.worldslastchance.com/biblestudies_godhead.php
read in Full the Article entitled: "Not the Trinity Nor 3 gods but One God"
Then review the article: "Aspects of the divine begetting"
In response to what I found to be errors in their interpretation of the Bible, I submitted the following message:
I find the Short Studies Area concerning 3 God's to overlook some vital verses in the Bible which reveals there are indeed 3 entities that comprise the trinity God head and hence one God. One in purpose, thinking, nature and will. God, in three persons.
The Name, and title GOD refers to three specific beings. The Bible is clear on this: Back in creation, Genesis Chapter 1:26, (I believe that God has this in the early part of scripture, so we can plainly see)
"And God said let US make man in our image, after OUR own likeness..."
Can angels create? No. God couldn't have been speaking to the animals here either. The three, the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, were in agreement that THEY should create mankind in THEIR (plural possessive) image.
When we take a look at another verse in the Bible in the New Testament, we can again see that there are indeed 3 beings involved in the ministry of the supreme Trinity.
In addition based on the Genesis account, we cannot conclude that Jesus was not co-existent with God the Father. There were three in the beginning of time.
Christ IS coexistent with Jehovah God, another name by which God the Father is referenced. Otherwise, please explain where Christ ascended up into after He was resurrected. Who sent Gabriel down to call Him forth? and to where?
Clearly, God the Father, as the Bible states, sent the angel down to call Jesus to return into Heaven. This is why He was resurrected. Christ had to return to heaven from where He came...being that He , Christ was a part of the Trinity in the beginning of time and was sent to earth to live, minister and die. His work was complete in earth. He had to now return to heaven (to co exist):
St. John 20:16-17 (Mary has come on the 1st day of the week to Jesus' tomb, believing that someone had removed Jesus' body. When Jesus reveals himself to her, He also admonished her not to touch Him, because He had not yet ascended to His Father.
An ascention to heaven to god the Father implies that at some point in time, Jesus would have to co-exist with God the Father. The prefix "co" simply means "with" to exist with. It is clear that Christ was with the Father in the beginning (Creation) and had to return to heaven at the end of His earthly ministry.
But let us see who the Bible identifies these three as, as I started to previously:
Luke 3:21 and 22 reads: Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
and the holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said , Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased."
In this passage of scripture we see plainly that there are 3 entities: God the Son, who was baptized,
God the Father Whose voice was heard from Heaven, and God the holy Spirit Who descended in the form of a dove.
---------------------------------
http://www.worldslastchance.com/biblestudies_godhead.php
"Conclusion: God passed unto His only begotten son, unconditional life in Himself. As the baby becomes independent of the mother once he is born, Christ became self-existent once He was begotten of the Father. Self-existence was inherent in His birth. In addition to self existence, the son received from His Father His very character [goodness], and thus His express image. There was nothing that the Father had which was not passed unto the His only begotten Son. Even the very Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is shared by His Son. Christ naturally inherited the name of His Father [God]. Christ was not, however, co-existent with His Father, being the Son."
--------------------------
The very last bit of your conclusion is erroneous based on the scripture I provided. Christ was coexistent with the Father from the very beginning.
To deny Christ's co-existence with the Father denies his divinity.
Jesus Christ created this world after a decision was made amongst the THREE to:
"Let US make man..."
John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
The same, was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
in him was life and the life was the life of men.
Please don't equate the Creator to that of a mere man by stating that Christ was not coexistent with the Father.
Just because we messed up by sinning and He decided to take the time to come to earth from his heavenly home where He was coexisting with God the Father and the Spirit and come and dies for our sins....don't take that small period of time He spent on earth to save us from our sins to say that b/c he was on earth and no longer in heaven, existing here, negates scriptural proof that he didn't coexist with the Father from the very beginning of time. Jesus planned to come. Planned to die and then return to co -exist once again with his Father and His Spirit.
Thanks for your consideration and review.
Any other interpretations?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Liars
When I think of the word "abomination" I think of something that is banished or evil. What comes to mind are those huge monsters from that book Where the Wild Things Are.
What also comes to mind is sodomy, which the Lord had to destroy Sodom and Ghomorra over, and lying.
The Bible tells us that lying lips are an abomination unto the Lord.
Why? Can't I tell a little white lie? What if the lie isn't hurting anyone?
Well we know from scripture tha Lucifer was once a bright angel, second in power after the trinity. He is the father of lies, meaning, he created them. Anyone who tells lies isa liar and is the son or daughter of the devil.
Jesus does not identify with liars. He does not call them His own. And the Bible is also clear on which types of people will be consumed with hell fire. And liars are right up there.
If you are in arelationship with someone who lies, get out!
I've had to break business ties with people, because I have found them to be lying, dishonest, untruthful and canniving. And I'm not talking about outside people. People who identify themselves as SDA, are among the best liars around.
Lying of any kind hurts the union, whatever that union may be. If you have abusiness partner who is a perpetual liar, break away from them.
Certainly you can minister to and pray for them, but it is imperative not to go beyond that. People are known by hte friends that they keep. Would you want people to associate you with a liar?
Christ needs an honest tongue and a pure soul for His kingdom? Will you be counted?
What also comes to mind is sodomy, which the Lord had to destroy Sodom and Ghomorra over, and lying.
The Bible tells us that lying lips are an abomination unto the Lord.
Why? Can't I tell a little white lie? What if the lie isn't hurting anyone?
Well we know from scripture tha Lucifer was once a bright angel, second in power after the trinity. He is the father of lies, meaning, he created them. Anyone who tells lies isa liar and is the son or daughter of the devil.
Jesus does not identify with liars. He does not call them His own. And the Bible is also clear on which types of people will be consumed with hell fire. And liars are right up there.
If you are in arelationship with someone who lies, get out!
I've had to break business ties with people, because I have found them to be lying, dishonest, untruthful and canniving. And I'm not talking about outside people. People who identify themselves as SDA, are among the best liars around.
Lying of any kind hurts the union, whatever that union may be. If you have abusiness partner who is a perpetual liar, break away from them.
Certainly you can minister to and pray for them, but it is imperative not to go beyond that. People are known by hte friends that they keep. Would you want people to associate you with a liar?
Christ needs an honest tongue and a pure soul for His kingdom? Will you be counted?
Monday, May 12, 2008
A Little Revelation: Distractions
Today my 1 year oldson was busy opening a closing cupboards. he loves the swinging mechanism, it's just all so fascinating to him. Unfortunately he closed his litle thumb in the door, and althoug nothing major,was quite an experience for him.
HE stopped, startled and began to cry.
I quickly picked him up and almost as if the words were pouring into my head and spilling out of my mouth on its own, I said to him:
"Aww it's okay, just because you got hurt, doesn't mean you can't try again.
You can always try again."
This is true for anyone who has tried to start a business but has failed over and over again.
Perhaps you are a struggling business, and ve been taken advantage of. Maybe you're divorced because of ireconcilable differences. Perhaps yo've been hurt in some form of family, personal or financial relationship or venture." Like God has helped me to understand, it's okay to get hurt. Don't let the hurt paralyze you. You can't stop . You can slow down, but never stop. Don't stop. Stopping allows paralysis to set it. And when you're frozen, you're useless to tose around you but most of all yourself and ultimately God. When you let circumstances define you, you allow yourself to go nowhere in life. YOU define your circumstance.
Come on people, i've been hurt and cheated out of so many things. If I were to to name the people that owe me money or cheated me out of a financial collaboration, This blog would go on for days. I have friends that have been called all sorts of vile names, and been judged based on how they look. These are injustices that hurt, but they cannot allow any of us to stay atill.
And while we stay still, time pass us by? No way. Jesus is coming soon, and these inconveniences are mere distractions.
You're boss fired you? Distraction
Your kids don't listen? Distraction!
Wife a hot mess? It's a distraction!
Your husband not the man you thought he was?
People owe you money?
Friend slept with your man?
Your man slept with your friend?
Church people talking about you? More distractions.
And while we're at it, let's get a bus to drive by you and drench you in a muddy mess.
Distractions come in so many forms. The devil knows what pushes our buttons and will use distractions to keep us from entering into heaven. Don't let the devil distract you. Keep focused on God, and try again, try another open door, I kissed my son's thumb and held him close. God is your father and wants to hold you close and nurse your hurt. He will comfort you. Let Him. Butalways try again..this time wiser, stronger, and spiritually wealthier. This time, try again, in whatever venture you sought out to do, in Jesus' Name.
HE stopped, startled and began to cry.
I quickly picked him up and almost as if the words were pouring into my head and spilling out of my mouth on its own, I said to him:
"Aww it's okay, just because you got hurt, doesn't mean you can't try again.
You can always try again."
This is true for anyone who has tried to start a business but has failed over and over again.
Perhaps you are a struggling business, and ve been taken advantage of. Maybe you're divorced because of ireconcilable differences. Perhaps yo've been hurt in some form of family, personal or financial relationship or venture." Like God has helped me to understand, it's okay to get hurt. Don't let the hurt paralyze you. You can't stop . You can slow down, but never stop. Don't stop. Stopping allows paralysis to set it. And when you're frozen, you're useless to tose around you but most of all yourself and ultimately God. When you let circumstances define you, you allow yourself to go nowhere in life. YOU define your circumstance.
Come on people, i've been hurt and cheated out of so many things. If I were to to name the people that owe me money or cheated me out of a financial collaboration, This blog would go on for days. I have friends that have been called all sorts of vile names, and been judged based on how they look. These are injustices that hurt, but they cannot allow any of us to stay atill.
And while we stay still, time pass us by? No way. Jesus is coming soon, and these inconveniences are mere distractions.
You're boss fired you? Distraction
Your kids don't listen? Distraction!
Wife a hot mess? It's a distraction!
Your husband not the man you thought he was?
People owe you money?
Friend slept with your man?
Your man slept with your friend?
Church people talking about you? More distractions.
And while we're at it, let's get a bus to drive by you and drench you in a muddy mess.
Distractions come in so many forms. The devil knows what pushes our buttons and will use distractions to keep us from entering into heaven. Don't let the devil distract you. Keep focused on God, and try again, try another open door, I kissed my son's thumb and held him close. God is your father and wants to hold you close and nurse your hurt. He will comfort you. Let Him. Butalways try again..this time wiser, stronger, and spiritually wealthier. This time, try again, in whatever venture you sought out to do, in Jesus' Name.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Sean Bell
Are you kidding me? All counts? All officers aqcuited of ALL charges?
This is stupendous. I firmly believe that the judge in this case is a part of some secret brotherhood.
I mean, not even one charge? When these police officers were in plain clothes?
Black people, wake up! You thought the brutality was just from white cops? The 3 cops in this case were black, hispanic and Cyrian-Middle Eastern. You need to walk upright. I'm not saying Bell deserved what happened to him, but if he wasn't at that club, he may be alive today.
God don't like ugly. These officers and this judge will pay with their souls.
God will recompense, Nicole.
This is stupendous. I firmly believe that the judge in this case is a part of some secret brotherhood.
I mean, not even one charge? When these police officers were in plain clothes?
Black people, wake up! You thought the brutality was just from white cops? The 3 cops in this case were black, hispanic and Cyrian-Middle Eastern. You need to walk upright. I'm not saying Bell deserved what happened to him, but if he wasn't at that club, he may be alive today.
God don't like ugly. These officers and this judge will pay with their souls.
God will recompense, Nicole.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Seventh Day Adventists and MySpace
In this age of social networking and online profiles, it's easy to get caught up in the negative stigma associated with online profiles, such as stalkers, harassment, online misuse and abuse of camera feed sharing, and the age old concern for teens and their online safety.
While these dangers are evident, we are to take what the bible says about being in the world but not of the world to the online atmosphere.
MySpace, and other social networking sites, while riddled with creeps is a wonderful method of ministering to other non Adventists and letting them know what we really are about... spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
Mistaken for years by other religions as a cult, Seventh Day Adventists have often been misunderstood. Especially in light of the negative attention that the David Koresh saga brought, we are often shunned or side glanced, ignored, or written off. It's human nature to remember negative things in spite of all the wonderful accomplishments that one may have attained. Keeping this in mind, Adventists can reap the benefits of social networking, while still a light in a dark world.
Here are some links to Seventh Day Adventist social networking sites that you may find useful:
Adventist Mingler --> Let 'em know SDA Flavor sent you
Adventist Myspace --> Tell Jerry SDA Flavor sent you :-)
sdazone.com --> Tell 'em SDA Flavor says hi
http://sdateens.ning.com
Adventist Teachers
The Married Adventist
Adventist Filmmaker
While these dangers are evident, we are to take what the bible says about being in the world but not of the world to the online atmosphere.
MySpace, and other social networking sites, while riddled with creeps is a wonderful method of ministering to other non Adventists and letting them know what we really are about... spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
Mistaken for years by other religions as a cult, Seventh Day Adventists have often been misunderstood. Especially in light of the negative attention that the David Koresh saga brought, we are often shunned or side glanced, ignored, or written off. It's human nature to remember negative things in spite of all the wonderful accomplishments that one may have attained. Keeping this in mind, Adventists can reap the benefits of social networking, while still a light in a dark world.
Here are some links to Seventh Day Adventist social networking sites that you may find useful:
Adventist Mingler --> Let 'em know SDA Flavor sent you
Adventist Myspace --> Tell Jerry SDA Flavor sent you :-)
sdazone.com --> Tell 'em SDA Flavor says hi
http://sdateens.ning.com
Adventist Teachers
The Married Adventist
Adventist Filmmaker
SDA Video Sharing Network
Sites like YouTube, The Jesus TV, God Tube,
Motionbox, and Ovao have pioneered the way social networking
communities interact with one another.
SDA Flavor has launched sdastream.com a video sharing
system which addresses the Seventh Day Adventist experience.
Upload your own productions, search for other video profiles.
Mobilize your videos, and add them as widgets to your blog,
church website or profile page. Share your Adventist life with
others of the same faith or with other denominations. Visit Site
Motionbox, and Ovao have pioneered the way social networking
communities interact with one another.
SDA Flavor has launched sdastream.com a video sharing
system which addresses the Seventh Day Adventist experience.
Upload your own productions, search for other video profiles.
Mobilize your videos, and add them as widgets to your blog,
church website or profile page. Share your Adventist life with
others of the same faith or with other denominations. Visit Site
SDA Website Maker Software
Good News for Churches, Bad News for web development businesses? It all depends on how you look at it. I've personally seen where a church can be at the mercy of a webmaster. Lost number, moved, or just can't be found. Net Adventist puts the power of web development into the hands of the hands of the churches. A great example of viral marketing and brand awareness, Net Adventist is sure to bring more Adventist churches under one umbrella, and solve the problem of "getting with the times" for Adventist churches all around the world. More
Thursday, April 10, 2008
I'd rather have Jesus
Kirk Franklin's old song entitled "Silver and Gold" is a true God send. It is very uplifting and certainly STILL rings true today.
"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold"
Your cars, money, your riches and fame and fortune won't hold you in the midnight hour.It won;t wash you and make you clean. Your money did't sacrifice itself so you can live...So why then do so many of us sacrifice ourselves for the money...the silver and gold?
"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold"
Your cars, money, your riches and fame and fortune won't hold you in the midnight hour.It won;t wash you and make you clean. Your money did't sacrifice itself so you can live...So why then do so many of us sacrifice ourselves for the money...the silver and gold?
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Forgiveness
Once again I attended Queens Light House, and once again, I was not dissappointed. the topic of the sermon was "forgiveness". Forgiveness is important for all of us to obtain from Chist and in turn give unto others. Many Adventists will be lost because of an unforgiving spirit. Sad. Maybe I'll record next week's sermon and post it. Stay tuned.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Black Women Excluding Black Men
After watching this, I'd have to say that I never really thought of this point of view ever. I think it's something to consider
Be Real
In the attempt to find happines. it is easy to become involved in the appearances.
Do not stay in a relationship because of fear of being alone.
Do not settle for anyone below your standards, because you think that he is the only option. And yes, the pickings are very slim for today's woman of color.
see video:
HOEVER, this is not to say that good quality men do not exist.
In everything, BE REAL, be yourself. Don't pretend to be anyone else but you.
Anything other that this is a form of lying. There is a difference between putting YOUR best foot forward, and someone else's.
Do not stay in a relationship because of fear of being alone.
Do not settle for anyone below your standards, because you think that he is the only option. And yes, the pickings are very slim for today's woman of color.
see video:
HOEVER, this is not to say that good quality men do not exist.
In everything, BE REAL, be yourself. Don't pretend to be anyone else but you.
Anything other that this is a form of lying. There is a difference between putting YOUR best foot forward, and someone else's.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Random Thoughts
Wow, well a few things happened over the past few days.
A Jamaican national was arrested for bomb materials possession.
I discovered a very creative and well put together network for Natural Business-Minded Sisters
like myself ;-) Natural Success Network (Thanks Wes!) The site founder is the well known author of Nappturosity
Mashable, a site that I've heard of before has some really great articles that anyone interested in the development of the social networking scene should take an interest in.
A Jamaican national was arrested for bomb materials possession.
I discovered a very creative and well put together network for Natural Business-Minded Sisters
like myself ;-) Natural Success Network (Thanks Wes!) The site founder is the well known author of Nappturosity
Mashable, a site that I've heard of before has some really great articles that anyone interested in the development of the social networking scene should take an interest in.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Fasting
Fasting is a great idea...if you're healthy.
NEVER begin a fast unless you're healthy. The fast I'm talking about is a total fast. No food, period, just water, or lemon water.
Improper fasting can lead to sever, lethargy, dizzines, headaches, and nausea.
Women, NEVER fast during your cycle, unless you're super healthy...TRUST ME I KNOW.
People who are anemic, already have low iron. The cycle lowers that even more. Don't kill yourself by doing a total fast, unless you've consulted with a dietician.
NEVER begin a fast unless you're healthy. The fast I'm talking about is a total fast. No food, period, just water, or lemon water.
Improper fasting can lead to sever, lethargy, dizzines, headaches, and nausea.
Women, NEVER fast during your cycle, unless you're super healthy...TRUST ME I KNOW.
People who are anemic, already have low iron. The cycle lowers that even more. Don't kill yourself by doing a total fast, unless you've consulted with a dietician.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
J.O.Y. Jesus Over You
Tye Tribbett has an awesome song entitled "Still have Joy." It's a very charismatic upbeat song.
While conservatives would frown upon it's repetitive nature, its off the wall rhythm and fast paced beat, I love the words. Maybe because it's a celebration of being grateful for God's mercy in their lives, and perhaps I can relate to the sentiment: "After all thatI've been through...I still have joy" I like to thnk of joy as an acronym: J: Jesus O: Over Y: You
Here are the lyrics:
[Verse 1:]
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him
Though He slay me, I'll trust in the Lord
Though talked about and misunderstood
Yes, I've been lied on, but still have my joy
[Bridge 1:]
Weeping may endure for a night
But I'm glad that I still have joy
[Hook:]
After all that I've been through
I still have my joy
[Bridge 2:]
Oh, oh, oh
This joy I have, the world didn't give it
This joy I have, the world can't take it away
[Hook:]
After all that I've been through
I still have my joy
I still have joy…still have joy
Lyrics Mania
While conservatives would frown upon it's repetitive nature, its off the wall rhythm and fast paced beat, I love the words. Maybe because it's a celebration of being grateful for God's mercy in their lives, and perhaps I can relate to the sentiment: "After all thatI've been through...I still have joy" I like to thnk of joy as an acronym: J: Jesus O: Over Y: You
Here are the lyrics:
[Verse 1:]
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him
Though He slay me, I'll trust in the Lord
Though talked about and misunderstood
Yes, I've been lied on, but still have my joy
[Bridge 1:]
Weeping may endure for a night
But I'm glad that I still have joy
[Hook:]
After all that I've been through
I still have my joy
[Bridge 2:]
Oh, oh, oh
This joy I have, the world didn't give it
This joy I have, the world can't take it away
[Hook:]
After all that I've been through
I still have my joy
I still have joy…still have joy
Lyrics Mania
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Ignoring Our Brothers
Queens Light House Temple is a fairly new church that Corona SDA birthed. It's a pretty small church. And for now they are in alittle house in Queens Village.
Great things cme in small packages. Look at how the Christian movement began with a few desciples? I expect great and wonderful things from this church? Why because, I feel fulfilled on all levels each time I attend.
I am warmly greeted each time I go. The people are heart felt and very friendly ad sincere. The pastor doesn't mince words, and is unafraid of preaching it like it is. He is very practical in he delivery of the message, and I kid you not, every time I visit, it's as if I am being directly spoken to. I know that when I am prompted to visit, it's because the Lord is telling me to go. He's prepared a Word for me, and I gladly recieve it.
when I decide to stay for lunch, the food is off the chain, and since there is such a small company of believers, people ususally go home with left overs.
I really enjoyed today's sermon. It talked about the 2 that walked past the bloody and beaten Jew by the side of the road. Basically, the preacher (today an elder preached instead of the pastor) wanted to know if we too are like the 2 that walked on the other side.
Are we ignoring each other? Are we leaving our memebrs bloody and beaten by the side of the road? In some cases, this is EXACTLY the case. Domestic violence in the Adventist church has steadily increased over the years. In one case a husband tried to get his wife killed. It made the local news in that area. A nearby Baptist church sent her food and money and ministered to her needs. The SDA church spoke to the parents of the offending party and suggested that he needed a Steps to Christ. The woman and her children now attend the Baptist church. Read full article here
I believe we are more interested in turning the other cheek and neglecting each other because "That's their business" "I'm not taking sides" "They're grown people." "They can work it out."
Often people aren't ready to share their hurt because they're afraid of being disbelieved or gossipped about. And sometimes, when they open up about a concern, ANY concern, they are told that it isn't that big of a deal or given seriously poor advise. See an excerpt from the same article above:
"Among the concerns reported by women interviewed was the fact that when they had turned to the pastor for help, the pastor had offered poor advice. One pastor told a woman who came to him for help and counsel to “stand up for herself more.” The pastor encouraged her to tell the abuser not to hit her, and to tell him “no” and “fight him off” if she did not want to have sex. The survivor took this advice, and the abuser escalated the violence to the point where the woman nearly took her own life."
"Perhaps the greatest issue of all regarding ineffective help for women was not being taken seriously by church leaders in whom they have confided. One woman found the courage to share with a church leader her severe abuse, and the person replied, “I find that hard to believe. Roger is such a good guy.” She felt the person’s response implied that the abuse was her fault and that she was making the situation up. This woman subsequently fell into a depression that lasted for years."
Wow, I wish we had more Ellen Whites in this world. Pastors and church memebers are too concerned about hurting people's feelings rather than calling sin by its real name and rebuking it in the Name of the Lord. I'm thankful for the few that choose to stand like the brave.
Great things cme in small packages. Look at how the Christian movement began with a few desciples? I expect great and wonderful things from this church? Why because, I feel fulfilled on all levels each time I attend.
I am warmly greeted each time I go. The people are heart felt and very friendly ad sincere. The pastor doesn't mince words, and is unafraid of preaching it like it is. He is very practical in he delivery of the message, and I kid you not, every time I visit, it's as if I am being directly spoken to. I know that when I am prompted to visit, it's because the Lord is telling me to go. He's prepared a Word for me, and I gladly recieve it.
when I decide to stay for lunch, the food is off the chain, and since there is such a small company of believers, people ususally go home with left overs.
I really enjoyed today's sermon. It talked about the 2 that walked past the bloody and beaten Jew by the side of the road. Basically, the preacher (today an elder preached instead of the pastor) wanted to know if we too are like the 2 that walked on the other side.
Are we ignoring each other? Are we leaving our memebrs bloody and beaten by the side of the road? In some cases, this is EXACTLY the case. Domestic violence in the Adventist church has steadily increased over the years. In one case a husband tried to get his wife killed. It made the local news in that area. A nearby Baptist church sent her food and money and ministered to her needs. The SDA church spoke to the parents of the offending party and suggested that he needed a Steps to Christ. The woman and her children now attend the Baptist church. Read full article here
I believe we are more interested in turning the other cheek and neglecting each other because "That's their business" "I'm not taking sides" "They're grown people." "They can work it out."
Often people aren't ready to share their hurt because they're afraid of being disbelieved or gossipped about. And sometimes, when they open up about a concern, ANY concern, they are told that it isn't that big of a deal or given seriously poor advise. See an excerpt from the same article above:
"Among the concerns reported by women interviewed was the fact that when they had turned to the pastor for help, the pastor had offered poor advice. One pastor told a woman who came to him for help and counsel to “stand up for herself more.” The pastor encouraged her to tell the abuser not to hit her, and to tell him “no” and “fight him off” if she did not want to have sex. The survivor took this advice, and the abuser escalated the violence to the point where the woman nearly took her own life."
"Perhaps the greatest issue of all regarding ineffective help for women was not being taken seriously by church leaders in whom they have confided. One woman found the courage to share with a church leader her severe abuse, and the person replied, “I find that hard to believe. Roger is such a good guy.” She felt the person’s response implied that the abuse was her fault and that she was making the situation up. This woman subsequently fell into a depression that lasted for years."
Wow, I wish we had more Ellen Whites in this world. Pastors and church memebers are too concerned about hurting people's feelings rather than calling sin by its real name and rebuking it in the Name of the Lord. I'm thankful for the few that choose to stand like the brave.
Friday, March 28, 2008
African American Public School Kids / Christian Education
Well today was a very pleasant day for me. I had 2 classes of children today. One group was a Special Education group. I was f"forewarned" that they would be rowdy. The back ground to this school, is that the population is one where, Indians, Hispanics, Pakistanis, Muslims etc make up the majority. Blacks are the minority. these are elementary kids too. Today I had grade 4-5
I've been to this school twice already and I weep when I leave. I don't want to leave!
These children are so well mannered. I have to say unfortunately, that the Special Education children in THIS school behaved LIGHT YEARS better than the African American/Black Bebe's kids that I've taught in other schools. And I kid you not. I try and figure out Why? Why are Special Ed Indians and Pakistani 4th and 5th graders children better behaved than Older, 6th grade Mainstream African Americans.
Is it the home environment? Is it the mentality? The upbringing? Special Ed kids, are placed in special Ed b/c of learning and behavioral problems....why are these kids behaving more rationally than the main stream black kids? Why Black people? why? I am so embarrassed, and disappointed.
In my 6th grade Main stream African American class, I saw behavior that included the following:
Throwing Paper
Name Calling
Swearing, Cuss Words
texting
Boys seated on females' laps
Instigating,
hitting,
running,
chair pushing,
and general ruckous, that despite repeated warnings,
timeouts, and reasoning, only steadily grew worse.
hitting people upside the head with books.
Stripping...seriously, the boy was about to be half naked.
Talking back, running out into the hallway.
This sounds like Special Education behavior right? Right? Yea, it does but these are Main Streamers.
Let's take a look at the Special Ed Indian Children:
Talking Out of turn or calling out answers
One kids may have had ADHD, and was very jumpety.
ONE kid threw paper once.
But they listened. They all took their turn to read. They didn't break out in a Chris Brown chorus or run down the halls during class.
But these are EXPECTED behaviors, and what perplexes me is that the SP Indian kids were quiet and completed the entire assignment.
The other main-streamers hadn't completed the first page in almost 2 periods.
A poor reflection on the teacher? Maybe, but not in this case. I suppose kids act out more when their regular teacher is gone. That may be a factor. B
You see being a sub, I've been all over this city and seen the similarities that exist amongst African American children. . And it can't be ignored. There is a common problem amongst African American children in Public Schools.
The standards are different. The expectations are lower.
Did you know that in order to figure out how many new jails to build, and how much funding should go towards it, researchers need only to look to grade 5 reading levels. African Americans make up a large portion of the penitentiary system, and from what I've seen in the PRESENT fifth grade situation, the future isn't looking too bright.
I'll never forget the news report of a toddler that took a desk and used it to trash the entire classroom. Yes, you guessed it, a black four year old in a public preschool, after the teacher gave him a simple assignment that he didn't want to do. The image of the classroom looked like a complete catastrophe. Like, a window was opened and a tornado wrecked the room. The black board was swinging by its hinge, the desks were toppled over, papers scattered everywhere. There was hardly anywhere to step. If this is Main stream, I PRAY I never have to sub in a Special Ed African American setting. NO THANKS!
With the black men behind bars, leaving baby mommas behind to raise kids, no wonder, this imbalance of God's plan creates such a steamy hot mess! The home needs TWO parents. Not one. and 2 parents WORKING TOGETHER, NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER (I've gotta blog about this point sometime soon).
I believe that standards are different in Adventist schools too. Are private Seventh day Adventist Institutions better than their public counterparts? PERSONALLY, I believe back in the day , they may have been, but today, they're not all that. Oakwoad is lovingly referred to as HOKE-Wood. Why? There is a serious promiscuity problem. I'd send my kid to a public college in a heart beat. SDA institutes cry broke all the while. And because they are funded soley by tithes, you better believe there are some serious lacks. If di people dem doan pay de tithe, A wey you a tink sey de pickney dem fi read? Air? transaltion: You don't pay your tithe, the school has no resources to educate.
An issue is that we don't pay tithes like we should, so our schools suffer. Pay your tithe people, Get a calculator if you don't know what TEN PERCENT IS!
Don't forget budget is five percent
Another issue is the fact that Non Adventist parents seeking a good private school environment will send their child to an Adventist school. Then the family's values are exposed to the other children. The perfect example would be my daughter.
She's four. She attends a private SDA preschool. I'd gotten her to do a coloring activity to keep her busy. I turned around and noticed her fingers were marked and when looking more closely, saw she had colored her fingernails with the purple marker.
I asked her what was going on. She said to me,
"Mommy I need colors so I can be pretty"
She's done this same thing with my hair scrunchies and rubber bands, doning them one her little ankle and draping them on her wrist.
"Mommy I am pretty now" She says.
"I have to wear jewelry , all my friends wear jewelry" (Aren't kids the cutest? Little sponges they are).
Her 2 dearest friends at school wear jewelry. The school can't turn a kid away from school because they wear jewelry. SO they are admitted, money accepted, and the arduous task of correction correction correction becomes mine.
(Some Adventist kids wear jewelry, and I've heard of a school turning away a student because they had dreadlocks, but I'll save that for another post)
I've been to this school twice already and I weep when I leave. I don't want to leave!
These children are so well mannered. I have to say unfortunately, that the Special Education children in THIS school behaved LIGHT YEARS better than the African American/Black Bebe's kids that I've taught in other schools. And I kid you not. I try and figure out Why? Why are Special Ed Indians and Pakistani 4th and 5th graders children better behaved than Older, 6th grade Mainstream African Americans.
Is it the home environment? Is it the mentality? The upbringing? Special Ed kids, are placed in special Ed b/c of learning and behavioral problems....why are these kids behaving more rationally than the main stream black kids? Why Black people? why? I am so embarrassed, and disappointed.
In my 6th grade Main stream African American class, I saw behavior that included the following:
Throwing Paper
Name Calling
Swearing, Cuss Words
texting
Boys seated on females' laps
Instigating,
hitting,
running,
chair pushing,
and general ruckous, that despite repeated warnings,
timeouts, and reasoning, only steadily grew worse.
hitting people upside the head with books.
Stripping...seriously, the boy was about to be half naked.
Talking back, running out into the hallway.
This sounds like Special Education behavior right? Right? Yea, it does but these are Main Streamers.
Let's take a look at the Special Ed Indian Children:
Talking Out of turn or calling out answers
One kids may have had ADHD, and was very jumpety.
ONE kid threw paper once.
But they listened. They all took their turn to read. They didn't break out in a Chris Brown chorus or run down the halls during class.
But these are EXPECTED behaviors, and what perplexes me is that the SP Indian kids were quiet and completed the entire assignment.
The other main-streamers hadn't completed the first page in almost 2 periods.
A poor reflection on the teacher? Maybe, but not in this case. I suppose kids act out more when their regular teacher is gone. That may be a factor. B
You see being a sub, I've been all over this city and seen the similarities that exist amongst African American children. . And it can't be ignored. There is a common problem amongst African American children in Public Schools.
The standards are different. The expectations are lower.
Did you know that in order to figure out how many new jails to build, and how much funding should go towards it, researchers need only to look to grade 5 reading levels. African Americans make up a large portion of the penitentiary system, and from what I've seen in the PRESENT fifth grade situation, the future isn't looking too bright.
I'll never forget the news report of a toddler that took a desk and used it to trash the entire classroom. Yes, you guessed it, a black four year old in a public preschool, after the teacher gave him a simple assignment that he didn't want to do. The image of the classroom looked like a complete catastrophe. Like, a window was opened and a tornado wrecked the room. The black board was swinging by its hinge, the desks were toppled over, papers scattered everywhere. There was hardly anywhere to step. If this is Main stream, I PRAY I never have to sub in a Special Ed African American setting. NO THANKS!
With the black men behind bars, leaving baby mommas behind to raise kids, no wonder, this imbalance of God's plan creates such a steamy hot mess! The home needs TWO parents. Not one. and 2 parents WORKING TOGETHER, NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER (I've gotta blog about this point sometime soon).
I believe that standards are different in Adventist schools too. Are private Seventh day Adventist Institutions better than their public counterparts? PERSONALLY, I believe back in the day , they may have been, but today, they're not all that. Oakwoad is lovingly referred to as HOKE-Wood. Why? There is a serious promiscuity problem. I'd send my kid to a public college in a heart beat. SDA institutes cry broke all the while. And because they are funded soley by tithes, you better believe there are some serious lacks. If di people dem doan pay de tithe, A wey you a tink sey de pickney dem fi read? Air? transaltion: You don't pay your tithe, the school has no resources to educate.
An issue is that we don't pay tithes like we should, so our schools suffer. Pay your tithe people, Get a calculator if you don't know what TEN PERCENT IS!
Don't forget budget is five percent
Another issue is the fact that Non Adventist parents seeking a good private school environment will send their child to an Adventist school. Then the family's values are exposed to the other children. The perfect example would be my daughter.
She's four. She attends a private SDA preschool. I'd gotten her to do a coloring activity to keep her busy. I turned around and noticed her fingers were marked and when looking more closely, saw she had colored her fingernails with the purple marker.
I asked her what was going on. She said to me,
"Mommy I need colors so I can be pretty"
She's done this same thing with my hair scrunchies and rubber bands, doning them one her little ankle and draping them on her wrist.
"Mommy I am pretty now" She says.
"I have to wear jewelry , all my friends wear jewelry" (Aren't kids the cutest? Little sponges they are).
Her 2 dearest friends at school wear jewelry. The school can't turn a kid away from school because they wear jewelry. SO they are admitted, money accepted, and the arduous task of correction correction correction becomes mine.
(Some Adventist kids wear jewelry, and I've heard of a school turning away a student because they had dreadlocks, but I'll save that for another post)
Too Normal?
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how plain and simple or generic Adventists are becoming?
First the logo changed from the 3 angels with trumpets and a globe to this BASIC design. A Flame and a cross and a Bible. Are you kidding me? The 3 angels have been oblitereated and respresented by 3 lines? This thing has irked me for years now, but who am I?
Next, thing I discover is that Sabbath School Lesson Illustrator, isn't even Adventist. What? Is this really true? Wait wait wait... I stand corrected. The term is no longer "Sabbath School Lessons" its SSMaterials (Sabbath School Materials).
I'm blown away. What are SDA's hiding from? What was wrong with the first logo? NOTHING.
Why are the Sabbath School Lessons, woops my bad...Materials...why are they no longer tools of instruction, but now mere objects?
My cotton jeans are materials, my synthetic kicks are materials, my braided extensions are materials...the Sabbath School dare I say LESSON is and always will be a LESSON. Why the name change? What is really going on here?
These days, you can't tell who is SDA from who isn't, who's a Christian from who's not. We all look the same, in dress, manner and ...now DOCTRINE? Are we becoming more and more like the world? In the attempt to minister, are we compromising? I wouldn't be able to tell if someone was an Adventist if they smacked me upside the head. ROFL From the pulpit to the PEWS, people, it starts at the top and trickles all the way down. Let's maintain whatever identity we have left for Christ's sake!...I mean it, we need to! Christ needs us to keep our identity.
Wow, I couldn't even Google the old Adventist logo, it's probably been wiped off the face of the earth. If anyone remembers WAY BACK in yesteryear when the REAL symbol of our church was evident, please post it for those who may not have been around. I really wanted to make a side by side comparison. The old logo, which is BY FAR SUPERIOIR to the present ATTEMPT ata logo is far better, and IDENTIFIES Adventism from amongst the Protestant churches. I may have to draw it. lol
Until later, Nades :-)
The need for prayer
This morning's lesson was a pleasant reminder of the need to pray. This life can be wearisome and if we're not careful, we will allow the cares of this life to steal our joy and cause us to lose our focus.
Christ prayed to His Father constantly. He sacrificed sleep to sustain himself spiritually. Moses and Elijah even came to speak to the Savior.
If He prayed continually, we CERTAINLY need to now. Especially in light of the fact that we are in perilous times.
Christ prayed to His Father constantly. He sacrificed sleep to sustain himself spiritually. Moses and Elijah even came to speak to the Savior.
If He prayed continually, we CERTAINLY need to now. Especially in light of the fact that we are in perilous times.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
I Love Me My Haters
Haters are people who are jealous of you no matter what. No matter how nice you are, or no matter how you try to ignore them. Once they see you, there is just SOMETHING about you that they HATE or DESPISE or LOATHE or SCORN.
There are 3 solutions for haters.
Put them in their place
Ignore them
Pray over them (I saved the best for last)
If you pray over them. You don't have to worry about a thing. You will then be able to live your life, ignoring them like they don't even exist. You going about your life will perplex them and
confuse the enemy's plan for your life. The end result will be them being put in their place, not by you, but by Christ. Isn't He the best person for the job anyway?
On a personal note, at present, I have PLENTY of haters in my life. People who hate on me b/c of the blessings in my life, and those who just don't get it. Whomever they are, God sees and knows all, and I am still praying for them. I pray blessings on my haters. B/c it's the lack of a blessing in their life to begin with that caused a void to manifest and turn them into what? HATERS.
I also thank Him for Haters, b/c with my dear haters, they show me that I am so valuable and precious to them for them to talk about me in their spare time, and break Sabbath just to gossip about me, and spend day time minutes on me, and spend night hours when they could be sleeping on me.
And yes, haters, you are THAT important to me to actually write about. You are valuable to me.
I hope others who are hated on will also see that they are a precious commodity for someone to go out of their way to hate on.
And a message to all HATERS, although we'd all love for you to appreciate rather than Hate, we understand that this is a growing process and it takes stages to develop. So we'll give you time.
There are 3 solutions for haters.
Put them in their place
Ignore them
Pray over them (I saved the best for last)
If you pray over them. You don't have to worry about a thing. You will then be able to live your life, ignoring them like they don't even exist. You going about your life will perplex them and
confuse the enemy's plan for your life. The end result will be them being put in their place, not by you, but by Christ. Isn't He the best person for the job anyway?
On a personal note, at present, I have PLENTY of haters in my life. People who hate on me b/c of the blessings in my life, and those who just don't get it. Whomever they are, God sees and knows all, and I am still praying for them. I pray blessings on my haters. B/c it's the lack of a blessing in their life to begin with that caused a void to manifest and turn them into what? HATERS.
I also thank Him for Haters, b/c with my dear haters, they show me that I am so valuable and precious to them for them to talk about me in their spare time, and break Sabbath just to gossip about me, and spend day time minutes on me, and spend night hours when they could be sleeping on me.
And yes, haters, you are THAT important to me to actually write about. You are valuable to me.
I hope others who are hated on will also see that they are a precious commodity for someone to go out of their way to hate on.
And a message to all HATERS, although we'd all love for you to appreciate rather than Hate, we understand that this is a growing process and it takes stages to develop. So we'll give you time.
If you love me, you'll get jealous
I once had a man tell me that if I loved him, I would get jealous if he's around another woman. Getting jealous is normal, but here's the thing that got me...
He actually told me that he would go out of his way to flirt with other women to try to get me jealous, and if I didn't get jealous it was s sign that I didn't love him. (ROFL)
I begged to differ. I told him that I was self confident, and knew what I had to offer and that no association with anyone would make me feel as if our relationship was at jeopardy. And that if he felt my lack of jealousy was a sign I didn't love him, that he and the other woman he is flirting with deserve each other.
I am in a class of my own, like no other, and if he thought it necessary to go out of his way to do something that vile, that I didn't want him anyway. What kind of character is that? Certainly not one I wanted to associate with.
Jealousy is something that is a natural emotion, one put in us by our Creator. But my thing is, I refuse to become jealous over an intentional attempt at pain.
He actually told me that he would go out of his way to flirt with other women to try to get me jealous, and if I didn't get jealous it was s sign that I didn't love him. (ROFL)
I begged to differ. I told him that I was self confident, and knew what I had to offer and that no association with anyone would make me feel as if our relationship was at jeopardy. And that if he felt my lack of jealousy was a sign I didn't love him, that he and the other woman he is flirting with deserve each other.
I am in a class of my own, like no other, and if he thought it necessary to go out of his way to do something that vile, that I didn't want him anyway. What kind of character is that? Certainly not one I wanted to associate with.
Jealousy is something that is a natural emotion, one put in us by our Creator. But my thing is, I refuse to become jealous over an intentional attempt at pain.
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