So What about the Christmas Tree? Yes or No?

 

So What about the Christmas Tree? Yes or No? 

"Honey, should be put up a Christmas tree this year?" ... Husband: "I don't know. Is it morally wrong to do so?" ... What does the Bible say? ... For Seventh-day Adventists, does Ellen White give any spiritual counsel of the subject? The answers may be closer to the truth than at first suspected. Below, examine and decide for yourself as to whether you will buy a Christmas tree for your home and/or church this Holiday Season! Never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season!

~ Pr. Sal Garcia

Here are two links:

http://www.equip.org/bible_answers/should-christians-celebrate-christmas-?msource=EC111216WKLY&tr=y&auid=10017442

http://www.amazingfacts.org/free-stuff/online-library/ctl/viewmedia/mid/447/iid/59/lng/en/7/baptized-paganism/sc/r.aspx

And here are a few (there are at least 13) Ellen White quotes:

The Adventist Home, Page 482

“Shall We Have a Christmas Tree?”—God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. [Note: reference is made in this article to current building projects. As the principles set forth in this connection are applicable today, these specific references are left in the article.] Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree.

The tree may be as tall and its branches as wide as shall best suit the occasion; but let its boughs be laden with the golden and silver fruit of your beneficence, and present this to Him as your Christmas gift. Let your donations be sanctified by prayer.^{9The Review and Herald, December 11, 1879.}

Christmas and New Year celebrations can and should be held in behalf of those who are helpless. God is glorified when we give to help those who have large families to support.^{10Manuscript 13, 1896.}

A Tree Laden With Offerings Is Not Sinful—Let not the parents take the position that an evergreen placed in the church for the amusement of the Sabbath school scholars is a sin, for it may be made a great blessing. Keep before their minds benevolent objects. In no case should mere amusement be the object of these gatherings. While there may be some who will turn these occasions into seasons of careless levity, and whose minds will not receive the divine impress, to other minds and characters

The Review and Herald

December 11, 1879

The Holidays

We are now nearing the close of another year, and shall we not make these festal days opportunities in which to bring to God our offerings? I cannot say sacrifices, for we shall only be rendering to God that which is his already, and which he has only intrusted to us till he shall call for it. God would be well pleased if on Christmas, each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen, and placing it in our churches; but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action, and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree.

The tree may be as tall and its branches as wide as shall best suit the occasion; but let its boughs be laden with the golden and silver fruit of your beneficence, and present this to Him as your Christmastree be applied toward removing the debts from our houses of worship at Battle Creek, Mich., and Oakland, Cal. gift. Let your donations be sanctified by prayer, and let the fruit upon this consecrated

A word to the wise is sufficient.

E. G. W.

The Review and Herald

December 9, 1884

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming. May you all have wisdom to make it a precious season. Let the older church members unite, heart and soul, with their children in this innocent amusement and recreation, in devising ways and means to show true respect to Jesus by bringing to him gifts and offerings. Let every one remember the claims of God. His cause cannot go forward without your aid. Let the gifts you have usually bestowed upon one another be placed in the Lord’s treasury. I present before you, my brethren and sisters, an object, the European mission. In every church let your smaller offerings be placed upon your Christmas tree. Let the precious emblem, “ever green,” suggest the holy work of God and his beneficence to us; and the loving heart-work will be to save other souls who are in darkness. Let your works be in accordance with your faith. I heard Eld. Butler read a touching letter a few days since from Eld. Whitney, of Europe. The good work is going forward there, but it ought to have been done six years ago. Let not this work be hindered. Let it advance. If all, both old and young, will forego giving presents to one another, and forego the selfish outlay of means in these coming holidays, there would be in heaven a most precious record of self-denial for Christ’s sake.

Every tree in Satan’s garden hangs laden with the fruits of vanity, pride, self-importance, evil desire, extravagance,—all poisoned fruit, but very gratifying to the carnal heart. Let the several churches present to God Christmas trees in every church; and then let them hang thereon the fruits of beneficence and gratitude,—offerings coming from willing hearts and hands, fruits that God will accept as an expression of our faith and our great love to him for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. Let the evergreen be laden with fruit, rich, and pure, and holy, acceptable to God. Shall we not have such a Christmas as Heaven can approve? Thousands of dollars are needlessly spent every year in gifts to each other. That is means lost to God, lost to his cause. It pleases the vanity, encourages pride, creates all kinds of dissatisfaction, murmuring, and complaints, because perhaps the gifts are not just what was desired, not of the high value wanted or expected. Christmas is not observed as its name implies it should be. Man has forsaken God in almost everything, and has turned the attention to self. He has left the pure springs of living waters which flow from the throne of God, and hewn out to himself broken cisterns, which can hold no water. God gave man a probation that he might be fitted for heaven. He was to look upward to God, who was to be the soul’s adoration; but talent, skill, and inventive powers are all exercised to make self the supreme object of attention. Man has withdrawn his gaze from Deity, and fastened his eyes upon the finite, the earthly, the corruptible.

The Signs of the Times

December 8, 1887

Christmas Gifts for Christ

Let your Christmas tree be dedicated to God, and let its boughs be laden with offerings for Christ. Do not give as though it were a task, doling out your donations with a niggardly hand. Good works are no drudgery. In giving to us his Son, God has poured out to us all Heaven in one gift. Let us with an overflowing heart, with gratitude and joy because of Christ’s matchless love, bring him our offerings. Teach your children by your own example the blessedness of doing for Christ. Train them to go on errands of love for him, and in all their gifts to remember the gracious Giver.

If there are any who are in need of food or comfortable clothing, they should be remembered; we are not to neglect Christ in the person of his saints. But let us be constantly seeking to make God and his cause first in our thoughts and plans.

Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887, By D. A. Delafield, Page 253 (WRITTEN BY A BIOGRAPHER, BUT INCLUDES EGW STATEMENT ON XMAS TREES)

Crowd Gathers in Large Baptist Church

That afternoon Mrs. White was scheduled to speak in the large Baptist church in Tramelan. a notice was sent to the pastor of the church, but he refused to read it to his congregation, thinking she would dwell on the Sabbath question. Nevertheless, there were nearly 300 waiting to hear her when she arrived at the church. Her sermon was on genuine faith. She was naturally interested in the responses of the people, and as they filed out, many of them greeted her with expressions like: “I shall take home that which I have heard; I see nothing objectionable in it.”

The minister of the church said he was very sorry he had not announced the meeting. Had he known the subject, he certainly would have.

Returning to Basel, Mrs. White was on hand for a meeting the next evening in which the nativity story was presented. She gave a short talk. Then a fragrant evergreen tree was brought in loaded down with money gifts for the Saviour. The reason for this service during the Christmas season was to secure financial help for the colporteurs in Russia. Their ministry was made difficult by the fact that the Seventh-day Adventist Church was not recognized by the government. The threat of imprisonment hung over their heads, and their labors were performed with enormous difficulty. The Christmas tree in Basel yielded 429 francs for their support. Quite a harvest!

In the Review, Sister White had written:

“We are now nearing the close of another year, and shall we not make these festal days opportunities in which to bring to God our offerings? I cannot say sacrifices, for we shall only be rendering to God that which is His already, and which He has only entrusted to us till He shall call for it. God would be well pleased if on Christmas, each churchwould have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship.

“Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen, and placing it in our churches; but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action, and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree.

“The tree may be as tall and its branches as wide as shall best suit the occasion; but let its boughs be laden with the golden and silver fruit of your beneficence, and present this to Him as your Christmas gift. Let your donations be sanctified by prayer.”—The Review and Herald, December 11, 1879.

Ellen White in her counsels about Christmas observance recognized that there was no Bible support for the celebration of the day, but she was practical enough to see that Christmas could not be passed by unnoticed by parents. The children would not understand. The wise procedure would be to direct the minds and hearts of the little ones to Christ, whose “birthday” was being celebrated. So she counseled them to bring their gifts to Jesus as the Wise Men did.

Her teaching was positive. The counsels were practical and dealt with the everyday issues the church must meet in its pilgrimage through this world.

“Let us represent the Christian life as it really it; let us make the way cheerful, inviting, interesting. We can do this if we will. We may fill our own minds with vivid pictures of spiritual and eternal things, and in so doing help to make them a reality to other minds.”—Ibid., January 29, 1884.

Conclusion:

I hope that whether you decide to put up a Christmas tree in your home or church this holiday season, that nothing will overshadow the reason for giving. We give (and love), because He first gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ for us. Blessings!

~ Pr. Sal Garcia

Passing Life's Final Exam

Introduction

Facing your biggest enemy. Sometimes taking a test in school can seem like facing an enemy. Here's is a quick scenario:

Test week. Finals week. Barry and his studying buddy study hard all night the semester's material to make sure they pass the test. They stay up all night til 4am, and the final is at 8am. The snooze button has always helped, and so with confidence, Barry goes to sleep trusting in the time-proven help of his snooze alarm clock. In the morning, he awakens to a the brightest morning he has ever witnessed. The sun seems to be up pretty high so early in the morning and the alarm clock hasn't even gone off yet. That is unusual. However, as we looks at the alarm clock he notices it is past 12pm! ... He has slept trough the final exam  and there is no make up tests! .... 

Barry failed to pass the test ... because he never showed up. He failed to make adequate preparation to showing up on time for the test. He slept through the final exam of his class and there was no "make up" test allowed. How tragic! But how more tragic it would be to go through life and fail to pass "Life's final exam" ... One day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and "Our Final Exam" will be whether we know God, and whether we are known by Him. (Matthew 25:1-11). I once heard a preacher say, "The Only Question asked in the judgement is 'Have you  kept my commandments?". However, someone might give an affirmative "yes" to that question, but have kept the commandments of God (externally) for all of the wrong reasons. NO, Scripture tells us that life's final exam will consist of Whether we know God, and whether God knows us personally. "Do You know Him?", and "Does He know you?" (John 17:3; Matthew 25:12). That is the real question (s) in the judgment according to Jesus.

Enemies that cause us to stumble 

There are several enemies today that keep us from "Knowing God" ... just like there are several enemies that keep us from passing a test at school or work successfully. Here they are:

Procrastination. The fatal word that will doom millions is "tomorrow". I've got tomorrow! I'll do it tomorrow! ... Watch me! ... Tomorrow came and went, and you failed to pass life final exam. 

Lack of Discipline and preparation. Even if you wanted to prepare for life's final exam, you wouldn't know where to start or begin.  Your heart wants to get ready for the test, but there are other things that seem to be more important. You need discipline!

Lack of vision and planning. You realize that in order to pass life's final exam, you need to sit down, "Open the Book", mark your calendar, and plan accordingly to be ready to pass life's FINAL EXAM. 

One last enemy! This one is a surprise ... 

YOU! YOURSELF! YOUR SINFUL FALLEN NATURE!!! That's right! ... YOU! ... You are your worst enemy when it comes to passing LIFE'S FINAL EXAM. More than any other thing in your life, you are your own worst enemy. You see, you are a free moral being with freedom of choice, and the Devil can only make you do things so many times. The excuse, "Oh, the Devil made me do it" is only true part of the time. If we are honest, most of our tragedies and setbacks are caused by poor decisions we have made ourselves. So let's face it! If we are serious about passing "LIFE'S FINAL EXAM", let's start asking God to help us to defeat our greatest enemy: The Carnal Inner Man. 

Here are some key Bible texts to help us in our study and journey:

1 Corinthians 15:31

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Here are a few Ellen G. White Statements too:

ST August 26, 1897, par. 9

Self is our greatest enemy, and day by day each must strive for the victory. 

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 141.2 (1)

The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human power. The field of conflict is the domain of the heart. The battle which we have to fight—the greatestbattle that was ever fought by man—is the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. The old nature, born of blood and of the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up. 

Gospel Workers 1892, p. 376.2 (1)  

The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits, is not an easy attainment.... The soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in knowledge and true holiness.  

 Conclusion

So claim the victory today over your worst enemy. Claim the following promises today in prayer, and Be confident and prepared always to Pass Life's Final Exam ... Eternal Life! 

Promises to Claim today:

1. Claim God's power to die to Self, Sin, and the wiles  (temptations) of Satan in your life. (Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:31; Ephesians 6:10-18)

2. Ask God to give You a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit, and to help you live today in the Spirit and not in the flesh (sinful nature).

3. Ask God for wisdom to plan and prepare to Pass Life's Final Exam. (James 1:5)

4. Help others to get ready too by sharing with them the message of Jesus soon coming! (Matthew 28:19-20)

Be Blessed! 

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

It's time for a Reformation and Revival in My life

Who is Cristian Silva? 

I love honesty and transparency. I hate falsehoods and false appearances. Recently I found the following report regarding a "false teacher" who teaches beliefs that contrary to the Bible. Judge for yourself. As I was searching and investigating, I found a helpful article by a Seventh-day Adventist Theologian Dr. Alberto R. Treiyer from Argentina. He has been writing on a scholarly level for 30 years, with multiple research papers. This helpful synopsis is regarding the life, history, and teachings of Cristian Silva, a false teacher from Riverside California. While it is in spanish, I judge you will find it helpful. For the full article, go to http://www.adventistdistinctivemessages.com/Spanish/articulos.html, and click "Un Ataque a la Doctrina Adventista de la Trinidad." Blessings in your search and love of Truth! Never sell it at any cost!


2. La Apostasia Alfa y Omega. El Alfa ya es Historia. La Omega... Está Viva y en su Apogeo.
Cristian Silva, 2008 (100 pgs).
Cristian Silva es hijo de quien fuera nuestro amigo y pastor Agustín Silva. Agustín fue colportor,
director de colportaje, luego pastor desde donde estuvo cursando sus estudios en teología durante los
veranos. Recuerdo cuando Agustín me contó cierta vez, en Uruguay, con indignación, cómo el diablo
se le había manifestado a sus hijitos asustándolos, y no a él mismo, luego que una persona espiritista
había venido cierta vez a visitarlos. Y aunque se fue, los espíritus aprovecharon para hacerse sentir.En la introducción de su escrito, Cristian declara que es tercera generación de adventistas, y admira
la devoción de su padre a la Iglesia Adventista a la que sirvió, lo que fue todo un ejemplo para él.
Admira también a su madre y a sus hermanos Vivian y Cintia. Está casado con su esposa Leslie, y
tiene dos hijos, Angelina y Brian. Actualmente viven en California, Estados Unidos (no es pastor, y
hasta el momento no sé cuál es su oficio).
A diferencia del estudio anterior, este otro trabajo es explosivo. No parte del deseo de conocer a
Dios, sino de denunciar la apostasía de la Iglesia Adventista que se manifiesta, según su tesis, en haber
adulterado la verdad sobre la naturaleza de Dios. La Iglesia Adventista, según él, está viviendo en
medio de la apostasía Omega con la aceptación de la doctrina de la Trinidad que presume ser pagana y
católica. Mientras que el estudio de Daniel Bernhardt usa expresiones más prudentes, lo que hace
Cristian es asumir posiciones más arriesgadas que delatan una ignorancia mayor. Por ejemplo, tanto se
esfuerza por condenar a la Iglesia Adventista por asumir la Trinidad con el concepto de tres en uno y
uno en tres (según la interpretación que algunos tienen de la Trinidad), que parece después tratar de no
caer en lo mismo que critica, al decir que el Padre y el Hijo son “dos dioses”. Así pareciera querer
evitar la crítica de reemplazar la Trinidad por una especie de binitarianismo que hable de dos en uno, y
uno en dos. Pero eso es un disparate y revela su ignorancia más que ninguna otra cosa, porque lo hace,
4
en realidad, politeísta, algo que no parece reflejarse en el resto de su estudio.
También se nota en Cristian una falta de conocimiento de las lenguas bíblicas, y aun del inglés en
relación con ciertas traducciones o declaraciones del Espíritu de Profecía. Aún así, se nota cierto
esfuerzo en Cristian por documentar los presuntos cambios que pretende haber hecho nuestra iglesia
con el correr de los años. Es una lástima que haya también partido mal, y errado el blanco. No parece
creer, como lo veremos en su momento, que Dios guía a su iglesia, su remanente final, en la
comprensión de ciertas verdades que no se habían definido suficientemente bien al principio. Se
esfuerza en probar, por el contrario, que la Iglesia Adventista se apartó y debe volverse a su creencia
original. Y cuando los pastores reaccionan, así como la Iglesia organizada contra ellos, por esas ideas
que quieren infiltrar, lo presentan como prueba de que estamos viviendo en medio del zarandeo final.
Esto no es nuevo, sino una característica que han asumido siempre los movimientos cerrados que
atacaron a nuestra iglesia a lo largo de los años. Pienso que sería de mayor provecho para ellos si se
preocupasen de juntar las citas de E. de White que advierten contra la actitud de oposición abierta que
han emprendido ellos contra el último remanente.
Otros argumentos de la patrística y aún de la Biblia que esgrime Cristian me parecen tomados
prestados más bien de los Testigos de Jehová o de otros movimientos antitrinitarios como los
Apostólicos que creen que Jesús es el Padre y el Espíritu Santo (no tres personas). Aunque tanto
Cristian como Daniel no niegan que el Padre y el Hijo sean dos personas diferentes, mucho de lo que
encuentran en esos movimientos antitrinitarios parece servirles. ¡Ojalá Dios toque su corazón, y de los
demás a quienes están descarriando, para que no sean tan presumidos de creer que nuestra iglesia no
llegó en su comprensión de la Trinidad hasta donde está hoy, sin haber sopesado bien los diferentes
argumentos bíblicos y del Espíritu de Profecía sobre el tema. Creemos que en la Deidad participan tres
personas coeternas e iguales en naturaleza, esencia y sustancia, aunque diferentes en funciones y
personas.
Cristian ha preparado una carta tipo, además, en donde deja espacios en blanco para que los
miembros de la Iglesia Adventista que adoptan su credo, pidan ser desfraternizados de la iglesia como
una “decisión firme, indiscutible e irrevocable”. Cree que la Iglesia Adventista ha pasado a formar
parte de la Gran Babilonia, y que su movimiento naciente está destinado a ser el remanente del
remanente. Por eso insta a irse de la Iglesia Adventista. No capta que en la Biblia y en los escritos del
Espíritu de Profecía, no hay un remanente de un remanente. Hay un solo remanente, que guarda los
mandamientos de Dios y tiene el Espíritu de Profecía (Apoc 12:17).
También invita en esa carta de desfraternización a venir a estudiar sus presuntos descubrimientos en
la dirección del hermano que asume su liderazgo.


Conclusion

So what thinkest thou? ... How should we respond to such allegations and false assertions? First, let us pray for people life Cristian Silva and others who deny and reject the Doctrine of the Trinity. Second, let us study the subject for ourselves to be informed about our faith. Third, let us arm ourselves of God's Word to defend the Bible's teachings no matter how difficult they may appear to be. Let us follow these steps and God will help us to grow in the truth.

Be Blessed!

~ Pastor Salvador Garcia

Jesuits in the Church #2: Is Reverend B.T. Rice a Seventh-day Adventist?

Jesuits in the Church #2: Is Reverend B.T. Rice a Seventh-day Adventist?

Jesuits? Really? Evaluating Pr. Juan Rivera's Second Accusation and Piece of Evidence - Part 2


I'll be honest! I prefer to spend my time reading, meditating, studying, and teaching the Bible to others. I really do not enjoy spending my time looking into conspiracy theories that are not based on "truth." After all, Jesus Himself said,


"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." John 17:17


Truth is never discovered by studying the counterfeit or deception. Truth is discovered by studying God's Word which is God's Truth. However, sometimes we must look at the Counterfeit and deception in order to warn others and correct false assertions and mistakes attributed falsely to God's Remnant Church of Bible prophecy (Revelation 12).


In continuing our discussion on "Jesuits in the Church", today's blog looks at Pr. Juan Rivera's (the Associate Church Pastor of El Evangelio Eterno in Glendale, CA) charge against the Seventh-day Adventist Church that church leaders have joined the papacy and roman catholic church by joining hands (literally) with the Pope, and calling him "Your Holiness".  Let's first look at the video footage Pr. Juan Rivera shares in the video "The Jesuits in the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Here it is as shown at El Evangelio Eterno, and on You Tube:

This Pastor, who is called Reverend in some videos, is also the same minister in the following video. Please not how he violating his ministerial ethics by mixing politics and religion, and by using his position as pastor to rally people to vote for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. See it for yourself:

This man, who may or may not be a Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor (there is some confusion about his true identity on several credible websites) is obviously not worried about mixing church and state or religion and politics. If he is or was a Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor, "SHAME ON HIM!" ... Some websites say he is a church pastor from a a church in St. Louis, Missouri. Several websites and search engines list him as a pastor of a church callled "NEW HORIZON SEVEN DAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH". Also, his facebook page lists him as the pastor of that particular church, and not a SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.

New Horizon Seven Day Christain Church

Basic Information

Location	206 Emerling Drive, Cool Valley, MO 63121
Hours	Tues: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sat: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
About	Here in New Horizon we welcome all kinds so come on down and worship with New Horizon and hear the sermon of a lifetime from Pastor B.T. Rice.

General Information	Fax: (314)524-1399 Email: NuHorison@aol.com

Phone	(314)524-1244
Website	http://www.NewHorizonSDCC.yolasite.com http://groups.myspace.com/NewHorizonSeve...

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Horizon-Seven-Day-Christain-Church/136113793008#!/pages/New-Horizon-Seven-Day-Christain-Church/136113793008)

His name is Booker T. Rice, and for all that we know, he is the current pastor of a church called NEW HORIZON SEVEN DAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, and not affiliated or a part of the SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. Pastor B.T. Rice is the pastor of a church called New Horizon Seven Day Christian Church, located at 206 Emerling Drive, St. Louis, MO 63121 (Cool Valley). He goes by the name of Reverend, which no Seventh-day Adventist Minister would ever take. There is a Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, MO called New Horizons Seventh-day Adventist Church which is located at 5925 S Woodcliffe Dr., Springfield, MO 65804. The Current Church Pastor is Mark Welch, a Lay Pastor.

Notice that one pastor is African American, and the other a Caucasion. Therefore, as best as we can judge and observe, Pastor Booker T. Rice is not a Seventh-day Adventist Pastor. He may have been in the past, but is not currently. He takes the name and title of Reverend, which is both anti-Bible and Anti-Seventh-day Adventist belief and practice. As such, we cannot accept Pastor Juan Rivera's assertion that the video showing Reverend B.T. Rice calling the Pope, "Your Holiness", represents the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a compromise in paying homage the the church of Rome. At best, if B.T. Rice was a Seventh-day Adventist pastor at the time of the assertion and statement, He would have been guilty of blasphemy and in need of public repentance. He would be one man mistating what the world church believes and practices. Yet the evidence conclusively shows that B.T. Rice is NOT A SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST MINISTER. Therefore, this piece of evidence is unwarrented and the claim that the Jesuits and Roman Catholic Church have infiltrated the Seventh-day Adventist Church is found WANTING!

Let us study our Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy and avail ourselved of the Present Truth for this time. Let us not put or confidence in Independant Ministries or in a Man here or a Woman there. God is indeed guiding not strayed branches or ex-church pastors, but a body of believers known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Study and Press on!

~ Elder Salvador Garcia

Have Jesuits infiltrated the Seventh-day Adventist Church? ... It's Your Decision ...

Surprise! ... Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. The picture is in fact Dr. Samuele Bacchioocchi, ex-professor of Church history at Andrews University, who died about 2 years ago. Some "concerned brethren" have questioned whether Dr. Bacchiocchi was in fact a "Jesuit" who infiltrated the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and if in fact this picture proves it. It would be in their eyes, "the icing on the cake". What thinkest thou? ... What do you think? ... Can a picture speak a thousand words? Or, can we be reading too much into a photograph that may have been taken in jesting and jokingly manner? You be the judge? Below you will find the actual words of Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi in response to the allegation, "You are a Jesuit who is paid by the Vatican. Right?" ... You be the judge! 


(Adapted from“ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER No. 201
“BACCHIOCCHI RESPONDS TO FALSE ALLEGATIONS - Part 1”, found at http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/endtimeissues/)


FIRST FALSE ALLEGATION: THE GOLD MEDAL

"Bacchiocchi is not a loyal Adventist, but a “Jesuit Spy” because he studied
at a prestigious Jesuit University in Rome, called the Pontifical Gregorian
University. The fact that he received a gold medal donated by Pope Paul
VI for earning summa cum laude in his school work and dissertation From
Sabbath to Sunday, proves that he is promoting Sunday as the biblical
Sabbath. He would have never received a gold medal for promoting the
biblical Sabbath.

BACCHIOCCHI RESPONDS

"This is a common allegation that I have faced countless times in different places.
My detractors ignore that Jesuit Universities are scattered in many countries. In
the USA alone there are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities and two theological
centers. See the listing at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Jesuit_Colleges_
and_Universities

Bacchiocchi Responds to False Allegations - Part 1

"Scores of Adventists have earned and are earning degrees at Jesuit Universities,
simply because they offer excellent programs and outstanding teaching. It is very
difficult for any Adventist professor to compete with a Jesuit professor, simply
because the latter has no wife and children to worry about. They devote themselves
exclusively to what they call “the apostolate of research.”

"Adventists who earn degrees at Jesuit Universities, very seldom are accused of
becoming Jesuit spies. The reason is that sitting in a class taught by a Jesuit
professor, sometimes it can be less risky than sitting in a class taught by a liberal
Adventist. Why? Because most Jesuits are brilliant thinkers, who often take issue
with the theological teachings of their Catholic Church. I have sat in classes at
the Gregoriana where my professors openly challenged such dogmas as papal
infallibility.

"Contrary to what some Adventists think, the Jesuit order today is NOT a monolithic
organization totally committed to defend Catholic teachings and to infiltrate in
other churches. The fact is that during the course of its history, the Jesuit order
was shut down several times because of insubordination to the Pope. Even in 1981
John Paul II temporarily asserted greater control over the order by appointing
a conservative theologian to oversee it, rather than allowing the Jesuits to elect
their own leader.

"During his tenure as Director of The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) influenced John Paul II to
press charges against such Jesuit theologians as Edward Schillebeeckx of Holland,
Jack Pohier of France, Bernard Hasler of Switzerland. Hans Kung was
stripped of his post as teacher of Catholic theology at the University of Tubingen
for questioning papal infallibility. Prof. Charles Curran was suspended from
his teaching post at the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C., for
advocating that sterilization and contraception were not always wrong. Jesuit
priest Terrance Sweeney was forced to resign from his order, because he refused
to destroy the results of a survey of American Bishops about celibacy and the
ordination of women. A quarter of those surveyed reportedly approved optional
celibacy. These examples show that often Jesuits represent a dissenting voice
within the Catholic church.

"Attending a class taught by an open-minded Jesuit, often can be a refreshing
and enlightening experience. Personally I learned that the challenges facing
the Catholic Church today are far greater than the problems experienced by our
Adventist church.

Bacchiocchi Responds to False Allegations - Part 1
 
"Have Jesuits Infiltrated the Adventist Church?
 
"The notion that Jesuits have or are infiltrated in the Advestist Church today, is
hard for me to believe for three reasons.
 
"First, during the five years I spent at the Gregoriana, no professor or administrator
ever approached me to se if I would consider serving as a Jesuit agent in the
Adventist church. The mission of the Jesuits today is to promote scholarship, not
to infiltrate in other churches.
 
"Second, the Jesuits have the hands full in coping with theological and practical
problems facing their own Catholic Church. In Western Countries, less than 10%
of Catholic go to church. This tragic situation led Benedict XVI to exclaim two
years ago at the Youth Congress in Koln, Germany: “The Catholic Church is dead.
You are the new apostles called to plant the seeds of the Gospel.” When one’s
house is on fire, there is no time set fire to another house.
 
"Third, contrary to what some Adventists may think, comparatively speaking the
Adventist church poses no significant threat to the Catholic Church. Our Adventist
church grows at the rate of about a million members a year. By contrast,
Pentecostal churches grow at the rather of 20 million new members a year, that is,
20 times faster than our church. Within 10 years three quarters of a billion people
will swell its ranks of Pentecostal/Charismatic churches. This represents the most
far-reaching renewal movement in the history of the Christian Church, second
only in numbers to the Catholic Church. The Vatican is far more concerned about
the Pentecostal inroad into Catholic countries, than about Adventists.

"Our Adventist membership in Western Europe is stagnant, and in most instances
declining. In my homeland, Italy, for example, we had about 5000 Italian members
30 years ago when I left and almost the same number today. The only growth
has been generated by the immigration to Italy of Filipinos. Romanian, Hispanic,
an Ghanian. It is evident that Italian Adventist pose no significant threat to the
Catholic Church, because our presence in the country is hardly noticeable. I estimate
that 99% of the Italians do not even know that we exist. Thus, Jesuits have
no reasons to invest their time and energy to infiltrate the Adventist church that
poses no significant threat to the Catholic Church.."

(Adapted from“ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER No. 201
“BACCHIOCCHI RESPONDS TO FALSE ALLEGATIONS - Part 1”, found at http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/endtimeissues/)


CONCLUSION


THOSE ARE BACCHIOCCHI'S OWN WORDS IN HIS DEFENSE. Ex-Seventh day Adventist Pastors like Juan Rivera from El Evangelio Eterno (Glendale, CA) would seek to convince a non-perceptive Seventh-day Adventist Christian to believe that the Roman Catholic Church and Jesuits have infiltrated the Seventh-day Adventist Church. What does the evidence say? Is it just a picture? What are the fruits and teachings of alleged Jesuits in the church? Let the evidence speak for itself! ...


Cheers,


Elder Salvador A. Garcia
Associate Church Pastor
Hollywood Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church

Your faith and spiritual heritage: An Advantage or Disadvantage? A Blessing or a Curse?

The Devil exists. He is a powerful being. God exists. He is greater and more powerful that the Devil. Why is it so hard to do the right thing in our life? Why is it so easy to the the wrong thing in our life? ... The answer: There is a great cosmic struggle going on in our world, and in each of our lives. The Bible calls it the Great War in Heaven. You can read about it in Revelation chapter 12. This chapter includes somethings about the spiritual heritage of God's true church and followers throughout the ages. Spiritual heritage. Two words, that can seem a blessing to some, and a curse to others. Could it be that in the end, your spiritual heritage can be a blessing and an advantage instead of a curse? ... Read on!

As one ponders over their spiritual and religious heritage, the question naturally arises, "Is my spiritual and religious heritage an advantage or a disadvantage?" Or quite simply put, "Is my spiritual ancestry and heritage a burden or a blessing?" With questions like, "Why is the Bible, church, and/or Jesus so boring?", "When can I finally stop attending church so that I can go and party with my friends?", and others, one wonders whether there is any benefit or advantage to being a Christian and knowing about God's Commands. The answer, may surprise you ...

See: Revelation 12:17; 14:12


 Next Blog: Christian Idolatry and The Seventh-day Sabbath

More than Conquerors through Christ Jesus: How to Overcome The Barriers that Satan uses to defeat Sabbath keepers and God's Remnant Church

I like deep things. Deep swimming pools. Deep ideas. Deep conversations. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that 3-4 pages that originally were a part of the book "Great Controversy" by Ellen G. White, where removed and place in a different book by the author's request and permission. Originally a part of the 1884 edition of the book Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, a short section entitled The Snares of Satan, only 4 pages long, was removed and added to the book  Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pages 472-475. It was done so because the content is specifically for Seventh-day Adventist Christians, and not the general public at large. Since the book Great Controversy was being edited for wider exposure to the general public by Ellen G. White and her secretaries, this section was removed and placed in a separte volume (as noted above.)


What is amazing is that this short section, "The snares of Satan", details how Satan and his messengers try to destroy, defeat, and discourage God's Sabbath keeping Remanant Church. It details how Satan uses Entertainment, Love of Money and Pleasure, Divisions, Criticisms, and anything else you can think of to distract believers at the peril of their own souls. If you dare, read the section and pray that God will speak to you and wake you up from any spiritual Laodicean condition you may be in!


As always,


Keep your eyes on Jesus!


[ Reprinted with Full Credit to the Ellen G. White Estate, http://www.ellenwhite.com/)

Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Page 472 -475

The Snares of Satan

[See appendix.] [From the fourth volume of Spirit of prophecy, Or The great controversy (1884), ch. 27, pp. 337-340.]

law of liberty shall be represented as a yoke of bondage. The people accept their minister’s explanations of Scripture and do not investigate for themselves. Therefore, by working through the ministers, I can control the people according to my will.

“But our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbath keepers. We must excite popular indignation against them. We will enlist great men and worldly-wise men upon our side, and induce those in authority to carry out our purposes. Then the sabbath which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe and exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the cities and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When once we have the power, we will show what we can do with those who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. We led the Romish church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who refused to yield to her decrees; and now that we are bringing the Protestant churches and the world into harmony with this right arm of our strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority. When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side.

“But before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall.

“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk

with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people.

“Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion.

“Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance, and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it. 

“I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls. I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn, and He will give them up to our full control.

“We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.”

*****

As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God.

Says the great deceiver: “We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also.

“The Sabbath is the great question which is to decide the destiny of souls. We must exalt the sabbath of our creating. We have caused it to be accepted by both worldlings and church members; now the church must be led to unite with the world in its support. We must work by signs and wonders to blind their eyes to the truth, and lead them to lay aside reason and the fear of God and follow custom and tradition.

“I will influence popular ministers to turn the attention of their hearers from the commandments of God. That which the Scriptures declare to be a perfect

END OF SECTION


Pastor Sal's Comments on "Snares of Satan" by Ellen G. White


How intriguing and eye-opening to know that Satan has particular traps in mind to get Sabbath keeping and Second Advent Believers to stumble and fall into sin and lose their salvation in Christ. Although according to Roger Morneau, who was an ex-Satan Worshiper, who clearly heard from a Satanic priest that priest's nor Satan's spells work on Sabbath keepers and Seventh-day Adventist in particular, because the Sabbath-observance is special protection against satanic and demonic activity, BEWARE any who profess membership or have joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church and have become familar with the Great Testing truths that God has given this Seventh day Advent Movement! Don't count is a small thing, like your favorite ice cream flavor, that you are a Seventh-day Adventist instead of a Mormon, Jehovah's witness, Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Baptist. Make not mistake. You are a "chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9. In the word of Ellen G. White, Seventh-day Adventists hold a special place in the eyes of God. Don't believe it? Read the following statement:

"Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a peculiar people, separate from the world. By the great cleaver of truth He has cut them out from the quarry of the world and brought them into connection with Himself. He has made them His representatives and has called them to be ambassadors for Him in the last work of salvation. The greatest wealth of truth ever entrusted to mortals, the most solemn and fearful warnings ever sent by God to man, have been committed to them to be given to the world ..." Counsels for the Church, Page 72

Wow! What a great honor and privilege to be able to be God's spokesperson's for these last days! Don't get me wrong. As Sabbath keepers and Advent believers, we have lots "of lessons to learn, and many to unlearn." We are part of a church that has both "wheat and tares", the converted and committed, and the unconverted and uncommitted. Let me also add, that it is not anyone's job to try and figure out who is who. Not the head pastor, elder, or any one in the church. That is the work of Holy Spirit! Don't try to figure out who is who, just make sure that you are following Jesus and that you love Him with all of your heart! While we can and must learn from other non-Sabbath keeping Christians like Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Pentecostals, baptists, the Blackaby Ministries International, and others (Francis Chan, Willow Creek Church, and even Robert Schuller!), we as Seventh-day Adventist have something that they (non-sabbath keeping and non-Heavenly Sanctuary believing Christians) need! They need the message that God has given this movement. And in the process of trying to figure out how to give the "trumpet a certain blow" (making the message of Seventh-day Adventist relevant to today's post-modern and post-Christian society), Satan is doing all that he can to get us off of the mark. Our goal, according to Scripture and Testimonies of Ellen G. White, is to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."


" Brethren and sisters who have long claimed to believe the truth, I ask you individually, Have your practices been in harmony with the light, the privileges, and the opportunities granted you of heaven? This is a serious question. The Sun of Righteousness has risen upon the church, and it is the duty of the church to shine. It is the privilege of every soul to make advancement. Those who are connected with Christ will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Son of God, to the full stature of men and women. If all who claim to believe the truth had made the most of their ability and opportunities to learn and to do, they would have become strong in Christ. Whatever their occupation—whether they were farmers, mechanics, teachers, or pastors—if they had wholly consecrated themselves to God they would have become efficient workers for the heavenly Master. " ^{Testimonies for the Church 6:423}

We ought to be growing each and every day, more and more like the Savior Jesus. (Romans 8:29) Here is were the subtle attacks, lies, and deceptions of Satan come in. Here in the West, we have been deceived by Satan to pursue entertainment, leisure, work, money as idols that will cause many Sabbath believers to lose their eternal salvation. Remembering that there is nothing you can do to be saved, and therefore (being equally true), nothing you can do to be lost ... digest that for a second ... really ... for only Jesus can save us by His works (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:11-13). Seventh-day Adventists and any other believer will be lost not because of what they did, but because they failed to "abide" or remain in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8; Romans 14:23), "for whatever is not from faith is sin." Romans 14:23. No one will be saved and taken to Heaven based on what they did, but because they "endured til the end" in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.


It seems like Satan and his messengers have stumped Sabbath keepers and believers by distracting them from living the message and proclaiming it with an irrestible power and influence in the lives of those around them. Show me a Sabbath keeping church where people are friendly, loving and kind, and proclaim the very message that we believe in, and I am sure we can find 100 non-Sabbath keeping churches that are loving, friendly, but have the wrong message for today.


So think about it? Are you becoming more like Jesus every day of our life? Or are you becoming more like the world? Are you being comfored to the image of Jesus every day? Or is the world comforming you more to its image each day? (Romans 12:1-2). It's my prayer that you will open your spiritual eyes and realize that you have a "hell to shun and a heaven to win." By faith of course.


So choose this day, to live in God's presence and to live for God's glory. Live today by asking the question, "WWJD? What would Jesus Do? ... When you do, you will be living the life God always wanted you to live. God help you in living for Jesus' soon coming!


~ S.G.

Walking with Jesus ... Going Deeper in Your Walk with Jesus Every Day

I want to draw your attention to several promises from the Word of God, as you read this short blog.

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper ...
Isaiah 54:17

     

"But those who wait on the LORD
      Shall renew their strength;
      They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
      They shall run and not be weary,
      They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

What an amazing God we serve! He provides each and every day for all of our needs, and on top of that, throws in a few extras every day. He allows the sun to shine and give us warmth. The clouds, trees, and foliage give us shade. He sends water every day from mountains, geisers, and brooks. Okay, how about from Arrowhead, Sparklett's, or Evian water (which by the way spells "naive" backwords!)? The God we serve is an awesome God. He is truly worthy of all praise, worship, and adoration. ...

What about when we go through a storm? A problem? A crisis? Can and should we still praise Him? Our natural human tendency is to not want to praise God through our trials and troubles, yet the assurance and help we most need can come only from God.

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
         From whence comes my help?
  My help comes from the LORD,
         Who made heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2, NKJV

Also, 

"Fear not, for I am with you;
 Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you,
 Yes, I will help you,
 I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’"

Isaiah 41:10

And,

Psalm 46:1

"God is our refuge and strength,

       A very present help in trouble."

In moments of crisis and trouble, what we most yearn for is a word or touch from God that asssures us that "No matter what happens", He is going to be with us and carry us through the Storm." Sometimes, what you most need is just to know that God, will carry you in His Arms and hold you close to His Heart, and to hear that no matter what happens, God will not forsake you or abandon you!

How can you build such a determined attitude and relationship wtih God so that when the storms in your life hit (a sibling or friend who is pregnant out of wedlock, a friend who is suicidal, a friend on drugs, etc., the death of a friend or love one), you will be saddened but not defeated? ... How is your life today? Do you have a "HOLY HUNGER" for God and the things of God? ... Right now is the perfect time in your life to start developing a deeper relationship with God, and Since Jesus is "God ... manifested in the flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16), it only makes sense to begin to have a real relationship with Jesus every day of your life. Call it Jesus 101, Christianity 101, your devotional life, or whatever you want to call it. It's now or never! Jesus is waiting to have a real relationship with you today. Do you have that HOLY HUNGER? Do you really want it that bad? Or will you just go back to living a mediocre, lukewarm christianity that professes faith in Jesus, but lacks the power thereof? ... It's your choice! Jesus has already chosen you to spend eternity with Him. The question is now, "Do you want to spend eternity with Him in Heaven soon?" If you really mean it, then you have to start to get to know Jesus while you are here on earth. Jesus will not take you to Heaven against your will. He has chosen you, know the choice is yours. The ball is now is your court, WWUD? What will "U" Do? ...

Suggested Devotional topics or Bible Readings:

1. Pick up a Bible Concordance and read as many texts as you can that mention "God" and "Love" in the same text for the next ten minutes. Stop and mediate on each of them. Substitute your name in the text to personalize the text for you. Here are a few texts to get you started:

1. 1 John 4:8
   He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
2. 1 John 4:9
   In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
3. 1 John 4:10
   In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
4. Deuteronomy 7:9
   “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
5. Romans 5:5
   Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6. Romans 5:8
   But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
7. Titus 3:4
   But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

2. Read the Gospel of Saint Mark for ten minutes.  Then mediate on what you read, and ask the Holy Spirit, "what does this story or section of Scripture" tell me about my Best Friend and Savior Jesus? ... Then respond to God by praying and thanking Him for such a Wonderful and Beautiful Savior!

3. Determine to spend the next 10 minutes praising God in prayer. Choose a theme, like the names of God, or like Creation, and tell God why you think He is so great and awesome!

4. Prepare a Bible study, then head out your door asking God to lead you to someone with whom you can share this special Bible truth: The Profecies about the Messiah, The Second Coming, The Sabbath, The Sanctuary, The State of the Dead, the Spirit of Prophecy, etc.

5. Go for a prayer walk in your neigborhood. While walking and exercising, pray for your neighbors and friens as you walk and commune with God in singing or reading Bible texts!

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

5/26/2011