Adventist News
Pathfinders Break Attendance Records at the 2023 Missouri Honors Weekend Guest Contributor – May 23, 2023
Missouri Pathfinders gathered at Camp Heritage for the annual Missouri Honors Weekend in March. The event had record registrants and totaled 204 Pathfinders, staff and attending family members. Camp staff needed to open additional buildings to accommodate the large crowd that was in attendance. They also had to bring in additional cots for sleeping arrangements, while other clubs opted for tent camping. Additionally, due to the large turnout, meals were served in two waves as kitchen staff prepared meals and snacks for those attending. Honors Weekend is a favored event among Pathfinders, as club members can earn honors, worship and play games together at beautiful Camp Heritage. Joshua Priddy of Burn Bright Ministries presented worship messages throughout the weekend, which can be viewed at Burn Bright Ministries – YouTube. Each presentation was engaging and featured many stories and exciting demonstrations that Priddy invited Pathfinders to help with. This year’s honors included waterfalls, spiders, worms, bubbles, renewable energy, fossils, glass etching, poultry, shells, water science, birds and reptiles. Joshua Kittelson of Christian Record Services traveled from Lincoln, Nebraska, to teach the braille honor, and Henry Davis traveled from Berrien Springs, Michigan, to teach blacksmithing. Davis also taught blacksmithing at The Forged men’s retreat hosted at Camp Heritage in early March and was well-received. The Pathfinders at Honors Weekend enjoyed crafting an S-hook and a cross from metal with coal forges set up in the Camp Heritage pavilion. Other Pathfinders left camp with worm habitats, shell collections, etched glass and more. Each Pathfinder will receive their respective honors at their club’s investiture service this spring. In addition to the honors taught by guests, area coordinators and Pathfinder staff, Diana Thompson taught “Introduction to Disaster Preparedness,” a requirement for the disaster ministries honor. Staff and children played games, and each Pathfinder could take resources home provided by FEMA. Rachel Ashworth is the Pathfinder director for the Sikeston Peace Point Chapel in Missouri.
Read more...Volunteers Prepare Camp Heritage for Summer Fun Guest Contributor – May 23, 2023
During the month of April many people arrived at Camp Heritage to volunteer their time for the annual Camp Heritage Work Bee. A total of 48 people supported our camp, which is situated on the Lake of the Ozarks, by organizing the work bee and doing the work of cleaning. Pathfinder clubs from Springfield and Sedalia as well as church members Becky Saylor, Noah Gallant, Kay Fauss and her daughters, Melinda and Makayla Fauss, Michelle and Ryan Chacon, and the Lee’s Summit Church all showed their support by donning work gloves and rolling up their sleeves to join in preparing Camp Heritage for the summer camping season. Each Sunday in the month of April these volunteers spent time beautifying the grounds by raking leaves, trimming trees, cleaning out sheds, sorting and organizing bedding, repairing chairs in the lodge, and much more! Thank you to everyone who came out to support Camp Heritage and prepare it for all the fun this summer! To stay connected and find more ways to support Camp Heritage, please visit us at www.campheritage.org and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CampHeritageMO. Alicia Spaid, along with her husband Scott, live at Camp Heritage. Scott is the camp maintenance director.
Read more...Adventurers Have Fun Earning Friendship Awards By Shelina Bonjour Guest Contributor – May 23, 2023
Do you want to connect with 579 friends? If you were at Adventurer Fun Day that is how many opportunities you would have had to apply the lessons of friendship you were learning. This exciting event had 580 individuals registered, making this our largest Fun Day registration yet! This year’s annual Adventurer Fun Day featured two awards: “Jesus our Friend” and “Playing with Friends.” These awards were so natural to teach at this event because Adventurer Fun Day is all about connecting clubs, Adventurers and families together as they have fun and learn about Jesus. This April event was visited by snow, but that didn’t stop the music, marching, learning, games and awesome food! The room was filled with joy as the kids loudly sang “We are Adventurers.” Cell phone cameras came out as parents captured their kids proudly parading in and doing marching drills. Before long the scarfs and uniforms were traded for club T-shirts and matching sweatshirts, so the kids could play games and actively participate in the activities without dirtying their fancy blue and maroon outfits. Handprints covered the walls as the Adventurers lifted up their prayers to heaven. In the hallways you could see kids draped in scarves, ready to act out their favorite stories of Bible friends. If you know an Adventurer who attended this event, you might have received a wooden bookmark because in the craft room bookmarks were designed to be sets, one for the Adventurer to keep and a matching one to give to a friend. The Friendship Game station was super popular, but weather kept the yearly inflatables from having quite the appeal they usually do. Some of our Adventurers still braved the snow to race through the colorful inflatable toys. A staff from Source of Life church said, “This is the third Adventurer Fun Day our club has come too, and I love it, because I feel like my kids and I have made friends with other clubs, and I love to say hi to other teachers and see my kids playing with others.” I think we all are blessed when we can have opportunities to make friends with others and grow in our friendship with Jesus! Shelina Bonjour is the youth and camp director for the Minnesota Conference.
Read more...NATHANIEL GAMBLE ORDained AT LITTLETON CHURCH RMCNews – May 23, 2023
Four and a half years ago, Nathaniel Gamble became an associate pastor at Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church. On Sabbath, May 6, dozens of church members came to support him and witness his ordination to the Gospel ministry at the very church he attended when he was younger. They were also joined by members from churches he served or is currently serving. “Having attended the Littleton Church as a youngster, it was great to see him being ordained in the church of his youth. Some even remembered him from those early days. It just reaffirms how important it is for all of our churches to take good care of our youth. You just never know where they will end up someday,” commented Mickey Mallory, the Rocky Mountain Conference ministerial director. Following the service, Nathaniel said, “I was very surprised by the large turnout of people who came to my ordination, and it was a pleasant surprise.” He added that “it was incredibly special to me to see all the support I received from Aspen Park, Fort Lupton, Denver West, Lakewood Fellowship, Golden, Littleton, Mile High Academy, and the Conference office. That support and encouragement was probably the best gift of the whole service.” The service was led by RMC leaders. Leading the ordination prayer was Mic Thurber, RMC president, and ministry affirmation was presented by RMC Secretary Doug Inglish. As with similar services, theirs was a reminder that an ordination service is not so much the bestowal of a pastoral calling by Conference leadership as much as it is the recognition by the people of God of a call to pastoral ministry that He has already given a person. “It was wonderful to celebrate that call with so many church members, past and present,” Nathaniel, whose name means “Gift of God,” later commented. In his life sketch, Nathaniel, a Colorado native, recalls God’s call and leading, but also his wrestling with faith and doubt for several years. “God deepened my faith in the deity and resurrection of Jesus. Since being called to the pastorate, God has shaped my ministry through two callings: to always preach the gospel and to always take religious liberty seriously by highlighting God’s character to advocate for the poor and voiceless,” he stated. Nathaniel’s mother insisted he and his sister attend Adventist schools. “It was Adventist education that introduced me to the denomination and Jesus,” he added. Pastor Nathaniel’s mother, Debra Gamble, and grandmother, Betty Carol, attended his ordination. Pastor Nathaniel is well-known for his scholarship in Biblical Theology. He received his Master of Arts in theology at Denver Seminary and is completing his PhD at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “God deepened my faith in the messiahship and faithfulness of Jesus, by teaching me lessons of obedience, trust, and listening to the Holy Spirit,” he shared. “Preach the Word is the greatest honor,” said Pastor Dan McGrath from Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Detroit. Friendship between Nathaniel and Dan goes back to the time they met in Grand Rapids. Dan still remembers the themes and titles of several sermons Nathaniel preached at his church. Mickey Mallory commented Nathaniel’s “insights into Scripture which have helped many to bond with Christ.” “Pastor Nathaniel’s ordination was a testimony to the power of God. It demonstrates how, when a person is willing to follow God’s calling on their life, God can work wonders through them,” he added. In an Ordination Response, the newly ordained pastor shared one of his favorite mission stories about two young men from the early 1700s attending a Moravian church service in Germany. David Nitschman and John Leonard Dober were listening to their pastor about a slave master in the West Indies who owned his own island and operated a massive plantation. He treated his slaves brutally, not allowing any preacher or missionary, any religious writing, or any worship service on his island. His slaves would live and die without ever hearing the gospel or that Jesus loved them. Nathaniel continued the story, that connected him with the meaning of being a missionary for Jesus. David and John decided to challenge the situation and boarded a boat to the West Indies. As they walked onto the vessel, their families started to cry because they knew they would never see the two young men again. And, as the ship cast off and the gap grew larger and larger between the vessel and those standing on the dock, one of the young men shot his fist into the air and called across the gulf, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering!” Concluding, Nathaniel raised his hand and repeated as his ministerial motto, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering!”
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Blogs
The Teacher’s Notes–Satan’s Final Deceptions, Lesson 10 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2023 2Q, "Three Cosmic Messages" The Teacher's Notes – May 27, 2023
Sabbath School Lesson for May 27-June 2, 2023 Overview of Lesson 10, Satan’s Final Deceptions Memory Text: ” ‘Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.’ ” John 17:17 NKJV Topics studied this week include: Sunday: The Way That Seems Right in a Man’s Eyes–Even the faithful are in danger of being deceived. Monday: The Old Lie of Immortality–Belief in the immortality of the soul leads to spiritualism, with Satan’s demons disguising themselves as those who have died. Tuesday: Babylon–the Center of Sun Worship–Instead of worshiping the Creator of the sun, Satan has people worshiping on the day pagans worshiped the sun. Wednesday: A Call to Faithfulness–God’s word, not human opinion or tradition, should be our guide. Thursday: Grace for Obedience–We must forsake our self-centered, human attempts at obedience and live by faith in God’s grace. The “wine of Babylon” contains many deadly, false doctrines that only lead to destruction. The three angels’ messages are designed to protect us from these deceptive teachings. It is the perfect antidote to keep us safe from the wiles of the devil that so easily entrap us, especially in these last days. Satan’s first deception to mankind came to Eve in the Garden of Eden. She was told that her disobedience to God would not lead to her death, as God had warned them. Today, Satan has most of the world deceived about what happens to us after death. Instead of “resting” from our labors, “sleeping in Jesus”, as God describes death, many in the world, even Christians, believe that our souls go on living after death and go straight to our eternal destiny. Satan’s second powerful deception involves worship. He has been successful in getting most of the world to worship on a different day than God prescribed in His word. Sunday worship has surely drawn us away from our Creator in many subtle, and not so subtle, ways. Sunday: The Way That Seems Right in a Man’s Eyes Perhaps the most chilling warning Jesus has given believers in the last days are the words, ” ‘For false christs and false prophets will rise up and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.’ ” (Mark 13:22) Even some of God’s most faithful followers may be found among those who are deceived at the very end. None of us alone are a match for Satan’s power to deceive. “That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan,” who was himself cast out of heaven, will achieve a worldwide following on planet Earth (Revelation 12:9) before God is forced to end Satan’s reign and set up His own Kingdom of righteousness and peace. Proverbs 14:12 alerts us to the possibility that “there is a way that seems right to a man,” but it is in reality a way to death. Only by immersing ourselves in God’s holy Word, surrendering ourselves to Jesus, and allowing His Spirit to guide us will we be safe from Satan’s power to deceive. Bible Verses: Mark 13:22 and Matthew 24:31 Who are “the elect”? Revelation 12:9 and 20:3 How does this verse confirm who Satan is and what he is trying to do here on earth? Will he be successful in his efforts to hijack our planet? Proverbs 14:12 and John 17:17 How do we guard ourselves and follow the path that leads to life? Monday: The Old Lie of Immortality One of the things we don’t want to hear from a doctor is that we have a terminal illness or disease. We long to hear what the treatment plan might be, and find immense relief in hearing that we will not surely die, at least not from that disease. Knowing mankind as he does, it’s no wonder that Satan’s most successful lie has been that disobedient humanity will not die. He has convinced, even most Christians, that our soul, or spirit, will go right on living, either in heaven or in hell, immediately upon death. The fact that God calls death a sleep, a rest from our labors (Revelation 14:13), indicates that our mortal bodies do indeed die and remain in the grave. But, we will be resurrected together with all the righteous at the last trump when Jesus comes (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17), and all the unrighteous when fire from heaven will come down and destroy them (Revelation 20:9). Satan’s most successful lie about life after death has led to spiritualism, a widely-held belief that dead spirits come back and visit us here on earth. This lie of the immortality of the soul will certainly increase Satan’s ability to perform signs and wonders in the final days of earth’s history. Demons, disguised as our loved ones, will attempt to draw us away from the truths in the Bible, and thus away from God. Bible Verses: Revelation 16:13, 14, 18:2, 23 How do these verses help us understand how spiritualism will be rampant in the last days? What do we see today in the entertainment world and at funerals that shows us how prevalent is the belief of the immortality of the soul? Job 19:25-27 and John 5:29, 11:24 What does Jesus and the Bible teach us about when we are resurrected? Tuesday: Babylon–The Center of Sun Worship Being the largest planet in the sky, the one that their crops of food depended on for growth, it’s no wonder that the sun became an object of worship for much of the pagan world. We see evidence of this in the histories of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. Ezekiel, the prophet who lived during the time of Daniel, tried to discourage the Israelites from sun worship. It was often a problem for God’s people (Ezekiel 8:16). The Roman emperor Constantine was an avid worshiper of the sun, but was converted to Christianity. In order for his new religion to appeal to other sun worshipers in his territories, he decreed in 321 A.D. that the day to worship would be on Sunday, the day of the sun. With this The Teacher’s Notes–Satan’s Final Deceptions, Lesson 10 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2023 2Q, “Three Cosmic Messages”“>Read more…
Read more...The Teacher’s Notes–A City Called Confusion, Lesson 9 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2023 2Q, "Three Cosmic Messages" The Teacher's Notes – May 20, 2023
Sabbath School Lesson for May 2o-26, 2023 Overview for Lesson 9, A City Called Confusion Memory Text: ” ‘These make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.’ ” Revelation 17:14 NKJV Topics studied this week include: Sunday: Two Contrasting Systems–Who are the two women in Revelation 12 and 17? Monday: The Wine of the Wrath–What does it mean to drink of the “wine of Babylon”? Tuesday: Mystery, Babylon the Great–Why is Babylon used to represent false religious systems? Wednesday: A Call to Commitment–In what way was Babylon a combination of church and state? Thursday: Babylon, the Center of Idolatry–When and why were images introduced into the Christian church, and why are they harmful? We now take up the study of the second angel’s message in Revelation 14. The cry now is “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8). To properly understand this urgent appeal, we must look before and after chapter 14 to identify who or what Babylon is. In chapter 12, a pure woman, symbolizing the bride of Christ, is described as being clothed with the sun. In contrast, we find in chapter 17, a harlot dressed in purple and scarlet, which represents spiritual apostasy. They correspond with the holy city of God, Jerusalem, as opposed to the pagan city of Babylon, a place where idolatrous behavior and spiritual confusion was the norm. Sunday: Two Contrasting Systems In Revelation 12:17 and 17:14 we find a spiritual war going on. Some power seems to fighting the Lamb, or Christ, but it also seeks to overcome the woman, or the church (Ephesians 5:23). These two opposing forces, good and evil, are as different as night and day. And yet, many seem to be deceived and don’t fully know whose side they are on. This confusion has been carefully strategized by Satan, who is an expert at blending truth with error, making it difficult to determine what is truth. Although the ancient city of Babylon has long ago been destroyed, its pagan religious practices have become a symbol of false worship in the world. The woman in Revelation 17:1-6, dressed in purple and scarlet and riding on a scarlet beast, is called a harlot, because she has left her true Lover, Jesus Christ, and committed “fornication”, symbolic of the false doctrines and practices she promotes. Bible Verses: Revelation 14:8 and 17:1, 2, 15 What elements do these verses share? What do waters mean and how does this reveal the worldwide following the harlot has? Monday: The Wine of the Wrath The pure juice of the grape, the wine that is symbolic of the blood of Christ, represents the truth of God’s word. But the “wine of the wrath of her fornication” is another kind of wine that has become tainted with sin. His word is mixed with false, human teachings by another woman, or church, that is described as a harlot. This harlot has been unfaithful to God and His word. Revelation 17:2 says that kings and inhabitants of the earth are made drunk with this tainted wine. This confusing, false religious system, called Babylon, not only has worldwide influence, but has infiltrated government agencies (“the kings of the earth”) to enforce its unholy gospel. Instead of looking to Jesus, the true Head of the church, this fallen church looks to the state for support and enforcement of its decrees. The second angel’s message which warns us against Babylon is explained further in Revelation 18:4, which says, “Come out of her, my people.” This implies that God’s people are or had been associated with Babylon, and are called to leave it. Chapter 18 gives a full picture of who Babylon is and what its fall means. The Holy Roman Empire, which ruled much of Europe during the Middle Ages, easily fits the description of this false church called Babylon. But caution of coming under its influence grows even greater as we near the end of earth’s history. Another power emerges then, which creates an image to the beast, also calling on the state to unite with the church and enforce its worship. See Revelation 13. Bible Verses: Revelation 17:4, 5 How would you describe the character of the scarlet woman? Revelation 17:6 How does this verse support the Holy Roman Empire becoming Babylon? Who were the martyrs at that time? Tuesday: Mystery, Babylon the Great To uncover the mystery of how Babylon became so powerful, we must go back to the original site for the ancient city, the tower of Babel. Genesis 11 tells the story of how their pride got the better of them after the flood, and in order to “make a name” for themselves, and supposedly save themselves in the event of another flood (which God had promised would never happen, by the way), they went about building an enormously high tower. This led to a state of confusion, with their languages mysteriously becoming all mixed up. Without adequate communication going on, the building of the tower had to stop. Spiritual Babylon, talked about in Revelation, therefore represents a religion based on human pride, leading to human ideas, beliefs, and traditions, rather than the word of God. As the name Babel and Babylon imply, this false religious system leads to confusion on a massive scale. Instead of relying on the simple word of God, on Christ, the Head of the church, they rely on the traditions and false practices of the church. Satan must certainly be pleased that his deceptive devices have infiltrated God’s church so totally and easily, and people are left confused over what to believe. Bible Verses: Genesis 11:1-4, 9 Why do you think God allowed their languages to be confused, and why would He want them to scatter over the face of the earth? The Teacher’s Notes–A City Called Confusion, Lesson 9 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2023 2Q, “Three Cosmic Messages”“>Read more…
Read more...When the News Looks Scary… Guest Contributor – May 18, 2023
Be prepared, but not scared. God is still in control. Nothing the devil tries to do gets done without God’s permission. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isa. 54:17). This tells us it may form—the weapon will be formed—but it will not prosper! It’s a scary, angry world. Remain peaceful and filled with patience and hope. Calm down, world. Anger creates an atmosphere where righteousness can’t flourish. God wants to produce a righteous life in us, but we gotta’ stay calm. How do we stay calm in such a crazy, insane, frustrating, scary world, we might ask? We MUST remember this earth is not our home forever. Jesus has a purpose for our lives, like He did for Paul in the Bible. He was bitten by a poisonous snake, after surviving a wrecked ship in a storm. It bit him, but the poison didn’t prosper because God had a plan for him to go to Rome and preach. He couldn’t die there. God had more for him to do. So it is with us. If God has more for us to do, you’ve got a prayer. It’s going to be alright. I know this because God told me how the story ends. God wins. The wicked do seem to take over and will eventually try to take over the New Jerusalem city and will seek to kill all God’s followers in it, but just before they get a chance to attack, God will send fire down from heaven and the wicked will be no more. That’s a good thing, by the way. Revelation starts out scary-sounding, but it ends on a good note for God’s people. It isn’t scary or discouraging to look at the world news when we remember that God is using the trouble and is still on our side for life. It ends well. Hang in there! GOD IS WITH US. Allissa Morrison is a former student of College View Academy, a member of the College View Seventh-day Adventist Church. She grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and enjoys working in fast food.
Read more...Recovering from Burnout Part 3 Mind and Spirit – May 18, 2023
Recovery is possible, but it will be gradual improvement over 1-2 years for full recovery. If the job you have is the cause of the burnout, sometimes finding a new job can help. Yet this is not always necessary for recovery and also will not make recovery instantaneous. Recovery will still take time with a new job or not. Uncontrolled Stress Causes Burnout Since lack of control is a key factor causing burnout, finding areas of life one can control is a key factor in recovery. Discover and enforce your boundaries. Being able to have clear lines between work and home is important. Taking a break at work, yes even if you work in healthcare, has been proven to give people more energy to do their work after the break and improve and prevent burnout. If at all possible the break is even more beneficial if taken outdoors. Eat lunch, ideally a healthy lunch. Healthy Steps to Take Prioritizing sleep is one of the most important actions you can take. Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep nightly. Since stress can interfere with sleep, this may temporarily need more intervention than simply allowing enough time for sleep. The only time our brains can “take out the trash” is when we are deeply asleep. Shorting ourselves on sleep impedes our ability to remember things, and does some amount of damage to the brain over the long term. Thus sleep is critical to recovery. Light exercise such as cardio, strength training, and stretching can bring renewal. Intense exercises such as boot camps cause stress to the body, increasing cortisol levels. These are already higher for those under excessive stress and experiencing burnout, therefore are best to avoid during recovery. Deep abdominal breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing as slow as 6 times per minute actually can increase oxygen levels in the blood and helps tell your brain to relax. Coupling this with slower relaxing music can make it even more beneficial. (for a video explaining this breathing, click here) Ellen White also recommends deep breathing: “In order to have good blood, we must breathe well. Full, deep inspirations of pure air, which fill the lungs with oxygen, purify the blood. They impart to it a bright color and send it, a life-giving current, to every part of the body. A good respiration soothes the nerves; it stimulates the appetite and renders digestion more perfect; and it induces sound, refreshing sleep.” Ministry of Healing p. 272 Time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine is healing and increases immunity which is decreased with stress. The benefits of sunshine and fresh air are being shown more and more in research. There is far more benefit than I can possibly explain in this format, so I suggest watching these videos by a doctor from Loma Linda. Shorter one; longer one but worth it! The outdoors (even looking at pictures) has been shown to decrease stress. New Skills Interestingly mastery of a new skill has been shown to help with burnout. This could be picking up a new hobby or renewing an old one. This may be in part due to having control. It also is stimulating to the brain and gives it exercise. Because burnout is a problem manifested mostly in the brain, there are steps to improve mental health that are crucial to recovery and prevention. We will look at those in the next post. Previous posts in this series: What is Burnout?, Burnout in the Brain If you are feeling suicidal, please call 988 for support, go to your hospital’s emergency department, or call 911. God is not done with you yet.
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Featured Stories
What Can You Do With Three Dollars? Brenda Dickerson – May 25, 2023
As our parents age, we often look for ways to be sure they continue to be respected and honored throughout their years of life. One way I’ve found of doing this is by reminding myself of the many valuable things I learned from my parents, and how those lessons continue to impact my life. My father was a teacher in Seventh-day Adventist elementary schools for over 35 years. And he was my teacher in a small school while I was in grades 4-8. At that time Dad was teaching all 8 grades in a one-room schoolhouse in Tennessee, where I grew up. And it was the last day of school before Christmas break. We were having a little celebration in our classroom that afternoon. Earlier, we had cut an evergreen tree out of the woods and brought it into the classroom to decorate with red and green paper chains we scholars eagerly made from construction paper. I will always remember how, before our modest gift exchange began, Dad opened his worn wallet, took out three $1 bills, and clothespinned them onto the branches of the Christmas tree. “These are gifts to Jesus on His birthday” he said, “representing my three children.” Dad added how thankful he and my mother were for having three healthy children (my two brothers and myself). I knew, even as a young child, that our family’s budget was tight. There was no extra money. And I was surprised to see my Dad pinning dollar bills onto that tree. (What I did not know until I was an adult was that my parents were living on half a salary because they wanted their three children, my cousins, and a handful of other neighboring children to attend an Adventist school, even though the small local church could not afford to pay their part of a teacher’s salary.) But what happened next has stayed in my mind over the years. As Dad was opening Christmas cards from his students, out of one card fell… not one, or two, but three $1 bills. And as Dad held them up with a broad smile on his face, his words powerfully etched themselves into my 10-year-old brain: “See? As I have always said—you can never outgive the Lord!” That simple act of solid faith on my father’s part, and his words of complete confidence not only in God’s ability but His willingness to provide for all our needs, has been a guiding force in my life. I’m so thankful to my father for his consistent example of generosity and faithfulness. Dad created a strong “culture of generosity” around him before there was such a phrase in our language. He and my mother were extremely generous people and always shared with those in need, whether they were managing little or, later in life, much more. Their example is a shining light in my heart and I count it a privilege to live with the mindset they modeled for me that everything belongs to God and He is trusting us to continue joyfully sharing His good gifts.
Read more...Loneliness Is Real But There Is AN Answer! Guest Contributor – May 24, 2023
Have you ever felt lonely? There are millions of people around the world who feel this way every day of their lives. Most of us have had times in our lives when we felt alone. Loneliness is a real emotion. Loneliness can lead to major depression, anxiety, low self worth, isolation from family and friends and even suicide. Loneliness affects your overall health and may cause you to have a low immune system, which in turn causes you to be more susceptible to disease. Sometimes, people feel lonely after losing a loved one, or their child leaves for school, family moves out of town, there is a divorce or separation. These life circumstances can lead a person to having feelings of insecurity and low self esteem. Feelings of loneliness can also be triggered from something good happening in our lives, such as a job promotion out of town or serving as a missionary for Christ. Single individuals and widowers have been found to have feelings of loneliness more often than married couples, although in some instances a married individual can feel alone as well, especially if the individuals are unequally yoked. Being rejected by others can leave a person feeling lonely. You must understand that loneliness or thoughts of loneliness do not come from God but Satan. Satan will put depressing thoughts in your mind about others and how others think of you. He will also deceive you into thinking that you are all alone and nobody loves you. He will then try to turn you against God—as though God has left you alone and has forgotten about you. I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU! Jesus died on the cross for us. God loves us and has sent his only son to save us. God has left us his word and the Holy Spirit to inspire us. Jesus is always with us no matter where we are or what state we are in. The next time you start feeling lonely and Satan is harassing you into thinking that no one cares, remember Jesus is with us always and he will never leave us or forsake us. God has put the beauty of nature all around us and blessed us with people who care and love us. Pray, look unto Jesus and reach out to those around you. Find more about abundant living from Jeanine Qualls at helpministryprayer.com
Read more...Celebrating Sabbath: An Active Reversal of Hustle Culture Guest Contributor – May 18, 2023
There is a phrase that has stuck with me since I first heard it in Sabbath school at 12 years old. “Busy is an acronym for Being Under Satan’s Yoke.” If asked to describe ourselves, odds are the first thing we’ll say is our job. For many of us what we do is who we are. Though coined in 1971, the 1980s was when the word “workaholic” was considered a virtue. However, the 2010s was when overworking was glamorized into an aesthetic. With the rise of self-made entrepreneurship, buzzwords like “girl boss” “the grind” and “hustle” gained traction. No longer chasing company loyalty, “entrepreneurs” (a wax-like term ready to be molded to any definition) had more autonomy, but fewer boundaries. What few boundaries remained were obliterated during quarantine. Books, studies and countless articles have documented the damaging effects of Hustle Culture. So why has it prevailed? In short, Hustle Culture speaks to an ingrained narrative introduced by sin. This narrative says work is life, taking the place of pleasure with productivity as a sign of worth. And success is a god that we must suffer in isolation to appease. Anyone who does not abide by this lifestyle is classified as weak, unable to keep up with the alpha pace in a sociological survival of the fittest. It isn’t a coincidence the Sabbath fosters a challenging narrative. A divine commitment In Genesis 2:2, God created the Sabbath day and said it was “very good.” Exodus 20:8-11 and other verses speak to God making the Sabbath holy, with no labor being done by you or anyone within your sphere. Throughout Christ’s ministry, we are given consistent examples of Jesus observing the Sabbath and taking regular rest. For those who believe their worth is in how much they produce, the Sabbath’s identity as a day of rest is a threat. Sabbath reminds us that our worth and value are not in our work but in our identity in God. It is redefining the foundation of our pursuits. When Adam and Eve were created, the first thing they did was observe the Sabbath. For a modern mind, Sabbath’s place seems unnecessary within an Edenic existence. This was before the fall, before work was a drain, before back-to-back zoom calls that could have been an email, and before stressful economies. We tend to view Sabbath as a post-fall response to a sinful world; however, it being the first activity Adam and Eve experienced on earth is profound. By Adam and Eve’s first full day being the Sabbath, God was setting the precedent for their lives. In his book The Lost Meaning of the Seventh-day Sabbath, author Sigve Tonstad states”[The Sabbath’s] primary message is not human duty, but divine commitment… the seventh day brings to view God’s priorities.” Sin reverses our identity and desires on a DNA level. Hustle Culture is a reversal of our intended identity and our attitude toward work and rest. Success has become a god in modern culture: we sacrifice for it, place our identity on it, and neglect basic wellness in pursuit of it. Where Sabbath is a practice in contentment, success is, at its core, a bid for immortality. In a brutal pursuit of personal brand, many believe isolation is necessary, seeing others as low-level competitors. Within this narrative, contentment equals stagnation, and easy is the enemy. Therefore, the more suffering one endures on the journey, the greater their validity. The existence of a holy day is a weekly monument to our humanity. Leviticus 23:3 reminds us the Sabbath is a day of “sacred assembly,” highlighting a healthy community. It also reminds us hard work, though infinitely valuable, does not discern our worth. Most of all, it reminds us that our salvation has nothing to do with us. We do not need to “earn” salvation, any more than we need to “earn” rest. The Sabbath, celebrated joyfully, is an Edenic remnant and an active reversal of Hustle Culture. By Nicole Dominguez
Read more...Like Mother, Like Daughter Sisters inspired by Mom to pursue nursing careers AdventHealth Shawnee Mission – May 17, 2023
At a young age, Angie Crabtree knew she wanted to be a nurse. Her mom, Marcia, was a labor and delivery nurse at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Birth Center in Kansas. Crabtree remembers visiting her mom at the hospital as a young girl, eating in the cafeteria and attending hospital-sponsored family events. What she didn’t know at the time was how closely their careers would mirror each other. Crabtree and her sisters, Jamie Hoelting and Melissa Vincent, decided to study nursing. Crabtree and Hoelting worked as information associates at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission to pay for their nursing studies. After finishing, they became nurses in the same Birth Center where their mother worked during their childhood. Crabtree has now been a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for more than 20 years and is a charge nurse in that unit. Hoelting worked in the Mother Baby Unit for 16 years before moving to the Gastrointestinal unit recently. Like their mother, both women also gave birth to their children at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. “I guess my mom made this place look pretty amazing,” said Crabtree. “She retired in July 2021 after 49 years as a nurse, but she always felt cared for at AdventHealth and I feel the same. The Birth Center and team members who worked there became a family for me from the very beginning. I feel like I grew up here. It’s home away from home for us, and I want to help others feel that way too.” Crabtree admits that her inspiration to become a nurse came primarily from her mother. During her childhood, she recalls how she and her mom would see former patients in the grocery store. People would stop and tell her mom how amazing she was and thank her for helping them. “I was always so proud of how hard she worked and the difference she made for others,” said Crabtree. “I wanted to be like her and make a positive impact on others. However, I wasn’t sure I was qualified to be a nurse. At first, I was scared of our tiny patients when working as an IA, but I am so grateful I challenged myself and found my calling just like my mom.” Crabtree has never regretted her choice to be a NICU nurse. She has the privilege of being there when babies are born and helping them transition to life outside their mother’s womb. She also bonds with families who spend months in the NICU and watch parents take their babies home after overcoming many obstacles. “Going to the NICU is scary,” said Crabtree. “No one decides to have a baby and plans on being in the NICU. I love being there to welcome parents and explain what we are doing to help their little one.” Crabtree’s favorite part of her job is when families come back to visit years later. “We get to see babies, toddlers and preschoolers growing and thriving,” said Crabtree. “That’s when you feel all the love. It’s an amazing feeling to know you had a hand in helping that child and their family.” For those considering a career in nursing, Crabtree suggests taking the time to find your passion. If you are passionate about your work, it doesn’t feel like work. “I am so grateful to have a career that I love,” said Crabtree. “Some days are stressful, but I get to help tiny humans thrive and teach families to care for their little miracles. It’s amazing work.” If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about a nursing career at AdventHealth in Kansas, visit JoinAdventHealthKC.com.
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