In occasione della Giornata internazionale dei diritti dei migranti, istituita dalle Nazioni Unite nel 2000 e che si celebra il 18 settembre, proponiamo un mini video realizzato dal Dipartimento Comunicazioni della chiesa avventista in Europa. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Zo-lA8y_c
AdventHealth President Recognized as One of the 100 Most Influential People
Adventist Church in Australia Responds to Revised Religious Discrimination Bill
The Unwanted Gift
by Melissa Brotton | 10 December 2019 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17 NKJV) Christmas often brings fond memories of elementary-school days, my studies, and my classmates and teachers at our […] Source: https://atoday.org/the-unwanted-gift/
Record-Breaking Number of Canadians Attend 2019 International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh for a Week of Fun, Friendships, and Spiritual Renewal
Every five years, since 1999, the International
Pathfinder Camporee has transformed the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture
Campgrounds in Oshkosh, Wis., from a barren land into a vibrant international
village. This year a record 55,000 people travelled to Oshkosh for “Chosen”—the
2019 International Camporee—from as far as New Zealand, Ukraine, Bermuda, and
of course, Canada, with creative entrances welcoming guests to their region.
A camporee standout was “Canada
Park,” with Canada spelled out in block letters on a hill, imitating the
Hollywood sign, as well as replicas of landmarks from various Canadian
provinces. It was an apropos stomping grounds for 3,672 Canadians from the
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba-Saskatchewan, Maritime and Ontario Conferences, as
well as the 256 international guests they hosted. Notably, the Canadian
contingent included Mark Johnson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
in Canada, as well as several conference administrators and pastors.
From August 12 to 17, visitors were
treated to a smorgasbord of on- and off-site activities, including sports
competitions, community outreach, zip-lining, archery, and touring hangars
where they earned prizes, completed honours, and more. Among Canadian
contributions, the British Columbia Conference sponsored ice-skating at the
YMCA; Quebec taught CPR, camping skills craft honours in French; Ontario
facilitated the international soccer tournament, the “Chosen” Race—a Pathfinder
version of the Amazing Race,
plus the geology, Bible marking, stewardship, and family life honours. And to
the very end, people from different regions eagerly traded Pathfinder pins, including
the highly sought-after six-pin Canadian set.
But the heart of Oshkosh was the nightly programs. There,
Toronto native Damian Chandler, a pastor, spoke powerfully of the God who has
chosen us for a mighty purpose. On the 12th, he gave the first of
several appeals, “We have a God who sees us … knows us …
chooses us. Will you choose on tonight to see Him? To know Him? To love Him?”
Attendees’ responses were so great that the number of baptisms ballooned from
400 pre-Oshkosh to 1,311 by week’s end.
Over 73
of those opting to be baptized at Oshkosh came from Canada. Several pastors,
including Chandler, Ontario pastors Sereivudh Ly, Jim Nziwa, Gerry
Pasiktan, and Fitzroy Radlein, and former British Columbia communications
director, Charles Aguilar, joyfully baptized their children at Oshkosh.
Having baptized his eldest daughter in 2014, Aguilar
was thrilled to now baptize his younger daughter and son. “I can’t help but
shed several tears of happiness! I pray that they continue to love Jesus and
the church,” he stated.
Following
Chandler was a nightly stage production depicting David’s bumpy road to the
throne after being hand-picked by God as Israel’s next king. With professional
acting and singing, and impressive sets including live animals, the play was a
standout for attendees of all ages. Keen Canadian
observers might have noticed that Ahimelech, the high priest with whom David
sought refuge when fleeing from Saul, was acted by Kendal Brouet, a former
Ontario Pathfinder and present British Columbia resident. Brouet persevered
after being turned back at the border on July 19 to become the first Canadian
actor on the Oshkosh stage. He explained his motivation—“Because I was
teaching drama at my church, I told myself, I want to prove to my kids that if
God is with them, they can do anything.”
The big stage also showcased Canadian Pathfinder talent, including Mount Zion Pathfinders performing a traditional Filipino dance, Pathfinder-turned-motivational speaker Nyjel Camanzo of Hamilton Hylanders, and the first place-winning Orion Pathfinder drill team, chosen from all the drill teams to perform on the Sabbath and drummers from Ontario and Quebec. Off-stage, several Canadian drill and/or drum teams from Manitoba-Saskatchewan and Ontario Conference also had an impressive showing, including the first place-winning Ontario Conference Drum Corps and Ontario Conference Drill Team. On the final day, Canadians also contributed to the 13,309 people forming the Guiness Book of World Records’ Largest Human Cross, and an impressive 16 Master Guides from across Canada were invested.
Martin, at his fourth camporee, now serving as coordinator of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada’s Pathfinder Ministry, reflected on a busy but blessed week. “Above all the fun, it was fitting for our Pathfinders to be reminded, through the story of David, that they are a chosen generation. I can’t wait to see the positive impact they’ll make as they return to their homes and communities as a result of their encounter with God at Oshkosh Camporee.”
–Christelle Agboka, Ontario Conference
In El Salvador, Adventist Church dispenses hundreds of free books and magazines.
Azucena Quintanilla wanted to make a difference in her local Seventh-day Adventist Church. She wanted to engage more members in spreading hope in the community of Santa Tecla, a municipal district in La Libertad in San Salvador, El Salvador. Quintanilla, 21, wanted to have a free Adventist book dispenser placed in the middle of the town’s main park. It was as simple as anyone pressing a button for a free book or magazine. She brought her idea to the church board and the members so they could…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/MiGa28K3Juo/
Sharing Scripture for December 15 – 21
This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS Lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […] Source: https://atoday.org/sharing-scripture-for-december-15-21/
Wednesday: Ezra Acts
Read Ezra 10:1-44. How did Ezra and the leaders tackle the issue of intermarriage?
Together, the whole assembly decided to send the foreign wives away. Amazingly, even those who married them agreed with the plan, except for the four men mentioned by name in Ezra 10:15. The Jews promised to send their spouses away, and it took three months for the plan to be carried out. In the end, 111 Jewish men sent their wives away (Ezra 10:18-43).
Interestingly, the last verse (Ezra 10:44) states that some of these mixed marriages already had children. Sending away the mothers from families with children doesn’t seem rational or even right to us. However, we must remember that this was a unique time where God was starting over with the Jewish nation, and, in a sense, they with Him. Fully following God required radical measures.
The specific words used in Ezra 10:11, Ezra 10:19 for “separate yourself” (badal) and “put away” (yatza’) are not used anywhere else in the Scriptures for divorce. Ezra would have known the terminology regularly used for divorce, but he chose not to use it. Thus it is apparent that Ezra did not consider the marriages valid after it was discovered that they were in violation of the Torah command. In other words, the marriages were nullified because they were contrary to the law. The process was dissolution of invalid marriages. However, we are not given information on what happened to those wives and children and what impact this action had on the community. According to the custom of that time, the former husbands would have taken care of the transfer of their former wives and their children. The wives normally would have gone back to their native fathers’ homes.
Over time, however, some Jewish men once again began to marry unbelievers, and perhaps some even returned to the wives they sent away. The fleeting nature of the solution can be attributed to human nature and our up-and-down cycle of commitment to God. Even those of us who consider ourselves strong believers have to admit that we have gone through periods of lesser dedication to God when our walk with Him could have accurately been described as wanting. Unfortunately, humanity struggles with putting God first.
What has been your experience with times of “lesser dedication to God”? What have you learned from those experiences? |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/uaL2GWsW-k4/
Seek Divine, Not Human, Counsel
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5.
There are so many who, when they are in trouble, … forget the invitations God has abundantly given, and begin to look and plan for human help. They go to human beings for aid, and this is the way in which their experience becomes feeble and confused. In all our trials we are directed to seek the Lord most earnestly, remembering that we are His property, His children by adoption. No human being can understand our necessities as Christ [can]. We shall receive help, if we ask Him in faith. We are His by creation; we are His by redemption. By the cords of divine love we are bound to the Source of all power and strength. If we will only make God our dependence, asking Him for what we want, as a little child asks his father for what he wants, we shall obtain a rich experience. We shall learn that God is the source of all strength and power….
God has been greatly dishonored by His people leaning upon human beings. He has not told us to do this. He has told us that He will teach us, He will guide us. We may come to Him and receive help….
What did Christ promise His disciples if they would believe in Him as their personal Saviour? “Lo, I am with you alway,” He said, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Again He says, “I am at thy right hand to help thee” (see Psalm 16:8). Think of how many promises He has given us, which we may grasp by the hand of faith. When we go to the Source of power, we know that we shall receive that intelligence and wisdom which comes from a pure source, which is not mixed with anything of humanity. As we pray, it is our privilege to know that God wants us to pray, to ask Him for help. “Ask, and ye shall receive” (John 16:24). It is for you to believe that you will receive. He wants us to become acquainted with Him, to speak to Him, to tell Him of our difficulties, and obtain an experience in asking of One who never misjudges and never makes a mistake….
We dishonor God by striving to get someone who we think understands our case to help us. Has He not given us His only begotten Son? Is not Christ close beside us, and will He not give us the help we need? …
We forget that the threshold of heaven is flooded with the glory proceeding from the throne of God, that the light may fall directly on those who are seeking the help that Christ alone can give.—Manuscript 144, April 3, 1901, “Early Morning Meeting.”
The Upward Look p. 107
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Prayer Requests
—-Would appreciate prayers for Maxx. I thought after 1 1/2 weeks of not feeling well he was getting better. Not! He hasn’t been eating for two days. Didn’t take meds today because he didn’t want to throw them up. He threw up anyway. He has no fever but he’s pale and miserable. He did hold down liquids the rest of the day but he laid down all day too. I dont like having sick kids. Carol
—-Pls pray for my boy Lee. He is having his wisdom teeth pulled today. Praying all goes well. Donnell
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Dear Friends,
The parable of the prodigal son so truly illustrates our Heavenly Father’s great love and care for us. It is found in Luke 15:11 and onward. Often, as we read this parable, we think of this for the overt sinner and fail to realize that we, ourselves, are that prodigal son. While we may outwardly comply, how often we rebel inwardly against our loving Heavenly Father’s commands. How many times we want our own way even though it leads us far from home. We soon find ourselves in the same condition as the prodigal son. Yet, even when we are so far from our Loving Redeemer, He is seeking us. He is watching with longing desire for the first indication that we are sorry and want to come back to Him.
Even while we are still a long way off, He runs to us, embraces us, removes our filthy garments from us and wraps us in the pure spotless robe of His righteousness. Praise God! “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18, 19
Think of it! No matter what the sin, we can return to our Loving Heavenly Father. He will wrap us in His loving arms and lead us Homeward. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:9-2:2
Our Loving Heavenly Father does not scold us about our former waywardness. Instead, He rejoices when we come to Him. He assures us, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 He greatly desires a closeness with us that is “closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) Indeed, He longs to fellowship with us every moment. He is pleading with us now, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20
Moreover, if we open our heart’s door to Him, He will develop within us His own perfect character, that we may be like Him and show His glory to others. He promises, ” A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
May we open our heart’s-door to our Loving Saviour. May our prayer be the words of a song Esther Marie wrote many years ago. “Lord, give me a clean heart, A kind and a true heart. Lord, through me please show, Others that You care. Lord, give me a new heart, A loving and pure heart, So others may find You And know that You care. Though this world is rough and dirty, A new heart is waiting for you. Though your sins may be many, Jesus is waiting for you. Lord, give me a new heart And keep me in Your care.”
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/DRyGEz1Jc3I/seek-divine-not-human-counsel.html
Trans-European Division acknowledges mistakes of the past, seek ways to move forward
This year marked the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Trans-European Division as one region of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Initially established as the Northern European Division, it has gone through several reconfigurations over the years. Starting as a predominantly Scandinavian and British Isles based unit, it has grown to now encompass countries in central and south-eastern Europe, and over the decades it has also had a specific mission impact in West Africa,…Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/a0wZAG2to-k/