The Class of 1961 is honouring Iris Landa as its citation recipient at Homecoming 2021 for her investment in the emotional wellbeing of communities in need. Source: https://wp.avondale.edu.au/news/2021/08/27/the-power-of-colour/
On a mission
The Class of 1951 is honouring Veronica Baird as its citation recipient at Homecoming 2021 for her dedication to supporting the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and southern Asia. Source: https://wp.avondale.edu.au/news/2021/08/27/on-a-mission/
Eager to serve
The Class of 1951 is honouring Yvonne Eager as its citation recipient at Homecoming 2021 for her faithful, lifelong response to the “privilege” of providing Christian care. Source: https://wp.avondale.edu.au/news/2021/08/27/eager-to-serve/
You Are Like a Toaster
Did you know that you are like a toaster?
How so?
Well, the job of a toaster is, of course, to toast bread, but for a toaster to do its job, it needs power.
Your toaster is completely useless if it doesn’t have power, and the same holds true for you and for me.
Check out today’s message to see how You Are Like a Toaster. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7jZ5WAx3y8
Pornography [How Can We Protect Our Minds From Temptation?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses one of the most controversial topics – pornography. He is with his wife, Nancy. This Sabbath, August 28, we are celebrating the worldwide End It Now Emphasis Day. Its focus for this year is on youth violence and pornography, two of the most controversial yet vital issues to address. Pornography infects the world. Unfortunately, it also exists in our church. With this, Satan is doubling time to trick people, especially the youth, into this vice. Hence, we must find ways to help them deal with its harmful effects. With God’s help, we will make a difference in their lives and help them begin the healing process. We cannot ignore its problem now that it's becoming rampant. It affects men and women of all ages. It doesn’t stop at the doors of our home and the church. Thus, we can’t be silent about it. Shame only makes the problem worse. Then General Conference President Neal Wilson released an official public statement on pornography last July 5, 1990. It stated, “Seventh-day Adventists of whatever culture deem pornography to be destructive, demeaning, desensitizing, and exploitative.” How and why destructive? Genesis 2:24 mentions that it destroys marital relationships. It subverts God’s design that husband and wife become “one flesh.” How and why demeaning? Pornography defines a woman not as a whole but as a sex object. It deprives her of her worth and respect as God’s daughter. How and why is it desensitizing? It callouses the conscience and perverts human perception. According to Romans 1:22, 28, it produces a “depraved person.” Finally, how and why is it exploitative? It is abusive. Thus, it violates the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12, which insists on treating others as one wishes to be treated. Among the types, child pornography is the most offensive. For this, Jesus said in Matthew 18:6, “If anyone leads astray even one child who believes in Me, he would be better off thrown into the depths of the sea with a millstone hung around his neck!” According to studies, pornography has negative effects on the brain. First, it triggers the release of dopamine when a person views erotic images. It alters the brain’s reward system. Second, it reduces gray matter volume in the brain. Hence, a victim tends to have problems at work and in daily living. Moreover, addiction happens within eight weeks. It begins with curiosity. But as dopamine takes effect, the victim becomes absorbed. Then, guilt and shame arise, giving him a sense of worthlessness. These are just a few of the many devastating effects of pornography. As a church, we need to be aware of this situation. We must provide hope and healing as much as we can. But only Christ can bring true healing. He said in Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” Also, Paul reminded us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." As such, when temptation comes, stop and think. Recognize it as it is. Then, take it to God. Ask Him to give you the strength to resist and run away from the temptation. Likewise, when you’re struggling with addiction, there is no shame in seeking help. Healing begins with recognizing the problem, calling sin by its name, and finding restoration in God’s grace. With this, may Jesus’ righteousness give us hope and healing from sin. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jfj4JgPyj0
New Leaders Will Seek to Equip and Empower Adventists in the South Pacific
New Amazing Facts Headquarters Opening Delayed as Doug Batchelor Battles COVID-19
26 August 2021 | Doug Batchelor has emailed supporters announcing the Amazing Facts W.O.R.D. (World Outreach, Revival, and Discipleship) Center public opening will not be taking place as planned the weekend of September 4. The center will serve as the new headquarters for Granite Bay, California-based Amazing Facts International, the television ministry led by Batchelor. […] Source: https://atoday.org/new-amazing-facts-headquarters-opening-delayed-as-doug-batchelor-battles-covid-19/
August 2021 President’s Video: “The Light of God’s Amazing Grace”
One of my favorite authors once said, “If you talk darkness, you will have plenty of darkness, but if you talk light, you will have an abundance of light.” When we look back on our life, do we see the hardships and disappointments, or do we recall the amazing mercies of God? Recently, my wife Kathy and I were remembering some of those mercies, and there were plenty—especially when you agree to a stint in the mission field! Through the years, those mercies have grown and expanded—until today we are seeing miracle after miracle! Watch the video below where I share just a few of the miracles we’re experiencing at Adventist World Radio. God is an expert in lost causes—from our airline tickets of long ago to the millions who were once in darkness and today are seeing the light of God’s amazing grace for the first time. What a privilege and what an opportunity to “talk light” and share the best news of all—that Jesus is coming soon! —Duane McKey, President MB01O3REJ32GB4V Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCwXZvr1wEY
Inside Story: Power of a Smile
Power of a Smile
By Dale Wolcott
The Chinle Seventh-day Adventist Church isn’t exactly located in the best neighborhood on the Navajo Reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona.
Image © Pacific Press
As the pastor, I live in a trailer beside the church building. Several well-respected neighbors, including a Navajo Nation police officer, live in nearby trailers. But one house is looked down on as the local “drug house.” Its unkempt yard and constant stream of random foot and vehicle traffic lend credibility to its reputation as a supplier of illegal liquor and more.
The church board has discussed how to best relate to those neighbors. We have prayed for them and even visited, praying with them and sharing literature and invitations to church events. The family’s children have occasionally attended children’s programs. But we have not seen any breakthroughs.
Then along came the Covid-19 pandemic. The church was closed, and our public meetings moved onto the telephone. Although the church has access to the Internet, many families here don’t have Internet at home.
One day, Catherine walked across the church yard with a big smile. She wanted to apologize for missing our call-in midweek prayer meeting because she had joined her husband and their two daughters, Katelyn, 11, and Kallie, 9, in organizing their own evening worship by a creek.
“Oh, and we took the neighbor kids with us,” Catherine said.
“Which ones?” I wondered aloud.
“The ones right next door here,” she replied, gesturing toward the infamous “drug house.”
Surprised, I asked Catherine how she had managed to invite the children.
Catherine smiled proudly. “Their big sister noticed how happy our girls seem to be every day when they walk by their house on the way to the church to do their schoolwork,” she said.
The girls usually live at Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School, located about 90 minutes away by car, but were sent home because of Covid-19. Since the family did not have any Internet, the girls were studying at church.
“The big sister wanted to know why Katelyn and Kallie smile instead of looking mostly sad like her own little sisters. She also wanted to know why Katelyn and Kallie are always singing. So we invited them to evening worship,” Catherine said.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“When we finished, they asked if we could do it again the next day,” she said. “My children have been touched by the Lord, and they can see it.”
Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help Holbrook Indian School. Thank you for planning a generous offering.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.
Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
Amen!
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Friday: Further Thought ~ The Rhythms of Rest
Further Thought:
“God gave to men the memorial of His creative power, that they might discern Him in the works of His hand. The Sabbath bids us behold in His created works the glory of the Creator. … On the holy rest day, above all other days, we should study the messages that God has written for us in nature. … As we come close to the heart of nature, Christ makes His presence real to us, and speaks to our hearts of His peace and love.” — Ellen G.
Image @ Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pages 25, 26.
“One of the important reasons why the Lord delivered Israel from slavery to Egypt was that they might keep His holy Sabbath. … Evidently Moses and Aaron renewed the teaching about the holiness of the Sabbath, because Pharaoh complained to them, ‘Ye make [the people] rest from their burdens.’ Exodus 5:5. This would indicate that Moses and Aaron began a Sabbath reform in Egypt.
The observance of the Sabbath was not to be a commemoration of their slavery in Egypt, however. Its observance in remembrance of creation was to include a joyful remembrance of deliverance from religious oppression in Egypt that made Sabbath observance difficult. In the same way, their deliverance from slavery was forever to kindle in their hearts a tender regard for the poor and oppressed, the fatherless and widows.” — Appendix note in Ellen G. White, From Eternity Past, p. 549.
Discussion Questions:
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Amen!(1)
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