To the New Ohio Conference Leadership

1. Please tell me that you will never again subject our pastors and members to the unbiblical teachings of non-Adventist, Emergent presenters. We have plenty of godly, biblical, practical Adventist presenters who have a good understanding of the Great Controversy, who understand and appreciate our role as the remnant of God, and who long to save souls from confusion, unhealth, and misery.

2. Please embrace and proclaim our wonderful health message, rather than downplaying it, and relegating it to the realm of legalism, as the previous administration did. Encourage the pastors to use this entering wedge in their community evangelism efforts, because people in our day are very open to practical guidance in the area of physical wellbeing. You can use Don McIntosh's "What's the Connection" in small group format, as a segway between our health principles and our distinctive doctrines and Bible prophecy.

3. Rather than minimizing our need for reform, encourage pastors and people to embrace dress reform, entertainment reform, diet reform, and Sabbath reform, for this is in the center of God's will for us. The previous administration downplayed these reforms, and, again, placed them in the category of legalism. Please tell me that you don't think loving obedience and discipleship is synonymous with legalism.

4. Please take a serious look at the practices and habits of some of your pastors. Please do not tolerate the inviting of speakers such as Samir Selmanovic at the Toledo church (Pastor Fortune). Selmanovic teaches an interspirituality that is diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Bible, yet Pastor Fortune seems to enjoy continuing to invite him to speak at his church. Also, Alex Bryan at Kettering continues to invite unbiblical speakers such as Leonard Sweet to his One Project meetings. Dr. Bryan's book "The Green Cord Dream" separates Jesus from His teachings, and is weakening our members. Please stand up to this constant effort to neutralize the power of the Gospel, and question the identity of the remnant church. Please stop Bryan and Fortune from further misleading God's people in Ohio.

The precious members in Ohio need you to be strong for them. They need you to persevere, and to rightly divide the Word of truth. They need to know that you will lead them in the way of righteousness, and not cave to the influences and pressures of evangelical, Emergent philosophies and  ideologies. They also need you to deliver a righteous product, if you are going to demand funds from them. For too long the people of Ohio have given and given and have sacrificed so that the Ohio Conference can engage in ministry training. They are wanting to see changes, and they do not appreciate being told to pay more when they have no assurance that your direction will be any different than that of your predecessor. Please reassure them that things will be different now, and that it is now safe to put their whole weight, their prayers, their funds into this Conference's plans.

Thank you very much, and God bless you as you lead God's flock in Ohio.

The Power of Influence

"Among the many lessons taught by Solomon’s life, none is more strongly emphasized than the power of influence for good or for ill. However contracted may be our sphere, we still exert an influence for weal or woe. Beyond our knowledge or control, it tells upon others in blessing or cursing. It may be heavy with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of some cherished sin; or it may be charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love. But potent for good or for ill it will surely be."  Prophets and Kings, 85

What Defines You?

How do you feel when someone defines or characterizes you according to your past mistakes or past errant lifestyle? It hurts, doesn't it. You may be a completely different person in the here and now, and yet there is always someone who won't allow you to be a new person. But that is what we are said to be in Christ, new creations.

I am glad 2 Corintians 5:17 is in the Bible.  When we accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and repent of our sins with the repentance He gives us (Acts 5:31, Rom. 2:4), we indeed become new creations in Christ! We have crossed over from death to life, from darkness to light, and from condemnation to full acceptance with our Father in heaven. This can be a daily experience of newness in Christ.

What Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery he says to us: "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more" (John 8:11). If we seriously take Jesus up on His ultra acceptance and power to live a new life, we will begin a new experience of faith and righteousness.

I'm also glad that Ezekiel 18:21-24 is in the Bible. In this passage God clarifies that if a wicked person turns from all of his sins and begins, with the strength of the Lord, to do that which is "lawful and right," his former transgressions will not be "mentioned." God adds that this new person will live "in his righteousness." This is very forward-looking on the part of our heavenly Father; very gracious.

The apostle Paul, in appreciating the grace of a God who chooses to forget, freely admits that he has not yet arrived, nor yet arrived in heaven, nor yet reached perfection. But the Holy Spirit moved upon Brother Paul to add these forward-looking words of encouragement:

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13, 14).

My brother, my sister, if our Lord can relate to us as blood-bought sons and daughters of God and not hold our past in our face, how should we relate to ourselves and to one another?

We should allow people to be defined by their present course, not by their past missteps. Our personal identity in Christ speaks louder than our former life of sin.

What of those individuals who define us by our past? Their opinion does not compare to the overwhelming love and favor of God. Define yourself according to His love and plans for you.

Daily Loading of Benefits

Our God is so very good to us. Just reading in the psalms, and in Psalm 68:19, David declares, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

Are we taking advantage of this daily loading? We take time to download the latest software, or the latest app that seems interesting. We take time for all sorts of things that are not in the category of needful.

But the spiritual benefits of the Lord are absolutely necessary. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, but these benefits come to us through our knowledge of Him (2 Pet. 1:3).

Whether they be the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance--or the ability to put a roof over our heads, these benefits come to us through our firm reliance on the Lord. 

A daily download of spiritual benefits. Opening the heart to God as to a friend. Sitting at the feet of Jesus as did Mary. Taking in all that He has for us. Taking His Word personally and seriously. Such an experience will take us all the way to heaven.