Hi, man, what a service yesterday. Bob, I have never been less bogged down than I have since attending the SDB. I learned a lot with the COG7uring my few months studying and attending- it was as SDA'ism, a stepping stone, but they still had that legalistic, we are the one true church thing. That has no place in the SDB church that I have been attending for a little while. They focus on the gospels first and foremost.

Example of difference from SDA from SDB: My wife had an aunt that attended and accepted the SDA truth. She was on fire, and all, BUT she had a smoking problem. She desired strongly to quit, but she couldn't quit them , and the preacher refused to baptize her. Bob, she never went any further. The SDB preacher told me personally that he wouldn't have even made that an issue( he was an SDA pastor 20 years and has been an SDB pastor 20 years. I have heard many preachers in my nearly 28 years as a Sabbatarian, but he out does any. The open violation of the 10 commandments, as one clearly in an adulteress relationship, still thieving, etc., etc, would be the only requirements to halt a seeker from membership. Bob, That ole x SDA I was telling you about (that wrote the 4 G's) said something once- "We can not make ourselves attractive to God; it is impossible, all we can do is accept, and a true seeker will be guided to the character of Jesus."

I fully agree that as an SDA I would have never agreed for such a one into church membership. Think, that aunt would have eventually in God's time-line, if a true seeker would see what needed change. Jesus does the changing, not us. The SDA teach that we have to meet and agree to 28 man made rules for 'admission'. The SDB have 10 in their statement of beliefs and one is freedom in thought and individual interpretation. Another is we use no one else’s writings as a spiritual guide, the Bible only, The Sabbath, etc- all 10 very reasonable.

Man, I have already started a better relationship with my kids, and others after getting away from the 'counsels'. I want my grand kids to be happy Christians. They can be happy Christians in the SDA church, BUT TO BE ONE, one has to pick and choose her counsels. It's like counsels on stewardship. My wife (a staunch SDA) wouldn't dare give that 'red book' to her grand daughter. There is a lot of picking and choosing, and isn't it something, one has to pick and choose from the 'pen of inspiration.' Bob, my wife herself, raised an SDA, has never even read, nor wants to read counsels in stewardship. Man, you talk about a book that will put someone on a guilt trip.

Bob, my granddaughter was apart of a small Christmas play at the local SDA church (naturally I wasn't invited), but I read very clearly in a red book that EGW attended her grand kids Christmas play at the Battle Creek Church, and condemned it. Now that was way back them, so people can't excuse it as a cultural thing (as they do much of her writings- they try to make that they don't like Cultural(like owning a bicycle- they always use that one- that bikes were way too expensive back then). But they couldn't do so with an SDA Christmas play, so you can believe NO ONE will break that counsel out to the church. Bob, I am embarrassed as how I was.

Anyway, I am thru with that kind of religion. People hiding mustard way back in the rear of the refrigerator, and on and on and on.

Bob, I just read today in an old R&H. sometime in the 30's, but the same is said today. I have heard it many times.

" As Samuel was a prophet to Israel in his day, as Jeremiah was a prophet to Israel in the day of captivity, as John the Baptist came as a special messenger of the Lord to prepare the way of Christ's appearing, so we believe that Mrs. White was a prophet [messenger] to the church of Christ today. And the messages of the prophets were received in old days, so her messages should be received at present times."

Bob, this takes nerve! Amazing, Matt.11:13 says the opposite!
What happen to Matt. 11:13, and Heb. 1:1,2--Bob, this is still strongly taught in the SDA church
Man that kind of prophet as she is classified, ended. The type listed in the NT several times, she in no way met the requirements. She in no way was in any Biblical class as a prophet. Many (and I did as well) said , "She wasn't a prophet, or claimed to be", but in the same breath would explain how she passed all the Biblical tests of a prophet. Man, to think I followed such is something else.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I appreciated that you listed my writing in the sermon section anonymous, thanks- I would appreciate the same regarding my letters in the letter section, my initials are adequate.

If you would include this letter in the letter section, I'd appreciate it and it would reinforce some other views for those seeking truth. I believe it would be exactly the kind of letter that belongs in the letter section. I hope you do. Maybe it will make the list of the last letters of '07.

I hope you and yours are doing OK, your friend, GAH