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.

2014 Forward to Zion Camp Meeting

I am pleased to announce that the 2014 Forward to Zion camp meeting will be held this coming June 25-28. The location will be the beautiful Gray Chapel, on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University, in Delaware, Ohio.

Our theme for 2014 is "Accountability", and so far we have speaking commitments from Dwayne Lemon, Eugene Prewitt, Stevie Stennis, Paul Volk, and David Sullivan.

Please take note of our new website: http://www.forwardtozion.com

Make your plans now for this life-changing, witness-empowering meeting. Get ready to be lifted in revival, and prepped for meaningful service.

Leonard Sweet to Speak for The One Project

The One Project will hold it's 2014 "gathering" on February 10 and 11 in Seattle. Presenters include Leonard Sweet, Alex Bryan, Sam Leonor, and Karl Haffner. This has serious ramifications not only for Ohio but for all of Adventism. It is one more step in the direction of compromise, and it is indicative of a desire among certain Adventist leaders to become theologically cozy with thought leaders who espouse alternative, unbiblical belief systems. Isaiah 8:20 comes to mind here. For a group that is enamored with the concept of "Jesus. All.", The One Project should pause to remember that Jesus cannot be separated from His teaching, which emcompasses the whole of Sripture; and John the Revelator would never be caught up in Emergent, interspiritual compromise. He was too caught up in Jesus and the truth to do that.

I encourage Advent believers in the Kettering area to engage in the lost art of Biblical Exhortation, and have a sit down with Alex Bryan and Karl Haffner, reasoning with them from Scripture as one who loves their souls, and praying that the Lord will guide them safely away from this dangerous compromise.

Brian McLaren Talks About Doctrine and Christian Identity

In Chattanooga! You heard right. Spectrum Magazine invited Brian McLaren to speak at their 2013 Adventist Forum Conference, "A Third Way". McLaren is a major figure in the Emergent Church movement. He espouses interspirituality, and a host of other unbiblical notions. Should he be addressing Adventists about doctrine and Christian identity? I think not. Way to go, Spectrum.

Signs

Revelation 13:3 (KJV)
and all the world wondered after the beast.

2013 Forward to Zion Camp Meeting

God is so good! He has guided us in remarkable ways. This year's camp meeting will be a true blessing for all of us. Our speakers will include Dr. Philip Samaan, Steve Wohlberg, Vicki Griffin, and Christian Berdahl.

The dates are June 26-29, and the location is the Herrick Auditorium, located on the campus of Denison University, in Granville, Ohio. Visit our website for more details: http://www.campmeetingohio.webs.com

Please spread the word about this important meeting! Thank you, and God bless.

Intentional Mismatch

They can be annoying: mismatches. A yellow sock on the right root, and a white sock on the left. They can be unfair. A 350-pound Sumo wrestler on the mat against a 100-pound beanpole. They can be unfortunate. Your automotive store receiving the wrong part for your vehicle, causing you to delay your departure to another state. But mismatches can also be unethical, as when a Conference foists a pastor on a church family, and the belief system and spiritual orientation of that pastor differ in important ways from that of the majority of church members.

It appears that this is what has happened in at least two churches/districts in Central Ohio. The members involved find themselves to now be under the guidance of a spiritual under-shepherd who teaches concepts that they believe are at odds with Bible truth. Some believe that the Conference has placed a pastor who fits the agenda of the Conference, rather then one who meets the needs and expectations of the congregation. This is a particularly hurtful mismatch, in that parents in these churches must now regularly debrief their children, when confusing or incorrect ideas are presented in the worship service. While spiritual debriefing is important, parents should not have to regularly run damage control.

This pastoral mismatch also poses a danger to visitors and new members, in that they could easily learn distorted concepts and accept them as true and valid, since they come from a pastor who should know what he is talking about. Is this kind of mismatch a true service to these congregations? Is God honored in this kind of mismatch?