Current Discussions
Jeremiah Ravhengani "Genetic engineering of food " 27/jul/1999
Does anyone out there have any thoughts on this subject? See our news page for an
article on this issue.
Could it be that some of us who enjoy these imitations of egypt's pots (Veggie meat)
be in danger more than those who are eating the real meat?
Could this be the reason why the Spirit of Prophecy states that we must
leave the big cities and go to the country where we plant our own vegetables and fruits?
Mod " From the Guest Book" 27/jul/1999
Name: James Darlington
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Montreal, Canada
Time: 1999-07-24 12:28:43
Comments: You are doing a great work for the Lord, keep it up and God bless. James Darlington
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Name: Tankiso Letseli
Website: M-Web
Referred by: AngelFire
From: RSA
Time: 1999-07-13 10:52:48
Comments: Good job Jerry. Keep it up. God bless.
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Name: Ps L Hofmeyr
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Kimberley
Time: 1999-07-06 05:44:18
Comments: So far I could not open your links to all your subjects; eg What Bacchiocchi had to tell about the Pope.
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Name: pitso tsibolane
Website: www.uct.ac.za
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Odendaalsrus(Free-state)/Cape Town (studying)
Time: 1999-06-01 12:39:12
Comments: nice web-page! Keep up the good work. [pitso]
Mod " Saddened by the loss of 2 prominent TOC SDASA Chapter members - Melanie & Logic" 21/jul/1999
I would to take this opportunity to thank Pastor Letseli (TOC President) for the news update that he shared with us.
I was grieved to hear of the death of these young people, I have known one of them over an extendend
period of time. Our condolences goes to the the family of these young people.
Somehow this brings the reality of death very close to me. And the question that I
ask myself is whether I am ready to die. Many of us who are still young live as if death only
visits those who are at the old-age homes. In Pslams 90, the psalmist talks about how fleeting
this life is, and at he end he makes a profound request to God, "Teach us to number our days aright"
Tankiso Letseli " Growth in the Trans-Orange Conference: Numerical & Financial 20/July/1999
This is intended to share with you how God is mysteriously and miraculously blessing His Conference. According to our recent [31 March
1999] statistical report, The TOC has realised a numerical growth of 839. This simply means that God's children are sharing and witnessing
for their Jesus Christ. This numerical growth is also accompanied by an unprecedented financial growth. God is adding to His Church as He
added to the Apostolic Church in the Book of Acts. This is a sign that saints are actually warning the judgement-bound people of this earth
of the impending advent of Jesus Christ.
Once more, this is a cause for rejoicing because these occurrences are actually hastening the coming of Jesus Christ. Each date that sets
brings us closer to the day of His Coming. Someone has said that we are actually operating in an "injury time." Injury time is more of a
borrowed or probationary time. The piercing question is: Are you sharing Jesus Christ with your friends, relatives and others? Do you know
Jesus Christ personally? I believe that the ultimate issue is one's relationship with Jesus Christ. May the Good Lord guide and keep up in
our pilgrimage in this dark hour of earth's history.
Tankiso Letseli
Tankiso Letseli " Saddened by the loss of 2 prominent TOC SDASA Chapter members - Melanie & Logic" 20/jul/1999
These two members are waiting for the "last trump" after which the terrible chapter of this life will be no more. Melanie Hulane was buried
this past Sunday, on the 11 July 1999 in Kimberly. Prior to her untimely and unfortunate death, she served as the Secretary of the TOC
SDASA Chapter, and she was in the process of arranging for a mid-year SDASA Conference that would be held on the 2-4 July 1999 in
Klerksdorp. Her passing away makes one appreciate and long for the wondrous morning of resurrection where our bodies will put on
immortality, and thereby rejoice with the Lord forever.
Logic passed prior to Melanie. They were on their way from Botswana when their vehicle suffered a tire burst. One thing led to another.
Ultimately their vehicle overturned and some got hurt, but unfortunately he could not survive. Once more, the enemy has done it. One
cannot help but long for the day when God will wipe away tears from our eyes, in the land where there will not be death, crying, moaning
and grieving. We are not quite far from that time.
The Lord did not promise us a peaceful pilgrimage. He promised that He shall be with us even if we go through the dark valley of death.
We are comforted to know that we are not all by ourselves in this dark hour of earth's history. His presence eases the pains and
heartaches. It wont be long, the skies will unfold, the trumpet will sound, the dead will arise in their slumbering graves, and we shall
behold Him face-to-face. Let us hold on until the end.
Tankiso Letseli
Mashudu Ravhengani " Masabatha Online Update" 01/Jun/1999
Firstly I would like to thank all of you who sent me messages to wake up from the two months sleep.
I would like to apologize for not performing my duties. May be I was just getting discouraged or just been lazy.
There are number of other things that I have been doing, as you see that this site is now hosted at
Tagnet, we now have unlimited disc space. I have also registered a domain name, www.masabatha.org .
I underestimated the task of moving this site from Angelfire to Tagnet. Anglefire is web based
server and the Tagnet is FTP based, so I have to copy one file at a time. There are still some links
that are still missing, I will continue to work on them. (* you can also visit our old site which still have all the links: http://www.angelfire.com/sd/masabatha *)
There are a number of changes and improvements that I plan to implement in the next few weeks. The name of this site is no longer SASDA Online, but as you might of noticed, Masabatha Online, this was done so that people will not confuse this newsletter with an agricultural organization of the same name.
Your feed back and contributions are very important for the survival of this online forum.
We need your sermons, questions, testimonies, and other form of contribution that may encourage fellow brothers and sisters in the cyber world.
"From the Guest Book" 01/Jun/1999
Name: Pitso Tsibolane
Website: http://www.uct.ac.za
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Kutloanong(free-state),Cape Town(studying)
Time: 1999-05-31 00:15:22
Comments: hi! Why has SASDA-online become dormant and inactive recently? [pitso]
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Record 21
Name: W. F. Tarr
Website: Which Is The Lord's Holy Day, Sunday Or The Sabbath?
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: South Florida, U.S.A.
Time: 1999-05-26 04:58:43
Comments: Hello. I was looking over the resources of TAGnet and saw your site. Having South African ancestors, I thought I'd take a look. Very good job. Much of interest. (But whenever I tried to use one of your hyperlinks, I got a message that it had either become outdated or was restricted.) I'm sure I'll stop by again. All your hard work is appreciated. P.S. My homepage for my paper on the Sabbath is not yet final (and at my rate, may never be), but it might be worth reading ... let me know what you think.
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Record 20
Name: Daniel B. Dlongolo
Website:
Referred by: Net Search
From: Johannesburg
Time: 1999-05-17 12:32:09
Comments: Hi everyone, I'm glad I found this site after weeks of searching. I found it via TAGNET (Three Angels Global Network) an SDA ministry (their page is www.tagnet.org). I have really enjoyed looking at this page, especially the Khoroni section. Keep up the good work - this is a good move in the right direction. I was so excited to see messages from people I know , eg Tumi Rapesiwa. This is great!!! I like it. Concerns: (i) I'm worried about the textcolor and background used in Khoroni for example. I find it hard to read the red letter in the cyan background. Concerntrating on the page for a long time disturbes my eyesight. Is it possible to choose different colors? An example of this is SDAnet (www.sdanet.org/archieve/today/index.html). I like their arrangement. (ii) I think it would be nice to include email addresses of all senders, just in case one wants to respond privately to the sender. I would have liked to have Tumi Rapesiwa's email, for instance. (iii) I'm a BIT worried about the languages used in the menu, i.e Mahungu, Khoroni, etc. Is it not possible to use something that all can understand? I had to go to Khoroni and Mahungu to see what is contained. Netsurfers generally don't have enough time to check every folder. It would be nicer to to something like "News " ; a translation of Khoroni,Directory, Pentecost 98, etc on the menu bar. It's a fact that this site will soon be viewed all over the world - we should not limit our viewership. In general I appreciate this web page. Pentecost 98 pictures bring lovely memories of that big and elevating event we had at Vista. Keep up the good work.
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Record 19
Name: Errol Nembhard
Website:
Referred by: From a Friend
From: South Africa
Time: 1999-03-25 14:08:39
Comments: Great to be here! Looking for stimulating discussions in SDA thought and practice.
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Otsile Sedupane " Y2K" 01/Jun/1999
You have probably heard about it, and might have asked yourself why people
are making such a big fuss about the year 2000. Its not only in prophetic
things that people are busy going here and there. The most scared part of
the community in the world is in the Information Technology site, you know
those people who are working with computers and the like.
They are lurking behind every computer chip, inside most software programs,
even in the deepest, darkest regions of your VCRs, microwaves and coffee
makers. They're the millenium bugs. Those maddening problems that will
reputedly wreak havoc as the world rings in the year 2000.
Most businesses and industries and governments around the world are all
facing this looming problem. Time, money and resources are all scarce as
they all trying to beat the clock. It seems to them like there's simply no
way to gloss over the work that they have to do so that they can be ready
for the year 2000. Basically they are trying to get their systems Y2Kcompliant.
In a nutshell what the year 2000 (Y2K) bug means is that computers, and
other computerized machinery, will not be able to understand the terminology
of the year 2000. It is going to assume that it is the year 1900. As you
might have noticed that most of the times a date is written in 6 digits,
i.e. 20/09/75 which is 20th September 1975, now imagine if it's the 01/01/00
the computer will definitely think it's the year 1900. Well in computer
terms this is called a bug, if a computer performs an illegal operation. It
is going take millions of rands and time to be able to fix this problem.
Many a people are approaching the coming of the year 2000 in a lot of ways.
Most people are thinking that life will be cool, those who are unemployed
will suddenly be employed, and those who are poor will suddenly be rich.
How prepared are u for Y2K?
I believe that we as the Advent need not scare ourselves about the uncertain
future beyond 2000. While the world is moving to and fro fixing their
computer systems to be Y2K compliant, we as the Advent should be fixing up
our systems which is our characters to comply with the principles of heaven.
It is so fortunate that the Lord did not promise us an uncertain future, He
has laid it all down in the scriptures. The Bible warns us that "Let not
our flight be on Sabbath or winter". What strikes me is that the day
01/01/00 will be on a Sabbath and it will be a leap year which happens every
400th year and every 4th year. This is not meant to scare anybody, it is to
encourage ourselves to start searching our characters whether they are fit
for heaven. It is our duty to pray for the world that is still in darkness
about the year 2000. Everyday you hear about Y2K or the millenium bug, ask
yourself this question: "Is my system Y2K compliant?"
IS YOUR SYSTEM Y2K COMPLIANT?
Mashudu Ravhengani " Blot out sin" 10/Feb/1999
A beautiful illustration By George B. Thompson
A little boy who read the promise that the Lord would blot out sin,
went to his mother and asked: "Mother, what does God mean when He says He
will blot out my sins? What is He going to do with them? I can't see how God
can really blot them out and put them away. What does it mean--blot out?"
The mother, who is always the best theologian for a child, said to the
boy, "Did I not see you yesterday writing on your slate?" "Yes," he replied.
"Well, fetch it to me."
He fetched his slate. Holding it in front of him, the mother asked,
"Where is what you wrote?" "Oh," he said, "I rubbed it out."
"Well, where is it?" "Why, mother, I don't know."
"But how could you put it away if it was really there?"
"Oh, mother, I don't know! I know it was there, and it is gone."
"Well," she said, "that is what God means when He says He will blot out
our transgressions." By George B. Thompson, Signs of the Times, August 10,1920
Mod " From the Guest Book" 26/Jan/1999
Name: Nicole Bunzel
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Lincoln, NE
Time: 1999-01-22 20:03:49
Comments: I would really like to find some information about becoming a full time mission worker for the General Conference. Do you have any advise about what server I should search under? Do you have a better idea of how I oulhow I could obtain this information? This is an excellent web page. I think it's great that our church has so many internet sights. Sincerely, Nicole
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Record 16
Name: Madel Ngiraingas
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Palau, but in school in U.S.
Time: 1999-01-17 20:08:34
Comments: I have been trying to find an email address for Maxwell Adventist Academy in Kenya. My grandparents are teachers there and I've been trying to reach them through email. There names are Glenn and Rene Sibley. If anyone might share this info with me it would be of great assistance. Thank you. This is a wonderful site.
Jeremiah Ravhengani "WASHINGTON POST'S ARTICLE ON THE SABBATH/SUNDAY ISSUE" 26/Jan/1999
An article in the current issue of Liberty, a Seventh-day Adventist
magazine published in Silver Spring, attacks Pope John Paul II's recent
apostolic letter on observing the Sabbath on Sunday as "highly flawed" and
says the pope is trying to use "the strong arm of the law" to enforce
Sunday as an official day of worship.
Titled "John Paul's Pseudo-Sabbath," the article was written
by Samuele Bacchiocchi, professor of theology and church history at Andrews
University Theological Seminary in Michigan and an ardent defender of
Sabbatarianism.
Sabbatarians, a growing group that includes Seventh-day
Adventists and other Protestant sects, believe that the Bible calls for the
faithful to rest on the seventh day of the week, as God did in the Genesis
account of Creation. Like Jews, they believe the Sabbath is Saturday and
begin its observance at sundown on Friday.
In a telephone interview, Bacchiocchi said the publication of
his article before John Paul's visit to St. Louis on Tuesday and Wednesday
was coincidental. But the general timing is appropriate, he said, given the
pope's "shrewd and deceptive" arguments promoting Sunday
Sabbath-keeping in countries around the world in preparation for the
Jubilee Year 2000.
On numerous occasions, the pope has said he envisions the new
millennium as a time of renewed Christian commitment and unity. In "Dies
Domini" ("Day of the Lord"), released in July, John Paul called on the
world's 1 billion Catholics to set aside one day a week as a time "to rest
and celebrate" and to "look anew upon the wonders of nature." And he
reminded them of the "grave obligation" to attend Sunday Mass.
Bacchiocchi, whose Catholic parents converted to Adventism during
his childhood in Rome, said what bothers him is the pope's use of such
biblical references to the Sabbath to support its observance on the first
day of the week, Sunday, rather than the last. That creates a "moral
imperative" for Catholics and other Christians who look to the pope for
spiritual guidance, he said.
He also argues that Sunday observance of the
Sabbath was an invention of the early church, not a biblically mandated
day of worship, as he believes the pope suggests. It's a position
Bacchiocchi chronicled in his doctoral dissertation, From Sunday to Sabbath,
which he wrote when he was the first non-Catholic student at the Pontifical
Gregorian University in Rome and which was later published by the Vatican.
And it is a position generally accepted by Catholic historians, he said.
Bacchiocchi said that although the United States
historically has supported the separation of church and state, countries
in Europe and other parts of the world have not. And many nations have
large Catholic constituencies that might influence government policy--for
example, restoring or reinforcing laws against operating a business onSunday.
Laws supporting Sunday as a religious holiday
discriminate not only against Sabbatarians and Jews, Bacchiocchi said, but
also against Muslims, who worship communally on Fridays.
"We are concerned that we will not be able to enjoy
our own day of worship," Bacchiocchi said of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, whose international headquarters are in Silver Spring. The church
has 1 million members in the United States and 10 million worldwide.
If the Catholic church wants to enforce church
attendance by imposing penalties on those who don't attend regularly,
"that's their prerogative," Bacchiocchi said. "What's troubling to me is
that the pope expects civil governments to support the church plan by
passing civil legislation."
Bacchiocchi also argues that the insistence on
Sunday Sabbath-keeping is a form of antisemitism. The shift in the early
church toward worshiping on Sunday began in the 2nd century during the
reign of Emperor Hadrian, who "promulgated the most anti-Jewish,
anti-Sabbath laws" after Jewish revolts in Palestine, he said. To avoid the
repressive laws, Christians moved their celebrations to the first day of
Creation, the "day of the sun."
The issue is "not just the Sabbath but the whole
relationship of Christianity and Judaism," Bacchiocchi said. "Christianity
has been plagued by antisemitism and theology that is contemptible of the
Jews, not only for the abandonment of the Sabbath but the heritage of the
Jewish faith."
"God chose the church as the interpreter of
tradition," he said. And Jesus's early followers, the founders of the
church, interpreted the Sabbath tradition in light of the life and death of
the man they believed to be the Messiah.
© Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company
Click here to view Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi comments on the article
WHEN IS THE LORD'S DAY?
Adventist Says Pope Unfairly Promotes Sunday Sabbath;
When Is the Lord's Day?
By Bill Broadway
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 23, 1999; Page B11
"It is the duty of Christians," the pope wrote, ". . . to remember
that, although the practices of the Jewish Sabbath are gone, surpassed as
they are by the 'fulfillment' which Sunday brings, the underlying reasons
for keeping 'the Lord's Day' holy--inscribed solemnly in the Ten
Commandments--remain valid, though they need to be reinterpreted in the
light of the theology and spirituality of Sunday: 'Remember the Sabbath day
to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.' "
The Rev. James P. Moroney, executive director of the liturgy office
at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the pope's letter
supports the dominant Christian practice of worshiping on the day of the
week they believe Jesus rose from the dead.
"The intention of the Holy Father's statement is to restore the
appreciation of the celebration of the Sabbath to the day of
resurrection," said Moroney, who believes the Sunday Sabbath dates to the
time of the apostles. "I respect [Bacchiocchi's] point of view, but he's at
variance with most Christian denominations."
In his article in the January-February issue of Liberty,
Bacchiocchi asks, "Why should Sunday be chosen to celebrate the atoning
sacrifice of Christ when His redemptive mission was completed [with his
crucifixion] on a Friday afternoon . . . and [He] then rested in the tomb
according to the Sabbath commandment? Doesn't this suggest that both God's
creation rest and Christ's redemption rest in the tomb occurred on theSabbath?"
Bacchiocchi also is troubled by the pope's call for
Christians throughout the world to promote civil legislation supporting
Sunday as a Christian holiday. In "Dies Domini," John Paul wrote: "In the
particular circumstances of our own time, Christians will naturally strive
to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy."
Bacchiocchi said he understands that one purpose of
"Dies Domini" is to call recalcitrant Catholics back to Mass on Sunday.
Studies show that from one-fourth to one-third of the 60 million U.S.
Catholics attend church weekly. In Italy, the figure is 28 percent; in some
countries in Latin America, attendance has dropped to as low as 6 percent.
Moroney said that observing the Sabbath on Sunday
is not antisemitic, but reflects the Christian belief that Jesus's death
and resurrection offered a "new covenant" between God and humanity.
Mod "The last of the last days" 25/Jan/1999
There has been a very load silence within the walls of Sasda. Despite the silence in Sasda a lot of things that will have an impact on our lives have been happening around the World. The introductions of the Euro-dollar, the impeachment of Bill Clinton, are just but some of the issues that are making headlines around the world. How will these issues impact our lives? Is the introduction of the Euro-dollar a signal to the long predicted one-world currency? If this is true and the theory of the one-world currency is what is said to be, what does this mean to the remnant movement? The impeachment of Bill Clinton in the US-congress is also very interesting development, for here we see the power and the influence of the Christian ultra-right. These conservative Christian groups have decided for reasons known to themselves that Bill Clinton must go and what we see happening is that the Republicans are doing they can to remove him despite the public opinion. What they are telling the nation, indeed the world, is that public opinion does not count, only the views of the Christian-coalition counts. What are the implications of all of these? Are begging to see the power of the image of the beast? Or is this a bit far fetched?
As I have said before the preparation for the Second Coming of Christ is the main focus of this ministry. As we begin this New Year I would like us to look at events that are I have mention above and others that are happening around the world. For I believe that we are beginning to see the last of the last days. Let’s watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. “HE who testifies to these things says, “Yes I am coming soon” Amen, Come Lord Jesus.
Mod " From the Guest Book" 06/Jan/1999
Name: R E duPreez
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Raymond Terrace .Australia
Time: 1999-01-03 03:35:28
Comments: Did not expect to find up to date site on the web. Quite impressive
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Name: Ramodise Mekoa
Website:
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Springs
Time: 1998-12-23 08:50:52
Comments: Glad to be able to keep in touch with what is going on. Thank you, Mashudu, for keeping the flames burning.
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Jeremiah Ravhengani "New Year" 05/Jan/1999
Upon the threshold of the year we stand,
We fear to take one step without Thy care
Upon the threshold of the year we stand,
" And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
THE NEW YEAR
Holding Thy Hand;
The year holds mysteries and vague surprise
To meet our eyes;
What will its passing moments bring,
To weep, or sing?
And presence there;
But all is clear to Thine all-seeing gaze,
Counting the days
From dawn of time, till ages cease to be --
Eternity!
Holding Thy Hand;
Thou wilt walk step by step along the way
With us each day;
So whether joy or woe shall come this year,
We shal not fear!
(Homera Homer-Dixon)
`Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied:
` Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a
known way.'"
M. Louise Haskins
Mod "What happens when the moderator becomes a father" 24/Dec/1998
On the 22nd yours truly become a father of a beautiful girl, she's dad's sweetheart. Here she is with a proud dad
What does this mean to Sasda? Since to be a father is a full time job, I hope that in between changing diapers (nappies) I might get a chance to update Sasda.
Enjoy the holidays, remember each year that passes by brings us closer to the coming of the Lord
Matodzi Ratshimbilani "No time" 15/Dec/1998
Something worthwile now. What do you do when you have too many worldly
concerns so much so that you don't have enough time to narture your spirit?
Mod " From the Guest Book" 15/Dec/1998
Name: Jack Hoehn
Website:
Referred by: Net Search
From: Walla Walla, Washington, USA
Time: 1998-12-15 10:06:01
Comments: Great page. Liveliest I've found in searching SDA pages.
Congratulations. Where are you located, physically? Dr. Jack Hoehn, Walla Walla, WA
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Name: micheal
Website:
Referred by: From a Friend
From: nj
Time: 1998-12-05 20:17:41
Comments: Private!!! -Click to View-
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Name: Joseph Musawenkosi Mokete
Website:
Referred by: AngelFire
From: Jo`Burg
Time: 1998-11-18 21:08:52
Comments: It was my pleasure to visit your site. God bless you.
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MOD "Leave of absence" 10/Dec/1998
For the past three weeks the Moderator has been on the leave of absence, what ever that means. To my disappointment when I came back my mailbox was not full of messages. Anyway, let me take this time to thank for your support through out this year, indeed time flies when you are having fun. It seems like it was just yesterday when we started this site. Even though I feel that we have not reached even 10% of the potential of this ministry, I am grateful to God who has brought us this far. The Lord is good always. Continue to pray for this ministry. As I have said time and again, I will repeat myself, I strongly believe that Christ is coming back soon.
We need to be ready. Many of our churches have forgotten about the urgency of the Three angels message, Now is the time preach the gospel, Now is the time to sound the trumpet.
May you all enjoy your holidays, whether your call it Christmas, Kwanza or 'Tamuz'mas, Enjoy it
MOD "Alphabetically the Bible is to me" 10/Dec/1998
A--The Book of Authority. It is the authority on God, man, sin, salvation,
immortality, and heaven.
B--The Book of Books. "Bring me the Book," said Sir Walter Scott. "Which
book?" asked his attendant. "There is but one Book," was the reply.
C--The Book of Christ. Christ is the center and circumference of the Bible.
He is its light and power, its hope and peace for mankind.
D--The Book of Directions. It tells the way to success, to real wealth, to
happiness, to God and heaven. Jesus is the way.
E--The Book of Eternity. Its beginning touches eternity past, and its ending
touches eternity future. It is both time-less and time-full.
F--The Book of Faith. It tells what faith is, what it does. It tells of the
heroes of faith, and the glories of a life of faith in God.
G--The Book of God. It reveals God, His personality, His love, His power,
His purpose in the world, His redemption, and His home on high.
H--The Book of Heaven. It is of heaven. It brings heaven to earth, and it
lifts earth to heaven. Its religion is the religion of heaven.
I--The Book of Inspiration. It is God-inspired, and it inspires men.
J--The Book of Joy. It tells of the Lord, the joy of salvation, the joy of
service, the joy unspeakable and full of glory.
K--The Book of Knowledge. It tells of the knowledge that is highest, the
knowledge of Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom.
L--The Book of Life. It reveals eternal life, abundant life, and it is
itself a life-giving Book, its truths are life-filled.
M--The Book of Miracles. It is itself a miracle of unity in diversity. It
records miracles, and it works spiritual miracles today.
N--The Book of the New Birth. "Ye must be born again," it says. It tells how
we are born anew, and if we are in Christ we are new creatures.
O--The Book of Obligations. It tells us our obligations to God, to one
another, and to ourselves. It gives the rewards of duties done.
P--The Book of Prayers. The prayer of Solomon and the prayer of Jesus we
find here; and God's answers to the prayers of His believing people.
Q--The Book of Questions. Great questions are there: "What think ye of
Christ?" "What shall I do then with Jesus?" "Where art thou?"
R--The Book of Religion. Other books of religion there are, but this is the
exclusive Book on the only religion that came from heaven.
S--The Book of Salvation. It tells of Jesus, in whom alone is salvation. It
says "Neither is there salvation in any other."
T--The Book of Thanksgiving. It rings with the spirit of thanksgiving.
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving." "Be thankful unto Him."
U--The Book of Unity. Written by forty different writers, through 1,600
years of time, yet unified in one Personality, Jesus, Wonderful!
V--The Book of Voices. The voice of God, of praise, of conscience, of duty,
of the Spirit--these are heard, and we see people obeying.
W--The Book of Worship. It tells us the nature and glory of worship,--the
greatest and highest act of the soul on earth or in heaven.
X--I let X stand for the unknown quantity, for the unknown answers to
questions and problems, whose solutions are reserved for heaven.
Y--The Book of Youth. Jesus was a young man. The apostles were young men.
Youthfulness and vigor thrill its truths and purposes.
Z--The Book of Zeal. It tells of the zeal and enthusiasm that marked the
Master, the prophets, and the apostles. It inspires zeal today. Therefore,
commit it, admit it, submit to it, transmit it.
--By Henry E. Hodge, Signs of
the Times, September 22, 1931
MOD "Giving Counsel; Giving Advice" 20/Nov/1998
Though the title of the lesson is "Wonderful, Counselor", almost the entire
lesson is given to counseling. Most of it is about Deity counseling
humankind, though a portion is of one human being giving counsel to another
human being. But perhaps, since the Bible is inspired, then when a prophet
or apostle gives counsel, it is really God speaking through him. Certainly
that is the way I consider Paul's counsel to Timothy, though Paul's own
experience in the ministry guides him into giving a young minister the
opportunity of gaining from the experience of an older.
Speaking of counseling (I was), isn't it strange that we usually have a
positive feeling about counseling, even placing a professional stamp on it.
But how different we look upon advice-givers and their advice!
"Some people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall
instead of using it." -- Anon.
Perhaps people take counseling to heart and change their behavior to
conform to it. But take "advice"? Not by a long shot:
In his own gentle, procrastinating way, Dr.George Harris did much as
president of Ampherst College, but the unpleasant duties of such a post he
neglected or ignored. He was not really opposed to work, but he was never
heard him say much in favor of it. One autumn he rose in chapel to address
the students at the first assembly of the year, but after 3 or 4 sentences,
he got tired and, breaking into a happy smile, said: "I intended to give
you some advice, but now I remember how much is left over from last year
unused." With that, he took his hat and walked out.
Said Malcolm Forbes, "Giving advice is less expensive than following it."
And Ken Hubbard, famous American humorist of yesteryear said, "The more
prosperous a feller is, th' less advice he hands out." He is also known to
have said, "If you want to get rid of somebody, just tell them something
for their own good."
British early 20th century writer, Rudyard Kipling, pointed out that
"Meddling with another man`s folly is always thankless work
I believe it was the French philosopher, Francois de La Rochefoucauld, who
also pointed out that giving advice is usually a thankless task; "If you
take my advice and fail, it's my fault. If you succeed, you note that you
would have taken the course anyway and my advice was superfluous."
It was the Bard himself who said, "It is a good divine that follows his own
instructions. I can easier teach 20 what were good to be done than to one
of the 20 to follow mine own teaching.
Advice to the sick coming from a well person is suspect: "It is easy when
we are well to give good advice to the sick." --Andria Terence
And since I am considered to be an old man, even my own advice given here,
and elsewhere, might be considered pompous or in-ADVISABLE: the same La
Rochefoucauld quoted above also said, "Old men are fond of giving good
advice to console themselves for their inability to give bad examples."
Henry David Thoreau, still in his youth, discovered the same folly of
following elders' advice: "What old people say you cannot do, you try and
find that you can do. . . .I have lived some thirty years on this planet,
and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest
advice from my seniors.
And one parting shot at advice and advice givers: Remember, Socrates was a
Greek philosopher who went around giving good advice. They poisoned him.
This is from SSNET, written by Charles H. Tidwell, Sr
MOD "New links" 20/Nov/1998
As promised, we have added two new sites to our Bible study page.
Enjoy them!
Sabbath School Lesson reviews
BIBLE LIGHT HOMEPAGE - Recommended Bible prophecy site
Jeremiah Ravhengani "Maranatha" 20/Nov/1998
Have you ever thought about what went wrong when Jesus came the first time? When we read the OT it talks about the prophecies of His coming (Is 53 and others). But when Jesus came they did not accept him, they were not ready for Him, accept the few who did, 120 in number. What was the problem?
Most of them never read the prophecy and those who were reading the prophecy relied heavily on how the prophecy was interpreted by their scholars.
The same mistakes that the Jews made in His first coming many are going to repeat in His Second Coming.
The question was what must we do?
“He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Thank you for this note, This was meant to be a personal message, but since it is not a gossip we can all share.
We need to study (not read) the Bible for ourselves. We need to open our eyes to see the fulfillment of prophecy. But if we don't know the scriptures for ourselves or we rely on the interpretation given by others (in the church) we will surely be lost.
Remember the Bible in Mark 13:22 says, "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." The 'elect' are the best of the best in Christendom. If they are almost deceived how about us?
But this should not scare us; it should motivate us to study.
In the book Education, page 123, Ellen White wrote, "The Bible contains all the principles that men need to understand in order to be fitted either for this life or for the life to come. And these principles may be understood by all. No one with a spirit to appreciate its teaching can read a single passage from the Bible without gaining from it some helpful thought. But the most valuable teaching of the Bible is not to be gained by occasional or disconnected study. Its great system of truth is not so presented as to be discerned by the hasty or careless reader. Many of its treasures lie far beneath the surface, and can be obtained only by diligent research and continuous effort. The truths that go to make up the great whole must be searched out and gathered up, "here a little, and there a little." Isaiah 28:10.
An average person spends about 16 years preparing for a career, which will be of no value after 50 years. How much time do we spend preparing for eternity? Very little or no time at all.
We need to study as though we are preparing for a final exam, and it is.
The respond is:
Search the scriptures!
Watch and pray!
Tell someone about the fulfillment of prophecy and His soon coming!
Live as one who understand the times!
Make your calling an election sure!
Matodzi Ratshimbilani "Maranatha" 19/Nov/1998
Are you attending or warching the NET 98 programme? I had an opportunity
to attend some sessions and I was stunned.
It is amazing to see how telling the signs are and yet no one seem to
notice or to realy care. You know when I first attended church and started
hearing about the prophesy I thought to myself that when I start to see
the signs I'll get ready and sin no more. On the contrary when the signs
appear it seems normal and acceptable and life goes on as usual.The sad
part is that even for us who know the truth we are still inclined to do the
wrong things
What shall we do to be saved .I know Peter said to those Jews that they
must repent. I'm asking you now and seriously so WHAT SHALL WE DO!!!
Mod "A thought for sharing" 11/Nov/1998
In His service
Thanks Pisto, for sharing your ideas with us.
I like the idea of having a 'net-pal' list. I will try to create a net-pal page by the end of next week, your name will be first one on the list. I will also be sending out a questionare to SASDA members in the next few days, I will include this suggestion on it.
About relevant Website Addresses: I will try to add more links as soon as a get time to evaluate some SDA/christian sites. If you find any site that you think will be beneficial to SASDA community please send us its URL.
SASDA Moderator
Pitso Tsibolane "A thought for sharing" 11/Nov/1998
I have something to share with my fellow brethren around the world.
This is actually something that I have read from a church magazine at some
point in my life and I think it is worth sharing.
HI! bra Jerry.
My name is Pitso Tsibolane and i am a regular SASDA-ONLINE netter.
I am originally from Odendaalsrus Township in the Free State but I'm
presently studying at the University of Cape Town.(Bsc computer science)
But before that I have a suggestion to make to you.
I think one way of enlarging a circle of friendship amongst SDA-netters
can be by having a "net-pal" section where all of us can send e-mail addresses
to be made available to anyone who wishes to have an SDA friend.
Also the SDA-online can make available adresses of relevant web-sites so that
as Adventists we can "surf the net to the glory of the Lord".
Here is my contribution, SCIENCE AND THE UNIVERSE
MOD "From Our Guest Book" 02/Nov/1998
MOD "A plea for contributions" 02/Nov/1998
I have said this before that I have been a believer on the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ all my live (almost). But I have never been so impressed by the urgency of his coming as I am today. I strongly believe that more than ever before we are nearing Home. As the song goes, "I can hear the sound of trumpets, I can hear the battle cry, and I know my Lord is coming, and it might even be now". I believe that God has brought up this ministry for the sole purpose of reminding us of the times in which we live in and also to encourage each other as we go through this final hour of our earth's history.
MOD "An 'SASDA-netter' becomes a Conference president" 02/Nov/1998
MOD "The Fellowship of the Unashamed" 22/Oct/1998
Name: Rose Marie Waite
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Jamaica
Time: 1998-10-30 17:44:33
Comments: I love the resources and the comments they are truly an inspiration
Things have been very quite in the past few days. I know many people are busy with exams and other commitments in this time of the year. But please, just send us even one line to let us know that you are there and you are still alive. Initially this ministry was for Adventist in South African, but in recent times I have found reports of many that are outside SA whom this ministry has blessed. So, it does not matter where you are you can send us your contribution, whether it be a poem, testimony, sermon etc. just send it to us.
Maranatha!
I would like to take this space to congratulate Pastor Tankiso Letseli on his election to lead the mighty Trans-Orange Conference (TOC). (The TOC is a Seventh-day Adventist conference with head-office in Johannesburg). Pastor Letseli is one of the founding members of SASDA and also our residence pastor. I have known him for a number of years now. I have had a privilege of working with him in the education department. I have found him to be a man who is ever willing to serve, a very humble man (even though he is a highly educated man), a man who listens, indeed a role model for other young ministers. We solicit your prayers for him as he takes up his new responsibility.
Other officers elected over the weekend are the following:
Secretary: Pastor Setsiba
Treasurer: Pastor Mitileni
Lay Activities: Pastor Mahamba
Stewardship: Pastor Mautla
AY: Pastor Ndaliso
The Fellowship of the Unashamed
I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees,
colorless dreams, chintzy giving and dwarfed goals.
No longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.
I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven,
My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,
my Guide is reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity,
negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander
in the maze of mediocrity.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.
And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
My colors will be clear.
I am not ashamed of the Gospel… .Romans 1:16
Jeremiah Ravhengani "An attack on Adventism" 21/Oct/1998
Last week one of our brothers(from my local church) who was attacked(not physically) by a certain Sunday-keeper. He sent me a desperate letter for help as, to quote his words, 'could not defend his position under such attack'
I have attached the original letter from the "Sunday keeper" (I just can't find a better name) with my comments in blue. Becuase of the urgency of this request I could not deal with may issues in detail, but I did my best within the time constrain.
Click here for the document
Tankiso Letseli "No time" 13/Oct/1998
A poem forwarded by a friend.
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
MOD "Right Now" 06/Oct/1998
Right Now
MOD Three Kinds of Christians 06/Oct/1998
Three Kinds of Christians
1. Rowboat Christians--have to be propelled wherever they go.
2. Sailboat Christians--always go with the wind.
3. Steamboat Christians--make up their minds where they ought to go,
and go there regardless of wind and weather.--By The King's Business, Signs
of the Times, July 17, 1934
MOD "The Soap" 06/10/1998
On a different note, I would like to request your prayers for students who are preparing for their end-year exams. If there are others who have prayer requests, please send us your names.
'The soap' is the latest addition to our Miscellaneous section, this section is updated regularly please stop by from time to time.
Jeremiah Ravhengani "Wedding rings?" 29/09/1998
I was hoping somebody else will attempt this one since I have many excuses.
Here is my attempt, "Wedding rings in the Adventist church"
Mod "Seven Surprises" 28/09/1998
Seven Surprises
It is said that the Christian who begins to tithe will have at least
seven surprises:
At the amount of money he has for the Lord's work;
At the deepening of his own spiritual life;
At the ease with which one meets his own obligations;
At the pleasure found in larger giving;
At the satisfaction in the practice of stewardship in time, talents,
and possessions;
At himself for not adopting the plan sooner;
At his new appreciation of the goodness of God.
Signs of the Times, April 22, 1930
Mod "From the Mod's desk" 28/09/1998
In the past few weeks I have been impressed to talk about position and power in the church. I have written an article to address this subject. I do not want this article to be seen as an attack on the ministers or church leaders. I actually believe that the divisions that are there between the pastor and the laity do not come from the original plan. So whatever I say about pastors applies to the entire membership.
Last week Thursday, I sent I copy of this article to pastors J Mongwe and T Letseli(SASDA resident pastors) for their comments. At the time of writing this piece I have receive I very positive response from Pastor Mongwe.
Thanks to technology, yesterday just few minutes after he tied the knot I had a privilege of congratulating our fellow SASDA netter, Brother Modise. Lets remember them in our prayers as they go to build their new home.
So here it is, Position and Power in the church
Mod "Another LETTER FROM SATAN " 18/09/1998
Thanks "young Sedupane" for your contribution. "Viva, Ama-students movement, Viva!". On a more serious note, We would like thank UCT students for injecting new life into SASDA. We are interested in reaching students in other campuses, please help us if you have any contacts. One of this days we should be able to create a 'Students forum' page; dealing with such topics like, Study methods, campus survival tips etc.
Bizza Sedupane "Another LETTER FROM SATAN " 18/09/1998
After reading this article, I was reminded of a newspaper clip one of my
friends shared with me. It is basically almost the same as this article
here. But i will just like to draw your attention to the kind of tricks
the devil is planning to play on God's children. If we do not watch out
we can fall for them.
PS: if u would like to have the whole newspaper click, I can get it
scanned and send it to you. God bless.
Here is the file:
THE MOST URGENT CIRCULAR
Mod "LETTER FROM SATAN " 18/09/1998
A LETTER FROM SATAN
Mod "From the Guest Book" 17/09/1998
Name: Lota Nolo
Website:
Referred by: From a Friend
From: Germiston
Time: 1998-09-17 08:49:25
Comments: This website is a well where 'busy people' like students and workers can draw strength to face daily challenges.
May God bless all the people who maintain this website and those who contribute in any way.
Jeremiah Ravhengani "The Marriage School" 17/09/1998
This is a message dedicated to a good friend, Brother Modise Sedupane. On hearing the good news that 'finally he is going to be like one unto us' I felt compelt to give him a word of advice. I suppose this is my way of paying him back for the kind words he said at my wedding. I hope you too will get something from it.
The Marriage school