IAUA End Time Ministry
Preparing for the End of Time
The Lord is Coming! Are you ready?
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IAUA End Time Ministry |
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Preparing for the End of Time | |
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The Lord is Coming! Are you ready? | |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in IAUA (ee-ah-oo-ah) our Father,
Greetings on this day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath. I pray this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of IAUA. This is day 30 of month 11 of the Biblical Calendar in the estimated year 6021 Anno Mundi. The Spring Sabbaths begin in 6 weeks and three days with God's New Year's Day, Unleavened Bread Sabbath, day 15 of month 1 (Monday, April 2 of the 2018, Gregorian Calendar, at sunset Sunday, April 1). On God's Calendar the Biblical month begins on the global day after lunar conjunction. The Biblical year begins with God's New Year's Day (Passover) after the spring equinox (Spring Passover Rule). The Millerite Calendar (Spring New Moon Rule) is a month late next year. The Calculated Rabbinical Calendar will be two days early in spring and one day early in fall. A newsletter reader responds to the previous 2018-02-02 newsletter titled "Isolation". _____ They wrote: I think the issue in what you are saying is: following. You ask, Who do you follow? I dont follow anyone because all humans are imperfect and will let a person down. Regarding those who believe in all the Bible and are following it, that alone would discount following anyone. How many times have I tried to teach others Bible truth, but they just stick with the erring majority because there is no depth to their faith and to their study. Yet at the same time there is a corporate element to worship which we have to come to terms with. How can we have holy convocations if we disagree with everyone??? (I find the only answer is to be the leader yourself, but I am imperfect also). At the same time, we are told to respect people. There are many I respect, but I do not follow them. They are erring, and we are erring and learning. They have positions and responsibilities and I respect them for that but it does not make me follow them. My local pastor is an example. He will teach whatever his denomination teaches and is impervious to instruction from the Word. He says that if we do not go along with anything the denomination teaches then we should go to the local Conference office and discuss it with them, and so on up the hierarchy. Yet, why does he not look into the issue himself? Does not want to step out on truth because he knows where that leads. We are followers of our Saviour, that is all. And we seek to influence others on what little we understand of truth through our intensive study, even if they are unwilling to accept anything the denomination does not teach. That is my point of view! _____ I responded: Good to hear from you. Apparently I didn't get my point across clearly. :-) Obviously we don't literally follow anyone in the sense you are using. A better word than "follow" would be association through fellowship and convocation, as you mention. I never actually said, "Who do you follow?". My intent was not clear. People should be more than just leaders or followers. There is a certain ambiguity of English words, though the language tries to be specific. Hebrew is fascinating because the words are deliberately general, emphasizing the many associated meanings. I am talking about Biblical Hebrew not Masoretic Hebrew, which attempts to be specific to copy and mimic other languages. Digression from topic... Instead of leaders, we need teachers and helpers (servants). Instead of blind followers, we need participants and learners. Our interaction blurs the line between teacher and student so that we all learn together. In the church I attend, when I can, there are two Sabbath School classes, which are deliberately different. The much larger (10x) class is a "lecture" type where there is a leader and the people are mostly passive listeners, much like the sermon hour. The other smaller class is a "discussion" class where there is a facilitator and the people are encouraged to participate. The lecture class leader will occasionally ask questions but they are specific and everyone knows you are expected to provide "canned" responses that have no particular thought to them. The discussion class facilitator primarily asks open questions for discussion and expects that thought will be given to the answer. It is sad that often people provide "canned" responses adhering to typical Adventist thought. It is also disappointing that I have occasionally heard the "facilitator" say that the responses were NOT what HE was thinking. He can certainly express his own thoughts but not by using those words. We all need to be searchers and followers of truth. Our Savior was the most learned teacher, who was absolutely correct. Notice His words: Matthew 23:8 However, do not seek to be called Rabbi, because only one is your Master, the Messiah. You are all brothers. Fascinating passage, particularly with all the context. However, we need people who will search for truth and share with others. This is a teacher but one who (ideally) is not intending to be the master/leader. I notice this in Jewish Rabbis. I do this searching and sharing emphatically in my ministry. This needs to be an interaction of seekers such as I encourage with my blog/newsletter. This interaction is vital to clarify any confusion with meanings and intent of words. This is the case with these emails. I value your association and fellowship through discussion. You and others like you are valued supporters of my ministry. Thank you. It is a valued relief from my sense of isolation. _____ Do you follow in association with seekers of truth or do you blindly follow leaders and their thought? I pray we may all continue to seek love, peace, and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of IAUShUO (ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God.
Frank T. Clark Next: 2018-02-23 ThURA |
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Revised 2018-02-23 |