Dear Church Family, Several years ago I researched and wrote the history of the Holly, Michigan, Seventh-day Adventist Church which included much of Adelphian Academy’s early years. The title is HOW ADVENTISM CAME TO HOLLY, MICHIGAN — And How it Grew. Printing was expensive at that time so only a few Xeroxed copies were made. […]
Category Archives: Pastor’s Blog
Coming to Holly: Scott M. Bennett in concert [8/3 at 7:30pm]
Scott Michael Bennett will be at the Holly Church for a vesper concert on Saturday, August 03 at 7:30pm.
Scott Michael Bennett is an inspirational young singer whose sincere goal is to dramatically inspire people of all ages to reach for a higher life with God as its center and other people as its focus.
He began to sing at the age of 15 and then worked hard to earn his Associates Degree in the Liberal Arts with Music Emphasis at the age of 18. He was a member of the acclaimed and Grammy Award winning Phoenix Symphony Chorus and Arizona State University’s debut of its Men’s Chorus. In 2001 he won the National Young Artists’ Competition in the Vocal Performance category singing two Shakespearean songs with full orchestral accompaniment. In 2002, at the age of 19, Scott recorded and released his debut album “O Glorious Love”, recorded at Gaither Studios. His second album, “Come As You Are” is a deeper creation that many listeners describe as “moving” and “inspirational.” Many have shared that they would listen to this album and find themselves moved to tears as they envisioned the messages conveyed in his songs.
In his own words: “I feel every emotion one can feel, when I sing.”
He has been featured on It Is Written, Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) Hope Channel (HopeTV), SafeTV, Olelo Studios (Hawaiian Channel), and Amazing Facts.
Recently, Scott married his best friend & sweetheart…a friend he’s known for over 5 years before they realized a mutual interest in each other.
Distractions
It’s been a while since I’ve posted on this blog.
A couple of months ago, aside from the regular duties of life and work, my parents were flying in. So, those preparations had to be made. In the back of my mind from the beginning of the day I knew that I had to fill up the car with gasoline. There was enough for a typical Sabbath day, but not enough gas for a round trip to and from Detroit Metro Airport and also the driving on Sabbath.
Unfortunately each time I drove that day, I drove my pickup instead (the typical vehicle I use). Then came time to hurry up to drive to the airport. I rushed out the door, got in the car with two things in mind: 1. Fill-up, and 2. Wash the car. I was nervous about Sabbath approaching. From the previous week, I knew that Sabbath came at the half-hour, and I had about 15 minutes. I looked at my sunset app on my phone and saw that I had 13 today (so no washing of the car…). I drive on N. Holly to Grange Hall to one of the gas stations. I get there with 4 minutes to fill up before Sabbath. Filled up the tank and was done. I had finished my transaction before the Sabbath.
Ever get that feeling of accomplishment when you finish all the regular business just before Sabbath comes; that feeling of Yes I did and didn’t break the Sabbath. Yet, I didn’t feel very good. It wasn’t a guilty feeling, but a disappointing feeling. While I had not violated the Sabbath commandment, my mind was not in a state of readiness for it.
That’s what happens when we play close to the lines in not being ready in relation to spiritual things, our families, our employment, etc. The joy and delight get sapped out. Being ready, having a relaxed state of mind to be able to receive the Sabbath gift is not legalism, but a taste of a relationship with God.
P.S. – After filling up the tank and driving off, some minutes later I noticed that I still had an hour to go before sunset. In my state of distractedness I lost track of time, and didn’t even realize the light in the sky. So in the end, I wasn’t even close to break the Sabbath or fiddling around with the edges of the Sabbath; but my lack of readiness for it, created a distraction that didn’t allow me to receive the Sabbath with anticipation and thankfulness even when I had an extra hour.
In all sorts of ways, even in our daily duties, Satan will try all to distract us, and if we don’t stay alert at all times, while we may not physically sin or leave the church, mentally, we may have.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
NAD Issues Statement on Supreme Court’s Marriage Rulings
In a statement, titled “An Affirmation of Marriage,” Dan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, sent out the following on June 27, 2013.
Numerous activities among state legislators and courts have recently been occurring in the United States concerning same-sex unions. On June 26, the United States Supreme Court ruled on two landmark decisions regarding same-sex unions.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe in strengthening the family and following the biblical principles and patterns that God set forth in His Word for marriage between one man and one woman, the oldest human institution dating back to the sixth day of creation. We cannot deny the biblical pattern anymore than we can deny creation and not undermine the value and validity of the Bible as God’s handbook for our lives.
Based on recent developments and decisions, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is concerned with the growing attacks on the biblical institution of marriage and feels that it is appropriate and necessary to reaffirm the stated positions of the Church as they relate to Christian marriage. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the biblical teaching is still valid today, because it is anchored in the very nature of humanity and God’s plan at creation for marriage.
We reaffirm, without hesitation, our long-standing position. As expressed in the Church’s Fundamental Beliefs, “marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship.”
We hold that all people, no matter of their sexual orientation, are children of God. We do not condone singling out any group for scorn and derision, let alone abuse. However, it is very clear that God’s Word does not countenance a homosexual lifestyle; neither has the Christian Church throughout her 2000-year history. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the biblical teaching is still valid today, because it is anchored in the very nature of humanity and God’s plan at creation for marriage.
NAD Issues Statement on Supreme Court’s Marriage Rulings
In a statement, titled “An Affirmation of Marriage,” Dan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, sent out the following on June 27, 2013.
Numerous activities among state legislators and courts have recently been occurring in the United States concerning same-sex unions. On June 26, the United States Supreme Court ruled on two landmark decisions regarding same-sex unions.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe in strengthening the family and following the biblical principles and patterns that God set forth in His Word for marriage between one man and one woman, the oldest human institution dating back to the sixth day of creation. We cannot deny the biblical pattern anymore than we can deny creation and not undermine the value and validity of the Bible as God’s handbook for our lives.
Based on recent developments and decisions, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is concerned with the growing attacks on the biblical institution of marriage and feels that it is appropriate and necessary to reaffirm the stated positions of the Church as they relate to Christian marriage. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the biblical teaching is still valid today, because it is anchored in the very nature of humanity and God’s plan at creation for marriage.
We reaffirm, without hesitation, our long-standing position. As expressed in the Church’s Fundamental Beliefs, “marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship.”
We hold that all people, no matter of their sexual orientation, are children of God. We do not condone singling out any group for scorn and derision, let alone abuse. However, it is very clear that God’s Word does not countenance a homosexual lifestyle; neither has the Christian Church throughout her 2000-year history. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the biblical teaching is still valid today, because it is anchored in the very nature of humanity and God’s plan at creation for marriage.