WAA Podcast Episode 76: Adventists, Let's Be Real (57:44)

Zealous hypocrite or real Christian?
Image from Google Images

Welcome to another podcast episode of “What’s an Adventist?”

How important is it to be “real” when it comes to being an Adventist Christian? Well let’s put it this way, Ellen White once wrote the following about believers who are not genuine, “He might display great liberality; but should he, from some other motive than genuine love, bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr’s death, yet if not actuated by love, he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite” (Acts of the Apostles Ch. 30)

In order to avoid delusion or hypocrisy, a reality check is sometimes needed. A recent study of the Adventist church shows what is really going on in the church today and what are the prevailing beliefs and attitudes among church members. Are we being “real” with ourselves, others and God or are we just pretending to be zealous Adventists but are far from demonstrating genuine faith and love?

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This week Jesse Sias and Eli Miranda provide a commentary on the recent trends in the church as published by the latest research. Jesse and Eli also talk about outreach in an unusual place, our connection to technology and keeping it “real.” 

If you would like to comment on this podcast or blog click on the “comment” link below. You can also reach out to use via email at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com or join us on facebook and drop us a line. We would love to hear from you! Thank you for listening, God bless!

Articles mentioned:

How Technology is Changing Millennial Faith

Landmark Survey Reveals In Depth Beliefs, Perceptions of Adventists Members

WAA Podcast Episode 75: Home Sweet Home (43:47)

Home should be a slice of heaven on earth

Welcome to another podcast episode of “What’s an Adventist?”

Do you remember what your childhood home was like? Unfortunately, for way too many, home was not a happy and peaceful place. Even Adventist homes are not perfect but that doesn’t mean that striving for a home that’s more like heaven is impossible. Adventists value the idea of maintaining a pleasant and harmonious home life so that others may be encouraged to do the same and experience the rich spiritual, mental, and physical blessings of a happy home. 

An early Adventist wrote, “The home feeling should be kept alive in the hearts of the children, that they may look back upon the home of their childhood as a place of peace and happiness next to heaven.”

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This week Jesse Sias and “fill-in” co-host Eli Miranda share their experiences of growing up in an Adventist home. Also in this week’s podcast Jesse and Eli learn a new verse to an old children’s sing along and take a brief look at prophecy in history. 

If you would like to comment on this podcast click on the “comment” link below. You can also join our WAA community on facebook and keep up with our latest news and thoughts or reach out to us. Thank you for listening and supporting this ministry. God bless!

WAA Podcast Episode 74: The Pope's Adventist Brother (42:03)

Welcome to another podcast episode of "What's an Adventist?"

Have you heard? The current Pope has an Adventist relative and he’s not happy about it! Apparently the conversion of his family member to the Adventist faith was enough to prompt him to want to punish Adventists by imposing Sunday laws at some point during his Papacy. At least that's according to formerly ordained Adventist minister Hugo R. Gambetta. Unfortunately, some Adventists look towards these types of sensational stories and unfounded rumors as inspired signs of the end times. Instead all these stories do is stir people up for all the wrong reasons. Maybe some Adventists feel that unless something dramatic is happening there’s no real need for urgency. The fact is that regardless of what stories are out there, Adventists, and Christians in general, should be vigilant and focused on the development of their own spiritual lives and searching for an authentic spirituality.

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This week Jesse Sias provides commentary on the latest of Adventist rumors as well as shares some thoughts from President Ted Wilson’s article found in Adventist World, “Authentic Spirituality”.

If you would like to comment on this podcast please click on the “comment” link below.  Join our WAA community on facebook to stay up to date with the latest podcasts. You can also contact us via email at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com. Thank you for listening, God bless!

Articles mentioned in this podcast:

Is the Pope's Brother an Adventist?

Authentic Spirituality

Do Women Make Men Better?

WAA Podcast Episode 73: Missionary Impossible (39:19)

Welcome to another podcast episode of “What’s an Adventist?” 

J.N. Andrews was the first official
Adventist missionary

Adventists have a strong reputation for being “mission” minded. In fact, Adventism became a global denomination because of its passion for and dedication to missionary work around the world. What many people don’t know is early in its history Adventists were reluctant to send missionaries overseas and thought this to be an impossible task. What they failed to realize was the rest of the world was yearning for the gospel and the Advent message and God had a plan to reach them. Not exactly Adventism’s finest hour.

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This week WAA host Jesse Sias talks about the challenges and doubts the Adventist pioneers faced when thinking about spreading the gospel unto the “uttermost parts of the earth.” Also in this podcast Jesse shares some tips for sleeping in hot weather. For our listeners in Texas (or other hot spots), you definitely don’t want to miss these!

If you would like to comment on this podcast click on the “comment” link below. You can also “Like” us on facebook or email us at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon! Thank you for your continued support. God bless!

WAA Podcast Episode 72: Come and See an Adventist Health Fair (54:13)

Members of the Come and See SDA Church hold
their 1st Annual Community Health Fair, Keller, TX

Welcome to another podcast episode of “What’s an Adventist?”

Adventists have long been known for having a health message but it’s one thing to talk about having a health message and it’s another to actively help people with their health. As part of its outreach efforts the Come and See Seventh-day Adventist Church in Keller, TX held its1st annual community health fair. People from the community took advantage of a variety of free health screenings, healthy snacks, medical consultations, and spiritual guidance. 

This week Jesse and Abraham take WAA on the road and talk with the leaders, organizers, and volunteers responsible for organizing the health fair to find out exactly what motivated the Come and See Church to reach out to their community in this way.  

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If you would like to know more about the Come and See SDA Church go to www.kellercomeandsee.com

If you would like to comment on this podcast, click on the “comment” link below. You can also drop us a line at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com or become a WAA facebook fan at facebook.com/whatsanadventist

Thank you for listening and supporting this ministry! God bless!

WAA Podcast Episode 71: The Commandments of Love (49:57)

Are God's commandments just rules or acts of love?
Image from Google Images

Welcome to another podcast episode of "What's an Adventist?"

One of the most iconic laws in history are the Ten Commandments. Although written thousands of years ago, in supernatural fashion, they have transcended time and cultures. Many consider the Ten Commandments to be the highest standard of both spiritual and moral living. What is it about the Ten Commandments that make them so special? Are they just a bunch of rules or do they teach us a more profound truth about ourselves and God?

Adventists believe the Ten Commandments are still relevant today and still make it a point to teach and keep all ten as they are outlined in the book of Exodus. Adventists are sometimes accused of practicing and encouraging legalism, but this is far from the truth.

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This week Jesse and Abraham talk about the truths behing the Ten Commandments and the reason God has preserved these laws for us today. 

If you would like to comment on this podcast, click on the comment link below. You can also contact us at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com or join our WAA facebook fan page at facebook.com/Whatsanadventist. 

Thank you for listening, God bless!

Click here for a study on the Ten Commandments, "The Law and the Gospel" (Bible Research Institute)

WAA Podcast Episode 70: H-E-Double Hockey Sticks (59:13)

Is hell a real place where bad people are tortured forever?
Image from Google images

Welcome to another podcast episode of “What’s an Adventist?” 

The idea of hell has been around for a very long time. The Greek philosopher, Socrates, taught that hell was a place of eternal torment although he acknowledged it was a fictitious idea. Over time the idea of hell and eternal torment became very literal and was used as a tactic to scare people into being saved. In some cases people even gave up their own possessions and dignity to avoid the fire and brimstone.  

Today, there are still many Christians who believe hell is a real place where bad people go to be forever tormented by Satan. Many believe this is divine justice and many still use this idea to prompt people to seek salvation. Unfortunately, these ideas do more damage than good when it comes to helping people understand the God of the Bible. How can a loving and just God allow people to burn and be tormented forever? 

An early Adventist author wrote, “How repugnant to every emotion of love and mercy, and even to our sense of justice, is the doctrine that the wicked dead are tormented with fire and brimstone in an eternally burning hell; that for the sins of a brief earthly life they are to suffer torture as long as God shall live.” While Adventists believe in a real hell, it has very little in common with the popular ideas most people have grown up hearing and believing. 

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This week Jesse Sias and Abraham Miranda talk about what the Bible has to say about hell and help clear up any misconceptions and distortions about one of the most threatening teachings in the Bible. 

If you would like to comment on this podcast, click the “comment” link below. You can also contact us at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com or join our WAA fan page on facebook at facebook.com/whatsanadventist. 

Thank you for listening and God bless!

Study mentioned in this podcast:

"Watch Out for Hell", Biblical Research Institute

WAA Podcast Episode 69: Are These the Last Days of the Last Days? (51:00)

"Last Day Events" by Ellen White provides
an insightful commentary on the events
 leading up to the Second Coming
-Image from Google Images

Welcome to our first WAA podcast of 2013!

The study of last day events. also called eschatology, has always been a part of the Adventist identity. Regarding the last days and Christ's second coming, Ellen White counseled, "Great pains should be taken to keep this subject before the people." Within Adventism there has always been an earnest interest in last day events and as with other Biblical doctrines the study of eschatology can be misconstrued and abused. But when studied carefully and prayerfully, eschatology reveals God's faithfulness through difficult times, the magnitude of His divine will, and shows us how He will carry out His ultimate judgements. 

For some Christians, including Adventists, eschatology has become too much of a mystery or a complex puzzle. An attitude is emerging within the church suggesting since last day events are complex, hard to understand or just plain weird, it may be time to move on, focus on the gospel message alone and not worry about the "last days."

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This week Jesse Sias and Abraham Miranda talk about the emerging attitudes surrounding eschatology within Adventism,  provide a brief commentary about Christian attitudes towards violence, and share our WAA fans home remedies for the flu (or vampire bites). Try these remedies at your own risk!

If you would like to comment on this podcast, please click on the "comment" link below. You can also contact us at whatsanadventist@hotmail.com or join our WAA community on facebook at facebook.com/whatsanadventist. 

Thank you for listening! God bless!

Articles mentioned in this podcast:

Resurrecting an Old Adventist Teaching, Spectrum Magazine