Fresh from the Garden

Once upon a time there was a skylark who sang so sweetly that people would stop in their tracks just to listen. One day a man approached the bird with an unusual proposal:  “I’ll give you a fat worm if you give me one of your feathers. ” The skylark thought, “I have hundreds of feathers. Surely one won’t matter.” He plucked a feather, enjoyed the worm, and flew away. The next day the man returned with the same offer. The skylark hesitated just for a moment but again reasoned, “One more feather won’t make a difference.” And so, it went. Day after day, worm after worm, feather after feather. For a while the skylark seemed fine. He still had plenty of feathers, still could sing, still could fly. But slowly, almost without noticing, his wings grew bare and ragged. One morning, when a hawk appeared in the sky, the skylark tried to take off, but he couldn’t. He had traded away the very feathers that gave him freedom. That story may sound kind of quaint, but it carries a sharp edg...

  "We don't so much solve our problems as we outgrow them. We add capacities and experiences that eventually make us bigger than the problems.” This line belongs to Carl Jung, one of the modern psychology guru. You’ll never do anything different or better unless you want to. And that desire—true want-to —won’t arise until your perspective grows enough to outweigh the pull of comfort, fear, or resistance. Real transformation begins not with behavior modification but with a shift in focus—from ourselves to something, to Someone , greater. So many sermons focus on changing behavior: “Do this, don’t do that.” “You should, you must, you ought.” “That’s wrong, stop it.” But this approach often fails. Why? Because it imposes obligation without sparking motivation. It’s inward-focused, relying on our own willpower, rather than pointing us outward - toward Christ. The truth is, victory over sin isn’t something we achieve by trying harder. That message, while common, ...

  This man spent his life doing nothing meaningful. He watched movies endlessly, became an expert at video games, and worked a dull 9-to-5 job. No friends, no family, just a distant uncle. Not even a pet to keep him company. His days were a monotonous cycle: work, movies, games, sleep, then repeat. By the time he reached his fifties, he realized he had done nothing else with his life. Then, one day, he was in a car crash… and woke up in his childhood bedroom, 12 years old again. Incredible. A second chance to live life differently. This is the premise of The Unusual Second Life of Thomas by S. Inmon. A fascinating idea but, of course, pure fiction. Life doesn’t work that way. Do you ever feel like life has slipped through your fingers—that you haven’t truly lived it to its fullest? That your days blend into one another, leaving you wondering if you’ve made a difference? We often dream of second chances, of waking up one day with the opportunity to rewrite our story. But ...

  A recent survey found that 26% of Americans believe God will influence the outcome of the Super Bowl. Think about the immense preparation, the financial investment, and the excitement surrounding this one game - it’s staggering! But here’s the real challenge: What if we treated every Sabbath like Super Bowl event? - Wake up on Sabbath morning with the same excitement for the team you’ve joined—God’s team! - Wear your "jersey" with pride—whether that’s a smile, a kind word, or even a shirt that proclaims your faith. - Don’t be ashamed to represent! Put “Jesus is Coming Soon” or “Keep the 7th-Day Sabbath” on your car and let the world know where you stand. - Invite others to experience the ultimate play-by-play at your church and then continue the fellowship over Sabbath lunch. - Post about your Undefeated Coach - the One who has never lost a battle - on social media. - Instead of debating bad calls from the refs, share the blessing of life that God gave you t...

  1. Being a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is EASIER today than ever. Here’s why: - The Sabbath is now widely recognized as part of the weekend, allowing most Adventists to observe it without work-related conflicts. - Freedom of religion is legally protected and generally respected, enabling Adventists to worship and practice their faith openly. - Adventist media is available 24/7 across multiple platforms, making spiritual resources more accessible and shareable than ever. - “Blue Zones” and “New Start” concepts related to lifestyle favoring health and longevity are widely recognized as one of the trademarks of Adventism - The Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy books can be found everywhere - at Adventist Book Centers, on Amazon, or even for free online. 2. Being a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is more CHALLENGING today than ever. Here’s why: - Biblical illiteracy and secularism - fewer people reading the Scripture, or capable of underst...

I met Mr. Ken while helping an elderly couple move their belongings into a storage unit. It was a warm day, yet he wore a jacket. On the back and one of the sleeves, it had the label “The North Pole.” He looked at me and said, “You need a jacket, it may get cold later on.” I put mine on. He walked closer, glanced at the small label sewn into my jacket, and said, “Kirkland? Never heard of it.” While waiting in the office of Dr. Uta, my dentist, I found myself entertained by a man with a strong desire to talk. After discussing the weather and the tortures of root canals, he said, “I was born in Colorado but grew up in Brooklyn, NY. That’s why I still have this accent. You have an accent too, I can tell. What’s your story?” I replied, “I was born in Romania.” “Really?” he said. “Never heard of it.” While waiting in the restaurant’s hall to be seated, a friendly older man introduced himself. “I’m the senior pastor of First so-and-so Church,” he said. “I overheard you saying that you’re a ...

  I once served in a church where the leadership believed that faithfulness to God meant preserving a 1950s version of Adventism. They dressed, spoke, and sang as if it were still the 1950s. They looked back with nostalgia, thinking, “Look how great we were. If only we could return to that golden age of greatness.” This mindset stands in direct contrast to the warning in Ecclesiastes 7:10, which cautions against longing for the past. Sadly, this mentality made them judgmental, controlling, and at times, unsafe to be around. This illustrates the danger of turning the past into an idol rather than using it as a springboard for the future. Our church’s legacy should be a foundation upon which we build, not something we worship. So, rather than clinging to the culture of past Adventism, perhaps we should emulate the faith and self-sacrifice of our pioneers—so that the Gospel can reach more people today. True faith isn’t rooted in nostalgia. It’s about actively leaning into what c...