This Page Designed by

Danielle T

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What I Like About HVCA

I like this school mostly because since it is so small and everyone knows each other, there is never an unfamiliar face. I also love learning more about God everyday.

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My Favorite Subjects

Literature
P.E

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My Focus Questions

How would the Seventh-day Adventist church be helped or hindered if there were no organized churches? Explain.

The Seventh-day Adventist church would be hindered and helped in different ways. No one would really know what to expect and maybe even know when to be there. It might even take away the focus from God and on the chaos of the church. However, if we didn't know what to expect it might capture our interests. Without all of the organization, people might want to come more often and want to listen to Gods words. I also think that would take away the same routine and make people wonder what and how they will learn when they attend the church.

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What would you say are the greatest changes needed in our worship services? Explain.

I believe that our worship service should be appealing to all of the people in the church. At many times I find myself wandering off in my mind during a worship services. The adults also at times forget that they are in church and begin to think about their daily lives. We should be able to stand up and sing more often and worship our Lord in a way that will focus our attention. In order for us to be fully present in church we must find a way to make worship services more inspiring and interesting without changing the word of God.

Is there anything wrong with attending church on Sunday? Explain.

Attending church on Sunday is not wrong in my opinion. However, you must also attend church on Sabbath. The Bible makes it clear that we must worship God on Saturday and save that day especially for him. But, if you would like to worship and learn about him on any other day, then we may do so. As long as we have given God all of our attention and devotion on Sabbath than we may worship him any time we would like.

What could you do to make personal Bible study a definite part of your daily life? Explain.

In order for Bible study to be a definite part of my daily life, I could find a way to want to do it. By making it interesting, I would not have to drag myself to do it. I could also make a schedule, leaving time to study the Bible. Instead, of watching television or going on the computer, I could take some time to study the Bible little by little everyday. I think that there is always time for the Bible and to learn about God. We should not have to make time for God, but we should make time for everything else.

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Why can’t we decide for ourselves what is right or wrong rather than relying upon an ancient document we call the Bible?

What is wrong and what is right is something that has been invented by God like all other things. Every human is born with sin and in order to find out what is truly right and what is wrong we must rely on the Bible. When we were born, we did not know that lying or hurting others was wrong. The only way we know that it is wrong today is by seeing the world around us and watching those things being done by humans and them being punished for it. Those people are punished because those who have read the Bible have passed that fact on to the younger generations, thus making it human nature. Although, some might think that it is human nature, that concept originated from the Bible passed from God.

What would you say to someone who believed that some parts of the Bible were more inspired than others? .

I would say that all parts of the Bible were equally inspired by God and they should all be followed. However, their might be different Bibles that were not completely inspired by God. Some might have been altered in order for them to make sense of their own religion. For example, many religions have changed the Bible by eliminating and changing the Ten Commandments. This is sometimes done by those who refuse to accept the concepts of the Bible that are at times difficult to live by.

How would you respond to this statement: The church is a higher authority than the Bible because it existed first, and it put the Bible together? .

I would say that is a completely false statement. The Bible is a higher authority than the church because the church only exists to help others understand its concepts. When a pastor preaches, it is all about what the Bible says except it is worded differently. The Bible was put together by many different people who were inspired by God to let the laws of God be followed. The church is just a place for all believers of God to meet and learn about what God wants from us.

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Is rivalry and competition for a position or office always wrong? Is it only out of place within the church?

No, I do not believe that competition for a position or office is always wrong. I think that competition is a way of life and for those who have lost the competition can always have another chance at something else. Throughout life you win some and you lose some and when you do win, the chances are that you deserved to win. However, in church, competition should never exist. I think that church is a place to learn about and worship God and there should not be any way to win or lose in anything because, if you worship God everyone in the church would be a winner.

What should be the main objective of church architecture – practical needs or aesthetic value?

The main objective of church should be to worship God. The church should be used to learn and teach more about God and to become good Christians. The aesthetic value of the church should never matter because, it is not important in learning about God. Although, the appearance of the church can be taken care of and made attractive, it is not what we should focus on while attending church. As long as we are there solely to worship and learn more about God, the aesthetic value of church should not be important.

Should a church sanctuary ever be used for gatherings other than a worship service?

I believe that a church sanctuary should only be used for worship service. A church sanctuary is a sacred place that should be exclusively for issues regarding God. It was originally made for that cause and using it for any other reason would not be appropriate. The one holy day that we dedicate only for God should be taken seriously and not as a way to meet in order to discuss other subjects. That is why there are six other days in the week that may be used to handle any situation.

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How much should the Seventh-day Adventist Church become involved in supporting or condemning a war in which our nation if involved?

I think that the Seventh-day Adventist Church should be involved in deciding whether to support or condemn a war that our nation is involved in. The Seventh-day Adventist Church consists of a large portion of the world’s population today. Therefore, we should be able to have a say in whether we believe that war is necessary to solve problems between nations. I believe that war goes against the Seventh-day Adventist religion in many aspects. In conclusion, whether our nation goes through a war which endangers the lives of many of Gods children should be approved by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In what way does feudalism illustrate our relationship with Jesus Christ?

Feudalism illustrates that the overall human race does not think of Jesus as a powerful leader and savior that leads to make the right decisions. Feudalism consisted, in medieval times, of kings, lords, knights, serfs, merchants, and peasants. Today, it would consist of the government and the pope. However, the most powerful position was not held by Jesus Christ in the eyes of the majority of people. Instead, that position was held by a human that was only alive due to Jesus’ sacrifice. Overall, I think that feudalism shows how little faith and loyalty the world has for Jesus Christ.

Why does it seem harder to follow God when life is easy?

Yes, when your life is easy it is always harder to follow God. When your life is difficult, you look to God for help and comfort. However, when your life is going well, dedicating your time to God doesn’t seem too convenient. Many think that if your life is already easy, then why do you need God? But when things aren’t going so smooth, God is their last resort to a simple and easy life.

Do we ever commit the same sin so many times that God finally refuses to forgive us?

No, we do not commit the same sin so many times that God decides not to forgive us. God will always forgive us for our sins no matter how large they are. However, we will always suffer the consequences even if he has forgiven us. It is our job as Christians to learn from those mistakes and not make them again. But, if there is a time when we do, we must regret it and ask for forgiveness and we will be forgiven.

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After committing the same sin several times, is it easier or harder to ask for forgiveness again?

It is harder to ask for forgiveness after committing the same sin several times because after the first time you have no excuses. Sometimes, a person might not know that they have committed a sin until after they have committed it. But, after the second or third time that person knows very well what they have done. By asking for forgiveness once again, it makes them you feel like you have lied to God and you really weren’t guilty about your mistake. It also seems like God as well as yourself no longer believe that you will not commit the same mistake again.

Which should you be: more friendly with “sinners” so you can witness or less friendly so you won’t be tempted by them?

I believe that many people today are often tempted by being surrounded by sinners but, others withstand the temptations and refuse to sin. As a Christian, I think that I would be more useful by becoming friendlier with sinners so that I can perhaps convince them not to sin and become better human beings. Although, it might be easier to stay away from the sinners and live a simple uncomplicated life, by becoming friendlier to sinners, I would be helping God and others. I also think that as a Christian I can fight the temptations of sinning by looking to God for help. I believe that if sinning can rub off on others than others might be tempted to be better people.

Often medieval churches turned people away from God. Are churches today guilty of doing the same today?

Many churches today do turn people away from God. They keep the people busy and focused on other things that we can not be close to God. They twist the truth and interpret the Bible in the way that they find is fitting and many end up believing them. In the medieval times, people often could not read the bible leaving the church as the only source of information about God that they had to believe in. Today, however, many people don’t have the time or patience to read the bible. Therefore, we end up believing what the church says without questioning them or believing otherwise.

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Does God require Christians to pay tithe even when they are as poor as the peasants were during the Renaissance?

No, God does not require Christians to pay tithe even when they are poor. Christians are asked to give what they can for the church. If we do not have anything to give, we will not be penalized in any way. However, if we do have enough to give and we are simply being greedy, we will not have God fully in our lives. As long as we are willing to give any amount if we had it, God will be satisfied.

How does one take up the Cross and follow Jesus in everyday life?

As Christians we must do many things in order to follow Jesus in everyday life. Apart from being good people, we must have faith in Jesus. We must want to worship him and believe in him. We must also influence others to take up the Cross and follow Jesus. All of us, in order to follow Jesus, must live primarily for and to love Jesus.

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Some say that humanism is the religion of America today? Do you agree or disagree?

I highly agree that humanism is the religion of America today. Many people in America refuse to believe that of which they cannot see. They find it much simpler to read and do research to find out how we came to exist on this earth. They want to believe that us humans are the supreme power and that we can live and exist on our own. This can be considered a religion today because most people want the simpler explanation and God is not it.

Doing good to merit salvation was a big thing during the Middle Ages. Are we guilty of the same thing – doing good to merit salvation?

Yes, I think that we do good to earn salvation. Most believe that if we do what we are supposed to and do not commit to many sins, we have salvation. However, in order for us to earn salvation we must have faith in God. We must trust in God and always look for a way to serve him. In order, to have salvation we have to believe in him and what he can do for us and what he did for us. But, if we simply stand here and stay out of trouble, we will never know and have faith in God.

Identify what you think are the wrong methods of raising money by some churches today?

In the past churches used many different types of wrong methods of raising money. Those methods included selling indulgences and sacraments. Today many churches still use wrong methods of raising money. Some churches ask and accept money saying that it is for the church when in reality; much of it goes towards them. Although, many of today’s reasons are not as serious as those of the medieval times, it is still wrong making God’s home a source of income.

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Is it wrong to spend large amounts of money to build beautiful churches?

I do not think that it is wrong to spend large amounts of money to build churches. There is nothing wrong with wanting your church to be presentable, but if it is all that you are focusing on, it is wrong. The most important thing about a church is honoring and worshiping God. If all the attention is on the appearance of the church, then no one is worshipping God. I also believe that the appearance of a church should not be a contest.

What reforms do you think God wants within our church today? Give examples and explain.

I believe that there are many reforms necessary in our church today. God would want people to attend church to worship learn more about him. Today, many people are more focused on what they will wear or what others are wearing. They also focus on how well the pastor has preached and how long it took. However, God would want us to forget about everything that wasn’t about learning how to become loyal and altogether good Christians.

If you had a choice between serving [your job] as a priest or a prophet, which one would you choose? Why?

If I had a choice to either serve as a priest or as a prophet, I would choose to be a prophet. I would choose to be a prophet because I would like to spread the word of God to others around the world. I think that I would be most useful to God as a prophet because I would be serving him by convincing others to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Like the prophets before me, I would want to make a difference in the way the world viewed our Savior. By becoming a prophet I would be able to help many people on Earth to find the truth and salvation.

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What kinds of freedoms are most important to you? Why?

• The freedom of speech.
• The freedom of religion.
• The freedom to petition.
  

These freedoms are the most important freedoms to me. They are important because I believe that everyone should be able to state their opinions and express their feelings through words. I also strongly believe that everyone is entitled to their own religious belief. We should all be allowed to say and think whatever we want without being persecuted or penalized for it. The freedom to petition is also very important because it allows people to go against certain actions that they find unjust or wrong and express their feelings on the subject. All of these freedoms are very important in our lives and in the decisions that we make because without them we would not be able to worship, praise, and follow the rules of our God.

If a law was passed prohibiting reading the Bible, how would such a decree [law] affect your daily life?

My life would be affected in many ways if I was prohibited from reading the Bible. I would be affected because the Bible is a guide to our lives. It allows us to check and understand what is wrong and what is right and what we should do when we are faced with difficulties. If I committed a sin in my life that I did not understand the reason for it being a sin, I would not be able to look to the Bible for help. Therefore, I could be sinning everyday and not understand that it was wrong causing me to continue sinning without any knowledge of what I was really doing.

In an everyday, practical way, what does it mean to you that the Bible is the ultimate standard?

The Bible has many rules and warnings that tell us what we should and shouldn’t do. Although, it is sometimes difficult to abide by the rules of the Bible, I understand that it is for my own well being. At times I am not fully content with the Bible’s rules that prohibited me from doing what I would like to do. I also do not always agree with the Bible and refuse to follow its rules. But, all in all, the fact that the Bible is the ultimate standard does not affect my life in a very negative way, than it affects it in a positive way.

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Is it a good thing to allow your religion to affect everything else in your life? Why or why not?

I think that it is a good idea to allow your religion to affect everything in your life. If you are dedicated and truly believe in your religion, it should always be natural to affect everything else. You should always stick to what you believe in whenever you act and are going to do something. As a Christian I must always let Jesus Christ affect and be a part of my life because everything that I do should be for him. Your religion shows you the way that you should live and what you believe in, so you should always abide by the rules of your religion in everything that you do.

Do you think Christians should participate in revolutionary wars against oppression? Why or why not? Explain what role would consider doing.

Yes, I do think that Christians should participate in revolutionary wars against oppression. However, I do not believe that they should use violence to go against oppression. I believe that as Christians we should attempt to end oppression not by using physical violence but, by speaking to God and asking him to help those who cause oppression to overcome it and become better people. We should also avoid becoming people who support oppression in any way. We must always become and continue to be better people ourselves before we can expect others to do the same.

If someone came to you and said he/she had been baptized as an infant and he/she wondered if he should be baptized again, what would you say?

If someone asked me if they should be baptized after they already have been baptized as an infant I would say that they should. This is because an infant you do not know what you believe in yet. Therefore, you do not understand the meaning for getting baptized. However, if you get baptized when you are able to understand what it means, than you are showing your dedication to God. Once you do get baptized you are able to understand what you must do as a baptized person, unlike an infant would.

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What differences are there between a Protestant youth attending a Jesuit school and a Seventh-day Adventist attending a public school? List and explain the differences.

There are differences between a Protestant youth attending a Jesuit school and a Seventh-day Adventist attending a public school. When a Protestant youth attended a Jesuit school, the school attempted to counteract the teachings of Protestantism. They attempted to change the children’s beliefs and make them believe what they taught. However, when a Seventh-day Adventist attends a public school, the student only learns facts about the world and how to use certain tools in life. At a public school the teachers do not talk about religion or try to change the students’ current beliefs. Although, they do not learn anything about their current religion, they are not dissuaded from believing in it either.

If there were a decree that banned the owning or reading of the Bible in your language, what would you do?

If there were a decree that banned the owning or reading of the Bible in my language I would very concerned. If I could not read the Bible and look to it for guidance I would not always understand God and life. It would also separate me and perhaps make me forget of Gods importance. Therefore, I would learn other languages that no one knew that I could understand. I would then be able to understand what God had wanted for me allowing me to become and remain a better person.

What would it take to start a reformation in your church? What would you be willing to do to help the reformation in your church?

Like many others, my church has faults that can be changed. In my church, the younger members do not usually listen to the word of God that is being sent out. Many of them attend church by force rather than by their own will. They have their minds and their hearts set on other things. However, many attempt to learn about God but, find it difficult to understand and relate to it. In order to start a reformation to occur it would take someone who was willing to change the church for the better.

In order for me to help reform the church, I would be willing to help those who want and need to understand the word of God. I could organize a meeting that could go over what had been preached in the sermon. This could help them focus more on the word of God and understand it better. I would also be willing to encourage those people to listen instead of preoccupying themselves with other thoughts or problems. This would help them be more active and interested members of God’s church and allow them to pass that interest to their children.

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What is it that you admire most about the Puritans? What do you most dislike?

There were many things that I disliked about how the Puritans acted towards life and their religion. What I most disliked about the puritans is that they believed that people should be severely chastised for failing to attend church services, taking God’s name in vain or showing disrespect for the Bible. Although, doing those things may be wrong I do not believe that it is a job for anyone one on earth to punish anyone for but, it is a job for God to decide what to do. I also disliked that they were not willing to extend the freedoms that they sought for themselves to others. Another reason I disliked them was because their attempts to control the spiritual lives of other people were evil.

There were also many things that I admired about the Puritans. I admired the fact that they very committed to Jesus Christ. They lived clean and pure lives and were very hard working. I also admired that they were always dedicated to their religion and their beliefs. Although, they acted in an incorrect manner at times, they made it possible for Christianity to have its current beliefs and structure.

What value is there in having so many modern translations of the Bible in English?

Having so many modern translations of the Bible in English is very helpful to the Christian religion. Many Christians today are Americans and many of them can only read in one language. If they could not read the Bible, they would probably not be Christians. By being able to understand what the Bible states, they can understand how to live and act towards God and others. Without it, the Christian religion would have much less followers and many more sins in the world.

If you expected Jesus to come next week, how might your attitude change toward such things as:

School -- If I expected Jesus to come next week, my attitude towards school would definitely change. I would not dislike going to school because I would not have to be as stressed out. I would attend school like I normally do but, I would not be as afraid to get a poor grade. I would just focus on learning something new and relax during class. Instead, of waiting for the day and the school year to end, I would be looking forward to Jesus’ arrival.

Entertainment -- My attitude would also change towards entertainment. I would not watch movies that I know are not focused on God. I would no longer watch violence, death, or movies about the supernatural. I also would stop listening to music with any type of profanity in them. I would start to listen to songs about Jesus and what he has done for us more often and try to learn more about him. The Bible would then become my biggest source of entertainment.

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Friendships -- If I knew that Jesus was going to come next week, I would also change my attitude towards my friendships. I would not judge my friends or have insignificant fights with any of them. I would appreciate them more and use the time that I had to talk more about Jesus and his arrival with those who did not have faith in him. I would also try to befriend those whom I judged in the passed and disliked. I would attempt to try to get as many of my friends who did not believe in Jesus to believe and love him while they still had time.

Disagreements with family members -- Lastly, my attitude towards disagreements with my family would no longer exist. I would not attempt to fight with my family if I believed that they were wrong. I would simply explain to them what I thought calmly and that would be the end of the disagreement. We would try to find as much time of peace and with no fighting as we could. I would not become angry if my siblings or parents disagreed with me but, I would just forget about it because I would know that none of it would matter when Jesus would come. I would also not do anything that might turn our minds away from Jesus and that would cause us to sin.

How can a person learn to remain humble in spite of his or her success?

A person must always be humble whether they do or do not have success. We can always be proud of our success but, we must never get carried away. In order to remain humble we should not overstate our success. Attempting to show others your success in order for them to feel inferior to you would not be remaining humble. You must use your success as determination to continue achieving success.

Why does God sometimes choose leaders who end up forsaking Him? Is it possible for them to lead others astray?

God sometimes chooses leaders who end up forsaking Him because they get jealous of his power. Those who are leaders of other things look at him as competition. They see all of his power over everything including them and they want to be more powerful. But, like God has, they must gather followers to make their power stronger. They lie and deceive in order to get others on their side and end up leading others away from God.

What are some deceptive methods Satan uses to introduce spiritualism into our culture?

There are many methods that Satan uses to introduce spiritualism into our culture. Some ways are by using psychics, palm readers, and fortune tellers. These methods deceive people by using tricks into believing things that are not in the Bible and that contradict God’s words. Satan uses these methods to steer people away from God by making them believe in something that was not made by God and that doesn’t exist. Once people begin to rely and believe in spiritualism, they feel like they do not need God.

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Why do spiritualism and the occult seem attractive to some people?

Spiritualism and the occult often seems to attract to some people. This is because at many times people want to understand things by seeing. Once they see, they begin to understand things more clearly. However, they are then seeing things incorrectly. They begin to see the things that they want to see and that Satan puts in their heads.

How can a person learn to remain humble in spite of his or her success?

A person must always be humble whether they do or do not have success. We can always be proud of our success but, we must never get carried away. In order to remain humble we should not overstate our success. Attempting to show others your success in order for them to feel inferior to you would not be remaining humble. You must use your success as determination to continue achieving success.

Why does God sometimes choose leaders who end up forsaking Him? Is it possible for them to lead others astray?

God sometimes chooses leaders who end up forsaking Him because they get jealous of his power. Those who are leaders of other things look at him as competition. They see all of his power over everything including them and they want to be more powerful. But, like God has, they must gather followers to make their power stronger. They lie and deceive in order to get others on their side and end up leading others away from God.

What are some deceptive methods Satan uses to introduce spiritualism into our culture?

There are many methods that Satan uses to introduce spiritualism into our culture. Some ways are by using psychics, palm readers, and fortune tellers. These methods deceive people by using tricks into believing things that are not in the Bible and that contradict God’s words. Satan uses these methods to steer people away from God by making them believe in something that was not made by God and that doesn’t exist. Once people begin to rely and believe in spiritualism, they feel like they do not need God.

Why do spiritualism and the occult seem attractive to some people?

Spiritualism and the occult often seem attractive to some people. This is because at many times people want to understand things by seeing. Once they see, they begin to understand things more clearly. However, they are then seeing things incorrectly. They begin to see the things that they want to see and that Satan puts in their heads.