Joseph Herrin (07-16-2013)
Some may wonder why I have not posted any new videos after announcing that I was to begin creating videos some months back. I had some setbacks. I had purchased Pinnacle Studio 16 Ultimate, a software program, to perform video editing. I had also purchased a training DVD on how to use this software, and had spent numerous hours becoming familiar with the way the software functions.
A few weeks after I posted the announcement that I would begin creating videos I received an automated notice that an update was available for the software program. The update was free, and promised faster video rendering times, which was very attractive to me as I do not have a particularly fast graphics card on the laptop computer I use.
After I installed the update, the software immediately encountered programs. Certain key functions in the program would no longer work, resulting in the software becoming useless. After spending a couple days researching the problem, I found that many others were having similar difficulties, and tech support was non-existent for this software. The software company had recently been sold, and was now with its third owner, Corel. Evidently, the frequent change of ownership had led to numerous problems with software stability. I realized that I was not going to be able to get the program to work, and would have to find another solution.
I was disappointed, for learning a new program, and performing video editing, are time consuming ventures. I was not looking forward to investing the time to learn another program. After some weeks, however, I began looking for alternative programs. After further research I settled on Adobe Premiere Elements (Version 11). This program had one thing in particular going for it. It had never changed hands. It was created by Adobe, and has been an Adobe product, its entire lifespan. It was well rated and reasonably priced. After purchasing it I found out that it is the best selling video editing software. Having used it now for the past couple days, I can see why. It is much simpler to use than the program I had purchased originally. I am able to accomplish tasks quicker, and the program interface strikes me as more intuitive.
I had put video production on the back burner for some months until a few days ago I came across a viral video that has had more than a million views on YouTube. It is titled A Girl’s Message to All Christians. It is a little more than 4 minutes long, so I invite you to watch it if you have not yet done so.
I can see why this video has been so popular. First, there is a an attractive young woman who is the sole actor in the video. Second, her message of non-judgmental love appeals to a great many people, both Christians and non-Christians. For those who are interested in the background of the young woman identified as iEmanuella, her other videos reveal she is a Lebanese American Christian. She is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist faith, and she is giving away books by Ellen G. White, who was/is considered a prophetess by the SDA church.
It would be unfair to form a judgment about an individual’s life or teachings based upon one four minute video. So let me just state that this video, if taken by itself, concerns me, for I see a general trend in Christianity to abandon truth that offends others, due to an errant understanding of the nature of love. Many have come to conclude that to offend others is a serious breech of love. If this is so, then Christ was one of the most unloving people who have ever walked the earth.
Matthew 15:12
Then the disciples came and said to [Yahshua], “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?”
John 6:61, 66
When Yahshua knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?”… From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Truth offends. Yahshua declared:
John 3:19-20
“And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
When Christians speak about sin and the judgment of a holy God, it offends sinful men and women. As a result, we are seeing a staggering number of churches abandon all focus on sin and judgment. The holiness and justice of Yahweh are ignored. The message has become, “Let us just love and accept everyone as they are.”
The error of this is that although Christ accepted men and women wherever they were, without regard to the sin they were involved in, He did not leave them in this condition. His words to the woman caught in adultery were, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
As I contemplated this viral video, and the effect it would have upon many Christians, the thought came to make a video that was similar in appearance (as much as a 52 year old bearded man can bear any similarity to an attractive young woman), but which presented a different message. Creating the video provided me the opportunity to get back on track with video production. I was led to take the leap and begin learning the new software that I had acquired.
Following is the video I posted today.
I don’t imagine it will go viral, but I do hope some will be infected with the truth it declares.
For those who watched both of these videos, understand that I am not an adversary of the person posting as iEmanuella. I would point people to a follow-up video she posted where she does bring some balance to her message. The speaker evidently had a large number of virulent comments posted to her video, many of them which were very carnal, and hate filled. This itself is tragic, but is all too common an occurrence on the Internet. This is one reason that I do not have comments enabled on my videos.
If you do want to send me a comment, or if you have a question, you will find my e-mail address listed at the top of this blog.
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
thanks so much for your video!!!
I did laugh out loud at the end…………..
Well made video Joseph! Great ending!! Haha
I understand her first video. It's vague enough that anyone can apply their own life stories to it and reflect on the state of their own relationship with Jesus. It reminds me of those free sample cookies that they have at the mall. They give out the free samples in hopes that you'll buy a cookie. Of course, everyone enjoys the free samples, but not everyone wants a whole cookie, maybe because it costs too much, they weren't planning on buying a cookie, or they feel that they shouldn't have a cookie due to dietary restrictions.
Your video is a good response, but a bigger bite.
Who will tell the hard truth about the SDA? The SDA/occult connection is obvious.
Hello Travis,
I appreciate your concern that people know the truth about the SDA church and Ellen White. There are a great many resources available online on this subject. I have looked into this topic myself in the past, though I have not posted anything on the topic.
I may possibly do so in the future, but I believe it must be done in such a way that evidence is presented in a patient and comprehensive manner that is conducive to imparting understanding. It would be ineffective, perhaps even counter-productive, to simply post comments at the end of this post that criticize the SDA church as anti-christ, or Ellen G. White as a false prophet. People need to have a subject explained to them in a responsible manner, with evidence presented so they can test a matter themselves.
This is why I did not post your earlier comment. I appreciate your understanding in this.
Hello Travis,
As a postscript, I will suggest that if anyone wants to begin to study out this subject themselves, they will find many resources online if they Google the words, "Ellen G. White False Prophet." This search will give them an abundance of information that they can examine and consider.
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
The is a masonic obelisk standing on White's grave. When Jesus did not return in 1844 even Miller repented and abandoned the movement, but not White.
They are connected to the Mormons, Jehova's false Witnesses and others.
And the graven images that they use to represent themselves also tell the tale.
Like you said, the truth isor rather can be offensive. It is not always.
Hello Bro Joseph,
IEmanuella repeats the familiar and oft repeated refrain that God hates sin but loves the sinner. I cannot recall a scripture that says that. In contrast, God surely hated Esau. I cannot recall any situation where Jesus or the Apostles preach the love of God as a pretext for the gospel message. Yet the church often preaches about the unconditional love of God – but is that really true? Jesus did not condemn the woman at the well but it does not say that he loved her either and he simply instructed her to sin no more. It seems to me that God calls sinners to a lifestyle of repentance and obedience and as we do that, we then experience God's love for us. His love is reserved for those who love him (which makes that conditional). "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 Jn 4:16 Am I on the right track here?
To Ironsights:
I have often found that there is a balance to be obtained in doctrinal issues. I believe this is true when one discusses God's love and God's wrath. I could cite a treasure trove of verses on either side of the subject. There must be a point at which they are harmonized.
I have often found balance by pairing the following two verses together:
Romans 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
II Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
It is the kindness of God that leads men to repentance, yet it is in the fear of God that holiness is perfected. Paul merged these two aspects of Yahweh together in the following sentence:
Romans 11:22
Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
I would not diminish the kindness and love of God one iota. His mercies are truly new every morning. Yet, neither would I lessen His wrath and holiness.
When we arrive at the mind of Christ we find that these varied attributes of Yahweh are not contradictory, they are complementary.
I find much agreement with the things you are sharing. To put it in Paul's words, "we will know God's kindness if we continue in His kindness." If we play the fool and willfully sin against His holiness, is He not just to judge us?
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Thank you Joseph for your discerning & thoughtful reply. I agree that a balanced view is required. After my first comment, I did more searching of Scripture and found Mark 10:21 where it states that Jesus loved the rich young man even though at the time, the man could not yet bear to give up his riches to follow Christ.
Blessings brother!
Hello Joseph and all,
Grace and peace.
RIGHTEOUSNESS is the heart of the gospel.
LOVE is the manifestation of the fellowship of Father, Son and Holy ghost.
Reading the apostle paul's introduction to his exposition of the gospel of christ to the romans (3:21-26, KJV), RIGHTEOUSNESS is mentioned 4 times, whereas LOVE is not mentioned!
RIGHTEOUSNESS is the heart of the gospel.
LOVE is the manifestation of the fellowship of Father, Son and Holy ghost.
Every blessing,
Nicholas, england
On the common question of whether God still loves unbelievers or not, even when they refuse to repent, is that God hates and loves them at the same time. This might be hard to understand at first but when one looks at what love really is as between friends or a parent and child, then one can see that it is possible to hate the other for what they have done, but still love them and give them chances.
But this does not make it OK for offences to be carried on by the offender and made without remorse, and a punishment will result. This may take the form of a breaking down of relationships or some other personal loss to the offender. There will be a deadline to repent.
"You hate all workers of iniquity" Psalm 5:5
"For the leaders of this people cause them to err,
And those who are led by them are destroyed.
Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,
Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;
For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,
And every mouth speaks folly.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still."
Isaiah 9:16-18