It may seem trite to bump these reminders. Some still dismiss fast fulfilling prophecy. Today's message is from Canada's new Treasury Board President, Stockwell Day. Referring here to union pensions in particular.

The Treasury Board holds the money bag, the Canadians' treasure. If you need a new road or hockey rink, here's the source. They also watch federal pensions and government investments. No jaw droppers here, just a foreshadow.

Public sector pensions:
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/02/17/stockwell-day-public-pensions.html

Without question, wage cuts and layoffs have humbled the unions. Pensions are all that remain.
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"The work of the people of God is to prepare for the events of the future, which will soon come upon them with blinding force. In the world gigantic monopolies will be formed. Men will bind themselves together in unions that will wrap them in the folds of the enemy. A few men will combine to grasp all the means to be obtained in certain lines of business. Trades unions will be formed, and those who refuse to join these unions will be marked men.--Letter 26, 1903. {2SM 142.2}


"These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions, they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God; for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue." {2SM 143.3}


"The trades unions and confederacies of the world are a snare. Keep out of them, and away from them, brethren. Have nothing to do with them. Because of these unions and confederacies, it will soon be very difficult for our institutions to carry on their work in the cities. My warning is: Keep out of the cities. Build no sanitariums in the cities. Educate our people to get out of the cities into the country, where they can obtain a small piece of land, and make a home for themselves and their children...." {2SM 142.3}


"The trades unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began."--Letter 200, 1903. {2SM 142.1}


"Satanic agencies are becoming more determined in their rebellion against God. The trade unions will be the cause of the most terrible violence that has ever been seen among human beings." Letter 90, 1904.
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Considering what the emphasis was on in this year's Religious Liberty message material, this is a timely and interesting post.

Daryl, please elaborate - How is the post related to this year's RL material?

Do you have a link or file?

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The overwhelming temptations of a pension fund.

Let's say you were given a very large pot of money for safekeeping - over 100 Billion Dollars.

Though some money is withdrawn (for pensions), replenishment continues apace (from worker's paycheques). It seems like the pot will never shrink, and since no one is carefully watching, and you'll soon switch jobs, can it really hurt to loan some to your friends, maybe 'borrow' some yourself?
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There is an Ellen White quote that was brought up by a professor speaking at Campmeeting years ago where I wish I had the source, maybe someone can find it, but the quote was talking about labor unions and while they appear to be a good thing that they will end up joining with the evils that they are designed to fight.

Sadly we have taken the warnings about Labor Unions and want to distance ourselves from them by joining with and supporting the evils that they were designed to fight.

As I understand Mrs. White the issue is not as much anti-labor union, as a warning that the labor unions were not going to be faithful and will end up forming an aliance with the evels they were designed to fight and if we get too involved with them we will find ourselves drawn into this aliance.

True indeed these unions have become international corporations in them selves. Ever notice how these huge international unions don't have huge international strikes, but only a small one here and there for apperence sake while the unions themselves have made agrements with the monopolies for years in the future.

While the Labor Unions started out fighting evil, they are developing into being a tool of this evil.

But sadly, once again the typical Adventist seems to look at these warnings about the union, become anti union and wanting to avoid the union we join with the evils that the unions were designed to fight.

We need to get our country places, build up independence, windmills, solar panels growing our own food so that we can maintain our freedom and not be forced to join with the economic forces of the last days were we can't buy or sell without the mark of the beast.

"Come out of her, my people" - Revelation 18:4.

If we build monasteries for ourselves out in the wilderness, who will be Gods hands and feet among the nations? Will we surrender that very central part of our discipleship to Christ to the other churches?

Today, what evils are we joining with that labor unions were designed to fight?

Two points come to mind:

1) In the same breath that EGW says to stay away from unions she also says stay out of the cities. How many of us have done that? Where is the discussion on that point?

2) Vastergotland was right in his observation that EGW's times are not our times, and times change. Today we have conscientious Adventists sueing the SDA church in order to be allowed to NOT WORK on Sabbath, at an SDA institution. Human rights inside the church fall well short of those outside the church. Unions protect rights.