AW English - April 2009.pdf

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!DVENTISTS AND -USLIMS IN #ONVERSATION

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0UBLISHED BY THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS AND PRINTED AT ,ANE 0RESS "URLINGTON 6ERMONT FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION BY THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN !FRICA

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,IMITED +NOWLEDGE

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OVEN INTO 0AUL S GREAT HYMN TO LOVE IN #ORINTHIANS IS A STRAND OF TRUTH WE OFTEN HURRY BY IN OUR EAGERNESS TO ENJOY THE APOSTLE S PROMISE THAT WE SHALL SOON SEE THE ,ORD hFACE TO FACE v &OUR TIMES IN FOUR VERSES 0AUL ASSERTS THAT WHAT WE NOW KNOW IS ONLY hIN PARTvˆLIMITED

INCOMPLETE NOT FULLY COMPREHENDING THE GREAT REALITY OF EITHER 'OD S PLAN OR (IS LOVE 4HIS ISN T MERELY A HUMBLE AFlRMATION OF OUR CREATURELINESS .O SANE #HRISTIAN REALLY DOUBTS THAT THE MORTAL CAN SCARCELY GRASP THE NOTION OF IMMORTALITY

NOR THE lNITE UNDERSTAND THE INlNITE 0AUL S REMINDERS OF THE INCOMPLETENESS AND THE PARTIALNESS OF WHAT WE KNOWˆABOUT THE WORLD ABOUT THE CHURCH EVEN ABOUT ONE ANOTHERˆUNDERSCORE HOW CRUCIAL THE HABIT OF hCHARITY v OR hLOVE v IS FOR THE CHURCH IN THESE hIN BETWEEN TIMES v "ECAUSE ) DON T KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A PERSECUTED BELIEVER IN A TOTALITARIAN STATE ) MUST ASK THE 3PIRIT FOR A LOVE THAT DRIVES ME TO MY KNEES TO INTERCEDE FOR THOSE WHOSE BURDENS ARE TRULY GREAT AND TERRIBLE

"ECAUSE ) DON T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WONDER AS THOUSANDS OF BELIEVERS DO EACH DAY FROM WHERE MY NEXT MEAL WILL COME OR IF ) WILL lND SHELTER BEFORE NIGHT ) MUST PRAY FOR A WILLINGNESS TO HELP FELLOW !DVENTISTS DISPLACED BY WAR

BY FAMINE

BY NATURAL DISASTERS "ECAUSE ) DON T KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A WOMAN IN A MALE DOMINATED CULTURE FREQUENTLY DENIED A VOICE IN THE LIFE OF BOTH HOME AND CHURCH ) MUST PRAY THAT MY CHURCH WILL LISTEN WELL WHEN GODLY WOMEN PLEAD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE GIFTS GIVEN THEM BY THE 3PIRIT FOR THE SPREADING OF THE GOSPEL "ECAUSE ) DON T KNOW THE BIGOTRY AND PREJUDICE STILL WOUNDING THOUSANDS OF MY FELLOW BELIEVERS WHO SOMETIMES FEEL EXCLUDED BY THEIR RACE ETHNICITY OR LANGUAGE ) MUST PRAY FOR A HEART TO INCLUDE AND EMPOWER ALL WHO WAIT FOR #HRIST S APPEARING 4HERE IS SO MUCH WE DO NOT KNOWˆAND CANNOT KNOWˆUNTIL WHAT IS PERFECT COMES 4HE GOSPEL S ANSWER FOR OUR IGNORANCE IS A LOVE THAT HUMBLES US BEFORE ONE ANOTHER AND A WATCHING WORLD

ˆ "ILL +NOTT

7/2,$ 2%0/24 )N #UBA &IRST 'ENERATION OF !DVENTIST 0ASTORS TO %ARN -ASTER S $EGREES N 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN #UBA CELEBRATED YET ANOTHER MILESTONE WITH THE GRADUATION OF OF ITS MINISTERS WHO WERE AWARDED MASTER S DEGREES IN PASTORAL THEOLOGY DURING A SPECIAL CEREMONY IN *ANUARY 4HE DEGREE GRANTED BY THE )NTER !MERICAN $IVISION S )NTER !MERICAN !DVENTIST 4HEOLOGICAL 3EMINARY )!43 THROUGH ITS #UBA SITE MARKS A SIGNIlCANT PINNACLE FOR THE CHURCH ON THE ISLAND CHURCH LEADERS SAID h4HIS IS A VICTORY FOR THE CHURCH

A VICTORY FOR OUR DIVISION v SAID *AIME

&)234 '2!$5!4%3 'ROUP OF PASTORS WHO COMPLETED A MASTER S DEGREE IN PASTORAL THEOLOGY THROUGH THE )NTER !MERICAN !DVENTIST 4HEOLOGICAL 3EMINARY SITE IN #UBA 4HE GRADUATES BECOME THE lRST GENERATION OF PASTORS TO OBTAIN A MASTER S DEGREE IN THE HISTORY OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN #UBA * ! ) - % # ! 3 4 2 % * / . ) ! $

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7/2,$ 2%0/24 #ASTREJON PRESIDENT OF )!43 h.EVER BEFORE HAD WE GRADUATED AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL IN PASTORAL THEOLOGY IN #UBA AND WE ARE JUST SO DELIGHTED THAT THE ,ORD SAW IT THROUGH FOR OUR PASTORS THERE v )T TOOK COMMITTED EFFORTS FROM )!43 AND )!$ ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT THE TYPE OF CURRICULUM FOR GRADUATE LEVEL FOR PASTORS IN THE CASE OF #UBA SAID #ASTREJON h4HERE WERE SOME DIFlCULT TIMES TO GET TEACHERS WHO COULD TRAVEL TO THE ISLAND AND NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE SITUATION BUT WE PRAISE 'OD FOR HAVING SUCCEEDED IN SECURING THE NECESSARY TEACHERS TO lLL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CURRICULUM v 4HE !DVENTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN #UBA WHICH RECEIVED FULL ACCREDITATION FROM THE !DVENTIST !CCREDITING !SSOCIATION TO GRANT BACHELOR S DEGREES LAST YEAR BECOMES THE NINTH )!43 SITE TO HAVE SPECIALLY TRAINED PASTORS WITH MASTER S DEGREES TO CATER TO THE GROWING MEMBERSHIP ON THE ISLAND h4HIS VICTORY FOR THE CHURCH IN #UBA MEANS THAT OUR #UBAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE UP TO DATE PASTORS JUST LIKE THE REST OF OUR TERRITORY v ADDED #ASTREJON h4HE AIM OF THE BOARD AND THE DIVISION IS TO PROVIDE SUPER PASTORS FOR SPECIAL CHALLENGES IN THE MINISTRY IN SERVING A SOPHISTICATED MEMBERSHIP AS WELL AS MINISTERING IN INSTITUTIONS LIKE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGE CHURCHES WHERE THERE ARE HIGH NUMBERS OF PROFESSIONALS v #ASTREJON SAID 4HAT AIM AND COMMITMENT IS ALLOWING PASTORS THROUGHOUT #UBA THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES AND BENElT THE THOUSANDS OF CHURCH MEMBERS WHO WORSHIP IN CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS ON THE ISLAND

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!LREADY THERE ARE PASTORS ENROLLED IN THE MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAM AT THE SEMINARY IN #UBA

WHICH BEGAN THE FOUR SUMMER SEMESTERS PROGRAM TOWARD THE DEGREE &OR MORE INFORMATION ON )NTER !MERICA S THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY VISIT WWW INTERAMERICA ORG ˆ2EPORTED BY ,IBNA 3TEVENS )NTER !MERICAN $IVISION 2/-!.)! 4RAVELING "IBLE )NSPIRES %VENTS IN #ITIES N 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 2OMANIA ORGANIZED DAYS OF "IBLE RELATED EVENTS RECENTLY HOSTED IN CITIES AND FEATURING DISPLAYS OF RARE "IBLES AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE ROLE OF THE "IBLE THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND IN EVERYDAY LIFE 4HE EVENTS WERE PART OF THE !DVENTIST #HURCH S h&OLLOW THE "IBLEv INITIATIVE WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH !UGUST

h4HE MAIN MESSAGE OF THE EVENT;S= IS THAT THE DAILY READING OF THE "IBLE BRINGS MORAL HEALING GIVES SPIRITUAL POWER AND IMPROVE;S= THE QUALITY OF LIFE v SAID 6IOREL $IMA &OLLOW THE "IBLE COORDINATOR FOR 2OMANIA 4HE INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH AND ITS WORLD DIVISIONS FEATURES AN OVERSIZED "IBLE WRITTEN IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TRAVELING AROUND THE GLOBE TO PROMOTE "IBLE STUDY 4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 2OMANIA HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING SINCE TO FOSTER "IBLE STUDY IN THE COUNTRY THROUGH A NATIONAL AD CAMPAIGN AND READING CLUBS CALLED 3OLA 3CRIPTURA 4HE CLUBS HAVE HUNDREDS OF ATTENDEES AND FOCUS ON CONVERSATION RATHER THAN SEMINAR FORMATS 4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN 2OMANIA PARTNERED WITH THE #ONSCIENCE AND

# / 5 2 4 % 3 9 2 5 #

,EFT &/,,/7 4(% ")",% 6IOREL $IMA &OLLOW THE "IBLE COORDINATOR FOR 2OMANIA

PRESENTS THE TRAVELING "IBLE TO THE PRESS 4HE "IBLE WILL BE TOURING %UROPE AND NORTHERN !FRICA THROUGH -ARCH 2IGHT %8!-).% 4(% 7/2$ 6ISITORS LOOK AT THE TRAVELING "IBLE S BOOKS EACH IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

" 2 ) 4 ) 3 ( 5 . ) / . # / . & % 2 % . # %

,IBERTY !SSOCIATION AND THE 2OMANIAN )NTERCONFESSIONAL "IBLICAL 3OCIETY TO BORROW THE HUNDREDS OF RARE "IBLES ON DISPLAY FROM PERSONAL COLLECTIONS

CHURCH OFlCIALS SAID 3OME LOCATIONS OFFERED VISITORS FREE MOBILE PHONE DOWNLOADS OF THE "IBLE INCLUDING A YEARLY READING PLAN 4HE 2OMANIAN EVENTS RAN FROM *ANUARY TO AND CONCLUDED WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE TRAVELING "IBLE AND A DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THOSE WHO COMMITTED TO DAILY "IBLE STUDY

CHURCH LEADERS SAID 4HE TRAVELING "IBLE TOURED %UROPE AND NORTHERN !FRICA THROUGH -ARCH

ˆ2EPORTED BY !URELIAN (ORJA AND !DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK 3TAFF

WITH RELIGION SAID +WABENA $ONKOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH S "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE h3OMETIMES PEOPLE THINK EVOLUTIONISM IS ALL SCIENCE AND CREATIONISM IS ALL FAITH BUT THERE IS NO SUCH THING v $ONKOR SAID 7ORLD #HURCH $ARWIN "ICENTENNIAL h%VOLUTIONISM IS NOT A PHYSICAL SCIENCE /FFERS &AITH 3HARING /PPORTUNITY WHERE YOU x OBSERVE DATA AND YOU N &OR SOME #HRISTIANS THIS YEAR S COME UP WITH A HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAIN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE WHAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED v BIRTH OF #HARLES $ARWIN HONORS )N FACT SAYS $ONKOR EVOLUTIONISM HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND IS NO MORE A PHYSICAL SCIENCE THAN IT IS EDUCATION &OR OTHERS THE ANNIVERSARY A THEOLOGICAL SCIENCE SEEMS A REMINDER THAT HIS THEORIES h7HAT YOU RE REALLY INVOLVED WITH CHALLENGE THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF IS A HISTORICAL SCIENCE v $ONKOR SAID CREATION h9OU ARE CONJECTURING AND MAKING 4HE FAMOUS "RITISH SCIENTIST ASSUMPTIONS HOPING THAT YOUR AND AUTHOR OF 4HE /RIGIN OF 3PECIES

EXPLANATION OF THE ARTIFACT YOU ARE LOOKING AT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT ONE v $ARWIN IS CREDITED WITH PIONEERING %ARL !AGAARD BIOLOGY PROFESSOR THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION THROUGH AT 3OUTHERN !DVENTIST 5NIVERSITY IN NATURAL SELECTION #OLLEGEDALE 4ENNESSEE 5NITED 3TATES

"ORN &EBRUARY

IN 3HREWSBURY %NGLAND $ARWIN INITIALLY ALSO FEELS THE SOURCE OF CONTENTION LIES IN HISTORICAL SPECULATION STUDIED THEOLOGY BEFORE TAKING HIS h#HRISTIANS GENERALLY AND FAMOUS VOYAGE ON THE ( - 3 "EAGLE $URING THE lVE YEAR JOURNEY $ARWIN S !DVENTISTS IN PARTICULAR HAVE VERY OBSERVATIONS AND DATA STARTED THE TRAIN LITTLE DIFlCULTY WITH THE EMPIRICAL lNDINGS OF SCIENCE v !AGAARD SAID OF THOUGHT THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN h4HE DISPUTES BETWEEN THEISTS AND 4HE /RIGIN OF 3PECIES NONTHEISTS AS WELL AS AMONG THE 4HE CONCEPTS OF THE ORIGIN OF LIFE NONTHEISTS BREAK OUT IN THE HISTORICAL THAT GREW OUT OF $ARWIN S WRITINGS SIDE OF THINGSˆIN ARCHAEOLOGY

SUGGESTED THAT SCIENCE IS AT ODDS PALEONTOLOGY GEOLOGY ETC ˆWHERE THE PROCEDURE IS TO COLLECT DATA AND THEN TELL A STORY TO EXPLAIN IT v

")#%.4%..)!, -!. "RITISH SCIENTIST #HARLES $ARWIN WAS BORN IN 3HREWS BURY %NGLAND &EBRUARY 4HE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF HIS BIRTH OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR !DVENTISTS TO WITNESS TO THEIR FAITH IN THE "IBLE S CREATION ACCOUNT

4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH IN "RITAIN IS AIRING h$ARWIN 2EVISITED v A PROGRAM FEATURING FOUR SCIENTISTS DISCUSSING THEIR #HRISTIAN FAITH AND HOW IT RELATES TO SCIENCE REASON AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION &OR SHOW TIMES VISIT THE (OPE #HANNEL 5+ 7EB SITE 4HE "RITISH CHURCH 7EB SITE ALSO FEATURES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT #HRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES ON ORIGINS 5LTIMATELY IN THE CREATION VERSUS EVOLUTION DEBATE A #HRISTIAN MUST ACCEPT THAT IT S NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS $ONKOR SAID h) HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ) DO NOT HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO BE A #HRISTIAN ) FEEL ) M IN A BETTER CAMP WITH INSPIRATION THAN JUST FOLLOWING HUMAN CONJECTURES v ,EONARD "RAND A BIOLOGY PROFESSOR AT ,OMA ,INDA 5NIVERSITY ADDED THAT IT S NOT LOGICAL TO THINK SCIENCE CAN EXPLAIN EVERY FACET OF CREATION h'OD DIDN T PROMISE US PROOF BUT ONLY ADEQUATE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OUR FAITH v "RAND SAID h4HAT FAITH CAN KEEP US STRONG UNTIL WE GET TO HEAVEN AND HAVE THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO lND THE ANSWERS THAT WERE NOT AVAILABLE HERE ON EARTH v ˆ2EPORTED BY -EGAN "RAUNER

!DVENTIST .EWS .ETWORK

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"USHlRES 3TRIKE 6ICTORIA

!DVENTISTS !MONG 6 CT MS .O LIVES LOST BUT PROPERTY DAMAGE HIGH CHURCH MOVES TO AID ALL

"Y !DVENTIST 7ORLD 3TAFF

3

EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS IN THE !USTRALIAN STATE OF 6ICTORIA ARE AMONG THOSE AFFECTED BY A SERIES OF WILD BUSHlRES THAT MAY HAVE KILLED AS MANY AS PEOPLE AND DESTROYED UP TO HOMES

ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS OF THE DAMAGE !T LEAST SOME OF THE lRES ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY SET h4HE ;6ICTORIAN #ONFERENCE OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS= UNITES WITH ALL CHURCH MEMBERS FROM AROUND ;6ICTORIA= AND !USTRALIA TO EXPRESS THEIR DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES

FRIENDS PROPERTY LIVESTOCK PETS AND MUCH MORE IN THE RECENT BUSH FIRES v SAID 7AYNE 3TANLEY GENERAL SECRETARY AND COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR FOR THE CONFERENCE IN A STATEMENT ON ITS 7EB SITE h7E PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE SUCH TERRIBLE LOSS AND PRAY FOR RAPID RECOVERY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED 7E REmECT ON #HRIST WHO

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DEMONSTRATED UNENDING COMPASSION AND SYMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO WERE HURTING AND PRAY THAT (IS FOLLOWERS WILL DEMONSTRATE THE SAME COMPASSION AS THEY SUPPORT THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS v 3TANLEY ADDED h!S lRES CONTINUE TO RAGE OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE WHO ARE lGHTING TO SAVE LIFE AND PROPERTY AND THOSE WHO FACE THE GRIM TASK OF ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY v HE SAID )N RESPONSE TO THE TRAGIC AND DEVASTATING BUSHlRES IN 6ICTORIA

!$2! !USTRALIA HAS COMMITTED !5 APPROXIMATELY 53 TO FUND A RESPONSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOMINATED LEAD AGENCY THE !USTRALIAN 2ED #ROSS 4HIS CONTINUES !$2! !USTRALIA S LONG STANDING FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH !USTRALIAN 2ED #ROSS FEDERALLY AND IN FOUR !USTRALIAN STATES AND TERRITORIES )N ORDER TO FURTHER ASSIST !DVENTISTS AFFECTED BY THE TRAGEDY THE 6ICTORIAN #ONFERENCE TOOK UP A SPECIAL OFFERING IN ALL ITS CHURCHES ON 3ABBATH

&EBRUARY 4HE MONEY COLLECTED WILL GO DIRECTLY AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

TO !DVENTIST FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AFFECTED BY THE lRES !MONG INITIAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE TO !DVENTIST RELATED FAMILIES 3TANLEY NOTED ARE THESE ! CHURCH MEMBER AND HIS FAMILY FROM (EALESVILLE LOST THEIR HOUSE AS HAS A CHURCH MEMBER FROM 'REENSBOROUGH !

FAMILY WHO ARE FRIENDS OF THE CHURCH IN +INGLAKE LOST THEIR HOME WHILE ANOTHER FAMILY ATTENDING CHURCH AT -OE HAS LOST EVERYTHING 3OME MEMBERS OF 3EYMOUR CHURCH LIVING AT "ROADFORD HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTABLE

AND AN !DVENTIST BUSINESSMAN LOST A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT !LSO SEVERAL !DVENTIST FAMILIES LOST THEIR HOMES IN +INGLAKE 4OOLANGI AND TWO FORMER STUDENTS OF )RONBARK !DVENTIST PRIMARY SCHOOL LOST THEIR LIVES h-OST OF OUR %DINBURGH SCHOOL FAMILIES KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST THEIR HOME OR A LOVED ONE IN THE lRES v SAID %DINBURGH !DVENTIST

6 ) # 4 / 2 ) ! . # / . & % 2 % . # % / & 3 % 6 % . 4 ( $ !9 ! $ 6 % . 4 ) 3 4 3

4OP (/-% ./ -/2% 2UINS OF A COTTAGE IN 6ICTORIA !USTRALIA TYPIFY DEVASTATION CAUSED BY BUSH FOREST lRES IN THE AREA IN &EBRUARY 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS JOINED WITH THEIR NEIGH BORS TO COMFORT THOSE WHOSE HOMES WERE DE STROYED 2IGHT -/.%9 2!)3%23 3TUDENTS AT %DINBURGH !DVENTIST 0RIMARY 3CHOOL IN 6ICTORIA !USTRALIA HOLD UP MONEY RAISED FOR lRE VICTIMS 3TUDENTS JOINED WITH ADULT CHURCH MEMBERS AND THE !DVENTIST $EVELOPMENT AND 2ELIEF !GENCY !USTRALIA IN REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED

0RIMARY 3CHOOL PRINCIPAL .ATHAN (ILL h3OME STUDENTS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR OWN HOMES DUE TO THE CONTINUING THREAT OF lRES IN THE AREA v /N ONE -ONDAY STAFF AND STUDENTS SPENT TIME PRAYING TOGETHER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED LOSS AND A REQUEST WAS PASSED ON TO STUDENTS FOR DONATIONS OF WARM CLOTHING AND TOYS 4HE NEXT DAY A TRUCK

ORGANIZED BY A SCHOOL PARENT

WAS lLLED TO CAPACITY WITH THE DONATIONS h) AM VERY PROUD OF THE TRUE COMPASSION AND LOVE SHOWN BY OUR SCHOOL FAMILIES /UR PRAYERS ARE DAILY WITH THE VICTIMS OF THE lRES FOR 'OD TO COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN THEM AS THEY COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR TRAGIC LOSSES v (ILL SAID ! FURTHER FUND RAISER HAS BEEN ORGANIZED FOR THE STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT FRIENDS RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE AFFECTED h7E AT %DINBURGH ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE HORRIlC EFFECTS OF THE BUSHlRES AND AS A SCHOOL WE FELT COMPELLED TO TRY AND HELP 7E HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A DIRECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO THROUGH PARENT S LINKS WITHIN THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES ) AM SO PROUD OF THE WAY OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS GOT INVOLVEDˆIT SHOWED TRUE COMPASSION AND #HRISTIAN LOVE FOR THOSE IN NEED v 4HE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS A LONG HISTORY IN !USTRALIA AND DEEP CONNECTIONS IN 6ICTORIA 3TATE THE CHURCH S 3IGNS 0UBLISHING #OMPANY ARM IS LOCATED IN 7ARBURTON ˆ7ITH REPORTING FROM 6ICTORIAN #ONFERENCE !PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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N LATE "RITISH 0RIME -INISTER 'ORDON "ROWN SPOKE TO LEADERS OF "RITISH INDUSTRY ABOUT THE WORLDWIDE lNANCIAL CRISIS (E TOLD THEM h)T S A MISTAKE TO CONSIDER THE CURRENT lNANCIAL TRAUMA AS SOMETHING WE MUST hlXv SO WE CAN RETURN TO THE WAY THINGS WERE BEFORE 4HE DOOR WE ARE GOING THROUGH OFFERS NO RETURN TO THE PAST .O LONGER CAN WE LIVE IN ISOLATIONˆPROTECTED AND PAROCHIAL IN OUR OUTLOOK LOOKING OUT PRIMARILY FOR OUR OWN NATIONAL INTEREST 7E MUST NOW LOOK AT THE TOTAL GLOBAL PICTURE /UR NATIONAL INTERESTS ARE INSEPARABLE FROM THE LARGER WORLD COMMUNITY 4HE BARRIERS ARE GONE 7HAT WE DO FOR OURSELVES WE DO FOR OTHERS AND WHAT OTHERS DO ALSO AFFECTS US v ,ISTENING TO THIS ) THOUGHT (OW PERCEPTIVE 4HIS IS PRECISELY WHAT *ESUS SAID YEARS AGO EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH ONE OF (IS APOSTLES h) HAVE SET BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOORv h)N #HRIST THERE ARE NO BARRIERSv h7E VIEW PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE USED TOv h'O INTO ALL THE WORLDv h,OVE ONE ANOTHER v (E IS SAYING WE ARE BOUND TOGETHER 7HAT AFFECTS ONE OF US

AFFECTS ALL 4HE CHURCH S MOST VALUABLE ASSETS ARE NOT DOGMAS OR STATEMENTS

BUT PEOPLE !ND SO WE MUST BE SPONTANEOUSLY REACHING OUT TAKING HOLD OF WHOMEVER WE CAN REACH

AFlRMING THEIR VALUE TO 'OD AND TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BRINGING THEM IN !ND WHEN WE HAVE BROUGHT THEM IN WE MUST GIVE THEM A HOME AND MAKE THEM FEEL LOVED AND ACCEPTED !

CHURCH THAT IS NOT WILLING OR ABLE TO DO THIS HAS FAILED ) WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME THOUGHTS ON THE hCLIMATEv THAT #HRIST INTENDS US TO MAINTAIN WITHIN OUR CHURCHESˆA CLIMATE THAT PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS A SAFE WELCOMING PLACE IN WHICH TO GROW -Y COMMENTS REST

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

!

#LIMATE ROWTH ' FOR

"Y *AN 0AULSEN

AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF A STORY TOLD BY *ESUS RECORDED IN -ATTHEW 4HE STORY IS VERY FAMILIAR TO YOU )T S ABOUT GETTING A lELD READY FOR HARVEST BUT THE INEVITABLE WEEDS COME ALONG AND COMPLICATE MATTERS 7HO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TARES

AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THEM 4HE /WNER OF THE lELD AND THE lELD IN THIS STORY IS THE CHURCH OR THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TARES 4HE TARES ARE JUST THERE THAT S THE WAY IT IS IN LIFEˆTHAT S HOW PEOPLE AREˆAND THIS ALSO WE lND IN THE CHURCH 3O WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THIS MIXTURE OF WHEAT AND TARES 3HOULD WE INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE WHAT IS WHAT AND THEN DEAL WITH THE TARES *ESUS SAYS h.O THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA v !ND (E IS ACTUALLY QUITE lNAL ABOUT IT h,EAVE IT ALONE FOR NOW v (E SAYS h) WILL TAKE CARE OF IT -YSELF IN MY OWN TIME v 4HE STORY IS UNUSUAL OUR NATURAL IMPULSE IS TO DEAL WITH THE WEEDS TO GET RID OF THEM SOMEHOW "UT THE ,ORD OF THE HARVEST SAYS h.O NOT NOW v

4HIS PARABLE SAYS MUCH ABOUT HOW THE ,ORD VIEWS HUMANITY AND ABOUT THE REALITIES OF LIFE IN THE CHURCH (E IS SAYING THAT THE CHURCH CONSISTS OF A VERY MIXED LOT THIS IS SIMPLY THE REALITY WE LIVE WITH ) BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE 3PIRIT S PRESENCE AND WORKING THE CHURCH CAN BECOME A BETTER COMMUNITY WE CAN GROW IN OUR COMMITMENT AND DEVOTION WE CAN BECOME MORE USEFUL TO (IM WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES "UT ) HAVE NO SYMPATHY WITH THOSE WHO ARE BENT ON A PRE !DVENT PURGING OF THE CHURCH DRIVEN BY A hLET S TOSS OUT ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEEDv MENTALITY 7HEN THE ,ANDOWNER SAYS h,EAVE THE WEEDS FOR NOW v (E IS NOT QUESTIONING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CHURCH WHO ARE STRANGERS TO THE ,ORD 4HEY MAY AT ONE TIME HAVE KNOWN (IM BUT FOR ONE REASON OR OTHER THEY HAVE BECOME WEARY OF THE WALK !ND YET THEY lND IT CONVENIENT OR MORE SECURE TO STAY POSSIBLY A JOB IS AT STAKE OR MAJOR FAMILY ISSUES ARE INVOLVED 4HESE ARE SAD REALITIES 4O THESE REALITIES THE ,ORD SAYS h,EAVE , ! 2 3 3 5 . $ 3 4 2 ™ - $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

THEM BE 4O OSTRACIZE THESE PEOPLE OR FOR YOU AS THE KEEPERS OF THE GARDEN

TO CONDUCT A GENERAL CLEANUP IS NOT A GOOD IDEA ) WILL DO IT -YSELF IN MY OWN TIME &OR YOU TO DO IT IS FRAUGHT WITH TOO MANY RISKS v !ND WE MAY ASK h3URELY CLEANING UP IS A GOOD THINGˆIT MAKES SENSE

DOESN T IT 7HAT S SO RISKY ABOUT THAT v N 4HE RISK IS TOO HIGH BECAUSE OF MY OWN HUMANITY )S IT NOT POSSIBLE THAT ) MIGHT MAKE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE IN ASSESSING ANOTHER PERSON $O ) REALLY THINK THAT ) KNOW FULLY AND ACCURATELY WHAT GOES ON INSIDE ANOTHER PERSON 3URELY ONLY 'OD KNOWS !ND WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL BECOMES DIFlCULT IN THE CHURCH AND PARTICULARLY IF THAT INDIVIDUAL IS A TEENAGER IS IT NOT POSSIBLE THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS PRECISELY SO BECAUSE 'OD SOMEHOW IS GETTING THROUGH TO THEM PRODDING THEM AND TOUCHING THEIR LIVES 'OD ONLY KNOWS HOW MUCH LATITUDE (E WILL PUT UP WITH IN OUR PERSONAL GROWING ) DON T N 4HE RISK IS TOO HIGH BECAUSE TODAY IS STILL THE DAY OF SALVATION 7E MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCURATELY IDENTIFY AND LABEL THE hTARE v BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT 'OD HAS NOT YET lNISHED (IS WORK ) M NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE IN OUR CHURCHES WHO ARE OPENLY ABUSING OR mAGRANTLY DEFYING THE STANDARDS OF THE 7ORD OF 'OD 4HESE ARE PEOPLE WHO MUST FOR THEIR OWN SALVATION S SAKE BE PLACED UNDER CHURCH DISCIPLINE 4HE "IBLE GIVES THE CHURCH THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO SUCH SITUATIONS "UT ) M TALKING INSTEAD ABOUT THE MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SPENDING THEIR TIME ON THE BRINK OF THE KINGDOM OF 'OD 7E HAVE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DISAPPEAR FROM THE CHURCH BECAUSE THEY FEEL UNWORTHY AND UNWELCOME 7E MAKE THEM FEEL

SPIRITUALLY UNSUCCESSFUL 7E PRESUME TO KNOW THE MIND OF 'OD TOO READILY )S IT NOT POSSIBLE THAT 'OD MAY BE MORE GENEROUS THAN ) AM ,ISTEN TO THESE WORDS FROM THE INSPIRED PEN OF %LLEN 7HITE h!LTHOUGH IN OUR CHURCHES THAT CLAIM TO BELIEVE ADVANCED TRUTH THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE FAULTY AND ERRING AS TARES AMONG THE WHEAT 'OD IS LONG SUFFERING AND PATIENTx (E DOES NOT DESTROY THOSE WHO ARE LONG IN LEARNING THE LESSON (E WOULD TEACH THEMx 4HERE IS TO BE NO SPASMODIC ZEALOUS

HASTY ACTION TAKEN BY CHURCH MEMBERS IN CUTTING OFF THOSE THEY MAY THINK DEFECTIVE IN CHARACTER v

N 4HE RISK IS TOO HIGH BECAUSE THE CHURCH HERSELF IS HARMED BY PEOPLE PROBING EVEN DELICATELY INTO THE LIVES AND OPINIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE !ND THE DAMAGE CAN SPREAD QUICKLY THE CLIMATE CAN BECOME SUCH THAT EVEN GOOD PEOPLE ARE MADE TO FEEL INSECURE IN THEIR OWN SPIRITUAL HOME 4HE CLIMATE OF THE CHURCH BECOMES UNPLEASANT AND UNWELCOMING INSTEAD OF A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WARM AND WANTED SAFE AND SECURE ACCEPTED AND FREE N 7EEDING IN THE GARDEN IS TOO RISKY BECAUSE ) THE INVESTIGATOR AM MYSELF HARMED BY THESE ACTIVITIES -Y MISGUIDED MISSION ALTERS MY OWN CHARACTER AND MY PERSONALITY BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE ) M REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF ONE OF MY FORMER TEACHERS

SPEAKING TO SOMEONE WHO WAS SOMEWHAT SELF CONGRATULATORY OF HIS OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CRITICAL OF OTHERS h3O YOU ARE PERFECT BUT DO YOU HAVE TO BE HOSTILE ABOUT IT v /UR CONGREGATIONS ARE MEANT TO BE PLACES OF HEALING AND RENEWAL 4HEY MUST BE ATTRACTIVE PLACES FOR UNBELIEVERS TO BE DRAWN TO !ND THEY MUST BE PLACES WHERE THE BELIEVER FEELS

AT HOME VALUED AND ACCEPTED 4HEY AREN T MEANT TO BE BATTLElELDS BUT CITIES OF REFUGE #AN THAT BE SAID OF THE CHURCH IN WHICH YOU AND ) WORSHIP 7HAT KIND OF A SPIRITUAL CLIMATE ARE WE CREATING )F YOUR CHURCH IS NOT THE MOST APPEALING AND ATTRACTIVE SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO CHANGE THAT /UR CHURCHES ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE CLUBS FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD ENOUGH OR WORTHY 'OD IS CONSTANTLY JUSTIFYING SINNERS THEY ARE MEANT TO BE RECEIVED WARMLY IN OUR CHURCHES FOR THAT IS THEIR RIGHTFUL HOME ) WILL BE FRANK WITH YOU ) WOULD HATE TO SPEND MY TIME SURROUNDED ONLY BY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY HAD EVERYTHING WORKED OUT JUST RIGHT 4HEY BECOME ARROGANT

CLINICAL AND JUDGMENTAL OF THOSE WHO STILL HAVE GROWING TO DO #HRIST ACCEPTED US ALL hWHILE WE WERE YET SINNERSv 2OM +*6 !CCEPTANCE IS THE BREATH OF HUMANITY 7HERE ACCEPTANCE IS DENIED OUR BREATHING FALTERS 4HE AIR BECOMES THIN AND LIFE ITSELF BECOMES UNBEARABLE )T IS WITHIN OUR REACH TO CREATE AND SHAPE THE SPIRITUAL ENVIRONMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE -Y APPEAL IS THAT WE CREATE A GOOD HOME A WARM FAMILY IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN COMMUNICATE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER RESPECT EACH OTHER S SPACE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ,ORD IS EVER AT WORK MAKING SOMETHING BETTER OF THAT WHICH IN OUR OPINION MAY BE mAWED

%LLEN ' 7HITE 4ESTIMONIES TO -INISTERS PP

*AN 0AULSEN IS PRESI DENT OF THE WORLDWIDE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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)NTO .EW

:EALAND "Y (ANS /LSON

CARVED MOUNTAINS AND LAKES AS WELL AS BEACHES AND THERMAL SPRINGS ATTRACT VISITORS )TS ECONOMY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FREEST IN THE WORLD 4HIS ISLAND NATION HAS IMMENSE RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND USES HYDROPOWER FOR MUCH OF ITS ELECTRICITY

!DVENTISTS IN .EW :EALAND

.

AMED .OVA :EELANDIA BY $UTCH EXPLORER !BEL 4ASMAN IN AFTER THE $UTCH PROVINCE OF :EELAND

.EW :EALAND IS AN ISLAND NATION SOME KM MILES OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF !USTRALIA 4ASMAN WAS THE lRST %UROPEAN TO SEE THE ISLANDS 4HINKING IT WAS AN EXTENSION OF A SOUTHERN CONTINENT AS YET UNDISCOVERED

4ASMAN DIDN T SAIL AROUND .EW :EALAND AND NEVER DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SET OF ISLANDS .EW :EALAND CONSISTS OF TWO MAIN ISLANDSˆ.ORTH )SLAND AND 3OUTH )SLANDˆAND NUMEROUS SMALLER ONES 0OLYNESIAN -AORI WERE THE lRST TO DISCOVER AND INHABIT IT AROUND ! $ )N "RITISH EXPLORER AND CARTOGRAPHER *AMES #OOK SAILED TO .EW :EALAND AND CLAIMED IT FOR THE 5NITED +INGDOM (E WAS THE lRST TO MAP THE ENTIRE COASTLINE AND ANGLICIZED THE NAME TO .EW :EALAND )N THE -AORI SIGNED A TREATY GIVING SOVEREIGNTY OF .EW :EALAND TO THE "RITISH %MPIRE WHICH ALLOWED

TH

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

, % % + 2 % 4 3 # ( - ! 2

4HE lRST !DVENTIST ARRIVED IN .EW :EALAND IN WHEN !MERICAN MISSIONARY 3TEVEN .

(ASKELL SPENT A FEW MONTHS ON .ORTH )SLAND (E STARTED A SMALL GROUP OF 3ABBATHKEEPERS IN !UCKLAND AND +AEO BEFORE HEADING BACK TO !USTRALIA !

THEM TO RETAIN SOME TERRITORIAL RIGHTS YEAR LATER (ASKELL VISITED +AEO ON HIS ,ATER THAT YEAR THE lRST "RITISH COLONIAL WAY TO THE 5NITED 3TATES AND BAPTIZED SETTLEMENT WAS ORGANIZED (OWEVER

PEOPLE 4HAT SAME YEAR EVANGELIST THE "RITISH AND -AORI HAD TROUBLE AND FUTURE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE COEXISTING AND A SERIES OF LAND WARS ON PRESIDENT ! ' $ANIELLS HELD A SERIES .ORTH )SLAND STARTED IN 4HE -AORI OF MEETINGS UNDER A TENT IN +AEO AND EVENTUALLY CONCEDED DEFEAT IN BAPTIZED ANOTHER PEOPLE 4ERRITORIAL RIGHTS REMAIN A KEY ISSUE IN %DWARD (ALSEY A BAKER TRAINED AT .EW :EALAND AS THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO THE "ATTLE #REEK 3ANITARIUM ARRIVED EASE LONGSTANDING -AORI RESENTMENTS IN FROM THE 5NITED 3TATES TO %VEN THOUGH .EW :EALAND GAINED ITS MAKE HEALTH FOODS FOR A HEALTH HOME INDEPENDENCE FROM 'REAT "RITAIN IN IN #HRISTCHURCH ON 3OUTH )SLAND

THE "RITISH MONARCHˆ1UEEN 7HAT STARTED OUT IN A WOODSHED %LIZABETH ))ˆIS RECOGNIZED AS THE ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE AS A SMALL COUNTRY S HEAD OF STATE OPERATION TURNED INTO 3ANITARIUM .EW :EALAND S ISOLATION FROM THE (EALTH &OOD #OMPANY A MAJOR HEALTH REST OF THE WORLD GIVES IT A UNIQUE mORA FOOD COMPANY THAT OPERATES TODAY AND FAUNA THAT DRAW TOURISTS FROM IN BOTH .EW :EALAND AND !USTRALIA AROUND THE WORLD 3PECTACULAR GLACIER 4HE COMPANY IS WHOLLY OWNED BY THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH AND IS THE MAJOR PRODUCER OF BREAKFAST .%7 :%!,!.$ PRODUCTS IN !USTRALIA )T HAS THREE #APITAL 7ELLINGTON MANUFACTURING PLANTS PRODUCTS

/FlCIAL LANGUAGES %NGLISH -AORI 3IGN ,ANGUAGE AND EMPLOYEES -OST .EW :EALANDERS CONSIDER 2ELIGION 2ELIGION #HRISTIAN !NGLICAN 2OMAN #ATHOLIC

THEMSELVES #HRISTIAN BUT MOST SELDOM 0RESBYTERIAN -ETHODIST 0ENTECOSTAL "APTIST

ATTEND CHURCH MORE THAN A QUARTER OF OTHER #HRISTIAN OTHER NONE OR UNSPECIlED THE POPULATION PRACTICES NO RELIGION 0OPULATION MILLION

4HE !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS

!DVENTIST MEMBERS OR ONE !DVENTIST FOR EVERY MEMBERSHIP

PEOPLE 4HERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE !DVENTIST TO DONE TO REACH THIS COUNTRY POPULATION RATIO

4O LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH S ONGOING MISSION

'ENERAL #ONFERENCE /FlCE OF !RCHIVES AND 3TATISTICS

!NNUAL 3TATISTICAL 2EPORT WORK VISIT WWW !DVENTIST-ISSION ORG

3 0 % # ) ! , & % !4 5 2 %

!

0LASTIC 0OLLUTED # / 2 ! . % , & ) 3 - !

)

N THE COURSE OF MY WORK RELATED TRAVELS ) HAVE AT TIMES WITNESSED SCENES OF HUMAN DESPERATION &EW PLIGHTS HAVE UPSET ME MORE THAN THE SIGHT OF HUMAN SCAVENGERS 7HEN THESE SCAVENGERS ARE CHILDREN THE SCENE IS EVEN MORE PAINFUL TO VIEW *UST TWO WEEKS BEFORE ) PENNED THESE WORDS ) WATCHED IN ANGUISH AS YOUTH FORAGED THROUGH THE DIRT AND DEBRIS OF A DUMPSTER IN -ADAGASCAR 0REVIOUSLY DURING A DIFFERENT TRIP ) SAW PEOPLE COMBING A MASSIVE GARBAGE DUMP IN )NDIA -ORE HORRIFYING WAS THE INFORMATION THAT THESE PEOPLE LIVE ON THE DUMP 4HEY SLEEP THERE RAISE BABIES THERE AND DIE THERE 3CRAMBLING AMID THE REFUSE THEIR LIVES SEEM REDUCED TO THE MERE IMPERATIVE OF EXISTENCE (OW DOES THE GOSPEL PENETRATE SUCH DIRE NEED 4HESE THOUGHTS WERE HEIGHTENED RECENTLY WHEN ) READ A BOOK BY !LAN 7EISMAN TITLED 4HE 7ORLD 7ITHOUT 5S 4HE AUTHOR IS OBVIOUSLY AN EVOLUTIONIST BUT HE DESCRIBES HIS VISION OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE EARTH IF HUMANITY WERE TO BE MYSTERIOUSLY REMOVED (IS SCIENTIlC BACKGROUND EQUIPS HIM WELL FOR HIS IMAGINARY SCENARIOS BUT ALSO PERMITS HIM TO PAINT A GRUESOME FUTURE SHOULD MEN AND WOMEN NOT DISAPPEAR FROM THE EARTH

0LANET )S IT TOO LATE TO CHANGE "Y !LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES

PROBLEM AND THEREFORE MUST ALSO BE PART OF ANY AMELIORATION IN THE CONDITION OF THE EARTH )N THE CHAPTER TITLED h0OLYMERS !RE &OREVER v 7EISMAN DESCRIBES THE WORK OF SEVERAL MARINE BIOLOGISTS /NE OF THEM 2ICHARD 4HOMPSON WHILE AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT HELPED TO CLEAN UP ONE OF "RITAIN S SHORELINES 2EMOVING SOME OF THE TONS OF GARBAGE WASHED ASHORE EACH DAY HE NOTED THAT THE LARGER mOATING PIECES SEEMED TO BE DIRECTED BY THE WIND 4HIS MEANT HE WAS CLEANING UP TRASH FROM )RELAND AND %NGLAND S mOATING TRASH WAS BEFOULING THE SHORES OF 3CANDINAVIA 5NLIKE THE LARGE mOATING MATERIALS HOWEVER 4HOMPSON FOUND A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SMALL PARTICULATE TRASH GENERALLY UNNOTICED AMONG THE BOTTLES PLASTIC BAGS AUTOMOBILE TIRES PIECES OF ROPE AND PLASTIC CAPS .OW A PROFESSOR AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF 0LYMOUTH IN %NGLAND 4HOMPSON POINTS OUT A SPECIAL SUBSPECIES OF PARTICLE CALLED hNURDLES v FOUND IN THE WATERS AROUND 0LYMOUTH 3HAPED LIKE LITTLE UNIFORM RODS SOME TWO MILLIMETERS IN LENGTH THESE NURDLES ARE THE RAW MATERIALS USED TO CREATE PLASTIC PRODUCTS OF ANY CONCEIVABLE SHAPE

! 'IANT 'ARBAGE $UMP

)T IS THE POTENTIAL 7EISMAN DESCRIBES OF THE WHOLE EARTH BECOMING A GIANT GARBAGE DUMP THAT IS COMPELLING )T REINFORCES MY BELIEF THAT *ESUS HAS TO COME SOON AND CONVINCES ME THAT ALL HUMANS ARE PART OF THE POLLUTION

!LLAN 2 (ANDYSIDES IS DIRECTOR OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

/ .

2 , 3 9 # ! ( ! . " % 4 2 / $ / , & / # , ) 8

4HOMPSON SAYS THEY MUST HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY CURRENTS FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES BECAUSE NO PLASTIC FACTORIES EXIST NEAR 0LYMOUTH 7AVE ACTION POUNDS PLASTIC PARTICLES SMALLER AND SMALLER 7HEN THE PARTICULATE DEBRIS IS ANALYZED IN 4HOMPSON S LAB HE lNDS THAT ONE THIRD IS BIOLOGIC DEBRIS

ONE THIRD IS CLEARLY PARTICULATE PLASTIC AND ANOTHER THIRD IS COMPOSED OF PARTICLES DEFYING EXACT DElNITION BUT ARE PLASTIC POLYMERS OF SOME KIND %ARLY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY !LISTAIR (ARDY ANOTHER MARINE BIOLOGIST BEGAN THE COLLECTION OF SAMPLES OF THE SEA BY MEANS OF COLLECTING KRILL IN A SPECIAL APPARATUS HE DESIGNED TO BE DRAGGED BEHIND OCEANGOING VESSELS 4HE SAMPLING PROGRAM HE STARTED HAS CONTINUED WITH STORED SPECIMENS PROVIDING A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE OCEANS THROUGHOUT THE PAST CENTURY 4HE APPARATUS DRAGS ABOUT METERS SOME FEET BELOW THE SURFACE COLLECTING KRILL TINY SHRIMPLIKE CREATURES +RILL ARE PART OF THE BEDROCK LAYER OF THE EARTH S FOOD CHAIN 4HESE CREATURES INGEST TINY PARTICLES AND FUNCTION LIKE MICROSIEVES OF THE OCEAN 0LASTICS HAVE BEEN AROUND ONLY ABOUT YEARS AND IN THE lRST HALF OF THE CENTURY PLASTIC DID NOT FEATURE IN THE SAMPLES "Y THE S HOWEVER IT WAS NOTED THAT THE KRILL WERE INGESTING PLASTIC PARTICLES "Y THE S THE PLASTIC CONTENT IN THE OCEANS HAD TRIPLED 0LASTIC DOES NOT DEGRADE IT BECOMES ONLY INCREASINGLY PARTICULATEDˆOBVIOUSLY SMALL ENOUGH FOR TINY KRILL TO EAT

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ *ANUARY

7E ARE FAMILIAR WITH PICTURES OF TURTLES EATING PLASTIC BAGS

OF BIRDS STRANGLED IN PLASTIC OR NYLON lSHING LINES BUT THE TINIEST OF ANIMALS ARE EATING MICROPARTICULATE PLASTIC OFTEN WITH LETHAL CONSEQUENCES )T S NOT NEWS TO PLASTIC PRODUCERS THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT BIODEGRADABLE !WARE OF THE GROWING MOUNTAINS OF PLASTIC TRASH MANUFACTURERS CAME UP WITH hBIODEGRADABLEv PLASTIC BAGS WHICH ARE MADE FROM A MIXTURE OF CELLULOSE AND PLASTIC 4HE CELLULOSE BREAKS DOWN JUST lNE BECAUSE IT IS BASICALLY A SUGAR BUT THE PLASTIC PARTS REMAINˆONLY NOW THEY ARE IN MICRO PARTICULATE FORM AND MORE READILY WASHED INTO THE OCEAN )T S %VERYWHERE

0LASTIC IS EVERYWHERE ) RECENTLY COUNTED THE PLASTIC BOTTLES IN MY OWN BATHROOM 3ITTING AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE TUB WERE TWO BOTTLES OF SHAMPOO TWO BOTTLES OF CONDITIONER ONE OF BODY WASH AND ONE TUBE OF FACIAL CLEANSER /N THE SHELF ACROSS THE ROOM WERE PLASTIC CONTAINERS OF MOISTURIZER AND BOTTLES OF PRESCRIPTION PILLS 4HE GARBAGE CONTAINER WAS LINED WITH A PLASTIC BAG ) NOTED MY PLASTIC TOOTHBRUSH AND HAIRBRUSH AS WELL AS THE PLASTIC BAG MY TRAVEL KIT IS CONTAINED IN !ND ) COULD GO ON 9ET IF TIME WERE TO LAST

YEARS FROM NOW THESE PLASTIC hNECESSITIESv WOULD PERSIST AS DETRITUS ON SOME SICKLY SEASHORE -ILLIONS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE USED EVERY DAY BY A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHOSE WATER SUPPLY IS SAFE BUT " / 4 4 , % 3 " 9 - !4 4 ( % 7 ( % 2 : % , $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

!S THE WORLD BECOMES MORE AND MORE LIKE A TRASH HEAP OF POLLUTION 'OD MUST LOOK WITH HORROR AT OUR WAYS

WHO PREFER THE CONVENIENCE OF A DISPOSABLE BOTTLE OF WATER

WHICH THEY hDRINK AND DROP v )NSTEAD A SIMPLE lLTER CAN MAKE ANY !MERICAN CITY S WATER TASTE AS GOOD AS BOTTLED WATER 7HY NOT DRINK FROM A REUSABLE METAL mASK RElLLED AT HOME 0LASTIC PARTICLES IN THE FACIAL DERMABRASIVE WE USE TO BEAUTIFY OURSELVES TRICKLE DOWN THE DRAIN INTO THE SEWERS AND EVENTUALLY OUT TO SEA .OT LARGE ENOUGH TO BE WIND DRIVEN THEY WILL BE CARRIED INTO THE PONDEROUS CURRENTS OF THE DEEP 7EISMAN SAYS THEY WILL BE AROUND hFOREVER v %VEN WHEN CLEANING UP AFTER OUR PETS WE ENCASE THEIR NATURAL DROPPINGS IN A TIME CAPSULE OF PLASTIC /UR hTHROWAWAY v hDISPOSABLEv SOCIETY IS IN SUCH HIGH GEAR THAT VAST TRACKS OF OCEAN HAVE BECOME SLOWLY ROTATING CESSPOOLS 4HE .ORTH 0ACIlC 3UBTROPICAL 'YRE IS A MILLION SQUARE MILE OCEAN DUMP 4HIS SLOWLY GYRATING SIPHON OF THE 0ACIlC S DEBRIS IS ONE OF SIX SUCH SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD S OCEANS 3AMPLES OF THIS mOATING QUAGMIRE SHOW PLASTIC PARTICLES OUTNUMBER PLANKTON BY A FACTOR OF MORE THAN SIX TIMES 0ARTICULATE MARINE PLASTIC HAS THE ABILITY TO ACT LIKE A SPONGE FOR RESILIENT POISONS SUCH AS $$4 AND THE TOXIC POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENOLS 0#"S 4HE LATTER FORMERLY WERE USED TO MAKE PLASTIC MORE PLIABLE BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR TOXICITY THEY WERE BANNED IN 3TILL THE PRE mOTSAM WILL LEAK ITS 0#"S FOR CENTURIES IF GIVEN THE CHANCE 4ONY !NDRADY A LEADING EXPERT ON PLASTIC SAYS h%VERY BIT OF PLASTIC MANUFACTURED IN THE WORLD FOR THE LAST YEARS OR SO STILL REMAINS v 4HAT IS MORE THAN BILLION TONS OF THE STUFF )T S PROBABLE THAT WE lND IT INCONCEIVABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT PLASTIC BUT WE AT LEAST NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN ITS RECYCLING #URRENTLY IT COSTS MORE TO RECYCLE THAN TO MAKE NEW BUT THAT S BECAUSE WE RE NOT COUNTING THE COST TO THE EARTH 2ECYCLING NEEDS TO BE MADE EASIER AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND TAXES SHOULD FAVOR RECYCLED PRODUCTS %VEN SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE h7ILL YOU TAKE A PAPER OR PLASTIC BAG v THE CHECKOUT CLERK ASKS h/H THE PLASTIC SEEMS EASIER v YOU SAY h,ET S SAVE THE TREES v 7RONG ANSWER !SK FOR A HEMP CLOTH OR PAPER BAG

7HEN 7ILL )T %ND

)S ALL THIS POLLUTION GOING TO END SOON &ORTUNATELY AS !DVENTISTS WE BELIEVE IT HAS TO -EANWHILE HOWEVER WHILE WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO BE STEWARDS OF THE EARTH AND OCCUPY IT UNTIL *ESUS COMES EVEN COUNTRIES CONSIDERED SMALL ARE PRODUCING THOUSANDS OF TONS OF PLASTIC BAGS EVERY MONTH !S FOR THOSE hNURDLES v BILLION POUNDS OF THEM ARE PRODUCED EACH YEAR 1UITE A LOT FOR AN ALMOST INDESTRUCTIBLE PRODUCT )S THIS THE WAY PEOPLE lLL THEIR ROLE AS STEWARDS OF THE EARTH )S THIS HOW WE CARE FOR 'OD S CREATION 0LASTIC IS ONLY ONE AMONG THE MYRIADS OF WASTE PRODUCTS OUR CONSUMER WORLD IS PRODUCING 7ITH SPREADING INDUSTRIALIZATION WORLDWIDE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE PRODUCTS IS ACCELERATING *UST THE DEBRIS FROM OUR hOBSOLETEv COMPUTERS IS MASSIVE #ARBON DIOXIDE IS WARMING THE PLANET AS IT BEFOULS THE ATMOSPHERE 2ADIOACTIVE WASTE THAT HAS A HALF LIFE OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS IS STILL BEING PRODUCED )SN T IT TIME TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE PART EACH OF US PLAYS IN THE TRASHING OF THE EARTH 3URELY AS CUSTODIANS OF THE PLANET WE NEED TO LEARN TO CONSUME LESS CONSERVE MORE AND CARE BETTER FOR THE HANDIWORK OF 'OD )N 2EVELATION THE "IBLE SPEAKS OF *ESUS COMING TO DESTROY THOSE WHO DESTROY THE EARTH !S A BOY THE EARTH APPEARED TO ME SO VAST SO ENORMOUS THAT FOR A PUNY RACE OF MEN AND WOMEN TO DESTROY IT SEEMED INCOMPREHENSIBLE .OW WITH AN EVER BURGEONING POPULATION AND INDUSTRIAL PROLIFERATION THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH SEEMS ALL TOO POSSIBLEˆEVEN PROBABLE )T IS RECOGNIZABLY GROWING OLD LIKE A GARMENT AND IT IS WE WHO ARE WEARING IT OUT !S THE PLANET BECOMES hSHRINK WRAPPEDv IN PLASTIC ALL LIFE IS SQUEEZED AND DISTORTED !S THE WORLD BECOMES MORE AND MORE LIKE A TRASH HEAP OF POLLUTION 'OD MUST LOOK WITH HORROR AT OUR WAYS /NCE MORE WE ARE FRANTICALLY ENGAGED IN hCURE v HAVING DISDAINED PREVENTION )T MIGHT BE EASY TO SAY h/H *ESUS WILL SOMEDAY MAKE IT ALL RIGHT v BUT ) DON T WANT TO BE AMONG THOSE WHO MAKE IT ALL SO WRONG 3URELY WE RESPECT 'OD ENOUGH TO HONOR (IS HANDIWORK !PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

$ % 6 / 4 ) / . ! ,

7E

ARE NOT

!LONE !NGELS PROVIDE A LINK BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH "Y 4ONY 0HILIP /RESO

2 / - ! & ,/ 7 % 2 3

)

CAN STILL RECALL HOW AS A CHILD

) HEARD THE CHURCH BELL TOLL ON 3ABBATH MORNINGS AT SHARP )T WAS A WARNING THAT 3ABBATH SCHOOL WOULD BEGIN IN EXACTLY MINUTES "Y CHURCH PEWS WERE FULL HYMNALS WERE OPENED AND SONGS OF VIBRANT PRAISE lLLED THE FOUR WALLS OF THE CHURCH THE CHORISTER ALWAYS LED THE CONGREGATION IN SINGING h(OLY 3ABBATH $AY OF 2EST v (OWEVER MY FAVORITE PART OF THE PROGRAM WAS WHEN THE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS SEPARATED TO STUDY THE "IBLE WITH MATERIALS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR AGES &OR US CHILDREN THAT MEANT AMAZING "IBLE STORIES ABOUT 'OD S HEROES AND HOW THEY WERE VISITED AND SERVED BY ANGELS .OW MORE THAN TWO DECADES SINCE ) SAT IN THOSE TINY CHAIRS AND LEARNED HOW 'OD SENT (IS ANGELS TO SERVE AND PROTECT (IS PEOPLE ) REALIZE THAT NOT EVERYTHING ) LEARNED IS SUPPORTED BY THE "IBLE

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

)N HIGH SCHOOL OUR PRINCIPAL SHARED STORIES ABOUT ANGELS THAT HAD THE EFFECT OF COMMUNICATING THAT ONE OF THE ANGELS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES WAS TO RECORD OUR MISDEEDS AND PROVIDE 'OD WITH DETAILS EVERY EVENING AFTER WE WENT TO SLEEP 3O ) SAW ANGELS WITH SOME APPREHENSION "UT WHAT IS THE REAL STORY 7HAT DOES THE "IBLE SAY (OW ARE OUR LIVES AFFECTED BY THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELIC BEINGS 3CRIPTURE 2EVELATION !BOUT !NGELS

4HE WORD TRANSLATED hANGELv IN THE "IBLE S ORIGINAL LANGUAGES MEANS hMESSENGERv THEY ARE SUPERNATURAL BEINGS WHO REPRESENT 'OD TO HUMAN BEINGS )N THE /LD 4ESTAMENT ANGELS APPEARED TO (AGAR 'EN ,OT 'EN *ACOB 'EN -OSES %X

'IDEON *UDGES

%LIJAH +INGS $ANIEL $AN

AND OTHERS

!NGELS WERE FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF *ESUS 4HEY ALSO ASSISTED IN THE FORMATION OF THE EARLY CHURCH 4HE BOOK OF 2EVELATION MENTIONS ANGELS MORE THAN TIMES "UT THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW 7HAT DO ANGELS DO FOR US !NGELS GUIDE SEEKERS FOR TRUTH 4HOUGH (E DID NOT RECEIVE A RABBINICAL TYPE OF EDUCATION *ESUS WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE WERE DERIVED FROM THE GREAT LIBRARY OF 'OD S CREATION 0LUS

(E SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS LEARNING FROM (IS PARENTS ABOUT HOW 'OD HAD DIRECTED (IS PEOPLE IN AGES PAST %LLEN 7HITE WROTE ABOUT THE ROLE ANGELS PLAY IN HELPING US MINE TRUTH FROM 'OD S 7ORD h%VERY CHILD MAY GAIN KNOWLEDGE AS *ESUS DID !S WE TRY TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH OUR HEAVENLY &ATHER THROUGH (IS 7ORD ANGELS WILL DRAW NEAR OUR MINDS WILL BE STRENGTHENED

OUR CHARACTERS WILL BE ELEVATED AND RElNED 7E SHALL BECOME MORE LIKE OUR 3AVIOURv 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P

JUST WHEN WE NEED THEM 4HE ENCOURAGEMENT MAY NOT COME FROM A SUPERNATURAL SOURCE AS WE THINK OF SUPERNATURAL BUT WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT ANGELS ARE AT WORKˆEVEN THROUGH HUMAN AGENCIESˆTO LIGHTEN OUR LOADS AND HELP US BE MINDFUL OF 'OD S PRESENCE 7HEN WE SURRENDER AGAIN OUR ALL TO 'OD (E TAKES CHARGE AND (IS ANGELS ARREST THE AGENCIES THAT TAKE US CAPTIVE 7E ARE RECLAIMED BACK TO (IM AND HEAVEN REJOICES IN OUR RECOVERY ,ET US BE CLEAR SPIRITS OF DARKNESS BATTLE FOR SOULS ONCE UNDER THEIR DOMINION BUT ANGELS OF 'OD CONTEND FOR THOSE SOULS WITH PREVAILING POWER !NGELS PROTECT #HRIST S FOLLOWERS ,OT AND HIS FAMILY WERE PROTECTED BY ANGELS AND LED SAFELY FROM THE MIDST OF 3ODOM BEFORE THAT WICKED CITY WAS DESTROYED 'EN !ND WHEN *ESUS STRUGGLED IN THE 'ARDEN OF 'ETHSEMANE WITH THE ENORMITY OF (IS SACRIlCE FOR SINFUL BEINGS (E WAS ABOUT TO MAKE AN ANGEL CAME 4HIS EXAMPLE HELPS US PICTURE TO STRENGTHEN (IM EMOTIONALLY AND A GRAPHIC REALITY h!NGELS FROM THE SPIRITUALLY ,UKE WORLD OF LIGHT ARE NEAR TO THOSE WHO 4HESE STORIES BEAR WITNESS TO THE IN HUMILITY SEEK FOR DIVINE GUIDANCEv INVOLVEMENT OF ANGELS WITH #HRIST S 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P FOLLOWERS TODAY %LLEN 7HITE WROTE !NGELS DELIVER FROM EVIL SPIRITS h3O IN ALL AGES ANGELS HAVE BEEN 4HE STRONG OPPOSITION WE OFTEN MEET NEAR TO #HRIST S FAITHFUL FOLLOWERSx IN ACCOMPLISHING 'OD S WORK CAN SOMETIMES OVERCOME US /CCASIONALLY &ROM WHAT DANGERS SEEN AND UNSEEN

WE HAVE BEEN PRESERVED THROUGH THE DAILY STRUGGLES WE FACE NOT TO MENTION THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES WE lGHT THE INTERPOSITION OF THE ANGELS WE BREAK DOWN THE DEFENSES OF OUR SOULS SHALL NEVER KNOW UNTIL IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY WE SEE THE PROVIDENCES OF 4HE BARRIERS ESTABLISHED BY HABITUAL 'OD 4HEN WE SHALL KNOW THAT THE PRAYER DEVOTION AND MINISTRY WHOLE FAMILY OF HEAVEN WAS INTERESTED SOMETIMES BEGIN TO CRUMBLE AND DOUBT BEGINS TO OBSCURE THE LEADING OF IN THE FAMILY HERE BELOW AND THAT MESSENGERS FROM THE THRONE OF 'OD 'OD S 3PIRIT 7E SEE OUR CONDITION AS ATTENDED OUR STEPS FROM DAY TO DAYv HELPLESS BUT IT S NOT HOPELESS 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P *UST AS AN ANGEL APPEARED TO 9ET THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS IS NO %LIJAH AFTER HIS SHOWDOWN WITH "AAL S PROPHETS ON -OUNT #ARMEL WITH BOTH GUARANTEE THAT 'OD S PEOPLE WILL BE PRESERVED FROM ALL HARM #ITING THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT EXAMPLE OF *OHN THE "APTIST %LLEN +INGS WE CAN COUNT ON 7HITE WROTE h4HOUGH NO MIRACULOUS 'OD S ANGEL MESSENGERS TO BRING US MESSAGES OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT DELIVERANCE WAS GRANTED *OHN HE

7E CAN COUNT

ON 'OD S ANGEL MESSENGERS TO

BRING US MESSAGES OF HOPE AND

ENCOURAGEMENT

WAS NOT FORSAKEN (E HAD ALWAYS THE COMPANIONSHIP OF HEAVENLY ANGELS

WHO OPENED TO HIM THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING #HRIST AND THE PRECIOUS PROMISES OF 3CRIPTURE 4HESE WERE HIS STAY AS THEY WERE TO BE THE STAY OF 'OD S PEOPLE THROUGH THE COMING AGESv 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P 3O EVEN IF WE AREN T SAVED FROM DANGER AND HARM WE CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN 'OD S PROMISES AND HAVE FAITH IN THE ULTIMATE POSITIVE OUTCOME !NGELS COOPERATE IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL !NGELS STAND IN COMPLETE REVERENCE TO THE ,ORD (AND IN HAND WITH HUMAN AGENTS THEY LEND THEIR ENERGIES IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF #HRIST 7ITH THE (OLY 3PIRIT THEY CONVICT US OF SIN AND TEACH US THE WAY TO SERVE 'OD 4HEIR HEAVENLY POWER

COMBINED WITH OUR HUMAN ABILITY

DRAWS SOULS TO #HRIST h7E ARE TO BE LABORERS TOGETHER WITH THE HEAVENLY ANGELS IN PRESENTING *ESUS TO THE WORLD v WROTE %LLEN 7HITE h7ITH ALMOST IMPATIENT EAGERNESS THE ANGELS WAIT FOR OUR CO OPERATION x !ND WHEN WE GIVE OURSELVES TO #HRIST IN WHOLEHEARTED DEVOTION ANGELS REJOICE THAT THEY MAY SPEAK THROUGH OUR VOICES TO REVEAL 'OD S LOVEv 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P h!RE NOT ALL ANGELS MINISTERING SPIRITS SENT TO SERVE THOSE WHO WILL INHERIT SALVATION v ASKED THE WRITER OF THE LETTER TO THE (EBREWS (EB

.)6 )N THESE CHALLENGING TIMES IN WAYS BOTH VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE 'OD S ANGEL MESSENGERS ARE STILL AT WORK TO KEEP US CLOSE TO (IM AND PREPARE US FOR *ESUS SOON RETURN

4ONY 0HILIP /RESO IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN .AIROBI +ENYA !PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

# /6 % 2 3 4 / 29

)NTERPRETING THE

4 MES

7E MUST AVOID HYSTERIA 7E MUST STAY CLOSE TO 3CRIPTURE "Y 2OY !DAMS

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

4

HE LEGEND ABOUT THE POPE AND AN ELDERLY *EWISH MAN NAMED -OISHE COMES IN SEVERAL VERSIONS (ERE S ONE OF THEM !BOUT A CENTURY AGO THE POPE DECIDED THAT ALL *EWS SHOULD LEAVE 2OME "UT SEEING THE UPROAR IN THE *EWISH COMMUNITY AND WANTING TO APPEAR CONCILIATORY HE CAME UP WITH A NOVEL IDEA (E WOULD HAVE A DEBATE WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE *EWISH COMMUNITY THEY CHOSE )F THAT PERSON WON THE DEBATE THEN THE *EWS COULD STAY "UT IF THE POPE WON THE *EWS WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE 7ITH ALL THE EDUCATED HIGH POWERED *EWS SHYING AWAY FROM CONFRONTING THIS #HRISTIAN 'OLIATH THE COMMUNITY EVENTUALLY TURNED TO AN OLD JANITOR NAMED -OISHE 6ERY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SPEAKING ABILITIES HOWEVER

-OISHE AGREED TO THE DEBATE ON ONE CONDITION THAT THE EVENT WOULD PROCEED IN TOTAL SILENCE )NCREDIBLY THE POPE AGREED !S THE BIG DAY ARRIVED -OISHE AND THE POPE SAT DOWN OPPOSITE EACH OTHER &OR A FULL MINUTE THEY STARED AT EACH OTHER IN MOTIONLESS SILENCE !T LAST THE POPE RAISED HIS HAND AND SHOWED THREE lNGERS -OISHE LOOKED BACK AT HIM AND RAISED ONE lNGER ! , % 3 3 ! . $ 2 / 0! ) 6! $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

4HE POPE THEN WAVED HIS lNGER IN A CIRCLE AROUND HIS HEAD -OISHE VIGOROUSLY POINTED TO THE GROUND WHERE HE SAT 4HE POPE THEN PULLED OUT A WAFER THE COMMUNION BREAD AND A GLASS OF WINE AND SET THEM ON THE TABLE -OISHE PULLED OUT AN APPLE AND PLACED IT DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM !T THIS DEVELOPMENT THE POPE STOOD UP AND SAID h) GIVE UP 4HIS MAN IS TOO GOOD 4HE *EWS CAN STAY v !FTER THE MEETING THE CARDINALS GATHERED AROUND THE POPE ASKING WHAT HAPPENED 4HE POPE SAID h&IRST ) HELD UP THREE lNGERS TO REPRESENT THE 4RINITY (E RESPONDED

BY HOLDING UP ONE lNGER TO REMIND ME THAT THERE IS STILL ONE 'OD COMMON TO BOTH OUR RELIGIONS 4HEN ) WAVED MY lNGER AROUND MY HEAD TO SHOW HIM THAT 'OD WAS ALL AROUND US (E RESPONDED BY POINTING TO THE GROUND

SHOWING THAT 'OD WAS ALSO RIGHT HERE WITH US ) PULLED OUT THE WINE AND THE WAFER TO SHOW THAT 'OD ABSOLVES US FROM OUR SINS (E PULLED OUT AN APPLE TO REMIND ME OF ORIGINAL SIN (E HAD AN ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING 7HAT COULD ) DO v -EANWHILE THE *EWISH COMMUNITY HAD CROWDED AROUND -OISHE AMAZED THAT THIS OLD UNEDUCATED JANITOR COULD DO WHAT ALL THEIR SCHOLARS HAD INSISTED WAS IMPOSSIBLE h7HAT HAPPENED v THEY ASKED HIM h7ELL v SAID -OISHE h&IRST HE RAISED THREE lNGERS TO TELL ME THAT THE *EWS HAD THREE DAYS TO GET OUT OF 2OME ) LIFTED ONE lNGER TO TELL HIM THAT NOT ONE OF US WAS LEAVING 4HEN WAVING HIS HAND AROUND HIS HEAD HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WHOLE CITY WOULD BE CLEARED OF *EWS ) POINTED MY lNGER TO THE GROUND TO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE WERE STAYING RIGHT HERE v h!ND THEN v ASKED A WOMAN h) DON T KNOW v SAID -OISHE h(E TOOK OUT HIS LUNCH AND ) TOOK OUT MINE v 4HE MORAL OF THE STORY WE MIGHT ALL BE LOOKING AT THE SAME EVENTS THE SAME SIGNS THE SAME EVIDENCES "UT THESE EVENTS THESE SIGNS THESE EVIDENCES ARE ALL SILENT THEY DO NOT SPEAK !ND THE INTERPRETATION WE BRING TO THEM OFTEN ARISES FROM OUR OWN PERSONAL PRESUPPOSITIONS 4HAT S WHY IT S VITAL FOR US TO GO BACK EVERY SO OFTEN

TAKE A SEAT AT THE FEET OF *ESUS AND LISTEN AGAINˆWITH MORE ATTENTIVE LESS PREJUDICED EARSˆTO WHAT (E HAS TO SAY AS (E SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE ISSUE OF THE END OF THE WORLD !ND ONE OF (IS MOST SUSTAINED TREATMENTS OF THE THEME COMES IN -ATTHEW "ECAUSE OF SPACE ) FOCUS HERE ON THE lRST VERSES ONLY BELIEVING AS ) DO THAT THEY EFFECTIVELY SUMMARIZE THE ENTIRE DISCOURSE

4HEIR QUESTION FOCUSED ON TWO THINGS TIME AND SIGNS *ESUS WOULD ADDRESS BOTH BUT IT S CRITICAL TO NOTICE WHAT COMES lRST IN (IS RESPONSE !S IF HEARING NOTHING ABOUT TIME OR SIGNS (E SAID h7ATCH OUT THAT NO ONE DECEIVES YOUv VERSE .)6 4HE ISSUE OF DECEPTION THEN IS CRITICAL IN *ESUS RESPONSE AND ) RETURN TO IT BELOW "UT FOR NOW LOOK AT VERSES h9OU WILL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS BUT SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE NOT ALARMED 3UCH THINGS MUST HAPPEN BUT THE END IS STILL TO COME .ATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION

AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM 4HERE WILL BE FAMINES AND EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS PLACES !LL THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS v 7HAT ) NOTICE AS ) MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THE PASSAGE BEFORE US IS THE CALMNESS OF *ESUS THE ABSENCE OF ANY HYSTERIA )N THE WAKE OF CALAMITY AND DISASTER THE DISCIPLES SHOULD NOT EXPECT THE END TO COME TOMORROW OR THE DAY FOLLOWING )N FACT *ESUS ACTUALLY OUTLINES FOR THEM THE SCENARIO OF AN EXTENDED FUTURE h3UCH THINGS v (E SAID hMUST HAPPEN BUT THE END IS STILL TO COME v h"UT THE END IS NOT YETvˆ+*6 )N OTHER WORDS WE SHOULD NOT TRY TO MAKE A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN MILITARY CONmICT OR NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE 3ECOND #OMING !S !DVENTISTS WE VE TRADITIONALLY TENDED TO LINK THE 3ECOND #OMING WITH WAR AND ECONOMIC CRISIS $URING THE &IRST AND 3ECOND 7ORLD 7ARS OUR EVANGELISTIC PREACHING WAS RIFE WITH PREDICTIONS THAT THIS IS IT !ND FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINTˆAND GIVEN CERTAIN PRESUPPOSITIONSˆIT LOOKED SO "UT THE WARS ENDED AND *ESUS DID NOT RETURN 4HE 'REAT $EPRESSION OF THE LATE S EARLY S SAW MILLIONS OUT OF WORK MULTITUDES HUNGRYˆAN ECONOMIC MELTDOWN OF MAJOR PROPORTIONS "UT THE 'REAT $EPRESSION DID NOT TRIGGER THE 3ECOND #OMING !S THE 'ULF 7AR WAS ABOUT TO COMMENCE IN WITH 3ADDAM (USSEIN ISSUING FRIGHTENING WARNINGS ABOUT hTHE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES v OUR PROPHETIC JUICES STIRRED UP AGAIN

WITH SOME !DVENTISTS MOUNTING PULPITS AND RUSHING INTO PRINT WITH WARNINGS ABOUT THE "ATTLE OF !RMAGEDDON 4ODAY THE HYSTERIA CONTINUES /NE !DVENTIST WORKER HAS BEEN CLAIMING TO HAVE SECRET INTELLIGENCE GLEANED FROM SOME UNNAMED EVANGELICAL PASTOR THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE 5NITED 3TATES 'EORGE 7 "USH AT THE TIME HAD GIVEN SEALED ORDERS TO THE ENTIRE ARMED FORCES OF THE COUNTRY AS TO WHAT TO DO WHEN THE NEXT CRISIS COMES /NCE THAT CRISIS BREAKSˆEITHER THROUGH A TERRORIST ATTACK OR A lNANCIAL COLLAPSEˆTHE FAMILIES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL WOULD

#ALM AND 5NHYSTERICAL

)N RESPONSE TO (IS DISCIPLES DROOLING ADMIRATION OF THE 4EMPLE *ESUS IN VERSES AND PREDICTED THE BUILDING S DESTRUCTION 3HOCKED TO THE CORE THREE OF THEM APPROACHED *ESUS PRIVATELY FOR CLARIlCATION AND ELABORATION h7HEN WILL THIS HAPPEN v THEY ASKED hAND WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND OF THE END OF THE AGE v

2OY !DAMS IS ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF !DVENTIST 7ORLD

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

HAVE TWO HOURS TO GET OUT OF THE CITIES AND HEAD FOR THE MOUNTAINS OR ISOLATED TOWNS !LL MAJOR 5 3 CITIES WILL BE SEALED OFF NO ONE ALLOWED TO ENTER OR LEAVE -EANWHILE

THE MILITARY ALREADY HAS IN STORAGE MILLIONS OF CASKET LINERSˆ IN THE !TLANTA AREA ALONEˆPRESUMABLY TO DUMP THE BODIES OF THE MILLIONS WHO D BE KILLED !ND THE IDEA SEEMS TO BE THAT !DVENTISTS SHOULD HAVE A STASH OF FOOD AT THE READY AND BE PREPARED THEMSELVES TO mEE TO THE MOUNTAINS 7HY !DVENTISTS WOULD GET SUCKED IN BY SUCH HYSTERIA BAFmES ME "UT WHEN WE DO WE DEGRADE THE VALUE OF PROPHECY AND MAKE RELIGION A CURIOSITY IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE SYMPATHETIC LISTENERSˆ EVEN POTENTIAL BELIEVERS /NE OF OUR CHIEF CONCERNS SHOULD BE FOR THE LONG TERM CREDIBILITY OF THE CHURCH 7HETHER WE RE SPEAKING OR WRITING WE SHOULD SEEK TO PUT THINGS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE DETRACTORS OF THE CHURCH CANNOT EASILY TEAR THEM APART OR POKE FUN AT THEM ,ET S REMEMBER THAT OUR PIOUS PREDICTIONS OF THE NEARNESS OF THE COMING BASED ON THE LATEST CALAMITY DO NOT INmUENCE THE TIME OF THE EVENT )F THEY DID THEN *ESUS WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE MID NINETEENTH CENTURY A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED ADVENT EXPECTATION AND FERVOR 7E RE TALKING HERE ABOUT THE 3OVEREIGN 'OD OF THE UNIVERSE (IS PLANS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY 2OY !DAMS MISINTERPRETATION OF THE PROPHECY !S %LLEN ' 7HITE PUT IT h,IKE THE STARS IN THE VAST CIRCUIT OF THEIR APPOINTED PATH

'OD S PURPOSES KNOW NO HASTE AND NO DELAYv 4HE $ESIRE OF !GES P 7HAT #ONCERNS -E -OST

7HAT GIVES ME THE GREATEST CONCERN AS ) READ -ATTHEW IS NOT WHAT *ESUS SAID ABOUT WARS EARTHQUAKES FAMINES

AND PESTILENCES BUT WHAT (E SAID ABOUT US !FTER SPEAKING ABOUT (IS FOLLOWERS BEING PERSECUTED PUT TO DEATH AND hHATED BY ALL NATIONSv HEAVY STUFF (E SAYS THAT hMANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH AND WILL BETRAY AND HATE EACH OTHERv VERSES

!GAINST THAT BACKGROUND HEAR THIS FROM %LLEN ' 7HITE h!S THE STORM APPROACHES A LARGE CLASS WHO HAVE PROFESSED FAITH IN THE THIRD ANGEL S MESSAGE BUT HAVE NOT BEEN SANCTIlED THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH ABANDON THEIR POSITION AND JOIN THE RANKS OF THE OPPOSITIONx -EN OF TALENT AND PLEASING ADDRESS WHO ONCE REJOICED IN THE TRUTH EMPLOY THEIR POWERS TO DECEIVE AND MISLEAD SOULS 4HEY BECOME THE MOST BITTER ENEMIES OF THEIR FORMER BRETHRENv 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY P 4HEN LOOK AT VERSE hAND MANY FALSE PROPHETS WILL APPEAR AND DECEIVE MANY PEOPLE v 7E SOMETIMES THINK WE RE THE SMARTEST GENERATION "UT AMONG US ARE SOME OF THE MOST GULLIBLE SOULS WHO EVER WALKED THE PLANET 4HE SPRING OF SAW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MAKING PILGRIMAGES TO THE UNDERSIDE OF A #HICAGO RAILWAY BRIDGE

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

7HAT GIVES ME 7 HAT GGIVES M ME THE GGREATTEST CCONCERN THE GREATEST CONCERN AS ) RREADD -ATTH HE W AS ) READ -ATTHEW IS N NOT W WHAT **ESSUS IS NOT WHAT *ESUS SAID AABOU UT W WARS

SAID ABOUT WARS

EARTHQUAKES FFAMIINES

EARTHQUAKES FAMINES

ANDD PPESTTILEN NCES AND PESTILENCES BUT W WHATT ( (E SSAID BUT WHAT (E SAID ABOU UT U US ABOUT US WHERE SEEPING SEWAGE WATER HAD CREATED A STAIN THOUGHT TO RESEMBLE THE 6IRGIN -ARY )F A SEWAGE WATER STAIN COULD PRODUCE SUCH A RESPONSE

IMAGINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WHAT %LLEN ' 7HITE SAYS HERE COMES TO PASS EXACTLY AS SHE WROTE IT h!S THE CROWNING ACT IN THE GREAT DRAMA OF DECEPTION

3ATAN HIMSELF WILL PERSONATE #HRISTx )N DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE EARTH 3ATAN WILL MANIFEST HIMSELF AMONG MEN AS A MAJESTIC BEING OF DAZZLING BRIGHTNESSx 4HE GLORY THAT SURROUNDS HIM IS UNSURPASSED BY ANYTHING THAT MORTAL EYES HAVE YET BEHELD 4HE SHOUT OF TRIUMPH RINGS OUT UPON THE AIR @#HRIST HAS COME #HRIST HAS COME 4HE PEOPLE PROSTRATE THEMSELVES IN ADORATION BEFORE HIM WHILE HE LIFTS UP HIS HANDS AND PRONOUNCES A BLESSING UPON THEMx (E HEALS THE DISEASES OF THE PEOPLE AND THEN IN HIS ASSUMED CHARACTER OF #HRIST HE CLAIMS TO HAVE CHANGED THE 3ABBATH TO 3UNDAYx 4HIS IS THE STRONG ALMOST OVERMASTERING DELUSIONv 4HE 'REAT #ONTROVERSY P 4HESE ARE THE THINGS THAT SHOULD CONCERN US MORE 7ILL WE STAND FAITHFUL 4HE 0INNACLE OF THE 0ASSAGE

)F WE RE LOOKING FOR A SIGN THAT WOULD SIGNAL THE ACTUAL IMMINENCE OF THE COMING OF *ESUSˆA SIGN THAT WHEN FULlLLED WE CAN SAY h4HIS IS IT v THEN THE PLACE TO lND IT IS -ATTHEW h!ND THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE

! 0 0 ( / 4 / $ ) 4! ! , ! . ' + ! 2 !

! 0 0 ( / 4 / 0 % 4 % 2 $ % * / . '

! 0 0 ( / 4 / - ! 2 + 2 ) # ( ! 2 $ 3 0 / / ,

PREACHED IN THE WHOLE WORLD AS A TESTIMONY TO ALL NATIONS

AND THEN THE END WILL COME v 4HIS IS NOT A mASHY SIGN )T DOES NOT ATTRACT HYSTERICAL ATTENTION )T DOES NOT TOUCH OFF PANIC BUTTONS "UT IT S UTTERLY IMPORTANT )T S THE ONLY SIGN *ESUS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE !DVENT 3OME MAY TAKE PERVERSE COMFORT IN THE APPARENTLY SLOW ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL ASSUMING THEY COULD HAVE THEIR mING OUT IN THE WORLD KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE FULlLLMENT OF THE GOSPEL COMMISSION THEN JUMP BACK INTO THE CHURCH AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR "UT THAT WOULD BE FOOLHARDY )N THE lRST PLACE THE FULlLLMENT OF THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL IN ALL THE WORLD IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN HUMANLY MEASURE !S HUMANS WE CANNOT KNOW WHEN THIS TASK WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED TO THE SATISFACTION OF 'OD S INSCRUTABLE WISDOM .OR CAN WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE MULTITUDE OF AGENCIES OUR OMNIPOTENT 'OD HAS DEPLOYED TO ACCOMPLISH (IS WORK AMONG THE NATIONS /NLY ETERNITY WILL REVEAL THAT !ND ) THINK WE LL BE SURPRISED ! SECOND CONSIDERATION ON THIS POINT IS THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE /N THE MORNING OF 3EPTEMBER

SOULS MADE THEIR WAY TO THEIR OFlCES AND APPOINTMENTS IN THE MASSIVE TWIN TOWERS ACROSS FROM THE (UDSON 2IVER IN .EW 9ORK #ITY .O ONE EVEN VAGUELY SUSPECTED ANYTHING BUT A NORMAL DAY "UT SECONDS PAST BOOM !ND A

THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE BLOWN TO SHREDS WITHOUT A MOMENT S WARNING /UR ONLY SECURITY IS TO ANCHOR OURSELVES IN 'OD TODAYˆ AND EVERY DAYˆALLOWING THE 'REAT #OMMISSION TO BE FULlLLED IN US AND THROUGH US 4IME OF %XPECTATION AND *OY

4HE PHRASING OF ,UKE LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE ADVENT THERE D BE A REPRISE A REPEAT OF CERTAIN ADVENT OMENS PERHAPS ON A MORE INTENSIVE SCALE 4HE PASSAGE SPEAKS OF CERTAIN PORTENTS IN THE SUN MOON AND STARS OF hANGUISH AND PERPLEXITYv AT DEVELOPMENTS ON EARTH AND OF THE SHAKING OF THE HEAVENLY BODIES h!T THAT TIME v *ESUS SAYS hTHEY WILL SEE THE 3ON OF -AN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORYv VERSE "UT THROUGH ALL THIS CALAMITOUS TIME WE RE NOT TO BE AFRAID 7HEN YOU SEE THESE THINGS COME TO PASS *ESUS SAID THEN LOOK UP LIFT UP YOUR HEADS STRAIGHTEN UP YOUR SHOULDERS PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEPS A SMILE ON YOUR FACE

A SONG IN YOUR HEART AND LET THE SHEER JOY OF THAT FANTASTIC HOPE REVERBERATE THROUGH EVERY lBER OF YOUR BEING

hBECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR v

5NLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ALL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES ARE FROM THE .)6

# ,/ # + ) - ! ' % 3 " 9 # 2 ! ) ' * % 7 % , , * !9 3 ) - - / . 3 $ ) ' ) 4! , ,9 - / $ ) & ) % $

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

& 5 . $ ! - % . 4 ! , " % , ) % & 3

/

NE OF THE MEMORIES FROM MY UPBRINGING HAPPENED IN THE MISSION lELD /NE DAY MY PARENTS SUGGESTED THAT TO MEASURE OUR GROWTH RATE WE MARK OUR HEIGHT ON ONE OF THE DOORPOSTS OF OUR HOME "EING THE OLDEST ) WAS THE TALLEST OF THE FOUR CHILDREN -Y SIBLINGS BECAME A BIT JEALOUS OF THAT FACT AND DETERMINED TO INCREASE THEIR FOOD INTAKE SO THEY MIGHT GROW FASTER AND REACH AND SURPASS THEIR OLDER BROTHER IN STATURE !N INTERESTING CONTEST STARTED ) WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE ALL SET UP THE GOAL OF GROWING IN #HRIST BECOMING LIKE (IM ) AM NOT SAYING TO GROW IN THE COMMANDMENTS /R GROW IN THE DOCTRINES /R GROW IN THE CHURCH 7ITHOUT REDUCING THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE AREAS OUR BIGGEST NEED IS TO GROW IN OUR OLDEST "ROTHER

*ESUS #HRIST

.5-"%2

4O BE WITHOUT #HRIST CUTS US OFF FROM THE SOURCE OF LIFE AND CHANGE AND MAKES OUR ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION INEVITABLE 3ALVATION IS NOT A ONE TIME EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ONLY BY ACCEPTING #HRIST )T IS NOT SOMETHING THAT OCCURS ONCE AND IS DONE )T INVOLVES RATHER A PROCESS A GROWING IN #HRIST (EB )T IS A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES JUSTIlCATION AND ALSO SANCTIlCATION A PURIlCATION THAT ENDS IN REDEMPTION 2ACHEL S 3TORY

2ACHEL WAS AN ATTRACTIVE YOUNG MEMBER OF ONE OF MY CHURCHES THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE CHURCH ELDERS 3HE WAS A REAL PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH AMONG OTHER THINGS DRESSING IN AN EXTREMELY PROVOCATIVE WAY SHORT SKIRTS LOW NECK LINES (ER PARENTS MEMBERS PASTORS ALL TALKED WITH HER TO NO AVAIL (ER SITUATION WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE CHURCH BOARD ) APPROACHED HER USING ALL MY PERSUASION SKILLS AS A YOUNG PASTOR FRESH FROM THEOLOGICAL TRAINING .OTHING HAPPENED 3UDDENLY WE ALL NOTICED THAT HER WAY OF DRESSING AND OTHER EXTERNAL DETAILS CHANGED 3URPRISED AS EVERYONE ELSE ) TALKED WITH HER ONE DAY EXPECTING TO HEAR THAT IT WAS ONE OF MY hPOWERFULv SERMONS THAT DID IT "UT HER ANSWER WAS VERY SIMPLE 3HE HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A YOUNG MEMBER OF A VERY STRICT RELIGIOUS GROUP 3HE LOVED HIM SO MUCH AND KNOWING THAT HE COULD NOT APPROVE OF THE WAY SHE LOOKED SHE STARTED TO DRESS AND ARRANGE HERSELF DIFFERENTLY (E HAD NEVER BROUGHT UP THE MATTER WITH HER (ER LOVE FOR HIM PRODUCED THE TRANSFORMATION THAT ALL THE TALKS AND SERMONS COULD NOT DO -IRACLES OF TRANSFORMATION OCCUR WHEN WE REALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH *ESUS 7E START GROWING IN (IM 4HE SANCTIlCATION PROCESS BEGINS IN FULL A DYNAMIC PROGRESSIVE EXPERIENCE %VENTUALLY WE BECOME FULLY DEVELOPED FULL GROWN #HRISTIANS h4WO THOUSAND YEARS AGO AN AGED PREACHER PENNED IN THREE WORDS ONE OF THE MOST SUBLIME TRUTHS OF THE AGES 4HOSE THREE WORDS SUM UP x ;WHAT #HRISTIAN LIFE IS ALL ABOUT= 4HE PREACHER WAS THE APOSTLE 0AUL HIS MESSAGE AS TRULY FOR US TODAY AS FOR THE CHURCH AT #OLOSSE DECLARES

@#HRIST IS ALL #OL x )F YOU AND ) EVER WALK THE STREETS OF GOLD x IT WILL BE BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUND THE ONE WAY IN THIS LIFE THE *ESUS WAY AND FOLLOWED ITx @.EITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED !CTS

+*6 v 2OBERT 0IERSON 7E 3TILL "ELIEVE PP

4HIS IS THE TOUCHSTONE OF THE GREAT #HRIST CENTERED !DVENT MESSAGE SALVATION IN #HRIST

,IKE !LL 4HINGS

V NG ,

"Y 6ICTOR !

3CHULZ

'ROWTH HAPPENS WHEN WE ABIDE IN #HRIST

7E #AN T "E 3TATIC

)F #HRIST REIGNS WITHIN 2OM THEN WE LIVE IN A PROCESS OF CHANGE h4HOUGH OUR OUTER NATURE IS WASTING AWAY OUR INNER NATURE IS BEING RENEWED EVERY DAYv #OR

236 h7E ALL WITH UNVEILED FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE ,ORD ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY JUST AS BY THE 3PIRIT OF THE ,ORDv #OR #HRIST OUR SUPREME EXAMPLE SETS THE TONE FOR US 4HE "IBLE SAYS THAT (E hINCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE AND IN FAVOR WITH 'OD AND MENv ,UKE !LMOST EVERYTHING IN NATURE CHANGES %VERYTHING THAT IS ALIVE GROWS )F THERE IS NO GROWTH CERTAIN DEATH IS THE OUTCOME 0HYSICALLY WHEN WE ARE BORN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW )F THERE IS NO GROWTH WE DIE 4HE SAME HAPPENS IN THE #HRISTIAN EXPERIENCE 7HEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW )T INVOLVES CONSTANT CHANGE 4HERE IS NO NEUTRAL GROUND )F THERE IS NO GROWTH SPIRITUAL DEATH IS CERTAIN

6ICTOR ! 3CHULZ IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVANGELIST RESIDING IN !LBERTA #ANADA

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

!NOTHER #ASE

!S A THEOLOGY STUDENT IN AND AS PART OF MY PRACTICUM ) WAS ASSISTING ONE OF OUR CHURCH S GREAT PREACHERS IN AN EVANGELISTIC SERIES !SIDE FROM THE VISITING AND GIVING "IBLE STUDIES ) WAS ASSIGNED IN THE EVENINGS TO BE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE HUGE THEATER TO WELCOME THE VISITORS /NE EVENING A YOUNG WOMAN ENTERED AND HANDED ME A PIECE OF PAPER SAYING THAT SHE NEEDED TO TALK WITH THE PERSON WHOSE NAME WAS ON IT 7HEN ) TOLD HER ) WAS THE PERSON WHOSE NAME WAS ON THE PAPER SHE STARTED TO CRY AND CRY !FTER A WHILE EMBARRASSED BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE COMING IN AND WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON ) TOOK HER TO THE NEARBY PALM LINED BOULEVARD WITH SEATS IN THE CENTER (ER CRYING CONTINUED HER EYES LIKE WATERFALLS HER TEARS mOWING LIKE A TORRENT ) WATCHED THAT BEAUTIFUL YOUNG FACE DISTORTED BY ANGUISH !FTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY SHE COMPOSED HERSELF AND STARTED TO SHARE HER STORY !LICE NOT HER REAL NAME HAD GROWN UP IN AN ABUSIVE HOME !S A TEENAGER SHE FELL DEEPLY IN LOVE 3OON THE YOUNG MAN STARTED TO ASK HER FOR WHAT HE CALLED hPROOF OF LOVE v AND THEY HAD SEXUAL RELATIONS "UT HE WAS JUST USING HER TO SATISFY HIS PASSIONS

AND SOON DISCARDED HER !FTER THAT SHE MET ANOTHER BOY 6ULNERABLE AS SHE WAS AGAIN THINGS ENDED UP IN SEX AND AFTER A WHILE THAT BOY ALSO LEFT HER ! THIRD PERSON THEN ENTERED INTO HER LIFE 3HE FELT THAT THIS LOVE WAS PURE AND SINCERE "UT THE STORY REPEATED ITSELF AND THIS TIME TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE SHE DISCOVERED SHE WAS PREGNANT 4HE THIRD BOYFRIEND HEARING ABOUT IT DISAPPEARED

LEAVING HER ON HER OWN &EARING HER DAD AND FOLLOWING BAD COUNSEL SHE HAD AN ABORTION

3O AT THE TENDER AGE OF HERE SHE WAS WITH ME THAT -AY EVENING SEATED ON THAT BOULEVARD FEELING REJECTED BY EVERYONE GUILTYˆBECAUSE SHE BELIEVED SHE HAD KILLED AN INCIPIENT LIFE HER OWN BABY 3HE FELT ABANDONED BY HER PARENTS AND BOYFRIENDS ALONE DESPERATE NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO (OW 'OD 7ORKS

)T WAS A NEIGHBOR OF HERS TO WHOM ) D BEEN GIVING "IBLE STUDIES WHO AFTER NOTICING SHE D BECOME SUICIDAL WROTE MY NAME ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER THAT EVENING HOPING WE COULD HELP HER !S SHE CRIED ) WAS ASKING THE ,ORD HOW TO HELP HER 3UDDENLY SHE STOOD UP AND STARTED TO SHOUT h) AM LOST ) AM LOST 4HERE IS NO HOPE FOR ME ) WILL THROW MYSELF IN THE WAY OF THE lRST BUS THAT COMES ) AM LOST v 7HEN lNALLY SHE CALMED DOWN ) READ TO HER THE STORY OF THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN AND HOW *ESUS FORGAVE HER AND SAID h'O AND SIN NO MOREv *OHN 3LOWLY PEACE CAME TO THAT HEART 7E PRAYED TOGETHER AND ) GAVE HER A COPY OF 3TEPS TO #HRIST BY %LLEN ' 7HITE RECOMMENDING ESPECIALLY THE CHAPTER ON FORGIVENESS 9EARS LATER ) RETURNED TO THAT SAME BIG CITY AND WENT TO VISIT THE MODERN BUILDING PURCHASED AS AN EVANGELISTIC CENTER AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL EVANGELISTIC EFFORT HAD ENDED !ND WHO WAS THERE AS THE RECEPTIONIST OF THE CENTER !LICE !N INTENSELY SPIRITUAL CLEARLY HAPPY WOMAN TOTALLY AT PEACE WITH HERSELF 3HE SURELY HAD GROWN IN #HRIST !ND THAT GROWTH EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE YOURS AND MINE AS WELL

"IBLE TEXTS CREDITED TO 236 ARE FROM THE 2EVISED 3TANDARD 6ERSION OF THE "IBLE COPYRIGHT

BY THE $IVISION OF #HRISTIAN %DUCATION OF THE .ATIONAL #OUNCIL OF THE #HURCHES OF #HRIST IN THE 5 3 ! 5SED BY PERMISSION

'ROWING IN

#HRIST

"Y (IS DEATH ON THE CROSS *ESUS TRIUMPHED OVER THE FORCES OF EVIL (E WHO SUBJUGATED THE DEMONIC SPIRITS DURING (IS EARTHLY MINISTRY HAS BROKEN THEIR POWER AND MADE CERTAIN THEIR ULTIMATE DOOM *ESUS VICTORY GIVES US VICTORY OVER THE EVIL FORCES THAT STILL SEEK TO CONTROL US

AS WE WALK WITH (IM IN PEACE JOY AND ASSURANCE OF (IS LOVE .OW THE (OLY

3PIRIT DWELLS WITHIN US AND EMPOWERS US #ONTINUALLY COMMITTED TO *ESUS AS OUR 3AVIOR AND ,ORD WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE BURDEN OF OUR PAST DEEDS .O LONGER DO WE LIVE IN THE DARKNESS FEAR OF EVIL POWERS

IGNORANCE AND MEANINGLESSNESS OF OUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE )N THIS NEW FREEDOM IN *ESUS WE ARE CALLED TO GROW INTO THE LIKENESS OF (IS CHARACTER COMMUNING WITH

(IM DAILY IN PRAYER FEEDING ON (IS 7ORD

MEDITATING ON IT AND ON (IS PROVIDENCE

SINGING (IS PRAISES GATHERING TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP AND PARTICIPATING IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH !S WE GIVE OURSELVES IN LOVING SERVICE TO THOSE AROUND US AND IN WITNESSING TO (IS SALVATION (IS CONSTANT PRESENCE WITH US THROUGH THE 3PIRIT TRANSFORMS EVERY MOMENT AND EVERY TASK INTO A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE 0S

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ETWEEN THE lRST AND THE SECOND ADVENT OF #HRIST A WONDERFUL CONTRAST WILL BE SEEN .O HUMAN LANGUAGE CAN PORTRAY THE SCENES OF THE SECOND COMING OF THE 3ON OF -AN IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN (E IS TO COME WITH HIS OWN GLORY AND WITH THE GLORY OF THE &ATHER AND OF THE HOLY ANGELS (E WILL COME CLAD IN THE ROBE OF LIGHT WHICH HE HAS WORN FROM THE DAYS OF ETERNITY !NGELS WILL ACCOMPANY HIM 4EN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND WILL ESCORT HIM ON HIS WAY 4HE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET WILL BE HEARD CALLING THE SLEEPING DEAD FROM THE GRAVE 4HE VOICE OF #HRIST WILL PENETRATE THE TOMB AND PIERCE THE EARS OF THE DEAD hAND ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES x SHALL COME FORTH v h!ND BEFORE HIM SHALL BE GATHERED ALL NATIONS v 4HE VERY /NE WHO DIED FOR MAN IS TO JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY FOR THE &ATHER hHATH COMMITTED ALL JUDGMENT UNTO THE 3ON x AND HATH GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT ALSO BECAUSE HE IS THE 3ON OF MAN v 7HAT A DAY THAT WILL BE WHEN THOSE WHO REJECTED #HRIST WILL LOOK UPON HIM WHOM THEIR SINS HAVE PIERCED 4HEY WILL THEN KNOW THAT HE PROFFERED THEM ALL HEAVEN IF THEY WOULD BUT STAND BY HIS SIDE AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN THAT HE PAID AN INlNITE PRICE FOR THEIR REDEMPTION BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT FREEDOM FROM THE GALLING SLAVERY OF SINx

*ERUSALEM AND SEE HIM BREAK INTO AN AGONY OF TEARS OVER THE IMPENITENT CITY THAT WOULD NOT RECEIVE HIS MESSAGE (IS VOICE WHICH WAS HEARD IN INVITATION IN ENTREATY IN TONES OF TENDER SOLICITUDE SEEMS AGAIN TO FALL UPON THEIR EARS 4HE SCENE IN THE GARDEN OF 'ETHSEMANE RISES BEFORE THEM AND THEY HEAR #HRIST S AMAZING PRAYER h&ATHER IF IT BE POSSIBLE LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME v !GAIN THEY HEAR THE VOICE OF 0ILATE

SAYING h) lND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL v

4HEY SEE THE SHAMEFUL SCENE IN THE JUDGMENT HALL WHEN "ARABBAS STOOD

BY THE SIDE OF #HRIST AND THEY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CHOOSING THE GUILTLESS /NE 4HEY HEAR AGAIN THE WORDS OF 0ILATE h7HOM WILL YE THAT ) RELEASE UNTO YOU "ARABBAS OR *ESUS WHICH IS CALLED #HRIST v 4HEY HEAR THE RESPONSE

h!WAY WITH THIS MAN AND RELEASE UNTO US "ARABBAS v 4O THE QUESTION OF 0ILATE h7HAT SHALL ) DO THEN WITH *ESUS v THE ANSWER COMES h,ET HIM BE CRUCIlED v

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!S THEY GAZE UPON HIS GLORY THERE mASHES BEFORE THEIR MINDS THE MEMORY OF THE 3ON OF -AN CLAD IN THE GARB OF HUMANITY 4HEY REMEMBER HOW THEY TREATED HIM HOW THEY REFUSED HIMx 4HE SCENES OF #HRIST S LIFE APPEAR BEFORE THEM IN ALL THEIR CLEARNESS !LL HE DID ALL HE SAID THE HUMILIATION TO WHICH HE DESCENDED TO SAVE THEM FROM THE TAINT OF SIN RISES BEFORE THEM IN CONDEMNATION 4HEY BEHOLD HIM RIDING INTO

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4HE ,ORD IS x NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE ˆ 0ETER

!GAIN THEY SEE THEIR 3ACRIlCE BEARING THE REPROACH OF THE CROSS 4HEY HEAR THE LOUD TRIUMPHANT TONES TAUNTINGLY EXCLAIM h)F THOU BE THE 3ON OF 'OD COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS v h(E SAVED OTHERS HIMSELF HE CAN NOT SAVE v .OW THEY BEHOLD HIM NOT IN THE GARDEN OF 'ETHSEMANE NOT IN THE JUDGMENT HALL NOT ON THE CROSS OF #ALVARY 4HE SIGNS OF HIS HUMILIATION HAVE PASSED AWAY AND THEY LOOK UPON THE FACE OF 'OD ˆTHE FACE THEY

LOOK UPON HIM WHO DIED TO TAKE AWAY THEIR GUILT THEY CRY OUT TO THE ROCKS AND MOUNTAINS h&ALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE ,AMB FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND v -Y ,IFE IN 2EVIEW

7E ARE NOW AMID THE PERILS OF THE LAST DAYS 4HE SCENES OF CONmICT ARE HASTENING ON AND THE DAY OF DAYS IS JUST UPON US !RE WE PREPARED FOR THE

WHAT IT DID WHEN IT WAS PERFORMED 4HE SECRET SIN THAT APPEARS AS NOTHING NOW WHEN PLACED BEFORE MEN IN THE LIGHT OF 'OD S COUNTENANCE WILL APPEAR GRIEVOUSx (OW STANDS OUR ACCOUNT IN THE BOOKS OF HEAVEN (AVE WE CHOSEN TO BE PARTAKERS WITH #HRIST IN HIS SUFFERINGS (AVE WE BEEN LEARNING IN THE SCHOOL OF #HRIST HIS MEEKNESS AND LOWLINESS OF HEART (AVE WE STOOD BY THE SIDE OF #HRIST TO BEAR HIS REPROACH (AVE WE TAKEN HIS YOKE UPON US AND LIFTED THE CROSS IN SELF DENIAL AND SELF SACRIlCE (AVE WE HELPED TO BEAR HIS BURDENS

AND CO OPERATED WITH HIM IN HIS WORK 3ALVATION S 0LAN #OMPLETE

RING SPIT UPON ˆTHE FACE WHICH PRIESTS AND RULERS STRUCK WITH THE PALMS OF THEIR HANDS .OW THE TRUTH IN ALL ITS VIVIDNESS IS REVEALED TO THEM )T IS THE WRATH OF THE ,AMB THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET ˆOF HIM WHO CAME TO TAKE AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD ˆOF HIM WHO HAD EVER ACTED TOWARD THEM WITH INlNITE TENDERNESS LONG SUFFERING PATIENCE AND INEXPRESSIBLE LOVE 4HEY REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE FORFEITED ALL THE RICHES OF HIS GREAT SALVATION !S THEY

ISSUE %VERY DEED SMALL AND GREAT IS TO BE BROUGHT INTO RECOGNITION 4HAT WHICH HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TRIVIAL HERE WILL THEN APPEAR AS IT IS 4HE TWO MITES OF THE WIDOW WILL BE RECOGNIZED 4HE CUP OF COLD WATER OFFERED THE PRISON VISITED THE HUNGRY FED ˆEACH WILL BRING ITS OWN REWARD !ND THAT UNFULlLLED DUTY THAT SELlSH ACT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN )N THE OPEN COURT AROUND THE THRONE OF 'OD IT WILL APPEAR A VERY DIFFERENT THING FROM

3ATAN HAS COME DOWN WITH GREAT POWER x BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ANY TO BE DECEIVED AND WE SHALL NOT BE IF WE HAVE FULLY TAKEN OUR STAND WITH #HRIST TO FOLLOW HIM THROUGH EVIL AS WELL AS THROUGH GOOD REPORTx 4HE GLORIOUS MEMORIAL OF 'OD S WONDERFUL POWER IS SOON TO BE RESTORED TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE 4HEN PARADISE LOST WILL BE PARADISE RESTORED 'OD S PLAN FOR THE REDEMPTION OF MAN WILL BE COMPLETE 4HE 3ON OF -AN WILL BESTOW UPON THE RIGHTEOUS THE CROWN OF EVERLASTING LIFE AND THEY SHALL hSERVE HIM DAY AND NIGHT IN HIS TEMPLE AND HE THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE SHALL DWELL AMONG THEM 4HEY SHALL HUNGER NO MORE NEITHER THIRST ANY MORE NEITHER SHALL THE SUN LIGHT ON THEM NOR ANY HEAT &OR THE ,AMB WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE SHALL FEED THEM AND SHALL LEAD THEM UNTO LIVING FOUNTAINS OF WATERS AND 'OD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES v 4HIS ARTICLE IS EXCERPTED FROM ONE THAT lRST APPEARED IN THE !DVENT 2EVIEW AND 3ABBATH (ERALD NOW THE !DVENTIST 2EVIEW 3EPTEMBER 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS BELIEVE THAT %LLEN ' 7HITE EX ERCISED THE BIBLICAL GIFT OF PROPHECY DURING MORE THAN YEARS OF PUBLIC MINISTRY

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!DVENTISTS AND -USLIMS

"Y 7ILLIAM ' *OHNSSON

#ONVERSAT ON IN

"REAKING DOWN PREJUDICE BY BUILDING BRIDGES

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HE WORLD OF )SLAM IS CHANGING BEFORE OUR EYES AS -USLIM LEADERS REACH OUT IN DIALOGUE TO #HRISTIANS AND *EWS 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS INCREASINGLY ARE INVOLVED AS INVITEES AND THEMSELVES ARE INITIATING CONVERSATIONS WITH -USLIMS 7HY WOULD !DVENTISTS WISH TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS !ND WHY WOULD -USLIMS GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF #HRISTIAN BODIES BE INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH A COMPARATIVELY SMALLER FAITH GROVE IN THE #HRISTIAN SCENE 4HE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS GIVE INSIGHTS INTO THE RAPID CHANGES TAKING PLACE /UR ,ONG 3HADOWS

&ROM THE !DVENTIST SIDE THE REASONS FOR OUR ENGAGEMENT ARE SIMPLE 4HEY BOIL DOWN TO ONE WORD MISSION 7E ARE A WORLD FAITH WITH A DISTINCT IDENTITY AND MISSION TO DECLARE 'OD S CHARACTER AND TO HELP PREPARE A PEOPLE FOR THE SOON RETURN OF *ESUS #HRIST )SLAM LIKEWISE IS A WORLD FAITH WITH

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ *ANUARY

FOLLOWERS NOT ONLY IN COUNTRIES STRETCHING FROM -OROCCO TO )NDONESIA BUT INCREASINGLY IN COUNTRIES WITH TRADITIONAL #HRISTIAN BASES 4ODAY SOME MILLION -USLIMS LIVE IN &RANCE REPRESENTING PERCENT OF THE POPULATION )N THE 5NITED 3TATES -USLIMS NUMBER AROUND MILLION 4HUS ALMOST ANYWHERE ON THE FACE OF THE GLOBE

!DVENTISTS AND -USLIMS OCCUPY THE SAME GROUND -USLIMS ARE OUR NEIGHBORS NOT JUST FOLLOWERS OF A FAR OFF RELIGION !S SERVANTS OF THE ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST IT IS INCUMBENT ON US TO INTERACT WITH -USLIMS ON ALL LEVELS FROM THE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR TO OFlCIAL CONTACTS &OR MANY YEARS THE !DVENTIST #HURCH HAS ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER CHURCHES 4HESE ENCOUNTERS HAVE RESULTED IN MUCH GOOD AS STEREOTYPES HAVE BEEN BROKEN DOWN AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN REMOVED /N THE !DVENTIST SIDE A GREAT BENElT HAS BEEN THE DROPPING OF THE FALSE DESIGNATION OF OUR CHURCH AS A hCULTv OR hSECT v

) HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE INTERCHURCH CONVERSATIONS FOR MORE THAN YEARS AND AM CONVINCED THAT THEY ARE OF SIGNIlCANT VALUE ) ALSO HAVE BECOME PERSUADED THAT IN ALL SUCH MEETINGS WE SHOULD PRESENT OUR DISTINCTIVE BELIEFS GRACIOUSLY

BUT CLEARLY WINSOMELY BUT HONESTLY HOLDING BACK NOTHING THAT WE STAND FOR 4O ATTEMPT TO CURRY FAVOR WITH THE OTHER PARTY IS TO MISLEAD AND TO INVITE BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM DISASTER 7HETHER OUR CONVERSATIONS ARE WITH OTHER #HRISTIANS OR WITH FOLLOWERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS OUR PURPOSE IS THAT THERE SHALL BE A GENUINE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF WHO WE ARE AND WE OURSELVES CAN BEST STATE THAT THE VALUES WE SEEK AND HOLD HIGH AND WHY WE SEEK THE OPEN SCENE AND NOT OBSCURITY

/NE OF THE lRST -USLIM INITIATIVES FOR DIALOGUE IN RECENT TIMES ORIGINATED IN THE STATE OF 1ATAR ON THE 0ERSIAN 'ULF &OR SIX YEARS IN SUCCESSION THE -INISTRY OF &OREIGN !FFAIRS AND THE $EPARTMENT OF 3HARIA 3TUDIES AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF 1ATAR HAS SPONSORED AN )NTERNATIONAL #ONFERENCE ON )NTERFAITH $IALOGUE &OR THE MOST RECENT MEETINGSˆIN AND ˆ!DVENTISTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND WITH ALL EXPENSES PAID AND TO PRESENT PAPERS 7ITH THE RELEASE OF THE OPEN LETTER h! #OMMON 7ORDv ON /CTOBER

SIGNED BY HIGH RANKING -USLIM CLERICS AND LEADERS THE PACE OF INTERFAITH ENGAGEMENT HAS ACCELERATED .OW hDIALOGUEv SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME THE BUZZ WORD 4HE 6ATICAN HAS SET IN MOTION ONGOING 5NIQUE #HALLENGES CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERS OF )SLAM AND THE MAJOR 4HESE NEW CONVERSATIONS PRESENT US WITH NEW #HRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS PLUS BODIES LIKE THE 7ORLD CHALLENGES -USLIMS TEND TO PAINT ALL #HRISTIANS WITH #OUNCIL OF #HURCHES ARE MEETING TO DECIDE THEIR RESPONSE THE SAME BRUSH IN LIFESTYLE AS PORK EATERS AND ALCOHOL TO THE INVITATION GIVEN IN THE OPEN LETTER DRINKERS IN GEOPOLITICAL STANCE AS PRO )SRAEL AND ANTI 4EN DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE OPEN LETTER THE !RAB ! MAJOR GOAL FOR !DVENTISTS IS TO SHOW AND EXPLAIN !DVENTIST #HURCH SENT A REPLY TO ITS FRAMERS APPLAUDING THAT WE ARE NOT JUST ANOTHER #HRISTIAN DENOMINATION THAT THEIR INITIATIVE AND INDICATING OUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN OUR LIFESTYLE IS SIMILAR TO -USLIMS IN KEY AREAS AND THAT DIALOGUE WITH -USLIMS 7HEN A JOINT #HRISTIAN -USLIM WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF FAITH WHOSE MEETING OF SCHOLARS MET AT 9ALE 5NIVERSITY IN *ULY AN AGENDA IS NOT DRIVEN BY THE WINDS AND DIRECTIONS OF SECULAR !DVENTIST WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE GROUP OF ASSEMBLED FOR POLITICS 7E ALSO WANT TO CONVEY THAT OUR CONVICTIONS ABOUT DISCUSSIONS ,IKEWISE WHEN +ING !BDULLAH OF THE +INGDOM RELIGIOUS FREEDOMˆA TOPIC OF KEEN INTEREST TO -USLIMS IN OF 3AUDI !RABIA CALLED A MEETING TO PLAN THE INTERNATIONAL SOME COUNTRIESˆLEAD US TO ENCOURAGE LEADERS OF ALL NATIONS INTERFAITH DIALOGUE THAT CONVENED IN -ADRID 3PAIN *ULY TO PERMIT ADHERENTS OF MINORITY FAITHS TO BUILD PLACES OF

AN !DVENTIST WAS INCLUDED AMONG THE INVITEES WORSHIP AND ASSEMBLE TOGETHER )N THE 5NITED 3TATES WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP 7HILE THE DIFFERENCES OF BELIEF BETWEEN !DVENTISTS AND WITH THE )SLAMIC 3OCIETY OF .ORTH !MERICA THE LARGEST -USLIMSˆPARTICULARLY OVER THE PERSON AND WORK OF *ESUS -USLIM ORGANIZATION IN !MERICA 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE #HRISTˆARE MAJOR AND ARE NOT TO BE hDUMBED DOWN v THERE HOSTED A MEETING WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CHURCH S ARE SIGNIlCANT POINTS OF CONTACT THAT INVITE DIALOGUE !MONG HEADQUARTERS AND !DVENTISTS AND -USLIMS COOPERATED IN THESE ARE THE HIGH REGARD WE EACH HAVE FOR HOLY WRITINGS A JOINT (EALTH %XPO AT THE GROUP S ANNUAL CONVENTION HELD BELIEF IN CREATION RATHER THAN EVOLUTION THE EXPECTATION IN #OLUMBUS /HIO !UGUST n3EPTEMBER 3OME

OF AND PREPARATION FOR THE $AY OF *UDGMENT THE 3ECOND PEOPLE ATTENDED THE GATHERING #OMING OF *ESUS #HRIST AND BELIEF IN PROPHETIC MESSENGERS ,ARGER INITIATIVES LIE JUST AHEAD 7E HAVE DEVELOPED AN 4HUS !DVENTISTS HAVE OPENINGS FOR FRUITFUL CONVERSATIONS EXCELLENT RELATION WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE 2OYAL *ORDANIAN WITH -USLIMS THAT OTHER #HRISTIAN CHURCHES DO NOT )NSTITUTE OF )NTERFAITH 3TUDIES BASED IN !MMAN *ORDAN 4HE lRST OF A SERIES OF OFlCIAL CONVERSATIONS HAS BEEN 2ECENT $EVELOPMENTS PLANNED FOR THE NEAR FUTURE &OR MANY YEARS !DVENTISTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 4HIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING 4HE WORLD OF )SLAM

COOPERATIVE ENDEAVORS WITH -USLIMS )N THE +INGDOM CHANGING FAST IS VAST AND DIVERSE )MPELLED BY MISSION

OF 3AUDI !RABIA THE ,OMA ,INDA 5NIVERSITY HEART TEAM WE NEED TO ENGAGE -USLIMS IN MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE RENDERED MUCH APPRECIATED SERVICE AND ,OMA ,INDA STILL WORLD 7HENEVER AND WHEREVER THE ,ORD OPENS A DOOR OF MAINTAINS CONTACT THROUGH EXTENSION COURSES OFFERED OPPORTUNITY WE MUST MOVE AHEAD WITHOUT DELAY WITHIN THE COUNTRY ,IKEWISE IN !FGHANISTAN !DVENTIST MEDICAL WORK HAS A LONG HISTORY AND THROUGH ,OMA ,INDA PERSONNEL TODAY PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE )N ADDITION TO SUCH PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF !DVENTISM

7ILLIAM ' *OHNSSON IS AN ASSISTANT TO THE THE CHURCH SET UP AN )NSTITUTE FOR !DVENTIST -USLIM 2ELATIONS 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE PRESIDENT FOR )NTERFAITH )TS REPRESENTATIVES HAVE QUIETLY SPREAD THE KNOWLEDGE OF 2ELATIONS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR IN THE )SLAMIC WORLD *ANUARY \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

")",% 15%34)/.3 HRISTIANS HAVE OFFERED DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO THIS -ISSION AND THE 3PIRIT "UT WHAT WOULD 'OD DO QUESTION ) WILL OFFER SOME THOUGHTS THAT HAVE HELPED IN THE ABSENCE OF #HRISTIAN BELIEVERS ) PROPOSE THAT THE ME REACH MY OWN CONCLUSIONS EXAMINE SOME BIBLICAL 3PIRIT CONTINUES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE EVIDENCE AND MAKE SOME REMARKS OF A THEOLOGICAL NATURE MISSION 7HEN THE VISIBLE EXPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE OF 'OD 3ALVATION 4HROUGH #HRIST AND -ISSION 3OME IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN A REGION OF THE WORLD BE IT FOR POLITICAL

#HRISTIANS DENY THAT THERE CAN BE SALVATION APART FROM A RELIGIOUS OR ANY OTHER REASON 'OD S SAVING MISSION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF #HRIST 4HIS COULD BE CALLED THE EXCLUSIVIST WORLD IS NOT DEACTIVATED 'OD hWANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED ANSWER 3OME BIBLICAL PASSAGES APPEAR TO SUPPORT THIS VIEW AND TO COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTHv 4IM

&OR INSTANCE *ESUS SAID h.OW THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE THAT .)6 ! GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS IS FOUND IN THE EXPERIENCE THEY MAY KNOW YOU

OF #ORNELIUS A GENTILE THE ONLY TRUE 'OD AND WHO FEARED 'OD BUT *ESUS #HRIST WHOM YOU WHO DID NOT HAVE A HAVE SENTv *OHN

#HRISTIAN TO TEACH HIM .)6 0ETER REAFFIRMED )N THAT SITUATION THE ,ORD THIS CONVICTION h3ALVA DIRECTLY SPOKE TO HIM IN TION IS FOUND IN NO ONE A VISION AND GUIDED HIM ELSEv !CTS .)6 )N TO 0ETER !CTS FACT THE GOSPEL COMM 'OD HAS NOT LEFT (IMSELF ISSION REQUIRES THAT THE WITHOUT WITNESSES AMONG 15%34)/.

KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION NATIONS LIVING IN SPIRITUAL THROUGH #HRIST BE PRO DARKNESS !T TIMES (E )S IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE CLAIMED TO EVERY PERSON RAISED PROPHETS AMONG -ATT CF 2EV THEM AND DIVINE LIGHT WHO NEVER HEAR ABOUT 3ALVATION REQ REACHED THEM CF .UM UIRES FAITH IN *ESUS 2OM *ESUS THROUGH THE *ESUS TO BE SAVED !CTS 3PIRIT CONTINUES TO BE 4HE SAVING DEATH OF hTHE TRUE LIGHT THAT GIVES "Y *ESUS AND THE EXCLUSIVE LIGHT TO EVERY MANv *OHN !NGEL -ANUEL CLAIM THAT SALVATION IS

.)6 4HIS SUGGESTS 2ODR¤GUEZ ONLY THROUGH (IM IS THE THAT NON #HRISTIANS WHO VERY FOUNDATION OF THE LIVE OUT OF CONTACT WITH MISSION OF THE CHURCH 4HIS IS WHAT THE ,ORD COMMANDED US THE PEOPLE OF 'OD WHEN TOUCHED BY THE 3PIRIT SINCERELY TO DO AND WE IN HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO (IM GO AND FULlLL YEARN FOR SOMETHING BETTER CF *AMES 4HEY THEN THE MISSION EXPERIENCE THE SAVING POWER OF 'OD ON THE MIND AND 4HE -ISSION 2EMAINS 'OD S -ISSION !NOTHER ASPECT CHARACTER 4HEIR KNOWLEDGE MAY BE EXTREMELY LIMITED BUT OF THIS QUESTION IS THIS -ISSION DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH THE THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED BY (IS GRACE AND UNKNOWINGLY CHURCH BUT WITH 'OD AND IT REMAINS (IS (E INITIATED IT BECAME CHILDREN OF 'OD THROUGH *ESUS 4HE 3PIRIT IMPLANTED

BY SENDING (IS 3ON AS OUR 3AVIOR *OHN %VERY ASPECT THE GRACE OF #HRIST IN THEIR HEARTS AND WITHOUT KNOWING OF THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF *ESUS WAS A FULlLLMENT OF 'OD S ABOUT *ESUS THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY (IS SAVING GRACE SAVING MISSION FOR THE HUMAN RACE !T THE CLOSE OF (IS 4HIS WORK OF THE 3PIRIT DOES NOT LEGITIMIZE NON MINISTRY *ESUS SAID TO THE &ATHER (E HAD COMPLETED hTHE #HRISTIAN RELIGIONS OR ALLOW FOR RELIGIOUS PLURALISM /F WORK YOU GAVE ME TO DOv *OHN .)6 COURSE IN (IS WORK THE 3PIRIT COULD USE FRAGMENTS OF TRUTH 4HE 3PIRIT IS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE DIVINE MISSION THAT MAY BE PRESENT IN ANY RELIGION BUT (E IS NOT BOUND *ESUS WAS lLLED BY THE 3PIRIT IN THE FULlLLMENT OF (IS

BY SUCH ELEMENTS 'RACE IS DIRECTLY MEDIATED TO PEOPLE BY MISSION E G )SA -ATT 4HE CHURCH ITSELF #HRIST THROUGH THE 3PIRIT .EITHER DOES THE WORK OF THE WAS EMPOWERED BY THE 3PIRIT TO FULlLL ITS MISSION !CTS 3PIRIT MAKE WITNESSING IRRELEVANT /N THE CONTRARY THE 4HE DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE WORK OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT PREPARES THE WAY FOR THE CHURCH TO 3PIRIT INDICATES THAT ALTHOUGH THE CHURCH WAS BROUGHT FULlLL ITS MISSION MORE EFFECTIVELY INTO EXISTENCE FOR MISSION THE MISSION IS 'OD S MISSION )T IS BEING FULlLLED BY THE 3PIRIT THROUGH THE CHURCH )N THE PRESENCE OF BELIEVERS THE 3PIRIT IN AGREEMENT WITH DIVINE !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODRÓGUEZ IS DIRECTOR OF THE "IBLICAL 2ESEARCH )NSTITUTE OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE DESIGN USES THEM TO ACCOMPLISH 'OD S MISSION

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(AVE YOU EVER FELT FRUSTRATED IN YOUR #HRISTIAN LIFE 0ERHAPS YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A FAILURE FOR REPEATEDLY FALLING FOR THE SAME TEMPTATIONS -AYBE YOU HAVE LONGED FOR DELIVERANCE AND VICTORY ONLY TO BE DEFEATED AGAIN 4ODAY S LESSON WILL SHARE #HRIST S PLAN AND POWER TO LIVE A GODLY #HRISTIAN LIFE !S WE STUDY (IS 7ORD WE WILL DISCOVER BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING VICTORIOUS #HRISTIAN LIVES 4HE PLAN OF SALVATION PROVIDES PARDON FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN AND RELEASE FROM THE POWER OF SIN !S #HRISTIANS WE MAY OCCASIONALLY STUMBLE AND FALL BUT WE ARE NO LONGER IN BONDAGE TO SIN

7HAT PROMISE DO THE 3CRIPTURES GIVE TO THOSE WHO SURRENDER THEIR LIVES TO #HRIST h4HEREFORE IF ANYONE IS IN #HRIST HE IS A NEW CREATION OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEWv #OR 4HE "IBLE ASSURES US THAT IF WE ARE hIN #HRISTv THINGS HAVE BECOME

4O BE hIN #HRISTv MEANS THAT WE SURRENDER OUR WILL TO (IM AND INVITE (IS 3PIRIT TO lLL OUR LIVES WITH (IS LOVE GRACE AND POWER

)S IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO CHANGE OURSELVES 7ITHOUT *ESUS WHAT ARE WE ACCUSTOMED TO DO h#AN THE %THIOPIAN CHANGE HIS SKIN OR THE LEOPARD ITS SPOTS 4HEN MAY YOU ALSO DO GOOD WHO ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DO EVILv *ER /UR NATURAL INCLINATION WHAT WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DO IS

(OW DID *ESUS DESCRIBE THIS MIRACULOUS CHANGE TO .ICODEMUS h*ESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO (IM @-OST ASSUREDLY ) SAY TO YOU UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF 'OD v *OHN *ESUS INSTRUCTED .ICODEMUS TO BE

AGAIN

)N A FEW WORDS DESCRIBE HOW YOU UNDERSTAND BEING BORN AGAIN

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

4HE APOSTLE 0AUL USED ANOTHER IMAGE TO DESCRIBE THE MIRACULOUS CHANGE THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN WE COME TO *ESUS 7HAT IS IT h) HAVE BEEN CRUCIlED WITH #HRIST IT IS NO LONGER ) WHO LIVE BUT #HRIST LIVES IN ME AND THE LIFE WHICH ) NOW LIVE IN THE mESH ) LIVE BY FAITH IN THE 3ON OF 'OD WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE (IMSELF FOR MEv 'AL 0AUL SAID h) HAVE BEEN

WITH

v

)N YOUR OWN WORDS DESCRIBE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CRUCIlED WITH #HRIST

7HEN *ESUS ENTERS OUR LIVES THROUGH (IS (OLY 3PIRIT WHAT THREE THINGS TAKE PLACE 2EAD THE VERSES BELOW AND LIST THE CHANGES THAT OCCUR ON THE LINES PROVIDED h"UT AS MANY AS RECEIVED (IM TO THEM (E GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF 'ODv *OHN h!ND THOSE WHO ARE #HRIST S HAVE CRUCIlED THE mESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES )F WE LIVE IN THE 3PIRIT

LET US ALSO WALK IN THE 3PIRITv 'AL

A B C

7HEN DOES THIS MIRACULOUS NEW BIRTH OCCUR #IRCLE THE WORDS IN THE TEXT THAT DESCRIBE OUR ROLE h"EHOLD ) STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK )F ANYONE HEARS -Y VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR ) WILL COME IN TO HIM AND DINE WITH HIM AND HE WITH -Ev 2EV

4O EXPERIENCE THE NEW BIRTH ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS OPEN OUR HEARTS TO *ESUS AND LET (IM WORK (IS WILL IN OUR LIVES

7HAT PROMISE DOES *ESUS GIVE US WHEN WE COME TO (IM h4HE ONE WHO COMES TO -E ) WILL BY NO MEANS CAST OUTv *OHN *ESUS WILL NOT

US

4HIS IS INCREDIBLY GOOD NEWS 7E CANNOT CHANGE OURSELVES "UT AS WE COME TO *ESUS (E CHANGES OUR LIVES (E WILL NOT CAST US OUT (E LOVES US (E ACCEPTS US JUST AS WE ARE AS WE COME TO (IM 7E COME AS WE ARE BUT WE DO NOT STAY AS WE ARE 4HERE IS POWER IN THE GOSPEL OF #HRIST TO CHANGE US 4HAT IS WONDERFULLY GOOD NEWS

h! ,IFE #HANGING &AITHv IS THE TOPIC OF NEXT MONTH S "IBLE 3TUDY !DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

,%44%23

'IVING "ACK IN 6IETNAM

) READ THE NEWS STORY ABOUT 6IETNAM GRANTING THE !DVENTIST #HURCH OFlCIAL RECOGNITION IN THE *ANUARY ISSUE

AND AM INTERESTED IN DOING MISSION WORK IN 6IETNAM ESPECIALLY AROUND (O #HI -INH #ITY -Y BIRTHPLACE IS ONLY ABOUT MINUTES FROM (O #HI -INH #ITY AND ) HOPE TO RETURN THERE ONE DAY AND DO 'OD S WORK ) HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT 0ASTOR +HOI 4RAN SO ) CAN ASK HIM IF ) CAN HELP THE NEXT TIME ) RETURN TO 6IETNAM 4HANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WRITING THIS ARTICLE )T TOUCHED MY HEART AS WELL AS MY SOUL -Y FAMILY CAME FROM 6IETNAM AS IMMIGRANTS TO THE 5NITED 3TATES MANY YEARS AGO AND WITH 'OD S BLESSINGS

WE ARE DOING WELL 4O THANK (IM ) WOULD LIKE TO GIVE SOME SERVICE TO (IM IN 6IETNAM +IMBERLY ,U - 0 ( 4 HOUSAND /AKS #ALIFORNIA

5NITED 3TATES

4HE &ATHER S

COMMANDMENTS AND #HRIST S COMMANDMENTS ARE ONE AND THE SAME ˆ , ARRY 2 6ALOROZO -AKATI #ITY 0HILIPPINES

.ATIONAL )NSTITUTE OF #ANCER OF THE -INISTRY OF (EALTH WHOSE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE FROM THE S UTILIZED THE EXPERIENCE OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH WITH THE &IVE $AY 0LAN TO 3TOP 3MOKING *ONATAS 2EICHERT - $ #URITIBA "RAZIL (ANDS 2AISED IN 7ORSHIP

'LOBAL #HURCH 0REACHES !NTISMOKING -ESSAGE

) AM RESPONDING TO THE *ANUARY 7ORLD (EALTH COLUMN ENTITLED h'LOBAL #HURCH 0REACHES !NTISMOKING -ESSAGE v #ONGRATULATIONS TO THE (EALTH -INISTRIES $EPARTMENT OF THE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE FOR ITS PROPOSAL TO ACT IN THE lELD OF WORLD HEALTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ENTITIES ON THE SMOKING ISSUE RESCUING ITS IMAGE OF PIONEERS IN THE AREA 4IMES ARE DIFFERENT AND THE CHALLENGES THUS DETERMINE IT "RAZIL HAS ONE OF THE THREE BEST PROGRAMS ON SMOKING CONTROL IN THE WORLD COORDINATED BY THE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS ).#!

) APPRECIATED !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ S WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT A VERY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC IN h2AISED (ANDS IN 7ORSHIPv &EBRUARY 4HE QUESTION POSED WAS THE CORRECT ONE )S THERE ANY BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR THIS -UCH OF THE ARTICLE POINTED OUT THE NUMEROUS PLACES IN 3CRIPTURE WHERE BOTH PERMISSION AND DIRECTIVE ARE GIVEN 4HE ONLY UNFORTUNATE THING WAS THAT 2ODR¤GUEZ S CONCLUSION TO THE ARTICLE WAS FOCUSED MORE ON PEOPLE AND CULTURE RATHER THAN ANSWERING THE QUESTION OF WHAT 'OD S 7ORD SAYS 4HERE MAY BE WISDOM IN HIS SUGGESTION TO hFOLLOW THE COMMON PRACTICE OF THE CONGREGATION v "UT

DOES THE FACT THAT SOMEONE RAISING THEIR HANDS CAN BE DISRUPTIVE REmECT NEGATIVELY ON THE HAND RAISER OR ON THOSE WHO ARE SO EASILY DISTRACTED AND INTOLERANT OF SOMETHING SO SCRIPTURAL )T SEEMS $AVID AND 0AUL WOULD FEEL VERY OUT OF PLACE IN MOST OF OUR CHURCHES -ARC *UDD - OORPARK #ALIFORNIA

5NITED 3TATES 4HE ,AW

) WAS TOUCHED BY THE .OVEMBER "IBLE 1UESTIONS COLUMN BY !NGEL -ANUEL 2ODR¤GUEZ !S ) SEE IT

THERE ARE LAWS TO DIFFERENTIATE IN THIS ISSUE ON h'OD S LAWv OR h-OSES LAW v -ANY PROFESSING #HRISTIANS TODAY ARE COMPLETELY IGNORANT ABOUT THESE LAWS -OST OF THESE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

EITHER #ATHOLIC OR 0ROTESTANT BELIEVED THAT THE hLAW OF 'OD HAS BEEN ABROGATED AND WAS CRUCIlED IN THE CROSS OF #ALVARYv WHEN *ESUS DIED 4O ILLUMINATE THE MINDS OF OUR READERS ) WISH TO CONVEY WHAT *ESUS SAID ABOUT 'OD S LAW (OW DID *ESUS ADDRESS

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

,%44%23 'OD S LAW IN (IS FAMOUS SERMON (E SAID h4HINK NOT THAT ) AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS ) AM NOT COME TO DESTROY BUT TO FULlLL &OR VERILY ) SAY UNTO YOU 4ILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW TILL ALL BE FULlLLEDv -ATT

+*6 3OME THEORIZE THAT THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS ARE THE &ATHER S

WHILE #HRIST S COMMANDMENTS ARE JUST TWO TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS OF THE /LD 4ESTAMENT ! CAREFUL STUDY OF THE 4EN #OMMANDMENTS HOWEVER

REVEALS THAT THE lRST FOUR DEAL WITH OUR LOVE TOWARD 'OD WHILE THE LAST SIX DEAL WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR NEIGHBOR 4HIS IS WHY *ESUS SAID

h/N THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG

ALL THE LAWv -ATT +*6 4HE &ATHER S COMMANDMENTS AND #HRIST S COMMANDMENTS ARE ONE AND THE SAME ,ARRY 2 6ALOROZO -AKATI #ITY 0HILIPPINES 7ORK !PPRECIATED

) AM HUMBLED TO LEARN THAT 'OD HAS ;PEOPLE= LIKE YOU WORKING FOR (IM ) KNOW YOUR WORK AT !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS QUIET

YET POWERFUL -AY THE (OLY 3PIRIT CONTINUE TO USE YOU 9OUR MAGAZINE HAS PERFORMED A LOT OF WORK IN :IMBABWE "EFORE )

LEFT FOR $UBAI 5NITED !RAB %MIRATES

MY CONFERENCE SENT ME TO A REMOTE DISTRICT CALLED $ETE WITH THE TASK OF WORKING UNDER THE THEME h,IFT UP *ESUS TELL THE WORLD WITHOUT DELAY v !FTER DISTRIBUTING THE MAGAZINE A YOUNG MAN CAME TO ME AFTER READING IT AND ASKED TO BE BAPTIZED (E TOLD ME THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY READ !DVENTIST 7ORLD SEVERAL TIMES AND THE APPEAL FOR BAPTISM CONTINUED TO TROUBLE HIM 7E BAPTIZED HIM 4HABANI -OYO "ULAWAYO :IMBABWE ,ETTERS 0OLICY 0LEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO LETTERS ADVENTISTWORLD ORG ,ETTERS MUST BE CLEARLY WRITTEN AND TO THE POINT WORD MAXIMUM "E SURE TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE ARTICLE THE DATE OF PUBLICATION AND PAGE NUMBER WITH YOUR LETTER !LSO INCLUDE YOUR NAME THE TOWN CITY STATE AND COUNTRY FROM WHICH YOU ARE WRITING ,ETTERS WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY .OT ALL LETTERS SUBMITTED WILL BE PUBLISHED

4 ( % 0 , ! # % / & 0 2 !9 % 2 ) NEED A BLESSING IN MY LIFEˆMY SELF ESTEEM IS POOR AND ) AM DEPRESSED ) AM YOUNG AND WANT TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS BUT HAVE BEGUN BADLY 0LEASE PRAY FOR ME 0ERCY 5NITED 3TATES ) AM CURRENTLY PURSUING A MASTER S DEGREE IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 0LEASE PRAY FOR ME TO SUCCESSFULLY lNISH THIS PROGRAM WITHIN THE STIPULATED TIME AND PRAY THAT ) SHOULD BE ABLE TO lNANCIALLY SUPPORT MY TWO YOUNG SISTERS AND A NIECE WHO ARE IN SCHOOL 'ABRIEL :AMBIA

!DVENTIST 7ORLD \ !PRIL

0LEASE PRAY THAT 'OD WILL BLESS ME WITH WISDOM AND A STABLE JOB 0RAY ALSO FOR MY FAMILY 6ICTOR -ALAWI 4HANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS IN THE PAST REGARDING MY STUDIES ) CONTINUE TO PASS SCIENCE COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY AND ) AM PLANNING TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY FOR A BACHELOR S DEGREE IN AVIATION IF IT IS 'OD S WILL 0LEASE REMEMBER ME IN YOUR PRAYERS 2OBERT 6ANUATU $URING MY YEARS OF MARRIAGE ) HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE A BABY ) HAVE HAD MISCARRIAGES INSTEAD 0LEASE PRAY THAT THIS YEAR WILL BE A GOOD YEAR FOR ME AND ALL THOSE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS 3IHLE :IMBABWE

0LEASE PRAY FOR MY UNCLE WHO SUFFERED A STROKE ) PRAY THAT 'OD WILL HEAL HIM AND PROLONG HIS YEARS AND THAT HE WILL GIVE 'OD HIS LIFE %LLE 5NITED 3TATES 0LEASE PRAY FOR MY TWO SIBLINGS AND ME FOR lNANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDIES ) HOPE TO GRADUATE NEXT YEAR -Y DREAM IS TO WORK AT 0ALAWAN !DVENTIST !CADEMY -ELODY 0HILIPPIANS

4HE 0LACE OF 0RAYER SEND TO PRAYER ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 3END US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISE THANKS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER +EEP YOUR ENTRIES SHORT AND CONCISE WORDS MAXIMUM )TEMS SENT TO THIS CATEGORY WILL BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY %VEN THOUGH WE WILL PRAY FOR EACH ENTRY DURING OUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS NOT ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE PRINTED 0LEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY S NAME WITH YOUR ENTRY 9OU MAY ALSO FAX REQUESTS TO OR MAIL THEM TO !DVENTIST 7ORLD

/LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 !

h"EHOLD ) COME QUICKLYxv

%8#(!.'% /& )$%!3

/UR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT *ESUS #HRIST UNITING 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS EVERYWHERE IN BELIEFS

MISSION LIFE AND HOPE

!

7ELL WORN

"IBLE

4HIS MONTH A READER SHOWS A MOTHER S PRAYERFUL DEDICATION

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OR YEARS FROM UNTIL HER DEATH IN 3ARAH ,EE 0ETERSON PRAYED DAILY FOR HER CHILDREN 3HE PUT HER HAND ON )SAIAH AND WHILE SHE PRAYED EACH TIME !S YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOS 0ETERSON WORE THE PAGES OUT AS SHE CLAIMED THE PROMISES IN THOSE CHAPTERS ESPECIALLY NOTING )SAIAH 0ETERSON S DAUGHTER !NICE 3CHWARZER FROM #OLLEGEDALE 4ENNESSEE 5NITED 3TATES

RECENTLY SHOWED THE WORN BOOK TO THE WOMEN S "IBLE STUDY GROUP SHE ATTENDS 0ETERSON LIVED WELL THE ADMONITIONS IN 3CRIPTURE 3HE ALSO EPITOMIZES THESE WORDS FROM %LLEN ' 7HITE h)T IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE THE POWER OF A PRAYING MOTHER S INmUENCE 3HE ACKNOWLEDGES 'OD IN ALL HER 4OP !NICE 3CHWARZER SHOWS WAYS 3HE TAKES HER CHILDREN BEFORE FRIENDS THE WORN "IBLE SHE INHER THE THRONE OF GRACE AND PRESENTS THEM ITED FROM HER MOTHER 3ARAH ,EE TO *ESUS PLEADING FOR (IS BLESSING 0ETERSON "OTTOM &OR YEARS

UPON THEMx 4HE POWER OF A 3ARAH ,EE 0ETERSON PUT HER HAND MOTHER S PRAYERS CANNOT BE TOO HIGHLY ESTIMATED 3HE WHO KNEELS BESIDE ON )SAIAH AND IN HER "IBLE AS HER SON AND DAUGHTER THROUGH THE SHE PRAYED FOR HER CHILDREN VICISSITUDES OF CHILDHOOD THROUGH THE 2 ! , 0 ( . % ! , , PERILS OF YOUTH WILL NEVER KNOW TILL THE JUDGMENT THE INmUENCE OF HER PRAYERS UPON THE LIFE OF HER CHILDRENx 7HEN PASSION IS WARRING FOR THE MASTERY THE POWER OF LOVE THE RESTRAINING EARNEST

DETERMINED INmUENCE OF THE MOTHER MAY BALANCE THE SOUL ON THE SIDE OF RIGHTv 4HE !DVENTIST (OME P ˆ3UBMITTED BY 2ALPH .EALL FROM /OLTEWAH 4ENNESSEE 5NITED 3TATES

0UBLISHER 4HE !DVENTIST 7ORLD AN INTERNATIONAL PERIODICAL OF THE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH 4HE 'ENERAL #ONFERENCE

.ORTHERN !SIA 0ACIlC $IVISION OF 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTISTS§

IS THE PUBLISHER %XECUTIVE 0UBLISHER "ILL +NOTT !SSOCIATE 0UBLISHER #LAUDE 2ICHLI )NTERNATIONAL 0UBLISHING -ANAGER #HUN 0YUNG $UK 0UBLISHING "OARD *AN 0AULSEN CHAIR 4ED . # 7ILSON VICE CHAIR "ILL +NOTT SECRETARY !RMANDO -IRANDA 0ARDON + -WANSA *UAN 0RESTOL #HARLES # 3ANDEFUR $ON # 3CHNEIDER (EATHER $AWN 3MALL 2OBERT 3 3MITH 2OBERT % +YTE

LEGAL ADVISOR !DVENTIST 7ORLD #OORDINATING #OMMITTEE ,EE *AIRYONG CHAIR !KERI 3UZUKI $ONALD 5PSON 'UIMO 3UNG 'LENN -ITCHELL #HUN 0YUNG $UK %DITOR IN #HIEF "ILL +NOTT %DITORS BASED IN 3ILVER 3PRING -ARYLAND 2OY !DAMS ASSOCIATE EDITOR 3ANDRA "LACKMER

3TEPHEN #HAVEZ -ARK ! +ELLNER +IMBERLY ,USTE -ARAN %DITORS BASED IN 3EOUL +OREA #HUN *UNG +WON #HOE *EONG +WAN /NLINE %DITOR #ARLOS -EDLEY 4ECHNICAL #OORDINATOR -ERLE 0OIRIER %XECUTIVE !SSISTANT TO THE %DITOR 2ACHEL * #HILD %DITORIAL !SSISTANTS -ARVENE 4HORPE "APTISTE !LFREDO 'ARCIA -ARENKO 2EADER 3ERVICES -ERLE 0OIRIER !RT $IRECTION AND $ESIGN *EFF $EVER &ATIMA !MEEN "ILL 4YMESON #ONSULTANTS *AN 0AULSEN -ATTHEW "EDIAKO 2OBERT % ,EMON

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"RUNO 6ERTALLIER 'ILBERT 7ARI "ERTIL ! 7IKLANDER 4O 7RITERS 7E WELCOME UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS !DDRESS ALL EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE

3ILVER 3PRING -$ 5 3 ! %DITORIAL OFlCE FAX NUMBER % MAIL )NTERNET WORLDEDITOR GC ADVENTIST ORG 7EB SITE WWW ADVENTISTWORLD ORG 5NLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ALL "IBLE REFERENCES ARE TAKEN FROM THE .EW +ING *AMES 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú

BY 4HOMAS .ELSON )NC 5SED BY PERMISSION !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 4EXTS CREDITED TO .)6 ARE FROM THE (OLY "IBLE

.EW )NTERNATIONAL 6ERSION #OPYRIGHT Ú

)NTERNATIONAL "IBLE 3OCIETY 5SED BY PERMISSION OF :ONDERVAN "IBLE 0UBLISHERS !DVENTIST 7ORLD IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND PRINTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN +OREA "RAZIL )NDONESIA !USTRALIA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES 6OL .O

!PRIL \ !DVENTIST 7ORLD

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!$6 % .4 ) 3 4 ,) & % 7HILE IN *AMAICA AS A VOLUNTEER AT !NDREWS -EMORIAL (OSPITAL ) WAS HURRIEDLY CALLED UPON ONE 3ABBATH TO SPEAK AT THE !NDREWS CHURCH

SINCE THE INVITED SPEAKER HAD NOT SHOWN UP !FTER ) SPOKE AND WAS GREETING MEMBERS AT THE DOOR ) WAS PAID THE GREATEST COMPLI MENT ) HAVE EVER RECEIVED ! YOUNG GIRL ABOUT YEARS OF AGE SAID AS SHE SHOOK MY HAND h) DID NOT SLEEP TODAY v

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/NE 3UNDAY MORNING WE HAD RUSHED OUT TO GO SWIMMING -Y HUSBAND #RAIG SAID TO OUR SON RATHER STERNLY h%DMUND YOU HAVE YOUR SHIRT ON BACKWARDS DID YOU NOT LOOK AT YOURSELF v ) THEN LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND AND SAID

h(ONEY DID YOU NOT LOOK AT YOURSELF 9OU HAVE YOUR SHIRT ON INSIDE OUT v 4HIS WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO PARAPHRASE AND REMIND THEM OF THE TEXT IN -ATTHEW WHERE WE ARE TOLD TO hTAKE THE PLANK OUT OF OUR 3 7 % EYES BEFORE WE TAKE THE 2 # 9 SPECK OUT OF SOMEONE ELSE S EYES v

1 5/4% /& 4(% -/. 4(

h-EASURED AGAINST ETERNITY OUR TIME ON EARTH IS JUST A BLINK OF AN EYE BUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT WILL LAST FOREVER v ˆ,ARRY , ,ICHTENWALTER SENIOR PASTOR 6ILLAGE 3EVENTH DAY !DVENTIST #HURCH "ERRIEN 3PRINGS -ICHIGAN 5NITED 3TATES FROM HIS BOOK 2EVELATION S 'REAT ,OVE 3TORY

3(!2 % 7) 4( 53 7E ARE LOOKING FOR BRIEF SUBMISSIONS IN THESE CATEGORIES !$6%.4)34 15/4%3 PROFOUND OR SPONTANEOUS !$6%.4)34 ,)&% SHORT ANECDOTES ESPECIALLY FROM THE WORLD OF ADULTS 7(%2% ). 4(% 7/2,$ HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS OF MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE 0LEASE SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO 4HE 0EOPLE S 0LACE

!DVENTIST 7ORLD /LD #OLUMBIA 0IKE 3ILVER 3PRING -$ FAX E MAIL MARANK GC ADVENTIST ˆ.ADINE "ROWN !JAX ORG 0LEASE INCLUDE PHONE NUMBER 3UBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED OR RETURNED /NTARIO #ANADA

! .37 %2 )N -ELCHTAL ,UCERNE 3WITZERLAND 0ATHlNDERS FROM THE CLUB %STRELAS DO 3UL ENJOY THE OUTDOORS 4HE CLUB IS FROM THE !NGOLAN CHURCH IN :URICH AND IS COMPOSED MOSTLY OF PEOPLE FROM !NGOLA BUT ALSO "RAZILIANS AND PEOPLE FROM 0ARAGUAY 4HE CHURCH COMMUNITY SPEAKS 0ORTUGUESE

2

ˆ,INBROOK "ARKER 2IVERSIDE #ALIFORNIA 5NITED 3TATES

$ ! . ) % , 2 $ ! 3 ) ,6 % ) 2 !

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