Why Missi o n - Adventist ReviewBond’s cover story “It’s Per-sonal: They Found a Life Call-ing...

Missi o n Why

S e p t e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 3

Vol. 190, No. 25

Adventist Church Destroyed in Egypt

Thinking the Unthinkable

Milkweed and Thistles

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www.adventistreview.org

September 12, 2013

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“Behold, I come quickly . . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ by presenting stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return.

16 Why Mission?NaNcy Vyhmeister

Does it still mean what it used to mean?

20 Thinking the Unthinkablearthur F. BliNci

An Adventist church, school, or institution could lead the evening news.

24 We Won! Triumphant Worship SongserViN K. thomseN

Putting the focus where it belongs.

28 Milkweed and ThistlesKris smith

Could those weeds serve any useful purpose?

4 Letters

7 Page 7

8 World News & Perspectives

13 Give & Take

14 Introducing the Why

23 GLOW Stories

27 Searching the Obvious

30 Etc.

31 Reflections

16 20 10 6

Habits of the HeartThey’re nearly impossible to break. That’s why it’s impor-tant to form good ones now.

We believe in it; we do it; but are the reasons we do it now as valid as they once were?

ARTICLES DEPARTMENTS 6 Bill KNott

“Tell ’Em About the Dream”

COVER FEATURE EDITORIALS

ON THE COVERNExT WEEk

Publisher General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, Executive Publisher Bill Knott, Associate Publisher Claude Richli, Publishing Board: Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Benjamin D. Schoun, vice chair; Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy; Daniel R. Jackson; Robert Lemon; Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion; Juan Prestol; Michael Ryan; Ella Simmons; Mark Thomas; Karnik Doukmetzian, legal adviser. Editor Bill Knott, Associate Editors Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil, Coordinating Editor Stephen Chavez, Online Editor Carlos Medley, Features Editor Sandra Blackmer, Young Adult Editor Kimberly Luste Maran, KidsView Editor Wilona Karimabadi, News Editor Mark A. Kellner, Operations Manager Merle Poirier, Financial Manager Rachel Child, Editorial Assistant Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste, Marketing Director Claude Richli, Editor-at-Large Mark A. Finley, Senior Advisor E. Edward Zinke, Art Director Bryan Gray, Design Daniel Añez, Desktop Technician Fred Wuerstlin, Ad Sales Glen Gohlke, Subscriber Services Steve Hanson. To Writers: Writer’s guidelines are available at the adventist review Web site: www.ad-ventistreview.org and click “About the Review.” For a printed copy, send a self-addressed envelope to: Writer’s Guidelines, adventist review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.adventistreview.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to adventist review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740-7301. Unless otherwise noted, Bible texts in this issue are from the holy Bible, New international Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are © Thinkstock 2013. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist® Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® and is printed 36 times a year on the second, third, and fourth Thursdays of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Periodical postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 2013, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 190, No. 25

Subscriptions: Thirty-six issues of the weekly adventist review, US$36.95 plus US$28.50 postage outside North America. Single copy US$3.00. To order, send your name, address, and payment to adventist review subscription desk, Box 1119, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1119. Orders can also be placed at Adventist Book Centers. Prices subject to change. Address changes: [email protected]. OR call 1-800-456-3991, or 301-393-3257. Subscription queries: [email protected]. OR call 1-800-456-3991, or 301-393-3257.

| www.AdventistReview.org | September 12, 20134 (788)

A u g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 3

Vol. 190, No. 22

What’s in It for Me?

ASI Europe Elects Leaders

On Bended Knee

7 9 23

August 8, 2013

www.adventistreview.org

It’s Personal

ASI Reaches

Around the Globe

Letters From our readerS

inbox

Multiple Viewpoints Aired on Women’s Ordination Question

» I am a lifelong Seventh-day Adventist, having been born and raised into the church by loving Seventh-day Ad-ventist parents. I believe the Adventist Church has a spe-cial message for the last days of earth’s history and has been given a special gift through Ellen G. White as God’s messenger. I also have seen during the past few decades the hot debate over women’s ordination.

If we truly believe God has a work for us to do (Matt. 28:19, 20) and if we truly believe that Ellen White was chosen by God for a special work in our church, then shouldn’t we be heeding her counsel?

The inherent danger in the continued discussion regard-ing women’s ordination (Mark A. Kellner, “Multiple Viewpoints Aired on Wom-en’s Ordination Question,” Aug. 15, 2013) is that it will distract us from our gospel commission in reaching the world for Jesus Christ.

Although Ellen White did not use the words “women’s ordination” in the following references, she highly recom-mends using the talents of both men and women to fur-ther the gospel commission.

“When a great and decisive work is to be done, God chooses men and women to do this work, and it will feel the loss if the talents of both are not combined” (letter 77, 1898; italics supplied).

“It is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of God that pre-pares workers, both men and women, to become pastors to the flock of God” (The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Jan. 15, 1901; italics supplied).

RObERT AARON

Shelton, Washington

Patience Is a Virtue » I know you don’t often

print letters in response to other letters, but perhaps you’ll consider this one. I’m writing in regard to several letters in the August 15, 2013, Review.

Thank you, editors, for your patience with your readers. I’m sorry you have

to listen to us as we (1) are shocked about the fact that peanut butter should be encouraged in a children’s article (responding to the July 2013 KidsView); (2) get “outraged” because Kimberly Luste Maran, still a solid and faithful Adventist, says she actually learned and grew from her association with Catholics (“One Year in Cath-olic School,” June 13, 2013); and (3) can’t allow Andy Nash to find yet another meaningful way to look at Jesus’ sheep and goats illus-tration because we believe Ellen White’s inspired com-ments are the entire and exhaustive way to under-stand some of His teachings (“ ‘The Least of These’ and the Judgment,” July 18, 2013).

You are to be commended for letting many “sides” speak to an issue, but I some-times am baffled that some of these ideas are deemed so important as to provoke a letter to the editor. But here I am, being provoked enough to write a letter to the editor, 30 minutes after picking the Review out of my mailbox and skimming through it even before getting out of the car. I was so troubled, in fact, that the first thing I did when I got in the house was to run to my computer and send this letter off. Thank you for serving us all!

RUTh hARMS

Pasco, Washington

It’s Personal » I’m writing about Conna

Bond’s cover story “It’s Per-sonal: They Found a Life Call-ing in Zambia” (Aug. 8, 2013). It is an outstanding article that shows the accomplish-ments of Alan and Pauline

Knowles. These two are very dedicated missionaries. My wife, Helen, and I have often wondered about the impact that our Seventh-day Ad-ventist educational pro-grams had with our young people.

Helen, an R.N., was school nurse, and I was a classroom teacher when Alan Knowles and Pauline Aho were stu-dents at the beginning years of Pioneer Valley Academy. Alan was one of my students, and he always had his les-sons learned well and made a positive contribution to the class.

Thank you for this very interesting and informative article!

LyLE hAMEL

Waverly, West Virginia

Redeeming the blind » A longtime champion of

the Review, I have seldom had the stirring reaction I experi-enced from Justin McNeilus’ insightful article “Redeem-ing the Blind” (Aug. 8, 2013). Such thoughts come only from inspiration and a care-ful study of God’s Word. The church is indeed safe in the

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ships, and finally death.When this subject is stud-

ied carefully, we can see that whenever God, personally or through His designated human instrumentalities, visited death and destruc-tion on a person or a group of people, it was for one of two reasons: to restore or maintain necessary order in society, the family, or His church; or to protect His people, the church, from an imminent threat of annihilation.

While God certainly takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, it is obvious that when such is required He will eliminate open sinners when they threaten His high-est priorities—the mainte-nance of order and the viability of His chosen people.

LEONARD LANg

Newcastle, Wyoming

Page 7 history Lesson » I was impressed and

inspired to read about David Eaton, J. W. Cronkrite, and Merritt Kellogg in the Page 7 feature “Finding True Gold in California” (a three-part series that begins in the July 11, 2013, Review). Thanks for introducing readers to these intrepid young men. They traveled to the Golden State to spearhead the three angels’ messages on the western frontier. Their grow-ing faith in Christ, their emerging hope in the second coming of Jesus, and their

hands of such young people who demonstrate their love for God and instill confi-dence in those of us who share their hope and belief.

ChARLENE J. SCOTT

McDonald, Tennessee

John and gabrielle Weidner

» Thank you for printing Wilona Karimabadi’s article “Gabrielle’s Story” (July 25, 2013). It reminded me of something. When I was the head deacon in an Adventist church in Massachusetts in the 1980s, I went into our small library and found a large book titled Flee the Cap-tor. It was about the exploits and testimony of John Weid-ner and his underground agents and safe houses that saved many lives from the World War II Nazi regime in Europe.

Their lives were an inspi-ration not only for what they did in the past, but what most likely will be repeated again soon against the prophesied worldwide anti-Christ theocracy we as Sab-bathkeeping Adventists know will occur. We should all prepare and pray for our part in last-day events, just as the Weidners did in theirs.

STEPhEN J. gOODNESS

Umatilla, Oregon

The Song of heaven » Hyveth Wiliams’ “Don’t

Hang Up Your Harp” (July 18, 2013) reminded me of several Bible texts. It’s been recorded in the New Testa-ment that Jesus, while on the cross, quoted Psalm 22:1. I imagine He didn’t stop there—I like to think He also said verse 3: “Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel” (NASB).*

This is the song of heaven, the song of home (see Isa. 6:3 and Rev. 4:8).

gEORgE DAy

Frankfort, Kentucky

Character Sketch » I am writing in regard to

Trevor H. and Thomson Paris’ article “Character Sketch” (July 18). We should always remember that order is the first (i.e., supreme) law of heaven (see Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 175; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 201). All sin is a form of disorder in one way or another and brings all other evils in its train—chaos, pain, heartache, broken relation-

unconditional love for God and for other immigrants who were searching for Cali-fornia’s gold is impressive. They sought fervently for souls whose “golden” traits of character were more pre-cious than nuggets in the northern hills.

I doff my hat at the carpen-ter, shoemaker, and miner for sharing their natural gifts to win souls for the kingdom of God in those early days after the “gold rush.” They would be sur-prised, perhaps shocked, to see the beautiful churches, schools, and vibrant health-care facilities all across the Golden State.

KEITh R. MUNDT

Riverside, California

* Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

We welcome your letters, noting, as always, that inclusion of a letter in this section does not imply that the ideas expressed are endorsed by either the editors of the Adventist Review or the General conference. short, specific, timely letters have the best chance at being published (please include your complete address and phone number—even with e-mail messages). letters will be edited for space and clarity only. send correspondence to letters to the editor, Adventist Review, 12501 old columbia Pike, silver spring, mD 20904-6600; internet: [email protected].

“I doff my hat at the carpenter,

shoemaker, and miner for sharing

their natural gifts to win souls for the

kingdom of God in those early days

after the ‘gold rush.’ ” —KEITh R. MUNDT, Riverside, California

“Thank you, editors, for your

patience with your readers.” —RUTh hARMS, Pasco, Washington


Editorials

Bill Knott

Editorial

“tell ’em About the Dream”I WAS A 6-yEAR-OLD WhITE bOy LIVINg IN A SEgREgATED SOUThERN state on that Wednesday 50 years ago when Martin stirred the world.

Even if the Dallas television stations had broadcast live coverage of the March on Washington and the speeches from the Lincoln Memorial, I almost certainly wouldn’t have seen it.

“It doesn’t look like something I’m supposed to watch,” I would have solemnly intoned if one of my rare non-Adventist neighbors in Keene, Texas, had invited me to watch the live television coverage that never happened.

To be 6, White, and living in Texas—and Adventist—50 years ago meant to be oblivious to the issues of race and justice and national reconciliation that Martin Luther King, Jr., so memorably addressed in the one Wednesday sermon I have always regretted that I missed.

Years later and thousands of miles away I listened, fascinated, as one of my religion teachers at Newbold College in England told of standing just 20 feet from King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that hot August day in 1963. White, Australian, and cut from unconventional cloth, he relished the memory of hearing in person the words the world can never forget.

I envied him then. I still do.“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia [the] sons of former slaves and the sons of former

slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”1

Some words, once spoken, may never be unsaid, even when they cut against the grain of long-established habit. Some truths, once voiced, reframe the pillars of our understanding and what we dream of for our children. So King’s words have ineradicably reshaped the thinking of the modern world, and with it, how Seventh-day Adventists of all races and ethnicities now think of what it means to serve and follow Jesus in our culture.

Fifty years ago many White Adventist leders would have dismissed the words that shook the world as “politics.” But King’s eloquent 10-minute sermon gave everyone, Adventists included, a wake-up call to sleeping consciences and inherited prejudices.

They pounded on the doors of Adventist schools—like the one I then attended—still shut to children of color. They hammered on the church doors still being slammed in the faces of Black men and women who thought it only biblical that they should worship with White brothers and sisters. And King’s words, like the gospel from which they were drawn, helped challenge this Advent people to regain the unabashed commitment to human freedom for which Seventh-day Adventists were well known 100 years earlier when this denomination was birthed.

We needed King, a Baptist minister, to give us back our birthright as believers unafraid to chal-lenge social convention in the name of the biblical imperatives to “proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18, 19, NKJV).2

John Lewis, one of King’s colleagues and the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1963, recalls that the speech we today cannot forget was not proceeding famously. Lewis, now a long-serving congressman from the red hills of Georgia, recalls that King was strug-gling in his delivery and, great orator that he was, not connecting with his audience.3

Suddenly a woman’s voice rang out from 50 feet below the podium. “Tell ’em about the dream, Martin,” gospel singer Mahalia Jackson urged King. “Tell ’em about the dream!”

Jackson, whose moving rendition of the Black spiritual “How I Got Over” had moments earlier stirred the crowd, was reminding King of a phrase she had heard him use in recent days and at other rallies. Sensing that something powerful was needed in the moment, she prompted King with a phrase he had not planned to use.

“He moves the text of the speech to the left side of the lectern, grabs the lectern, looks out on those more than 250,000 people assembled and thereafter begins to speak completely spontane-ously and extemporaneously,” confirms King aide Clarence Jones, who had prepared part of the text of the King speech.4

What followed next as King remembered his own dream were four of the most electrifying

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*GC stands for General Conference.

Is the Good Book Still a Good Read?In June 2013 the Barna Group released statistics related to the books Americans are reading. Included in this study were questions related to reading the Bible, still a best seller. What they discovered may surprise you.

20% 61% 9%18%

of all adults have read the Bible from start to finish.

of practicing Christians have read the Bible from start to finish.

of people who claim a faith other than Christianity have read the Bible from start to finish.

of those with no faith have read the Bible from start to finish.

Of those who have read the Bible from start to finish:

52%48%29%

41%

14% 16%

MenWomen

Mosaics(ages 18-28)

Boomers(ages 48-66)

Elders(ages 67+)

Busters(ages 29-47)

minutes of visioning that America and the world have ever experienced. And I submit that in those four minutes, the trajectory of King’s words caused many Adventists to remember the dream that had once been a vital part of our denominational discourse decades earlier.

Idealist that he was, King had no illusions about how hard it would be to create a society refounded on racial reconciliation:

“With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for free-dom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”5

Fifty years later Seventh-day Adventists in the United States and around the world are still in the business of trying to remember the dream. At times—too often—we still succumb to old lines and practiced traditions. But in our better moments—in the moments we listen to the same Spirit who called this Advent movement to life—we hear the echo of the words that remind us of our duty and our privilege.

So go out now, and “tell ’em about the dream.” Tell the rising generation of Seventh-day Adventists that the day King envisioned still requires sweat and struggle and solidarity and sincere commitment to racial reconciliation. Let the words that once stirred the world still stir a remnant people to redouble their commitment to hear—truly hear—the gospel’s clarion call to equality, compassion, and racial harmony.

“Tell ’em about the dream.” n

1 Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream,” Aug. 28, 1963.2 Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights

reserved.3 See John L. Lewis, in Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement (Mariner Books, 1999).

4 Clarence Jones, at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2402161/Key-aide-reveals-Martin-Luther-King-said-I-dream-speech-changed-America.html#ixzz2d7gc0ROI.

5 Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream,” Aug. 28, 1963.


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$1.3 Million Mission Offering, revival and reformation Focus of AsI ConventionNew digital evangelism application launched; Brooks is morning speakerBy MARK A. KELLNER, news editor

SEVENTh-DAy ADVENTIST lay mem-bers demonstrated their extraordinary commitment to preaching the gospel to all, donating and pledging $1.285 million to missionary projects sponsored by Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), which concluded its annual international convention on Sabbath, August 10, in Orlando, Florida.

The offering, which exceeded expressed needs by more than $100,000, is an annual highlight of the ASI International Convention, whose stated purpose is to energize and equip those “sharing Christ in the marketplace.”

But the money raised is only the beginning of members’ commit-ment to the work of the church. Partici-pants experienced a day of preaching and teaching centered on revival and reformation, the topic of the current quarter’s Adult Sabbath School Bible Study

Guide. Evangelist Mark Finley, author of those lessons and an editor at large for Adventist Review, taught the week’s study on Sabbath morning.

“Because we still have natures that are fallen, we tend to wander,” Finley said in explaining the need for personal revival. “So God invites us every day to come to the cross, to know Jesus afresh and

anew. Revival is a daily experience in the life of the believer. It is daily experienc-ing God’s grace. There will never be a time that believers do not need revival.”

Answering the question of what personal reformation is, Finley said it “always” follows personal revival, and “has to do with a change in habits, attitudes, and thoughts that lead me to a new life-style. It has to do with this reorga-nization of life, of habits, this practical change of lifestyle.”

A trio of ASI leaders—Terry Anderson, evangelism vice presi-dent; Dan Houghton, a board member and past ASI president; and Denzil McNeilus, another past ASI president who is on the board

of ASI Missions, Inc.—joined together Sabbath morning to launch the ASI Evangelism application, available now for Apple Inc. iOS devices, including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, as well as smart-

World News & Perspectives

PANORAMIC VIEW: Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist lay members gathered at the 2013 ASI International Convention in Orlando, Florida.

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SABBATH SCHOOL: Adventist Review editor at large Mark Finley teaches a lesson from the quarter’s “Re-vival and Reformation” Adult Bible Study Guide, which he authored, Sabbath morning, August 10, 2013, at the ASI International Convention in Orlando, Florida.

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phones and tablets running Google Inc.’s Android operating system.

The free software includes slides and notes for the New Beginnings evange-lism series formerly available on DVD, plus a raft of evangelism training tools and helps. Also included are the famed Discover Bible studies from the Voice of Prophecy, a pioneer Seventh-day Ad-ventist radio ministry, and resources from several Adventist church speakers aimed at helping lay members share the church’s message.

No longer restricted to bulky DVD players and video projectors, these items can be shared on TV screens and via pro-jectors, often using wireless connections. They can also be utilized in small groups and one-on-one encounters. The applica-tion makes these resources instantly

available, Anderson said. “You’ll have all of those tools right at

your fingertips. You can go over a health presentation over lunch on your phone or iPad,” he said.

Renowned evangelist C. D. Brooks, founder and emeritus director of the Breath of Life television broadcast, traced the role of Jesus as Messiah throughout the Scriptures to illustrate the continuity of God’s plan to redeem a fallen world.

“There was a time that this world was lost through the sins of our fathers. Heaven took into consideration a plan of redemption, which involved also the cost of redemption,” Brooks explained. “God has willed that we have a part in His work, including a financial part, as He seeks to salvage from humanity and build up the population

of His entire universe.” In the afternoon seven Seventh-day

Adventist thought leaders, including General Conference president Ted N. C. Wilson, participated in a panel discus-sion on the role of Bible prophecy in the life of the church.

Weimar College chaplain Don Mack-intosh led the discussion, which along with Wilson included evangelist Finley; Andetta Hunsaker, an assistant profes-sor at Harvard Medical School and ASI Atlantic Union chapter president; C. D.

Brooks; Ed Reid, assistant to the presi-dent of Adventist World Radio for development; and author and attorney Lewis Walton.

“The Second Coming has to be rooted in your own relationship with Christ,” Wilson said in answer to a question. “As I travel, I try to emphasize strongly the Second Coming. Every sermon we preach should somehow, some way, have a sense of urgency about Jesus’ second coming.”

Answering an audience question about how the church’s preaching of righteousness by faith is related to end-time prophecy, Finley noted, “Righ-teousness by faith is not sinning by presumption.” Rather, he said, this righ-teousness “grasps everything that Christ has done on the cross, is doing in the heavenly sanctuary, and everything PANORAMIC VIEW: Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist lay members gathered at the 2013 ASI International Convention in Orlando, Florida.

TABLET DEMO: From left, a trio of ASI leaders—Terry Anderson, evangelism vice presi-dent; Dan Houghton, a board member and past ASI president; and Denzil McNeilus, another past ASI president who is on the board of ASI Missions, Inc.—joined together Sabbath morning to launch the “ASI Evangelism” application. It’s available for Apple iOS and Google Android devices.

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WORDS OF LIFE: C. D. Brooks, founder of Breath of Life, preaches Sabbath morning at the ASI International Convention.

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Mob Destroys Adventist Church in Assiut Muslim neighbors rescue pastor, wifeBy ADVENTIST NEWS NETWORK STAFF

ThE bURNINg of a Seventh-day Adventist church in the city of Assiut during rioting August 15 was not part of a wider, organized political movement, local church officials said.

The Assiut Adventist Church, located approximately 223 miles (360 kilometers) south of Cairo, was attacked by a mob and heavily damaged after it was set on fire. The pastor and his wife hid in their upstairs apartment and were not found by the attackers, who set the building on fire. The pastor and his wife were rescued from the burning build-ing by Muslim neighbors.

“This was a small group of people bent on doing harm. This event was not representative of Egypt or the people of Egypt,” said Llewellyn R. Edwards, president of the Ad-

ventist Church’s Egypt-Sudan Field, based in Heliopolis.

“As Adventists we want our relationships to be strong with Egyptians of all faiths in the country,” Edwards said. Muslim neighbors rescuing the Ad-ventist couple shows “the true picture of most people in Egypt,” he said.

Edwards said the government has announced it will pay for the rebuilding of all churches destroyed during rioting in several cities.

Several other Christian churches were also attacked in Assuit, as well as the shop of the Egypt Bible Society, Edwards said.

The Adventist Church operates two schools in Egypt—Nile Union Academy (northeast of Cairo) and Zeitoun Ad-ventist School. Both institutions have positive relationships with their communities, Edwards said. n

TORCHED CHURCH: The Adventist church in Assiut, Egypt, was burned by extremist attackers on August 14. Adventist Church officials stressed that the attack was not part of a wider political movement. The government has pledged to pay for the repairs of the extensive damage of many Christian churches in the region.

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CHARRED REMAINS: Interior view of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Assiut, Egypt, approximately 230 miles south of Cairo. It was burned by extremist attackers on August 14, local Adventist leaders said.

He will do in the future.” Attorney Walton observed that one

sign of the approaching end is today’s “globalism that occurs at the end of time and has a religious overtone.” Wal-ton noted that current events illustrate the predictions made in the biblical

book of Revelation about those who will oppose God’s faithful believers.

And for Seventh-day Adventists won-dering if diversity in lifestyle choices including dress, entertainment, and diet could be delaying the Second Advent, Hunsaker dismissed a symptomatic

approach: “There’s one great central truth to be kept before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures—Christ and Him crucified. If they [young Advent-ists] saw a Christ lifted up from the pul-pit, you would not see these [other] problems.” n



Loma Linda Medical staff recognized for Helping Deputy Injured in shootoutBy bRIANA PASTORINO, media relations specialist, Loma Linda University Medical Center, reporting from San Bernardino, California

ThE SENSATIONAL case of a former Los Angeles Police Department officer whose grudge over being fired led to three murders and a six-day manhunt had another human impact: suspect Christopher Dorner, who died in a Feb-ruary 12 confrontation with law enforce-ment, shot and wounded San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy Alex Collins, whose partner, Michael Crain, was killed in the encounter.

Now, nearly six months after the trag-edy, Collins and his wife, Lila, recognized a team of physicians and nurses from Loma Linda University Medical Center during the captain’s meeting at the Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, August 7, 2013. Sheriff John McMahon, along with the department’s captains, sergeants, lieutenants, and a handful of deputies, as well as Deputy Collins’ fam-ily, filled the conference room.

“Everyone in this packed room has affected me in my recovery in some way,” Collins said, flaunting his full uniform for one of the first times since the deadly shootout that occurred in Big Bear. “I can never repay everyone for all that was done for me, and these awards are just a small token of my appreciation.”

Collins appeared physically unaf-fected by the wounds that had impaired him. He attributes his recovery to the skilled team of physicians and nurses who immediately took action.

Dr. Lorra Sharp, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, treated injuries that affected Collins’ left leg. “Dr. Sharp put my family at ease when I was first brought in,” Col-lins said. “She took this personally, and I am walking because of her.”

Dr. Saif Zaman, an orthopedic surgery resident, monitored Collins’ leg injury

during his stay at the hospital. “My wife must have asked him a thousand ques-tions, and he did his best to answer every single one,” Collins said.

During the shootout with Dorner, Col-lins suffered a gunshot wound to the right side of his face. Although serious at the time, Collins made light of the injury, saying, “Thanks to Dr. Herford, I think I look better now than before I got shot.”

He was referring to Dr. Alan Herford, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon who gave Collins the ability to smile again. “Thank you so much for the awesome work you and your team have done,” Collins said.

A special thank-you was given to Con-nie Cunningham, executive director of LLUMC Emergency Department, and Michael May, adult trauma coordinator for LLUMC. “Connie and Michael were some of the first people I encountered at the hospital, and I still talk to them on a regular basis,” Lila Collins said. “Connie

set me up with everything I needed at the hospital, including a crib for our son.” Benjamin Collins was just 3 weeks old at the time of the incident. “Connie even came and did a walk-through at our house and helped prepare us for Alex’s homecoming,” she added.

“We hope and pray that our paths never cross with the brave men and women of law enforcement [in this man-ner],” Cunningham said after the event. “But if they do, we will always be there and give nothing but the best care we can provide. Alex was out there serving and protecting us when he got injured, and it is our job to get him back in his uniform so he can continue to do his job. He is a true hero, and it was an honor to be part of his care and recovery.”

Collins, who is expected to return to work in September, and his wife extended their gratitude to everyone at LLUMC who had—and continue to have—a hand in his recovery. “There are countless nurses and hospital staff that went above and beyond their call of duty to make our experience what it was and what it continues to be. We are forever grateful to each and every one of you, and you will always hold a special place in our hearts,” he said. n

—with Adventist Review staff

LIFESAVING WORk: Deputy Alex Collins and his wife, Lila, shared a special moment with his clinical care team from LLUMC during the captain’s meeting at San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, August 7. From left to right: Dr. Alan Her-ford, Michael May, Dr. Lorra Sharp, Deputy Alex Collins, Lila Collins, Connie Cunningham, Dr. Saif Zaman, and Sheriff John McMahon.

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Web series Depicting The Great Controversy Wins Geekie AwardBY ADVENTIST NEWS NETWORK

ThE TRAILER for a Steampunk Web series produced by the Seventh-day Ad-ventist Church made headlines at the first annual Geekie Awards in Holly-wood, California, United States.

“The Record Keeper,” which drama-tizes the epic struggle between good and evil, won the award in the Best One-Shot category for Best Trailer. The One-Shot category recognizes episodes in the final stages of postproduction.

Director Jason Satterlund and execu-tive producer Garrett Caldwell accepted the award, accompanied by cast mem-bers Aris Juson and Jelynn Sophia. The award show was live-streamed from the Avalon, a historic landmark in Hollywood.

“I feel so honored to be here,” Satter-lund said. “We are excited to receive this response on a series that isn’t even out yet.”

Advanced screenings of “The Record Keeper” are expected to begin in Octo-ber, producers said.

“We can’t wait to show you the rest of the series,” Caldwell said, acknowledg-ing the role of cocreator Rajeev Sigam-oney and the two other executive producers, Ben Schoun and Delbert Baker, both general vice presidents for the Adventist world church.

“The Record Keeper” follows the story of Cadan (JuneSoo Ham) and Larus

(Dennis Hill), two angels who struggle to maintain their friendship after uni-versal civil war breaks out. Meanwhile, another angel, Raina (Lindsay Frame), pursues an accurate record of events while trying to make sense of the chaos.

The Web series echoes major themes from The Great Controversy, a touchstone book by Adventist Church cofounder Ellen G. White that chronicles God’s guidance throughout history.

Church leaders said “The Record Keeper” will resonate with people who may not otherwise come into contact with The Great Controversy or even the Bible.

“The inspired insights that Ellen White provides in The Great Controversy make the compelling narratives of Scripture even more relevant,” Caldwell said. “So many people are expressing interest in [White] as an individual and in her writings as a result of ‘The Record Keeper’ project. We simply must consider continuing to tell these stories in this manner.”

“The Record Keeper” is set in a Steam-punk universe. A subgenre of science fiction, Steampunk features steam- powered machinery, often in an alter-nate world or fantasy setting.

The Geekie Awards event is billed as “the first live-streamed geek-genre award show,” recognizing the best indie comic books, graphic novels, short films, Web series, and more. n

FILM AWARD: Director Jason Satterlund, center, speaks after “The Record Keeper” Web series he directed was recognized at the Geekie Awards in Hollywood, California. Execu-tive producer Garrett Caldwell, right, and actor Jelynn Sophia also accepted the award for “Best One-Shot.”

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WORkING ANGEL: The trailer for “The Record Keeper” shows the angel Raina (Lindsay Frame) reacting as rebellion spreads to earth. The Adventist Web series based on The Great Controversy is scheduled for release in October.

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September 12, 2013 | 13(797)

Sound BITe

camp meeTInG memorIeS

When I attended a Michigan camp meeting in the 1940s, Fordyce Detamore was one of the speakers with the Voice of Prophecy. He liked to walk the platform trailing a long microphone cable behind him. This was long before wireless microphones. One of the listeners was a young boy, about 8 years old. He leaned over to his mother and said, “Mommy, that dummy runs by electricity.”—W. L. PARkER, the Dalles, oreGoN

“Seventh-day Adventists must proclaim god’s love or our faith will atrophy because of selfishness.”—TIM RUMBLE, aKroN, michiGaN

“every one of us has something we could give away and never miss.”—HATTIE BYNUM, commuNity

serVices leaDer, at the smithFielD

First seVeNth-Day aDVeNtist

church, smithFielD, North

caroliNa

Curious, 8-year-old Ella stood by watching as the women washed each other’s feet at church. This was her first experience at an ordinance of humility and Communion service—all the women looked clean to her, and she wondered why they were washing their feet.

Later, as the bread and grape juice were passed out, Ella sat quietly watching but not partaking. She whis-pered, “Aunt Christine, when do we go home? I’m hun-gry.” Aunt Christine quickly explained everything after the service.

When the family entered the house after church, Aunt Christine said, “I’ll put dinner on the table right away. We are all hungry.”

“Why are you hungry?” asked Ella. “you had a light lunch at church!”—LENNA LEE CHASE DAVIDSON, owasso, oKlahoma

Share wITh uS

We are looking for brief submissions in these categories:

Sound Bites (quotes, profound or spontaneous)

Adventist Life (short anecdotes, espe-cially from the world of adults)

Camp Meeting Memories (150 words or less)

Jots and Tittles (church-related tips)Please send your submissions to Give &

Take, adventist review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600; fax: 301-680-6638; e-mail: [email protected]. Please include phone number, and city and state from which you are writing.

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He Guaranteed ItSUPER bOWL III WAS OVER bEFORE IT STARTED: ThE COLTS WERE gOINg TO stampede Gang Green like grass beneath the weight of powerful hooves.

Just a few years before, the United States’ two professional football leagues, the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL), had agreed to merge, forming American football as we know it

today. At the time, the AFL teams and players were regarded as second-class citizens. The notion was only strengthened as the NFL’s Green Bay Packers soundly defeated their AFL opponents in the first two Super Bowls.

New faces were on the scene for Super Bowl III in Miami, including Johnny Unitas, superstar quarterback of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. But it was the opposing quarterback who

made headlines three days before kickoff.The nickname Broadway Joe described New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath to a T. Young,

charming, brash, and irreverent, Namath was one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Thursday night before the big game the Miami Touchdown Club honored Namath as its player of the year. As he accepted the award, a Colts fan began taunting him. Namath had heard enough about his opponent.

“Whoa, wait a minute. You guys have been talking for two weeks now, and I’m tired of hear-ing it,” Namath shot back. “I’ve got news for you. We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.”

The next morning Namath’s face—with his bold guarantee—was on the front page of every newspaper in the United States. Most pundits chided the guarantee as horribly misplaced bra-

vado; Namath’s own teammates even thought he’d lost it.However, as the final horn sounded on Super Sunday, Broadway Joe had the last laugh as the

scoreboard read: Jets 16, Colts 7.

The guaranteeBe honest: Who gets more attention in your everyday life, God or His opponent?I know, you have the Ellen G. White app on your iPhone, date night with your spouse is Wednesday

night prayer meeting, and the pastor is coming over for lunch on Sabbath between church and after-noon outreach, right? I mean, you’re reading the Adventist Review right now, which is certainly a maga-

zine about God. Of course He gets more of your attention.Look at it another way: When it comes to the greatest battle of your life, is that still true? Does God

still get more of your focus? Or do you feel suffocated by the devil’s nagging taunts? In theory we each believe our Savior is stronger, but do we act like it? In moments of truth I’ve noticed that I tend to dwell on how powerful Satan is and how weak I am. Maybe you can relate.

If this has been your experience, I’m here to say that we don’t have to be bullied by sin.The Christian world places so much emphasis on the cross. Rightfully so—it’s the foundation of forgive-

ness and the hope for eternal life. But Jesus came to this world both to die and to live for us, which largely gets lost today. Here’s what Ellen White wrote:

“Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then . . . He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain. If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us. But our Savior took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of [humanity], with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not endured.”*

Jesus Christ came to earth with a human nature and gained victory over sin. He did this so that we might have the power to “die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). When we put our focus on Him, victory is possible.

He guaranteed it. n

* Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898) p. 117.

JIMMY PHILLIPS ([email protected]) WRITES FROM BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE IS DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND

COMMUNICATIONS FOR SAN JOAqUIN COMMUNITy HOSPITAL. VISIT HIS WEB SITE: INTRODUCINGTHEWHy.COM.

Introducing the Why

Jimmy Phillips

Susanna Elm, D.Phil. Professor of History, UC Berkeley

Hosted by Doug Batchelor

David Trim, Ph.D. Retired Professor of History and Religion, Newbold College

Obery Hendricks, Jr., Ph.D.Professor of Biblical Interpretation, New York Theological Seminary

Features compelling interviews with renowned theologians and historians, including:

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REVELATIONTHE BRIDE, THE BEAST& BABYLONThe book of Revelation portrays dazzling visions of the apocalypse—the end of all things—and reveals sweeping prophetic history and lessons of universal history and lessons of universal importance that all Christians need to understand.

With expert analysis from the nation’s top Bible thinkers, this 90-minute, high-quality, groundbreaking DVD presentation explores the major themes of Revelation and unlocks hidden history that will ultimately lead to the end of the world.

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Cover

MIssIOn iS

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taSk ChriSt

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all memberS

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the Sharing oF

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to underStand

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apply the Six

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who? what?

where? when?

how? why?

Why ruLes OF jOurnALIsM suGGest An

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The biblical basis The four Gospels and the book of Acts

present the mission mandate given by Jesus in five different ways (see sidebar, “Jesus’ Instructions for Mission”). Together these provide believers with instruction regarding mission. Christ gave these different—and yet in many ways similar—sets of mission instructions to the disciples just before His ascension. On the basis of these instructions, we can answer the six journalistic questions.

1. WHO?The context of these five mandates

does not suggest that the 11 disciples were an elite group who received the instructions to become involved in mis-sion. Jesus included all those who were listening, and, by extension, all believers.

In the first-century mission belonged to the whole church. There was no clear distinction between leaders and so-called laypeople. With the mission activ-ity of the whole church, the message of salvation covered the then-known world.

While in Old Testament times the priesthood managed religious affairs among God’s people, Peter in the New Testament wrote to the believers in Asia

that now they were all part of God’s “royal priesthood,” tasked with pro-claiming “the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his mar-velous light” (1 Peter 2:9).1 Paul noted that the “ministry of reconciliation,” a priestly function, had been entrusted to his Corinthian readers and, hence, all believers (2 Cor. 5:18-20).2

Throughout the centuries this vision of the involvement of all believers in mission was lost. With few exceptions, such as the Waldensians, only a select

few shared the good news of the gospel. While Martin Luther in the sixteenth century fought against the priesthood of the few, he did not advocate a mission task for the many. The Moravians broke with tradition and sent out their first lay missionaries in 1732. Mission, they said, is an important part of one’s reli-gion and must be exercised for spiritual health. By 1792 William Carey—a self-educated cobbler—insisted that the New Testament command to preach to all the world was binding in his days on all believers.

In early Adventism the notion of spreading the gospel became prominent. Ellen White wrote: “True education is mis-sionary training. Every son and daughter of God is called to be a missionary.”3

Commenting on the Samaritan woman’s bringing her fellow towns-people to hear Jesus, Ellen White wrote: “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver.”4

Who are those entrusted with the gospel commission, both at home and abroad? We are. Each individual Chris-tian is a missionary.

2. WHAt?The mission Jesus left His followers is

clearly delineated in the texts noted in the sidebar. Believers are to (1) witness/tell what God has done for them; (2) proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins; (3) make more disciples—to do this they need to “go” and “teach” and “baptize”; (4) and perform signs and miracles through Christ’s power, which is promised to believers.

The work of the disciples was to be done in the spirit of Jesus, who “went

about doing good” (Acts 10:38). As Jesus had given up heaven to live on earth and die on a cross, His disciples were to live for others (see Phil. 2:5-8).

3. WHere?The original instructions regarding

the place where Jesus’ followers would carry out their witness included “Jerusa-lem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Today we could say that mission begins in our backyard or with the neighbors across the street, and continues with those who need our service or the Savior’s words of hope wherever they are—in the next town or on the other side of the globe.

Of late we often talk about the 10/40 window—a geographic rectangle located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator and stretching from North Africa, through the Middle East, and into eastern Asia—and the need for taking Christ’s message of hope to that difficult area of the world. Millions of people with different ideolo-gies who live in this region have not heard the name of Jesus. But we cannot forget about the next town where there is no Adventist presence, or the huge cities where the task is very difficult

because people don’t want to open up to anyone.

In essence, our mission field is the whole world and all its 7 billion inhabit-ants—starting next door!

4. WHen?Jesus promised His presence with His

disciples until He should come again. That would mean, I think, that all believers have the task of spreading the love and message of Jesus throughout the whole world as long as time lasts.

Why by NANCy VyhMEISTER


not everyone has the same gift. In 1 Cor-inthians 12:12-27 Paul puts together a caricature of a body that is all hands or all ears! God’s gifts are given gener-ously and with great variety—even beyond the lists in the New Testament.

Obviously there are many different ways of sharing the good news. We all need to find our own way of doing it. And be accepting of those who don’t do it our way!

6. WHy?I see two main sets of reasons for each

and every church member to be involved in some form of mission. The first focuses on listeners; the second on missionaries.

ListenersPeople have to hear the good news in

order to be saved. Paul wrote (quoting Joel) that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He then queries: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preach-ing?” (Rom. 10:13, 14).

Ellen White quotes this passage and asks: “Do you realize that every year thousands and thousands and ten times ten thousand souls are perishing, dying in their sins? . . . Souls are going to ruin because the light of truth has not been flashed upon their pathway.”5

Before accepting the idea that preach-

ing is indispensable to salvation, how-ever, read Romans 2:14-16: “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

Ellen White has some interesting things to say about the salvation of the “heathen,” whom today we would call “non-Christians”:

“Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of the-ology, but they have cherished His prin-ciples. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them. . . . Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the writ-ten law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required.”6

In Prophets and Kings White notes: “Heaven’s plan of salvation is broad enough to embrace the whole world. . . . Constantly He is sending His angels to those who, while surrounded by cir-cumstances the most discouraging, pray in faith for some power higher than themselves to take possession of them and bring deliverance and peace.”7

Putting Romans 2 together with what Ellen White says, we have a pic-ture of a loving God who can save to the utmost. Then why do we need to do mission, to share our faith? The Bible clearly points out the importance of proclamation. Isaiah 61:1, 2 notes the proclamation of good tidings and favor. Ezekiel was told that he was to be a watchman so those who listened to his message might be delivered (see Eze. 3:16-21; 33:1-9). Paul understood that his preaching was essential to the salvation of his hearers (see 1 Cor. 1:21). He was willing to become a slave so “that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:19, 22). Peter boldly

5. HOW?The basics of mission appear in the

gospel commission. Yet the “how” of mission can be summarized under three main headings:

a. Proclamation or preaching goes far beyond public evangelism, whether in a church or on the Internet. It includes the humble witness of a life lived in tune with God, as well as giving out litera-ture. It also includes dialogue and every-day conversations between believers and their unbelieving friends or family.

b. Service helps people with health, education, finances, and social relations. Community Services and ADRA are ser-vice-oriented organizations. So are Ad-ventist hospitals and educational institutions. But service is also the shar-ing of a meal with someone who has less than we do, or driving a person to a doctor’s appointment. Jesus said He had come that human beings might have life in abundance (see John 10:10). His followers are to foster health and well-being.

c. Fellowship brings people together and allows for proclamation and service to happen. The breaking of bread in the early church was not all Eucharist; it included eating together just for the sake of fellowship (see Acts 2:42-47). And this fellowship was leaven to the growth of the church.

All believers have spiritual gifts they can use to accomplish the mission of Jesus (see Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4). Yet

Mission should come naturally, in

response to salvation granted freely.


Mission should come naturally, in response to salvation granted freely. One who is full of Christ will naturally bubble over with love to God and oth-ers. Those who have experienced salva-tion will share what they have received, thus they will share their faith. Mis-sion—at home or abroad, personal or public—is necessary to the believer. It is tantamount to exercise; it keeps us in good spiritual health.

There is a reward for doing mission. Jesus said: “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42). When we put our talents to work for the Lord, we can look forward to hearing the words of Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21). All this is beyond the present satisfaction of serv-ing the Lord of the harvest!

Enough pondering! It’s time for me to check on how my neighbors are weathering the storm we’re having. Per-haps I will share something hot from my oven. Then I’ll pray with them . . . n

1 All Bible texts in this article are from the English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2 See Raoul Dederen, “The Priesthood of All Believ-ers,” in Women in Ministry, ed. Nancy Vyhmeister (Ber-rien Springs: Andrews University Press, 1998), pp. 9-27.

3 Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 395.

4 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), p. 195.

5 Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1923), pp. 398, 399.

6 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 638.7 Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings (Mountain View,

Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1917), pp. 377, 378.

NANCY J. VYHMEISTER, PH.D., IS A

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF MISSION

AT THE SEVENTH-DAy ADVENTIST

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARy IN BERRIEN

SPRINGS, MICHIGAN.

preached that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Evidently, mission enhances the possi-bility of eternal salvation.

It appears that preaching is plan A. God’s plan B allows for exceptions—those whose lives show the graces of the Spirit, unbeknown to them. Thus, what-ever we do to facilitate their ability to lis-ten to the “still small voice” is worthwhile.

Although God can grant ultimate sal-vation to those who have never heard of His love and power, there is no way He can provide to them all the benefits of being a Christian in the here and now. Abundant life here and now is for believ-ers in Christ and those to whom they bring the joyful news of eternal life.

MissionariesThe five texts quoted in the sidebar

tell us clearly what God says we should do. There is no hint that there is any other instruction on the topic.

Jesus’ Instructions for MissionCOMPILED by NANCy VyhMEISTER

1. Matthew 28:18-20And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and

on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2. Mark 16:15-18And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the

gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

3. Luke 24:45-49Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and

said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and for-giveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. you are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.”

4. John 20:21, 22 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has

sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

5. Acts 1:8 He said to them: “ . . . But you will receive power when the Holy

Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jeru-salem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

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Adventist Life


We Seventh-day Advent-ists believe ourselves to have a prophetic mission. The clarion call of the three angels’

messages, found in Revelation 14:6-12, has for 150 years been a call to action in our mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus around the globe. Jesus reminds us that as His children we must always be ready. The lesson in the parable of the 10 wedding attendants (Matt. 25:1-13), five of whom were unprepared for the bridegroom’s arrival, is worthy of our consideration today.

The Day of PreparationBeyond the spiritual implications in

our personal lives, practical life safety questions must be answered by every Seventh-day Adventist church, school, and institution. When the alarm sounds in times of an emergency, will our employees, volunteers, congregations, and students be ready to respond and take appropriate lifesaving actions? Being prepared for times of crisis is part of the stewardship ministry of Ad-ventist Risk Management.

Numerous tragic events have occurred in recent months around the globe. These events remind us that we should never be caught off guard. In fact, our prophetic knowledge has given us insights and warnings that these types of events can occur at any time and in any place.

Consider these words from Ellen White: “The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests,

hUMAN AND NATURAL

DISASTERS ARE REALITIES

OF LIFE.

by ARThUR F. bLINCI

unthinkable

fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession.”*

Adventists are quick to respond with humanitarian support in times of need. The work of ADRA and Adventist Com-munity Services in times of disaster is commendable and in keeping with our mission of humanitarian compassion. But what if the alarm were to sound at your church on Sabbath morning? Would you know what to do, where to go; and would your church leaders be prepared to take appropriate lifesaving actions in that moment of crisis?

Jesus taught the importance of being prepared at all times. “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into” (Matt. 24:43). Being pre-pared is a biblical mandate.

Again, what would happen if the alarm sounded at your church on Sab-bath morning? Would there be confu-sion and panic? Would there be apathy, as exhibited by the pastor who asked an associate to turn off the fire alarm that went off during the middle of his ser-mon, so he could continue preaching,

and no one moved?We hope we would see an immediate

response by well-trained deacons and Sabbath school leaders taking appropri-ate lifesaving actions of evacuating the church facilities and moving the congre-gation to predesignated safe zones until emergency personnel could arrive on the scene to assess the situation. Both of

thinking


these scenarios actually occurred recently in Adventist churches when the alarm sounded.

Adventists are not immune from natural and human-made disaster events, and we must be prepared and ready to respond.

Twelve Ways to be Prepared1. Have an emergency plan. Every organi-

zation must have a well-thought-out emergency plan for every facility. Iden-tify the most likely peril you could face at your facility. Events such as fires, tor-nadoes, and earthquakes can occur like a “thief in the night.” When the alarm sounds, it is time to take action, not to start the planning process.

2. Be aware of your surroundings. As part of your emergency planning, have you included awareness training for all individuals? What should be done if something looks out of place, if a suspi-cious item is found during a church activity, or if someone unknown is lurk-ing around your premises or seen in an inappropriate area? Encourage greeters and deacons to be watchful at entrances and make regular rounds throughout the facility during services. Employees, volunteers, church members, and stu-dents have to be alert for items or

actions outside the scope of normal events and report what they observe to the appropriate leaders or authorities.

3. Be prepared for the unthinkable. Most emergencies are caused by fires, storms, and earthquakes. Yet tragic acts of vio-lence also occur at churches and schools. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not immune to these types of tragedies.

In recent years denominational employees have been killed at Adventist facilities around the world. Your emer-gency plan should include consideration for appropriate levels of security to help protect your congregation and property.

4. Know where to go. When the alarm sounds, it’s human nature to exit a building by the same way you entered. But what if that exit is blocked and no longer accessible? All exits have to be kept clear of obstructions at all times. Sometimes hallways or exits are blocked with items stored inappropriately. All exits have to be clearly marked and never chained or tied closed. All exits have to be kept clear from all types of obstructions to ensure a safe evacuation.

5. Have local safety officers. Every church should have a key individual appointed as its church safety officer. Identify indi-viduals who may already have training and experience in providing assistance to this important safety ministry. How-ever, church safety officers cannot imple-ment emergency plans by themselves. It requires a team effort of trained employ-ees and volunteers to be successful.

6. Train everyone: employees, volunteers—everyone. Emergency plans cannot be well-detailed guidelines kept in a note-book on a shelf in an office. They must be living documents, internalized by every-one. When the alarm sounds, people must know how to respond immediately.

7. Practice, practice, practice. Internaliz-ing an emergency plan requires a time

commitment for both training and practice. Take time to conduct a simu-lated drill to help train your crisis team and key ministry leaders specifically about their assignments and duties. Once you have taken time to train your emergency response team, conduct practice drills on a regular basis.

8. Practice with the congregation. Why

would anyone be annoyed to practice a lifesaving emergency drill during church? Is it too much to ask your pas-tor to set aside 15 minutes on a Sabbath morning to conduct an emergency safety drill? You would not be annoyed if it was a real emergency!

Schools have safety drills on a monthly basis so students know what to do and how to follow directions that could save their lives. Likewise, adults have to know how to evacuate build-ings, or shelter in place, in the event of an emergency. Practicing life safety skills is a vital act of stewardship, even as part of a worship service.

9. Know you will be on your own. Often when an emergency strikes, you are on your own until the storm passes or first responders can begin rescue efforts. Even the best fire and police response can take three to five minutes to arrive on scene. Major storms can overwhelm the capabilities of first responders, and you’ll have to rely on your own first-aid skills and emergency supplies.

Work with local fire and police agen-cies for assistance in designing your emergency plan. Invite them to visit your facilities and help to identify appropriate evacuation routes, outside meeting areas, and safe zones in your buildings for sheltering in place. They can also identify the type and quantity of emergency supplies that should be kept at your facility.

10. Stay calm and take action. When you

hear the alarm or receive a storm warn-ing, time is of the essence! In a fire emer-gency you often have less than two minutes to evacuate all occupants from the building safely before the area becomes uninhabitable because of extensive heat, smoke, flames, and poi-sonous gases.

Being alert to weather-related warn-

theunthinkable


ings allows time to activate your emer-gency plan and take appropriate evacuation or shelter precautions as may be warranted. Staying calm will help minimize panic and help others follow appropriate directions that can lead them to safety.

11. Have confidence in others. A well-trained staff can have confidence they are doing the best thing possible for survival during a disaster. Students facing a tor-nado in Moore, Oklahoma, assured teachers they were OK as they sheltered in place. Well-trained teachers had confi-dence in one another as they moved from their classrooms to more secure areas following instructions given calmly and confidently over the public address sys-tem. Many lives were saved because of the brave actions of individuals who had been trained and practiced their emer-gency drills many times over.

12. Have faith in God. In times of crisis, when we have done everything within our human power, the Lord’s promises are sure: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (Ps. 34:7).

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:1-4).

The Lord’s abiding presence is by our side even through the darkest hours.

Safety First, and AlwaysTake time today to review your emer-

gency plans to be sure they are current; train staff members about how to respond, and practice safety drills on a regular basis.

Recently one of our churches held a Safety Sabbath and integrated the mes-sage of safety throughout the entire ser-vice. This included holding a fire drill and inviting the local fire department to par-ticipate as part of the service and receive recognition afterward at the fellowship luncheon. This is an excellent example of how you can make life safety part of a stewardship ministry at your church.

Keys to Developing an Emergency Plana. Involve individuals who have an interest or experience in safety issues.

b. Include key church leaders on the crisis team, both employees and

volunteers.

c. Tailor your emergency plan to the geographic realities of your community.

d. Invite your local police, fire, and EMS agencies to assist in the development

of your emergency plan.

e. Put competent people in charge, and have others know who is responsible

for activating the plan.

f. Train key members of the crisis team on their assignments and responsibili-

ties so they know how to respond.

g. Test and implement the plan before a crisis occurs. Conduct practice drills

with the entire congregation at least annually.

h. Before each service or activity, make a visual check to be sure all exit doors

are unlocked and clear of obstructions.

i. Review the plan periodically and update as necessary.

Helpful Online Resources:

• www.adventistrisk.org/Prevention/ChurchEmergencyResponseand

BusinessContinuity.aspx.

• www.adventistrisk.org/Prevention/DisasterPreparedness.aspx.

• www.ready.gov.


Giving light to our world—GLOW—is an outreach initiative in multiple North American Division conferences based on the concept of church members carrying Adventist literature with them wherever they go and handing it out—free of charge—at every opportunity. Here are two short stories of lives touched by GLOW:

gLOW Stories Giving Light to Our WorldStory 1 While shopping in a mall for bridal clothes for

their upcoming wedding, Central California Con-ference GLOW director Nelson Ernst and his then fiancé, Ina, handed a GLOW tract to an attendant of a dressing room. The attendant said, “Thanks! I like reading this kind of stuff!” A discussion ensued about religion, and eventually the attendant and the couple exchanged phone numbers. Not long after, fol-lowing additional Bible study, the attendant accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized.

“God can use someone even when they’re absorbed in premarital flurry,” Nelson says. “Literature distribution is simple work, but it has big results!”

Nelson and Ina have now been married for about seven months.

Story 2 A young man named Joel noticed two other young men reading Bibles while leaning against a car in a restaurant parking lot. He went over, talked to

them, and gave them some GLOW tracts. The young men told him that they had received GLOW tracts before and expressed interest in learning more about Bible prophecy. Joel offered them additional tracts and other resources on Bible prophecy. Not long afterward Joel met again with not only the two young men—who were brothers—but with three other individuals as well. They spent several hours watching and discussing a DVD on Bible prophecy. The relationship continues!

STORIES COMPILED By CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE GLOW DIRECTOR NELSON ERNST. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GLOW,

GO TO WWW.SDAGLOW.ORG.

RIC

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DO

CA

MA

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O

Qualifications:• Must be a baptized Adventist Christian for at least 1 year.• Must be a citizen of one of the following countries: U.S.A. /

Australia / Canada /England / New Zealand / South Africa.• Must have completed a Bachelor’s degree.• Excellent English teacher skills (Based on Interview Evaluation).

Experience the driving value of education that has resulted in Korea’s economic miracle. Discover this unique and fast paced culture and create life-long friendships by teaching English in Korea.Teach English in one of the world’s most literate and educated populations with technology integrated classrooms.Consistently ranked as one of the top 3 language institutes in the country, SDA Language School is committed to providing excellent English language instruction for students of all ages.Experience God making a change in students’ lives as well as your life!

Duties:• Mission & Teaching Training: There will be initial training for two weeks

on teaching & mission work and aspects of Korean culture.• Teach a minimum of 6 English classes (Adults and Juniors) and one

optional Bible class per day.• Actively participate in weekend programs and mission activities.• Uphold an SDA lifestyle and standards.

Experience a Life-Changing Year in Korea!

English Teacher

Benefits:• Annual salary of \26,400,000 KRW (approx. $24,000 USD) Base fare \2,200,000 KRW (approx. $2,000 USD) per month.• Housing and furniture provided.• Insurance and coverage for illness or injury.• $600-$700 USD for six months service toward airfare.• Bonus: Minimum of \100,000 KRW (approx. $90 USD) and

Maximum of \200,000 KRW (approx. $180) given on top of base pay for any of the following criteria met below:

- At least 1 year full-time teaching experience from home country. - M.A. degree or PhD. degree.

• Severance pay for 1 year service.

the sDa language institute of Korea is affiliated with the Korean union conference under the supervision of the General conference.

contacts:Korea Head Office : SDA Language Institute Tel: 82-2-2215-7496US and Canada : 714-395-636Email : [email protected] : www.koreasda.orgFace book : www.facebook.com/sdalanguage

For more information about how to develop an emergency plan for your church, visit www.adventistrisk.org.

Has your church or school taken the necessary steps to prepare its people on how to respond in the event of an emer-gency? Is safety of life and property part of your ministry plans? Will your orga-nization be prepared when the unthink-able happens? n

* Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 6, p. 408.

ARTHUR F. BLINCI IS VICE

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF RISK

MANAGEMENT OFFICER FOR

ADVENTIST RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.


About 30 years ago, being an immigrant from Denmark to the United States, I decided it was about time to learn something about

the enigmas of American football. One evening some of my church members decided to initiate me. I learned lessons about God’s judgment and our praise.

“If anyone worships the beast” (Rev. 14:9) is heaven’s warning against false christs as symbolized by the beast sym-bol. In our eagerness to give this last-day warning to the world, is it possible that we sometimes have had more to say about the beast than about the Lamb? The book of Revelation shows the better way, with its witness to the power of true worship.

In the CourtroomThe inspiring courtroom scene of

Revelation 4 and 5 depicts the enthrone-ment, upon His ascension, of Jesus Christ, as the rightful ruler of the uni-verse, as the vast assembled throng declares the supremacy of the exalted

JudGmenT and The

relevanceof praISe

Heart and Soul: Theology

We Won!

by ERVIN K. ThOMSEN

triumphant worship Songs


We Won!

the terms of the covenant been met? A will does not go into effect until and unless the testator has died (Heb. 9:16, 17). Who are the heirs named in the will, and how will they receive their inheritance?

Why John WeepsWhy did John weep at the angel’s

challenge “Who is worthy to . . . open the scroll?” (Rev. 5:2). Was it because of his imprisonment on Patmos? Or because he was the last living and remaining apostle? Or because Jesus has not yet come back? Is he asking himself how long it will be before the heavenly Judge steps in and deals with all the world’s injustices?

Then one of the elders, a witness from earth, proclaims: “Do not weep.” Judah’s Lion “has prevailed to open the scroll [the covenant—God’s last will and testament], and to loose its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5, NKJV).3

But when John turns to look, he sees not a lion but a Lamb “as it had been slain” (verse 6, KJV). But to the assembly in the heavenly courtroom this is a cause not for weeping but for jubilant worship.

At the appearance of the Lamb in heaven’s courtroom rapturous singing breaks out. The witnesses from heaven and earth unite in giving their depositions, judicial testimonies, by singing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and nation and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (verses 9, 10, NKJV). The jury of angels joins in this act of worship declaring, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and bless-ing” (verse 12, NKJV).

Probate court terminology recognizes Jesus here in the dual role of both testa-tor and executor. The benefits of the covenant, intended by the Father and the Son [the testators] are entirely valid, shown by the death of the testator, the Son, Jesus Christ. The heavenly tribunal now declares the Lamb worthy, judi-

cially qualified, to serve in His resur-rected role as executor of the will.

Thus in A.D. 31, upon Christ’s ascen-sion, the heavenly court declared Jesus to be fully qualified, worthy, to dispense the benefits of the covenant of salvation to the rightfully designated heirs.

Worshipping Right!The antidote to the worship of the

beast is not to talk more about the beast, but to magnify Jesus, our sin-bearing Lamb. When Satan’s accusations abound, amplified by the terrors and intimidations of beastlike powers, wor-ship the Lamb, focusing on the one who is more than able to keep us! By con-templating the cosmic implications of this worship scene of A.D. 31 in heaven’s open courtroom, we can by faith lay hold of its benefits. This will powerfully amplify our appreciation for worship in the context of the proclamation of the third angel’s message:

1. Worship is our response to our cove-nant-keeping God. He is utterly trustwor-thy, for what He said He would do, He did. We are saved because Father and Son intended to save us, even before the foundation of the world.

2. To worship is to participate in the judg-ment. The heavenly court has declared Jesus worthy to receive worship. The opposition, led by Satan, has through-out the ages staunchly maintained that neither Jesus nor His Father are worthy to receive worship. But these charges are shown to be without merit, and thrown out of court. This first phase of the judgment is all about the sufficiency and glory of Jesus. Our gathering for corporate worship actually participates with the witnesses and the jury already assembled in heaven’s courtroom.

Ellen White wrote, “The church of God below is one with the church of God above. . . . In the inner court of heaven they listen to the testimony of

the ChurCh oF god below iS one WItH tHe CHurCH oF god above. . . .

Lamb. This is the core of true worship, which is “seeing what God is worth and giving Him what He is worth.”1

In Revelation 1:9 John describes him-self as a fellow sufferer with his parish-ioners. As their pastor he had shared their trials, witnessed daily injustices, and wondered, with them, why they suf-fered while Rome flourished.

But now John tells about Christ’s tri-umphal entry into heaven itself. No earthly government could top this. To guard against misinterpreting reality as they saw it, John shares with them an infinitely larger view of reality that includes events in heavenly places; a view no doubt intended to let them know that though the wrong is oft so strong, God is the ruler yet! This look at Christ’s enthronement in heaven’s open court-room is also for our encouragement.

To comprehend more easily some of the issues of the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan, I find it helpful to use a paradigm from the proceedings of pro-bate courts where last wills and testaments are challenged and validated.

In Revelation 4 and 5, we find the fol-lowing: (1) witnesses from heaven—four liv-ing creatures; (2) witnesses from earth—24 elders: probably resurrected saints who ascended with Christ as ‘first fruits’ (Eph. 4:8; Matt. 27:53); (3) the Judge—God the Father, qualified to hear the case, and wor-thy of worship because He is holy, as declared by the witnesses from heaven, the four living creatures (Rev. 4:8), who, along with witnesses from earth, declare Him to have jurisdiction in the matter (Rev. 4:11);

(4) God’s last will and testament—the scroll, the Godhead’s intention to save, as expressed in the cove-nant established before the world’s foundation; (5) the jury—innumerable angels; the issues before the court—who is worthy to open the scroll (Rev. 5:2), and judicially qualified to dispense the covenant benefits therein to the rightfully designated.

Thinking of the scroll as a last will and tes-tament about to be probated, we may ask, Were the testators (the Father and the Son) qualified to make a covenant of sal-vation for the benefit of sinners?2 Have


atonement are shown to His people. . . . God loves them as He loves His Son.”7 Judgment-hour living fears neither the future, nor the beast, nor any counter-feit saviors. Joyful living in the judg-ment hour will take full advantage of our new identity as children and heirs as we now start receiving all benefits of our inheritance obtained and dispensed by our heavenly Executor, Jesus Christ.8 “Centuries, ages, can never diminish the efficacy of [Christ’s] atoning sacrifice. The message of the gospel of His grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world should no longer say that Seventh-day Advent-ists talk the law, the law, but do not teach or believe Christ.”9

7. To worship is to declare the victory of the Lamb over the beast.

One evening about 30 years ago I attended a football game at Arizona State University, accompanied by church members who were determined to teach their pastor about American football. As I watched the various plays, the forma-tions, the running, the tackling, even with helpful comments from my friends, I was unable to make much sense of it all.

But as I watched the spectators at the conclusion of the game, I learned some-thing significant from American football. As the game concluded, thousands of spectators cheered and shouted with exu-berance, “We won! We won! We won!”

Not a single one of them had been on the field playing. Not a single one of them had touched the football or scored any points! Yet they were so absolutely and totally identified with the winning team, that without apology or embarrassment they could joyfully exclaim, “We won! We won!”

It is but a feeble illustration about how the events of Calvary’s cross should affect us. We were not there at the cross, but Jesus was there as our representa-tive. And He won! We were not present in the heavenly courtroom in A.D. 31, but through Jesus Christ as our legal representative and advocate, we are even now in Him legally seated in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3; 2:6). And through our close identification with Him, He wants to share with us the benefits of His vic-tory, so we will also be able to enthusias-

tically declare, “We won! We won!”No wonder John, in telling the story

of the great controversy, could write, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testi-mony” (Rev. 12:11, NKJV). There is no better way of overcoming the beast than to bear a living testimony to the saving power of the Lamb.

Judgment-hour Living—Join the Singing!

Have you heard the singing of the wit-nesses in heaven’s courtroom (Rev. 5) streaming through heaven’s open doors in declaring Christ’s victory? “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!” There’s no better way of living in the judgment hour than to join the singing in heaven’s courtroom. Redeemed! How I love to pro-claim it; His child and forever I am! n

1 Tim Keller, in Leadership 15, no. 2.2 “Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the

Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, ‘It is finished,’ He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, ‘I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.’ John 19:30; 17:24” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages [Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898], p. 834).

3 Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nel-son, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

4 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 6, pp. 367, 368.

5 www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/god-is-most-glorified-in-us-when-we-are-most-satis-fied-in-him.

6 Harry Verploegh, Signposts—A Collection of Sayings From A. W. Tozer (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1988), p. 227.

7 Ellen G. White, in The Bible Echo, May 22, 1899.8 There is no conflict here between A.D. 31 and A.D.

1844. The covenant benefits of salvation were released and made available to believers in A.D. 31 upon Christ’s ascension. The purpose of the pre-Advent judgment, commencing in 1844 (Dan. 8:14), is to determine who have availed themselves of the cove-nant benefits made available in A.D. 31 at Christ’s ascension and through His continued intercession.

9 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1946), pp. 190, 191.

ERVIN k. THOMSEN RETIRED

AFTER MORE THAN 40 yEARS OF

SERVICE IN THE MICHIGAN, ARIZONA,

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, AND TExAS

CONFERENCES.

the witnesses for Christ in the outer court on earth, and the praise and thanksgiving from the worshipers below is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and praise and rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts because Christ has not died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam.”4

3. To worship is to declare whose side we are on, and we do this by accepting heav-en’s gift of salvation to us. Through our worship of the Lamb we participate in settling the agelong cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan that “the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the prin-cipalities and powers in heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10, NKJV).

4. Worship is all about Jesus—not about consumer ratings or contemporary ver-sus traditional. Traditional worshippers nailed Jesus to the cross. Worship is our entire lifestyle declaring that our high-est worth is found in the worth of the slain Lamb of God. The Lamb can receive the worth due Him only as we give it to Him. We do this by giving up self-seeking and finding our satisfaction in Jesus. Christian author John Piper noted that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”5

5. To worship is to witness. Worship is evangelism of the highest order: “God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship.”6 Christ “has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God. Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (Ps. 40:3, NKJV). To witness is to make others glad in God.

6. In worship we recognize our identity as God’s very own children. Consider the implications of this statement: “All the favors He [the Father] has shown to His Son in His acceptance of the great


someone’s in the Kitchen With MosesThE RAIN FINDS ME ON ThE STREETS OF FORT WORTh. WITh NO UMbRELLA I search for signs that will lead me to the shelter. Why does it always rain on days like today? I turn the corner and stop. This is not a shelter. This is a house!

* * *My friend Hellen started a project with church friends: a shelter. The 5-month-old shelter is where

people in the area who are homeless come three times a day for a hot meal. Most of the people who visit the shelter are not always “homeless,” but they still need help, such as single mothers, vet-erans, runaway teenagers—anyone who needs a hot meal.

Hellen tells me the idea for the shelter kept her up for years. She knew there was a need. One night, about 3:00 in the morning, she simply got out of bed, knelt, prayed, and asked God for guidance. She was certain that if God had placed this idea in her mind, He would bless the project.

A week later I am running through rainy streets, having accepted Hellen’s invitation to participate in a meal service at the shelter. I didn’t expect the shelter to be a house. I open the door and am greeted by the wonderful aroma of food: potatoes, broccoli casserole, fresh baked bread, fruit, and stew. I instantly feel the warmth. This is the right place.

* * *An apron and hairnet later, I am assigned to hand out beverages: a variety of juices, milk, and

water. Hellen introduces me to the volunteers and to the main chef, Moses, who is at the shelter every day. My station is next to Moses’ six burners all stocked with big pots of stew. As people walk up, Moses gives them a choice of stew, asks about their day, and makes them laugh. He knows everyone by name.

As the busy evening shift moves along, I take a good look at the transformed, single-level home, now serving as a dining area with tables, flower vases, and plastic silverware wrapped in paper nap-kins. The only walls in the room divide the dining area from the kitchen. Everyone sitting at the tables is eating, talking; they are family.

Just then from the corner of my eye I see Moses leave and walk through the double doors into the kitchen. Is he all right? I glance at the entrance where Hellen is greeting more guests. More people arrive. I walk over to Moses’ station and peek into the pots, each less than half full. Do we have enough food? I look at the food stations and the number of people coming in. There’s not enough food.

Taking advantage of a lull in the food line, I head toward the kitchen. Maybe Moses needs help bringing out more food. I quietly push the door open. Moses is kneeling in the corner, unaware of my presence. He is pray-ing: “God, we need the miracle of loaves and fishes to feed Your children . . .” I humbly listen to the powerful, sincere words as the hungry and tired are held up in prayer.

I quietly return to my post. The serving line is long, yet the food trays arrive at my station with full plates of food and bowls of warm stew for the rainy evening. Why have we not run out of food?

Three hours later the room is empty. I am in disbelief at the trays of leftovers packed for tomorrow’s meals. How can there be leftovers? I walk out with Hellen and Moses. Walking through the mild rain, I can’t help asking: “Does the shelter sometimes run low on food?” Moses glances at me, smiles, and says: “No, ma’am, always a gracious plenty.”

The obvious is clear to me. Moses’ prayer in the kitchen was answered. God heard the prayers of a retired chef. God made sure that none of His children went hungry. I am aware that I was in the presence of a miracle, of an answered prayer. Suddenly I am grateful for the rain, as my eyes well up with tears of grati-tude and realization. All I can think is: How great Thou art. n

DIxIL RODRíGUEz, A UNIVERSITy PROFESSOR AND VOLUNTEER HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN, LIVES IN TExAS. JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT

SEARCHINGTHEOBVIOUS.COM.

Searching the Obvious

Dixil rodríquez

Milkweed and thistles

Story


ACAMPINg

TRIP ISALL

AbOUT NATURE,

RIghT?

by KRIS SMITh

We pulled up to the camping site trying to figure out where in the world we would put our two tents. We

looked around doubtfully, surveying our only two options: a small, sloping grassy area at the end of the paved park-ing area (did I mention sloping?), and a narrow rectangular plot on the right edge of it (did I mention narrow?).

We knew that site B-11 was our only chance, after hours of preparation on the part of both families, to make this first camping trip happen. It was Labor Day weekend, and we’d been told that this was the last spot left. I glanced at the thick border of weeds that sur-rounded the plot and wondered how many of its resident creepy crawlies would find their way into our tent. However, on the plus side (or so I thought), the bathrooms were right behind us.

After much discussion and admit-

tedly some consternation, the largest tent was pitched on the slope, and the smaller dome tent was pitched along-side the driveway. This was going to be a great camping experience!

In the Still of the NightWe settled in and enjoyed fellowship

and grilled burger/potato packets with our family and friends around the pic-nic table. An uncharacteristic chill began to set in, and I added a few layers, trying to keep warm.

That night as we tried to sleep, owls hooted and dogs howled; inside the tents sleeping bags rolled down the slope, and fellow campers from neigh-boring campsites decided to have flash-light wars while cutting across our site and between our tents to get to the bath-rooms. Air mattresses deflated, the cold penetrated deeply, and stories of black bear sightings kept me alert to any rus-tlings in the bushes that surrounded us.

In short, it was a miserable first night that poked many holes in any romantic notions about camping I had previously held.

It wasn’t until after we had finished cleaning up from breakfast the next day, while having my devotional time, that I noticed the butterflies. They were mon-archs: bright-orange in color, with a glori-ous wingspan, darting and diving, gliding and soaring through and onto the purple thistles, the stems of which were covered with the most highly concen-trated number of thorns I had ever seen.

What is it about this weed that attracts the butterflies? I wondered.

Perhaps the flowers themselves are soft, I

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thought. Surely they had to be in order for the monarchs to want to land on them. I walked over and touched one of the flowers. It was prickly, just like the thorns. No, that wasn’t it.

Later that morning my friend showed our children how to open the large, green pods of the milkweed (the other main resident of our beautiful weed garden) and pull out the silk. I was amazed at the amount and beauty of what was inside the pod of this seem-ingly ugly, useless plant.

Soon thereafter breathless reports began pouring in from the kids about goldfinch and cocoon sightings. Hope was abounding, joy was spreading, and the children’s excitement was contagious. Maybe this trip was worth it after all.

Later we learned that milkweed is the very plant uti-lized by monarch caterpillars to spin their cocoons and turn into beautiful butterflies. And the nectar of the thistle’s flower is highly prized by the monarch. These two weeds, placed side by side, were the predomi-nant occupants in our weed hedge.

As it turned out, we slept much better the second night. My husband, Colin, hung a laundry line in front of the sus-pected path of midnight bandits, and obstructed the path of early-morning campsite penetration with our SUV. I still rolled down the slope while I slept, but I was too tired to worry about black bears or other unwelcome wildlife infringe-ments on our first camping experience.

Living Among ThornsThe last morning of our trip, as I

again watched the butterflies in the thistles and the milkweed, I contem-plated the deeper lessons I could apply to my Christian walk and the unwanted thorns of life.

Most of us don’t like difficult circum-stances. We want our lives to be aesthet-ically pleasing to each of our five senses,

and to be without slopes or hard-to-maneuver paths.

But the secret the butterflies know is that sometimes the best nectar, those trea-sures, those nuggets of life, can be found only in the midst of the prickliest flowers.

The very worst of times can turn out to be the very best of times. As we perse-vere through our trials, whether it be an aging or distant parent, being betrayed by a trusted friend, chronic pain or dis-ease, the loss of a loved one, or financial struggles, if we choose to open the unsightly pods in search of the silk of hidden lessons, while avoiding bitter-ness, our character reflects more of the love and glory of God.

We learn to be people who not only do good things, but who are compassion-ate, empathetic mem-bers of the body of Christ who build up our brothers and sis-ters instead of tearing them down with dis-

couraging words birthed from thoughts of judgment.

And there is priceless nectar in the hope that comes from learning to trust God; from learning that although we might not understand why He allows these heartaches in our lives, no matter what we go through, God will always be with us, helping us along.

More important, through the crown of thorns Jesus willingly wore for us, through His sufferings and death on the cross, we have the biggest hope of all—eternal life.

As we press into the one who under-stands pain and suffering as no other, searching wholeheartedly for Him in the midst of the prickly thistles, we will not only experience the presence of God as we have always yearned to, but also learn that true freedom comes from being dependent on Him. n

kRIS SMITH IS HAPPILy MARRIED

TO A MILITARy CHAPLAIN, WITH

WHOM SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN. SHE

FEELS CALLED TO WRITING AS A

MINISTRy OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

maybe thiS trip waS worth it

aFter all.

What Do You think??1. State in one sentence the moral of

this story.2. What do these two images—milk-

weed and thistles—say about cre-ation? Are they signs of sin, or of God’s foreknowledge? Why?

3. With what life difficulties are you now struggling? Is there anything God can possibly do to make them beautiful?

4. How does knowing Christ as our life companion take the pain out of the sufferings of life? Be specific.


Bookmark

Free Yourself to Love: The Lib-erating Power of Forgiveness, Jackie Kendall, FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group, New York, 2009, 224 pages, US$13.99. Reviewed by Alexis A. Goring of Glenn Dale, Maryland.

It took me two years to read this book. Once I read it through, however, I was

grateful and blessed by its message.Free Yourself to Love: The Liberating Power

of Forgiveness is the brainchild of Jackie Kendall, a writer with talents for teach-ing and counseling. She is president of Power to Grow Ministries, and she speaks at conferences to people of all ages and walks of life. She is committed to honesty, but she speaks the truth in love.

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Review & Herald®

Prices and availability subject to change.Canadian prices higher.

Martin Pröbstle, Ph.D.Professor

Bogenhofen Seminary

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Adult Sabbath School Bible Study GuideCompanion Book 4th Quarter

Where God and I MeetDiscover the extraordinary meaning and

significance of the sanctuary.

Where God and I MeetMartin Pröbstle, Ph.D. Mysterious and often misunderstood, the sanctuary is at the heart of biblical theology. Where God and I Meet will give you a clearer understanding of the Israelite rituals, the heavenly sanctuary, the pre-Advent judgment, and Christ’s high-priestly ministry. You’ll come to recognize the sanctuary as an important setting in the story of your salvation. 978-0-8280-2704-5. US$13.99

In this book Kendall shares her story of heartbreak and abuse, then uses research, statistics, and case studies she’s collected during her 30-year ministry to discuss the power of forgiveness.

The pages of Free Yourself to Love are filled with pearls of wisdom that effec-tively draw from Scripture. In the chap-ter “Held Hostage by Revenge Fantasies” Kendall writes, “You can throw something hateful at the one who offended you, but it ends up swinging right back into your life. I would rather be chased by God’s blessings than by a boomerang heading straight for my head. ‘Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous,’ says

Proverbs (13:21, NLT).”*Perhaps the best advice in Free Yourself

to Love is Kendall telling each person at a conference to place her hand over her heart and “continually whisper this prayer to Jesus: ‘Heal my heart wound, Lord.’ ”

Kendall is a realist. She tells her readers that heal-ing a broken past or a great offense takes time. But there is hope because Jesus Christ will, if we let Him, turn our broken into beautiful.

I recommend this book to anyone who suffers from a broken past, a painful pres-

ent, or an uncertain future. n

* Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Reflections

Brittle BonesI WAS AbOUT 4 MONThS OLD WhEN I bROKE My FIRST bONE. I WAS bORN WITh a disease called osteogenesis imperfect tarda (OI), sometimes referred to as brittle bone disease. No one knew I had a broken leg, or much about OI, at that time.

A few months after it had healed, I broke the same leg again, but this time there was no mistake that it had broken. While visiting with some relatives, the person holding me leaned against a table. My leg caught in between, and everyone heard the snap of my leg breaking and the loud cries that followed.

Because not much was known about OI when I was a child, our physician, Dr. Young, did not know much about the disease. My parents remember that he still did his best to understand it. He read up on OI and offered to continue to treat me any time I had a broken bone. Dr. Young was kind and did his best to accom-modate our financial situation and my OI.

It took many years for me to see that God was involved in everything that occurred in my young life. He placed the people in my life that needed to be there. The Bible led me to believe in that promise. “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Ps. 139:16).

Dr. Young explained to my parents that it was important to let me live as normally as possible. He said that the tendency for parents of a child with OI was to be overprotective—being able to still go outside was important. Between the ages of 3 months and 15 years I had more than 50 broken bones. I was put in traction—an orthopedic treatment for frac-tures for my arms and legs—twice, and had to learn to walk again.

At times I hated OI. I wondered why God would allow me to suffer and endure all the pain and hurt. Even more, I wondered if God understood all the emotional pain I had to endure when kids in the neighborhood or at school made fun of me or called me names. It was much later in my life that I understood what Jesus meant when He answered the question of His disciples in John 9:1-3:

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (KJV).

God was always looking after me, and His care never ceased. Even now, in my late 50s, when my symptoms have reappeared to a lesser degree, I know that God is still actively involved and leading my life.

I’ve learned to live as normal a life as possible and to claim God’s promises as my own. He fulfilled those promises and has allowed me to live life more abundantly than I would have ever imagined. I have a living God who has promised to see me through all life’s trials and finally take me to the place He has prepared for me. I believe God’s Word and His many promises; they have never failed.

“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ ” (Jer. 29:11). n

S. R. MORRIS WRITES FROM MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO.

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prices and availability subject to change.Canadian prices higher.

Confidence in ChaosJohn BradshawMaybe your friends have begun to notice that things aren’t going well in this world. When they turn on the news, they see terrorism, natural disasters, and economic collapse. Plus, they have their own problems with relationships, stress, and health. John Bradshaw, presenter of the television program It Is Written, reveals every crisis—national or personal—as a call to turn to God. Here he shows readers the promises of the Bible and how they provide confidence in chaos. 978-0-8280-2757-1

Adult youth

2014 ShAring Books

ShareHope2014in

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running on EmptyEllen Bailey Illustrated by Mariano SantillanWith wall-to-wall art and easy-to-read captions, Running on Empty introduces young people to Jesus. Based on Ellen White’s beloved book The Desire of Ages, it opens with the true story of Jennifer. Everything this girl did to fill her life with friends and fun turned into a disaster. But her empty heart is filled when she sees how the life of Jesus proves His love for each of us. 978-08280-2743-4

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