December 26, 2013 Vol. 190, No. 36

www.adventistreview.org

December 26, 2013

Documentary Highlights Adventist Education 10 The National Anthem of Heaven 14 Fumigate the Cockroaches Before 2014 27

The Year of Reversing the Tide Looking back and looking ahead

GYCGYC SPECIAL

“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.

18 24 10 6 COVER FEATURE ARTICLES DEPARTMENTS EDITORIALS 18 2013: The Year of 14 “Help, I Care About 4 Letters 6 Justin Mc Neilus Reversing the Tide My Church!” And It Was Good Shawn Boonstra Thomas Lobitz 7 Page 7 How does looking back Like society in gen- 7 Mark A. FINLEY at the last year prepare eral, the church faces 8 World News & Into All the World us for the next one? its own challenges. Perspectives

2 4 The National 13 Give & Take Anthem of Heaven 17 Cliff’s Edge Marcos Paseggi It’s not so much 2 7 Dateline Moscow sung as lived. 3 0 Ask the Doctors 28 A Parent’s Journey Joanne Rutherford 31 Reflections Once a parent, always a parent Next Week ON THE COVER The Story Behind Good or bad, 2013 brings “The Lamb Wins” us another year closer The book of Revelation to Christ’s return. set to music?

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 Web site: www.adventist- review.org and click “About the Review.” For a printed copy, send a self-addressed envelope to: Writer’s Guidelines,A dventist 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 theH oly Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Unless otherwise noted, all prominent 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. 36.

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www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1155) 3 and deeply appreciated both seven years later in 1895— the breadth and brevity of the view that in the Incarna- scholarly/biblical counsel(ors) tion, Jesus shared our sinful inbox on current disunity over the nature, indwelling sin (Rom. Letters From Our Readers themes of “final generation” 7:14-25). theology, “universal legal jus- Bob Rinker

ber 28, 2013 Novem Vol. 190, No. 33 tification,” and the “nature of Silver Spring, Maryland

treview.org November 28, 2013 www.adventis 7 Think of Malala tion and beauty in Rodrí- Christ.” Nad Recommends 8 Ordination document 14 a Time to Rejoice guez’s writing that makes I found my heart »»Thank you for your excel-

iNG me reflect on my relation- “strangely warmed” at the lent focus on 1888. Every sin- e GO we’R eRe wh Cartography R e su OT e N e’R of FaitheN w wh aRd ORw ship with God. It is true that respectful prose that cap- gle article was a blessing, f OiNG Head G

subhead we are all pilgrims. During tured the various perspec- including Lee Schappell’s this holiday season it is tives portrayed. Having story “Bird 9-1-1”! One of the important to remember studied most of the support- points brought out in this where we have traveled in ive references quoted by all issue was the importance of Cartography of Faith our Christian lives and never the authors noted, and being dealing with doctrinal con- »»I am a nurse who works forget we do not travel alone. acquainted with several per- troversy in a proper and bib- nights. This morning, as I What a blessing to read a sonally, it is my conviction lical manner. Of special note was returning home from cover story that makes us that this Review edition was was Lael Caesar’s Reflection work, I received my Novem- reflect on the amazing love of blessed by the Holy Spirit article entitled “The Genius ber 28, 2013, Adventist Review. our God. from topic, design, execution, of Disunity.” Therein, Caesar The cover is absolutely Dan Baker and now, through delivery. shared a few thoughts from beautiful! I was captivated Albuquerque, New Mexico May Jesus increase, and we the writings of Ellen White

ber 10, 2013 OctO by the title “Cartography of Vol. 190, No. 28 each decrease in our corpo- in which she counsels

1888

October 10, 2013 Faith,” and I immediately www.adventistreview.org rate pride; bending our ego against making controversial 9 Three Killed in Van Rollover 34 ellen White’s burden 41 searched for Dixil Rodrí- hope and Peace as easily as the knee at this issues public, and the untold guez’s cover story. I read it final moment poised on eter- harm and precedent it sets. I right away. nity’s door. wonder how this would Head I was truly blessed by the Jay Neil, Jr. apply to the Adventist hot subhead

ppened? story! What a beautiful WHAT HA via e-mail potatoes of our day (e.g., And why should you care reminder of how God cares 125 years later? women’s ordination, spiri- for us and knows the terrain »»I am writing in regard to tual formation, etc.)? ahead, always guiding us. More on 1888 Bill and Shawn Brace’s “The Jonathan Peinado Rodríguez’s column is one of »»I’ve just finished more Theological Issues: Another Jacksonville, Florida my favorite Adventist Review than a thoughtful hour read- Perspective” (Oct. 10, 2013). selections. Her writing is ing the October 10, 2013, Ad- The article was the one truly inspiring, beautiful, ventist Review. I am deeply exception to what was, for We welcome your letters, noting, and blessed. I’m thankful she impressed. This edition is a the most part, a commend- as always, that inclusion of a letter shared such an intimate solid balance, captures the able collection of articles on in this section does not imply that story with her Christian essence of many opinions the 1888 General Conference the ideas expressed are endorsed by family. and perspectives (personal- session. . . . either the editors of the Adventist Thank you for publishing ity, theological, prophetic) on Perhaps unintentionally, Review or the General Conference. such wonderful articles as this topic, and is wonderfully the Braces implied that Ellen Short, specific, timely letters have this one! closed by Lael Caesar’s warn- White endorsed part of Wag- the best chance at being published Lisa Hamilton ing against “disunity” (see goner’s views that she (please include your complete Ohio “The Genius of Disunity”) as emphatically opposed 19 address and phone number—even being a danger greater than years before the 1888 Gen- with e-mail messages). Letters will »»The article “Cartography of heresy to the overriding eral Conference session (see be edited for space and clarity only. Faith” is absolutely amazing. theme of Christ Our Righ- Testimonies for the Church, vol. Send correspondence to Letters to I have read through it more teousness for current Sev- 2, p. 202 and pp. 508, 509); the Editor, Adventist Review, 12501 than five times and each time enth-day Adventist identity and continued to oppose Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD find a new nugget of reflec- and mission. 20904-6600; Internet: letters@ Well done. I am humbled, adventistreview.org.

4 (1156) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 Happy New Year From Our Family! hank you for inviting us into well. “Our biggest child,” Adventist Our house is your house. Stop your home week by week. “I World, travels to more than 150 countries and visit anytime. Did you know we always read your articles,” is a each month, visiting and ministering in recently redecorated?The address is Trefrain we hear often when we travel. more than 1.5 million homes (and those the same, but it looks much different. You should know, however, that are just the Adventist ones!). Visit AdventistReview.org and check it takes more than a few editors to “Our smartest child,” Adventist it out. You may also wish to visit produce quality magazines. We are World Digest, now speaks in 17 AdventistWorld.org or KidsViewMag. indebted to the individuals you see here languages, and is learning more. While org. Discover the latest news, learn for helping us bring a weekly message only 16 pages, this little dynamo is about the latest travels, and meet our from our family to your family. quickly becoming an Adventist darling many guests. Our door is always open, We can’t forget to mention that overseas. and there’s always a good story to share. “Grandma” (Adventist Review) will “Our cutest kid,” KidsView, If you like chatting, visit us on turn 165 years old next year! She’s spry, currently has 50,000 playmates (and Facebook. Like us, and you will find full of energy, current, and inspiring. those are just the ones ages 8-12). You more than 160,000 friends waiting to We hope you love her weekly visits! will find this “teacher’s pet” in Adventist talk and share their thoughts. Our place Our other children are also doing classrooms around North America. is where it’s happening. Don’t miss out! Editorials And It Was Good During my 20s I served on the GYC (Generation. Youth. Christ.) executive committee, including the past six years as president. Now, turning 30, I know it’s time to pass the mantle to younger leadership. I look back, reflectively, over those important years with deep gratitude to God for what He has done for us, and for what He will yet do. And I’m grateful as well for what I’ve come to know about Adventist youth. Some will find that surprising, for as we know, far too many of our youth and young adults are leaving the church. This is a genuine crisis, and how thankful I am that our church leaders are seeking to address the problem, as they must. But something else commands my attention, something I’ve witnessed myself. As John said about Jesus: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with Justin our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the McNeilus Word of life” (1 John 1:1). I too want to bear testimony about what I’ve seen, heard, and touched: the faithful and dedicated youth of the Adventist Church who are staying, who are committed to Jesus, and who are picking up the mantle our parents and the church handed to us—spreading the three angels’ messages to the world. Three examples made a deep impact on me during my GYC service. Let's not Years ago I attended a youth event in Germany. For a long time I had been under the false impression that the Church in Europe was dead, or virtually so. But this wasn’t at all the case. Yes, forget—or fail the Church in Europe, and its young people, face unique struggles. Despite these struggles, or perhaps because of them, many European Adventist youth and young adults are on fire for the to support, the Lord. At the conference I attended in Germany, some youth had rented a school over a holiday break. untold numbers They slept 20, 30—even 40—to a classroom. They literally ate bread and water. The seminar rooms were packed, and you couldn’t find a seat in the main auditorium. With their Bibles open, who are staying. they responded night after night to the appeals to commit to their Creator and to witness for Him in a dying world. In that meeting I saw a glimpse of our immediate future, and that future looks good. in Africa has a special set of challenges that many of us in the West can’t even begin to appreciate, some of which result from the church’s tremendous growth on the continent. A growing group of young Adventists in Africa are committed not just to reaching their own coun- tries with present truth, but the entire African continent. I’ve seen them ask the conferences, unions, and divisions to send them to the places that others won’t go. And they go, having little or nothing of the comforts we Westerners take for granted. They battle the elements. They sleep under the stars. But they tell people all across Africa about the soon coming of Jesus. There are more and more places in Africa where young Adventists have knocked on just about every door— and they’re coming back to do it again. Our future looks good. Finally, there’s GYC itself. GYC is organized and managed by volunteers, Adventist youth and young adults. Each year more than 600 volunteers come from all over the world to make our annual conference happen. They don’t get paid; instead they actually pay a registration fee to be volunteers. They get the food organized; they serve as bus leaders; they organize the transportation of speakers. Volunteers make GYC happen. They’re committed to the cause of GYC because they are committed to the cause of Christ and, by extension, His remnant church. Our future looks good. Yes, it’s painful and troubling that too many Adventist youth are leaving. But let’s not forget— or fail to support—the untold numbers who are staying and who are committed to Jesus and to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As I leave the GYC presidency, I’m excited. Excited because the best days, not just of GYC, but of the church, are just ahead of us. Young people started the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. There’s no question that young people will be there to see the work finished as well. Our future looks very good. n

6 (1158) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 Into All the World For 45 years I’ve been on a journey with Jesus in ministry. My travels have taken me to nearly 100 countries, and to every continent except Antarctica. I’ve preached in small country churches and huge city stadiums; in the open air in Ghana, drenched with rain; in 115° F blazing heat in India; in frigid -20° F temperatures in China; and under the starlit skies of Nigeria with hundreds of flying insects buzzing around my head. During this amazing adventure in faith, I’ve seen God do spectacular things. The Holy Spirit has worked powerfully, and I want to share these miracles with you. In my new blog, Into All the World, I’ll openly discuss my own spiritual journey. You’ll discover insights into the deeper spiri- tual life. You’ll learn principles for making the Bible even more relevant to your life. You’ll also be inspired as I share personal experiences that have changed my life. I’ll take you behind the scenes of my evangelistic meetings and tell stories of God’s providences and amazing miracles. You’ll also receive up-to-the-minute reports of what God continues to do through our Mark A. international ministry as we lead out in 2014 in the first satellite series in the history of India— Finley with 50,000 downlink sites! Join me via the blog on my worldwide evangelistic travels, and become a prayer partner of this ministry. Into All the World will share cutting-edge soul-winning principles that are effective in leading people to Jesus and His truth. When you sign up for the blog, you’ll receive reviews of new evan- gelistic methods and outreach resources. You’ll sharpen your own evangelistic skills by putting these principles to use in your witness immediately. Into All the World will launch by January 1. Sign up at intoalltheworld.com. Invite your friends to sign up today. I’ll meet you on the blog. n

Preparing Our Hearts—3 This month Page 7 continues to focus on how we might prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming— not just the first, but the second. Two issues back the first step was to watch. The previous issue said we must witness. We watch as Israel was to watch for the coming Messiah ; we witness of His marvelous grace. This week we take the last step—rejoice!

hile we don’t know exactly when christ was W born, we do know most were unprepared. the time of his birth was heralded by angels to a group of humble shepherds who rejoiced at the fulfillment of the prophecies in this young child. the wise men hurried to follow a star that foretold greatness, although they were unsure of whom they would find. But the rest of the world slept and continued their daily routines. this December, were you prepared? Not for the presents, the food, and the family, but did you take time to watch, witness, and remember christ’s first coming? For without the first coming there would be no second coming. Did you get lost in the distractions, or did you find peace in the gift of salvation? Will the new year bring more busyness, or will you be found waiting expectantly for his second coming? rejoice in his birth! rejoice in his resurrection! rejoice, I say,

REJOICE! rejoice! scott schram World News & Perspectives

■■NORTH AMERICA U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black: “God Texting Me” Gave Me Daily Shutdown Prayers Was keynote speaker at 2013 Pastoral Evangelism Leadership Council BY JYREMY REID and TIM ALLSTON, Oakwood University, reporting from Huntsville, Alabama

Heralded in some media outlets as need relevant truth, and present truth is “As Christians we soon come to real- the only “hero” of the 16-day U.S. federal relevant if we recognize what is going ize that the world isn’t waiting on those government shutdown, U.S. Senate chap- on in the world around us. You pray individuals who are fragile and of weak lain Barry Black told Seventh-day Ad- with relevancy, and you preach with heart. No, the world needs those ‘who ventist pastors Sunday, December 8, relevancy. are not afraid to call sin [out] by its 2013, that their church “is sleeping right name.’ Where are you, men of through a revolution.” courage? The world is looking for those “And the reason we are not experi- who are going to stand up for what is encing the miracles that God would right and speak the truth into power.” have us experience is because we’re not Black concluded, “We need to speak the prepared to speak the truth to power,” truth into power because there is pain he admonished the nearly 1,000 attend- that accompanies power.” ees at the 34th annual Pastoral Evange- PELC director-turned-interviewer lism and Leadership Council (PELC), Jesse Wilson queried the retired two- held at Oakwood University, a General star admiral to critique his characteriza- Conference-owned institution in tion on Saturday Night Live. With a quick Huntsville, Alabama. It is believed to be grin he posited, “Kenan Thompson did the world church’s largest annual gath- a good job, . . . needed to lower his voice y U niversit akwood ering of pastors. He added, “If you’re O , to more baritone, not tenor, . . . a tad-bit going to prepare for a miracle where irreverent, but funny, and God told me

leprosy disappears, you’ve got to speak on P ollard to just ‘lighten up’!” R the truth to power.” GOD “TEXTED” HIM: U.S. Senate chaplain Wilson: “How did you put together Black gained international attention Barry Black told an audience of pastors those Senate prayers? Did you antici- for his searing, no-holds-barred invoca- and evangelists at church-owned Oak- pate the (media) response?” tions opening each Senate session dur- wood University, Huntsville, Alabama, Black (invoking Luke 11:13): “Every how he received inspiration for prayers ing that October congressional morning on my way to Capitol Hill, I during the recent government shutdown. stalemate; Black’s bow-tie-wearing, have an encounter with the Holy Spirit, nonpartisan baritone eloquence was and God would text messages into my later parodied on TV’s Saturday Night “If there had been Adventist minis- heart. For example, the prayer ‘Lord, Live. ters alongside Martin [Luther] King save us from the madness’ was not my Addressing “Preparing for a Miracle, [Jr.], . . . if there had been Adventist pas- words; God texted me. The prayer ‘Lord, by Speaking Truth to Power,” Black, the tors in [apartheid] South Africa, . . . when our federal shutdown delays pay- first Seventh-day Adventist and African there need to be Adventist ministers ments of death benefits to the families American to serve as Senate chaplain, who will speak out against some of the of children dying on faraway battle- centered his 25-minute message on 2 really touchy issues, because people are fields, it’s time for our lawmakers to say Kings 5, pinpointing four persons who listening for a prophetic word; but too enough is enough’—again, not my spoke truth to Syrian commander Naa- often, we’re bringing up the rear. words; God texted me.” man: Mrs. Naaman’s maid, prophet Eli- “There are powerful people who are He added, “When the Holy Ghost sha, his servant, and Naaman’s experiencing pain, and we need to have sends a text, it’ll make the news!” n aide-de-camp. people who would speak the truth to “There are people who are speaking power; and Elisha did. We need to be Jyremy Reid is a student photojournalist at out, and speaking out prophetically, but prepared to speak the truth to power, Oakwood University; Tim Allston is his men- we often are not,” he told his colleagues because our silence prevents us from tor and director of public relations at Oak- at the Oakwood University church. “We opening the eyes of the blind. wood University, Huntsville, Alabama.

8 (1160) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 which would be implemented over sev- eral years. North America’s tithe is nearly $1 billion, and the 2014 continu- ing adjustment means an approximate $10 million reduction, Prestol said. Recipient divisions other than North America are allocated appropriations between $1.3 million and $4.9 million. The 2014 world budget also includes a 2

ANN F ile P hoto percent increase over 2013 appropria- FINANCIAL PLANS: In an interview Adventist Church undertreasurer Juan R. Prestol gave tions levels. an overview of the 2014 General Conference World Budget. Above, he addresses the “Every year we have never ceased to denomination’s Executive Committee in October. This is the fifth consecutive year Ad- give modest increases in appropriations ventist News Network has made available the full budget for readers to review. to the divisions and institutions,” Pre- stol said. In 2008, the Executive Com- ■■WORLD CHURCH mittee voted that the Inter-American Division, South American Division, and Adventist World Budget High- would receive lights Mission, Administrative decreasing appropriations from 2010 to 2014, with the remaining amounts Support, Expanded auditing going to other regions and institutions. The $12 million allocated to the 2014 budget of $180 million listed General Conference Auditing Service BY ANSEL OLIVER, Adventist News Network represents an expanded service to cover audits not previously conducted The 2014 budget of the Seventh-day or respective local administrative units in certain regions, said GCAS director Adventist Church’s world headquarters and congregations. Many local adminis- Paul Douglas. Subsidies will be pro- funds mission work and administrative trative units may choose to report their vided at a rate of 80 percent for the support outside of North America, as own budget in a similar way. audit cost of a tithe-based type entity well as the operation of the headquar- Operating costs for the denomina- and 20 percent for the audit cost of a ters building. tion’s headquarters in Silver Spring, non-tithe-based type entity. The por- The Adventist Church’s world budget Maryland, is limited to 2 percent of tions not covered by subsidies from this year of nearly $180 million world tithe. the General Conference will be passed allocates: “We are running significantly under on to the respective divisions, which $46.2 million for operating costs, sal- the operating cap, as we have for for the first time will share in the costs aries, and programs of the world head- decades, making more resources avail- of audits being performed in their quarters building; able for world fields,” said Juan R. Pre- territory. $44 million in appropriations to the stol, undertreasurer for the Adventist For the first time, the North American fields outside of North America; world church. Division in 2014 will receive an appro- $33 million in subsidies to Prestol said the 2014 budget repre- priation—$279,000 to help adminis- institutions; sents a “holding pattern” because of the trate the Guam-Micronesia Mission, $29.3 million for missionaries and adjustment in tithe percentages from which until two years ago was part of employees serving in other divisions; North America, a decision that was the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. $14.6 million in headquarters-admin- approved by the denomination’s Execu- Other major appropriations identi- istered funds; tive Committee in 2012. fied within the 2014 General Conference $12 million for the General Confer- Until 2012, the North American Divi- world budget include: ence Auditing Service (GCAS). sion had contributed 8 percent of its $7.6 million for Loma Linda A church finance officer emphasized tithe to the General Conference world University; that the budget includes only items relat- budget, while the other 12 divisions 5.3 million for Andrews University; ing to the movement’s world headquar- each contributed 2 percent. The 2012 4.9 million for ; ters and does not include the reported vote reduced North America’s tithe per- 2.5 million for Ellen G. White Estate; incomes or budgets for its 13 divisions centage contribution down to 6 percent, 2.4 million for Adventist World Radio;

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1161) 9 World News & Perspectives

1.5 million for subsidies to 1.1 million for the Adventist Univer- tries, reaching nearly 7 million Seventh- publications; sity of Africa. day Adventists around the globe. 1.4 million for the 2015 General Con- A $5.5 million appropriation for Ad- To see a complete copy of the 2014 ference session; ventist World magazine was made in pre- General Conference world budget as an 1.3 million for Oakwood University; paring the 2014 budget. Adventist World, Excel spreadsheet, please send a request 1.2 million for Adventist Interna- the international paper of the world- to the ANN editor at adventistnews@ tional Institute of Advanced Studies; wide Seventh-day Adventist Church, gc.adventist.org. n 1.2 million for the Geoscience sends 1.5 million print copies per —with Adventist Review staff Research Institute; month in seven languages to 163 coun-

nineteenth century championed the concept of wholistic education—men- tal, physical, social, and spiritual health, coupled with intellectual growth and service to humanity. Today the Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the second-largest faith-based school system in the world. On location in Holbrook, Arizona, Doblmeier explores how the Holbrook Indian School—an Adventist boarding school near the Navajo reservation— teaches students to find value and self- worth in their identity as Native Americans and children of God. Many of the students come from abusive, y F ilms J ourne ADVENTIST SCHOOL SUCCESS: Isai Bautista, shown in a scene from The Blueprint, a broken homes in a community plagued documentary film about Seventh-day Adventist education, graduated from the Bronx- by unemployment, drug abuse, and Manhattan Seventh-day Adventist School with high honors after transferring to the gangs. school as a third grader who could not read. “I want to help them figure out that they are not less than everybody else,” ■■NORTH AMERICA says vice principal Jovannah Poor Bear- Adams, who herself grew up on the res- New Documentary Explores ervation and battled feelings of Adventist Education’s inadequacy. At schools from Holbrook to the Col- “Wholistic” Blueprint umbine Christian School in Durango, Colorado, students share certain char- Filmmaker Doblmeier first turned lens on church in 2010 acteristics that correlate with high BY ELIZABETH LECHLEITNER, Adventist News Network achievement. The documentary reveals that these traits include reading for Isai Bautista couldn’t read a word— The Bronx-Manhattan school is one pleasure, having positive relationships, “nada,” he says—when he transferred of eight Seventh-day Adventist schools and getting good nutrition and ade- to the Bronx-Manhattan Seventh-day across North America that independent quate sleep. Students also identify Adventist School in the third grade. Now filmmaker Martin Doblmeier profiles in themselves as spiritual. he’s graduating from eighth grade with his latest documentary, The Blueprint: The Still, a decline in enrollment at some honors, thanks, in part, to a dedicated Story of Adventist Education, now available Adventist church schools has led some teacher who worked with him every day on DVD. parents to question whether Adventist after school. The “blueprint” in the title can be education can still deliver quality aca- “She’s like a second mom to me,” traced back to Adventist Church co- demics, says Elissa Kido, who directed Bautista says. founder Ellen G. White, who in the mid- CognitiveGenesis, a survey of more than

10 (1162) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 y F ilms J ourne EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE: Dedicated attention of a Spencerville Adventist Academy teacher for a computer student highlights the excellence practiced by Seventh-day Adventist educators worldwide. Spencerville Academy, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, is fea- tured in The Blueprint.

50,000 students at 800 Adventist ment director for the Adventist world early. It’s part of our curriculum,” says schools across the , Can- church. Sharon Lewis, Oakwood Academy ada, and Bermuda. At Loma Linda Academy in California, principal. At the nine-student Pinon Hills Chris- Doblmeier reports students at Adventist Back at the Bronx-Manhattan tian School in Farmington, New Mexico, schools score “considerably” above the Adventist School, teachers say the key Doblmeier addresses the challenge of national average in science, despite crit- to successful education is the home, multigrade classrooms. ics who have questioned whether good school, and church working together. “There’s been a cultural change in the science can be taught in the context of “Not many people from my neighbor- Adventist Church. Forty years ago, if you creationism. hood make it successfully,” Bautista were an Adventist family, it was almost “We have found that we’re able to says, “but I really think I’m going to a scandal if you didn’t send your chil- develop our students into critical think- make it.” dren to the local Adventist school,” says ers—good scientists with good scien- The Blueprint is the latest of Dobl- Blake Jones, pastor of the Pinon Hills tific method—who also understand the meier’s more than 25 award-winning Adventist Church. paradigm of how you can be a good sci- films on religion, faith, and spirituality, “That’s not the case today,” he adds. entist and be a believer in God,” says which include Bonhoeffer, a documentary Half of Pinon Hills’ operating budget Robert Skoretz, principal of Loma Linda on Nazi resister Dietrich Bonhoeffer, goes to supporting the school. Academy. and Albert Schweitzer: Called to Africa, a At Spencerville Adventist Academy in Doblmeier explores another hallmark film recounting the Nobel Prize- Maryland, students score in the eighti- of Adventist education at Oakwood Ad- winning humanitarian’s life. eth to ninetieth percentile in all sub- ventist Academy in Alabama. One of the Doblmeier first profiled Adventists in jects. The Blueprint makes the case that school’s core values is community ser- a 2010 documentary tracing the roots of Spencerville is the rule, not the excep- vice. The school holds regular commu- the denomination’s health message and tion. CognitiveGenesis revealed nity service days, during which students ministry in North America. In May 2013 Adventist students outperform the distribute food, clothes, and other he released The Adventists 2, exploring national average in all grades and all supplies. the philosophy and legacy of the subjects, regardless of class size. “Students begin building habits early church’s international health and “There’s no academic advantage in in life, and if we want to prepare them humanitarian outreach. going to a large school,” says Lisa for a lifetime of service and involvement More information about the films can be Beardsley-Hardy, Education Depart- in their communities, we have to start found online at journeyfilms.com. n

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1163) 11 World News & Perspectives

■■WORLD CHURCH Eat Vegan, Be Slimmer; Eat Walnuts, Live Better? Research from Adventist University grabs national attention BY JAMES PONDER, LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY

Two Loma Linda University (LLU) health studies explore between higher benefits of dietary practices long advocated on the campus: proportions of vegetarian nutrition and consumption. One study has obesity, higher released surprising results on a positive side effect of vege- BMI averages, and tarianism and veganism, while the other study is poised to dietary patterns y P hotos U niversit oma L inda study the health effects of walnuts on older people. characterized by L First, the long-running Studies recently progressively VEGGIE LIFE: Nico Rizzo, first author of a Loma Linda University study of vege- yielded an encouraging finding for vegetarians. After evalu- higher intakes of tarian health that demonstrated ating data collected from more than 70,000 Seventh-day meat and dairy marked benefits of a plant-based Adventists in the United States and Canada, researchers products,” notes announced that vegetarians are slimmer, on average, than Nico Rizzo, first author of the study and assistant profes- meat eaters. sor at LLU School of Public Health. The study found that despite similar caloric intake, vege- The second study, “Walnuts and Healthy Aging,” evalu- tarians enjoy a lower body mass ates walnut consumption and index (BMI) than meat eaters, while brain, eye, and cognitive function vegans—people who eat no animal among older adults. products—are slenderest of all. Directed by Joan Sabaté, chair of The study compared five groups: nutrition at LLU School of Public nonvegetarians (meat eaters); Health, the walnut study seeks vol- semi-vegetarians (occasional meat unteer participants between 63 and eaters); pesco vegetarians (people 79 years of age who are in reason- who eat fish, but not meat); lacto- ably good health and able to travel ovo vegetarians (people who con- to Loma Linda once every two sume dairy products); and vegans months. (strict vegetarians). Dr. Sabaté became interested in Results reveal that the average nuts after the Adventist Health BMI was highest among nonvege- Studies found that nuts and whole tarians and lowest among strict grains appear to have protective vegetarians. Obesity rates were also health benefits. highest among meat eaters, with “After studying nuts and heart 33.3 percent of nonvegetarians , we thought we would classified as obese. Rates of obesity study nuts and the brain,” he were significantly lower for semi- noted. “It’s worth studying because vegetarians (24.2 percent), pesco as our population ages, the per- vegetarians (17.9 percent), lacto- centage of people who develop ovo vegetarians (16.7 percent), and memory and cognitive issues is strict vegetarians (9.4 percent). The increasing.” findings were scheduled for publi- Information about the Adventist cation in the December 2013 edi- Health Studies is available at llu.edu/ WALNUT STUDY: Dr. Joan Sabaté, chair of nutri- tion of the Journal of the Academy of public-health/health/index.page. Infor- tion at Loma Linda University’s School of Public Nutrition and Dietetics. Health, is directing a study on the potential mation on Walnuts and Healthy Aging “There was a clear association health benefits of walnuts. is available at WAHAstudy.org. n

12 (1164) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 New Year, good advice As 2013 draws to a close, y crews many people start thinking about what they’d like to do © terr differently in the new year. Here are some sage words from adventist life Ellen G. White: To end our K-2 class worship we sang two share with us verses of “Into My Heart.” At the end of singing We are looking for brief submissions in “We must pray the verse with “out of my heart,” one of my kin- these categories: dergartners said, “This is so sad.” Sound Bites (quotes, profound or more, and talk less” “What’s sad, Gabrielle?” I asked. (Review and Herald, Mar. 22, spontaneous) She replied, “We just asked God to come into 1887). Adventist Life (short anecdotes, espe- our heart, and now we are asking Him to get cially from the world of adults) “Those who in ev- out of our heart.” Camp Meeting Memories (150 words We then had a class discussion on what it or less) erything make God means for us to ask God to “shine out of our Jots and Tittles (church-related tips) heart.” Please send your submissions to Give & first and last and —Sherril Davis, Fort Pierce, Florida Take, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600; fax: 301- best are the happi- church signs 680-6638; e-mail: [email protected] I was driving past the Eastwood Baptist .org. Please include phone number, and city est people in the Church and noticed this message on its kiosk: and state from which you are writing. world” “It’s time for the church of God to move out!” (My Life Today, p. 161). Across the street? The Marietta Church of God. This unintentional slight had me “The study of the chuckling. Bible is superior to —Julia Danforth, Marietta, Georgia all other study in strengthening the intellect” (Messages to Young People, p. 253).

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1165) 13 As I See It “Help! I Care About My Church!” The value of unity and how we can promote it

BY THOMAS LOBITZ am . . . a stranger to my own mother’s children; . . . for zeal for your house con- sumes me” (Ps. 69:8, 9). The man approached me hesi- tantly at the booth of the German ISeventh-day Adventist publishing house. We had many people browsing through books and looking at special offers. After paging through a few books, he finally plucked up his courage and spoke to me. He wanted to know if I thought that our church was facing a deep crisis. Then he went on to list everything he thought was wrong—in his local congregation and in the church at large. Before I could answer, he walked away. This encounter reminded me of Psalm 69:8, 9. Apparently there are people among us who feel the same way as David did when he wrote this psalm. They worry so much about the church that one has to worry about them. Even- tually some end up alienating them- selves from their brothers and sisters.

The Many Faces of Church Is it helpful to worry about the future of our church? It definitely is human to worry about the things that are impor- tant to us. Some Adventists compare the church to a toddler. In their eyes the church is immature, unprofessional, and con-

14 (1166) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 “Help! I Care About My Church!”

stantly making mistakes. Leadership is nism, and, therefore, difficult to describe ity, a reality and a responsibility.1 Just as either incapable or overwhelmed. And with a single concept. It’s no wonder the human body forms a unit, so the the regular church members are not that biblical writers used many images church is one. much better. They can be blown this way to illustrate the nature of the church: It and that way by “every new wind of doc- is described, for example, as a “flock” Unity in Diversity—Limitless? trine” (see Eph. 4:14), are inconsistent in (John 10; Acts 20:28), a “holy nation” and In April 2002 the General Conference their walk with Jesus, or fanatical. “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), or as the of Seventh-day Adventists highlighted Others liken the church to an adoles- “bride” of Christ (see 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. three core values for the leadership of cent going through puberty. Terrible 5:22-32; Rev. 19:7; 21:9; 22:17). the global church: growth, unity, and music is played, something new is tried The most famous image, though, quality of life. Taking into account the out continuously, and traditions are must be the “body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11- common denominators of doctrine and denigrated or even eliminated. Only one 16). Christ is described as the head of organization, it was also recognized that thing can help—a solid sermon calling this body, and members of the church— there are ethnic and cultural differences all those who have gone astray back to according to their gifts and tasks—as that affect the interaction of church (the old) order. the “body parts.” This image underlines members.2 In reality, our churches and Still others think of the church as an the unity of the body of Christ, requir- church members are very different, adult who cares mainly about his or her ing all members of the body to fulfill despite many similarities. career. There is a flurry of inward activ- their God-given Even the human ity and outward indifference. Mission? functions. The driv- body (as the body of No time! Service for others? Sorry, no vol- ing force behind all The church Christ symbolizes unteers are available, since we need them all this is love. is god’s the church) has to keep our local church running smoothly. many members with Finally, some see the church as a stub- The Unity of instrument various tasks. born old man who is intent on preserv- the Church to spread his Depending on the ing the status quo. Any attempt to adapt Many who care good news. perspective, one and to changing times is suspicious. Change about the church the same body can is viewed negatively. think about the look quite different unity of the church in terms of the cohe- from different angles. Does this jeopar- What Then Is Church? siveness of its members. But of what dize the unity of the church? The New Testament word for church does the unity of the church consist, and Note this statement by Ellen White: (ekklesia, “the ones called to come out”) how is it manifested? A Dutch theologian “We cannot then take a position that the was used to describe a gathering of has formulated some helpful statements unity of the church consists in viewing believers. Church involved fellowship regarding the unity of the church that I every text of Scripture in the very same (Acts 2:42), worship of God, and service will summarize: Talking about the light. The church may pass resolution to others (1 Peter 4:10). The church is church is not talking about our opinions upon resolution to put down all disagree- God’s instrument to spread His good of how the church should be. The church ment of opinions, but we cannot force the news (1 Peter 2:5-12). Those who earlier is one, and unity of faith should be mind and will, and thus root out disagree- did not know God are transformed and assumed—despite its often-visible dis- ment. These resolutions may conceal the become committed disciples, using unity—because the church is by its very discord, but they cannot quench it and their gifts and abilities for the mission nature and origin one. Its inner turmoil establish perfect agreement. Nothing can and ministry of the church. is a sign of sin. The Trinity is an analogy perfect unity in the church but the spirit of The church is neither a rigid institu- for the unity of the church. Unity is both Christlike forbearance.”3 tion nor a building; it is a living orga- a gift and a task, a gift and a responsibil- In other words, Ellen White says that a

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1167) 15 diversity of perspectives is quite com- If we’re worried about the church, see so important? How can it be promoted? patible with the unity of the church. She it going the “wrong way,” or fear divi- This shared thinking about the unity of emphasizes that an attitude of Christlike sion, we can react in different ways. the church provides an intellectual way of forbearance is crucial in keeping the Some church members write passionate engaging this important topic. church together. This helpful concept letters to the church board or send the Take part in the social activities of the may mean that we may not always have letter immediately via e-mail to their church. Whether fellowship meals, social to be right, and that others may not entire mailing list. Others start their meetings, excursions, or the celebration always have to agree with our ideas. In own activities parallel to church organi- of important church landmarks—par- this statement Ellen White clearly advo- zation, because they view the church’s ticipate in the social life of your local cates the appreciation of diversity of work as mistaken or imperfect.5 church family. These types of activities opinion. I doubt whether all this can help the bring church members closer to one But what are the limits of “unity in cohesion of the church, or may be part another, and help us understand each diversity”? Diversity should not become of the effort to “guide [them] into all other better. The unity of the church is an excuse for the division of the church, the truth” (John 16:13)—which, quite promoted on an emotional level. or it would make this sin a virtue. apart, is the task of the Holy Spirit. If we Share in the mission of the church. Par- Diversity makes more evident the need truly are concerned about the unity of ticipate in an evangelistic effort, a cross- for unity. Only diversity, where fellow- the church, there are numerous ways cultural ministry helping those in your ship is not destroyed, is acceptable. that may help us achieve it. Here are community who are far away from home, Christian fellowship is the expression some suggestions: or hands-on service to help the disad- and sign of the unity of the church. Focus on a deep and personal relation- vantaged in your community: You are Unity does not mean egalitarianism or ship with Jesus. Numerous articles on part of God’s mission to this world. This separateness. The image of the body of spiritual growth have been published in participation creates a feeling of con- Christ excludes rivalry, strife, and divi- the Adventist Review and Adventist World nectedness and allows the unity of the sion, and instead calls for unity, har- magazines. There are also several helpful church to be promoted in a practical way. mony, and community.4 books on the subject, such as Steps to I wish that Psalm 69:8, 9 would Christ, by Ellen G. White; Knowing God in become less and less of a reality in our Participate—Rather the Real World, by Jon Paulien; Conquering churches. Wouldn’t it be nicer rather to Than Worry the Dragon Within, by Marvin Moore; or 95 join in the magnificent chorus of Psalm Theses on Righteousness by Faith, by Morris 84:4: “Blessed are those who dwell in Venden. Small groups also support spiri- your house; they are ever praising you”? tual growth through fellowship with I plan to sing that song in church. n other believers. The unity of the church is 1 Based on G. C. Berkouwer, The Church: Studies in thus promoted in a spiritual way. Dogmatics (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976), pp. 29-50. Speak and preach about the importance 2 You can read the document at www.adventist.org/ of unity in the church. Together with the information/official-statements/documents/article/ go/0/strategic-issues-for-the-seventh-day-adventist- pastor of your church put this impor- church/6/. tant topic on the preaching plan of your 3 Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases (Silver Spring, church. What is church unity? Why is it Md.: E. G. White Estate, 1993), vol. 11, p. 266. (Italics supplied.) 4 Berkouwer. 5 Let me quickly affirm that I don’t see supporting ministries in this group.

Thomas Lobitz is magazine editor (Adventisten heute, Zeichen der Zeit) at the Advent-Verlag, in Lüneburg, Germany. He is married with two children.

16 (1168) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 Cliff’s Edge Death Before the Fall? Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World, describes himself as an “exuberantly born-again evolutionary evangelist” whose melding of evolutionary theory with Christianity has taught him to celebrate “14 billion years of divine grace and creativity.” What particularly excites him, he writes, is that “death, more often than not, is a cosmic blessing.” He continues: “Perhaps there is no more alluring portal for discovering the benefits of evolutionary spirituality than death understood in an inspiring new way. Thanks to the sciences . . . we can now not only accept but celebrate that Death is natural and generative at every level of reality. Death is no less sacred than life.” After all, if death were part of how God created life on earth, and if God declared that finished cre- ation “very good” (Gen. 1:31), then death must also be positive. But Scripture consistently portrays death as bad, something to be defeated. “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:26). “He will swallow up death forever” (Isa. 25:8). “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55). “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). “ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death,’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). According to Scripture, death exists only because of sin, which makes its existence before sin impossible—“therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin” (Rom. 5:12); “for if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man” (verse 17). The first time death is mentioned in Scripture is in the context of sin: Adam was warned that if he ate from the tree, he would “certainly die” (Gen. 2:17). Precisely because he ate from the tree, and for no other reason, he would, among other consequences, return to the dust (Gen. 3:17-19). Cliff Thus Scripture consistently links death to sin. “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). “The mind governed by the flesh is death” (Rom. 8:6). “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth Goldstein to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15). Given these texts, and others, how can one argue that death before the Fall is consistent with Scripture? Some claim that only animal death, not human death, existed before the Fall. But that hardly mitigates the problem. First, if sinful, corrupted humans can show compassion for the suffering and death of animals, we’re going to attribute to an infinitely compassionate God billions of years of animal (including advanced mam- mals and primates) degradation, violence, starvation, suffering, and death as part of the process He called “very good”? Second, where and how did the sharp transition occur between two highly advanced hominids (a male and a female necessary to pass on their advantageous genetic material), who, though themselves subject to death, nevertheless produced the first two Homo sapiens (Adam and Eve) “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:27)? Is it believable that these two sinless and immortal images of God then grew from infancy into moral adults whose wrong choices finally caused them to face the same suffering and death plaguing all other life on earth for billions of years, which was the divinely ordained means of creation? Unless theistic evolutionists interpret texts about death as loosely and as allegorically as they must Gen- esis 1 and 2 (yet what’s allegorical about death?), the common evolutionary model of origins cannot be harmonized with Scripture. But how does one answer the challenge of Michael Dowd, who insists that science teaches death before the Fall? The answer’s easy. As has often been the case, the science is wrong—that’s all. n

Clifford Goldstein, editor of the Adult Bible Study Guide, will be a special guest presenter on an Adventist tour to Israel June 17-27, 2014. For information, contact [email protected].

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1169) 17 Cover Feature

BY SHAWN BOONSTRA he practice of recognizing Matthew 24 in world events is becoming easier with each passing year. Place the year’s headlines next to each other, Tor place the covers of your favorite news magazine side by side, and they virtually preach the sermon for you. While we didn’t see another Katrina or Sandy during the past 12 months, the year of our Lord 2013 has still easily answered to the pattern Jesus gave us: wars, rumors of war, famine, pestilence, earthquake.

Nothing New Of course, none of the themes that surfaced in the year’s stories were new. They are replays of ancient woes, under- lining Solomon’s assertion that there is nothing new under the sun. Nothing utterly novel happened. The temptation for many people, of course, is to shrug it all off and dismiss this year’s happen- ings as more of the same: A gunman went on a murderous ram- y REUTERS/MOHAMED ABD EL GHAN Y y REUTERS/MOHAMED page at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.? We’ve already seen it, all too b P hoto often—in a classroom, an office, a the- ater, a mall. 2013: The Year of Reversing the Tide

A high-profile murder trial divides the The coldhearted, indiscriminate gas- American nation? A heart-wrenching sing of hundreds of Syrians? Saddam story, but it reminds us of a courtroom Hussein already did that a few decades drama that followed in the wake of a slow- ago, and, sadly, on a much larger scale. speed chase following a white Bronco A bomb at the Boston Marathon? Hor- across the freeways of Los Angeles. rible, and novel by American standards, Someone sets off dry-ice bombs in the but it didn’t bring down a federal build- Los Angeles International Airport? A plane ing or the Twin Towers . . . and it’s day- cracks up on the runway in San Francisco? to-day life in other parts of the world. Certainly not the first alarm bells we’ve Another bad thing happened? Meh. heard coming from the aviation industry. This close to the events, it seems jaded

18 (1170) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 and calloused to dismiss the stories as the fact that the world as mapped by the yields to a dozen other amusing choices mundane, but give it a year or two, and speeded-up electronic media has no in a sidebar. We’ve been conditioned to most people will barely remember. order or meaning and is not to be taken taste without chewing, to glance with- Some of the public is already calloused seriously. There is no murder so brutal, out looking. It’s a programmed non- enough to move on the next day, or even no earthquake so devastating, no politi- response. Perhaps a brief visceral before the newscaster finishes the cal blunder so costly—for that matter, response, but then (if it didn’t happen report. Perhaps that’s because we’ve no ball score so tantalizing or weather to you) you go back to the way things been conditioned by decades of evening report so threatening—that it cannot be were just moments ago. We are easily news reports, which relate potentially erased from our minds by a newscaster lulled back to sleep, perhaps uninten- life-changing information to us in saying, ‘Now . . . this.’ The newscaster tionally joining Peter’s scoffers who dis- seconds-long sound bites. As Neil Post- means that you have thought long miss the reality that human history has man pointed out in Amusing Ourselves to enough on the previous matter (approx- a destination: “Where is this ‘coming’ Death, a gut-wrenching headline is often imately 45 seconds), that you must not he promised? Ever since our ancestors quickly followed by “now . . . this.” be morbidly preoccupied with it (let us died, everything goes on as it has since “ ‘Now . . . this’ is commonly used on say, for 90 seconds), and that you must the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4). radio and television newscasts to indi- now give your attention to another frag- cate that what one has just heard or ment of news or a commercial.”1 Indelible Images seen has no relevance to what one is A nerve-racking headline quickly seg- Yet even if we shrug, these stories still about to hear or see, or possibly to any- ues to a squirrel on water skis or to a land somewhere in the circuitry of our thing one is ever likely to hear or see. reporter in the dunk tank at the county brain. They affect us, even though we The phrase is a means of acknowledging fair. A disturbing YouTube clip quickly may have conditioned ourselves to play

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1171) 19 them down. Every image, every sound, is day. These things change you, no matter when your mind unfalteringly compiles carefully recorded and archived. Glance how much you believe you have inocu- the disturbing events of this world and through the biggest headlines of 2013, lated yourself. Studies at the University relentlessly adds them to the database and your mind will have trouble vividly of Michigan, after all, have established you subconsciously access in order to recalling the people, places, and things that exposure to disturbing media inform your decisions—and you have that were involved: a man with a gro- images actually takes a physical toll on no meaningful way to structure such tesquely amputated leg being wheeled us: some people experience disrupted horrific impressions—how positive is through the streets of Boston, and the sleep patterns more than a year after that? Over time it would only add to the deceptively boyish image of Dzhokhar witnessing something unsettling on the suspicion that the universe is a cruel, Tsarnaev on the cover of Rolling Stone; big screen.2 (The study was concerned purposeless joke. sheet-wrapped, poorly iced bodies lined with horror and suspense films, but it But when Jesus informs us, centuries up along a Syrian street; water deluged leads one to ponder: how much deeper in advance, that these sorts of things are streets and homes; Ariel Castro in an is the impact when we’re told that what going to happen, it gives us a way to orange jumpsuit; Edward Snowden in we saw was real?) make sense of the data; it allows us to the Moscow airport. The framework provided by prophecy cling to hope: OK, it’s bad, but we’re still on Once somebody starts a recitation of proves to be important for a generation course for the kingdom. In fact, as the con- the year’s events, your mind has no raised on a diet of the disturbing. What tractions grow, we’re getting ever closer. Don’t trouble retrieving the images. Try it: do you do with all of that information if get off the ship. Don’t lose hope. when the TV commentators run you don’t have a chassis on which to Daniel was given the same message. through the list of this year’s events on hang it? What effect does it have on you As the winds of strife blew across the New Year’s Eve, close your eyes. when you work under the assumption sea in his vision, world empires You’ll be able to see most of it with- that your existence and world events emerged on the shore. Each one fell to a out looking. are meaningless? successor as further strife ensued, but You might have moved the memories I have heard some suggest that the the vision ends with the judgment and into long-term storage, but you abso- signs enumerated by Jesus in the gos- the Ancient of Days giving the Son of lutely didn’t fail to notice these events pels are “doom and gloom” preaching. man His kingdom—the one that will when they happened. Your conscious “That stuff is so negative,” they tell me. never be destroyed. Ezekiel’s vision of mind shrugged; your subconscious did “It encourages an unbalanced apocalyp- the wheels highlighted the confusing not. And traumatic stories will take a toll tic mind-set.” And admittedly I’ve met a and seemingly chaotic appearance of on you—somehow, some way, some few who answer to the description. But world events, but before it was over, he

20 (1172) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 was shown God’s throne above it all. lapsed in the city of Savar. In Canada an curiosity of the world to understand the In other words, no matter how chaotic oil train derailed and exploded in a Que- new pope, Pope Francis, is clearly things get, we have the assurance that bec town, killing nearly 50. Wherever you reflected in his selection as Time maga- Someone is still in charge and that human happen to live in this world, more such zine’s Person of the Year for 2013. history is still headed somewhere. accidents continued to demonstrate the The American economy, which still vulnerability of human technology. supports much of the world’s financial Storms Around Us After becoming convinced that some- activity, sat perched on the edge of The “little apocalypse” of Matthew 24 one was trying to control his mind default yet again as deeply polarized gives us somewhere solid to hang our through low-frequency radio waves, partisans entrenched themselves,, and hope. It’s not a case of God trying to Aaron Alexis went on a gun rampage at the gears of government ground to a scare us with bad news; it’s a case of the the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., kill- halt. In addition to a debt load that is captain telling us to hang on to the rail, ing a dozen employees. In California mounting at an alarming and hopeless because He knows how to get us through former Los Angeles police officerChris - pace, a controversial health-care plan the storm. “See to it that you are not topher Dorner became the subject of that includes compulsory measures alarmed,” Jesus began (Matt. 24:6). one of the largest manhunts in the also fueled the debate. In the wake of Even though 2013 didn’t produce the department’s history after gunning threatened instability and arrested eco- sorts of momentous black swans3 we’ve down several police officers. Another nomic recovery, some of the world’s seen in other years (at least not that we gunman forced his way through secu- leaders revisited discussions to drop know of),4 it still gave students of rity at Los Angeles International Air- the U.S. dollar for the purposes of inter- prophecy much to contemplate:5 port, killing a Transportation Security national trade, and all of us teetered on Devastating floods wiped out entire Agency officer and injuring several oth- the verge of the Bible’s prediction that canyons on the eastern edge of the Colo- ers. Unfortunately, such stories are the world will eventually weep and rado Rockies, destroying homes, inflict- almost becoming routine in places once howl at the corruption of its riches (see, ing nearly $2 billion in damage on considered safe to live. Schools, the- for example, James 5:1-5; Rev. 18:9-19). communities, and taking lives. The same aters, shopping malls, places of employ- In the midst of the fracas a Seventh-day thing happened to residents of Calgary ment—no place is safe. Adventist voice is heard pleading with earlier this summer when their city was The centuries-old Muslim question God to bring sensibility to government. catastrophically deluged and more than continued to plague the world this year, He becomes nationally visible to the 100,000 people were forced from their when al-Shabab terrorists seized control point that Saturday Night Live lampoons homes. Large swaths of central Europe of the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, initiat- him: U.S. Senate chaplain Barry Black. It also found themselves under water this ing a four-day standoff that ended disas- reminds us that at crucial turning summer, and in January, monsoons in trously with 72 deaths and more than points, God has sometimes brought His eastern Australia caused more than $2 200 wounded. Earlier this year, in Amer- people into close proximity to those in billion in damage. In April it was Argen- ica, young men inspired by Islamist ter- the corridors of power. tina’s turn when the worst floods in the ror groups set off pressure-cooker The American courtroom continued nation’s history took 80 lives. But all of bombs at the Boston Marathon, bringing to be a modern theater of the macabre, these floods pale in comparison to the into North American neighborhoods vividly reminding us of Paul’s predic- floods in north India, which claimed events that used to be something West- tion that people in the closing moments more than 6,000 lives. erners saw only on foreign news reports. of earth’s history would be “without In northern Europe in October, Pope Benedict XVI unexpectedly love” and “brutal” (2 Tim. 3:3). Ariel record-setting winds over the North Sea resigned from office, making him one of Castro was convicted of crimes so hor- (119 mph) pushed a storm ashore that only two popes who have ever stepped rific that they defy any attempt to wreaked havoc from France to Scandi- down. While many (most?) are satisfied explain them. Shortly after he began navia, battering the continent, closing with his explanation that his health is serving his sentence, he was found airports, cutting power to hundreds of too frail to continue, some speculated hanging in his prison cell. Unfortu- thousands, and claiming lives. That that it was a move calculated to spare nately, hideous crimes like his seem to storm pales in comparison, however, to the pontiff embarrassment in the face of make the news more and more fre- the November typhoon in the Philip- persistent scandal. After the potent ecu- quently. Kermit Gosnell was also con- pines (the largest in history, based on menical efforts of John Paul II and the victed on several ghastly counts of maximum wind speeds), with latest rigid conservatism of Cardinal Ratz- murder after the world learned of his estimates at 6,000 fatalities, with addi- inger, what will the next pontiff, the late-term abortion house of horrors. tional thousands missing. first from the New World, bring to the Former New York police officerGiberto In Bangladesh the deadliest structural equation? We had the goodwill ambas- Valle was also found guilty this year of failure of modern history claimed 1,127 sador, followed by a doctrinal police- plotting to cook and eat women . . . lives when Rana Plaza suddenly col- man, followed by . . . we’ll see. The including his wife. Yet again, a nation

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1173) 21 that often publicly touts its Christian meat labeled as beef in Ireland and Eng- As long as we’re contemplating the foundations provided a stage for last- land proved to be horse or pig. Needless resurrection of American-Russian ten- day human depravity. to say, Jewish and Muslim communities sions, we ought to mention what was Another highly publicized trial—that were incensed. perhaps the biggest story of the year: of George Zimmerman—served to high- We were reminded several times this the gruesome chemical warfare used light how sharply polarized is the Amer- year of how vulnerable we have all against Syrian dissidents in the throes ican public. No matter where you might become in the digital age. The National of a civil war, and the possibility of yet stand on the verdict, it did prove one Security Agency was discovered to be another global skirmish in the Middle thing: how dysfunctional the world’s monitoring all of our digital communica- East. The situation in Syria spiraled out remaining superpower continues to be. tions, including those of foreign of control, and the world marched In Saudi Arabia a troubling and deadly nations—and heads of state. Private quickly toward a potentially explosive SARS-like coronavirus, MERS-CoV, began Bradley Manning was sentenced to 35 war, until Vladimir Putin secured Syr- to spread, touching down in new loca- years in military prison for leaking hun- ia’s cooperation in seizing chemical tions. While it has thus far been con- dreds of thousands of classified docu- weapons. He then used the showdown tained, experts worry about yet another ments to WikiLeaks. Edward Snowden to score political points against the possibility for a deadly pandemic. was also able to download state secrets United States with a letter published in In Europe there were new concerns and escape to a transit lounge in Moscow, the New York Times. about the world’s food supply. While where he has now been given temporary And, of course, the birth of a royal outbreaks of salmonella, e. coli, and mad asylum—and cold war tensions between baby in England. But even for the most cow disease have been cause for concern Moscow and Washington suddenly talented expositor, it would be hard to in the past, this was a new(ish) wrinkle: seemed to (temporarily?) resurface. attach any prophetic significance to this event. It is just nice to have a feel-good story in the mix. See? It might not have been the kind of year that future historians will mark as a global turning point, but we were handed a lot to think about in ponder- ing Jesus’ predictions. All of these things have absolutely happened in the past, but the pace and the magnitude of our crimes against God—and each other—seem to be relentless and grow- ing. We have every indication that the world is still sliding, irreversibly, toward its conclusion. And, to visit an earlier point, your

As you begin 2014, you have control over just one piece of the planet, one y bill knott human heart. b P hoto

22 (1174) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 dar year is a good from God’s perspective. You can be salt. moment to engage in Light. You can let Christ write the a little bit of self- Father’s name on your forehead, in your examination; after all, heart, and you can offer hope in a world Paul heartily encour- where it’s getting darker by the minute. ages it (2 Cor. 13:5). As you begin 2014, you have control Did I contribute to any over just one piece of the planet, one sort of solution to the human heart, a place where the world suffering in this doesn’t have to keep falling apart. As all world—or did I con- the world persists in wondering after tribute to the problem, the beast, as they slide toward collapse even by failing to miti- and ruin, you can stand on Mount Zion mind faithfully yielded visual recollec- gate something that was within my with the Lamb. You can offer heaven— tions of the events as you reviewed the power to effect? Did I allow God to con- and your fellow human beings—one list, didn’t it? tinue rebuilding His image in my heart, more person on this planet whose citi- or did I allow this world to chip away at zenship is in Eden. Taking Control His work, effacing His image and pull- You can live out God’s kingdom in But at the end of the day (or the end ing me back down toward my baser front of the world even before it arrives. of the year, as it were), a year in review instincts? The fulfillment of Matthew 24 is isn’t really about facts, figures, person- It doesn’t take a Christian to realize becoming more obvious with each pass- alities, or events. Not for Christians. As a that our planet is troubled; even a hard- ing year. Line up the year’s headlines on world untethered from its Creator con- ened skeptic can recognize it. And James a sheet of paper, and they preach a con- tinues to unravel and the prophecies of assures us that devils are able to recog- vincing sermon. The signs will continue Scripture are increasingly vindicated, nize the truth of God and tremble (see to deliver their message until Jesus the words of Jesus need to land on your James 2:19). But it’s not enough to know comes, but the question at this moment own doorstep. It’s one thing to analyze things. You cannot know your way into is whether or not your life will also the world and shake your head at the the kingdom of God, after all. You can- preach Christ until the day He arrives. n decline of human civilization, to not be right enough about prophecy to 1 Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Dis- bemoan a planet apparently out of con- pay for your sins or to atone for your course in the Age of Show Business (New York: Penguin, trol and without solutions; it’s quite participation in humanity’s rebellion 1985), pp. 99, 100. another to analyze the one small part of and breakdown. 2 http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/2632. 3 The term black swan was popularized by writer this universe you do have control of— But you can be honest about your role in Nassim Taleb. It refers to unexpected events that sud- yourself. this mess. You can own your sins and denly change the course of history and the way we do From the comfort of your home, it is repent of them. You can quit sizing up business, such as September 11. It comes from the six- teenth-century assumption that all swans are white, easy to assume that you are in no way everybody else and evaluate your own cul- an assumption that was suddenly turned on its head responsible for the massacres, the natu- pability. You can admit that you need Jesus. in 1697 by the discovery of black swans in Australia. ral disasters, or the crime that took And you can offer Him your life right now, 4 We often don’t recognize watershed years until much later, when we see the fallout from events that place this year—and to most peoples’ even before the new year begins. prove more monumental than we first suspected. A way of thinking, you’d be right. But look Think about it: you have control over great case in point: when Romulus Augustulus was at the way God’s Old Testament proph- one tiny piece of this miserable planet— deposed as the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire in A.D. 476, few people at the time noted it as a ets spoke of the sins of Israel. Daniel you. You have a sphere of influence, one landmark moment. Today it is the date most com- used the word “we” (see Daniel’s prayer that you can surrender to His will. You monly given for the fall of the empire. in Dan. 9). When the psalmist reviews can love where others hate. You can 5 I fully confess that after moving to the United States a decade ago, I have fallen prey to the tendency the centuries-old sins of God’s people, build where others destroy. You can seek of Americans to view their own newscasts as world he also uses “we” (see Ps. 106:6). Believ- peace where others stir up controversy. news. For those of you residing outside of the United ers assume responsibility for their role You can refuse to participate in the States, please forgive the Americentric nature of this list and the possible oversight of significant events in the unrepentant defiance of the kingdom of darkness. reported in your corner of the globe. You will, human race. The rebellion that yielded You can surrender it all: your partisan undoubtedly, know of other events that should have dominion of this planet is not just affiliations, your affinity for worldli- made this list. everybody else’s rebellion—it is also ness, your personal philosophies and ours. Because all have sinned, because all ambitions—and you can choose to live SHAWN BOONSTRA is the new have fallen short of the glory of God, as a biblically informed, Spirit-led speaker/director for the voice there is a sense in which we are all Christian instead. You can form your of prophecy, an international responsible for this mess. worldview on the teachings of Christ. radio ministry. For more Perhaps the turn of yet another calen- You can approach the human problem information, visit www.vop.com..

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1175) 23 Heart and Soul: Devotional

Learning to The National sing it before Anthem of Heaven Inauguration Day

by MARCOS PASEGGI

nthematology. The word is so recent that chances are you will not find it in any hard-copy dictionary. The “unoffi- Acial” term was coined a few years ago by David Kendall, a Canadian who belongs to a select group of people around the world who have adopted an intriguing hobby: the study and collection of infor- mation about the national anthems of the nations of the world. Being an enthusiastic anthematologist myself, it is not difficult for me to envision how rewarding this activity can be.

Truths About National Anthems For one, I love music, history, and geography, and anthematology seems to connect the three of them with a golden thread. Second, specifically regarding music, national anthems are among the most sublime expressions of this unique form of art, instantly connecting listeners with a broad range of memo- ries, associations, and emotions. National anthems seem to be also a paradigm of all that is optimistic about our world. If you confine yourself to the messages of their lyrics, you cannot help becoming quite confident about the future of humankind. In national anthems there are neither failures, nor losses, nor corruption, nor dictator- ships. On the contrary, every nation seems to be a winner, a triumphant par- agon of success, beauty, and bliss. Most national anthems proclaim the end of strife and war, lasting victory over ene- mies, the supreme rule of liberty, and the establishment of an enduring peace

24 (1176) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 for all their citizens. ence and the song of the redeemed ence found out they were listening, in Above all, national anthems usually through all eternity. In Christ glorified they fact, to a toothpaste commercial!8 In our imply the existence of an enduring rule [the redeemed] will behold Christ cruci- spiritual life we need to be sure we do that extends indefinitely into the future. fied.”2 Thus, Jesus will be the One linking not make the same mistake. As far as I know, no national anthem and giving meaning to our anthem, which No national anthem is an isolated piece ever entertains the possibility that the will sing of the victories won, the bliss of music, devoid of any kind of connec- nation it showcases may experience an awaiting us, and will renew our pledge to tion to the country represented. On the abrupt end (which, however, as history the one who made it all possible.3 contrary, it is often deeply intertwined shows, is often the case). with the history and the geography of the All of the above has prompted me to Singing in Heaven land. Likewise, the national anthem of wonder if, as heirs to the kingdom of Which is the best national anthem? heaven, that future “song of the heaven, we will also own a national “The best answer to what the ‘best’ redeemed,” is also steeped in the history anthem. And in case we do, what mel- national anthem is, of course, is the one (from eternity to eternity) and the geog- ody would it boast? And what is equally held most dear by the listener.”4 In this raphy (the whole universe) of the plan of important, which lyrics would that world each one of us has learned— redemption. What could be better as anthem proclaim to the universe? either by birth or upbringing—to relate future citizens of that glorious land than to an anthem that stands for a land we beginning right now to get acquainted Reactive or Proactive? hold dear to our hearts. But in heaven, with the Word, where this story is National anthems can be classified in we will all sing the same tune. superbly told? Because as Ellen White different ways. A very broad division puts it, “the theme of redemption . . . will usually classifies their music in epic In heaven we be the science and the song of the marches (as in the case of most Latin redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages American, some Middle East, and north- will all sing of eternity.” Thus, she asks, “Is it not wor- ern African countries); Western hymns the same tune. thy of careful thought and study now?”9 (many western Europe, Oceania, and Faith can be the present tool that sub-Saharan African countries), and Revelation 7 introduces us to “a great allows us to start enjoying that heav- folk-oriented songs (most Asian and a multitude which no one could number, enly melody, for “faith sees the robe and few African countries).1 Regarding their of all nations, tribes, peoples, and crown prepared for the overcomer, and lyrics, their classification is also varied. tongues” (verse 9, NKJV).5 They are “cry- hears the song of the redeemed.”10 Now, when the content of their lyrics is ing out with a loud voice” to God and to While we do not know for sure what considered, it is difficult not to see a the Lamb (verse 10, NKJV). Likewise, as kind of anthem we will sing in heaven, seeming pattern. In fact, generally Revelation 4 and 5 point out, the by faith we can anticipate we will. And it speaking, it can be said that while many redeemed will be joined in their song by is our joyous privilege to start right nations devote their anthems to the holy angels.6 And while the heavenly now warming up our voices for the remembering past wrongs and destruc- anthem is “a new song” that only the soon-to-come celestial performance. n tion and victory over their enemies and redeemed can sing (Rev. 14:3), it is our 1 For a more detailed approach, see www.nation- oppressors (what I call the reactive privilege to “go forward together to alanthems.info/faq.html. approach), others just confine them- reach the great reward and join the song 2 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Washington, selves to singing praises to the leader, of the redeemed.” Because “if we ever D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1911), p. 651. 3 See ibid., pp. 651, 652. the beauties of the land, and the virtues sing the praises of God in heaven, we 4 www.nationalanthems.info/faq.html. of the people (the proactive approach). must first sing them here.”7 5 Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King Still others make the most of their Now, how can we accomplish it? James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights inspiring tunes to promise allegiance reserved. and to pledge support to a country they Learning the Anthem 6 See Ellen White’s comment in The Seventh-day treat almost as a living being. In this world, national anthems can Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 922. 7 Ellen G. White, in Signs of the Times, Jan. 27, 1888. Once more, I cannot help but wonder sometimes lead to comical misunder- 8 As told in www.national-anthems.org/facts.htm. what the lyrics of our anthem will be in standings. A few years ago, the Chinese 9 Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, heaven. Are we going to sing reactively, soccer team was playing the Greek team Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1956), pp. 88, 89. 10 Ellen G. White, The Faith I Live By (Washington, proactively, or both? Or will we rather in Athens. Suddenly, the music blared, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958), p. 126. devote our highest expression of praise and the Greek crowd rose and stood in to the One who has made the whole respectful silence, assuming it was the Marcos Paseggi is a transla- journey—and the reward itself—mean- Chinese anthem. The Chinese players tor, Bible researcher, and ingful and worthwhile? also stood to attention, thinking it was author. With his beloved family Apparently there will be a little bit of the national anthem of Greece. A few in the city of Ottawa, he gets to each: “The cross of Christ will be the sci- seconds later, however, the whole audi- join in singing “O Canada”!

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1177) 25 (1178) Dateline Moscow Fumigate the Cockroaches Before 2014 After a Sabbath lunch crowned with homemade pizza, my Russian guests eased back in soft leather sofas in the combined kitchen-living room area of my Moscow apartment. Eight-year-old Slava sat on the carpet, his last slice of pizza lying forgotten on a plate at his feet. Suddenly, a shrill cry pierced the air. Slava sprang up, wildly pointing a finger at the plate. “Cockroach, cockroach!” he screamed. Sure enough. A long, brown insect with spindly legs stood, antennae quivering, at the edge of his plate. The serene faces of my guests twisted into expressions of disgust and horror. “How can you have cockroaches in such a nice apartment?” asked Slava’s mother. The year was 2006, and I had embarked on a search for Jesus’ will for the first time in my life. The apartment was a trophy from my worldly days. Earlier that Sabbath I had beamed as my guests “oohed” and “ahhed” at the towering Greek-like columns in the living room, the enormous bedroom, the study with two powerful computers, the home movie theater, and the cavernous bathroom, complete with a top-of-the-line hot tub and real Finnish sauna. I was renting the apartment from the wife of a wealthy oil executive who lived in another Russian city. Living in the apartment made me feel as though I had arrived. Then the cockroaches surfaced. I’m not sure where they came from. The apartment building itself was an old, gray, seven-story affair built under the regime of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The first cockroach had surfaced shortly after I had started attending church regularly. The scavenger was soon joined by others, many others. When I flipped on the lights at night, I could hear them scurrying for cover behind the stove and refrigerator. But when the day arrived that they stopped running and unblinkingly continued to gorge them- Andrew selves on whatever crumbs were left on the counter, I declared war. McChesney At first my efforts appeared to pay off. After one late-night fumigation using aerosol cans, I returned to the kitchen in the morning to sweep up dozens of brittle bodies. But a couple weeks later the cockroaches marched back. A complaint to the landlady did little good. She said the apartment had been fumigated before I moved in, and the age and size of the apartment building made it impossible to exterminate them all. “The only way to eradicate the cockroaches would be to pull down the building, and even then they would probably survive,” she said. My options were limited to aerosol cans or moving to a new apartment. I didn’t want to lose my beautiful place. But then my secret emerged at that fateful Sabbath lunch. After my friends left and the sun set, I furiously launched a new attack on my unwelcome guests. An epiphany struck me as I stood on a kitchen counter, directing the poisonous spray behind a cupboard. My life resembled my apartment. To friends, I represented a picture of success. My career as a journalist was flourishing at the age of 33. I owned everything I wanted, and then some. I lived in an apartment that could be classified as fancy even by Moscow’s decadent standards. But it was all only appearances. Deep inside I had been nurturing a cockroach, the most resilient of all creatures, capable, scientists believe, of surviving even a nuclear explosion. As I cared for that cockroach, it had started inviting over its friends. The picture of my life wasn’t pretty after all. With a heavy heart I said goodbye to my apartment at the end of 2006. I determined to start the new year without cockroaches of any kind, both in my home and in my soul. With another new year approaching, I have been reminded that cockroaches have a way of reappearing in this old world. Several have poked their antennae into my life this year. But a new year offers new hope. Join me in my New Year’s resolution to stop clinging to cockroaches, and instead choose to cling to the cross in 2014. n

Andrew Mc Chesney is a journalist in Russia.

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1179) 27 Story

A Parent’s Journey How heartbreak led to a deeper understanding of God’s love

BY JOANNE RUTHERFORD

he phone rang as my hus- that it must be in the country with the decided to become an active member of band, Wayne, and I were animals he loved so much. our church. How devastated we were leaving the house to enjoy Danielle felt her prayers had been when, in spite of the nurturing love and dinner with relatives one answered when Wayne and I were care of extended family and church fam- sunny autumn afternoon. approved as adoptive parents at the ily, David began self-destructive behav- TPicking up the receiver, I heard the all- very time David was released for adop- iors at age 13. This can’t be happening, I too-familiar recording, “This is a collect tion. She found further assurance in kept telling myself. Children from stable call from the county correctional facil- learning that he had bonded with us homes don’t get involved with tobacco, alco- ity. Press “0” to accept the charges.” shortly after his arrival, and that he hol, and drugs. We had discussed the I cried silently as I listened to our son seemed happy with his new extended dangers of drugs many times. David had describe the events of the night before. family, which included several cousins read a monthly temperance magazine He had been caught drinking alcohol his age. since he was 10 years old. He knew the again, violating the terms of his As a toddler, David loved listening to harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol. probation. stories. We read book after book until Why, Lord? I wondered for the hun- both he and I knew the stories by heart. A Downward Spiral dredth time. We had tried so hard to be We read entire sets of Bible storybooks If a lack of knowledge wasn’t the perfect parents, and had taken special over and over, as well as many other problem, what was? Wayne and I had no care to build our son’s self-esteem ever character-building books. answers, and our heartbreak grew since he arrived in our home at the age When baby sister Kristi arrived, David deeper every time we found a cigarette of 19 months. bonded with her as well. As the children butt in the yard, an empty beer can in grew, they played and worked together our trash barrel. We tried withdrawing So Much Promise with only rare disagreements. privileges, grounding David, and beg- David’s birth mother, Danielle, had Reluctant to entrust our son’s spiri- ging him to stop. Nothing worked. come from a dysfunctional home. At age tual and scholastic development to oth- David failed his ninth-grade classes, 17, she wanted something better for her ers, I homeschooled him for three years. and we homeschooled again. Though precious baby son. She had prayed for In third grade he began attending our living at home, he gradually drifted months that the adoption agency would local church school. During seventh away from us. After two years, he find the right home for him, specifying grade, he took baptismal studies and refused to complete his high school

28 (1180) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 courses and began working, spending prayed constantly that he would be safe Every time David returned, he told of more and more time away from home, and that he would come home, and, miracles he had experienced while in a rebelling against our rules, insisting most important, return to the God who neighboring state. While inebriated, he that he wanted “freedom.” had, we believed, chosen us as his adop- had choked on a piece of meat and was Freedom? How can one be free when tive parents. I painfully realized that in taken to an emergency room in time to chained to addictive habits? the past I had often neglected to com- save his life. Twice he had been broad- Our hearts ached, wishing David municate with my heavenly Father. Yet, sided by another vehicle at intersec- could understand that true freedom is like the father of the prodigal son, God tions, and walked away without a found only by doing God’s will. Know- had patiently waited for me to “return scratch. One winter he became so ema- ing that some older members of our home” as well. ciated from drug use that we didn’t rec- local church had “sowed wild oats” in ognize him when he returned home. their teenage years, he observed that We had tried Through frequent stints in correc- they “turned out OK,” and announced tional facilities where drugs were that he too would eventually be OK. He so hard to unavailable, David was able to regain his was especially enthralled by stories be perfect health. Every visit there was emotion- from a pastor who spent several years ally painful and humbling for us as his in the drug culture. parents. parents, but we knew that this was the Wayne and I tried to convince David Lord’s way of protecting him and pre- that it would be much easier to learn God also knows the agony of rejec- serving his life. from the mistakes of others rather than tion, the heartbreak of losing a child. Though many times there seemed to making the same mistakes himself, but He, even as a perfect parent, lost one be no hope, we remember these miracles he refused to listen. As we searched for third of the angels in heaven. In the per- and renew our faith, trusting when we answers, eventually we came to under- son of His Son He was misunderstood don’t understand and asking God to for- stand the influence of genetics, learning and falsely accused, even as Wayne and I give our own waywardness. We know of research indicating that alcoholism were misunderstood by those who that whatever the future holds, our may be an inherited trait. This was con- assumed we were “bad” parents. heavenly Father is able to deliver both us firmed when we learned that David’s I searched God’s Word for encourage- and our children from the enemy. n birth family was largely composed of ment and hope during a particularly * Texts credited to Clear Word are from The Clear alcoholics. We became less judgmental discouraging winter when we had no Word, copyright © 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 by of other hurting parents as we realized idea where David was, or even if he was Review and Herald Publishing Association. All rights that children may make wrong choices still alive. The Lord gave me this mean- reserved. in spite of their parents’ best efforts. ingful promise: “Everything you have done for your children will not go unre- Because of the personal nature of this Spiritual Lessons warded. I will bring them back from narrative, all names are pseudonyms. Through the heartbreak in watching death and from the land of the enemy” our son turn away from everything we (Jer. 31:16, Clear Word).* had taught him, I began to understand While David was missing the follow- something of what our heavenly Parent ing winter, I found another promise ? What Do You Think? must feel when we reject the things He that we claimed daily: “I will contend tries to teach us. with those who contend with you, and 1. When have you experienced the How often I have disappointed my your children I will save” (Isa. 49:25). heartbreak of seeing someone dear Lord! I recalled how Jesus wept over to you wander away from God? Jerusalem, which had repeatedly Living in Hope What emotions did it generate in rejected His prophets. How long- Indeed, each time David disappeared, you? suffering He was with Israel and Judah he eventually did come home. The Lord 2. What Bible promises helped you as they turned to heathen gods again heard our prayers for his safety, as well survive the experience? and again. Jesus not only created us— as the prayers of grandparents, aunts, 3. Did understanding the value of the He redeemed us. Even though we insist uncles, and friends. How we appreci- power of choice make it any easier to on going our own ways, God has ated the prayers of our pastor and accept the choices you could not adopted us as His own children and church family! control? If not, why not? loves us even more than we earthly par- One evening at the midweek service 4. What is the most important coun- ents love our children. our pastor prayed that David would sel you can give someone who wants When David disappeared into the come home. We praised God upon arriv- desperately for a loved one to return drug culture, Wayne and I didn’t hear ing home after the service to find him to God? from him for months at a time. We waiting for us!

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1181) 29 Ask the Doctors Mediterranean Diet Versus Vegetarian Diet

By allan r. handysides and peter n. landless

e hear a lot about the Mediterra- such as increased cancer rates and a It’s our belief that a well-balanced Wnean diet. Is it better than a vege- propensity to its abuse. vegetarian diet is somewhat superior to tarian diet—either vegan or lacto-ovo The fish content of a Mediterranean the Mediterranean diet, and it appears vegetarian? diet may also contribute a better fat that even a good diet may be improved profile, as fish oils are significantly bet- by the substitution of nuts and olive oil he Mediterranean diet has been in ter than animal fats. for the more usual fats in our diet. Tthe news since a study published The Adventist Health Studies have recently in the New England Journal of demonstrated a colon cancer risk even peter n. landless, a Medicine reported their positive find- with white meats. Currently the Ad- board-certified nuclear ings. Actually, in the study, the larger ventist Health Study II (AHS2) is not cardiologist, is director of the group was divided into three groups. fully conclusive, but has demonstrated a Health Ministries department One was supplemented with mixed clear advantage to the three main types of the General Conference. nuts, another with olive oil, and the of vegetarian diets: total, lacto-ovo, and third on a fairly typical Mediterranean pesco (fish-containing). Eventually the allan r. handysides, a diet. AHS2 might be able to show the differ- board-certified gynecologist, A Mediterranean diet is low in satu- ences between even these three vegetar- is a former director of the rated fats but high in monounsaturated ian types of diet, but at this point they Health Ministries department of fats (MUFAs). It contains little red meat, are not statistically significant. the General Conference. processed foods, or dairy. The use of fish and poultry is common in the diet, and liberal use is made of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, , wine, and olive oil. It’s very difficult to isolate the effect of individual components of a diet, but the recent study did help somewhat in that it demonstrated that the addition of about one ounce of nuts and four tablespoons of olive oil a day reduced risks of cardiovascular events. The message this study brings to the forefront is that rather than total fat intake, we ought to focus on the type of fat we consume. Fat, of course, is very high in calories, and while we should shift to good fats (as found in nuts and olive oil) and away from saturated fats (as in meat and dairy fat), we can have too much of even good things and easily become overweight. Many have felt that the wine in a Mediterranean diet must be beneficial, but considerable doubt exists about the quality of many of the studies purport- ing to show cardiac benefits of alcohol, and considerable evidence is accumulat- ing about the negative effects of alcohol,

30 (1182) | www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 Reflections Going Somewhere As 2013 concludes, I’ve recently been thinking about three experiences that have helped shape my thinking and bring balance to my life. They’ve helped me discover and define something I value: going somewhere. Going forward. My last remaining grandparent died when I was 27. My family and I traveled to upstate New York about two weeks before she passed away. Deep in the grip of dementia, she had degraded to the point at which she was no longer talking, walking, or eating. She had gone from forgetting who people were six months before to a staring, silent body in a bed. The dim hallways, the dark corner of her room where she lay, and the visage that greeted us could have come from a horror movie. My dad talked to his mother. He squeezed her warm hand. He turned away as tears traced lines down his cheeks. Then I went up. I was dizzy with love, pity, anger, sorrow. My grandmother had not, in my recollec- tion, ever been easy. Her childhood had made sure of that. Love and hate and need had equally flowed through her. Yes, she had raised a son, held a career, and kept a mar- riage. But she was alone, and had been alone for years. Except for her “baby brother,” who would visit frequently, alienated friends and family had long since given her up. “Grandma, it’s me.” I spoke, and open, unfocused eyes suddenly moved and locked on my face. Her slack mouth went hard. It popped open and shut, open and shut. A mad fire seemed to burn from her gaze as the gasping mouth worked. Locked within herself, her eyes and mouth continued until, disquieted, I stepped away. I wondered where she was—and where she was going. At her funeral, attended by a small con- tingent loyal to my dad, I still wondered about where she had been—and where she was going. At 25 I had become the managing editor of Columbia Union Visitor magazine. Respon- sibility and fear of failure kept me stressed at the beginning. Until, that is, our design intern wrote a short piece for print. She wrote about life and challenges, and how going places and trying to accomplish things can be overwhelming. Her metaphor for how to alleviate the pressure helped me then and has since, to some degree, contin- ued to help. She painted the picture of pausing at her work desk, inhaling deeply, taking off her tight shoes, and rubbing bare feet on a thick, soft, plush carpet. I got the point: going somewhere occasionally requires pausing, feeling texture and tickle, stillness and simplicity. Because even if you’re standing still, sometimes you’re still going somewhere. I was having the time of my life, at 30, playing in local soccer leagues after work. My husband’s hospital shift work ended at 11:00 p.m., so I gladly filled a few evenings each week with matches. A defender, I learned how to dribble better; and I worked my way up to midfield. I delighted in foiling oppo- nents’ attempts to steal the ball while keeping the ball securely tethered to my feet. A more experienced player pulled me aside after a game and made me cognizant of something important. “You’ve really improved handling the ball,” she started. “Good moves, good shielding. But you’re not mov- ing forward. You’re going back and side to side, and working really hard, but you’re not getting any closer to the goal. Try to think ahead, and try not just to go someplace, but to go someplace that will help advance the ball up the field.” A bit chagrined, I realized her assessment was true. And since then I have always tried to remember this advice. Who I am, where I am, what I’ll become—standing, sitting, running—I’m going somewhere. Where Jesus is. I’m looking forward to seeing Him when I get there. n

Kimberly Luste Maran, an assistant editor of the Adventist Review, looks forward to going somewhere heavenly soon.

www.AdventistReview.org | December 26, 2013 | (1183) 31 “The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia is undoubtedly the most important reference work produced by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in half a century.” —George Knight

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