Vol. 191, No. 3

January 23, 2014 Vol. 191, No. 3

www.adventistreview.org

January 23, 2014

Adventist Survives Home Invasion 12 Into All the World 22 When a Vandal Slashed My Tires 29

Head

subhead Key Adventures: Archaeological Expeditions to Biblical Sites

Key Adventures Cradle of Mankind (Turkey) Noah and the Ark, Abraham and Jacob – we all know these stories from our childhood. And where did these stories take place? Serious archaeologists do agree: The cradle of civilization lies in Mesopotamia. A coincidence? Why not come along and make up your own mind! Amazing Adventures invites you – to a part of Tur- key that hardly anyone knows. Date: May 7-16, 2014

Prices: EUR 1,590 (approx. USD 2,170) www.amazing-adventures.ch/ cradle-of-mankind

Bible cruise „We feel so blessed that we had the opportunity to go on the Lycian Coast (Turkey) wonderful Revelation cruise.“ The Quran – proper material for Christi- T. and B. O. ans? What pictures come to mind with the word „Islam?“ We invite you to „I think this was the most stress-free trip I‘ve ever taken: lots of experience Islam on location, while at interesting people to talk with and get to know, yummy food, the the same time stocking up on sunshine, boats and bikes, the historic sites--it was the first trip I‘ve taken peace and quiet and restoring your zest where I didn‘t have to worry about finding a place to stay. It was for life far off the beaten track. Sylvain also nice to not have to worry about where to eat, what to see, Romain, Seventh-day Adventist pastor etc. I loved every minute of it and treasure the memories and the and specialist on Islam will help you new friends. Everyone was so kind and easy to get along with.“ understand what the Quran says. S. D. Date: August 30 – September 06, 2014 „This trip was for me, one of the best trips I‘ve ever been on. I think that it was a combination of many things: great food, wea- Prices: ther, the boats, etc. But as has been mentioned, the people we got EUR 990 (approx. USD 1,350) to „hang“ with for a week was what really made it. I also loved www.amazing-adventures.ch/ the spiritual component: praying/studying/singing.“ bible-tour-lycian-coast B. L.

Revelation Cruise Seven Churches (Turkey/Greece) Follow in the footsteps of Paul and John by boat and coach, chartered exclusi- vely for you. See where they preached, labored and prayed. Visit Ephesus, where Paul faced down the crowd, and pause on Patmos to catch a glimpse of what John saw. Get an appreciciation for the challenge of preaching the gospel among Muslims. Dates: September 08 - 19, 2014 September 19 - 30, 2014

Prices: EUR 1,980 (approx. USD 2,700) www.amazing-adventures.ch/ sevenchurches

• Amazing Adventures Gmbh • Tel. +41 (0)71 947 12 24 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.amazing-adventures.ch “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 22 9 6 COVER FEATURE ARTICLES DEPARTMENTS EDITORIALS 18 How Much Do the 14 The Honor and 4 Letters 6 Wilona Karimabadi Games Cost? Privilege of Parenthood Of Faith and Football Tim Ponder Ellen G. White 7 Page 7 They’re just games, right? Children grow up faster 7 Mark Kellner than we suppose. 8 World News & The Quality of Mercy Perspectives 2 2 Into All the World 13 Give & Take Kevin Waite The challenge of the 17 Transformation Tips 10/40 window can hardly be overstated. 2 9 Dateline Moscow

2 6 The Gospel: Its 3 0 Ask the Doctors Pleasure and Pain Graham Morris 31 Reflections Throughout history, Next Wee k in faithfulness to God Adventist world comes with a price. From Australia’s Outback: ON THE COVER Service to Others Really The billions of dollars spent Matters on professional sports around When Adventists arrive in the the world don’t begin to ac- small towns, people tend to count for the real cost. notice.

Publisher General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, Executive Publisher Bill Knott, Associate Publisher Claude Richli, Publishing Board: Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Benjamin D. Schoun, vice chair; Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy; Daniel R. Jackson; Robert Lemon; Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion; Juan Prestol; Michael Ryan; Ella Simmons; Mark Thomas; Karnik Doukmetzian, legal adviser. Editor Bill Knott, Associate Editors Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil, Coordinating Editor Stephen Chavez, Online Editor Carlos Medley, Features Editor Sandra Blackmer, Young Adult Editor Kimberly Luste Maran, KidsView Editor Wilona Karimabadi, News Editor Mark A. Kellner, Operations Manager Merle Poirier, Financial Manager Rachel Child, Editorial Assistant Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste, Marketing Director Claude Richli, Editor-at-Large Mark A. Finley, Senior Advisor E. Edward Zinke, Art Director Bryan Gray, Design Daniel Añez, Desktop Technician Fred Wuerstlin, Ad Sales Glen Gohlke, Subscriber Services Steve Hanson. To Writers: Writer’s guidelines are available at the Adventist Review Web site: www.adventistreview.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 photos are © Thinkstock 2014. 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 © 2014, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 191, No. 3

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www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (67) 3 tangible ways. But it seems »»Wonderful insight in Lael that most of us would rather Caesar’s cover article. Jesus spend our time arguing is Emmanuel, Wonderful, inbox some theological fine point Counselor . . . God wanted to Letters From Our Readers than making a difference as commune with us, and He Jesus did. can commune with us, for-

mber 26, 2013 Dece Vol. 190, No. 36 Of course, Jesus ended up ever because He gave all

treview.org December 26, 2013 www.adventis

Documentary Highlights 10 Adventist Education 14 The Nationalof Anthem Heaven some of my friends become being crucified. Maybe that’s heaven away through His 27 Fumigate the CockroachesBefore 2014 racked with guilt when their why we would rather discuss only begotten Son, who died children stopped attending theology than live it. in place of us. What a won- church or began attending J. J. Aragon derful God we serve!

The Year of g AHEAD Reversingk AND the Looki NTide LookiNg BAC some non-Adventist church. La Crescenta, California Fesanmie Dolotina

3 December 12, 201 Again, the God who reads Vol. 190, No. 34 Amarillo

GYC SPECIAL

December 12, 2013 www.adventistreview.org hearts and motives will 9 Iligan City, Philippines Retention Summit Reaching Russia 20 With the Word 28 surely not abandon those Christmas Angel The Year of Christ died to save. Related to Retention

Reversing the Tide God can be trusted to lead Christmas In regard to the article WithAbraham »» »»Wow! Shawn Boonstra’s our children. Let’s not do about the Retention Summit “2013: The Year of Reversing anything to add to the guilt (“At First Retention Summit, the Tide” (Dec. 26, 2013) is a of parents who did the best Leaders Look at Reality of well-written article uplifting they could to raise their chil- Church Departures,” Dec. 12, the hope we have well above dren to follow Christ. Christmas With 2013), I would like to point and in spite of the chaos. Homer Rutherford Abraham out another related issue. I Thank you for the reassur- North Sacramento, »»My thanks to Lael Caesar am the clerk of my church ance that our God is in California for “Christmas With Abra- and have been trying for

December 19, 2013 control! Vol. 190, No. 35 ham” (Dec. 12, 2013). I was more than 10 years to get the

December 19, 2013 Teresita Pérez www.adventistreview.org Adventist Author 11 40 before I realized that Jesus current and previous two Nancy Van Pelt Dies 14 Help for Hurting Humanity 28 Miami, Florida The Best and the Brightest was knocking at my door pastors to clean up our every day to spend time com- membership records. At least municating with me as He 25 percent of our member- did with Abraham. I now ship is “missing.” We have

The Color open the door to His knock had no contact with many of FreedomoN’T kNow MeeT THe Jesus MANy D every morning by opening for 10 or 15 years, yet the His Word to listen to Him pastors refuse to change The Color of Freedom there and respond in prayer. their status from active to »»I enjoyed reading William Far be it from me to be like missing. This is just as dis- Johnsson’s article about those, “His own,” who honest as inflating baptisms. A Parent’s Journey Jesus, “The Color of Free- “received Him not” when He I wonder how many other »»Thank you for publishing dom” (Dec. 19, 2013). Johns- came at His incarnation clerks are in the same “A Parent’s Journey” (Dec. son is absolutely right: Jesus (John 1:11, KJV). He who position. 26). Over the years I’ve lived life in living color; there promises to be with us “even Name Withheld known countless individuals was nothing bland or blah to the end of the world” who have experienced the about Him. (Matt. 28:20, NKJV), is wel- Questions . . . heartbreak of having one or This makes me wonder: come, as He is eager to wel- »»After reading the news more of their children turn How is it that we, as Christ’s come us into the home He’s article “NAD Executive Com- away from the path they had disciples, are so often preparing right now for us. mittee Recommendation planned for them. We have to ignored, or regarded as if our “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” ‘Affirms’ Men and Women believe that God knows the contributions to our com- (Rev. 22:20, NKJV). for Ordination” (Nov. 28, hearts of our children, and munities count for nothing? Rod Wright 2013), I’m frustrated, not that in His time He will heal Do our neighbors not know Union Springs, New York because I don’t agree with their brokenness and accom- us as champions of the mar- the decision or the report plish His will in their lives. ginalized and oppressed? (actually, I don’t understand On a related note: I’ve seen There are lots of ways to the report), but rather impact our communities in because of these points:

4 (68) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 I don’t know who makes up the NAD Executive Committee. How is it that we, as Christ’s disciples, are so often There is no reason or ignored, or regarded as if our contributions to our communi- explanation given for the decision to affirm the Theol- “ ties count for nothing? Do our neighbors not know us as ogy of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC) decision. champions of the marginalized and oppressed? In spite of the challenges, I appreciate the report pub- —j. J. aragon, La Crescenta, California lished on these actions. I’m ” hoping there will be more reporting on this important from developing as it has Finally, “Married, but issue so that we members and could resolve the issue Alone on the Sabbath” is an may be able to study this going forward. article that should be issue and understand better. Both men and women required reading for every Ertis L. Johnson need to know they are really person who is in that situa- Canute, Oklahoma valued in the church and can tion. My husband was a play significant roles, accord- devout Baptist when we mar- The NAD TOSC report, along ing to their respective ried. I felt it was unfair of me Theology of the with associated documents and desires and abilities, regard- not to go to his church when Last Generation AV materials, is available at the less of their ordination sta- he was willing to come with »»I usually agree perfectly following link from the North tus. They should also be able me to my church. with Angel Manuel Rodrí- American Division’s Web site: to believe their voices are My husband quit going to guez, but I am a little con- www.nadadventist.org/article/ heard and respected. his church, but his parents fused by the Snapshot article 1073742672/news/archived- Dean Riley pleaded with me to go one “Theology of the Last Genera- news-stories/2013-news-archives Banks, Alabama particular Sunday. I did go, tion” (Oct. 10, 2013). Is Rodrí- /11-4-13-executive-committee- and the pastor preached a guez trying to say that M. L. votes-to-receive-report-from- Fissures, Anger, sermon against Adventists. Andreasen was wrong, or is theology-of-ordination-study- and Being Alone I was determined that if he trying to say that some committee. »»You’ve done it again! I my husband decided to join have become legalists An informative discussion on really enjoyed Mindy my church, he would do it on because of misunderstand- how the committee was formed Liebelt’s “Fissures in Fine- his own. . . . Imagine my sur- ing Andreasen? I see no legal- and operated, appears in the China Christianity” (Nov. 21, prise and joy when he ism in Andreasen’s theology. January 2014 issue of Adventist 2013). If more Christians attended church with my Philip A. Lewis World, NAD edition, pp. 11-13. would read this and take it to sons and me one Sabbath— Seaman, Ohio —Editors. heart, there would be a lot and the pastor made the more people in the church. announcement that four Correction »»I’m writing in regard to the As Adventists we sometimes people were getting baptized »»A typographical error in article on the NAD Executive forget that we need to meet that day. Yes, it was my hus- the January 16 Clifford Gold- Committee’s recommenda- the people we’re reaching band and three sons, who stein column “It Is So” tion in regard to ordination. out to on a level they are had been meeting with the resulted in reversing the This is a long-standing issue, comfortable with. In other pastor for some time. author’s intended meaning. but I suspect it is far from words, don’t flaunt it. My husband and I are now The fifth paragraph should resolved. Many questions In that same issue, Hyveth both retired from church read: “Belief in the tooth and concerns remain. Williams’ “When Anger Is offices but are still helping fairy doesn’t make it so. The solution(s) to this Sin” was great. The main out, doing whatever needs to Belief that if a = b and b = c, challenge lie in the area of point of the article is some- be done. God is good! then a ≠ c doesn’t make it organizational dynamics. thing that I’ve been trying to Carolyn Chasteen so.” We regret the error, and Some changes in the way we instill into those who are Berea, Kentucky have corrected it in the do business as a church may always preaching that if a online edition of the Adventist have prevented this issue person gets angry, then they Review—Editors. aren’t Christian.

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (69) 5 Editorials Of Faith and Football I didn’t grow up a fan of American Football. My dad may have watched a game or two here and there without devotion to any one team. I didn’t understand it, and without a team to get excited about, I always felt the whole thing seemed pointless. We did tune in to the Super Bowl every year, but if I’m being honest, I watched it for the commercials (which were very different back then)—and chips and dip. When I met my husband, however, we often managed our long-distance bi-coastal relationship to the tunes of me calling him on a Sunday afternoon and sharing the conversation with the trials and triumphs of the Washington Redskins. To say that my beloved is a rabid Redskins fan is an understatement. So in our married life, many a Sunday afternoon (and sometimes a Monday or Thursday night) are spent wondering if he’s going to need sedation or resuscita- tion. If a win occurs, sunshine and glory prevail in our home. But if they lose (more on that Wilona soon), doom on us. Karimabadi I had no intention of ever getting excited about any of this, as truthfully, there have been way too many losses for this team. But that seemed to change last season with the arrival of a young quarterback named Robert Griffin III whom many a Redskins fan viewed as akin to the coming of a “savior” (no blasphemy intended). The rookie QB really was remarkable. And when Washington finally began winning game after game, culminating in the clinching of the NFC East Division title, all things seemed possible—dare we say—even a Super Bowl appearance (not seen since 1991). Playing off the QB’s initials, R. G., some took to calling him R. Jesus. There were only two humongous problems with that. One, Mr. Griffin could get maimed. He did. Sure, he could be doctored, and we could hope again for the next season. Those hopes haven’t worked out so far this year. But getting sidelined by being maimed is no way to save the world. Besides, Mr. Griffin, great as he is, needs help from other top- flight players that his team’s owners are not allowed to recruit. They’ve got the money. But the rules won’t let them. Money, you see, is not everything. The Redskins team is one of the most prof- itable franchises in the NFL. But are they consistent in their wins? Not so much. As one loyal fan tweeted, “Redskins football is like the end of times. It’s going to test your faith and loyalty while showing you shadows of prosperity and hope.” Redskins fans keep hoping for a miracle. They thought they had it in Robert Griffin III. But as gifted as he is, he’s no savior. He’s just a man. Thousands of years ago a baby came to earth to deliver on the promises made to a people who needed to catch a big break. Under Roman oppression, there were those who hoped for a savior who would sweep in and obliterate the enemy in grand fash- ion. They were tired of being on what they perceived was the side of the losers. They wanted someone to prevail for them. And that is precisely what they got, though not in the way they expected. What they got—what we got—is the only answer we have ever needed. Are you hoping for a miracle? If your life feels as if you are constantly fighting a losing battle with no wins in sight, you don’t need insanely talented humans—gifted as they may be—to right the wrongs. Jesus is a miracle-working Savior who comes through time and time again. Want to talk about consistent winning? There’s only one Winner I know of: His name is Jesus. You can’t sideline Him by hurting Him; you don’t need a supporting cast when you’ve got Him; and you don’t need any money to buy Him. He’s free; He’s yours; and He’ll never ever let you down. n

6 (70) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 The Quality of Mercy A young businesswoman recently did a very dumb thing, sending a Twitter message—or “tweet,” as they’re called—that was exponentially removed from good taste, decorum, or common sense. She did this before flying from London to South Africa. Because she held a reasonably high-level communication job for a public company, someone saw the “tweet,” and made an issue of it online. By the time the young adult landed, she was not only out of work but also globally shamed. Well, you might say, people shouldn’t do stupid things in public forums, or else they should be ready to suffer the consequences. And you would be right. I have no way of knowing her circumstances, what else may have been involved, or what her heart is. What I do know is that she was apparently well educated, experienced in business, and trusted enough to be given a position of responsibility. Where is mercy in all of this? Shakespeare’s oft-quoted lines from The Merchant of Venice bear Mark A. repetition here: “The quality of mercy is not strained. . . . It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives Kellner and him that takes.” Sadly, mercy isn’t found much in the business world these days. Unlike baseball, instead of “three strikes and you’re out,” it’s just one strike. That strike cost a young person with, presum- ably, great potential a good job, and perhaps their chosen field entirely. It’s a fair punishment, I guess, unless you’re the punishee, or are related to that person. Jesus didn’t judge people on a single sin; the woman caught in the act of adultery wasn’t con- demned, but told to “go, and sin no more” (John 8:11, KJV). I’m fairly sure the person fired from their (literally) high-flying job won’t repeat her mistake, but is someone willing to grant another chance? n

How Are You Feeling? Most people who resolved on January 1 to be different, changed, or simply better have failed several days or weeks later. To desire change is noble, but if done on our own, it’s usually not successful. Fortunately, there is a better plan provided for us through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Scripture provides an amazing resource that changes lives. How are you feeling? Try one of these verses to discover some of the best prescriptions for a new year. OPTIMISTIC RUSHED BLESSED OVERWHELMED “And we know that in all “This calls for patient “You prepare a “Do you not know? Have you things God works for the endurance on the part of table before me in not heard? The Lord is the good of those who love the people of God who the presence of my everlasting God, the Creator him, who have been called keep his commands and enemies. You anoint my of the ends of the earth. He according to his purpose” remain faithful to Jesus” head with oil; my cup will not grow tired or weary, (Rom. 8:28). (Rev. 14:12). overflows” (Ps. 23:5). and his understanding no one can fathom” (Isa. 40:28).

GUILTY PEACEFUL UNFOCUSED DISCONTENTED “The Lord is not slow in “Lord, you establish “Commit to the Lord “Keep your lives free from the keeping his promise, as some peace for us; all that we whatever you do, and love of money and be content *To listen to Pastor Scott’s full sermon, visit www.spencervillesda.org/article/2/worship. understand slowness. Instead have accomplished you he will establish your with what you have, because Click the word “next” until you reach the sermon dated November 30, 2013. he is patient with you, not have done for us” plans” (Prov. 16:3). God has said, ‘Never will I leave wanting anyone to perish, (Isa. 26:12). you; never will I forsake you’” but everyone to come to (Heb. 13:5). repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Compiled by Janelle Collins, intern, summer 2013 World News & Perspectives

■■Central America Missing Canadian Adventist Missionary Confirmed Dead Brian Townsend went missing in Belize in December BY ADVENTIST REVIEW staff

A Seventh-day Adventist missionary help search for his father. Acknowledg- munity. “This was a lifestyle for him. It missing in Belize for a week was con- ing that Townsend seemed to make it a was not just a project or a mission; he firmed deceased on January 2, 2014, point to know everyone, Belize police lived here.” media reports indicate. Brian Townsend, inspector Sinquest Martinez expressed According to Dennis Slusher, presi- a missionary living in the Valley of Peace a personal note: “It is a shock; it is a dent of the Seventh-day Adventist area of Belize, went missing on Decem- shock. I knew him.” Church in Belize, “Townsend came to ber 24, 2013. A body found in neighbor- Townsend moved to Belize from Can- work in the Valley of Peace community, ing Guatemala has been identified as helping build a school and church that Townsend, who was 64, according to a now has about 50 members. He stayed report by CBC Edmonton. on after the construction was finished, “We have made formal identifica- continuing to work for the betterment tion,” Belize commanding officer Dins- of the local community.” dale Thompson told the CBC in a story On December 30, 2013, Kory Townsend, posted on its Web site. “We do know accompanied by Patricia St. Jean and the that, for sure, it is a homicide, and we Belize Disaster and Rescue Response are looking [in] that direction as well of Team, visited Townsend’s house in Belize the motive, of why they have killed and joined the search efforts. While they him.” The Canadian news report says were at the house, neighbors and local police in Belize have identified two sus- Seventh-day Adventist church members pects and are working with Guatemalan kept dropping by and sharing what authorities in a search. page acebook Townsend meant to them. On Christmas Eve Townsend’s cook “Brian has been a role model for me, and neighbor saw his truck with a mat- F ownsend he has shown me a lot about mission tress and rolled-up rug, being driven work,” said Miguel Ico, a local elder. : T photo out of town. The following morning, MISSING MISSIONARY: Brian Townsend, “Through his efforts the Valley of Peace when she arrived at the house for work, a Canadian Seventh-day Adventist mis- Seventh-day Adventist high school has the woman discovered Townsend’s sionary living in the Valley of Peace area of been built.” truck missing. Upon entering his sin- Belize who disappeared on the evening of Enrique Depaz was also a beneficiary of December 24, 2013, has been confirmed gle-room house she discovered the dead, news reports indicate. Townsend’s kindness. He lived in place had been ransacked. Outside, Townsend’s single-room house, but was approximately 50 feet from the house, out of town when Brian went missing. “there was blood, there were two ada to build the Valley of Peace Seventh- Enrique describes him as a “very positive machetes in the place where they strug- day Adventist high school and ended up man, very intelligent; he was always tell- gled,” says Juan Arias, vice chair of the staying on after it was finished. “He was ing people how to live that Christian life- Valley of Peace community, who was on doing a lot of things, he had a couple style.” He recalls Townsend as a strong the scene soon after Townsend was projects. He built a school; toward his man who trusted in his faith completely: noticed missing. Arias also stated, “In later years he was doing a vocational “He never showed that he had fear of any- his room it’s like they hailed him to school, things like gardening and a thing, because he always believed in God.” open the door, and he did it. Because wood shop,” said Kory Townsend. Others told similar stories. Kory there was no forcing.” “There are few people who can live a Townsend shared the story of a neighbor Police had also worked with the Cana- dream or live a goal and embrace it with who told him that they had just named dian consulate and Kory Townsend, the passion he had.” Kory also acknowl- their newborn child in Townsend’s honor. Townsend’s adult son, who traveled edged his father’s commitment to his On the evening of January 2, Ian Lund, from his home in western Canada to Seventh-day Adventist faith and com- Brian’s son-in-law who organized the

8 (72) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 family’s efforts on Facebook, wrote, America, recalled that at his last meeting passing and extend our heartfelt condo- “With grieving hearts we inform you with Brian, at an Alberta camp meeting, lence to each family member.” n that the body found in Guatemala is Townsend shared his passion and joy in —with additional information from the Brian Townsend. We want you to know serving the people of Belize. Jackson North American Division. how much it meant to us, the support said, “Brian was a man who loved to give A Facebook page celebrating Townsend’s and prayers we received from all of you.” practical expression to the gospel. His life and work can be found online at face- Daniel Jackson, president of the Sev- work in Belize is an example to us all. book.com/briantownsendmissing.belize. 3 enth-day Adventist Church in North We mourn with Brian’s family his tragic —Editors.

■■North America Ron Halvorsen, Jr., Accepts Ohio Conference Presidency Veteran campus church pastor to succeed retiring Attiken BY MARK A. KELLNER, news editor

Ron Halvorsen, Jr., a veteran Sev- Since 2008 Halvorsen has been enth-day Adventist pastor who cur- senior pastor at the College View rently leads the College View church in church, near the Union College cam- Lincoln, Nebraska, has officially pus he and Buffy both attended as accepted a call to become president of undergraduates. He has also taught as the Ohio Conference, officials there said. an adjunct professor at the Union Col- He is expected to begin working there lege Theology Department, conducted in February 2014. several successful (local) radio and Halvorsen succeeds longtime Ohio television ministries, and is a pub- Conference president Raj Attiken, who lished author for Guide and Ministry announced his retirement in Septem- magazines. No stranger to Ohio, ber 2013. Halvorsen has spoken at both Mount “It has been a long and serious Vernon Academy and Spring Valley

prayer journey that has brought us to onference photo Academy as their week of prayer the point of accepting the call to the presenter. O hio C Ohio Conference,” Halvorsen said. NEW CONFERENCE PRESIDENT: Ron Before taking the Union College “And that is how we will continue to Halvorsen, Jr., currently senior pastor of position, Halvorsen was senior pastor travel: prayerfully. Only God can lead the College View church in Lincoln, at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church us as we need to be led. And only God’s Nebraska, is the new president of the Ohio in Takoma Park, Maryland, and earlier power can see His will done. We look Conference. He is shown here with his wife, spent eight years as pastor of the Buffy. forward to being a part of the Ohio Keene, Texas, Seventh-day Adventist church family. And we look forward to Church. seeing what God will do for and through the Ohio church Halvorsen has been married for 32 years to Beth “Buffy” family.” Vercio Halvorsen, and they have two adult children and one According to the conference’s statement, Halvorsen was a grandchild. Buffy, also a pastor, has served as pastor for “favorite” among presidential search committee members, family ministries at the College View, Sligo, and Keene and visited Ohio early in December 2013. He and his wife, church congregations. She specializes in marriage and fam- Buffy, spent several days checking out the Columbus and ily therapy, and is a regular speaker for camp meetings, Mount Vernon areas, including the conference office, the churches, and women’s retreats. n Kettering area, and concluded their visit at the Worthington church for a “meet and greet” time with the committee. —with information from Heidi Shoemaker, Ohio Conference

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (73) 9 World News & Perspectives

ature evangelists from the South Cen- tral California Conference also provided instruction on how to effectively go door to door and present the book to people. Fifty-five buses were procured by GYC to take participants to various canvassing locations. Door-to-door visitation allowed the teens and young adults the opportunity to meet many different types of people. Some, who could not donate to help cover the cost of The Great Controversy volume, were given copies nonetheless. Another outreach opportunity took shaffer : seth P hotos some participants to a nursing home to ALL SMILES: More than 2,800 GYC attendees participated in outreach activities on Fri- visit seniors. Moses Maier, a student at day, January 3. Southern Adventist University, said going to the nursing home and visiting ■■North America with the residents made them happy and in turn, it made him happy to visit Evangelism, Development and help brighten their days. Highlight 2014 GYC Event Other GYC attendees visited a homeless shelter in Orlando and passed out Proclaim message “before men and angels,” Wilson says box lunches—each containing a copy of The Great Controversy. Tony Messer, a pas- Thousands of Seventh-day Advent- whom had both attended training ses- tor from the Michigan Conference, ists from all 50 United States and 61 for- sions on outreach during the annual noted that before going to this home- eign countries heard a clarion call for four-day GYC event and had partici- less shelter he had believed homeless holiness and dedication to the move- pated in a day of outreach in Florida’s people were less educated. After meet- ment’s core message on the morning of fifth-largest city, with a 2012 population ing with several of the men, he learned Sabbath, January 4, 2014, as the annual reported at 249,562. they have a thirst for knowledge, and Generation. Youth. Christ (GYC) event On Friday, January 3, nearly 2,800 several of them had stacks of books, reached its zenith in Orlando, Florida. Adventist teens and young adults gath- including the Bible. They were eager to Morning worship attendance was ered in the Orange County Convention read The Great Controversy and learn recorded at 6,500. Center’s auditorium to be trained in more about the truths presented in it. “As Seventh-day Adventist young meeting community residents through Alex Bates, one of the bus leaders, people in service to God before men and two primary methods: distributing said the eight participants with him dis- angels, you are called to proclaim the GLOW tracts and offering The Great Con- tributed 31 copies of The Great Advent hope with the need for revival, troversy door to door on a donation Controversy. repentance, and reformation through basis. The money gathered from the sale “My first GYC experience was great the power of the Holy Spirit,” declared of these books was designated to sup- because we did outreach, and that was a Ted N. C. Wilson, General Conference port a ministry in the Orlando area blessing for me because I was able to president, who moments earlier was called SALT (Service And Love Together) [reach] people within a couple of min- named “president of the young people” that witnesses for God in various ways, utes,” said Nishele Adams, a 19-year-old by outgoing GYC president Justin including helping those who are home- Lehman College student from New York McNeilus. A smiling Wilson responded less, as well as supporting children liv- City. by saying the accolade “was an even bet- ing in poverty in the Orlando area. According to GYC officials, 2,800 peo- ter title than being president of the Evangelist David Asscherick offered ple participated in canvassing. The vol- General Conference.” his testimony about being converted by unteers knocked on 22,622 doors; left The veteran church leader then reading The Great Controversy and how it 15,517 tracts; gave out 2,238 copies of turned serious in his call for evangelism had made a powerful impact on his life The Great Controversy to individuals; and by the church’s young people, many of as a young Adventist. Young adult liter- prayed with 2,089 people, recording 216

10 (74) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 requests for follow-up Bible zines; James Black, North Amer- studies. ican Division youth ministries Another key element of the leader; Bill Knott, Adventist event is the availability of Review and Adventist World editor numerous topical seminars pro- and executive publisher; and viding spiritual, theological, and Paul Ratsara, Southern Africa- practical instruction on a wide Indian Ocean division presi- variety of issues. dent, who spoke movingly of In one seminar Wilson spoke the loss of three close relatives about how the Adventist Church during the past year, including works. He reminded seminar TEACHING DISCERNMENT: Andrews University history his wife, Denise, who died of participants that when decisions teacher, John Markovic, presented a GYC seminar about the cancer in October. They were are made at either the General dangers of the emergent church movement. interviewed by Israel Ramos, Conference or the local church, director of public campus min- praying for the Holy Spirit to help guide with premises of the emergent church, istries for the Michigan Conference and in the decision and studying the Bible making it difficult for believers to spot GYC cofounder; Justin McNeilus, GYC are both needed. According to Wilson, error. Markovic said emergent teach- president for the past six years; and when an issue arises in a local church ings have subtly opened many to the Natasha Nebblett, incoming GYC that goes against what the denomina- beliefs and practices of mysticism. president. tion stands for, teens and young adults One seminar attendee, Diana Santos Asked what message he had for young should consult with the pastors and of California, was grateful for Mar- people, Wilson said, “Get involved in local elders about their concerns. kovic’s presentation: “[His] summary of your local church. Be a part of what’s Another seminar informed attendees the origins, seductive and evolving set happening. Don’t just throw your hands about the dangers of the emergent of ideas in the emergent worldview up and sit in a corner.” church movement. John Markovic, asso- compelled and challenged me. I am Mario Sanchez, a 22-year-old from ciate professor of history at Andrews reminded to immerse myself deeply in Oakland, California, noted, “It’s been University, described the emergent the Word of God and the Spirit of great to meet people from all over the church movement as trying to introduce Prophecy while viewing the emergent world, different backgrounds, different a new view of Christian faith, replacing movement as an opportunity to address ages but [all] excited about doing the traditional understandings of Christi- the issues that both weigh us down and Lord’s work.” n anity with what is called emergent seduce us.” Christianity. Another seminar track offered GYC —by Mark A. Kellner, news editor, with According to Markovic, Adventist pro- attendees insights about reaching out to additional reporting from Seth Shaffer of ponents of the emergent church say they homosexuals. Presenters Wayne Blakely, Collegedale, Tennessee, and Mark Paden, GYC believe the Bible to be the Word of God, Michael Carducci, and Ron Woolsey gave communication vice president. but mix Adventist thoughts and logic their personal testimonies of leaving homosexual lifestyles, and described how the church can both uphold biblical truths about sexuality while reaching out with compassion. Before the morning worship, several Adventist leaders joined Wilson onstage for an hourlong question-and-answer session in the Sabbath school time to address various subjects related to young adults. The panel included a group of Adventist thought leaders, each with a message for the largely young adult con- CALLING ALL YOUTH: General Conference ONGOING ENCOURAGEMENT: Adventist president Ted N. C. Wilson urged a Sabbath gregation: Mark Finley, a special assistant Review editor Bill Knott described the morning crowd of more than 6,000 to to Wilson as well as editor at large for the weekly magazine as “the oldest thing embrace the church’s prophetic identity. Adventist Review and Adventist World maga- among us—and new every week.”

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (75) 11 World News & Perspectives

■■EAST-CENTRAL AFRICA

Adventist Head of Amnesty Interna- w t R evie tional for Kenya Safe After Gun Attack Justus Nyang’aya was attacked in his home.

BY CLAUDE RICHLI, associate publisher t is R ichli / A dven C laude SURVIVED ATTACK: Justus Justus Nyang’aya, a Seventh-day were no bullets left.” The assailants then ist, “a Nyang’aya, a supporter of Adventist and director of Amnesty Inter- took Nyang’aya’s wallet and some elec- good Adventist youth and human rights activitist, survived a national for Kenya, was attacked in his tronic items in the living room and left. Samari- December 2013 shooting. just for fun home near Nairobi on the evening of Nyang’aya’s wife and daughters were tan who December 17, 2013. Gunmen shot him unharmed. had the three times while he tried to protect his Nyang’aya has since been released courage to stop at 11:30 at night and wife and three daughters. from the hospital and is expected to take an individual who was covered Speaking to the Daily Nation news- recover fully. In a telephone interview with blood into his car. That kind of help paper from his hospital bed in Karen, with the Adventist Review from his home, is very unusual,” says Nyang’aya. Nyang’aya said, “He shot my arm while I he expressed his thankfulness that God Although his children were trauma- tried to push back the door. I did not had spared his life. He told how his wife, tized by the attack, the whole family want them to enter because my children Apondi, drove him to the hospital, urg- sleeps peacefully at night. “We don’t were inside. He shot my arm. Again, he ing him to repeat “God is good all the fear another attack. Seeing what God shot me here (he pointed to his chest). I time” to help him stay conscious. She has done gives us the assurance that He kept on fighting, and he shot me again. then hit a pothole in the darkness, will continue to give us strength, confi- At last, he pointed his gun straight at my which caused the car to break down. dence, and protection. We sleep peace- face and squeezed the trigger, but there They were rescued by a passing motor- fully,” says Nyang’aya. n

■■SOUTHERN AFRICA Eight Adventists Perish in Malawi Lightning Strike “Scores” injured, local media reports BY MARK A. KELLNER, news editor

Eight members of a Seventh-day newspaper: “People were inside Adventist church in Lilongwe, the church attending the service Malawi, were killed when lightning when the lightning struck. I first struck the building in which they heard a loud burst that frightened were worshipping at the close of almost everybody, and few min-

Sabbath, December 28, 2013. w t R evie utes later I just saw a stampede “Scores” of additional people were here.” injured, according to local media Details on the extent of other reports. The lightning struck after a injuries are scant, though reports day of heavy rains in the capital city. indicate several people were t is M fune / A dven austin Saustin Mfune, associate chil- S hospitalized. CLEANUP BEGINS: Volunteers begin cleanup at dren’s ministries director for the the Chisiyo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Malawi, a landlocked country in General Conference and a Mala- Lilongwe, Malawi, following a Dec. 28, 2013 light- southern Africa, has a population wian, who was in the country ning strike that resulted in eight deaths. estimated at 16.7 million. As of when the tragedy occurred, wrote 2012, an estimated 408,000 Sev- in an e-mail to Adventist Review. “Both enveloped in shock.” enth-day Adventists worship in 1,353 Adventists and non-Adventists are An eyewitness told the Nyasa Times congregations there. n

12 (76) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 y crews just for fun © terr In December 2013 we asked our Face- Sound Bite book friends which Old Testament prophet they most identified with and why. Here “The Godhead adventist life are a few of their answers: On a visit to our son in Pennsylvania earlier this year, Caleb. There is a huge generational gap we found ourselves looking for an Adventist church to in Adventists in my community. The elders was forever attend on Sabbath. We spotted a church surrounded are reluctant in regard to evangelism, but by green trees and well-kept lawns. Just what we were young adults want to go ahead. This is looking for! dividing the church and the work. changed—How Our son’s sweetheart wanted to go with us, and we —Tara, Philippines assured her that she was welcome. The next morning Jeremiah, for both message and person. I much God really was Sabbath. We got up early, and the three of us drove feel as if I’ve always had his personality; about 35 miles to the church. As we arrived, we discov- very black and white on God’s truth. And I ered that we were the only ones there. feel the message that was put forth at that gave when He We waited for almost two hours, and no one showed time is quite pertinent to today’s situation, up. We found no notice anywhere giving worship especially within the confines of the times—and nothing to indicate a special reason for clo- Adventist community. gave His Son!” sure. Disappointed, we finally left. It was tough trying —Pastor Samuel Riemersma, at —Adam, United States to explain what might have happened to our non- the Montgomery, Alabama, First Habakkuk. I just love Habakkuk 3:17, 18. It Adventist guest, who had been excited about attend- Seventh-day Adventist Church teaches me that no matter my situation, I ing an Adventist church for the first time. should never cease to rejoice in my Lord. When we got back to our church in northern Califor- —Micky, South Africa nia, we discovered that we didn’t have the hour of worship on our sign or front door. We told the Pennsylvania story at our church; and the next week we had a notice herald’s trumpet posted by the front door with our worship hours. Our church has vowed never to lock the doors on a Sabbath Hi, kids! Herald’s trumpet is once again hid- morning, except in extreme situations. den somewhere in this magazine. If you find it, send a My wife and I still wonder where the people were at postcard telling us where. Include your name and address! We’ll randomly choose that Pennsylvania church. three winning postcards. —Roger Williams, Orleans, California In our last contest (Oct. 24, 2013) we had 12 entries! Our three winners were Mar- tessa Davis, from Washougal, Washington; Joshua Kim, from Hendersonville, North Carolina; and Kelsi Nash, from Chico, California. Each received a book from Pacific Press. Where was the trumpet? On page 3. If you can find the trumpet this time, send your postcard to Herald’s Trumpet, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. The prize will be a book! Look for the three winners’ names in the April 24, 2014, edition of the Adventist Review. Have fun searching and keep trumpeting Jesus’ love—and His second coming!

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (77) 13 Spirit of Prophecy BY ELLEN G. WHITE reat is the honor and the Our responsibility placed upon fathers and mothers, in that they are to stand in the place children of God to their children. GTheir character, their daily life, their methods of training, will interpret His aren’t words to the little ones. Their influence will win or repel the child’s confidence in the Lord’s assurances. children Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, so that the promises and commands of God for long. awaken in the child gratitude and rever- ence; the parents whose tenderness and justice and long-suffering interpret to the child the love and justice and long- suffering of God; and who, by teaching the child to love and trust and obey

The Honor and Privilege of Parent- hood

14 (78) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 them, are teaching him to love and trust the children, to keep them busy and the likeness of the divine. and obey his Father in heaven. Parents happy, and to guide the little feet in the The mother who appreciates this will who impart to a child such a gift have right path. She feels that she has accom- regard her opportunities as priceless. endowed him with a treasure more pre- plished nothing. Earnestly will she seek, in her own char- cious than the wealth of all the ages—a But it is not so. Heavenly angels acter and by her methods of training, to treasure as enduring as eternity. watch the care-worn mother, noting the present before her children the highest In the children committed to her care, burdens she carries day by day. Her ideal. Earnestly, patiently, courageously, every mother has a sacred charge from name may not have been heard in the she will endeavor to improve her own God. “Take this son, this daughter,” He world, but it is written in the Lamb’s abilities, that she may use aright the says; “train it for Me; give it a character book of life. highest powers of the mind in the train- polished after the similitude of a palace, ing of her children. that it may shine in the courts of the The Mother’s Opportunity Earnestly will she inquire at every Lord forever.” There is a God above, and the light step, “What hath God spoken?” Dili- The mother’s work often seems to her and glory from His throne rests upon gently she will study His Word. She will an unimportant service. It is a work that the faithful mother as she tries to edu- keep her eyes fixed upon Christ, that her is rarely appreciated. Others know little cate her children to resist the influence own daily experience, in the lowly of her many cares and burdens. Her of evil. No other work can equal hers in round of care and duty, may be a true days are occupied with a round of little importance. reflection of the one true Life. n duties, all calling for patient effort, for She has not, like the artist, to paint a self-control, for tact, wisdom, and self- form of beauty upon canvas, nor, like Seventh-day Adventists believe sacrificing love; yet she cannot boast of the sculptor, to chisel it from marble. Ellen G. White (1827-1915) what she has done as any great She has not, like the author, to embody demonstrated the gift of achievement. a noble thought in words of power, nor, prophecy during more than 70 She has only kept things in the home like the musician, to express a beautiful years of public ministry. This running smoothly; often weary and per- sentiment in melody. It is hers, with the excerpt is taken from her book The Ministry of plexed, she has tried to speak kindly to help of God, to develop in a human soul Healing, pp. 375-378.

Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine.

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (79) 15 (80) Transformation Tips Resolutions: A Tool for Spiritual Growth What will we do with the new year just arrived? New Year’s resolutions have been a helpful tool to maximize the new year and enhance one’s spiritual growth. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology (Dec. 13, 2012), only 8 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep them. Only 45 percent of Americans make resolutions, while 17 percent make resolutions infrequently, and 38 percent never make them.1 In Psalm 119:59 David gives timeless counsel about the preparatory work for making resolutions. In the first part of the verse he focuses self-reflection, saying, “I have considered my ways.” In the second half of the verse he refers to the need for improvement, saying, “And have turned my steps to your statutes.” David allows God’s Word to be both his catalyst and his motivation for success and sanctification.

Popular Resolutions What are the top 10 New Year’s resolutions? Lose weight; get organized; spend less/save more; enjoy life; stay fit and healthy; learn something exciting; quit smoking; help others; fall in love; spend more time with family. Christians typically include resolutions relating to reading the Bible; having consistent devo- tions; doing acts of community service or beginning special ministries; being faithful in tithe and offerings; spending less time with media and entertainment and more time in church. Whether you are among the 45, 17, or 38 percenters, resolutions or intentions can be good to consider, since they are a platform we can use to do and be better. Ellen White admonished, “The development of all our powers is the first duty we owe to God and to our fellow [men and women]. No one who is not growing daily in capability and usefulness is Delbert W. fulfilling the purpose of life.” When we become Christians, we enter into a covenant of lifelong learn- Baker ing and improvement. “In making a profession of faith in Christ we pledge ourselves to become all that it is possible for us to be as workers for the Master, and we should cultivate every faculty to the highest degree of perfection, that we may do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable.”2

Resolution How-to One approach to assist in better achieving our resolutions is the SMART method, a commonly used acronym in business and management for goal achievement. SMART represents the words specific, measur- able, achievable, realistic, and time-specific. First, don’t attempt too many resolutions at once. A few good resolutions are better than many. Your resolutions should be specific. Define exactly what you intend to do, and state in detail what the goal is. Second, have a definite way tomeasure progress. Have specific steps to accomplish the goals and how they can be evaluated. Third, construct achievable goals, based on your capability to realize them. Fourth, although a goal may be a challenge, it must be realistic, or disappointment is guaranteed. Then set a time frame for achievement of the goal. Your goal may take a day, a week, or several months. You may want to add two letters to the SMART acronym making it SMART-ER. Two additional letters (or tasks) can make the process even more engaging. If you have the motivation, evaluate how you did with your resolutions. And when you successfully accomplish a resolution, reward yourself in some healthy, harmless manner as an affirmation of what you have done and plan to further do in the future. God can help us be better and do better with simple, executed resolutions throughout the year. Resolu- tions can be a part of a Christian’s ongoing sanctification.

1 www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/. 2 Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1900), pp. 329, 330.

Delbert W. Baker is a general vice president of the General Conference.

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (81) 17 Cover

BY TIM PONDER aving fun today has become As the new season arrives we embrace a costly business—finan- the attitude “Let the games commence” cially, physically, morally, and contemplate new rounds of physi- or otherwise. Between the cal suffering—torn hamstrings or quadrennium of the Syd- menisci, stress fractures, and concus- Hney Olympics (1997-2000) and the Lon- sions or worse—from the comfort of don Games (2009-2012), the our [lions’] dens and living room sofas. International Olympic Committee (IOC) We probably do not think of ourselves and the organizing committees for the as Romans consuming barbarity in the Olympic Games (OCOGs) more than ancient Colosseum. Many of us may doubled the revenue their major pro- have never really processed the price of grams generated, from almost $3.8 to player injuries. But recent evidence has more than $8 billion.1 And in a single forced us to consider the broader cost recent year in North America, a single of fun in more of its terrifying reality. sport, football, generated $9.5 billion of federally tax-exempt revenue.2 With A Specific Catastrophe data like that, counting the cost of play Even as players and the public fanta- is surely worth our while. size about the next Super Bowl, patholo- gists and other medical researchers We all need to see what are now providing game-changing price we are paying for information about what the job haz- ard of concussions does to brain tis- the fun we crave sue. And their warning applies to More Than Dollars much more than football, including all But some of sport’s costs are more “collision sports,” euphemistically difficult to tally in dollars. “Discussing” described as “contact sports.” The biggest the dangers of playing National Football collision sports are football and hockey, League games on artificial surfaces, for- but collisions also happen in basketball, mer Dallas Cowboys president Tex baseball, lacrosse, soccer, and other Schramm thundered to his players, “If sports. Significantly, boxing, involving we tell you to play on concrete, you’ll but two people in a roped square called a play on it!” He insisted, “You’re the cat- ring, has provided data since the 1920s tle, we’re the ranchers. And we can on the progressive neurological deterio- always get new cattle.”3 Would he care ration that comes from repeated banging that someone described his sport as a on and about the head.5 school of brutality, involving “the reck- Eric Pelley’s tragic story illustrates less disregard of life”?4 what is really at stake. Eighteen years Schramm’s game is one of America’s old and a straight-A high school stu- foremost national sports. Saints and sin- dent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ners invest in big-screen TVs and special Eric wanted more than anything cable packages that allow them to watch to become a football player in a multitude of football games each week the NFL. Play brought its share during the season. But even as church of concussions. His parents social halls host Super Bowl parties in were aware of some of them. order to make friends with people in the Since the age of 6 he had taken neighborhood, some continue to won- a lot of hard hits. Most were not der, How much do the games really cost? considered by the coaches as The excitement, the glamour, and the being hard enough to lead to a con- glory absorb us, as does the swelling cussion, but they were still bone- civic pride that comes from having an crunching. He delivered his share of hits Olympic, National Basketball Associa- to other players as well. But every time tion, or Super Bowl winner. The maimed he suffered a concussion he would reas- bodies attract our attention rather less. sure his mother, “Mom, I got another,

18 (82) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (83) 19 but don’t worry.” went to emergency rooms in 2011, In the fall of his junior year Eric suf- “many from being dropped on, or kicked fered a concussion from a backyard foot- in, the skull during aerial maneuvers. ball game. This time something was Only football results in more cata- different. He stumbled home, suffered strophic injuries—and those boys have from weeks of fatigue and headaches, had the benefit of helmets.”9 Having fun difficulty finishing exams at school, quit today has become a costly business. playing football, but started rugby with a Neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, friend’s encouragement. Gifted as he was, coroner in Pittsburgh, asked Webster’s he soon gained the opportunity to play on family shortly after his death for per- a semiprofessional team and absorb a mission to study his brain. The findings new complement of traumatic hits. of his study were published in 2005 One day after making a tackle Eric against the wishes of the NFL. But the failed to get up. Down on the ground he next year, four years after Webster’s moaned and held his head in agony. As death in 2002, others won his case he rode away in the ambulance he kept against the league’s pension board for muttering, “I’m OK, Mom.” He was back postconcussion damage. Encouraged, in school just days later, but Eric’s 4,500 ex-players pressed charges friends realized that something was against the league about their own per- very wrong. Ten days after the latest manent brain damage. injury, eating dinner at home On August 29, 2013, the with his family, Eric seized National Football League up in midsentence dur- made a $765 million settle- ing their conver- ment with more than 4,500 sation. “His former players and their eyes families, designed to care for the needs of all retired players (approximately 18,000) who are still living and may suffer from this serious medical problem. The league, earning $9 bil- roll back and his fists clench lion a year, will pay those millions out tight; he’s dead from a massive brain to the people Schramm called cattle swell either before he hits the floor or over a 20-year period; it admits to no within a couple of seconds of having wrongdoing, and is protected from any done so.”6 future litigation by retired players. Hav- ing fun has its cost.10 Different Folks, Same Strokes Counting Costs The names, circumstances, geographic As parents and their offspring con- locations, ages, and gender of these trag- sider the thrill of shining on the field, the edies vary. Eric was 18. Iron Mike Web- pride of scholarships to play in college, ster shielded Terry Bradshaw’s nose and and the fame and financial gain of the made holes for Franco Harris through professional leagues, medical science 150 straight games and four Super Bowl keeps bringing into clearer focus truth rings. He died at 50 in the dark of that America knew a century ago when dementia, his brain “a grotesquely tan- the field of play was the scene of fatal gled slurry of dead connections.”7 Junior injury,11 and Ellen White called football a Seau was 43. school of brutality. Ancient and recent Girls suffer more, “twice as apt as warnings notwithstanding, untold num- boys to sustain a concussion playing bers of players continue to play the soccer, lacrosse, or ice hockey. And those game—from the Pop Warner League games pale beside the mother of head (some players as young as age 5) to the trauma: competitive cheerleading thousands of middle school, high school, meets.”8 Thirty-seven thousand of them and college football teams, to the NFL’s

(84) 20 32 professional teams all contending for coach at a major university, wanted him much do the games really cost? n the next Super Bowl championship. on the sidelines with the team during the 1 www.olympic.org/Documents/IOC_Marketing/ The dreams of fame clash with more football season. Eventually he realized OLYMPIC_MARKETING_FACT_FILE.PDF: Olympic Mar- than the physical brutality of our colli- the price he was paying, and he requested keting Fact File, p. 6. Figures do not include funds gener- sion sports. Having fun has its intellec- baptism and a place in God’s church. ated by National Olympic Committees’ domestic commercial programs. tual, emotional, psychological, One young man I knew was the quar- 2 www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/ neurological, social, spiritual cost. As terback of the city’s high school football Issues/2013/01/28/In-Depth/NFL-revenue-streams. Ellen White wrote: “It is a law both of team. Unfortunately, almost all of the aspx; http://millionairecorner.com/Content_Free/Did- You-Know-the-NFL-Does-Not-Pay-Federal-Taxes.aspx. the intellectual and the spiritual nature games were played on Friday nights. I 3 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ that by beholding we become changed. started praying for the team to lose. And nfl/01/31/upshaw0214/1.html: Gary Smith, “Bitter Bat- The mind gradually adapts itself to the lose they did. Local sportswriters could tle for the Old Guard,” posted Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, 1:56 pm; updated Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, 1:40 pm., subjects upon which it is allowed to not believe it, because the team was rated retrieved Nov. 11, 2013. dwell.”12 Change, for better or worse, pretty high in the district’s rankings at 4 Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home (Nashville: depends upon what is the focus in our the beginning of the season. The only Southern Pub. Assn., 1952), p. 500. 5 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ lives. But the principle stands: we game the football team won that season PMC2945234/: Ann C. McKee, Robert C. Cantu, Christo- become what we contemplate. The was played on a Thursday night! My pher J. Nowinski, E. Tessa Hedley-Whyte, Brandon E. change may take months and years to young friend never got his football schol- Gavett, Andrew E. Budson, Veronica E. Santini Hyo- Soon Lee, Caroline A. Kubilus, and Robert A. Stern, become evident, but it does finally man- arship to a big public university. Instead, “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Athletes: Pro- ifest itself. This world hardly needs he attended an Adventist college. I have a gressive Tauopathy Following Repetitive Head Injury,” more people contemplating, for fun, feeling that this change of plans affected Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, no. 7 (July 2009): 68: 709-735. and steadily morphing toward more the course of his life in a positive way. 6 www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/this-is- violence. your-brain-on-football-20130131#ixzz2kNMRLdls: Paul challenged Philippian Christians Final Thoughts Paul Solotaroff, “This Is Your Brain on Football,” Roll- ing Stone, Jan. 31, 2013, retrieved Nov. 11, 2013. to a distinct focus: “Finally, brothers How much do the games cost—in 7 Ibid. and sisters, whatever is true, whatever relation to ultimate purpose? Ellen 8 Ibid. is noble, whatever is right, whatever is White warned: “Anything that diverts 9 Ibid. 10 For more on the settlement, see www.huffington pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is the mind from God assumes the form of post.com/2013/08/29/nfl-concussion-settlement- admirable—if anything is excellent or an idol, and that is why there is so little lawsuits_n_3837474.html: MaryClare Dale, “NFL praiseworthy—think about such power in the church today.”13 Concussion Settlement: League, Players Reach Tentative $765M Deal in Concussion-Related Lawsuits,” Huff Post things” (Phil. 4:8). We’re all afraid of narrow-minded Sports, posted: Aug. 29, 2013; updated Aug. 30, 2013; Compartmentalization, a gift of fanaticism—as if a little indulgence is retrieved Nov. 11, 2013; also www.usatoday.com/story/ sorts, can threaten unified focus: Sab- better than total abstinence from poi- sports/nfl/2013/08/29/nfl-concussion-settlement- judge-anita-brody-tony-dorsett-jim-mcmahon-junior- bath belongs to the Lord, Sunday to the son. Yet we all need to take inventory seau/2727483/: Gary Mihoces, “NFL Reaches NFL. Or stranger still: an Adventist of our lives, to see what idols and influ- Concussion Settlement,” USA Today: Sports, Aug. 29, acquaintance in Oklahoma told me ences might be drawing us away from 2013; retrieved Nov. 11, 2013; http://espn.go.com/espn/ otl/story/_/id/9690036/older-players-cut-nfl-settle- about how she played in the bowling what really matters, to see what price ment-concerns-growing-whether-enough-money- leagues three nights a week. When I we are paying for the fun we crave. exists: Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada, “Some invited her to come to Sabbath services Near the end of his life Joshua chal- Players May Be Out of NFL Deal,” ESPN: Outside the Lines; updated Sept. 20, 2013; retrieved Nov. 11, 2013. and the midweek prayer meeting, her lenged the people he led to make a firm 11 Guy M. Lewis, “Theodore Roosevelt’s Role in the response was: “Oh, my life is much too decision on where they would focus: 1905 Football Controversy,” The Research Quarterly, busy for that.” “Choose for yourselves this day whom American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation 40, no. 4 (December 1969): 717-724. New Another woman would not come to you will serve, whether the gods [of York University chancellor Henry B. McCraken tried to church on Saturday mornings because sport so dangerous to physical health, get Harvard president Charles Eliot to lead out in that’s when all of the good garage sales or the bowling leagues that keep you either reforming or banning the sport after a fatal injury during the Rochester-Union game—see p. 720. are. The cost of my fun may be Eric’s from midweek prayer meeting]. But as 12 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain and Mike Webster’s brains. Or it may for me and my household, we will serve View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), p. 555. simply be my time with God. For the the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). 13 Ellen G. White, Sons and Daughters of God (Washing- ton, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1955), p. 57. cost principle affects every aspect of our How much do the games cost? How lives, football and bowling leagues, many salaries are swollen or shrunk? Tim Ponder, pastor of a Bible studies and garage sales, and all How many cattle are slaughtered or Norrisville, Maryland, besides. It is a statement of the price we pastured? How many bones are congregation, also works in a are willing to pay, the cost of our fun. mended or broken? How many dreams vocational program for adults One man I knew chose football over are spawned or dashed? How many with disabilities at Chimes the Sabbath for more than 20 years hearts are softened or hardened? How Liberty Club East. He and his wife, Rebecca, have because his close friend, the football many souls are saved or lost? How two adult children.

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (85) 21 Feature Into All the

Focusing on BY KEVIN WAITE W“And Othis gospel of the kingdom will be ippines.R Practically all the world’s pop- LD evangelizing preached in the whole world as a testimony to ulation that is unreached by all nations, and then the end will come” Christianity lives in this area. the 10/40 (Matt. 24:14). Of the 7 billion people in the world, nearly 3 billion have never had a chance window pronouncement, com- to hear about Jesus, and 97 percent of mand, invitation, and those live in the 10/40 window.2 Here a promise: This passage in person can often be won for Jesus for Scripture, paired with the less than the cost of a pizza in the Great Commission of Mat- United States.3 Given this information Athew 28:19, directly challenges the faith you might think that Christians would and action of Seventh-day Adventists. enthusiastically make the 10/40 win- Are we waiting passively for Jesus to dow their top priority. But that isn’t the return, or is He waiting for us? case. Evangelistic spending in the 10/40 This is a story about doing something window barely qualifies as a blip: one intentional, focused, and aimed directly tenth of 1 percent (0.001) of church- at sharing the amazing story of God’s related budgets.4 great love and hastening the return of “In all candor, and to our continuing Jesus.1 It’s the story of Gospel Outreach, shame, let us admit that the world’s an all-volunteer lay organization head- perishing unreached people are very quartered in College Place, Washington, seldom mentioned or thought about in with sister organizations in Canada and almost all churches,” says Phil Bogo- Brazil. Most important, it’s the story of sian, international director for the a region in the world called the 10/40 Adopt-a-People campaign, a Christian window, and how Gospel Outreach is organization that focuses on reaching part of a strategy of winning it for God. the unreached. The term 10/40 window was coined in May this stinging rebuke not be said 1990 by Christian missionary strategist of Adventists. Luis Bush because the geographical area lies between 10 and 40 degrees north Spreading Like Wildfire latitude. It includes North Africa, the “It has always been my ambition to Middle East, India, China, and the Phil- preach the gospel where Christ was not

22 (86) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 WORLDknown,” the apostle Paul wrote nearly window as an area full of opportunity. the Adopt-a-Worker program (adopta- 2,000 years ago (Rom. 15:20). Twenty “Once you make a few disciples within a worker.org). Through this program, years ago that philosophy led to the particular people group, they can be individuals, families, Sabbath school founding of Gospel Outreach. Its mis- trained and empowered to spread the classes, churches, and schools sponsor sion: to make a difference by introduc- message like wildfire among others Bible workers in the 10/40 window. ing people to Jesus in the 10/40 window. within their people group,” he says. Sponsors receive periodic updates about “An important key to spreading the As encouraging as it is to hear reports their worker. Their stories testify of gospel in this area is to use indigenous like this, an enormous task remains. God’s life-changing power, and chal- workers,” says Ted N. C. Wilson, presi- Millions upon millions are waiting to lenge each of us to be partners with Him dent of the General Conference. “They hear about Jesus for the first time. in preparing the world for a better day. already know the language, the religion, Recently Gospel Outreach launched the culture of their people.” 15 Minutes From Death Throughout its history, the all-volun- Despite the glow of a nearby lamp, teer staff of Gospel Outreach has darkness closes in around Rahel. Her worked closely with the Seventh-day thoughts mirror the murky blackness Adventist Church organization, raising and pelting rain of the winter storm funds to support local Bible workers, outside her home in northern India. who are hired and trained by Adventist Life has no joy. I feel so alone, so empty. I’m mission offices. tired, but I can’t sleep. I’m afraid. “The results are astonishing,” says Months before, Rahel might have Dan Preas, president of Gospel Out- cried. But tonight there’s no release. reach. “Overall, approximately 75 per- Loud rapping at the front door cent of baptisms in many areas of the intrudes on Rahel’s thoughts. Hesitat- 10/40 window are because of the dedi- ing briefly, she opens the door. Her hus- cated efforts of Bible workers spon- utreach band, Vijay, staggers in soaking wet, sored through Gospel Outreach.” drunk, and out of control. “Gospel Outreach is the heartbeat of “Can’t you open the door any faster? the Southern Asia Division,” says P. Wil- O : G ospel P hoto What good are you?” he shouts angrily. PASSIONATE ABOUT MISSION: Rahela bert, president of the South Andhra Sec- She cringes, bracing for the all-too- Vrbeta, with her husband Boris, always tion in India. wanted to be a missionary. Now she and familiar beating. Vijay raises his hand to Ron Watts, former president of the Boris support mission outreach from their slap her. “I hate you. Get out from my Southern Asia Division, sees the 10/40 home in Idaho. house right now!”

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (87) 23 Meanwhile, in the United States “Only in heaven will we become aware of all of these stories,” Rahela Vrbeta says. Rahela and her husband, Boris, own Seven Springs Lifestyle Cen- ter near Priest River, Idaho. The Vrbetas recently began sponsoring Mahesh Kumar, the Bible worker who helped save Rahel’s life. Perhaps we see a glimpse of God’s leading even in the The 10/40 Window: Land of Opportunity names of two people in this story: Rahel, Ninety-seven percent of people who’ve never heard of Jesus live in an area of the the woman in India, and Rahela, world called the 10/40 window, so named because it lies between 10 and 40 degrees Mahesh’s sponsor. north latitude. “We’re so undeserving, so unworthy This area: of all that God has done for us,” Rahela covers one third of the earth’s land mass. says. Being able to directly sponsor a contains about two thirds of the world’s population. Bible worker in the 10/40 window is a is home to Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, animism, and Communism. way of giving back, sharing with others is marked by high levels of poverty and illiteracy. the love so freely given. is difficult to reach with foreign missionaries. “Earlier in my life I wanted to be a missionary, but God had other plans for me, including my husband, Boris!” Rahela says. “But now we can partner The sound of fighting and yelling surprise, he ran outside to find the man with Bible workers, and I can be a mis- awakens the children. Vijay turns to who was distributing the literature.” sionary in that way. We believe this is vent his fury on them. In that moment Minutes later Rahel’s husband the best value for our dollar.” Rahel makes up her mind. returned with the Gospel Outreach Bible Mahesh, thankful for the opportunity I can’t do it anymore. I can’t even protect worker. Mahesh sat with Rahel and to serve the Lord, sees a ripe harvest wait- my children. I will kill myself and escape. Vijay, reading the tract to them. Vijay lis- ing to be gathered everywhere he looks. The passing moments seem like an tened carefully. The Holy Spirit softened “My prayer is: ‘Dear Lord, send in the eternity, but the horror ends when Vijay his hardened heart. He broke down and reapers so that crops can be harvested falls asleep. Rahel puts the children back cried, begging for forgiveness. to bed, hugging and kissing them. It’s Mahesh invited Rahel, her husband, after midnight, but she’s wide awake, and their children to meetings. There, struggling between thoughts of her chil- for the first time, the family heard the dren and the ongoing abuse she endures. story of Jesus and His love for all of Just a few more hours. I must do this. I will them, even for Vijay. take poison and end my miserable existence “Vijay means victory,” Rahel says. “We right after the children go to school. have seen Jesus’ victory in my husband’s Minutes before Rahel’s planned sui- life. At the close of the meetings there was cide, someone knocks at the door. It’s a call for baptism. Happily we accepted, Mahesh Kumar Kaushal, an Adventist and now we are baptized Adventists.” Bible worker sponsored through Gospel Vijay says, “God—whom I did not Outreach. Unaware of the family drama know or have a relationship with—pit- unfolding, Mahesh hands a pamphlet, ied me, poured His grace upon me. By Destruction Through Liquor, to Rahel’s His divine providence He sent His cho- 8-year-old son, Sachin, who’s nearly sen person to tell me the message of utreach ready for school. Christ’s love and open the eyes of my Noticing the content of the tract, Sachin heart, so that I and my family could runs to find his mother. “Mom, Mom, receive new life, joy, and happiness.” O : G ospel P hoto LIFESAVER: Mahesh Kumar Kaushal, a look! This is good news for Daddy!” But that’s not the end of the story. As Bible worker supported by Gospel Out- “Sachin gave the small tract to Vijay,” a result of seeing the dramatic change reach, handed a tract to a small boy, Rahel recalls. “My husband glanced at it in Vijay’s life, 160 people in the village unkowingly saving the life of the boy’s but didn’t say a word. Instead, to my decided to follow Jesus too. mother.

24 (88) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 and stored in the house,’ ” he says. “Let 2,000 Bible workers in the 10/40 win- this work be finished before our Lord dow, but the need for more is critical.” comes again. And let those who have Here’s what you can do to help fulfill assisted in this great work see the fruit the Great Commission: and rejoice in the heavenly kingdom, Pray. Be a daily prayer warrior on behalf knowing their support and sacrifice has of the 10/40 window. Pray for the people not gone in vain.” who live there. Pray for church members, There are 25 villages with a popula- whose lives witness to those around them. tion of approximately 130,000 people in Pray for church leaders, pastors, and Bible the area where Mahesh lives. workers. Ask the Lord of the harvest for “My goal is to take the message of more workers (Matt. 9:38). Christ’s love to all these people by the Tell. Be an ambassador and tell others end of 2014,” he says. “I strongly believe about the needs in the 10/40 window. utreach many more families like Vijay and Adopt. Be a missionary to other coun- Rahel’s will be a great witness.” tries without leaving home by adopting O : G ospel P hoto a Bible worker. For more information, TOGETHER AGAIN: Vijay and Rahel stand Making a Difference visit adoptaworker.org. Gospel Outreach with their children (from left) Anjali, Amit, As this story shows, we can make a augments but does not replace mission and Sachin, outside their home in northern difference in people’s lives now and for giving that supports church-sponsored India. eternity. Our calling is not to be people outreach. Visit AdventistMission.org to of the pew, who simply socialize and do see how lay, church-supported minis- 1 Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons (Washington, church. Instead, Jesus has asked each of tries enhance the global outreach of the D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1900), p. 69. 2 www.joshuaproject.net/great-commission- us to be part of a God-ordained search- church. statistics.php. and-rescue mission with a global—not “The question we must ask ourselves 3 Less than $6 per baptism (Gospel Outreach data). 4 just local—focus. is whether we truly want Jesus to David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson, eds., World Christian Trends, A.D. 30-A.D. 2200 (Pasadena, Calif.: “With such a huge population and come,” Preas says. “If we do, our hearts William Carey Library, 2001), p. 661. very few followers of Christ, the task of will be changed. We will once again love spreading Jesus’ love and plan of salva- the way He does, and this love will com- Kevin Waite is a Gospel Outrach board tion is overwhelming in the 10/40 win- pel us to take the gospel to the whole member. dow,” says Larry Dodds, chair of the world—to set captives free from the board for Gospel Outreach. “Gospel prison of sin.” n Outreach currently sponsors more than

Mission-driven Gospel Outreach provides an opportu- Supporting evangelistic work in the Vladimir Sysoev works as head of nity to make a difference, even with lim- 10/40 window is a strategic necessity for public relations for a large Russian bank ited time and resources. the church. That’s why I chose two prior- in Moscow. Though raised an atheist, ity regions: the Muslim world and India. Vladimir, like many people in Russia, Why focus on the 10/40 window? Both are almost untouched by found himself searching for meaning to In most traditional areas for Christian Christianity. life. He joined the Seventh-day Adventist missionary work, church growth has pla- Church in 1994. teaued. Even in areas once seen as fertile How did you decide to be part of the One of the ways Vladimir shares his ground for proclaiming the gospel, Adopt-a-Worker program? love for the Lord is by sponsoring Gospel church growth has slowed. To use eco- I’d heard about Gospel Outreach, and Outreach workers through its Adopt-a- nomic terms, the religious market in have been reading the “Adventures in Worker program. Here are his answers to these countries is glutted, and acquiring Missions” newsletter for several years. As some questions put to him: new members becomes more difficult I learned about the Adopt-a-Worker pro- every year. gram, I was impressed with two factors: What drives your interest in On the other hand, there is an unmet Efficiency. Gospel Outreach has low evangelism? demand for Christianity in other areas of overhead, so all the money goes to It’s a core responsibility of the church the world, and the return on every dollar sponsor indigenous workers. and every Christian individually. Unfortu- invested in missionary work there is tre- Transparency. As a sponsor I see the nately, modern, busy lives leave little mendously higher. These areas have achievements of my adopted workers time for doing something big in this area. great growth potential. online.

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (89) 25 Heart and Soul: Theology

The Gospel Its Pleasure and Pain BY GRAHAM MORRIS he gospel is good news, and but the world hates Him and hates His tough news. It brings super- followers. As He warned His disciples: natural ecstasy and rough “If the world hates you, keep in mind times. Joy and sorrow run that it hated me first” (John 15:18). together throughout God’s Tsalvation program. It is the joy of travail Always Been That Way that lets Jesus know He will be satisfied Evil has fought good on earth since (Isa. 53:11). Travail is pain, but giving the Fall, when the godly Abel, with faith birth is joy. And as it is with Jesus, in the promise of redemption, offered Prince of Peace, Source of joy, and Suf- his lamb sacrifice on the altar. fering Servant, so it is with those who Why did Cain hate his kid brother? follow Him. Scripture gives us the answer: “Abel The joy of knowing Jesus inspires brought God a better offering than Cain internal struggles or wars with those did.” Abel “was commended as righ- whom we most dearly love. The privi- teous, when God spoke well of his offer- lege of proclaiming Jesus and the salva- ings” (Heb. 11:4), which infuriated Cain. tion He brings is, at times, accompanied Cain “belonged to the evil one and mur- by the pain of persecution. Jesus is life, dered his brother. And why did he mur-

26 (90) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 der him? Because his own actions were Ellen White wrote about the Sabbath: rejection by the very descendants of evil and his brother’s were righteous” “While it calls to mind the lost peace of Abraham to whom He belonged and (1 John 3:12). Abel was good, and he, Eden, it tells of peace restored through whom He had come to save; being Cain, was bad; Abel behaved well; he, the Savior. And every object in nature spiked to crude, strong wood, and Cain, behaved badly. repeats His invitation, ‘Come unto me, stripped naked to hang before the Abel’s life was gospel preaching to all ye that labour and are heavy laden, scornful world—this was the ultimate Cain. His continued existence was a per- and I will give you rest.’ ”2 in the battle between evil and good, the petual reminder that salvation came The types and symbols of the sanctu- climax of opposition to the gospel. from a source outside Cain. Life didn’t ary system were God’s object lesson, Who emerged victorious? Ask if you satisfy him, in the end, because he did that, through Abraham’s seed, He would wish. Jesus Himself has already what seemed best to him alone. Admir- bless the whole earth (Gen. 12:1-3; answered. That’s why He could hang ing nature and praising God for good- 22:15-18; Gal. 3:8, 16; Heb. 11:8, 9; Col. His head and die. But before He did, He looking apples and mangoes was not 2:13-17). God’s promise to Israel, in put- lifted His head on Calvary’s cross, and enough to calm Cain’s nerves, ease his ting them in charge of the gospel’s dis- cried out, with His dying, triumphant mind, and rest his soul. The gospel, semination, was that faithfulness, breath, words that will never cease to God’s plan, is the only salvation plan whether by them or by anyone else, to echo and reverberate across the farthest that works. So God could accept only the truths He entrusted to them, would reaches of God’s universe: “It is fin- His own plan for saving Cain if He really be accompanied by His signal blessings ished”; “Father, into your hands I com- wanted Cain saved. But it maddened (Deut. 28:1-14; Isa. 56:1-8; Mal. 3:8-10). mit my spirit” (John 19:30; Luke 23:46). Cain that just being Cain was not Unfaithfulness would bring God’s pun- The gospel has won. The serpent’s head enough for God. ishment and curse (Neh. 13:15-18). is crushed, and though he still rages, his This hostility against the meek and Through Israel’s history, God tried to thrashing tail is nothing better than obedient, by the rebellious, disobedient, teach that the gospel works, rejecting death throes. and self-willed, has continued through the notion that the gospel does not ulti- centuries and millennia of human his- mately work. The Story of the Church tory. Notice Ellen White’s comment Sure, persecution continues. Even about the years that followed Christ’s Receiving before the birth of Christ, Satan establishment of His church on earth: Jesus is attempted to destroy the Baby who “The early Christians were indeed a would “crush” his head. Later he stirred peculiar people. Their blameless deport- transcendent up the priests and their followers to ment and unswerving faith were a con- joy, even as it reject Christ during His lifetime. Then, tinual reproof that disturbed the when Christ’s time had come, Satan sinner’s peace. Though few in numbers, becomes the stirred officials and people with rage, without wealth, position, or honorary devil’s basis for urging them to crucify Him. titles, they were a terror to evildoers God turned Satan’s cruelty to divine wherever their character and doctrines abusing me. purposes. The stripes they laid on Jesus were known. Therefore they were hated Israel’s repeated failures were so made the healing of the Jews possible. by the wicked, even as Abel was hated by many satanic blows against the good The joy of doing His Father’s will, the the ungodly Cain.”1 news. The devil attempted with Abel, joy of seeing many saved, kept Jesus and later with Job, to wipe out the faith- hanging on the cross till the end, even In Israel’s History fulness and goodness of God’s people as passersby “hurled insults at him, The nation of Israel was God’s gospel he so intensely hates. shaking their heads and saying, ‘So! You depository. To them God entrusted His But the life of Jesus Christ, Himself who are going to destroy the temple truth for saving the world, given to the gospel, stands as incontrovertible and build it in three days, come down them through the institutions of the human evidence that Satan cannot from the cross and save yourself!’ ” Sabbath and the sanctuary. The Sabbath destroy righteousness, and that the (Mark 15:29, 30). Why didn’t He come stands as God’s memorial of Creation; a final outcome of this contest in which down? Because He knew He would “see witness that He is Lord; a symbol and God and goodness are assailed by Satan of the travail of his soul, and shall be agent of His sanctifying power; a note of and iniquity is not in doubt. Geth- satisfied” (Isa. 53:11, KJV). delight; and a representation of the semane, fraudulent trials before the Why didn’t He come down? “For the spiritual rest we find in Jesus (Gen. 2:1- Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod; howling joy set before him he endured the cross, 3; Ex. 20:8-11; Eze. 20:12, 20; Isa. 58:13, mobs of demons and demon-possessed scorning its shame” (Heb. 12:2). Being 14; Heb. 4:1-11). humans; flailing Roman whips that bit the bearer of good news for me included The Sabbath brings the blessing of into the flesh of God’s spotless Son; being the bearer of my shame. That is spiritual rest that we have in Jesus. cheap betrayal for the price of a slave; my good news—that my iniquity is

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (91) 27 What About Now? faith. Yet, as in Elijah’s day, there were Are we persecuted today? If not, why always those who did not bow down to not? Notice Ellen White’s informed per- Baal (1 Kings 19:18). The Waldenses and spective: “The only reason is that the Huguenots maintained the light of the church has conformed to the world’s gospel through the Dark Ages. They standard and therefore awakens no “cherished faith in Christ as the only opposition . . . It is only because of the mediator between God and man” and spirit of compromise with sin, because “held the Bible only as the rule of life.”6 the great truths of the word of God are They pointed souls “to Christ as their so indifferently regarded, because there only hope of salvation.”7 is so little vital godliness in the church, Through the centuries it was discover- that Christianity is apparently so popu- ing the gospel of life that continued to lar with the world. bring pleasure to those who found “Let there be a revival of the faith and Jesus, and pain to them from those who power of the early church, and the spirit hated goodness and truth. So it was with of persecution will be revived, and the John Wycliffe, John Huss, Jerome, Martin taken away and my sin is purged (see fires of persecution will be rekindled.”3 Luther, and John Calvin, and others in Isa. 6:7). The joy and sorrow that run It was the preaching of the gospel, the sixteenth century.8 And because they together throughout God’s salvation under the Spirit’s anointing, that built on Christ alone, “the gates of hell program ran together in the life and enabled Peter and the other Pentecostal could not prevail against them.”9 passion of Jesus, the Author and Fin- preachers to baptize 3,000 converts in isher of our faith. His unavoidable grief one day. As fire-baptized followers of Conclusion at sin’s havoc ever moved Him to com- Christ continued their gospel advance Do we want and need revival today? passion (Matt. 9:36). And that sorrow at they turned the world upside down! Perhaps we have to revisit history, the sight of sin’s distorting impact was Some historians say that 70 years after though there are places today where a constantly countermanded by the Pentecost there were about 1 million passion for Jesus and a fire of torture knowledge that He was here to seek and Christians in the Roman Empire! One in burn together. God’s truth never to save the lost (Luke 19:10). every 50 people had been converted. changes; and the gospel will burn The book of Acts records the paradox But then something happened. Or brighter in the world only in proportion of persecution and the thrill that His rather, something stopped happen- to our belief in His gift to us! If Paul is followers experienced. After the author- ing. The mighty missionary zeal of correct, and if history is any witness, we ities’ harassment following the healing those early years faded, the move- can be sure that when the love of the of a cripple at the Gate Beautiful, Peter ment stagnated, and there came an gospel impels us as it did the early and John returned to their fellow believ- era of spiritual darkness caused by a church, persecution will certainly arise. ers and burst into praise (Acts 4:23-30), “falling away” from the truth of the Only knowing the gospel’s joy can pre- so much so that “the place where they gospel.4 The visible church had cor- pare us to withstand persecution’s pain. were meeting was shaken. They were all rupted the gospel. And “if you suffer as a Christian,” Peter filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Ellen White observed, “The accession encourages, “do not be ashamed, but word of God boldly” (verse 31). of the Roman Church to power marked praise God that you bear that name” Receiving Jesus is transcendent joy, the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her (1 Peter 4:16). even as it becomes the devil’s basis for power increased, the darkness deep- 1 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain abusing me. This is what explains the ened. Faith was transferred from Christ, View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), p. 46. believers’ praise. It was not masochism. the true foundation, to the pope of 2 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, It was having Jesus, and knowing, as Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), p. 289. 3 E. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 48. they could later say after even more God for forgiveness of sins and for eter- 4 Ibid., p. 49. abuse, that “they had been counted nal salvation, the people looked to the 5 Ibid., p. 55. worthy of suffering disgrace for [His] pope, and to the priests and prelates to 6 Ibid., p. 61. 7 Ibid., p. 73. Name” (Acts 5:41). whom he delegated authority. . . . Those 8 Ibid., pp. 81, 91, 109, 119. Paul sums up his situation for his were days of peril for the church of 9 Ibid., p. 210. protégé, Timothy, in terms he saw as Christ. The faithful standard-bearers normative for all time: “In fact, everyone were few indeed. . . . The gospel was lost Graham Morris is a retired who wants to live a godly life in Christ sight of, but the forms of religion were journalist and teacher who Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). multiplied, and the people were bur- lives in Kilsyth, Victoria, Which raises the legitimate question: dened with rigorous exactions.”5 Australia. Where is persecution now? Persecution caused many to deny the

28 (92) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 Dateline Moscow When a Vandal Slashed My Tires Someone slashed my car’s tires the other day. The first clue came from an odd noise that surfaced as I was crawling to work in a Moscow traffic jam under fast-falling snow. An insistent shhhhrrrrrgggggggggg interrupted the actor reading Testimonies for the Church on my car’s mp3 audio system. Puzzled, I listened more carefully and wondered whether my car was dragging something. Since I was traveling so slowly, I popped open the door and looked. I saw, to my surprise, that the rear tire was flat. That was my first flat. Ever. And I had no idea what to do. I called a friend from church, and he advised me not to try to learn how to change the tire in the snow. Instead, he said, I should wave down a passing car and offer the driver 200 rubles (about US$7.00) to change the tire. I had my doubts about whether anyone would stop in the blinding snow, but I did as instructed. As I weaved my way to the side of the road, a passing driver honked his horn and helpfully pointed to the flat. I waved my thanks. After stopping, I exited the car and extended my hand. Immediately a Nissan sedan stopped, and a portly Armenian driver emerged. He waved off my question about whether 200 rubles would be sufficient payment to change the tire. He ignored the passing cars that splattered him with grimy slush as he squatted over the tire. He wished me a good day when I thanked him profusely for being an angel. Back in the car, I thanked God for the Armenian driver’s kindness and settled back to listen to Testimonies. Then I heard it again: Shhhhrrrrrgggggggggg. The noise sounded familiar. I thought, It couldn’t be, Andrew could it? A passing driver honked his horn and pointed to the front tire on the other side of the car. McChesney I called my Russian friend again. “Wow, it sounds as though someone’s angry with you and has slashed your tires!” he told me. “Either they were hooligans or, most likely, you parked in the wrong place and the driver who wanted that space sought revenge.” I didn’t have another spare tire, so I had to find a tire repair shop. Seeing that I was near my landlady’s apartment, I called her to ask if there were any tire repair shops in the neighborhood. She confirmed that there was, and told me where to find it. At the shop—a shack, actually—I met Takhir, a mechanic from Kyrgyzstan. Takhir was filled with empathy for my plight. He showed me the knife slashes in both tires and told me that the same thing had happened to him shortly after he moved to Moscow. Takhir said I should seek revenge, explaining that after his two tires were slashed, he had kept an eye on the parking spot and learned that a Russian-built Zhiguli car always parked there. Deducing that the Zhiguli’s driver had slashed his tires, Takhir approached the Zhiguli one night and coated its windows in oil and slashed all four of its tires. “I wasn’t an angry man when I moved to Moscow,” he told me. “But that’s what Moscow does to you.” We proceeded to engage in a warm conversation about our lives, including the antics of his 3-year-old son. I arrived at work two and a half hours late. But I was so happy! One unknown person had tried to ruin my day for unknown reasons. But as a result of his actions, I’d had the opportunity to be blessed by six people: Takhir, my landlady, my Russian friend from church, the Armenian who changed my tire, and the two drivers who had honked their horns to warn me about my flats. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24, ESV).* So many nice and kind people live in Moscow! God is certainly here. n

Andrew McChesney is a journalist in Russia.

www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 | (93) 29 Ask the Doctors Does Stress Affect Health? By peter n. landless and allan r. handysides

ecause of his heavy responsibilities tory, but sympathetic. Nevertheless, Eating on the run, at restaurants, or Band high position, my husband is careful attention to the workload, judi- at fast-food outlets is a no-no! Family under considerable stress at work. I cious delegation, and a careful and dis- meals, besides building a strong home also know his family history and have ciplined ability to say “no” can remove a and protecting the children, can bring a been after him to change his job, but he great deal of stress. definite psychological unwinding into says that would be even more stressful. A study reported in the Canadian Med- play. He is 55, and his father died at 58 of a ical Association Journal* is of great impor- Beyond the parameters examined in heart attack. Can you help me help tance. It showed that even in cases the one study cited, there’s an abun- him? I value him more than his execu- where stress was not removed, its effect dance of additional evidence that shows tive paycheck! could be greatly mitigated by a health- the benefits of the natural remedies so ful lifestyle. often touted in this column. our husband’s problem is complex. The authors pooled data from seven Spiritual well-being is also a strongly YFirst, there’s the family history. cohort studies and found 102,128 men protective factor; and church atten- Then there’s the work, plus the stress. and women who were disease-free at dance, with the peace of a lovely Sab- Your husband might be correct, though, bath day, can work wonders. regarding your suggestion that he find a People who know that their spouses new job—that could be even more Stress is not love them have been shown to have a stressful than his current situation. And highly significant reduction in cardio- jobs are not easy to come by, especially inherent in his vascular risk. So speak kind words and for someone 55 years of age. work itself, but express your love for each other. There As an executive, he likely earns a fairly is nothing like the healing power of large salary, and you probably have in his reaction love. n unconsciously adapted to an affluent to the work. * Canadian Medical Association Journal 185, no. 9 lifestyle. If he gave up his job, you might (June 11, 2013): 763. find cutting back a more painful and stressful necessity than expected. the commencement of the studies. Job The family history might well be very strain was assessed, and four lifestyle Send your questions to Ask the Doctors, significant, unless throughout the years factors were measured. The lifestyle fac- Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia you have implemented corrective life- tors were smoking, physical inactivity, Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. Or style strategies to offset some of the heavy alcohol consumption, and obe- e-mail them to [email protected]. inherited risks. sity. It was discovered that the risk of While this column is provided as a service to For many years researchers debated heart attack was half that in those who our readers, Drs. Landless and Handysides whether stress was a factor in the cau- did not smoke, were active, were of rela- unfortunately cannot enter into personal and sation of a heart attack, but within the tively normal weight, rarely drank much private communication with our readers. We past decade several well-structured alcohol, and had job strain, compared to recommend you consult with your personal studies have shown that there is a caus- those with job strain and an unhealthy physician on all matters of your health. ative correlation between work stress lifestyle. and heart attacks. Stress, of course, is A multifocused approach to your peter n. landless, a not inherent in his work itself, but in husband’s health prognosis appears to board-certified nuclear his reaction to the work. be warranted. He needs to learn to work cardiologist, is director of the We strongly advocate a temperate efficiently, but also to rest or relax well. Health Ministries department lifestyle; although, to be honest, we have To do this, he should leave the work at of the General Conference. at times been guilty ourselves of some work, and make your home his refuge. allan r. handysides, a highly intemperate work habits. We Physical activity—preferably coupled board-certified gynecologist, also know several other highly placed with something he can enjoy, such as is a former director of the church leaders who are culpable of the walking, canoeing, playing tennis, Health Ministries department of same thing. We tell you that so as to swimming, etc.—would be even more the General Conference. assure you that we’re not condemna- pleasurable if you would do it with him.

30 (94) | www.AdventistReview.org | January 23, 2014 Reflections The Legacy of a Smile Ken Wilson spent 25 years in the classroom in one school: Battle Creek Academy. That’s quite a record for any one teacher. In his twenty-fifth year, however, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was a devastating blow to a man passionate about God and dedicated to teaching youth. Known for his love of academics from his earliest years in Akron, Ohio, he was always called “the kid with the smarts.” And he knew, before he ever graduated from Ohio’s Mount Vernon Academy, that he wanted to be a teacher. Though he originally thought about engineering, his heart led him to education. When he graduated from Andrews University in 1970 with two master’s degrees, his professors encouraged him to work toward a doctoral degree in order to teach at the university level. But his love of young people led him on a road to teaching in three Adventist academies for a total of 37 years. Teaching was his true calling. But Ken Wilson was also known for something else: his smile. How important is a smile? Is it possible to keep up the momentum of a constantly smiling face even through the toughest days? Ken faced his last year in the classroom with impaired walking and talking— but not without his vibrant smile. His smile prevailed even after his voice failed and muscular weaknesses left him with limited communication abilities. His memorial service in 2009 at the Battle Creek Tabernacle was attended by a multitude of people—including many former students—whose lives were touched by a man whose passion for his Savior coupled with a brilliant smile made a difference. “I never knew Kenny not to have a smile on his face,” wrote his class- mate Dolores. “He was the most positive person in the room.” Ingrid, a former student from Ken’s days at Orangewood Academy in California, recalled his “mile-wide smiles.” “I cherished them,” she said. “He put a song in my heart in my formative years.” Our faces are often the first thing someone notices about us, and smiles do go the distance. Ken knew this. When my husband and I lived in the Los Angeles area while working at White Memorial Medical Center, there was a grounds- keeper there who did not speak English. He lived close to the hospital, and I admired his beautiful flower garden. For several months all we exchanged were smiles, but they always cheered me. When I met his young grandson, I mentioned how much we appreciated his grandfather’s hard work and the beautiful flowers he grew. The grandson came to me one day and said, “My grandfather wants you to come to his house. He has flowers he wants to give to the lady with the nice smile.” I’m glad that by my smile he could know I cared. And that is how it was with Ken Wilson. His smile prevailed when his voice failed and he was limited to communicating by blinking, once for “Yes” and twice for “No.” A true teacher is not just a person who teaches academics well, but also one who molds character, changing lives for the better. Ken Wilson did that in verity. His final days weren’t easy ones, but they revealed his character through his everlasting smile. He shared God every day with that smile—a legacy we can all carry forward. n

Betty Kossick writes from Calhoun, Georgia.