Learning the Ropes Before Tying the Knot How to Strengthen Your Marriage Before It Begins
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October 19, 2000 Cutting Edge Learning the Ropes Before Tying the Knot How to strengthen your marriage before it begins. LETTERS On the Road Again nic, religious, social, educational, eco- Johnsson states that “we’re slowly As I read the article “On the Road nomic, or other, but Jesus will. His losing this defining characteristic.” Did Again” in the August 17 Adventist counsel is to repent and buy from Him he mean to say “doctrine”? It is not a Review, I was alarmed. the gold, eyesalve, and white clothes. biblical, supportable doctrine. In fact, It appears to me that Repent? Me? Yes, even me. it is a historical aberration born within these young people very unique circumstances during the have mistaken enter- —Merlin Nichols American Civil War. tainment and excite- C HETWYND, BRITISH C OLUMBIA To be blunt: At the beginning of ment for genuine spir- what turned into the Rwanda geno- ituality! We read in Thanks to William Johnsson for his cide, I was stationed at the 45th U.S. The Great Controversy spiritual and relevant editorials in the Army Field Hospital in Vicenza, Italy. of the desire in the nominal church for Review. In the August 17 issue you I was chief of one of the surgical divi- entertainment rather than gospel note that “because [noncombatancy is] sions of the hospital. Also stationed at truth. Do we dare to share in their not mentioned in the 27 fundamental Vicenza is a crack U.S. Army para- spirit of rank apostasy? God frowns on beliefs, we’re not teaching it as we trooper division, ready to be virtually the frivolous—the casual regard for must if we are to retain it as a living any place in the world within a day things pertaining to Him—in dress and practice.” Though it’s not specified in or two. It was on stand-down (as were behavior! the 27, I consider noncombatancy we at the field hospital) for orders to fairly well covered in the original 10: go into Rwanda. Those orders never —Blossom F. Vassar “Thou shalt not kill.” came, as you know. As we waited, a L IVINGSTON, NEW Y ORK planned and systematic genocide —Diane Schuetz began as the West watched and O RLAND PARK, FLORIDA ignored pleas for help. Guns in Paradise According to some reports, William Johnsson’s editorial “Guns in In regard to William Johnsson’s “Guns Adventists were among those Paradise” (Aug. 17) left me with sev- in Paradise” I must state that it will butchering their countrymen with eral feelings: déjà vu, sadness for the not always be possible for local machetes, while those of us in Europe people involved, and sadness for the Adventist leaders in government to who have planes and guns and tanks disgrace to God for the misbehavior of lead only in times of peace and tran- and field hospitals sat on our hands. His people. quillity. And yes, there were those of us who, The problems are not unique to Fiji But a good Adventist Christian as Adventists, were ready to fly in to and Guadalcanal or Bougainville. In must be differentiated from a thug who separate the warring parties, includ- politically stable and prosperous North might have Adventist background. ing fellow Adventists. America, church members bite and And in most situations the Christ-cen- I served in the U.S. Army for 31 devour each other on a regular basis. tered life will be more powerful than years as a physician, all the while fully What is the root of the problem? Do the gun. Preach Christ, pray for the qualified to handle the standard issue we baptize without making disciples? leaders of government, and counsel weapons if called upon to protect my Do we baptize and neglect to teach wisely. That is what must be done by medical unit and the patients it might everything that Jesus has commanded Seventh-day Adventists around the contain. I did that, I fully believe, us to teach? Is this symptomatic of a world. Even with that, evil will, at within the context of the authority deeper sickness? times, come. I shudder to think what and responsibility God places on No, baptism won’t take care of our might be the outcome of outright civil national authorities to organize mili- pride and prejudice, whether it is eth- war across Indonesia. tary power to keep peace. 2 (1690) ADVENTIST REVIEW, OCTOBER 19, 2000 The Adventist Church has bene- very much. fited greatly by the peace imposed by And then the pictures on page 18— the military of a number of countries, Barbara Ensley is a member of our particularly the U.S. and its allies. To church right here in Mills River. And even imply that combatancy is the then I read on—the picture of Dr. same as brute lawlessness, killing, and Coupland. He is my stepbrother! So COVER STORY criminality is just wrong. this issue was almost a personal greet- 8 Learning the Ropes I do not have any problem with ing! Before Tying the Knot any Adventist young person having a Thanks so much to the Review staff. Why do so many weddings get the personal belief against the bearing of It seems that the staff are not only headlines and so many marriages get the leftovers? arms. But the church must stop the writers but also cooks of no mean cal- BY W ILLIE AND E LAINE O LIVER misapplication of Scripture in implying iber! that what should be a personal deci- A great issue—it is good to relax ARTICLES sion of conscience is somehow a doc- once in a while and enjoy the great trine (or defining characteristic, as things the Lord has given us in nature, 14 Death and Life— Johnsson put it). poetry, and the family of God. Side by Side Someone’s sorrow leads to someone else’s joy. —Russel J. Thomsen —E. J. Heisler BY B EV B OYER V IA E-MAIL H ORSE S HOE, NORTH C AROLINA 22 “Speak to Me, God” Does God have to answer before I just finished reading the August 31 My Church we know He hears? special issue “Summer Reflections” and BY L OIS P ECCE As the only Seventh-day Adventist in want to tell you how very much I 27 How to End Your Fear of my blood family, I have felt the dis- enjoyed it. I hope there will be more of Foot Washing couragement that comes when the these issues in the future. The life of discipleship and one of church family is fragmented. Tammy its unique rituals Smith’s article “My Church” (Aug. 17) —Maxine Smith BY E D C HRISTIAN hit home—especially the final three H OUSTON, ARKANSAS paragraphs. What has kept me with a DEPARTMENTS bickering, snickering, and otherwise Several of the recipes in the August 31 2 Letters too often feuding church is the truth issue were intriguing, and we plan to that God still loves, cares, and is ulti- try them. However, “Betty’s Muesli” 7 Give & Take mately going to refine the church in seems to be missing something. It says 13 Leaving the Comfort Zone His time and way. I too “want to be a to “stir in the liquid,” but no liquid is 17 Tuesday’s Child part of His miracle.” Thanks for the listed among the ingredients besides 18 World News & Perspectives 1 clear reminder of why I am here. the ⁄4 teaspoon maple flavoring and the vanilla. Could you please enlighten 24 Passages in Manhattan —Kevin James me? 26 Book Mark F ALLON, NEVADA 31 Reflections —Robert Johnston We agree with your sentiments, but the V IA E- MAIL EDITORIALS article has left us with egg on our face. It was written, not by Tammy Smith, as we —The recipe as printed was very dry 5 We Goofed 1 published, but by Chantal Klingbeil, of indeed! It should have read: “2 ⁄2 cups 6 The Hate Dogs Lima, Peru. We will have an official cor- rolled oats (toast at 300°F on a cookie rection, explanation, and apology in an sheet, 10-12 minutes)” and “blend the NEXT WEEK upcoming issue.—Editors. following: 3 cups apple juice, 2 ripe 1 1 How Soon Is Soon? bananas, 1 tsp. vanilla, ⁄2 tsp. salt, and ⁄4 Lots of people have been waiting for RAPHICS tsp. (scant) maple flavoring.”—Editors. Christ’s return for lots of years. Does G Summer Reflections LUB God owe us an explanation? C I could not help writing after receiving MAGE the Review for August 31—what a : I delight from cover to cover! After so much “heavy” reading, this issue was OVER PHOTO great all the way through. I enjoyed it C ADVENTIST REVIEW, OCTOBER 19, 2000 (1691) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. Publisher General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Publisher William G. Johnsson Associate Publisher Shelley Nolan Publishing Board: Jan Paulsen, Chair; Phil Follett, vice-chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; Robert E. Lemon; A. C. McClure; Ardis D. Stenbakken, Donald R. Sahly; Ted N. C. Wilson; Robert Nixon, legal advisor Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams, Bill Knott Managing Editor Myrna Tetz News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Stephen Chavez, Kimberly Luste Maran Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Project Coordinator Chitra Barnabas Administrative Secretary Ruth Wright Editorial Secretary Jean Sequeira Art Direction and Design Bill Kirstein, Bill Tymeson Desktop Technician Fred Wuerstlin Ad Sales Genia Blumenberg Subscriber Services Steve Hanson Consulting Editors: Jan Paulsen, Lowell C.