ADVENTISTwith this FREEWORLD issue ollowing the earthquake tragedy that struck South Asia, ADRA-UK has launched an appeal to raise funds to bring immediate relief to the victims. ADRA-UK is 95% of the buildings in Bagh were co-ordinating its efforts with demolished by the quake Fother donor offices and ADRA- Trans-Europe to respond to this major disaster. The ADRA network is focusing efforts on Pakistan, which has been most affected by the disaster. ADRA has had a long-term presence in Pakistan, providing development proj- ects in the affected regions since 1984. The ADRA-Pakistan office has already commenced relief activities with the provision of food, medical supplies and shelter. The ADRA network was mobilised into action within hours of the earthquake, which occurred at 8:50 on Saturday 8 October, and measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale. The writer was in contact with ADRA-International and Trans- Europe (which covers Pakistan as one of its field territories) by > 16 It takes a great man to deal with failure and time to make sure I had not Christmas shoebox defeat. It takes a very, very great man to deal with misread something. No. There success and victory. David was not that great. it was. I read as far as verse I Victorious over the Syrians, military genius 15 where it says that Nathan David felt so confident about capturing Rabbah ‘went home’, and I thought, appeal (Amman) that he sent Joab to do it while he stayed ‘Right, that’s it’; and I lost Is God All boxes need to be received by 1 December in home. The Bathsheba Affair ensued. Remember? patience and closed the by Karen Plaatjes order to reach their destination by Christmas. Boxes can be delivered to ADRA, Stanborough A glamorous woman was exploited. Her Bible, planning never to open For the last few years ADRA-UK has been sending Park, Watford, WD25 9JZ, during business hours husband was deliberately sent on a suicide it again. Christmas packages to children around the world. (Mon-Thurs 9-5, and Friday 9-noon). There will be mission. David took advantage of Uriah’s ‘The Lord has taken away This year the shoeboxes will be sent to Romania. a pick-up in parts of the NEC, and details will be unquestioning loyalty to get him killed. Joab your sin.’ That really stuck in It’s an exciting way to help children experience the sent in late October. Please note that the NEC was made a party to the slaughter made neces- my craw. I was scandalised outrageous? joy of Christmas, and for most of them it will be office is not able to store or deliver boxes this sary by the adultery; and, therefore, acquired a and disgusted – with God! the only present they receive this year. year. cynicism about his psalm-singing king that would Was he fresh out of ‘fire from Shoeboxes can be filled with toys, clothes, A poster and flyer can be downloaded from influence his future loyalties. heaven’? ‘the Lord has taken sweets, toiletry items, school supplies, etc. and www.adra.org.uk. Victorious over Philistines and Syrians, about I took the issue to the only Bible authority on away your sin’ – as should be nicely wrapped and clearly labelled with We’d like to have a record number of shoe- to be victorious over the Ammonites, David was hand, my mother. She told me that her father, my opposed to David’s the appropriate age and sex. Please do not include boxes, so please help us by getting involved. defeated by his own libido. Twelve months after grandfather, had given up on the Bible – when verdict on himself – breakable items, food products (aside from More information can be obtained from ADRA-UK the slaughter required by the cover-up made nec- he’d read that King Solomon had a thousand wives ‘the man must die’ – sweets), toys that need batteries, medicines, or on 01923-681723 or by emailing essary by the adultery, David had still not come and concubines. He’d made it further than I had! was Calvary. Whether war-related items. [email protected]. clean. He thought only Joab knew that the carnage But at least he hadn’t been disgusted with God. David knew it or not, at Amman and the king’s subsequent marriage to She said that all would come clear if I read he was saved through Bathsheba were connected. Psalm 51. the death of the sin- He was wrong. I did. It didn’t help, at first. It was, I read, a less One who would Pick up your free copy of Adventist World ‘Surely the royal courtiers were careful not to psalm of confession and repentance written by be born in his line. mention the unfortunate cuckold or name the real David following his encounter with Nathan. The What made that by John Surridge with father of the child within the earshot of King David sanctimonious tick that I was found the tone about transaction possible David Marshall his week two editions of the brand new international Seventh-day Conference president Pastor Jan Paulsen says, ‘We think it is critical to the and his new queen, but it is just as certain that right at first. In verse 4, however, I found some- was David’s heartfelt the whole scandalous affair was the subject of hot thing else to be outraged about. David said to God, repentance, and explicit Adventist Church magazine, Adventist World, will be distributed to all Church, to the Church’s witness, to the unity of the Church that we have a 1 TAdventist churches in the UK and Ireland. Around the world more than voice that can speak to the whole world Church, with the same message to gossip throughout the palace and beyond.’ ‘Against you, you only, have I sinned and done in it the realisation that, one million copies of each edition are printed in English, with additional all.’ ‘David’s sin toward Bathsheba became known, what is evil in your sight.’ even more than he had sinned against Bathsheba, and suspicion was excited that he had planned the So what about Bathsheba? Hadn’t the Uriah, Joab and the nation of Israel, he had sinned copies being printed in Spanish and French. Altogether it is estimated that Among the international writers contributing to the October issue of the 2 six million or more people will have access to the magazine. The cost of the magazine is Karen Holford, Associate director of the South England death of Uriah.’ debauched king aged 50 sinned against the young against God (Psalm 51:4). Five of God’s Big Ten monthly magazine is estimated at less than 2.5 million US dollars a year, Conference Family Ministries department. Her article, entitled, ‘Praying a But even had there not been suspicion and hot woman whose body he had exploited? Hadn’t he had been broken. And as David belatedly stood which represents excellent value for money on a per-member basis. New Prayer’, comes under the heading of Adventist Life. Other sections gossip, David’s squalid secret was known: ‘The sinned, too, against her husband, his military penitent before God, the thing that loomed large According to Adventist World editor William Johnsson, the new magazine include: Devotional, Focus, Feature, Fundamental Beliefs, Spirit of Prophecy, thing David had done displeased the Lord.’ (2 champion Uriah? I thought of Uriah returning to the was not the vulnerability of Bathsheba or the represents a strategic move for the Church and is part of an effort ‘to foster and Adventist Service. Samuel 11:27.) David had behaved like an atheist front carrying the sealed orders that contained his innocence of Uriah, but the judgement of the God the unity of the world Adventist family’. It comes with several elements in Producing a world magazine presents some technical challenges and but, no matter how many people do that, God own death warrant. Hadn’t the whole sordid busi- whose wishes and existence he had ignored. David mind. All articles will be one or two pages in length, except for the cover without the use of modern communication techniques this project would not doesn’t go anywhere. He saw it all and was dis- ness been an outrage by a king against his people understood that when the secondary charges had story, which will run for four pages. It will focus on informing members have been possible. The editorial responsibilities fall on the Adventist pleased by what he saw. David probably thought – all of his people? Shouldn’t justice come into it been dealt with it was the all-righteous God about the world Church, while articles on Adventist heritage, Bible questions Review team in Silver Spring, Maryland, with two additional editors in Seoul, he had been subtle and shrewd. God thought he’d somewhere? against whom he had sinned. and a simple Bible study will also be featured. Republic of Korea, adding strategic planning for the new magazine. The final been bad and base, vicious and very blameworthy. There were two verdicts. The first, David’s own: The same all-righteous God would, in the An effort is also being made to find writers from all over the world, in an publishing process involves sending electronic files of the magazine to four And God acted on his judgement. ‘The man must pay and the man must die!’ The fullness of time, provide his Son who ‘emptied effort to enhance the international perspective of the magazine.