Reviewing the Adventist Review

February 21, 2008
Vol. 185, No. 5

GENERAL COMMENTS: This Review earned a well-deserved gold star.

LETTERS: Reponses from readers were thoughtful and positive. I like the idea of providing a cover snapshot with the letters. Why only some? Why not all?

Stephen Chavez is a treasure! INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS reflects the musings of a wonderful writer and an amazing Christian. "We owe it to Christ -- and each other -- to be out in our communities living as Jesus lived. This is no time to adopt a 'monastery mentality' and withdraw from society to pursue a life of theological nit-picking and self-absorbed reflection."

Roy Adams’ NINE CHILDREN FACE AN ANGRY TOWN, an interview with Terrence Roberts, one of the “Little Rock Nine”, is a must read, along with his ONE OF NINE, a short biography of Roberts that follows the interview.

In a conversation with Doug Matacio, Religion Chair at Canadian University College, Roy Adams learned that Terrence Roberts, a fifteen-year-old tenth grader, one of the "Little Rock Nine", was a Seventh-day Adventist. An interview of Terrence and his parents should have been published in the Review fifty years ago, long before Bill Clinton awarded Roberts the Congressional Gold Medal, America's highest civilian honor.

Roy precedes his interview with Terrence Roberts by reminding readers of the fact that fifty years ago “an entire nation [was] grappling with fundamental issues of human rights -- innocent little children in danger of being killed simply for attempting to attend the school of their choice" while the Seventh-day Adventist Church was "preoccupied with fixing its own theology [the publication of Questions on Doctrine], seemingly oblivious that the very rights being agonized over in the larger community were being denied children within its own communion".

HE NEVER FAILED, AND THAT’S THE WAY IT IS. The information, accompanying her picture, says it all. "Cassie Ragenovich told God she'd quit working in student finance [at Walla Walla University] if He ever failed to provide the necessary resources for students who are committed to earning a Christian education. 'I've stayed on this job for 32 years, and He's never failed me -- not even once.’"

In the OBAMA MESSAGE, Fredrick A. Russell makes the argument that "a new generation is emerging in the church, and old rationales as to why we do what we do will not hold. . . It will not be a Black Adventist church, a White Adventist Church, an Asian Adventist Church, or a Hispanic Adventist Church that will reach our world. . .If our church is going to reach this culture, we need to think well what we are presenting to the world, as well as to a new generation in this church".

WORLD NEWS AND PERSPECTIVES
Ben Carson, one of the leading pediatric neurosurgeon's in world has a new book, TAKE THE RISK. Kim Lawton interviews him. Four construction workers, including at least one student, were KILLED IN A LIGHTNING STRIKE AT ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY ZURCHER in Antsirabe, Madagascar. ADRA has already helped 81,000 refugees DURING the KENYA CRISIS. And MERIN KRETSCHMAR, pastor, evangelist, and former Conference President has died. He was 76.

If standard outreach materials or a seminar package no longer work very well in your community, check out the resources available from AdventSource at http://www.adventsource.org or (800) 328-0525. In REACHING AND DISCIPLING PEOPLE Monte Sahlin suggests up-to-date resources for mission outreach. Readers can also suggest resources to him at msahlin@creativeministry.org or (800) 272-4664. (Sahlin’s new book is entitled, MISSION IN METROPOLIS.)

SURVIVING THE STORMS by Gavin Anthony has written a practical and heartfelt devotional peace. There is only one sentence that I wish wasn't included. “Another paradox is that God is able to teach us how to have peace only by permitting the storms to engulf our lives.” God responsible for evil? Suffering the only way to “teach us how to have peace”?

GOD’S INVESTMENT PROGRAMS by Kelly Rose Bishop took me back to the time when every Sabbath school class had an investment project. Working creatively to raise money for worthwhile projects is a great idea for kids, adults, and congregations.

Mark A. Kellner and I share a favorite Bible quotation. "We [Christians] are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. HE'S ENOUGH!