Reviewing the Adventist Review

April 16, 2009
Vol. 186, No. 11

GENERAL COMMENTS
This issue has a lot to recommend it: two Stephen Chavez pieces and a great dog story. The rest of the issue deserves above average marks.

BOUQUETS
Stephen Chavez’ editorial, INTERSECTIONS, makes the Gospel message personal and relational.

“Could it be that sometimes we have such a rigid view of “witnessing” that we miss out on opportunities to reflect Christ’s character to the people we meet routinely, week after week, month after month, year after year? Could it be that we see ourselves as successful at witnessing only if someone is baptized? Or could it be that merely modeling Christ’s love and concern to those around us is part of our commission to take this gospel to the entire world?

“For Adventists many of our ideas about witnessing are bound up in the notion of the communication of information. But at its heart the gospel is about how a relationship with Jesus changes lives.”


The Cover Feature, I KNOW HE WATCHES ME, is another Chavez gem. His candid biographical sketch of Del Delker is a MUST READ. Delker is a living Adventist icon.


Jennifer E. Layton has written a dog story you won’t soon forget. JESSIE: ALL-AMERICAN DOG is, without a doubt, an angel with four legs. It’ a MUST READ.


THREE ADVENTIST FAMILIES ARE MONTANA PLANE CHRASH VICTIMS is particularly heartbreaking because it includes pictures of the families who died.

Montte Sahlin is back with review of an important book series by Nancy Alcorn that should be in every church library. These are “practical books about ministry for teenage girls. . .Each focuses on a particular application of the spiritual gift of mercy—Starved: Mercy for eating Disorders; Cut: Mercy for Self-Harm; Trapped: Mercy for Addictions; and Violated: Mercy for Sexual Abuse.

Andrew McChesney writes a fascinating column. His testimony revolves around the difficulties of keeping the Sabbath as a Russian journalist. ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE describes his decision not to meet informally with then President Putin on Saturday and the consequences of that decision. While I admire his determination not to compromise his convictions, I wish he could be convinced that Jesus did not forbid good works during the Sabbath hours.

In NIGHT NURSE by Sherilyn D. Gibbs, a labor-and-delivery nurse gives her patients more than medical attention.