Thursday, March 1, 2012

Reviewing the Adventist Review


Reader, this “review “is a twofer.

NOTE TO READERS:
WORD NEWS AND PERSPECTIVES is an important section of each magazine. I do not usually report on its contents because it is available at the online address I provide with every review.

February 16, 2012
Vol. 189, No. 5
http://www.adventistreview.org/index.php?issue=2012-1505

REVIEWS
Stephen Chavez continues to some through with original devotional editorials. Don’t miss CHRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS.

Although I don't usually comment on individual WORLD NEWS & PERSPECTIVES articles, SUPER-HEALTHY CITY FLIPPING OVER BURGERS by Nick Allen, a Daily Telegraph reporter is a scoop!

While I almost always have something critical to say about a Cliff Goldstein essay, DAILY TRANSITIONS is a thoughtful, well written piece on the two realities a Christian assumes to exist every day—the religious and the secular—revealed by something as ordinary as saying Grace before eating a bowl of Cheerios. However, his closing sentence saddens me. Cliff, as Christian Adventists, shouldn’t our present lives be filled with of hope and happiness as well?

“We live in two realities, and it’s the desperation of the first that makes the second our only hope.”


February 23, 2012
Vol. 189, No. 6
http://www.adventistreview.org/index.php?issue=2012-1506

GENERAL COMMENTS
This issue was the best one so far this year. I have only one critical comment that I’ll save for later. Enjoy!

REVIEWS
The cover story, “I GIVE YOU MY LIFE” reported by Lael Caesar is a MUST READ. Whitney Phipps is a shining example of what every member, regardless of political conviction or theological orientation, can be proud. I particularly enjoyed the following anecdote:

“Phipps once sang at a large function in Washington where President Clinton spoke, then rushed across town to sing at a major meeting of the Grand Old Party. Once there, he announced that he had just come from singing for the president of the United States. There was some booing and mumbling. ‘Wait a minute,’ he said. ‘Wait a minute. I always go where people really need the Lord.’ There was polite applause. Then he continued, ‘And that’s why I’m here!’ It’s the attitude he has always taken, that ministry, not politics and party affiliation, defines his purpose. “And sometimes,” he admits, ‘it causes me to tremble…because you end up ministering to people who see each other as mortal or political enemies.’”

If only Ted Wilson had Whitney’s sense if humor and his generous spirit.

A PEARL FOR AN IDIOT by Jeff Scoggins was a parable worth remembering. My only problem was deciphering the title. The swirly “Little Mermaid” title script had me guessing “A Beant for an Idiot” instead of “A Pearl for an Idiot”! (I had to turn to the Title Page to decipher the word!)

I particularly appreciated DOES COLOSSIANS 2:16, 17 ABOLISH THE SABBATH. Kim Papaioannou and Michael Mxolisi Sokupa present a scholarly and convincing argument. What follows is their conclusion.

“Colossians 2:16, 17 neither abolishes nor establishes either the Sabbath or any other feast. It simply does not address their continuity or discontinuity. The five pieces of evidence outlined above demonstrate persuasively that the only thing the text establishes is that we no longer need to offer sacrifices.”

Docs Handysides and Landless do their excellent job of defining and discussing CHRONIC COUGH and what it might mean. This is a MUST READ for every reader.

Andrew McChesney’s LUCKY BEING ME is a thoughtful tribute to his humanity and the Adventist lifestyle.

And the KID’S VIEW insert was impressive. Kudos to Karimabadi, Luste Maran, and Poirer

COMMENT
E. Edward Zinke’s lead editorial, DOES THE DEVIL CARE? was distressing because it demonizes those of us who think Bible study requires that we “test God’s Word by our minds (How else can this be done?), rather than testing our minds by God’s Word” . Here is the quote:

“Does the devil care whether we have faith? Satan tempts us to act independent of God, to establish our minds as the absolute determiner of truth, rather than relying upon God’s Word to guide us to His truth as the foundation of our faith. He tempts us to test God’s Word by our minds, rather than testing our minds by God’s Word. To doubt God’s Word is the means by which Satan hopes to lead us to stray from God.”

Zinke goes on to say:

“The devil was in the Garden of Eden tempting Adam and Eve to trust their own judgment rather than the Word of God.”

Ed, you can’t have it both ways. You claim that it was the Devil that tempted Adam and Eve when the Bible clearly identifies the creature who did the tempting as a snake. How do you believe we should “test God’s Word” in this instance?

AT REST
CHALKER, Byron K., Sr.—b. Feb. 14, 1922, Parkersburg, W.Va.; d. Sept. 24, 2011, Chattanooga, Tenn.
COMBES, Vivian E.—b. Jan. 6, 1933, Guthrie, Okla.; d. Sept. 27, 2011, Greencastle, Ind.
FESLER, Bob L.—b. May 14, 1930, Genoa, Colo.; d. Feb. 5, 2011, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
GAY, Phyllis J.—b. Jan. 12, 1936, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; d. Aug. 11, 2011, Orlando, Fla.
NICOLA, Darrell A.—b. Apr. 19, 1929, Los Angeles, Calif.; d. Aug. 26, 2011, Fallbrook, Calif.
PETTY, Frederick C.—b. Feb. 2, 1913, Dozier, Ala.; d. Sept. 16, 2011, Altamonte Springs, Fla.
RAMSAY, Lillian J.—b. June 2, 1919, Bradwardine, Manitoba, Canada; d. Nov, 5, 2011, Boise, Idaho.
WATTS, Lois May (Shepherdson)—b. May 25, 1919, Kirksville, Mo.; d. Nov. 13, 2011, Loma Linda, Calif.
WRIGHT, Kenneth A., Jr.—b. Union Springs, N.Y.; d. Sept. 11, 2011, Winchester, Va.

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