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inbox Letters From Our Readers Value in Brevity »» Stephen Chavez’s editorial “Beyond Words” (Oct. 24, 2013) about using Holy Spirit-directed brevity in our communications is timely. There is value in completeness, but sometimes more so in brevity—it often invites further inquiry. The widely known columnist Walter Winchell was fond of telling this story of enforced brevity: A young cub reporter on a big metropolitan newspaper, assigned to write obituaries, was writing overly lengthy accounts many paragraphs long on the deaths of people of no particular station in life. Fed up with his wordiness, the editor threatened, “One more obit like this and you’ll be fired!” The reporter’s next assignment was to write about a death in a hotel. He reported it this way: “John K. Brown looked up the elevator shaft of the Jones Hotel today to see if the elevator was on its way down. It was. Age: 46.” Thereinafter the editor had no problem with the reporter’s obituaries. Brevity, yes, but that’s not our biggest problem. It is merely opening our mouths to speak a word for God’s truth “in season.” Herbert Ford Angwin, California Clergy Appreciation »» I appreciated the Review’s inclusion of “Seven Things Pastors Wish Their Congregation Would Do” on page 7 of the October 24 edition. On an October Sabbath this year one of my congregations (I pastor two churches) gave me a public affirmation for Clergy Appreciation Month, as well as a very nice gift. This congregation does the same at Christmas and for my birthday. I feel very loved and appreciated by this congregation. On the other hand, my other church has never had any kind of public affirmation of my ministry, nor have I ever received any kind of gift for Clergy Appreciation Month, at Christmas, or my birthday. I know that I’m appreciated because I hear it from an individual member now and then, but it’s never been done in a public way. It’s amazing how different one congregation can be from another. Perhaps your article will inspire more churches to express their appreciation to their pastors. Name Withheld The Adventist Church Is Intentional »» I love that the Adventist Church is intentional in its planning. I love that its intentionality leads to strategic planning through surveys of Adventist members worldwide, Bible study, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as reported by Elizabeth Lechleitner in “Major Survey to Inform Adventist Church’s Next Strategic Plan” (Oct. 24). I also love the idea that “more Bible reading and prayer will probably be in every Adventist strategic plan until the world ends.” I pray that we, as members of the Adventist Church, will be intentional as well! May we study our Bibles and pray with the intent of getting to know Jesus our Savior better and of loving Him more fully! Betty Villarreal West Richland, Washington www.adventistreview.org October 17, 2013 OctO ber 17, 2013 Vol. 190, No. 29 Adventists Lauded by Humane Society Building Bridges Following the Message »» I’m writing in regard to Arthur Chadwick and Ingo Sorke’s cover article “What on Earth Happened in 1844?” (Oct. 17, 2013). It is well documented what occurred to those believers who had responded to God’s prophetic words found in Daniel 8:14. Another question is: What was our omniscient God doing by the message He sent to earth as presented in the tenth chapter of Revelation, for it describes the experience of those who embraced the prophetic Wi ling Hearts 8 14 26 preaching of Daniel 8:14? God was at work—from those believers He would launch His “remnant” people who “must prophesy again.” The 2300-year prophetic period has passed. Earth has entered Daniel’s “time of the end.” The message to be proclaimed is found in Revelation 14:6-12. If Seventh-day Adventists were to abandon this mission, we would become a part of Babylon. Let us turn and live according to the appeal made by the everlasting gospel. We must not let Satan’s warfare turn us from the God-given mission (see Rev. 12:17). Then through the heavens we can beam the message from tower to tower, saying, “O earth, it is the last, last hour. Jesus is coming again.” David Manzano Harriman, Tennessee The Prophetic Rendezvous of 1844 »» Elijah Mvundura’s “The Prophetic Rendezvous of 1844” (Oct. 17) is one very difficult article to read. I found that the language 4 (1028) | www.AdventistReview.org | November 21, 2013
nearly choked my understanding of this work. I “got the drift” of the conclusion, but I would’ve appreciated reading it without needing to have a Thesaurus at my fingertip. Maybe a second or third reading will help clarify it more. Janice Schnurr via e-mail Allure of the Church »» Jimmy Phillips’ article “Allure of the Church” (Oct. 10, 2013) has started a train of thought. As I think of the life of Christ, the lives of the apostles Paul and Peter, and the lives of our early Seventh-day Adventist Church pioneers, I notice this: Their lives were characterized by self-denial and self-sacrifice. It is crucial to realize that self-denial and self-sacrifice, which are also frequently mentioned in the Spirit of Prophecy writings, apply to a host of things, from luxury cruises to personal adornment, men’s toys, tickets to commercial sporting events, elaborate homes, and fancy cars. There are people having trouble putting food on the table, or who are struggling to send their children to our schools. There are AIDS orphans and famine victims in Africa. These people could benefit from our self-denial and self-sacrifice. We would do well to heed these words from Ellen G. White: “Should we dress in plain, modest apparel without reference to the fashions; should our tables at all times be set with simple, healthful food, avoiding all luxuries, all extravagance; should our houses be built with becoming plainness, and furnished in the same manner, it would show the sanctifying power of the truth and would have a telling influence upon unbelievers” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 206). Does self-denial and selfsacrifice cause people to be sad-faced and joyless? It didn’t seem to do that to Jesus, Paul, or Peter—or Ellen White. Donald E. Casebolt College Place, Washington Theological Articles »» Thank you for your recent magazine editions containing articles on theology dealing with 1844, 1888, and other issues that have divided the church for many generations. I refer to the topics of “last generation holiness,” “universal legal justification,” and the nature of Christ’s humanity. (Actually, the human Christ was not like Adam either before or after the Fall. He was unique.) These are topics and questions that need to be dealt with. Thanks for being brave enough to tackle them. Beatrice Neall Ooltewah, TN Still Reading »» I’ve been a reader of the Adventist Review since my college days (1953-1958) as copies were available on the monitor’s counter in the dorm lobby. I would pick one up as copies of The Youth’s Instructor were placed in each room by the Friday monitor. I loved the Review then, and I’m still reading it. I’ve been a subscriber for many years. Thank you for this magazine. Lydia Valido Waipahu, Hawaii Understandable »» Thank you for printing Andy Nash’s “No One Close: The Finest Adventist Author” (Sept. 19, 2013). This article has shown me how I can compare Ellen White’s writings to the Bible to see how I “Brevity, yes, but that’s not our biggest problem. It is merely opening our mouths to speak a word for God’s truth in season. ” —herbert ford, Angwin, California “I pray that we, as members of the Adventist Church, will be intentional as well! ” —Betty villarreal, West Richland, Washington can get God in my life. I’ve read parts of the Bible again and again and never really understood it. But now I will be able to read a section of the Bible then see what White has written about it. I can now understand what I’m reading and how I can relate it to my life. Thank you so much for showing this awesome way to me, I can now understand God’s word and share it with others better. Amber B. Niles, Michigan We welcome your letters, noting, as always, that inclusion of a letter in this section does not imply that the ideas expressed are endorsed by either the editors of the Adventist Review or the General Conference. Short, specific, timely letters have the best chance at being published (please include your complete address and phone number—even with e-mail messages). Letters will be edited for space and clarity only. Send correspondence to Letters to the Editor, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600; Internet: letters@ adventistreview.org. www.AdventistReview.org | November 21, 2013 | (1029) 5
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Page 6 and 7: Editorials Bill Knott Each edition
Page 8 and 9: World News & Perspectives photo: Co
Page 10 and 11: World News & Perspectives ■■WOR
Page 12 and 13: World News & Perspectives Thus was
Page 14 and 15: Heart and Soul: Biblical Studies De
Page 16 and 17: what’s important in ruling a coun
Page 18 and 19: Cover From Clicktivist BY JANELLE C
Page 20 and 21: Photo: Austin Ho young. “Your yea
Page 22 and 23: Devotional By DAVID B. SMITH AND LO
Page 25 and 26: Back to Basics When Anger Is Sin Ha
Page 27 and 28: would be filled with tension, threa
Page 29 and 30: The Life of Faith Jews, Christians,
Page 31: Reflections Fissures in Fine-China

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