Was Ellen White an environmentalist? Was she concerned with Planet Earth, with ecology, recycling, contaminants, the effects of materialism? Although Ellen White lived most of her life in the nineteenth century before plastics were invented, before nuclear power, before nitrates and anthropogenic chemicals contaminated our rivers and streams, and before greed for oil drove much … Continue reading –>
Since February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, we are going to look at how issues of race, slavery and ministry were addressed by the early Seventh-day Adventist church, as well as how they are discussed in the Bible. Of all possible topics to be discussed, race, religion and politics are … Continue reading –>
Ellen White gets it! She understands the twenty-first-century heart-cry to know and experience God, to do something meaningful and enduring in life, and to grapple with issues of poverty, alienation, health, education, diversity, inclusiveness, integrity and eternity. Yet she’s dead. The principles she espoused transcend time and are more pertinent and applicable than ever. Yes, … Continue reading –>
Jonathan: “Dad, where are we going?” Father: “Son, we’re going to the Johnsons’ house.” Jonathan: “What? Why aren’t we going to church?” Father: “We are, Jonathan. We’re going to church at the Johnsons’ today.”1 Jonathan: “But why, Dad? Why aren’t we going to the same church where we’ve always gone?” Father: “It’s closed today, Son. … Continue reading –>
Keeping Galatians 3:25 in mind, read Galatians 3:26. How does this text help us understand what our relationship to the law is, now that we have been redeemed by Jesus? 1 The word for at the beginning of verse 26 indicates that Paul sees a direct connection between this verse and the preceding one. In the same way that a master’s … Continue reading –>
In 1879, teens Luther Warren and Harry Fenner wanted to do evangelism for Jesus. Praying together often for ideas and vision, young Fenner and Warren initiated the first Adventist youth group. Their Michigan Adventist Youth Society was successful from the beginning, and soon spread to other conferences. In the early years of Adventism, youth work … Continue reading –>
Sometimes we tend to think that Jesus only commissions certain kinds of people, but Matthew 28:19-20 sounds like a pretty inclusive mandate to me. No one is excluded from going into all the world to teach the gospel, no hand is to be held back that could be involved in service and outreach. Jesus commissions … Continue reading –>
“Live in harmony with one another…” Romans 12:16, NIV I enjoy concerts. I marvel at how many different instruments in an orchestra can blend together to produce something of great power and beauty. I also thrill at the many different voices that blend together to produce the majestic strains of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Whether it … Continue reading –>
A few weeks ago I mentioned three categories of worship – private worship, community worship, and living worship. You may remember my article on personal worship. Now I want to reflect a little more on community worship. While this discussion will feature some of the issues of community worship I want to remind readers that all … Continue reading –>
The Seventh-day Adventist church is a prophetic movement which God raised up for the furtherance of the gospel after centuries of apostasy by His church. This makes us special in terms of responsibility. We’re not special because of any intrinsic value that we have, but we have a special message and we are a called … Continue reading –>
