OUT THERE
As I read about all the work we are doing in other countries, ("Sow 1 Billion," Jan. 8, 2004) the question comes to mind: What about our own United States of America? Who's out on the streets telling bikers, teenagers, young adults, the homeless, and yes, even the drunks sleeping in cardboard boxes about Jesus?

My husband and I are one couple out there. We ask questions: Do you know Jesus? Are you saved? Most people answer, "No." But they want to learn more.

This week my husband told me he was talking to a young man at work who thought he was going to hell because of his sins. The young man never knew what Jesus did for us. Can you imagine? The young man came to him the next day and said "thank you."

We pray daily that the Holy spirit can touch these lives and change them; please pray with us. We have planted many seeds for the Lord, and quite often people come back and want to learn more. Praise the Lord!

Norene
Berwick, Maine

DEALING WITH INFIDELITY
Through her books and articles I have long read of and been aware of Kay Kuzma's talent to bless individuals in their quest to be closer to God in their family relationships. I was therefore disappointed (as I have told her in a separate correspondence) in the answer she gave to a woman recently in the Adventist Review ("Marital Affairs," Jan. 2004). The writer asked how to handle a situation where she suspects her husband of having a relationship with a woman who he had previously been involved with. The woman signed her question, "Wanting to do God's will."

This is not an easy subject to deal with, but I find it ironic that Dr. Kuzma starts her response with the sentence: "Commitment keeps marriages alive," and goes on to advise the woman to ask her husband to leave if there is evidence that he has even an emotional attachment to someone else.

As an attorney in my twenties, I do not consider myself sheltered, dependent upon men, or out of touch. I do believe, however, that when Christ chose to use marriage as a metaphor to describe His relationship with the church, commitment--until death, even in spite of heartache and difficulty--was one characteristic He exemplified, and expects us to exemplify in the marriage relationship as well.

Even when giving permission to divorce -- which was in the case of physical adultery, despite our various modern-day psycho-social applications -- God pointed out that it was only the hardness of hearts that made it necessary for Moses to have to make such a provision. Throughout His Word, God empowers us to be able to do "all things," particularly the challenging, difficult, and heartbreaking ones. Betrayal was one thing that Christ was intimately familiar with, which He chose to overcome with love.

Even adultery, while the source of many of today's problems, is not a new phenomenon that God did not consider. He went so far as to include in the Bible the story of Hosea, so we could see that betrayal--specifically adulterous affairs--are not outside the scope of God's knowledge, power, and love.

It is not healthy to be a doormat, nor is it beneficial for children to grow up in a home where they run the risk of believing that it is "acceptable for a father to be double-bonded." It is worse, however, to perpetuate a society that breaks up homes instead of offering hope for an alternative, the possibility that Jesus can make even the worst situation whole. Nowhere in her response does Kuzma encourage the woman in prayer, point her to Scriptures of strength, hope, and wisdom, or make her think that God holds an answer other than separation.

God has called us to be the light of the world. When we point others to the true Light, offering them hope in what may seem like hopeless situations, letting them know that God can work miracles to provide practical solutions to everyday problems if we trust Him and leave behind the instant-gratification, immediate-answer mentality, then marital affairs and all other problems are seen as what they are: simply the symptoms of a much larger spiritual problem.

Donna Hay

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
Regarding "Is Killing Murder?" (Dec. 1, 2003): The sixth commandment states, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13); or as some Bible translations give it, "Thou shalt not murder."

"Murder" is said to mean the taking of human life in a willful, premeditated way, and therefore it would be sin. Is God ever shown to take human life willfully or pre-meditatively? What about Noah's flood? Sodom and Gomorrah? What about hell fire?

And what does this solution say about humans taking human life? Is it not premeditated or willful if it occurs in a moment of rage? Then the word "murder" would not violate the sixth commandment. This solution denies God the power to grant victory over sin, even over those acts of violence that occur in a "moment of passion."

As often happens when we enter into quibbles such as this, debating the fine points of these two renderings removes us from a proper view of the big picture. God would have us see the preciousness of human life. Not only is the physical life entitled to respect, but He would have us understand that the property, the reputation, the interests of others must be carefully protected as well. When we see that quality of grace in our God, how much more likely it is to transfer over to those who serve and admire Him.

Finally, the original Hebrew word can be accurately translated either "kill" or "murder," with "kill" the preferred rendering. Serious Bible students must beware of simplistic solutions that lead nowhere.

Jack Penner
College Place, Washington

How then do you deal with our young people who are in the active military, who have answered the call of this country and placed themselves in harm's way?

How do you deal with and counsel our veterans who are now suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) syndrome? I have many close friends who grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who are either suffering PTS or refuse to talk about what happened (from World War II through the first Gulf War) because of articles like this or people's opinion about how God views war.

You need to present another side. Remember what God told Moses.

P. C. Willis, Sr.

SEE NO EVIL
Some of the responses to the article, "Cultural Exegesis of the Abercrombie & Fitch Quarterly Catalog" (Nov. 20, 2003), have been very closed-minded. I read the responses before reading the article because I thought that the responses would have been more positive. The critical nature of these responses caused me to read the full article for myself. I found it extremely informative; something that needed to be addressed.

I have been a member of the Adventist faith for my entire life and have found that we do not like to discuss anything that has to do with sex, abuse of narcotics, or anything that would disturb our utopia. The reality is that our children have a tendency to be uninformed about these issues when they go out into the world; and some of them get caught because no one wanted to talk about them openly.

I applaud Cindy Tutsch's courage to put this concern on the table. I sincerely hope that other would not continue in their ignorance and realize that though we are not "of the world," we are living in the world, and we need to be aware of what's happening so that we can be stronger witnesses.

Living in the Real World
Lexington, Kentucky

THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION
The article, "He Plunged Himself Into Our Mess" (Dec. 2003) was truly inspired. I wept with gratitude for our wonderful Triune God as I read it; especially the sections, "never too wretched for God," and "willpower won't work."

So many times articles appear just as I need inspiration and encouragement on a given subject--the Holy Spirit knows what I need. Praise His name.

M.Malmstrom
Homosassa, Florida

CREDIT WHERE DUE
I was surprised to find no mention of N. Clifford Sorensen, and the critical role he played in saving Atlantic Union College ("New President Helps Pull College Back From Brink," Dec. 2003).

Sorensen came out of retirement at the critical moment, and at very short notice, to work with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, to straighten out the books, and to give the college another chance. Without him there would have been no college for George Babcock to preside over, other than its burial.

We do right to honor people, their commitment, and their accomplishments with the grace of God. But as we do, fairness demands that credit be given to whom it is due.

Roland Blaich
Port Angeles, Washington