February 23, 2015

Inbox

The Elder Brother

Dean Waterman’s “The Elder Brother” (Jan. 22, 2015) is a beautiful article. Thank you! This is a breath of fresh air again in the muddle of terrorism and revenge. An opportunity to see what God is really like. Lovely. I enjoyed reading every line.

Let’s do radical—let’s show the world the grace it deserves.

Clifford Herman
Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom

Running on Empty

I’m writing in regard to Michael D. Pearson’s article “Running on Empty” (Jan. 8, 2015). Being very familiar with the Bulawayo to Johannesburg road (as I have hitchhiked the road many times as a high school student), I too can attest to dangers and God’s protection. Once I was asked to drive a car missing a windshield; I drove it at night for more than 400 miles, without wildlife interference! God’s hand was over us!

Pearson’s remarkable drive obviously had angels pushing his vehicle, what with the illustrated dash gauges showing 1400 rpm at almost 100 mph, door ajar light on as well as the seat belt light on, to say nothing of the empty petrol tank! God is good.

The story was well placed close to the Review notice of “Change. Is. Good.” (p. 5). I wish the Review well in its new venture, and trust that the staff will have a full tank and lots of prayers.

I prefer my printed Reviews weekly, but realize that Ellen G. White’s vision for the printed present truth also included streams of light (e-Reviews?) that went clear around the world (Life Sketches, p. 125).

Irwin Staples
Grass Valley, California

Just an observation regarding the photo that accompanies the article “Running on Empty.” The relationship of the readings of the speedometer and the tachometer is interesting. In most cars, if the speedometer read 100 mph, the tachometer would likely be reading in the range of 6,000 rpm.

Fred Thomas
Columbia, Maryland

The speed on the speedometer in the photograph was changed, as well as a few other features of the original photo. We did, however, overlook the tachometer and the indicator lights.

Just for the record, we do not endorse driving 98 mph without a seat belt and/or with a door open.—Editors.

Rehearsing a Divorce

I had to write in response to Bill Knott’s editorial “Rehearsing a Divorce” (Jan. 8, 2015). I am horrified when I see how our young people (and older folks as well) find entertainment in watching people being killed. Even worse is the fact that many play computer games in which they kill people or beings from outer space. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 3:18—by beholding Christ we are changed into His image. But it is also true that by beholding the mayhem of modern entertainment we also become changed.

Ellen G. White wrote that “by beholding we become changed. By the indulgence of impure thoughts man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him. Satan is using every means to make crime and debasing vice popular. . . . The mind is educated to familiarity with sin. . . . The once tender conscience, which would have recoiled with horror from such scenes, becomes hardened, and they dwell upon these things with greedy interest” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 459).

I hope and pray that both young and old take Knott’s article to heart. Time is too short to waste it on such foolishness.

Richard Bauer
Barkhamsted, Connecticut

I just read (for the second time) Bill Knott’s “Rehearsing a Divorce.” It was excellent. Four of us had spent two weeks in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, and had a great visit with old friends, seeing local sights and all. And on those long Pacific flights I did observe exactly what Knott so well describes. I could hardly imagine a big planeload of people fastened to those tiny screens for the whole flight.

Thanks for this wonderful article.

E. J. Heisler
Chattanooga, Tennessee

He Isn’t Even Mine

Many thanks to Gerald A. Klingbeil for his beautiful article “He Isn’t Even Mine” (Dec. 25, 2014). It would be appropriate for a Father’s Day sermon!

I recall the hostile remark by a Torah Jew, quoting Joseph as saying, “I didn’t do it!” and concluding that Jesus was a “momser.”

Beatrice Neall
Ooltewah, Tennessee

Thanks so much for Gerald A. Klingbeil’s insightful article. I enjoyed it so much. As I read I was also reminded of another song from Joseph’s point of view, the song by 4Him titled “A Strange Way to Save the World.” I’m sure I haven’t been anywhere near as good a father as was faithful Joseph, but as with Klingbeil, my daughter knew me right away and still loves me to this day!

Edward Dicken
via e-mail

Family History

It was really of great interest to me to see my great-grandparents and my grandpa (the little fellow sitting in the middle at the bottom of the picture on page 9) and to find out what they are doing with that church (see “A Special Christmas for Oldest Adventist Church in Europe,” Dec. 25, 2014). I am fourth generation down from the great-grandparents, and third down from my grandpa Roth.

I have the book Ellen G. White in Europe, so I knew some details about them, but I was happy to know that the little church in Tramelan will now be kept for church history for Switzerland.

My father went to Mrs. White’s meetings, and my husband’s mother and her mother would take the horse and buggy and go over and see Mrs. White at Elmshaven.

My father, George Roth, and his parents were also missionaries and were just returning to the U.S.—to San Francisco—when the earthquake occurred. He was 12 at that time, and they thought that was the end of the world coming. Thanks for the report!

Vernita Sage (Roth)
via e-mail

Get a Robe!

I was surprised by the statue displayed in the lobby of the General Conference building and pictured in the December 11, 2014, Review (pp. 7 and 10). My reaction was “Can someone please throw some clothes on that woman?”

Her “clothes” didn’t leave much for the imagination. Does our church not believe in modesty anymore? The Bible bears record that Jesus clothed the naked (Gen. 3:21 and Mark 5:15); and He was very particular that the garments of the priests would be modest and no nakedness appear (Ex. 20:26 and 28:42, 43). Shouldn’t we follow our Savior’s example?

Gerita Liebelt
Libby, Montana

The figure you refer to is part of the bronze sculpture located, since 2000, in the lobby of the General Conference building in Silver Spring, Maryland. The sculpture represents the excitement of believers at the Second Coming. These 10 figures represent the continents of the world. You are not the first to remark upon the cultural dress of the “Hawaiian” islander. While the figure’s attire may not represent what some consider modest, this is traditional clothing from that region of the world, and is not seen there as immodest.
—Editors.

Many Thanks

We read of the changes coming to the Adventist Review with some sadness, as we have always looked forward to seeing my copy of the Review in the mail—and anticipating sitting and enjoyi
ng each issue. But we know we can enjoy the new issues and have even more to inspire, inform, and enrich our Christian experience with the new format, even though it won’t be weekly.

Thank you to each one on the staff for all the work you do.We hope and pray the new format will interest the younger generation.

We have been subscribers almost all our married lives, which will be 64 years this year. We can’t even dream of not receiving the Review in our home!

Relious and Beverly Walden
Apopka, Florida

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