by Reinder Bruinsma  |  28 December 2020  | In my native Dutch language we either wish people a “happy” or a “blessed” new year. Many of my compatriots may not be aware of the origin of this difference: those with a Protestant heritage prefer to use the term “happy,” while people with a Roman Catholic […]

by Loren Seibold  |  25 December 2020 This essay was first printed in the 2020 Winter edition of Intersections, the magazine of the Glendale City Church. Perhaps my very first experience of standing for truth though the heavens fall began with standing on my tiptoes at the school lunch counter at the Gackle, North Dakota, […]

by Christopher C. Thompson  |  22 December 2020  |   This has been the weirdest year ever—and the competition with past years in my life isn’t even close. We’re ready for Christmas! We’re starving for some good news, good cheer, warm and fuzzy feelings, and a break from the bad news that 2020 keeps dishing out. […]

By Raj Attiken  |  22 December 2020  |   Christmas, heralded by some as “the most wonderful time of the year,” routinely receives a bit of a bashing in Christian circles. The haranguing may be over such things as Christmas ads, decorations, greetings, songs, trees, shopping, and even the design on Starbucks holiday cups. There is […]

by Thandazani Mhlanga  |  17 December 2020  | There is much power in words. A gently whispered “I love you” at a time of emotional turmoil has the ability to whisk you away to a place of joy. But the opposite is also true: words can also take us to a place of emotional chaos.  […]

16 December 2020  | My daughter became a Catholic today. One might think she was pressured to do this, but she says “No.” Her understanding husband was raised Catholic (even steeped in it), but is barely a practicing Catholic now. He seems neither devout nor fervent, although many of his family members are Catholic.   She […]

by Kris Coffin Stevenson  |  15 December 2020  |   Just before the world transitioned from flip phones to smartphones, I went to an educational seminar on technology and the future. The presenter held up a phone and explained how it would soon be connected to the Internet. “What is your role as a teacher,” he […]

by Elle Berry  |  10 December 2020  | It’s come to my attention that we live in the age of Karen.  Some of you may not be familiar with what a Karen is, so if you have not yet encountered this archetype please allow me to acquaint you with the basics. Over the last few […]

by Smuts van Rooyen  |  9 December 2020  | Marvin, I write this to you as one old warhorse to another. You and I, being of roughly the same age group, are old warhorses who’ve done our best for this church. I affirm your rich and productive ministry which, though different than mine, has blessed many. […]

by David Geelan  |  08 December 2020  | Is morality dependent on human beings, or independent? Many of the comments on my most recent piece for Adventist Today, entitled ‘Can Atheists Be Moral People?’ suggested morality must be objective, or else everything is utterly subjective, and each person’s moral framework is as good as anyone […]

by Jack Hoehn | December 1, 2020 | Adventists have learned the details of the church’s “Health Message” are inspired good advice and not all divine oracle. For some, this has led to discounting many things the church promoted as the “Adventist Lifestyle.” Some Adventist health practices have become universally accepted good advice but the […]