My attempts at being an evangelist have been about as successful as my one (and only) academy banquet to which I got stood up by my date. My earliest Adventist outreach memory was of me in Hong Kong at age 5 when my missionary mom and her friends took me around town giving out “Stop […]
Potluck may be the secret sauce that can help bring unity and revitalization to the Adventist church. Here are three reasons why this humble tradition could have profound impacts: First, potluck draws us together regardless of where we fall on the theological spectrum of Adventist belief. The allure of Special K Loaf or veggie lasagna […]
I like truth that rests on proof. I see no merit in believing something just because someone says it. I want solid, rational evidence. And I’m willing to follow that evidence, even if it leads to uncomfortable conclusions. In that respect, I’m like many Adventist Today readers. I know there are people who easily accept things […]
The future trajectory of Adventism hinges on our ability to foster open, respectful dialogue that embraces diverse perspectives. This is why supporting the accessible, independent Adventist journalism of Adventist Today is more crucial than ever before. For too long, our church has struggled to create spaces where meaningful conversations can thrive without fear or judgment. Dissenting voices […]
In the story of the two men walking to Emmaus, there is a verse that catches my attention. The two men are joined by an unexpected visitor who, they conclude, must have been living under a rock, so little does he appear to know of the latest happenings in Jerusalem. As they are explaining the […]
When I was young, I had a relative who struggled with deep depression. Our small Adventist community was our main point of reference for everything health-related. Some would even travel hundreds of miles to see the Adventist physicians who had a clinic in Wahpeton in the far southeastern corner of the state. As for mental […]
Burning One Another for God Christians have burnt each other, quite persuaded That all the Apostles would have done as they did The above is a quote from a poem by the great 19th century poet Lord Byron. It is simply to say that people can convince themselves of some very strange things, such as […]
I have been thinking lately about what it means when Jesus says in Matthew 7:1-2, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I’ve always thought I was a person […]
Lately I’ve been thinking about churches: the congregations I used to be a pastor of, as well as the whole denomination I identify with. One notable thing about all churches, at all levels, is that there’s an inside and an outside. These organizations formalize the division between members and those who aren’t. Additionally, nearly all […]
Have you ever caught yourself wondering where exactly you belong? It might be a cultural question if you grew up between cultures, or a vocational question if you’re unhappy with your career. It might be a relational question if you’re looking for a friend or partner who understands you better, or a political question if none […]
I’m rather sick of love—of the word, at least. It’s been overused. Burned out. “Love” has come to mean whatever someone wants it to mean. That’s surely true in popular music, where the word appears in nearly every love song. But it’s equally true, I would argue, among Christians. I remember a church member who […]
We Adventists want to be known for our focus on health, education, and a hopeful belief in a soon Second Coming. What we don’t like to admit is how fearful we are of God. It’s not the healthy reverence found in the Psalms, the awe that inspires us to strive for holiness. This fear is […]