First, the work of reformation “must begin in the home.” How can children know the truth of what is right if they are not taught from an early age? “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“There rests upon parents the most solemn obligation to train their children in the fear and love of God.” My parents always taught me of God and His Word since before I was born. I am blessed to know so much about my Heavenly Father. But there are parents out there that have fallen away from outright training in the Word of God and its trues. To these E. G. White makes this command, “Parents need to awake from their deathlike slumber, and no longer neglect the Lord’s instructions…Their course of action is to be a constant declaration that…they have put on the image of the heavenly.”

Parents are to be earthly examples of Christ and our Heavenly Father. But I have heard of many say, “If God is anything like my father I want nothing to do with Him.” This is the failure of parents in being the image of Christ in the home. Satan has worked on destroying the purity and sanctity of the home in so many ways.

The Bible is God’s will revealed. It is His guidebook for our lives on this earth. “How can a young man keep His way pure? By living according to Your Word.” (Psalm 119:9) The truths in it are “utterances of the Most High.” When we read God’s Word and meditate on Him, He will transform our hearts and minds into the image of His. “A new heart I give you…”

May our constant prayer be that of David’s “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Not only will He transform us through His Spirit, but the light of truth in His word shines through any darkness. “As the Word of God is searched, life-giving truths are found.”

In the last days there will be a remnant of those who follow Christ’s blessed Word and His example of sacrfice as our Savior.

God’s Word has the power to change. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Just this last January, six ICC children graduated from the DEWS Sweet Home secondary school. Other ICC children in India have gone on to college for nursing and other careers. Each day sees more living proof of the positive work ICC has in the lives of orphaned children allover the world making these accomplishments possible.

In Mexico, the El Oasis Children’s Village houses 52 children. The village campus includes an education center, a church, a farm, and a volunteer center and RV park. The children that came just in time for the Christmas of 1997 are now healthy and happy teenager attending the secondary school there. Mission groups also spend time volunteering there helping around campus by renovating buildings or just playing with the kids.

In December, word was received that at the SDA stewardship conference of local Seventh-day Adventist churches in Mexico unanimously voted to send monthly a small percentage of their income, despite financial struggles, to the El Oasis Children’s Village. Also, the government DIF, Mexico’s child protection agency, said they want to continue giving the Children’s Village children after a pleasant visit there.

Mackenzie Thompson, age 16 and a current employee of ICC, shares about her mission trip to the Children’s Village at El Oasis: “The thing that impacted me the most is how I got to see Jesus in their eyes. The children showed total acceptance and the love of Jesus.”

Jesus said, “Le t the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

By clicking on the ICC link above, you can learn about the mission and ministry of International Children’s Care, and how to donate to their cause or even sponsor a child in their care.

When Evo Morales, Bolivia’s president, “spoke of the need for Bolivians to have hope, upright lives, and to work for a better future, in Cochabamba, he was hand-delivered a Living with Hope magazine.

The Seventh-day Adventist mayor of Petrolina, Pernambuco, of Brazil, Odacyr Amorim, presented Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, the Brazilian president with the magazine in the Portugese version.

Also on that same day, Adventist pastor Santiago Ayala gave the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, his own copy at the nation’s capitol in Quito.

Adventists allover South America hand-delivered the message that “God loves every person and care for everyone” and that living for Christ is Living with Hope. “Members in South America were energized by the venture.” An Adventist in Brazil exclaimed, “I don’t want to live more without leading others to hope.”

All it takes is a movement, a people to get on fire for Christ. When you have people sharing the gospel with you, you feel invigorated with His love and moved by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people are ready to get involved. All it takes is an invitation. See how you can get involved at your local Adventist church with local or international missions like this one.

Jesus sent his disciples with these words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19, 20)

Bishop John Rucyahana of Rwanda was given Prison Fellowship’s annual William Wilberforce Award. This is given by a Christian Ministry for prisoner reconciliation to God, and is awarded to “a distinguished Christian leader who has confronted social injustice.” Bishop Rucyahana created a program in Rwanda that prepares genocide victims and their perpetrators for “face-to-face reconciliation meetings.”

In Jamaica, Queen Elizabeth II appointed West Indies Union President (a Seventh-day Adventist), Patrick Linton Allen as Jamaica’s governor general to act as the direct representative of the queen on ceremonial occasions in Jamaica. Though governor general is considered non-political, he will still have the authority to choose civil service officers. He is the first Adventist to assume this role. Allen says, “Any decision I make will be cast in justice, equality and compassion.”

Huedel Morgan-Isaac received a fifth-level British civilian honor for her 28 years in midwife work in England. She has also played a leadership role in the launching of an “education program for teen mothers.”

3AbN just launched the first SDA Russian TV channel featuring 24-hour Russian-language Christian programming. It can also be viewed via Internet. This helps reach small Russian communities as well as the more than “300 million Russian-speaking people [there are] worldwide.”

ADRA in Malawi received a 2008 “Entertainer of the Year Award” for their program “Tikuferanji” meaning “Why are we dying?” The radio play addresses personal health regarding HIV/AIDS prevention. “The show provides education in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by advocating responsibility and safe behavior.”

It is always awesome to read about the growth and development, and recognition of causes like these by Adventists and others. Even through hard economic downfall and sin in this world, God is still at work providing hope for the hopeless. Job 5:15,16 says, “He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; He saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.”

We have a day to look forward to; the coming of Christ Jesus our Lord.

He starts his article with this quote by Albert Einstein, “We see a universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws, but only dimly understand these laws. Our limited minds cannot grasp the mysterious force that moves the constellations.”

From as early as 650 B.C. astronomers across the globe have been striving to learn even the slightest amount about our incredible universe. The Babylonians recorded detailed star and moon locations. The Greek mathematician Hipparchus “used a trigonometric table to predict solar eclipses” and also created detailed astronomical maps. A Persian, Al-Sufi discovered the Andromeda galaxy, Nicolaus Copernicus developed the heliocentric theory claiming the sun as our solar system’s center. Others such as Danish Tycho Brahe built large astronomical instruments, built the world’s “first observatory” with over 1,000 stars, and even his assistant established the laws of “planetary motion.”

In the seventeenth century, a Dutch lensmaker, Hans Lippershay, came to the discovery of magnifying faraway objects with different combinations of lenses. He enclosed the lenses in a tube to form the first telescope. Others like Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton made more astronomical discoveries with their improved telescopes. Then came the Hubble Telescope. The Hubble’s primary mirror has an eight foot diameter and weighs almost a ton. During its journey through space, it has”orbited the earth more that 100,000 times, and it has sent back more than 560,000 detailed images of celestial objects.” It has discovered multiple galaxies that seem like tiny specs of light in the sky from here on earth.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey will hopefully be finalized by 2010. This project utilizes “an eight-foot telescope located at 9,147 feet at the Apache Point Observatory in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico.” With its 120-megapixel camera, “it can image an area about eight times the size of a full moon.” When it has reached completion, “the project will have cataloged more than 1 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars and other celestial objects.”

Throughout earth’s entire history, there have been those that study the universe. Even the wisemen of Jesus’ time recognized an unusual star in the sky that coincided with the prophetic scriptures. Through all these years we, humans, have been fascinated with the incredible size, vastness, and complexity of our universe. And with that we can never learn enough. With cutting edge inventions and humanly created technology, we have only begun to scratch the surface of this incomprehensible universe God has created.

David, the psalmist, put it into perspective, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Even the Creator of this unimaginable universe, who holds the world in His hand, cares about each one of us.

Darwin famously proposed this “the variety of life itself is entirely the result of similar nondeliberate natural processes acting over time.” So if most people during Darwin’s time accepted the belief of creationism as the origin of life on this earth, and they believed in God Himself as their Creator, how did Darwin change so many points of view to a growing popular belief that our present typical scientists and society altogether now believe is the only true science? Richard Dawkins, a presently prominent Darwinist, writes, “Although atheism might have been logically tenable befor Darwin, Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.” Basically, Darwinism removed the need of a God as a part of science. William Provine, another Darwinism advocate states the consequences of naturalist evolution:

no gods worth having exist

no life after death exists

no ultimate foundation for ethics exists

no ultimate meaning in life exists

human free will is nonexistent

But some Darwinists also see themselves as religious people. Then “what’s the difference between science and religion?” Pitman expertly explains the following, “For many, religion is based more on feeling, on desire, or on a personal ‘experience’ with a god or godlike ‘higher power’; science, on the other hand, is empirical, testable, and repeatable by others, and bale to generate ‘predicitive value’ with use of the ‘scientific method.” But what value is found in a feel-good religion based on no testable faith or a real God? This leaves only wishful thinking in place of an otherwise solid hope or assurance.

Charles Hard Townes, Nobel Prize winner for physics and University of California professor, as well as Eugene Wigner, also a physics Nobel Prize winner, both are quoted on their amazement with the belief of earth being a “privileged planet.” Every galactic condition has to be perfect in order to have sustainable complex life on earth. It is seemingly unexplainable as to how naturalism could have created such balance and perfection. This nonliving universe screams design. Something so huge and amazing as our universe requires some need for information for its existence. The only infallible conclusion both these professors and other scientists are being forced to discover is that this information, this design, and this universe’s complexity, can only be the result of Intelligence.Naturalist mechanisms cannot account for the enormousness of this vast universe, nor the intricate complexity of even the simplest of cells and proteins.

The first article is by Leonard Roy Brand, a professor of Biology and Paleontology and chair of the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences at Loma Linda University. Brand decides to discuss the newer developing theory of Intelligent Design. What is ID? Basically, a group of scientists came together and talked about issues that they saw in Darwinism. They discussed the weakenesses they had found and the missing links that Darwinists conveniently overlook. There had to be another way. These scientists decided that life on and around this earth is just too complex to have come about through the small minor changes of evolution combined with mutations and natural selection. One illustration they use is the common mousetrap. The mousetrap requires every part to be present in order for it to work. If one part is missing, function is lost. This is a traditional example of irreducible complexity. This states that when one complex part of an object/organism is missing, function of that complex object/organism is impossible

They argue that natural selection cannot see the future. For example, Michael Behe, a prominent advocate of the ID theory, points out the incredible and irreducible complexity of bacterial flagellum. These contain what he calls a “flagellar motor.” This flagellum holds the exact image of a motor including a rotor, stator, propellers, and a hook. But how could each of these complex parts form by evolution, mutations, and natural selection alone? If one complex part happened to be naturalistically created (that is by undirected chance) it would be useless without all the other complex parts. As a useless part of the cell, natural selection would naturally quickly eliminate that unecessary part, because natural selection wouldn’t know that in the future, this part would be needed. And even if all these parts happened to be around at one time, where is the information needed for their assembly?

This, in part explains the key points of the ID theory.

But as logical as these arguments may seem to some, there are still many objections. Brand writes of three major objecting groups. Group one are people who deny that there is a designer. “They don’t believe in a deity at all.” Naturally, this group would be opposed to a theory such as Intelligent Design. The second group calls themselves theistic evolutionists. They believe God used evolution as means of creation. But they believe the design and complexity in nature is only result of natural selection. That design was not directed by a creator. They don’t deny God’s existence but deny His part in designing our universe. The third group consists of conservative Adventist who believe that the ID theory simply undermines the truth of the Creator and Savior God we serve. They believe that ID “stops short of typical conservative Christian beliefs” since it does not claim God to be its “designer.” But if ID is not against these views, why are some conservatives against it?

The purpose of the Intelligent Design theory is not to say the age of the earth, if there was or wasn’t a worldwide flood, nor does it specify who the Intelligence is. All these ID advocates are trying to say is that “life is too complex to arise without intelligent design.” Appreciating the work of the developing ID movement does not mean you don’t believe in what the Bible says, it just means that you believe there is an Intelligence behind all the design and irreducible complexity apparent in the world around us.

ID addresses one limited issue, but it questions the deepest foundations of Darwinian-evolution. The Intelligent Design theory is bringing the concept of design back onto the table of science while trying to wedge through the protective wall of naturalism.

India: Niley Samanta, and Adventist youth in India, was sharing the love and truth of Jesus in a remote village. The Ghosh family in that village were idol worshipers. When they confronted Samanta, he invited them to his meetings. Ghosh began to come and learn about the Bible. God touched His heart and Ghosh was transformed. Ghosh is an Adventist today.

Nigeria: An Elijah Project youth team entered a village to visit people and prepare for their evangelistic series. One member was bitten by a very poisonous snake. The team earnestly prayed and claimed God’s promises. It was clearly a miracle when the bite had no harmful effect on the young person. And even during the meetings, another poisonous snake was slithering up the aisle toward the preacher but God intervened and the villagers were able to kill it. The whole village sensed God moving and many were baptized there.

United States: A group of Sunnydale Academy, US, students came to India to conduct a series of meetings at 12 different sites. Even 13-year-old Michael preached a full evangelistic series, and the trip resulted in 770 baptisms.

South Pacific: Youth from the South Pacific Division traveled to the very remoted island of Nonouti. Through visiting, praying, relationships, and sharing God’s love and truth through a series of meetings, 19 people were baptized.

This challenge to witness has grasped the hearts of Adventist youth and young adults all over the world. When we give our all to His cause, He keeps giving back.

Elephants are invading Southest Asian farms near forests. These hungry elephants come out of their forest homes to indulge in delicious sugar cane and other crops vital to Asian farmers. These farmers have been searching for any way to keep these elephants from stealing their crops. In 2006, raids like this cost farmers $30,000. Limpakanchanathawi decided to take the advice of the Elephant Conservation Network. The secret; hanging CDs on the fences and shining spotlights on them. This stopped the elephants in their tracks. His new refined method consists of a large trench around his crops. One thing is sure, the intelligence of these elephants keeps farmers on their toes searching for new innovative ways to stave of the raids. Next time the neighbor’s dog comes waltzing on your lawn, just be glad you don’t have to keep the elephants out of your backyard.

ATTENTION PLEASE! Turn in all royal artifacts from the lolani Palace. Crazy? Not really. People from 36 U.S. states and four other foreign nations have found and given back royal Hawaiian family objects. After being overthrown in 1893, the belongings and furnishings of Queen Lili’uokalani and her palace were auctioned off. The palace later became a government building. Today, it stands as a museum of the history of Hawaii’s royal family and now they want the artifacts to fill it. Pieces like King Kalakaua’s gilt-and-ebony bedroom set are still high in demand but items are being turned in from all over the Western Hemisphere. A diamond and ruby butterfly brooch is the most remarkable of many Hawaiian monarch treasures.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Whether your treasure is found in the crops you plant and harvest, or the jewels and antiques you possess, that is where your heart is. But if your treasure is found in things above and in God’s unconditional love, your heart will be found in His hands.

This is abortion:

5 pro-life arguments:

• Abortion is homocide. “Indisputable Medical Evidence – the Unborn baby is a Human Being”
• High costs
• Aggravates child abuse “If children are viewed as expendable before birth, they will be viewed as expendable after birth.”
• Unsafe–cause disease, increases risk of breast cancer
• Against Biblical prinicples. “The Bible Declares the Sanctity of Human Life”

5 pro-choice arguments:

• Abortion is not homocide. “The unborn is an embryo or a fetus-just a simple blob of tissue, a product of conception-not a baby. Abortion is terminating a pregnance, not killing a child.”
• Abortion is a woman’s right. “Every woman should have control over her own body. Reproductive freedom is a basic right…Abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor.”–she must be given the right to choose whether she has been raped, the child is deformed, or even for personal reasons.
• Helps solve the high cost and problem of overpopulation
• Just as safe or safer than full-term pregnancy and birth. “Abortion is a safe medical procedure, [just as safe if not] safer than full-term pregnancy and childbirth.”
• We don’t know when life begins. ”It is uncertain when human life begins; that’s a religious question that cannot be answered by science.” “The fetus is [only] a potential human being.”

 
When making a stand or choosing what you believe on the topic of abortion, it is important to research both sides of the argument. But most importantly is searching to find what God says about issues regarding abortion in His Word. (Many more Biblical references can be found here)

“Life: Our valuable gift from God.”

• “God is the Source, Giver, and Sustainer of all life (Acts 17:25,28; Job 33:4; Genesis 1:30, 2:7; Psalm 36:9; John 1:3,4).”

“Life: Our response to God’s gift.”

• “The believing community is called to demonstrate Christian love in tangible, practical, and substantive ways. God calls us to restore gently the broken (Galatians 6:1,2; 1 John 3:17,18; Matthew 1:23; Philippians 2:1-11; John 8:2-11; Romans 8:1-14; Matthew 7:1,2, 12:20; Isaiah 40:42, 62:2-4).”

“Life: Our right and responsibility to decide.”

• “God calls each of us individually to moral decision making and to search the scriptures for the biblical principles underlying such choices (John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 7:13-25).”

These three Biblical keys also reflect the beliefs of the Adventist church on the subject of abortion. I have included one of the most valuable quotations expressing the Adventist view:

“The Church does not serve as conscience for individuals; however, it should provide moral guidance. Abortions for reasons of birth control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned by the Church. Women, at times however, may face exceptional circumstances that present serious moral or medical dilemmas, such as significant threats to the pregnant woman’s life, serious jeopardy to her health, severe congenital defects carefully diagnosed in the fetus, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. The final decision whether to terminate the pregnancy or not should be made by the pregnant woman after appropriate consultation. She should be aided in her decision by accurate information, biblical principles, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, these decisions are best made within the context of healthy family relationships.”

Before writing this post on the issue of abortion, arguments for and against it, Adventist view, and Biblical references, I did not know the church’s exact outlook on the topic. But after reading their article of the importance of home, family, and relationships, and the support, not condemnation of fellow believers, but also their “commitment to the value of human life,” my views have been the same all along.

I see myself as pro-choice, but not as most perceive. Many confuse pro-choice and pro-abortion. I don’t particularly have an answer for when life begins and I believe in the value of human life and the magnificance of the creation of a new being. As you have read above, I do not believe that in any way abortion should be used as a reason of  “birth control, gender selection, or convenience.” But when it comes to the threatening of a woman’s life, jeopardy to her health, congenital defects to fetus, or a victim of rape or incest, is a woman’s moral decision after she has researched all options, and has actively sought God’s will. And until it is legally wrong, I believe it is a choice between a woman and God.

“Abortion is the easy way out” is the pro-life argument that I dislike most. Abortion is not the ‘easy’ way out. When a woman has an unwanted pregnancy, whether by her choice or not, no decision is easy for her. There are long-lasting emotional effects of abortion as well as any other option. Abortion is not physically painless, and many women live with much emotional pain or even regret for years to come after the procedure.

As Christians, I believe it is our duty to support one another in brotherly love yet to stand firm to the truth God has given us by the sacrifice of His only Son, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and by the inspiration of the Word of God.