Do Jesus' Directives Apply to the Death of a Terrorist? by Andy McDonald

Our natural reaction when wronged is retaliation. Every mother observes this, even in her otherwise precious toddler. One toddler pushes another toddler, bites or hoards the desired toy, and the other toddler pushes back – usually a little harder, gives just a bit harder bite, or hoards two toys rather than just one.

In the human heart, there is a divine desire for justice that easily warps from “justice for all” to “justice for me and my cause.” Stories are told of some “injustice” done to the member of a gang. To reset the balance of life fairness, the injured gang rises up to make things right by perpetrating some greater injustice to the opposing gang. What results today is a gang war. In yesteryear it was the Hatfields and McCoys, and when replicated by nations, this behavior results in catastrophic loss of life in war.

When we have been wronged—individually, as a family, gang or nation, what is the “right” response? There is national duty to protect and defend the people of our nation, but where does that merge with a sense of payback or vengeance? I’m not sure where that line is, but I am troubled by where our latest victory has led.

Rejoicing at death on either side of the issue seems out of character, especially for people called to “Love the Lord our God with all our hearts and our neighbor (every other human on earth) as ourselves.” Paul says that “love suffers long and is kind. Love keeps no record of when it has been wronged. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable. And love is for justice.” 1 Corinthians 13

What does all of this mean in light of Osama bin Laden’s death? Are the teachings of Jesus only for individuals and not for nations? And if they are for nations too, then where is that line between protecting the citizen and payback? How much justice, from our perspective, can we meet out without stepping over Jesus’ call to “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-48

It seems appropriate that we might rejoice that the world is a safer place minus OBL (if that is actually the case, and continued terrorist attacks make it questionable). Still, such rejoicing is ethically different from rejoicing over the death of a fellow human, regardless of how severely inhumane he was. Let’s rejoice that the cause of terrorism has been weakened, and let us rejoice that this leader will no longer be a perpetrator of evil, orchestrating the continued deaths of many.

And – as difficult, counterintuitive, and counter-terrorist mindset as it might be – let us simultaneously maintain a sense of a diminished world whenever a human life is lost.

Andy McDonald

Happy Mothers' Day by Vicki McDonald

The Bible is a rich source of examples of characters that reflect many aspects of the human life. However, when it comes to the role of a mother, these character models are difficult to find. While there are a few mothers mentioned, the tender nurturing Mom we all hold up as a template seems to be lacking. For instance, there is Sara who finally conceives at an extreme age and bears a son, only to have her son taken off and nearly offered as a sacrifice as a young man! Another is the daring Jochabed who hides her baby in a floating basket, later agreeing to become his wet nurse and having to hand him over to Pharaoh’s daughter to be raised in the palace. Hannah pleads and begs for a baby, but when her prayer is answered, she takes her young son and gives him to the priest to be raised in the temple.

What kind of mother could do such extraordinary acts? Were their acts somewhat dysfunctional or influenced by culture and time? Even though we have these stories, the Bible fails to give us any insight into their parenting skills or the foundational elements that would be the character-building framework that helped these children grow and become used in a significant way as leaders for God.

As a mother of two gifted children, I knew early on that I would need to individualize my approaches to help each child feel special. Our first-born, a girl, loved books and learning and really enjoyed doing things independently. Our second child, a boy, loved making things and anything social. At one report card period our friend asked how they had done. Our daughter proudly pronounced that she had straight A’s, and my son got a big grin and happily announced . . . “I have a variety!” What’s a mom to do?

I propose that the reason the Bible is silent and does not offer us much in the way of a “Mommy template,” or recipe for motherhood, is that God originally designed that each child would be able to experience and feel a Mother’s heart that is perfectly paired to respond in a way that is as unique and individualized as every mother/child relationship. Thus, each mother - starting with God to Eve and from each generation - perpetuates this Godly nature that comes from the Originator of a heart of love. This is an exclusive love that is shared and refreshed, embedded in a nurturing spirit to match the needs of the newest generation.

“Nurture and love your child in Gods ways; so when they mature they will have understanding…”

Proverbs 22:6

Vicki McDonald
Proud Mother
ARNP/Clinical Risk Manager
Wife of Senior Pastor

Living in the Wet House by Tami Cinquemani

I was listening to an old podcast the other day – “Know When to Fold ‘em” on This American Life. It included a story about the St. Anthony Residence in Minnesota. According to their website, “St. Anthony Residence provides permanent housing for late-stage chronic alcoholic men in Ramsey County with repeated admissions to detoxification centers and a history of failure in traditional chemical dependency treatment programs.” Most people call this type of residence a “wet house.” Though there is a rare instance of an occupant joining a detox program, the residents of St. Anthony are more likely to die in the home than get help.

This segment of the program broke my heart. It is quite clear that these men have given up hope. The individuals interviewed were not self-righteous or smug. They weren’t happy with their state, but they had come to a point where they accepted the fact that there was nothing they were capable of doing about it. Though opportunities for hope and healing were readily available, the mission of St. Anthony was simply to reduce harm – to both the residents and others.

I think Christians like to view themselves as “spiritual addicts” in a successful “sin detox” program. The fact is, if we view ourselves as people who are actively working on our recovery, then even if we slip a little bit here or there, we believe we’re still so much better off than those other sinners “out there.” Let’s face it, I’ve admitted my sin, and admitting the problem is the first step in getting better, right? And that gives me the right to point out someone else’s sin. Isn’t that “calling sin by its right name?” Isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do?

Personally, I think we’re ALL in the sinner’s wet house. We have a history of failure. There is absolutely nothing that will enable us to completely stop sinning, and we will all die in our sinful state. Wow! That sounds really depressing.

But . . .

there is something that makes all the difference . . . something that gives us hope. A Savior. Though, in our human state, we will all die in the sinner’s wet house, the Resurrection of Jesus promises a place of health, healing, and loving community without the addiction to sin. Our mission is to reduce the harm to ourselves and others – to live in such a way that our fellow residents see a clear picture of a loving, gracious, and saving God so He will become their hope as well.

Tami Cinquemani

Have You Decided Who Jesus Is? by David Achata

Have you decided who Jesus is?



That was the question I asked repeatedly to the students at the school where I was doing a week of spiritual emphasis a few weeks ago. I asked them the same question every day for five days. On the last day I spent some time with them in Mark 4 and 5. We looked at how the Pharisees labeled Jesus "The Prince of Demons" because he was casting out demons. Then we looked at how Jesus’ family came to take him away because, they said, "He is out of his mind." In other words, they thought he was crazy. Last, we looked at the bleeding, demon-possessed man living in the tombs who cried out, "I know who you are; you are the son of God! Have you come to torture us before the appointed time?"

My point was simple: Either Jesus is a demon, or he is crazy, or he is who he says he is. Have you decided who he is? Many of the students came forward and wept, confessing sins and testifying that they had never decided who Jesus is.

The more time I spend with people, the more I see that this is the heart of the issue. 

People's issues about heaven or hell, or suffering or injustice, or homosexuality or heterosexuality, or whatever all become secondary issues when one asks the question, "Have you decided who He is?"



The other day I was reading a quote by Lesslie Newbegin where he said that people like to have conversations about the idea of truth, but when truth walks into the room, all other conversations have to stop. I think this is how it is with a lot of the conversations I hear happening. While so much airtime is taken up debating this or that issue – I just wonder, if Jesus were to walk into the room, would that conversation even continue? I think that most of my conversations would cease, my jaw would drop to the floor, and I'd worship.



Today is Easter, the day we remember who Jesus is. He’s the one who passes through walls (John 20:19-31) yet can still eat food (Luke 24:41-43). He’s the one who appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6) and let people touch him so they’d have no doubts (John 20:27, 1 John 1:1). He’s either got to be who he says he is (John 14:6) or else we have no hope (1 Cor. 15:17).

The next time you get into a debate with someone about some sort of subject pertaining to Christianity, just ask, "Have you decided who Jesus is?" I bet it will change everything.

David Achata

Weighing the 28 by Bill Crofton

I love being a chaplain at Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, and one of the responsibilities I enjoy is teaching this class. Last semester there were 34 students, and 31 of them were not Seventh-day Adventist. Many had never even heard of the denomination until attending school here. And most of those who had some knowledge of the SDA church fell into that zone of “Oh yeah, you guys go to church on Saturday and don’t eat meat, right?”

I always introduce myself to a new class with, “Hi gang, I’m Bill, a Christian who practices his faith within the sub-culture of the SDA church.”

“So, Pastor Bill, where did they get all these 28 anyway?” That was a question posed by a student of mine in the class, “What Seventh-day Adventists Believe.”

Short answer, “Well, the Bible of course,” was my reply. However, if you are asking me how many of the “28” are relevant to salvation, that is another matter.

How about it? What do you want people to know about your church, what you believe, how you practice Christianity? Ooooh . . . how you practice Christianity. Isn’t that the larger question, the more important question?

Since coming to the college, I have been asked by people, Are you happy? Is it comfortable being in such an environment with so many “non-SDA’s?” First, I must tell you that about 65% of our student body is of other denominations and religions. Yes! Not only is it comfortable, but in my humble opinion, it’s healthy. My job is to join their journey - be it faculty, staff, or students - and walk beside them. I am doing more listening, and that is not a bad thing.

So what do I do with the 28 - the 28 doctrines/teachings on the back of most SDA baptismal vows? Well, I like how Dick Deurkson, a good friend of mine, summarizes them in 5 major statements of the SDA Church:

#1 God loves you, and His Word (Bible) is still relevant for today.

#2. God loves you, and Jesus Christ IS God’s Son who came, lived, and

died for our sins.

#3. God loves you and has a purpose for your life.

#4. God loves you and desires to spend TIME with you.

#5. God loves you and cares deeply about the QUALITY of your life.

That is the BIG FIVE! Actually, I tell my class that the MOST important teachings, principles, laws, are found in TWO. Do you know which two?

Bill Crofton
Chaplain
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

An Acquired Taste by John Monday

I like coffee. Well, that’s not really fair. I love coffee. I don’t like Starbucks or Seattle's Best, and I don’t like Mocha, Latte, French Vanilla, Santa’s Blend, Cappuccino or any of those frou-frou corruptions of coffee. I like coffee - plain, straight, black, bitter, Folgers coffee. But I’d have to admit it’s an acquired taste.

I can’t imagine that anyone who tastes straight black coffee for the first time likes it. Like many things in life - beer, cigarettes, whisky, broccoli, mushrooms, liver - if you want to enjoy coffee, you’ve got to commit to it. But once you’ve acquired the taste . . . Oh! How pleasant it is.

There’s a synagogue near our home that we pass on our way to church. As we passed it this weekend, the congregants entering in their traditional black coats and hats inspired my son to start telling me about traditional Jewish Sabbath restrictions. He explained to me that many of them even had to limit the number of steps they take on Sabbath. I agreed and further explained that some traditional Jews wouldn’t drive a car because that could be interpreted as a violation of the prohibition against building a fire on the Sabbath.

In an effort to help him understand that there are many cultures and that we should be careful about judging others, I started telling him that Jews aren’t the only ones that restrict some activities on their Holy day. In addition to spending time with God, “There are some Christians who hold that it’s okay to wade on the Holy day but not to swim. I explained that some will cross-country ski but not go sledding, while others would think it acceptable to walk but not to run.

As I was warming to the topic and trying to help him understand that we all may have some traditions that look odd to others, he stopped me. He appeared physically nauseated, looked straight at me and said, “That’s stupid. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” I realized in that moment that he hadn’t acquired the taste.

Legalism is bitter, and when first introduced to the pallet will rarely produce a positive reaction. But placed in the right environment, encouraged with cultural support, and endorsed by Elders in the community, the taste will be acquired. And once you’ve acquired the taste, you’ll be as committed to it as I am to coffee or the alcoholic is to his next bottle.

But there’s another way. A way that is sweet from the first bite. A way that doesn’t require any “acquired taste” because we’ve longed for it all our lives. A way that brings life and hope, joy and forgiveness. That way is Grace, and it belongs to Christ.

So, I think I’m content with my son’s reaction for the moment. While I want him to think generously about the traditions and observances of others, I hope that he chooses the sweet and not the bitter. I hope that he opts for the Grace that will give eternal satisfaction to his soul, rather than the conventions of men. I pray that he never acquires a taste for legalism.

John Monday

Facing the Unknown by Chad Hess

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.’” -- Minnie Louise Haskins.

I first heard this quote several years ago in the midst of several major changes in my life. And now, many years later, it still really speaks to me. Of course, I’m again facing more changes and the uncertainty that can bring. I will graduate with a masters degree in May, and many people have asked me the inevitable question: what are you going to do now? The sad part is that I’m not really sure.

To put it bluntly, I’ve been pretty bad at guessing God’s will so far, so I’ve stopped trying. That’s not to say that I don’t plan for the future, but rather that I have learned to accept some degree of unknown. I could have never predicted the path that God has led me down, and I certainly could not have made a better path myself. If God had told me six years ago the path he would lead me down, I would not have believed it. And for that reason, I am okay with only seeing the step I am on (and maybe the step coming up). I can put my trust in the God who will never let me down and who has greater dreams for me than I can ever imagine!

Chad Hess