IDEA EXCHANGE
Something’s Fishy
“Something’s Fishy” (March 2012) was an interesting read! People always assume that being a vegetarian, I eat fish, as if fish is just another vegetable. I think the problem people have with fish and seafood is that they are not “cute and cuddly,” so somehow their pain in being caught and “drowning” out of water seems insignificant.
We do not need fish or any other living creature in our diet. God knows what our bodies need and has provided accordingly. There was no death in Eden, and there will be no death in heaven; so no animal or fish has to die.
N. Barbour
England, United Kingdom
Do We Hear Them?
“Do We Hear Them?” by Larry R. Evans (February 2012), has deeply appealed to my heart. The issue was addressed with competence and compassion. This is a large group of people, and programs have to be made accessible. I liked that the author wrote about the deaf culture without labeling it. It is estimated that deaf persons number anywhere from 93 million to more than 300 million worldwide; and all are valuable in the eyes of God and deserving of being reached with the gospel. It’s a good idea to have a deaf pastor or interpreter in each conference.
I was once at a meeting with hearing and deaf siblings. It was an exciting experience. They were really interested in what I wanted to share with them, and they had great patience with me. I wonder if the “hearing” are also ready to warmly and sympathetically incorporate the “deaf” into their circles.
Adventist World provides connection, unity, and understanding among people. Thank you for the interesting and uplifting reports on a variety of topics.
Waltraud Rühling-Huber
Bogenhofen, Austria
I am completely deaf. “Do We Hear Them?” was a wonderful, well-written article. My thanks to Larry R. Evans for the much-needed information—this is needed in our churches.
I sit at home on Sabbath and watch 3ABN, which has some closed-captioning for the deaf. I would like to see the church concentrate more effort on providing closed-captioning on programs broadcast on Hope Channel, so they can be an example to the world that they are reaching out to the deaf community.
Arthur L. Chaput
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States
Where Is God?
I really appreciated the article “Where Is God When You Need Him?” by John Skrzypaszek (January 2012).
All the great heroes of the Bible suffered somehow (see Heb. 11).
For me, the strongest example is Elisha, one of the most prominent prophets of the Old Testament who was not spared suffering before he died (2 Kings 13:14).
Denis Gnutzmans
Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
The Gift of Prophecy
I have been given two Adventist World magazines. Of the two, one has been a special blessing to me because of Gerhard Pfandl’s article “The Gift of Prophecy” (November 2010), which tells about Ellen White, the messenger of the Lord.
Could you send me the monthly magazine? It will be a blessing for me and my family.
Henry Javier Santiago
Dominican Republic
Our advice to this reader and others with similar concerns is to contact the Seventh-day Adventist Church union conference or division office in your region of the world. We are gratified that the magazine is filling this need. —Editors
Very Glad
I’m very glad to read what God wants for me through your magazine. I am interested in what is written to God’s people each month. God bless you.
Claver Kabaya
Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Letters Policy: Please send to: letters@adventistworld.org. Letters must be clearly written, 100-word maximum. Include the name of the article and the date of publication with your letter. Also include your name, the town/city, state, and country from which you are writing. Letters will be edited for space and clarity. Not all letters submitted will be published.
Prayer & PRAISE
I want my husband to go to church with me. He smokes and drinks. We have three children. We also need a house. Thank you.
—Dorica, Zimbabwe
Please pray for me and my family. I need financial help to get into school. Please also pray for our spiritual awakening.
—Harrison, Kenya
Please pray for my youngest daughter, who got divorced, left the church, and is spiritually confused. Pray also for her two children and the man she is planning to marry. I believe him to be receptive to the Adventist message.
—Betty, United States
Please pray for my wife, newborn son, and me; and for the city we live in.
—Tsefaye, Ethiopia
Kindly pray for the Adventist people living in Orissa. They lost their church and small clinic during riots and are waiting for help to rebuild.
—Sijo, India
Thank you for your prayers! I passed my nursing board exam; now I’m praying to get a job so that I can help the church building project in our province.
—Flor, Philippines
Prayer & Praise: Send prayer requests and praise (thanks for answered prayer) to prayer@adventistworld.org. Keep entries short and concise, 50-words or less. Items will be edited for space and clarity. Not all submissions will be printed. Please include your name and your country’s name. You may also fax requests to: 1-301-680-6638; or mail them to Adventist World, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.
Where in the World Is This?
Scroll to the bottom of this page for the answer!
top 5
Harvard University followed 121,000 people for 20 years and found the following foods most effective in helping people maintain a healthy weight:1. Nuts
2. Yogurt
3. Fresh fruit
4. Whole grains
5. Fresh vegetables
Source: New England Journal of Medicine, 2011
Thirsty?95.5 percent of the world’s water is found in oceans, seas, and bays.
4.5 percent of the world’s water is fresh; of that more than half is trapped in glaciers and ice caps.
2 percent of water is available at any one time for drinking and agriculture.
113 Years AgoThe first Seventh-day Adventist church in Japan was organized in Tokyo with a membership of 13 on June 4, 1899. A few weeks later a monthly periodical, Owari no Fukuin (The Gospel for the Last Days), was launched and paid for by profits from the sale of health foods. The paper was renamed Toki no Shirushi (Signs of the Times) in June 1917.
Ten years earlier, in 1889, Abram La Rue, pioneer self-supporting missionary to China, made a number of trips to Japan and distributed Adventist publications in Yokohama and Kobe. S. N. Haskell visited Japan in 1890. Writing from Hong Kong on July 16, he reported: “We baptized one man in Japan. There are others there who are interested; and we learned that the Sabbath question has been discussed among the Japanese, and that there are some of them keeping the Sabbath” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Aug. 26, 1890). The first Seventh-day Adventist missionaries sent to Japan were W. C. Grainger, former president of Healdsburg College; and T. H. Okohira, a native of Japan and former Healdsburg student. —Robert Costa
Quote of the Month
"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." —Prov. 17:22, Message*
*Texts credited to Message are from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
What's So Funny?
E-messages that indicate laughter vary from country to country, and language to language.
lol = laughing out loud English
mdr = mort de rire (died of laughter) French
jajaja = ha ha ha Spanish
mkm = ma khanda mikonon (I am laughing) Dari (spoken in Afghanistan)
ha3 = ha times three Malaysia
asg = asgarv (roars of laughter) Swedish
g = griner (laughter) Danish
ㅎㅎㅎ= ha ha ha Korean
Source: National Geographic, March 2012
50 WORDS OR LESS
My Favorite...Hymn
♦ My favorite hymn is “And Can It Be?” The reason? Charles Wesley’s lyrics in the chorus explain it all: “Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
—Flavia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
♦ Whenever I sing “We Have This Hope” I’m reminded of the times I’ve heard it sung at General Conference sessions over the years. It’s so perfect in describing our Adventist hope in Jesus’ return.
—Sook Yi, Seoul, South Korea
♦ “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” brings tears to my eyes every time I sing it. Even though I often find myself unworthy of His grace, God’s compassion never fails.
—Herbert, Brighton, England
♦ “Mas Allá del Sol” (“Far Beyond the Sun”) is an anthem for many Hispanics in North America. Most of us know the words by heart, reminding us that although we don’t have worldly riches, we have a home, a beautiful home, far beyond the sun.
—Carlos, Harlem, New York, United States
Next time, tell us in 50 words or less about your favorite Bible promise. Send your response to: letters@AdventistWorld. org. Put in the subject line “Bible Promises.”
ANSWER: In Peru 86 education directors and primary-level coordinators pray before their training course in January.
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