Faith in Focus: Exploring Adventist Beliefs and Community

The Cross and the Empty Tomb: An Invitation to New Life

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:25:08 GMT

The Cross and the Empty Tomb: An Invitation to New Life

By Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi | Handsworth Seventh-day Adventist Church

The story of Easter is not just history.
It is a holy invitation.

This season draws us into something deeper — into the reality of what Jesus Christ has done for us. As we reflect on His passion and step into the rhythm of the Passover, we enter a sacred space of remembrance, sacrifice, and deliverance.

And it is here that we begin to see more clearly.

Jesus was betrayed by a friend.
He shared His final meal with those closest to Him.
He walked into suffering, surrounded not by strength, but by sleeping disciples.

He entered Jerusalem not with earthly power, but in humility — riding on a donkey. A King, yes — but not of this world.

The Garden and the Cup

In the stillness of the Garden of Gethsemane, we witness something profound.

Jesus wrestled.

Three times He prayed:
“Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not my will, but yours be done.”

This is one of the greatest moments of surrender the world has ever seen.

We often come to God asking for our will to be done — but how often do we truly surrender and say, “Your will be done”?

And it raises an important question:

What was in the cup?

It was not just pain.
Not just nails.
Not just rejection.

It was the weight of sin.
It was the justice of a holy God.
It was the full consequence of a broken humanity laid upon Him.

The wrath meant for us — Jesus carried.

As Isaiah declared:
“By His stripes we are healed.”

The Power of the Cross

The strength of the cross was not found on the hill.
It was forged in the secret place of prayer.

Before the public victory, there was a private surrender.

The cross is everything.

Without it, there is no forgiveness.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.
Without the cross, there is no hope.
Without the cross, there is no future.

We don’t just wear the cross — we cherish it.

Because it is love on display.
Costly. Holy. Unstoppable.

Sunday Changed Everything

Yes, Jesus died on Friday.

But Sunday changed everything.

The resurrection is not just an event — it is a declaration.
It is bold. It is powerful. It is life-changing.

Because of the resurrection:

Death was defeated
The grave lost its grip
Hope was restored

And because Jesus lives,
you and I do not have to stay the same.

Resurrection Power Today

This is where the story becomes personal.

Because of the resurrection:

The broken heart can be restored
Guilt can be washed away
The unclean can be made whole
Dead places can breathe again

Mary Magdalene’s sorrow turned to joy.
Paul went from persecutor to preacher.
Peter went from fearful to Spirit-filled.
The church went from hiding to boldness.

What about you?

That same power that raised Christ from the dead
is reaching toward your life right now.

Not just for eternity —
but for transformation today.

An Invitation to Respond

The kingdom of God is not distant.
It is near.

It is knocking on the door of your heart.

You can move:

From death to life
From fear to faith
From emptiness to fullness

Right here. Right now.

So don’t just admire the cross —
respond to it.

Don’t just hear about the resurrection —
step into its power.

If your heart is stirring, that is not by accident.

Today, you can surrender.
Today, you can say:
“Jesus, not my will, but Yours be done.”

Come just as you are.
Bring your questions.
Bring your brokenness.

And let the risen Christ meet you.

A Final Question

Is there room in your heart to receive Him?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross and the empty tomb.
Thank You for Your sacrifice and Your victory.
Help us not only to remember, but to respond.
Transform our hearts, renew our minds, and lead us into new life.
Amen.

Still Standing: A New Year, New Chapter

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 07:32:07 GMT

Still Standing: A New Year, New Chapter

Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi

As we come to the end of one year and step into another, I want to pause with you and reflect.

For some, this past year has been unforgettable in the best way. You landed the job you prayed for. You crossed the graduation stage. You got clean—really clean. Some of you fell in love, some said “I do,” some welcomed new life into your families. Doors opened that had been closed for years. Your faith felt alive, electric. It was a year that felt like overflow.

As Psalm 126:3 says,
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

But for others, this year hit differently.

For some, this was the year of goodbye—the year you lost someone you deeply loved. The year your heart cracked open. The year the job ended without warning. The year depression didn’t just visit but moved in. The year of bad company, hard diagnoses, and lows you didn’t think you’d survive.

And yet, here you are.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us,
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

If you are reading this, breath in right now—then hear me clearly:
You are still here. And that matters more than you know.

Lamentations 3:22–23 tells us:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”

This is not a cliché. This is a promise.

You are still here for a reason. Your life still carries weight. Your presence still fills a space that only you can fill. You are deeply loved—even on the days you don’t feel lovable. Your story is not finished.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that even when life feels like captivity, God is still writing:

“For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Hindsight shows us where we’ve been. But faith gives us foresight—the courage to believe that God is still at work.

So if you’ve made it into this new year, it means there is still purpose ahead of you. There is still grace waiting for you. There is still healing available for you.

I pray this year will be a year of renewal.
A year of deeper prayer.
A year of restored relationships.
A year of freedom from what’s been holding you back.
A year of walking closely with Christ.

Let this not be just another chapter—but the chapter God writes with His own hand.

May God bless you abundantly.
May His peace rest upon your home.
May you prosper in health, in faith, in relationships, in purpose, and in service.

We look forward to hearing your testimonies. Connect with us. Walk with us. Worship with us at Handsworth SDA Church.

God bless you as you step forward with hope, faith, and expectation.

For the Boy Who Didn’t Come Home

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 06:48:19 GMT

For the Boy Who Didn’t Come Home

There are moments when words feel too small for the weight of grief a community carries. When a young life is taken, the silence that follows is not empty — it is heavy, aching, and shared.

This poem was written in response to the tragic loss of a young boy on Hutton Road in Birmingham. It is not an attempt to explain what cannot be explained, but to pause, to honour a life, and to hold space for those who are hurting.

For the Boy Who Didn’t Come Home

By Marie Lee

For the boy who didn’t come home,

Evening settled heavy on Hutton Road,

A quiet that felt too sudden,

A silence no family should ever know.

In the fading light of Birmingham,

A life was taken swiftly,

Dreams scattered across pavement

Where footsteps once moved gently.

A mother softly whispers his name,

As if calling him back through the dark,

Holding on to memories

Now sharper than the night air.

The sirens painted the skyline red,

Their echo trembling through the streets,

While neighbours stood in heavy stillness,

Hearts clenched, breath caught,

Praying for answers not yet found.

For the boy who didn’t come home,

The city leans into its own grief

Shadow of this young life sweeps the roads,

Officers walking slowly with purpose,

Searching for truth in every corner.

Yet somewhere beneath the sorrow,

Hope threads its way through the quiet,

A promise whispered gently:

Justice will not forget him.

And for the ones who loved him most,

May peace find its way back

Soft as dawn, steady as memory,

For the boy who didn’t come home.

A Moment of Reflection

This poem is offered as a prayer in words — for the family whose world has been shattered, for the friends whose laughter now echoes in memory, and for a community grappling with loss.

As people of faith, we believe God sees every tear, hears every whispered name, and holds the broken-hearted close. In moments like this, we are called not only to grieve, but to stand together — in compassion, in prayer, and in hope for justice.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18

Our Prayer

God of comfort and mercy,
We lift before You a family in deep sorrow.
Wrap them in Your peace,
Hold them through the long nights,
And let Your justice and love prevail.
May light rise even in this darkness.
Amen.

Mission Means Me — Isaiah 6:8

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 07:07:16 GMT

Mission Means Me - Isaiah 6:8

Published by Handsworth Newsletter Team in collaboration with Youth Space Ministries

Part of the Global Adventist Youth Ministries eWeek of Prayer 2025

�� Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I; send me.”

Under the theme “Mission Means Me,” each day’s devotional will challenge us to live with courage, compassion, and a renewed sense of calling.

From November 8–14, 2025 , we join together in prayer, reflection, and commitment — because Mission Means Me.

Daily Focus

Day 1 – Called to Mission: Care for Myself

Reflection:
Life is demanding. School, work, expectations, and pressure from friends can be exhausting. God calls you to take care of your mind, body, and soul, because this is where your mission begins. Self-care is not selfish; it is preparing yourself to serve, love, and walk in faith fully.

Bible Verse:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:19

Day 2 – Mission to Begin With Me: Guard My Mind

Reflection:
The thoughts we allow to take root shape our choices and actions. Social comparison, negative voices, or constant distractions can weaken your faith and focus. God calls you to guard your mind, feed it truth, and choose what strengthens you spiritually and emotionally.

Bible Verse:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, noble, right…think about such things.”
— Philippians 4:8

Day 3 – Empowered for Mission: Love Boldly

Reflection:
Relationships can be challenging. Friendships, crushes, and attention can make you question your value. God empowers you to love in ways that strengthen character and honor Him. True love builds life; it does not drain it.

Bible Verse:
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
— 1 Peter 4:8

Day 4 – Mission in Action: Walk by Faith

Reflection:
Peer pressure, judgment, or criticism can make faith feel difficult. Walking by faith means making choices based on God’s truth, not on what you see or fear. God calls you to stand firm, even when others disagree or misunderstand.

Bible Verse:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9

Day 5 – Mission Through Love: Stand Strong in Challenges

Reflection:
Life can be unfair. You may face hardship, rejection, or pressure to conform. God sees your heart. Your mission is strengthened when you act in love, even when it is difficult.

Bible Verse:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
— 1 Timothy 6:6

Day 6 – Mission Through Perseverance: Rise Above Pressure

Reflection:
Your journey will have challenges. Ancestors, mentors, and role models faced obstacles and yet moved forward in faith. God equips you to persevere. Your courage and persistence reflect His strength.

Bible Verse:
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9

Day 7 – Mission Fulfilled: Speak Truth, Live Free

Reflection:
You live in a world that watches, judges, and sometimes limits freedom. True freedom is found in Christ. Standing for truth, acting with integrity, and living in faith cannot be controlled by others. Every decision rooted in God strengthens your mission.

Bible Verses:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
— Proverbs 31:8–9

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7

Final Reflection – Mission Complete, Mission Continues

Walking in Christ is a lifestyle. Your mission begins with you, grows through bold actions, and is strengthened through love and perseverance. Every choice, every act of courage, and every moment of faith matters.

Remember:

Protect your mind, body, and soul.
Stand firm even when others judge or disagree.
Walk by faith, not by sight.
Love boldly and act with courage.
Persevere when life challenges you.

Final Prayer

God, thank You for walking with me this week. Help me stay strong, live boldly, and walk in faith every day. Give me courage, love, and perseverance to rise strong in You.

Final Bible Anchors

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7

Watch the Message:

Mission Means Me – Week of Prayer 2025

Let’s join together in prayer, reflection, and commitment — because Mission Means Me. ��

The Company You Keep — Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:33

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 14:24:32 GMT

The Company You Keep — Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:33

By Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi

Hello family, hello friends. Today I want to share a reflection on something that touches each of our lives — influence . The company we keep, the voices we listen to, the people we surround ourselves with — all of these shape who we are becoming.

We often like to think we’re immune. We tell ourselves that we can walk through polluted air and somehow still breathe fresh air. We believe we can swim in a muddy river and come out clean. But Scripture reminds us not to be deceived:

“Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

Influence: The Quiet Shaper

Every day, we are influenced by conversations, by what we scroll through, by what we watch, by who we allow close to us. Influence is constant. It’s subtle. It’s contagious.

The word influenza — the root of our word influence — actually comes from the Italian word influenza, used centuries ago to describe the spread of illness. When English travellers returned from Italy in the 1700s with fever and cough, they said they had caught “the influenza.”

Just like a virus spreads through contact, influence spreads through proximity. If I spend enough time around someone, I begin to catch what they carry — their habits, their attitudes, their ways of thinking. Some of that influence can be good. But the Bible warns us that bad company corrupts good character .

The Slow Drift

Corruption rarely happens overnight. It begins small — a careless joke, a little compromise, a friendship that ever so slightly leads us off the narrow path. Over time, what once felt wrong begins to feel normal. What used to convict us now feels comfortable.

Many people start strong in their walk with God, but lose focus because of the company they keep. Sometimes, the people at our table — our friends, colleagues, or relationships — influence us more than we realise.

Re-examine Your Circle

The challenge today is simple but vital: look again at your circle . Who sits at your table? Whose voice has your ear? Are they helping you grow closer to God, or pulling you further away?

The Apostle Paul says, “Don’t be deceived.” It’s easy to think we are the exception — that we can handle it. But none of us is immune to influence.

So, make the decision to surround yourself with people who lift you up, who challenge you in faith, who reflect the character of Christ. Pray for God to place in your life those who strengthen your walk and encourage your heart.

A Closing Thought

We all have influence. The question is not if we influence others, but how. Let your presence draw others to Christ, not away from Him. Be the one who spreads grace, not gossip — encouragement, not criticism — love, not bitterness.

Reflection Verse:

“Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits.” — 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

Prayer:
Lord, help me to choose wisely the company I keep. Surround me with people who draw me closer to You, and make me a source of godly influence to others. Amen.

The Harvest Within

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 06:52:55 GMT

The Harvest Within

The earth hums around us,

loud with life’s endless thongs of lost hope.

Faces preoccupied with self,

Minds overflowing like rivers shaping our very thoughts.

We plant our words.

We sow our actions.

Yet what truly grows

is what springs from the heart.

Justice… mercy… or empty pride?

What do we nurture, what do we hide?

The harvest is coming.

It does not wait.

Truth is the fruit.

Love carries the weight.

Caught in life’s currents, our thoughts or actions become an act,

leaving a mark of kindness or a hand of cruelty — and that’s a fact.

Arise, labourers of Christ!

Scatter love, eroding darkness

and engulfing each other with the newness of light.

Christ still calls, still whispers:

“The world is my creation

and the field I will reap.”

The hour is near.

Sow life. Sow hope. Sow now!

Build hope, give love, and cast out fear.

The harvest is here.

The season is now.

Reflection

This poem reminds us that the choices we make — both big and small — are seeds sown into eternity. In every act of compassion, forgiveness, or justice, we join in God’s work of restoring His creation. The harvest Jesus speaks of is not just out there in the world; it begins within us.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:37–38 (KJV):

“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

The time to sow is now. The world is ready. Christ calls us to plant seeds of love, to bring light where there is darkness, and to labour faithfully in His field.

Prayer:

Lord of the harvest, plant Your word deep within us. Help us sow seeds of kindness, truth, and hope wherever we go. May our lives bear fruit that brings glory to You and draws others into Your light. Amen.

A New Heart — Reflection on Ezekiel 36:26

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 05:52:11 GMT

A New Heart — Reflection on Ezekiel 36:26

By Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi

Hello, family. This is Pastor Ethan, and I want to share a short reflection on the theme of A New Heart.

When we are young, we often believe we are invincible. We think nothing can touch us — that our strength will never fade. But as time goes on, our bodies remind us of our limits. The aches, the fatigue, the diagnosis we never expected — these remind us that life is fragile.

For some, a physical heart transplant becomes the only way to survive. When the heart is failing and the lungs begin to collapse, doctors rush to act. Unless a new heart is found, life will slip away. And yet, when that new heart arrives — when a surgeon replaces what is dying with something full of life — hope is reborn.

But here’s the thing: in order for one person to live, someone else must give up their heart. Someone must die so another can have life.

And that, dear friends, is the story of our salvation.

The Spiritual Heart

Just as the body can fail, so can our spiritual heart. When we lose our fire for God, when our faith feels numb, when bitterness or pride take root, it’s a sign that something inside is breaking down. Maybe you’ve been hurt, criticized, or made to feel unwelcome. Maybe guilt or regret has hardened your heart.

But there is hope — because the Great Physician still operates today.

God speaks in Ezekiel 36:26 :

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”

Only God can perform this kind of surgery. Only He can remove what is cold, stubborn, and lifeless — and replace it with something tender, responsive, and full of grace.

Entering the Surgeon’s Room

To receive a new heart, we must enter the operating room — spiritually speaking. We must surrender what is dying and trust the hands of the Master Surgeon.

Maybe what needs to die is that habit that’s stealing your joy. Maybe it’s a relationship that’s pulling you away from God. Maybe it’s pride, unforgiveness, or fear. Whatever it is, God can take what’s broken and replace it with something beautiful.

The question is — will you let Him?

An Invitation to Renewal

Today, God is inviting you to trust Him with your heart. He wants to breathe new life into you — to fill you with His Spirit, His peace, and His love.

Enter into His presence. Enter into prayer. Step away from what is draining your soul, and step toward the One who can make you whole.

Jesus already gave His life so that you might live. The donor heart has already been given. The question is, will you receive it?

Reflection Verse

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” – Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV)

Prayer:
Lord, take my heart of stone and make it tender again. Remove what is lifeless within me and replace it with Your Spirit. Help me to love as You love and to live as You call me to live. Amen.

When Freedom Is Tainted

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 05:16:09 GMT

When Freedom Is Tainted

By Marie Lee

Flags are more than cloth;
they are breath stitched into colour,
a nation’s heartbeat billowing in the wind.

They rise as emblems of freedom,
calling the people to remember who they are.

Yet across bridges,
through towns and city streets,
Those same flags whisper a different song.
Not of unity
but of walls erected,
of doors closed,
of skin judged before spirit.

The St George’s flag
a red cross laid upon white,
once soaked in the memory of sacrifice,
in the blood of soldiers who gave their breath
for liberty’s promise.

But today its shadow lingers heavy,
seized by voices of hatred,
Their chants, drowning out its true meaning.

For many, that banner no longer shelters,
It wounds.
It does not welcome,
It excludes.

How bitter a truth
That's what was born for freedom
is now shackled in racism’s chains.
That a flag once lifted to unite
is now raised to divide.

Its fabric twisted into a weapon,
Its colours, stained with prejudice.

But listen closer
The flag itself does not speak.
It is the hands that hold it,
the hearts that claim it,
that writes its story.

And so, a choice remains
to let racism possess our symbols,
or to reclaim them in the name of love.

For a flag should not bleed hate;
It should breathe hope.
It should not silence voices;
It should echo them into the heavens.
It should not serve as a wall of exclusion,
but as a bridge where every child,
every woman,
every man,
finds belonging.

Only then will the fabric be healed.
Only then will the emblem of freedom
rise unstained,
as it was always meant to be.

REFLECTION
This poem is a call to remember that symbols only hold the power we give them. Though flags can be twisted into tools of division, in Christ we are called to unity, love, and belonging.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28 (KJV)

Too Many Hurt In This World

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:41:45 GMT

Too Many Hurt In This World

By Marie Lee

Too many hurt in this world,

Wounds passed down

From generation to generation.

Chains of sorrow,

Crying of the hearts that are broken,

Longing to be heard,

Longing to be set free.

Every hurt becomes retaliation,

Every pain turns into fear.

Silence hides the struggle,

Thoughts become battles of the mind

Escaping into shadows

Souls are becoming legal drug addicts, prescribed by the System.

Every hurt has its moment,

Every soul cries for help.

Discontent and despair

Bring dishonour,

Bring disrepair.

Human nature

To pretend,

To give in

But every pain is different,

Shaped by the streets,

By the wars,

By the hidden masks of love

That deceive and cannot be trusted.

Pain can move us

To compassion

Or to hate.

But such deception

It was never God's plan.

Human suffering

How can it end

If God is not within?

How can we withstand

The great battle of good and evil

Without His power?

If we understood,

We would see:

The hungry,

The homeless,

The addicted

Their pain is not forever.

Through God, we conquer.

Through prayer,

Through fasting,

Through His Word

And His Spirit within.

Too many hurt in this world!

Have you wondered

Where did it begin?

Have you wondered

When will it end?

The Great Controversy tells us:

How the world began,

How it will end,

How minds will be bound

By deception,

By power,

By control.

Yet through God's Word

Comes awakening,

Freedom,

And peace.

Reflection

This poem is a heartfelt reminder that the brokenness we see around us — whether in pain, addiction, or despair — is not the end of the story. Through Christ, there is healing, freedom, and hope.

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3 (KJV)

Be the Light: Reflection on Matthew 5

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:37:47 GMT

Be the Light: Reflections on Matthew 5

By Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” – Matthew 5:14 (KJV)

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His disciples that they were the light of the world — a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Pastor Ethan reminds us that this call is just as true for us today. To be light means more than wearing the label of “Christian”; it is about reflecting Christ so that others may see His love through our words, our choices, and our lives.

Light Reveals

Light exposes what is hidden in the dark. When we live with integrity, honesty, and love, people see the reality of Jesus without pretence or compromise. Genuine faith cuts through the confusion of the world and points others to God.

Light Guides

Light not only reveals; it directs. In the darkest of times, light shines the brightest. Just as a lighthouse points ships away from danger, our lives are meant to point people towards Jesus, the true Safe Harbour. On our own, we cannot save anyone — not even ourselves. But by reflecting Christ’s light, even in small ways, we can give others hope and direction.

Light Reflects

The moon has no light of its own; it reflects the light of the sun. In the same way, we do not produce spiritual light ourselves. We reflect the character of Jesus. When people encounter kindness, mercy, and compassion through us, they are really encountering God’s love shining through.

Light Transforms

When Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men,” He was calling us to lives of visible transformation. Every act of service, every word of encouragement, every choice to extend mercy instead of judgment is a testimony that God is at work. The purpose of our light is not to promote ourselves, but to give glory to the Father in heaven.

Living as Light Today

Being light doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being present. Even the smallest candle can push back the darkness in a room. Likewise, every small act of love can make Christ visible in a world that desperately needs hope.

Let us remember: the light we bear is not our own. It is Christ who fills us, and we simply reflect what we have received. As we walk daily in His Word — the lamp to our feet and light to our path — we grow in His truth and guidance.

So go, be a light. Radiate His grace, His mercy, His compassion. And may every good work you do point others upward to the One who is the true Light of the world.

Reflection

Where is God calling you to shine His light this week — in your family, workplace, school, or community?

Prayer

Lord, fill me with Your light today, so that through my actions and words, others may see You and glorify the Father in heaven.

Adventism As A Worldview

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:55:59 GMT

Adventism as a Worldview

By Ty Gibson

When I was a kid, there were only two things I knew with absolute certainty: pain and love.

Suffering defined my existence. Horrors haunted our little home—the horrors of rage and drug abuse and, worst of all, the horror of violence regularly inflicted upon my mother. But, then, in the midst of it all, there was a contrary mystery.

There was love.

I loved my mom, and I knew she loved me. I loved my younger brothers and little sister. As I grew up, the contrast and tension between these two inescapable forces hung before me like an unsolvable emotional enigma.

MOM GOES “WEIRD”

Fast forward a few years, and my mother came home one day announcing that she had become a “born again Seventh-day Adventist Christian,” whatever that was. She declared with a smile, “All of you are henceforth vegetarians, and you will never watch TV again.” What had happened to Mom? Was she going to be OK? Would we be OK, or would we all die for want of cartoons and what she was now calling “flesh foods”? Well, we soon learned what had happened to her. A strange person called an “evangelist”—whatever that was—had rolled up into our city and filled her “gullible” head with a bunch of weird new ideas.

Up to that point, God had never been mentioned in our home. Fortunately for the evangelist, however, my mom had been raised in a home that regarded the Bible as “the Word of God.” So, when the evangelist paid her a series of visits, all he had to do was quote Bible verses, frequently saying with an air of authority, “The Bible says,” with the strongly implied, “therefore, you ought.” She accepted what the Bible man told her and got “baptized”—whatever that was. She also immediately deployed the evangelist upon me. But much to his frustration, when he quoted the Bible to me, I just stared straight through him with a look of, “So what?” No disrespect was intended. I just had no idea what the Bible was, so it possessed no assumed authority for me. To my mind, it was in the category of literature, like Shakespeare and Dickens. The evangelist, known to baptize anyone who gave him a hearing, told the church members, “If I’ve ever met a lost soul beyond hope, it’s that Ty Gibson kid.”

EMPATHY WINS

The evangelist gave up on me, but my mom didn’t. Soon, a youth pastor showed up at our house to “befriend” me. I was resistant to his awkward overtures and found it annoying that he kept coming around trying to act “cool.” But he was different than the other guy. He didn’t come at me with authoritative religious declarations. Still, though, I found the idea of “God” ridiculous. His visits were becoming a habit pattern, so I decided to end his efforts to “win” my soul by unloading my unbelief on him.

“Listen, dude, you apparently find the idea of ‘God’ believable, but I don’t. Just look at this world. I don’t even love everybody like you say God does, but if I saw little kids starving to death, I’d feed them. I’m not all-powerful like you say God is, but if I saw a man beating his wife, I’d stop the monster. So don’t tell me about God, because 2+2=4, not 56, and this God idea does not match up with reality.”

To my surprise, he didn’t try to argue me into subjection. Instead, he seemed to genuinely empathize with my perplexity. “Yeah, this world is pretty messed up,” he said, “and I don’t understand why God lets it go on for another day.” At that moment, I felt a little bit of respect for the guy. At least he could see the world I saw and feel the feelings I felt. He promised to stop bothering me if I would simply read the first chapter of a book my mom had acquired from one of the church people. Wow, what a deal!

“Sure, dude, and goodbye.”

NEW EQUATION

Later that evening, I reluctantly opened the book and read the first sentence: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). I rolled my eyes and sighed, “Here we go.” But by the time I finished the chapter, a simple equation with massive explanatory power had formed in my mind:

Love—>Freedom—>Risk

Love requires freedom to exist, but freedom carries the risk that things might go against love. I sat there in a flooded state of “wow.” Suddenly, things began to make sense, not because I had suddenly adopted the view that the Bible is an authority to which I must yield, but because the idea itself possessed an inherent authority by means of the sense it was making of reality. The emotional weight I’d been feeling my entire life began to float above my heart. Within the space of an hour, a whole new way of viewing reality was dawning upon my mind.

“God is love.”

Those were the first theological words I ever read. Adventism gave me those words and the expansive perception of reality to which they grant access. What I needed was a way to make sense of the diametrically opposed forces of selfishness and love so obviously waging war within human beings. What I needed was a way to comprehend what’s going on in this world of ours so drenched in blood and tears. What I needed, in other words, was a worldview. And that’s precisely what Adventism gave me.

WORLDVIEW

A worldview is a composite of ideas that forms a perceptual lens through which a person tries to make sense of life. Everybody has a worldview. But while there are 7.3 billion people on the planet and hundreds of religions and philosophies, there are only five basic belief systems.

1. Naturalism —the atheist worldview—says that there is no such thing as evil as a moral category. All there is here is natural process. Suffering is part of that process and is necessary for the evolution of the strong and the elimination of the weak. Human beings are evolving animals governed by natural forces and, therefore, possess no actual free will. All notions of right and wrong, love and hate, mercy and justice, and accountability to a higher power are cultural constructs with no intrinsic basis in reality itself.

2. Pantheism —the all-is-god worldview—says that there is no personal God that exists distinct from the material world. Rather, nature itself constitutes a collective consciousness of divine proportions. Evil is a balancing force in nature, and suffering is part of the eternal cycle of life. Pantheism is basically a spiritualized version of naturalism.

3. Deterministic Theism —the control worldview—says that God’s main characteristic is power, and His primary objective is control. God predetermines all events, both the good and the bad, including each person’s eternal destiny, whether heaven or hell. Human beings are the subjects upon which God’s sovereign will acts and do not possess free will. Evil and suffering are ordained by God for His inscrutable purposes.

4. Appeasement Theism —the merit worldview—says God’s main characteristic is wrath. If we try hard enough, our deeds of obedience can earn His favor and avert His anger. Suffering is orchestrated by God for the satisfaction of His will.

5. Benevolent Theism —the love-and-liberty worldview—says that God’s defining characteristic is love, and His main objective is that we would be voluntary reciprocators of His love. Evil and suffering proceed from the misuse of free will for anti-love purposes, and the plan of salvation is the means by which God is eradicating evil from the world while preserving free will.

WORLDVIEW MATTERS

Okay, but why does a person’s worldview matter?

Quite frankly, because what a person believes about the basic content and configuration of reality will be the primary factor that shapes their character, behavior patterns, and relational dynamics. When we speak of worldviews, we are not discussing irrelevant differences with no inherent ramifications. Rather, each worldview constitutes a psychological template that drives quality of life. In the words of Ellen White:

“The whole spiritual life is molded by our conceptions of God; and if we cherish erroneous views of His character, our souls will sustain injury” (Ellen White, Review and Herald, January 14, 1890).

As a theological system, Adventism falls into the Benevolent Theism category. I would suggest, in fact, that Adventism has the unrealized capacity to articulate for the world the most compelling, coherent, and consistent rendering of Benevolent Theism conceivable.

But do allow me to qualify. This article is intended to cast a vision of the potential that lies within Adventism’s theological portfolio. It is not an examination of how we have failed to steward that potential. There will be those who will respond by saying something like, “What! That’s not the Adventism I know.” To you, I would say that the first step toward changing any situation is to positively articulate what it can be and to begin acting as though what we want to be true is true.

So, what might that theological vision look like?

GOD

Well, for starters, if we begin with the premise that “God is love,” we are face to face with the most beautiful core belief imaginable. To say that “God is love” is to say that God is essentially other-centered and self-giving. The idea is, quite frankly, breathtaking. From this foundation, the doctrine of the Trinity is logically deduced. If God were a solitary self, a rigid singularity, existing in a fundamental state of aloneness at some point in the far reaches of the past, it could not be said with any logical coherence that “God is love.” Love, by definition, requires a subject upon which to lavish its energy. If there is no subject, there is no love. Therefore, we believe God is a social unit rather than a solitary self. We believe God is composed of an interpersonal relationship of giving and receiving between three equally divine eternal persons. I would suggest that knowing God in this light is both rationally compelling and emotionally satisfying.

CREATION

Because God is love, God was impelled from within His own other-centered nature to create others with whom to share the bliss of a love-actuated existence. We believe, then, that creation is God’s love actualized in material form. For love to exist within creation, freewill was necessarily built into the system. By definition, love is voluntary. When Scripture says that God made humanity “in His own image,” this means that human beings were psychologically, emotionally, and volitionally engineered for other-centeredness. But right here it becomes immediately evident that there is a potential upside and a potential downside to freewill. If we are free to love one another, then we are also free to live for ourselves to the hurt of one another.

THE FALL

Because God is love, it follows that God does not exert exhaustive control over His creation. Tragically, the risk inherent in freewill was realized in the Fall of both humans and angels. As a result, we find ourselves living in the throes of a great controversy between good and evil, a war of wills, a conflict between other-centeredness and self-centeredness. Two diametrically opposed modes of existence are vying for our allegiance. Sin is not merely the breaking of rules imposed by a God of sovereign power, but the violation of a relational integrity that was engineered into reality by a God of sovereign love. The fact that evil and pain exist is evidence, not of God’s sovereign will being exerted upon the world, but of freewill gone bad in a world capable of noble moral splendor.

SALVATION

Again, because God is love, God could not, would not, abandon us to deception and destruction. God knew that the moment He would bring us into existence, He would love us above Himself. He knew, also, that if we were to turn from love to selfishness, He would keep on loving us at any cost to Himself and pursue us to the complete end of Himself. We can see, then, that the cross was in God’s view from the start. And He still created us! Sin is anti-love. As such, sin is also an anti-creational force that throws everything it enslaves into chaos, suffering, and death. Salvation is God’s plan for restoring love to humanity as our only mode of existence.

THE LAW

Because God is love, He has revealed to us the essence of His character in the form of His law, the Ten Commandments. The law is not a list of arbitrary rules that have no grounding in reality but rather a description of what love looks like in action. As such, the law is not a means of salvation, but a revelation, by contrast, of our fallen condition, awakening in us a sense of need for a Savior.

THE SABBATH

Because God is love, we are Sabbatarians. The Sabbath is embedded within reality, in the very cycle of time and in the very makeup of humanity. The Sabbath tells us who God is and who we are in relation to God. He is the Creator and we are the created. He is the Redeemer and we are the redeemed. In both creation and redemption, God accomplishes the work and we are dependent recipients of His gifts. The Sabbath is a weekly commemoration of God’s benevolent character, reminding us each seventh day that we are creatures who rest in His unearned love. The Sabbath truth is, therefore, the antithesis of legalism and self-dependence, when rightly understood.

ESCHATOLOGY

Because God is love, our entire eschatology centers on the difference between force and freedom in matters of worship. The crucial point of Daniel and Revelation is that religious systems that resort to coercion are diametrically opposed to the character of God. Love alone is the basis for all true worship.

You get the picture. Of course, I’m just scratching the surface here. Along with the sanctuary and the judgement, death and hell, the Second Coming, the Millennium, and the earth made new, Adventism possesses the raw theological materials from which to construct a worldview so rationally convincing and emotionally attractive that it very well could illuminate the whole earth with God’s glory (Revelation 18:1). Our total theology is simply and profoundly this: “God is love.” Then, operating from that premise, we can formulate a comprehensive understanding of the world and our place in it, the nature of evil and suffering, and the principles by which God has embarked upon the glorious enterprise of human salvation.

“God is love” in the most beautiful, meaningful, and liberating sense imaginable.

That’s all.

And that’s a lot.

That’s what Adventism communicated to an eighteen-year-old boy whose worldview would never be the same, and that’s what Adventism has the potential to communicate to the world.

original article: https://lightbearers.org/blog/adventism-as-worldview/

By the Grace of God, I Can, Part 1

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:55:59 GMT

By the Grace of God, I Can, Part 1

Do you think you can do this kind of work? When his inebriated brother-in-law began peppering him-the venom in his words was almost visible as he talked. “Do you think you’re some type of pastor? Are you really able to do anything?” Ishmael’s inebriated brother-in-law waited to see how he’d react to his insults.

Although hurt by the caustic challenges coming from a member of his own family, Ishmael managed to respond, “By the grace of God, I can.”

I have some exciting announcements for you! Justin, Ishmael’s half-brother, who for much of his life despised Christians and delighted in humiliating them, is now worshiping God alongside Ishmael. For the time being, I will disclose this information to you. One evening during a Truth Link Bible study, it occurred. After hearing Ishmael’s narrative in person, this study was anything but ordinary.

After hearing Ishmael share his testimony with his fellow pioneer Bible workers at Riverside Farm in Zambia, I knew that this was a tale you would love to hear. I managed to carve out a few extra minutes from Ishmael’s schedule for him to convey in greater depth about his brother and the events of his life that led to his union with Jesus.

Unsure of where to begin, I asked Ishmael, “Please, tell me your story, the one you said the night before during your testimony.”

During the lesson, Steven acted strangely.

After a quick glance up to his left, as if remembering a memory, his gaze returned. “I served as a trailblazer Bible worker for nearly a year. It was May 2022, and I was in door to door in my village He prayed to God to reveal to him a special place where he could take someone to Jesus. After a day of witnessing, Ishmael went to his in-laws’ home feeling defeated. Oshea was taken aback by a man who tripped in front of him upon entering his parents’ home. It was his very inebriated brother-in-law and this was where he began hurling insults at Ishmael.

When Ishmael leaned back towards me and said, “My brother-in-law was always looking for methods to deter me. It was nothing new. I’d wait until he had gotten drunk to talk about Jesus, but he was extremely hesitant. Ishmael said that he continued praying each and every day for a large group to have a Truth Link study, but so far no one had expressed interest.

I want to tell you, it’s strange how God responds to prayers. Several days after praying, Justin’s drinking problem began to catch up with him. Thank you for reading. The following text is from Ishmael remembered that Justin had called him looking for employment. Ishmael was a fisherman by trade, and since his boat was empty at the time, he was able to accept the job. After talking with his wife, they agreed to house Justin for a short time while he saved money to purchase his own property. Maybe this could be an opportunity to share some more about Jesus. Ishmael employed a man from Tanzania named Steven to help bring in fish for the season. He, too, was provided with nourishment and a loft with Ishmael and his wife for the season.

Ishmael proceeded, “When we went to the lake for our work, I began to tell tales. I began telling stories about Jesus, Creation, the Bible, and the sabbath.” And do you know what? Steven began asking inquiries.

“Is this story you told us about the Sabbath true?” he asked.

Ishmael responded, “Yes! It is written in the Bible.”

Steven continued, “How do you really know and how sure are you that this Sabbath thing will save you?”

Of course, Jesus is the Savior, not the Sabbath, but he didn’t know it yet. They continued talking about the Sabbath, all the time, while Justin simply listened.

Ishmael continued his story: “Upon arriving home, I gave them a set of Truth Link, but they couldn’t read English.”

The following text is a part of this story that gets more exciting. Because Justin and Steven couldn’t read English, Ishmael invited them to study The Truth Link with him.

Justin, Steven, and Ishmael continued studying Truth Link together. Using the Bible, they compared each lesson’s set of questions. Ishmael couldn’t believe what was going on! God, do you think this is happening? # However, during this time, he began to observe that Steven was acting strangely during their tuition sessions. When he heard the name, he would hear a “click” in his head, similar to a “tap” that was heard when a name was called. The figure seems to indicate that he was speaking with someone that wasn’t there. Something wasn’t right.

This is part one of Ishmael’s study of sharing the Truth Link. Part two will explore how an open minded Bible study can aid you in achieving your destiny. There are invisible forces at work whose sole purpose is to stop God’s quest for the human heart.

Light Bearers is currently in the process of translating Truth Link into Bemba and Swahili so that persons like Steven and Justin may have access to the gospel in their own language. These guidebooks will be printed soon. If you join us in this effort to spread the gospel literature, we would be delighted to welcome you into the team.

Original: https://lightbearers.org/blog/by-the-grace-of-god-i-can-part-1/

By The Grace of God, I Can, Part 2

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:55:59 GMT

By The Grace of God, I Can, Part 2

Throughout their study, they looked at a series of questions that each lesson asked. God was at work. Ishmael couldn’t believe what was happening! His brother-in-law, who used to enjoy humiliating Christians, wanted to study Jesus. However, whilst studying the Truth Link program, Ishmael noticed that Steven was acting strange during their sessions. It was as if a small conflict was going on inside his mind. Steven was conversing with someone who was not even there. Something wasn’t quite right.

One Sunday during a Truth Link Bible study, Ishmael recounted to me our interview, Steven had just finished from church. He told Ishmael that he was feeling unusual and asked to be prayed for. Ishmael said, “It was unusual because Stephen did not ask for prayer from his congregation. Then when I began praying for him, he began to grow dizzy and speak in unfamiliar ways-as if his utterances were from someone else.” Stephen began speaking Swahili (his native tongue) in strange voices when he began to babble gibberish.

In a series of struggling utterances, the following words flowed from Steven’s mouth, “Do you know who we are? We are from Tanzania, from Kilimanjaro. We are many. You cannot manage us. You cannot deal with us. You cannot conquer us.”

Demons are frequently linked with mountains in Africa, and Ishmael knew he was up against forces much older than anything on Earth. Lesson four of Truth Link discusses the battle in heaven. In reality, an order of spiritual beings was taken from heaven and presently operates “within our world, largely unseen,” but it is “sometimes in visible form (Hebrews 1: 13; 2)” (Truth Link, lesson 4, pg 1). Thankfully, there is a far greater power available to us. Jesus came to our globe to ‘the works of the devil’ (1 John 3:8)”(Truth Link, Lesson 4 # p.g5).

“How do you feel at this point?” When Ishmael described the demon’s taunting, I inquired.

If you were sitting next to Ishmael that night, you would see Steven’s shifting expressions displaying rage more than anything else. Ishmael’s prayers had a significant effect.

“It felt like it was as if the man wanted to hit me.” Ishmael exclaimed.

What happened next will shock you. The demons began confessing that Ishmael had the true God with him.

Rest assured; it is! Return to the topic at hand, which describes Justin’s metamorphosis from being a worshiper to becoming an Ishmaelite.

Now, sitting next to Ishmael was Justin. Although Ishmael could comprehend Swahili, he wasn’t able to speak it. Justin spoke fluent Swahili and was translating for Ishmael as he prayed and spoke. “I continued to pray, pray! Ishmael’s voice was a whisper. “A voice told me to say, ‘Pack your belongings and leave.’ ” He repeated the command, and Justin interpreted it.

The voices responded, “This man has kept something that belongs to us, but now we’ll take it and go.” After those words, Steven leaned forward and awoke. Ishmael asked him how he was doing.

Steven responded to Ishmael, “These demons have been with me for three years. They told me they were with me to guide and protect me. They wanted me to become a witch doctor.”

Ishmael quickly said, “No! Demons cannot protect you. God will be your guide. He will protect you when you walk in His way!”

Steven was a devout Christian who had been learning about God. He was prepared to follow Jesus and lead others to him. He stated, “I know five more people who require this Truth Link. Again, as you may expect, Ishmael was excited to share!

After this experience, Justin, Ishmael’s brother-in-law, said to Ishmael, “I see that you serve the Most High God!”

Ishmael responded, “Yes, I do! And you must follow Him. You must accept Jesus as your Savior.”

Justin also promised to serve the Lord that night.

After finishing his account to me, Ishmael said, “Even this one from Tanzania [Steven] is still staying with me, working and worshiping. My brother-in-law no longer drinks! And yes, we all continue studying Truth Link together in my home.”

About the lessons, Ishmael said, “I find that Truth Link helps me plan and teach through a set procedure. I just distributed 15 copies of Truth Link to my congregation for a new evangelistic series we are about to do. They are excited to use it. I am thankful that I am still sharing Truth Link. I need more. I really hope they have more in this distribution.”

Jesus demonstrated the efficacy of a “simple” Bible study by bringing demons out of people possessed by them. To spread God’s Word, a Bible student in Zambia used God’s Word to remove demons from a man who believed there was no hope for recovery. Your financial gifts are used by Bible students like Ishmael and provide them with the tools they need to bring God’s Word to towns where few people have access to it.

Thank you for your participation in this story.

Original story: https://lightbearers.org/blog/by-the-grace-of-god-i-can-part-2/

Faith in Focus: Exploring Adventist Beliefs and Community

The Cross and the Empty Tomb: An Invitation to New Life

The Cross and the Empty Tomb: An Invitation to New Life

Still Standing: A New Year, New Chapter

Still Standing: A New Year, New Chapter

For the Boy Who Didn’t Come Home

For the Boy Who Didn’t Come Home

Mission Means Me — Isaiah 6:8

Mission Means Me - Isaiah 6:8

The Company You Keep — Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:33

The Company You Keep — Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:33

The Harvest Within

The Harvest Within

A New Heart — Reflection on Ezekiel 36:26

A New Heart — Reflection on Ezekiel 36:26

When Freedom Is Tainted

When Freedom Is Tainted

Too Many Hurt In This World

Too Many Hurt In This World

By Marie Lee

Reflection

Be the Light: Reflection on Matthew 5

Be the Light: Reflections on Matthew 5

Light Reveals

Light Guides

Light Reflects

Light Transforms

Living as Light Today

Adventism As A Worldview

Adventism as a Worldview

By the Grace of God, I Can, Part 1

By the Grace of God, I Can, Part 1

During the lesson, Steven acted strangely.

By The Grace of God, I Can, Part 2

By The Grace of God, I Can, Part 2 ﻿

By The Grace of God, I Can, Part 2