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There are four watershed moments in the Bible where the divine and humanity interact directly: Creation, Mt. Sinai, Jesus’ life on earth, and the second coming. There are some other moments which come close, but these four stand apart as unique moments in the scope of our history and future. Of interest to Adventists is our unique emphasis on these four moments. Most denominations believe three of these happened. A few accept all four events as literal events, but perhaps don’t emphasize one or the other as all that significant to us. Adventists though? Our emphasis on creation as an actual event, the importance of God’s eternal law given at Sinai, the arrival of Jesus as a human, and return as divine ruler over earth are unique among Christianity. After the introduction of sin, direct contact with God became dangerous. At Sinai the people trembled and begged Moses to speak to God for them so they didn’t have to hear Him. Moses wanted to see God, but was told the closest He could do was to look at God’s back after He has walked by. Others like Uzzah didn’t fare as well. The second coming promises the earth will be split into two camps: those who will rejoice, and those who will tremble in fear. The difference between those two groups will depend on how they respond to the greatest example of divine interaction with humanity—the life of Jesus. Jesus was God personified in the flesh. Which meant love in human form. Incredible, uncompromising love which divided an entire nation into passionate following, or absolute hatred. What happened then is sure to happen again. God’s presence isn’t dangerous because He delights in destruction, but because our sinfulness can’t coexist alongside His pure love. When we as Adventists emphasize the second coming, what kind of picture do we paint? Do we tell people to get in line behind Jesus to be saved from God’s wrath, or do we paint a picture of a God so loving we can’t hold onto both Him and our sin? When we emphasize the law given at Sinai do we tell of a God who demands strict obedience to a list of exacting rules, or do we paint a picture of a God who has shown us how to best act in love towards Him and others? When we emphasize creation do we tell of a God who made a world which deprived us of knowledge and experience, or do we paint a picture of a God so loving He gave us choice in what kind of world we wanted to live in? Our answer to these foundational doctrinal questions rests in how we respond to the first advent. Like those in Jesus’ time, and those at the second coming we react to Jesus in one of two ways. One of the defining challenges for our denomination is what kind of Christ we portray in our lives. The Adventist experience is anything but consistent from place to place. Sure the doctrinal emphasis is built around the same topics, but they are flavored in remarkably different ways. If we want to evangelize around our unique interpretations of these four moments of God on earth, we have to ask tough questions about what it meant when Jesus appeared as a baby boy in the flesh all those years ago. We have to as a denomination answer the question Pontius Pilate asked all those years ago: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” If we don’t get it right, we come across as legalistic, fear mongering anti-intellectuals. But if we do? We are the people who present the kind of love for the ages which caused Mary to sing this beautiful song: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55

“So, if my brother sins against me, how many times should I forgive him,” asked Peter. He didn’t even wait for Jesus to answer. “Up to seven times?” “No,” Jesus responded, “up to seventy times seven.” When it comes to forgiveness the Bible is clear it should be done quickly and generously as soon as the person confesses the sin. Repeatedly, we are reminded to forgive as God has forgiven us. Jesus is even bold enough to say we must forgive if we want God to forgive us. “When should we forgive our brother?” we might ask. Based on traditions we might answer our own question. “As soon as we can?” “No,” Jesus would most certainly respond, “Now.” Jesus is ridiculous like that. I struggle with forgiveness. I can be chill, but every once in a while someone will dance on a nerve. Suddenly, I am struggling with frustration and bitterness. Forgiveness is a difficult process for me. Daily surrendering. Wrestling with God. What can we do to forgive on time? Here are 4 things that make it easier. Confront sin Jonathan and I walked across campus making an effort at small talk when Watson ran up to us and started to yell. “Why are you trying to one-up me?” He demanded his frustration papable. Jonathan hurried away respectfully. “What were you guys talking about?” Watson demanded as he fell into step with me. I shrugged as I looked for an immediate opportunity to escape. Yes, I had gone on a group date with Watson the day before, but I wasn’t interested at all. I had even asked that we just remain friends going forward. In fact, I had been more interested in Jonathan for quite some time. I was offended that Watson dared to think that he owned me and could chase of other potentials. Thus, started an icy chill between me and Watson for the rest of our years at university. Watson and I worked together tersely. I regret not simply telling Watson what was wrong. Likely, with his character, he would have repented and our friendship would have been repaired. Jesus is proactive. If a brother is sinning against us, He counsels us to go to that person and point out how that person is sinning against us. We are also to go to a brother whom we sense has something against us and work to make things right. We are actively working to repair broken relationships before things get to a place were feelings fester and bitterness sets in. Forgiveness is not something we can do privately in our own hearts toward someone else. Forgiveness is part of a process to rebuild relationships. Thus, repentance is always the prerequisite to forgiveness. Dispense with bitterness The mob rushed at Stephen rocks in hand ready to stone him. “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” Stephen pleads on behalf of his persecutors. Stephen’s ultimate desire was that those wicked men could be saved. His prayer was answered. Saul, the ringleader, would soon experience a powerful conversion and become one of the mightiest warriors for the gospel. Once we have let bitterness fester it becomes more difficult to forgive. We can stop this in the root by not allowing the plant of bitterness to grow in our hearts. We can do this by praying for our offenders and by exhibiting kindness toward them. When repentance does not come quickly, we must intercede on behalf of the offender so the gospel message can change their hearts. We must always work toward reconciliation. Experience forgiveness The Unforgiving Servant rushed out from the king’s presence and grasped a man that owed him by the neck. “Pay me what you owe!” he screamed. The king had just forgiven this same unforgiving servant a debt that he could not have repaid in his wildest dreams. Yet, he hadn’t accepted the wealth of forgiveness that had been so freely handed to him. To be able to effectively forgive we have to experience forgiveness. John reminds us that “If we confess or sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When we understand the depth of our sin and accept the unmerited favor of forgiveness, we are so overwhelmed that we want to share it with others. Accept Divinity The story is told of Corrie Ten Boom when she was confronted with one of the guards that presided over the camp where her dear sister, Betsie, had died. He walked up to her and she immediately recognized him. “Miss,” he pleaded still tormented by his evil deeds, “Will you forgive me?” A struggle began in Corrie’s heart. Memories of those horrible days in the concentration camp and losing her beloved sister rushed in. She pleaded with God for strength. “Jesus, help me!” she prayed silently. “I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.” In obedience, Corrie extended her hand and grasped the guard’s extended hand. “I forgive you, brother!” she cried. “With all my heart!” God was faithful. Corrie felt the wave of warmth and kindness toward the man who had hurt her so terribly. Frankly, we cannot forgive. This is not something that is humanly possible. Our selfish hearts want to seek revenge. We don’t want to confront with kindness our brother so he can be saved. However, forgiveness is something we can do through Christ. When we take hold of his strength, He will give us the power to forgive and work for forgiveness right on time. When was a time when God helped you forgive at the right time? Photo by Jackson David on Unsplash

This is America. It’s overwhelming to see all the ugliness in this world. Especially with social media putting it on a scale where it is hard to process the information all at once. But never before, have we had this chance to witness the evil in this world so easily, and acknowledging it is the first step. The BLM (Black Lives Matter) Movement is NOT part of an agenda to diminish the struggles of other races such as our own. It exists to rally against the evident, continued violence towards Black lives. Again, if “all lives mattered”, we wouldn’t need to have this conversation right now. The narrative of repeated injustice involving police brutality goes beyond than just a Black versus White issue. In 2014, Akai Gurley, a 28-year-old, unarmed, Black man, was shot and killed by Peter Lian – a Chinese - American police officer who served no time in prison but only five years of probation. Today, he walks free. As fellow Christians, it should be an automatic response to stand in solidarity with the Black community. We must be accountable to acknowledge our biases, passiveness, and general complacency when it comes to the conversation of racism. Yes, this means speaking up on and calling out anti-blackness within our own communities and churches so that we can unlearn these tendencies. We must hold each other responsible. We must learn to love like Jesus. Wholeheartedly. These conversations are not easy, but they are necessary. Anti-blackness within all communities must end – even in Christian communities. Because let’s be real, we’re not perfect. We judge. And for this reason, we cannot be enablers of repeated oppression. Silence must not be an option. May we all have: “A mouth to speak out against injustice. A nose to sniff out implicit bias. Eyes to identify privilege. Ears to listen to the POC experience. A heart to cultivate empathy for the oppressed. Hands to take action and make a change.” - Daniel Coke #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd Written By: Adhey Bernika

Did you have an imaginary friend when you were growing up? The possibilities are limitless with imaginary friends! You could be playing outside and they can be fellow pirates searching for buried treasure. Or, if you’re grounded to your room, they could be fellow prisoners helping you plan your escape. Imaginary friends can be anything! The problem is: they can’t actually do anything. For example, I once met someone who’d had four imaginary friends as a child. She got sick once, and of course all her imaginary friends were sick as well. So she poured herself not one, but five doses of cough syrup! But imaginary friends can’t actually drink cough syrup, so she drank all five doses for them! This brought her parents terror and brought her on a trip to the doctor. Imaginary friends are great, right? Sometimes, if I’m honest, God feels a lot like an imaginary friend. Like I’m just pretending God is here hanging out with me and helping me on my life journey. Its a nice feeling, but does God actually do anything? One of the ways God becomes more real for me is when I can take some depiction of God from the Bible and see it embodied in real life. For example, when God speaks these words over Jesus at His baptism: “This is my beloved son and I take delight in him!” I can hear my parents saying how much they love me and are proud of the work I’m doing. I can relate to a God like that. The problem with this practice is that sometimes we encounter portrayals of God that don’t resonate with what we’ve experienced in our human relations. Many of us have not had healthy experiences with our mothers or fathers. This can make it difficult to connect with the parent imagery of God. For me, it's often difficult to connect to God as a king or lord. There's part of me that bristles at the authority of God, because I’ve seen authority abused so often by human leaders. Take Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as an example. “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Now imagine these words in the mouth of one of our highest human leaders. “Listen to me. I’m the best, believe me! Pay attention to me in my great and unmatched wisdom, and do everything I say.” And while most leaders wouldn’t actually command you to love them, there are many who expect your absolute compliance and submission - with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, simply because they have power. What they’re really asking for here is… worship. And that gets a bit scary. A person like that is an egomaniac. Someone who constantly demands or expects recognition and honor, someone who is that power-and-praise hungry is dangerous. And if I’m honest, when I read these words regarding God, I have wonder: Is God an egomaniac? Is God really just an insecure bully, throwing God's weight around and demanding praise? Think about it. We meet at least weekly to read the Bible, sing songs about God, and talk about God. That’s a lot of worship. This is the God who, just one chapter prior to our reading, says things like, “Do not have any gods besides me,” and “Do not bow down to or worship idols, because I am a jealous God.” Basically, don’t put anything ahead of me. I’m the top, the most important thing. Again, if we imagine these words in the mouth of a human leader, the results are scary. At best, God kinda sounds like a jerk, and at worst, an evil, comic book villain. At this point, it's important to pause and recognize something. These depictions of God in human terms are like metaphors – they are designed to convey something, but they aren’t a direct correlation. For example, if I tell my wife, “You are the sunshine of my life,” I might mean that I feel happy and warm when she is around, or that she is the most important thing to me. I don’t, however, mean that if I spend too many hours around her without sunscreen I’ll get burned, or that when she is near I will spin in circles and rotate in an orbit around her (though sometimes being in love feels a lot like that!). Similarly, portrayals of God as father or mother, lover or Lord are designed to give us glimpses of who God is, but they are not designed to convey the whole picture or to be a direct correlation to our human experiences. And for this I am grateful. For one, I’m grateful that when Jesus says He longs to gather His people under His wings like a mother hen gathers her chicks, it doesn’t mean Jesus is a chicken. And secondly, this actually gives an opportunity for God to bring healing to the brokenness of our human experiences. For me, this means opening up myself to the possibility that God as Lord and a source of authority means maybe God is a different kind of leader than I’m used to seeing. One of the core teaching about the kingdom of heaven is that God is love, and not the kind of love that is a trade or exchange, not the kind of love that is based merely on affection or shared feelings, but a love based on choice and always given freely for the benefit of the other. This is what I see in the way Jesus loves. And if this is true, then why would a God of love ask us to worship God? Unless that, too, was out of love. Unless that, too, was for our benefit. Could it be that us worshiping God is actually because we need that in our lives? Come back next time as we explore these questions further! Until then, tell us what you think: why would a God of love ask us to worship God with all our heart, soul, and strength?

A decade ago the country scrambled to figure out how to keep Millennials happy at work. Over time our entire generation was condensed into one simple idea: we got participation trophies for everything. There is a truth to this claim, but Millennials need to understand the deeper circumstances behind these trophies if we want to escape our generational heritage as we raise our children. “The green light flashes, the flags go up, churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.” The supposed problem with participation trophies is that they make people soft and entitled. Again, there’s truth there, but I think the real problem with participation trophies is that they’re symptoms of something more destructive: everything becoming a competition. The participation trophy I remember most was for a charitable walkathon. To increase our lap totals, and thus our sponsor’s financial commitments, it became a big race. To keep us from feeling down about losing when we should’ve felt good about raising money, they gave everyone trophies. Instead, maybe we shouldn’t have turned charity into a competition. Some of you are wondering what the harm is in having a little competition to help raise money? Nothing on its own, I suppose, but our generation became stuffed to the gills with competition. Graduating in the worst economy in decades meant you needed to stand out. Everyone had college degrees, so you needed one from an elite school (or graduate school). Getting into an elite school? Well, you can’t be a C student, you have to be an A student. When everyone is now an A student? You need to get As in honors courses. When everyone is getting As in the same honors courses, you need AP, or college credit, or worst of all, you need to win by getting the most community service hours. It wasn’t enough for school to become an increasingly ludicrous competition. Society at large found a way to convince us we needed to beat everyone at community service. When our resumes were taken care of, our personal lives fared no better. The advent of social media found a way to objectively measure our online interactions. Myspace gave us a way to rank our top friends, which we somehow found acceptable. Eventually our jokes, our travels, and even our meals were ranked and compared. Competition has so swallowed every aspect of our lives we feel the need to prove ourselves even with what we eat. “No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine, he’s haunted by something he cannot define.” Our generation didn’t need participation trophies because we couldn’t handle losing at kickball. We needed them because we never got to experience what life was like when you weren’t competing. Participation trophies let us take a breath in a world that asked more and more of us without ever accepting even our best. If you’re still skeptical, look at the following generation. We did away with the participation trophies and increased the competition, and we ended up with the most driven generation that is also the most depressed and anxious generation. Just looking at games we see the scope of the problem. The escape video games provided for Millennials has been lost in a sea of achievements, eSports, and grinding for status in multiplayer games. Games got so exhausting it became more enjoyable to watch someone else do it. Competitive gamification crept into schools until even behavior was ranked with accompanying graphics and sound effects to signify to the class who was winning. The flu has been replaced by anxiety and depression as the leading cause of absences. I’ve had students text me from the hospital where they are being treated for school-related panic attacks. If this is the alternative, let’s bring back the participation trophies. “But he’s striving and driving and hugging the turns. And thinking of someone for whom he still burns.” So how does the participation trophy generation raise kids without trophies or anxiety? I don’t know all the right ways, but I know all right ways point to Jesus. Perhaps we can start by reclaiming the Sabbath as a day to say, “My labors are never enough, but my God created and delivered me.” Perhaps, instead of trying to constantly prove our wokeness, we can learn to do good deeds so secretly with our left hand that our right hand doesn’t know what it is doing. Maybe we will ignore the dishes and sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary. Maybe we will build a church where the weary will find Jesus whose yoke is easy and burden is light. In doing so, we might raise a generation who cares little for competition and cares even less for trophies, but cares much for widows and orphans. And when we fall short and feel the pressure rising? Thankfully accepting Jesus’ sacrifice provides us with eternal life: the greatest participation trophy ever given to a bunch of failures that didn't deserve a prize.

Holiday decorations have been up since sometime in October. You can now get a pumpkin spice flavored drink at the local coffee shop. It's sweater weather and soon there may be a little snow. We are creeping toward that season in which plentiful are the reminders of the world’s greatest love story –a God who loved to death. Some of you are blessed with a beloved to share this magical season with. Perhaps, you are in a serious relationship. Maybe marriage isn’t around the corner, but you are thinking about it. You could be just wondering if the person who has become your significant other could be the person you spend the rest of your life with. Regardless of where you find yourself on the spectrum, a key part of the process is observing your special individual. This person has the potential to be the greatest blessing or the utmost curse. In any case, here are some activities to get to know each other a little bit more deeply. Plan a Road Trip Whether it’s chaperoning a group of teens to Generation. Youth. Christ, volunteering at Pathways to Health with a group of friends or taking the youth group to the One Project. Take some time to plan the trip together. If you pay attention, you’ll see some different sides of your lover. Does she suggest you buy food and cook instead of eating out? What does he do when the tire goes flat or all the checked luggage goes missing? Can she keep within the budget? Does he plan for surprises? How does she handle the angry clients in the dental queue or the teen couple that sneaks out of the hotel room in the middle of the night? Does an argument break out? How do you guys handle it? When you get back, sit down and talk about your experience. You can even take the opportunity to talk about how your parents handled money, learn about each other’s money personalities and how you expect to manage your finances in your relationship and even in a potential marriage. Herd children for a day During the holiday season, there are many a frazzled mother who would jump at the opportunity to get the kiddos out of her hair while she gets some much-needed holiday preparations out of the way. Take the opportunity to help out and babysit together. Plan some activities, prepare a healthy meal and even tuck them into bed. How patient is he when each kid has a mind of its own? How does she react when the 3-year-old drops her iPhone? What does he do when the kids refuse to go to bed? Is she parent material? How does he discipline a child (refrain from spanking without the parent’s permission, please)? Do you work as a united front or divide up the roles? Hopefully, you get the most difficult children born to the planet. Then, you will certainly have something to talk about when you are done! Get a feel for the parenting styles each of you grew up with. Find out how your partner feels about kids. Get inside his or her head about the babysitting experience. Host Friendsmas or a Holiday Gathering Everyone is getting together. This is season is a time for fun, festivities, and fellowship. It’s a great opportunity to gather some friends or family members together to celebrate. Cook some food or organize a potluck. Find a place to host it. Plan some activities to bond with. You might learn a lot. He is a super extravert? Does she prefer a small group? Does he take your concerns or preferences into account? Does she think about people who would otherwise have no place to go? Does he like to have a kitchen full of people or he prefers to cook solo? Who did the cooking? Who washes up afterward? Who entertains the guests? Don’t forget to talk about the experience. It’s a great chance to talk about how you celebrated the holidays growing up and how the chores were portioned out day today. You can even get a feel for how you expect to do social gatherings as a couple. Read Together There’s nothing like cuddling up to a good book on a cold rainy or snowy day (but, leave some space for Jesus ya'll). It’s even better to be read to. Take some time to aloud read to your beloved. Perhaps, you’ll be all intense and read something like Ellen G. White’s Adventist Home. Maybe you’ll just read the Christmas Story from The Desire of Ages or the Bible. You could even get all nostalgic and read something from the Guide’s Greatest Collection or something from Dr. Rabbit. You could even get inspired to change the world by reading Half the Sky or simply change your health by cracking open The Daniel Plan. If these activities take you a step closer to lifelong commitment, always keep in mind the words of a very wise woman. “Marriage is something that will influence and affect your life both in this world and in the world to come…. Those who are contemplating marriage should consider what will be the character and influence of the home they are founding.” What are you doing this holiday season to better get to know your significant other? Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

As I reflect on the year gone by there were highs and lows, but mostly it was made up of the stuff in between - the normal, the mundane, the things that don’t make headlines. There are many moments that are memorable in a year, but those events take up a fraction of the total time. All the big events in the life of the character from the video can be summed up in less than a minute! In my life: the new year dawned with positivity, as it usually does. And the year continued to be good - I was eating healthfully, exercising regularly, building relationships, working hard - doing all the normal things well. Over the course of the year I floated away from Jesus - the soft current of everyday life gently pulled me away. There were no big external shocks, no jubilation, no heartbreak - nothing to rock the boat enough for me to realise I was drifting further and further from the source of life. Thankfully The Holy Spirit gently guided me back; bringing me back on course and to a stronger relationship with God. Unfortunately there’s no amazing story, no heart-wrenching testimony, no funny anecdote to drive home a lesson - but what I learned in “the year that was” is this: Stay close to God through everything, even the small stuff. Immanual - God with us. In the memorable moments and the forgettable details. Written By: Darren Spencer

The murder of Botham Jean caught the attention of thousands. It wasn't a traffic stop gone wrong, it wasn't a case of a civilian resisting arrest. A black man was killed in his home by an off duty white female police officer. For me, this one hit close to home. As a black American, the countless stories of black people's interactions with police going horrible wrong, often leaves a sense of dread. The lack of consequences for the loss of life leaves anger. But this time was different. The perpetrator was eventually charged with murder. She went to trial, was found guilty, and received a prison sentence. And then something truly amazing happened. At the sentencing hearing, Botham Jean's younger brother, Brandt, openly forgave his brother's murderer and gave her a hug. The moment almost immediately went viral. And simultaneously, there was immediate outrage. As a Christian who understands the freedom of forgiveness, it was a powerful demonstration of the forgiveness God offers us. However, as a person of color who understands the dynamics of race relations in America, the moment was just as uncomfortable as it was moving. I felt very conflicted about it until I realized what I was feeling was righteous anger. God has forgiven us and continues to forgive us when we mess up. In return, He has called us to freely forgive. When Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive anyone who sinned against him up to seven times, Jesus told him to multiply it by seventy. Forgiveness is a must for a Christian. It shows that we understand the grace we receive from God. Forgiveness is honestly more for us than anyone else. It helps us heal, and move forward. It helps us live again. Forgiveness does not absolve the person or erase any consequences of their actions. It doesn't fix everything. Life doesn't suddenly go back to normal or become perfect. Just ask David. He begged God for forgiveness yet still suffered the consequences of his sin against Bathsheba. Many were quick to share the video of Brandt publicly forgiving his brother's murderer. In many respects, his forgiveness was flaunted while the underlying injustice- racism- was ignored. As Christians, we should be just as loud about injustice as we are about forgiveness. Instead, many often ignore the fight for racial justice, declare that we shouldn't be involved, or even worse, fan the flames of it. When white Christians, flaunt black forgiveness but ignore the systematic injustice and violence against people of color, it is a slap in the face. It devalues that grace. My favorite verse of the Bible is Micah 6:8 - "... And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Justice and grace go hand in hand. One, without the other not only cheapens, it distorts the gospel. Black Christians shouldn't have to beg other Christians to speak up and against injustice in our society. That is part of our job as Christians. Botham Jean's mother's calls for justice should not be drowned out with applause and praise for the forgiveness his brother offered. True forgiveness comes with commitment to pursuing justice for all. Justice and grace - one without the other is an incomplete gospel. Written By: Norell Ferguson

It’s been nearly a year now that I have been consumed by this very important question—what is the best potluck dish ever? Yes, I know it might seem like a trivial matter to you as our denomination has just held another Annual Council and as the United States continues its political turmoil, but I can’t help myself. The ministry of meals is an important aspect of Seventh Day Adventist culture, and it bothers me that we don't have a comprehensive guide to the most popular and best-tasting dishes within our family. But not anymore. At the Haystack, we are committed to raising the most important questions and providing the best answers. So I propose we conduct a very scientific investigation into the foods that grace our fellowship halls and gyms. I'll need your submissions in the comments. Here's the evaluation guide I will then use to rank each submission. Is the Dish a Regular? The dish you nominate has to be a potluck regular. Unfortunately, this disqualifies that one time a lady at church threw it down and made her super-secret recipe for everyone to enjoy. I’m sure it was legendarily good, but it won’t qualify here. If it’s not at 3/4 of your church's potlucks, I don’t want to hear about it. Is the Dish Tasty? This one needs no explanation. Is It Health Message Approved? How many vegetables are involved in this dish, if any? I may award points to some dishes that are so health message disapproved that it becomes hilarious (Staring at you, microwavable lasagna). Are There Leftovers of It? A good dish gets eaten at the potluck. A great dish gets finished at the potluck. Also, this helps reduce how high a score Hawaiian Rolls get because those are often purchased in large quantities. They may be delicious and enticing, but more often than not, there are plenty of rolls that never get finished off. Rarity No, I am not contradicting myself. I’m simply choosing to give bonus points for dishes that are regular but rare enough that they elicit excitement in a way that seeing yet another haystack or arroz frito doesn’t. Okay. Those are my categories for evaluation. I understand that we might get submissions from various cultures, so I’m going to take the two most popular nominations from each of our continents. If the comments section gets hot enough, I may expand it to three, but we’ll see. Your potluck dish nominations can be submitted on either the blog post comments or on social media posts. Written By: Bryant Rodriguez

Fighting for equality is hard. In the scope of history, there's a trail of blood, broken bones, and tears from those who've fought to be treated as equal. There is no doubt that demanding equality has a cost. What's often less explored is how hard it is to keep things equal. The struggle to maintain equality is the basic premise behind George Orwell’s classic critique of communism “Animal Farm.” The story revolves around a farm where animals rule and humans are out of the picture. A new order is established with one rule rising to the top: “All animals are equal.” At first things seem ideal, but over time, the pigs assume more and more control. Rebellion is in the air, and two of the pigs—Napoleon and Squealer—tighten their grip over the other animals. One day, they see the primary rule is different. This time it says, “All animals are equal. Some are more equal than others.” By the end of the book, the pigs have changed so much that they are indistinguishable from the hated human rulers they'd rebelled against. The Great Equalizer One of the things that's abundantly clear at the close of Jesus' earthly ministry is that the status quo has been changed. His resurrection has changed things; God’s people are about to go far beyond the walls of Israel. In His final address—often referred to as the Great Commission—He calls all of His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Jesus is laying the roots for what His disciple Peter would later call the priesthood of all believers. Instead of one tribe serving as priests, Jesus wants everyone to serve as priests. There is no spiritual hierarchy that calls one group to be greater than another. Jesus wanted equality. But religious leaders have often claimed to have a spiritual authority unavailable to other believers. Over the past two thousand years, the Christian church has struggled to avoid the same fate as the Animal Farm. Rethinking Total Member Involvement Adventism has not been immune to the Animal Farm struggle. Hierarchy and authority are not bad. It’s just that certain kinds of authority weren’t meant to be restricted to a select group. When Jesus left His final earthly message, He intended for all believers to take part in disciple-making and baptism. There’s no distinction in His words or His audience. This responsibility is for everyone. How, then, did we end up with only a select group of ordained (or commissioned) individuals with this responsibility and authority? Don’t get me wrong. I think there is value in having some sort of indicator that those leading a congregation have certain amounts of training, experience, and trustworthiness, but why do we only acknowledge them as having religious authority that was meant for the priesthood of all believers? What might the church look like if we truly believed in this kind of radical equality in the body of Christ? What if every member felt empowered to disciple and baptize? What would our decade-long debate over ordination look like if all members could perform “priestly” functions? Might it turn into an issue of credentials rather than what it should be, an issue of power and authority? In sum, do we really believe the Great Commission is for everyone? Or do we think some priests are more equal than others?

Have you ever found yourself so familiar with a set of words that they lose their significance? Maybe it is a song you once loved, and can still sing every line, but you aren’t really thinking about how meaningful the words are anymore. Maybe it is political rhetoric that keeps getting repeated but the implications of which we’ve ceased to truly analyze. Maybe it a Bible verse like John 3:16 or the Lord’s Prayer; we can recite every word without connecting with the powerful ideas embodied there. Sometimes, however, if we take time to slow down and dig a little deeper, we can unearth rich treasures. I found this to be true of the opening lines of the Three Angels’ Messages in Revelation 14. In verse 6, we have the first angel proclaiming the everlasting gospel “to those who dwell on the earth.” This seems pretty straightforward so far: the gospel is proclaimed to everyone. But then John breaks it down a little more: “to every nation, tribe, language, and people.” Why is this necessary? Is the passage just being redundant? Was John trying to hit a word count and needed to add some filler? Or is something more significant going on? Let’s take a closer look at each of these words. Nation (Greek: ethnos). Commonly referring to the Gentiles, but also in reference to any ethnicity or race. Tribe (Greek: phyle). Commonly referring to the Tribes of Israel, but also to any sub-division of a group of people. Language (Greek: glossa). Literally translated tongue and used especially to indicate a person’s native language. People (Greek: laos). From which we get the word laity. Most frequently used in reference to God’s people, thus giving it the connotation of religious groups of people. Each of these four words describes an aspect of our world, but more specifically an area of division. We find ourselves divided by nation, tribe, language, and people. We are divided by nationalism, racism, colonialism, tribalism, classism, sexism, and denominationalism. We are separated by language, politics, religion, and any other category we can place ourselves or others into. The everlasting gospel is proclaimed to all “who dwell on the earth” but the message goes out, not to a people united, but to a world consumed with division. This is precisely why the gospel is so powerful and relevant right now: it both challenges and offers healing for these areas of divisions in our world. How does the gospel do this? By the fruit it produces in our lives. The gospel says that even though we were dead, we can be alive in Jesus; even though we were separated from God, through Jesus, we can be unified with God - even to the point where Paul says God has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Do you realize what this means? Our true place of belonging is at the right hand of God; we are not limited to our nation, tribe, language, or people. We live in the kingdom of heaven, not the divided kingdoms of earth. Our value and identity don’t come from our race, politics, gender, class, or religion; our value is found in being a child of God. In the beautiful reality of that truth, we actually become “ambassadors of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), representatives of the kingdom of heaven on earth. Friends, we think too small. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he addressed a situation where they’re arguing over which human religious leader they’re associated with. They, like us, were still entrenched in tribalistic thinking. Paul’s response is brilliant: “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). Too often, I find myself with a very small outlook on life. I’m stuck looking at my bank account, or squabbling over doctrinal differences, or holding a grudge, instead of looking out from heavenly places and realizing that all things are mine in Christ! Our identity is found in God, not in any of the things which cause separation and inequality in the world. So what does this look like in real life? What does it look like to be in heavenly places in Christ and live as an ambassador for the kingdom of heaven when you’re... Stressed at work or school? Choosing a career or where to live? Talking with someone about the issue of women’s ordination? Deciding who and how to date or marry? Dealing with issues of racism or sexism? Engaging in conversations on nationalism and immigration? Let us know in the comments!

During my teens, the “Purity Culture” was all the rage. I read I Kissed Dating Good-bye by Joshua Harris and When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy. Today, the landscape is very different. Joshua Harris is splitting from his wife and has distanced himself from Christianity. Apps like Tinder make hookup culture even more rampant. Making sense of romantic relationships remains a tangled mess that isn’t easy to decipher. There are some positive things that “Purity Culture” brought to the table such as whole family involvement and surrender to Christ in the journey towards marriage. However, there are things that we really should unlearn. Superficial Modesty Yes, the bible supports modesty. Yet, when you delve into the Bible concept of modesty it has nothing to do with how much skin should be covered. It is more about not showing off. That could be putting your riches on display or making a sexual impression. The underlying principle is not attracting undue attention to yourself. It is going to look different in every culture and microculture. I remember reading about a guy who was pleading with girls not to tempt him in the way they dressed when he went to church. He argued that he went to school on a secular campus and every day as he walked through campus it was a bitter struggle to keep his thoughts pure. I wonder how he had so completely associated the female body with sex that the sight of it plunged him so deeply into sexual sin. Was there really much that his fellow sisters in Christ could do to save him from his thoughts? Your clothes do tell a story about who you are and what you stand for so choose them carefully. Yet, there should a balance. There is no need to start losing sleep over hems and necklines especially those of others. The godly man should be able to look at a woman with respect regardless of what she is wearing. The godly woman should dress in a manner that exudes Christ-like confidence and commands respect. Heartbreak Fear In “Purity Culture” the idea of protecting the heart was imperative. It would be an absolute disaster to give a piece of your heart away to someone who wasn’t your future spouse because in doing so you jipped your future husband or wife. First of all, love doesn’t work that way. Love is something that can be given infinitely to a variety of different people. Second of all, relationships are messy. Relationships dissolve in bitter heartbreak more because we build them on dysfunctional models such as poor communication and toxic behavior. It has nothing to do with giving away too much of the heart. That being said, we are humans and we make mistakes. We will inevitably play with hearts and hurt people. Instead of withholding affection and warmth, we should work on getting better at communicating our expectations, being willing` to listen, being respectful, being more selfless and cultivating behaviors that uplift one another. Don’t draw out another person’s affections to feed your self-esteem. Have sex when you can back it with the commitment and security it requires to make it flourish (i.e. when you can put a ring on it). Be vulnerable and communicative. Have some respect. Future Spouse Preoccupation We were encouraged to write letters to our future spouses. We were cautioned not to do anything that would dishonor our future spouses. In his book When Dreams Come True, Eric repeatedly tells Leslie that he can’t do certain things for fear that it would dishonor his future wife. Joshua Harris tells the story of Anna who is confronted by all the girls from her bride groom’s past on her wedding day in a bizarre nightmare. This preoccupation isn’t healthy. We should focus on the people in our lives today. In spite of that, there are things I don’t want to forget to tell him if he exists and occasionally write them in a letter to him for later. However, respect the people in your life today not because of a mythical future being, but because they are children of God. Leslie was Eric’s future wife thus he should have been respecting her because it was the right thing to do and because he shouldn’t have been awakening love before the time was right. If Anna had stopped to listen to the stories of the girls from her fiancé’s past she might have learned that they took pieces of his heart, but she would have hopefully learned all the ways that they made him a stronger and better person. How their impact on this life would make him a better husband for her. I would like my husband to be a virgin when I marry him. Not because he somehow didn’t have the opportunity to partake in a sexual encounter, but because he was respectful and patient. I want him to be a virgin because he chose not to have sex until he was able to take full responsibility for whatever consequences might follow and back passion with commitment. If he is a widower I want him to have loved someone well. If he is a divorcee, I want him to have learned from his mistakes and have grown into a better person. Male Pursuit The “Purity Culture” promoted the idea that men should do the pursuing and women should demurely wait for them. This is culturally correct, but it isn’t particularly Biblical and or a good foundation for a superior marriage. Other secular gurus should as Steve Harvey and Matthew Hussey base their advice around the male desire to pursue and conquer. As we examine Biblical stories, we see some of the most beautiful love stories such as those of Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebekah and even Boaz and Ruth demonstrate that a godly man treasures what he has been given by God. Sure, these men fought for their women. They cherished them. They treasured them. Yet, their beautiful wives tumbled into their laps before they had the opportunity to pursue. In contrast, the story of David shows him pursuing women, but shortly their love story would fizzle out after he was off in pursuit of another woman. Stand back and allow a man to pursue not because it will create a better relationship, but because he likes it. It possible that you may have to stimulate him to pursue if that’s your cup of tea. Just keep in mind that at the end of the day it will be a foundation of having a relationship with Jesus that will keep your relationship grounded. Decision Fear While the concept of surrounding yourself with a wealth of wise counselors during the journey toward marriage is one thing from “Purity Culture” I admire, it is easy to take it too far. Paralyzed with fear, it is very easy to let others make a decision for us because we don’t trust ourselves. You are the one who will spend the rest of your lives with this person. In the end, you have to make the decision. Rely on your parents, siblings and best friends to point out red flags and make observations. Demand logical arguments from them about their perceptions. Don’t take any short cuts. You do the work. You fast and pray. God will give you an answer just as readily as he will give them. You need to be at peace that this is where God is leading. Is there anything else about “Purity Culture” that should be thrown out?