PRISONERS OF HOPE

EDITORIAL..BROTHER N. NKOMO June 2008

A number of times this month I have begun a mental composition of the editorial piece but before
putting fingers to keyboard I have changed my mind. My variableness has been caused by the seem-
ingly endless list of items that have grabbed my attention in the last couple of weeks. My mind has
been overwhelmed, and I cannot fathom that things could get much worse. Unfortunately I know
that these are but the birth pangs and that worse is waiting in the wings. Unfortunately I know that
the four angels have begun to let lose the winds of strife and that life on this earth will soon be even
more unbearable. Unfortunately I realize that your very persecution, my very persecution is at the
door.
Other events will be touched upon briefly in “Lift up Your Heads” and so I will use this space to
muse about the senseless attacks upon various people groupings within the last month in South Af-
rica. I remember clearly only a few months ago the anger, shock and disbelief as I read reports about
what was happening in Kenya shortly after the elections. I distinctly remember thinking how privi-
leged we were to be living in the rainbow nation where things like that would never happen while at
the same time praying for those who were displaced and pleading that God intercede. Little would
anyone have believed that in a short space of time similar demon- inspired actions would abound
across South Africa.
The events got me thinking on two levels. The first is our response as a church. I have the feeling
that we stood by almost paralysed by the events to a large extent. I remember looking in a newspa-
per, shortly after centres of refuge begun to spring up around the country, at a list of organizations
that were involved in assisting the displaced. There was a long list of the various churches but no
mention of Adventists and no mention of ADRA. I remember asking myself the question, “Where
are the Adventists at this time of crisis?” I received various emails asking that we fast on certain
days as Adventists and notices of prayer vigils for the victims but I could not help myself but to ask
“Is that all that we can do as a church?” I found it disturbing that as a church we seemed almost sat- INSIDE THIS ISSUE
isfied with offering prayers and doing nothing “practical” to assist. I have heard reports of a few con-
Editorial ..................................... ……1
gregations offering practical assistance and of members volunteering to work with other organiza-
Behind Every Prophetess .......... .….2
tions but what has happened to our vision as a church that all we can do is issue a statement con-
Caffeine And SDA‟s .................... .….3
demning the violence and little else? Have we become so comfortable that we have forgotten the
What‟s in a Name? ..................... .….5
message of Isaiah 58? Where is the fulfillment of the imperative to love our neighbors as ourselves?
The Poor And Our Duty............. .….6
I have heard that ADRA has belatedly dispatched trucks with aid about two weeks after the disaster
Lift Up Your Heads .................... .….7
struck. I believe as local churches we need to organize ourselves to better respond to issues like
Be Lovers Of God ....................... .….8
these and that we need to catch a vision of what God would have us do to in a practical way to help
our fellow brothers and sisters.
The second reflection had more to do with self in view of the fast approaching crisis. As I watched
and reflected with my wife upon the senseless orgy of violence we found ourselves wandering who
was next. For if the government could be so seemingly unable to control unlegislated violence
against civilians perpetrated in pockets of the country, what would be the result of state sponsored
brutality against Adventists in the near future. If neighbor could turn upon neighbor after living
peaceably side by side for years what would be the result when the faith for which our forbearers
sacrificed their lives is outlawed on pain of death. It made me realize how fickle the love of man is. It
made me realize how terrible it will be when the censer is cast down. It made me realize how easy it
will be for us to be persecuted and hounded like the Waldenses. It made me realize the depravity of
man. It made me realize that satanic agencies are truly working in this world as its end draws nigh.
It made me realize that when the Holy Spirit is fully withdrawn worse atrocities will be committed
without compunction. Above all it made me realize that I long to go HOME!! My prayer is that we
will think of practical ways of assisting others in our daily walk rather than only offering up prayers
and that we will pray for strength to stand in the looming trial by fire that we will soon be under.
 BEHIND EVERY STRONG PROPHETESS BY SISTER T. NKOMO
August 30, 1846, I was united in marriage to Elder James
White. Elder White had enjoyed a deep experience in the
advent movement, and his labors in proclaiming the truth
had been blessed of God. Our hearts were united in the
great work, and together we traveled and labored for the
salvation of souls. p. 75, Para. 1, [1T].
People know more about Ellen White than they do about
her very noble husband, James. Just who exactly was
James? What kind of man did God see fit to unite with his
last day prophet? Only a very humble, upright man would
have been able to fill the shoes of the head of Ellen‟s home,
and Elder James White did this noble task.
Elder JAMES WHITE was born at Palmyra, Maine, August vision and once again reminded that God would provide,
4, 1821, he was one of 9 siblings, raised on a farm. At age
fifteen he became a Christian, but for a few years, backslid work. This was only one of many examples of how this fam-
from the Christian Church. When
confronted, years later, with the
Advent Message, he accepted it
and began preparing himself to
preach and teach it. When 1844
came, he was one of those who was
saddened that the second advent
did not occur, but he was also one
of those who still trusted in the
promise of the Lord and held fast
his faith. It was two years later that
he married Ellen Gould Harmon.
Even before he met Ellen, James
White was a hard worker. He loved
the Lord and did all in his power to
present him to others. And so it
was fitting that God would give
him a wife who not only loved Him
as much as James did, but also
had a prophetic gift. Together, this
duo was to face many hardships and burdens together.
They were both physically weak, he had hurt his ankle
years ago and could not bear his full weight on his left leg, length, melting my way into the feelings of the congregation.
but this did not stop him working with all his might, lead- Thus my husband sowed and I watered the seed of truth,
ing to him being one of the acknowledged founders of the
SDA church.
Besides teaching and preaching, Elder White also started
copying his wife‟s
visions and copy-
ing letters for them
Twice he gave up to distribute to
other brethren
publishing scattered all over
the country. This
was seen to be a
hindrance to the wor; they were not reaching as many peo-
ple as they should, and so after a prayer meeting about it in
1848 in Maine, and another in Massachusetts, Ellen White
was shown a vision. She related the vision, the contents of
which were that James White should start printing their
2
messages so that more people would benefit from the
truths contained therein. The believers were not wealthy,
but Ellen White was shown in that vision, that the brethren
would provide means to sustain the paper and allow it‟s
printing.
At first, the plan didn‟t go smoothly. Though Ellen White
had been shown that funds would be given, the believers
felt they were too poor to help raise means for the paper.
James decided to work in order to raise money for their
project. He left the house to go buy a scythe so he could cut
hay and earn money that way. On his way out, he was
called back- Ellen had fainted and they needed to pray for
her recovery. After she came to, she was then taken off in
and that James White‟s job was to print and publish, not to
ily had to step out in faith, but
James obeyed God‟s voice, and God
was faithful to them. This first pub-
lication of the Advent Movement
was called Present Truth. God was
so faithful that He provided so much
that the periodical was scattered
even further than they had origi-
nally planned. But there were occa-
sions where the tired elder almost
stumbled. Twice, he gave up pub-
lishing because means started dry-
ing up and he could see no way out,
but God supplied visions that up-
held him and kept him going.
Elder White and his wife were truly a fam-
ily united in the truth. They did their work
together. He would preach on doctrine, and
thereafter, Ellen would plead with the lis-
teners. In her own words “Our meetings
were usually conducted in such a manner that both of us took part. My
husband would give a doctrinal
discourse, then I would follow with an exhortation of considerable
and God did give the increase. p. 75, Para. 3, [1T]
We were invited to meet with the brethren in the State of
New York the following summer. The believers were poor,
and could not promise to do much toward defraying our
expenses. We had no means with which to travel. My hus-
band's health was poor, but the way opened for him to
work in the hayfield,
and he decided to make the effort. It seemed then that we
must live by faith. When we arose in the morning, we
bowed at our bedside and asked God to give us strength to
labor through the day. We would not be satisfied unless we
had the assurance that the Lord heard us pray. My husband
then went forth to swing the scythe, not in his own
strength, but in the strength of the Lord.
 At night, when he came home, we would again plead with oppression, illness and discouragement-even from within
God for strength to earn means to spread His truth. We the ranks of the Movement. The Whites were regarded with
were often greatly „distrust and jealousy‟ and their motives were miscon-
blessed. In a letter to Brother Howland, July, 1848, my strued. They spent countless hours refuting attacks, pray-
husband wrote: "God gives me strength to labor hard all ing and weeping and wondering why their brethren were
day. Praise His name! I hope to get a few dollars to use in not supporting them more. And with all these attacks, their
His cause. We have suffered from labor, fatigue, pain, hun- bodies also became weak. James White stated
ger, cold, and heat, "Wife, it is of no use to try to struggle on any longer. These
while endeavoring to things are crushing me, and will soon carry me to the
do our brethren and grave. I cannot go any farther. I have written a note for the
sisters good, and we paper stating that I shall publish
hold ourselves ready to no more." But after prayer they decided to continue with
suffer more if God re- God‟s work, though all around them were using their
quires. I rejoice today „secret influence‟ to bar the way. They decided to leave it to
that ease, pleasure, God. After this very discouraging period, things took a
and comfort in this life turn for the worse for this pioneer couple.
are a sacrifice on the
altar of my faith and The next Monday, they both caught a malarial fever and
hope. If our happiness were both put next to each other in the sanitarium. Sister
consists in making White recovered slowly, but the elder was near the end of
others happy, we are his strength. The doctor informed sister White that her
happy indeed. The true husband was not doing well and on being taken to his
disciple will not live to gratify beloved self, but for Christ, room, noted that his countenance was that of one at death‟s
and for the good door. She told him he was dying and asked him if he
of His little ones. He is to sacrifice his ease, his pleasure, wanted to live, to which he replied “ No” Elder White was
his comfort, his convenience, his will, and his own selfish tired, and was looking forward to resting in the arms of Je-
wishes for Christ's cause, or never reign with Him on His sus. A few days later, after being prayed for, and assuring
throne." p. 85, Para. 2, [1T]. them that he loved his Jesus, Elder James White died, Sab-
Elder James White not only started the publishing work, he bath, August 6, 1881 The prophetess who had been bowed
also began the Youth‟s Instructor and Sabbath School les- in grief with her husband at the loss of their two sons, had
sons after he became impressed that more should be done to bear the grief alone, but she had hope “I commit my
for the young people of the church. He was also instrumen- treasure to Thee until the morning of the resurrection.”
tal in organizing the church. But the way was not clear of

CAFFEINE AND SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS. .PART 1...BY SR T ROESCH

The statistics say that 64% of Seventh Day Adventists 6. Coffee represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed in the
“rarely or never” use caffeine. http://news.adventist.org/ United States. http://www.coffee-statistics.com/
data/2001/0989941591/index.html.en I‟m sure there are coffee_statistics_ebook.html
many who think that 64% sounds pretty good. But, is it
good enough? Let‟s look at some caffeine statistics, what
caffeine does to the body& our brains, and what we are told
from Inspiration regarding caffeine.
Coffee Statistics
1. Coffee shops make up the FASTEST GROWING part of
the restaurant business, checking in with a 7% annual
growth rate!
2. World coffee production is estimated at 110 - 120 million
bags per year!
3. 14 billion espresso coffees are consumed each year in It-
aly, reaching over 200,000 coffee bars, and still growing! Caffeine & The Body/Brain
4. Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, What does caffeine do to our body and our brain? “When
or equivalent to 146,000,000,000 (146 Billion) cups of cof- you consume caffeine, the drug begins its effects by initiat-
fee per year; making the United States the LEADING CON- ing uncontrolled neuron firing in your brain, according to
SUMER of coffee in the world. Stephen Cherniske in his book, Caffeine Blues. This excess
neuron activity triggers your pituitary gland to secrete a
5. Japan ranks number 3 in the world for coffee consump- hormone that tells your adrenal glands to produce adrena-
tion. lin. 3
Adrenalin is what gives athletes that winning burst of en- tion And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page
ergy and Good Samaritans the ability to rescue people by 739.
lifting cars. Adrenalin is also the source of our "fight-or-
As far as energy goes, which is one of the main reasons peo-
flight" response. By stimulating your adrenal glands to pro-
ple drink coffee, the truth of the matter is, you don‟t get en-
duce adrenalin, caffeine puts your body in this "fight-or-
ergy from drinking coffee or using caffeine….what really
flight" state, which is useless while you're just sitting at your
happens is that the caffeine burns up your reserves
desk. When this adrenal high wears off later, you feel the
of energy faster, and in the long run, you end up
drop in terms of fatigue, irritability, headache or confusion.
more tired, nervous and fatigued.
At this point, you may reach for another "hit" of caffeine,
Do you want to avoid mental problems? Sure you do! Then
followed by another, and another and maybe even one
you should avoid coffee, as the two go hand in hand. “It is
also interesting to note that several studies have found caf-
feine intake to be extremely high in individuals with psychi-
atric disorders.” Textbook of Natural Medicine Volumes 1-2
by Joseph E Pizzorno and Michael T Murray, page 433
Look at how much caffeine affects the brain! "Caffeinism" is
a state of chronic toxicity resulting from excess caffeine con-
sumption. Caffeinism usually combines physical addiction
with a wide range of debilitating effects, most notably anxi-
ety, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbance, depres-
sion, and fatigue.” Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske
MS, page 36
Did you know that caffeine causes the following symptoms?
more. If you constantly keep your body on a caffeine high,
Perhaps you already have them? “Caffeine over stimulates
you're constantly keeping your body in "flight-or-flight" the nerves and glands. It drains the adrenal system, dam-
mode.” 1. ages the thyroid, and can trigger heart arrhythmias. In fe-
“After prolonged "caffeinism," your body enters a state of male and male menopause, caffeine plays a role: Breast
adrenal exhaustion. Your caffeine consumption has simply cysts and lumps are common in women, while men suffer
pushed your adrenal glands so much that they've burned from caffeine-induced prostate problems.” Food Swings by
out. Ralph T. Golan, ND, describesthis unfortunate state in Barnet Meltzer MD, page 56
his book, Herbal Defense: "Caffeine forces your glands to
No wonder people are so tired! Most people who use caf-
secrete when they don't have much left to give, and they feine, are not eating the most healthy foods to begin with, so
have to keep digging deeper and deeper, making you more they are not getting the vitamins & minerals they need al-
and more tired over time. And over the years, it takes more
ready…then when they drink coffee/tea or eat the chocolate,
and more coffee to get the same result. Some people reach
the point of drinking half a dozen or more cups of coffee to
get the same result and it's barely keeping them awake.
That's severe adrenal depletion." 2.
In other words, caf-
feine works in your
Do you want to body, just like every
avoid mental other drug…you
build up a tolerance to
problems? it, and you must take
more in order to get
the same desired effect…just like cocaine and the other
street drugs.
What about the blood sugar level, what does caffeine do to
that? “Caffeine can have a detrimental effect on blood sugar.
the caffeine depletes the body of the B vitamins they are get-
When caffeine is ingested, the nervous system is stimulated.
ting and it also prevents iron absorption, thereby producing
Adrenaline is released and, in turn, the liver begins to emit
anemia, which is a major contributor to fatigue.
stored blood sugar. Insulin is then released, and blood sugar
drops below normal—a common seizure trigger for people Did you know that caffeine also causes bone loss? Just 2
with epilepsy. Caffeine can also constrict blood vessels in cups a day, over a 10-year period, women lose 14% of their
the brain. It is important for people with epilepsy to know bone calcium! No wonder so many women have osteoporo-
that caffeine can be an ingredient in medications, including sis! The caffeine is leaching the calcium right out of the
some antihistamines and decongestants.” Disease Preven- bones !....Cont P5
4
 WHAT‟S IN A NAME…..BY BROTHER C CHACHAGE
‘In the land of fadeless joy, goes the hymn, lies a city four-
square. They count not days by years and there is no death
there. New Jerusalem is its name and peace is the founda-
tion of that name.
Concerning the old version of this city of peace, the sweet
psalmists of Israel affirmed melodiously: “Jerusalem is
built as a city that is compact together” where the people
of God go up “to give thanks unto the name of the
LORD” (Psalms 122: 3 - 4).
What‟s in a name? Why give thanks to a name? This was
not just a name. In fact when the then meekest human on
the face of the earth asked to see the face of God this is
what happened:
And the LORD descended in the cloud,
and stood with him there, and pro-
claimed the name of the Lord. And the
Lord passed by before him, and pro-
claimed, The LORD, The LORD God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth.
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiv-
ing iniquity and transgression and
sin, and that will by no means clear
the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children, and upon
the children’s children, unto the third
and to the fourth generation (Exodus
34: 5-7).
Thus the people of God were glad to
go to the peaceful city to give thank to
a name that signified justice and
mercy balanced to perfection. Surely
in this regard the third commandment
made a lot of spiritual as well as intel-
lectual sense to them: “Thou shalt not take the name of
the LORD God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him
guiltless that taketh His name in vain” (Exodus 20: 7).
How could they afford to take God‟s gracious love, that is,
His merciful justice, for granted? Yes, there is no way they
could afford not to take the following prophetic promise
seriously:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and
FROM P4,….. Another thing caffeine does is give you kid-
ney stones and causes kidney diseases. Those who use
caffeine have an increased risk of breast cancer and pros-
tate cancer as well. Stomach ulcers are another result of
caffeine usage.
“Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the
world.” Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by
Thomas Bartram, page 83.
5
the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the
increase of His government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to
order it, and to establish it with judgement and with jus-
tice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD
of hosts will perform it (Isaiah 9: 6-7).
When the fullness of time came that child was born.
The mother had to call “His name JESUS: for He
shall save His people from their sins”. He is also
called “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us” (Matthew 1: 2 - 23). He lived and died for
us. Through Jesus, God is
still with us today. He has
promised that He will always
be with us even unto the end
of the world. Jesus knows us
by name and is still saving us
from - not in - our sins. He is
coming soon to write new
names for those who over-
come (Revelation 2:17 &
3:12).
New Jerusalem is the place
God has prepared for His
people. There they “shall see
His face; and His name shall
be in their fore-
heads” (Revelation 22: 4).
Surely a “good name is
rather to be chosen than
great riches” (Proverbs
22:1). Let us choose to trust
the wonderful name of Jesus
and be those who “believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God” for “God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-
lasting life (John 3: 16-18 & Matthew 12: 21). In-
deed neither “is there salvation in any other: for
there is no other name under heaven given among
humans, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Jesus, what a name!
So, what are the results of caffeine usage? Adrenal gland
burnout, fatigue, impatience, depression, heart arrhyth-
mias, stomach ulcers, various kinds of cancer, kidney
stones/disease, bone loss, lumps in the breast, hardening
of the arteries, and the list goes on and on. When all is
said and done, the only “good thing” about coffee is the
smell and perhaps the taste.......To Be Continued
(Sr Roesch‟s website www.thenarrowwayministries.org)
 THE POOR AND OUR DUTY TOWARDS THEM
Is the Lord indifferent to the condition of the
poor?
"The Lord heareth the poor." Ps. 69:33. See also Ps. 72:12.
What was our Saviour's attitude toward the poor?
"He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor."
Luke 4:18. "Whensoever ye will ye may do them good."
Mark 14:7. Read also Acts 20:35.
What promises are made to those who consider
the poor?
"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will de-
liver him in the time of trouble. The Lord will preserve
him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the
earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his
enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of
languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." Ps.
41:1-3.
When one gives to the poor,
how does the Lord consider
the act?
"He that hath pity upon the poor
lendeth unto the Lord: and that
which he hath given will He pay
him again." Prov. 19:17.
Will the Lord bear in mind
His promise to repay these
acts of kindness?
"For God is not unrighteous to
forget your work and labor of
love, which ye have showed to-
ward His name, in that ye have
ministered to the saints, and do
minister." Heb. 6:10.
If one turns a deaf ear to the pressing cry of those
in need, how will the Lord regard him?
"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also
shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." Prov. 21:13.
Who are specially mentioned as those who should
be cared for?
"Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." Isa. 1:17.
How is such a work designated in the New Testa-
ment?
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Matt.
and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27. 25:40.
What kind of a fast would God have His people
hold?
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? ...Is it not to deal
thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that
are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that
thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine
own flesh?" Isa. 58:6, 7.
What promise is for those who do this work?
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou
shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am." Isa. 58:9.
Will such have darkness and discouragements?
"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy
the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and
thy darkness be as the noonday." Isa. 58:10.
And what may he be sure of?
"And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy
soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be
like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose wa-
ters fail not." Isa. 58:11.
In view of the promises to
those who carry out these
things, whose example
ought all to follow?
"I was a father to the poor; and
the cause which I knew not I
searched out." Job 29:16.
What did the Saviour enjoin
upon the rich young man,
that he might have treasure
in heaven?
"Jesus said unto him, If thou
wilt be perfect, go and sell that
thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven; and come and follow
Me." Matt. 19:21.
What will the Saviour say to
the saints when the time comes for them to inherit
the kingdom?
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat; 1 was
thirsty and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye
took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye
visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me." Matt.
25:35, 36.
When the righteous shall ask in surprise when
they performed these good deeds, what will the
Saviour say unto them?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say
Is it true, then, that if we neglect a poor saint in
any degree, we thus neglect the Saviour?
"Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye
did it not to Me." Matt. 25:45.
6
 LIFT UP YOUR HEADS
Nature once again gave notice in a startling way during alone in its following after the beast, the survey above
the month of May that we are essentially living on bor- carried out last month proves that other countries in
rowed time on this earth. The cyclone that came upon Europe are agreed. Given that the laws have been tested
Burma as a thief in the night, shortly thereafter followed
by the earthquake and subsequent flooding in parts of
China have had a heavy toll on human life. Many are still
displaced and many are still unaccounted for.

The saddest thing is that such disasters are to become

more commonplace as we draw ever nearer to the time
that Christ shall come and fetch us. We shall look at some
news items from the month of May that may have slipped
under the radar due to our focus on Burma, China, and
the displacement of people in South Africa.

News: Ikea was ordered to pay more than $700,000 last

week for staying open on Sundays in a Paris suburb. A
big French home repair chain was sued for nearly as
much — also for violating a 102-year-old requirement to
shut up shop on Sunday. Both cases show that the stakes
are mounting in a long-running battle between French
unions and retailers over shopping on the seventh day.
Comment: This news item serves as a wake-up call to all
those of us that doubt that Sunday laws will ever be en-
forced. We see that a multi-national is being fined in the
country that is responsible for much of modern day secu-
larism for staying open on what the country deems to be
the 7th day of the week and hence the Sabbath. It is very
interesting as well that the Labour Unions are heavily
involved in light of the counsel from Ellen White, so often
ignored, that we are to have nothing to do with labour
unions.
for a while in just about all corners of the world with the
ban of the sale of alcohol in supermarkets on the false
day of rest, it is only a matter of time before their exten-
sion to all spheres of activity.
News: US President George W. Bush will visit the Vati-
can in June during a trip to Europe, the White House has
confirmed. President Bush will visit Germany, France,
England, and Northern Ireland on his European tour, as
well as Italy. The American leader visited Pope Benedict
at the Vatican last June as well, in the first formal meet-
ing since the Pontiff's election in 2005. More recently
Bush welcomed Pope Benedict when he arrived in the US
in April of this year.
Comment: In the light of the preceeding news articles,
and in the light of how we were told many years ago that
America would reach out its hand to Catholicism, are we
to believe that the forth-coming visit to the Vatican by
President Bush is of little relevance? Are we to believe
that the news article from the middle of April that stated
“Finally, Arroyo asked him, "You said, famously, when
you looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes you saw his soul.
[...] When you look into Benedict XVI's eyes what do you
see?" And Bush answered immediately, "God" was
merely an aberration?

We may never know what will be discussed behind closed

doors by the two men, but this we can be sure of, God‟s
Word is true. We have been given the Spirit of Prophecy
in order that we are not caught unaware by the impend-
News: Poland's Dziennik newspaper reports that a PBS/ ing crisis. The reason why there is so much antipathy to it
DGA survey found that 75% of Polish respondents sup- is because the Devil knows that it is a source-book for un-
masking his deceptions and wiles.
port the country‟s current law against Sunday shopping.
Only 11% of respondents supported overturning the ban. As we see end-time prophecy being fulfilled before our
very eyes, let us not fear. Rather let us lift up our heads,
Comment: Lest we are tempted to think that France is for redemption draweth nigh.

7
 BE LOVERS OF GOD—NOT PLEASURE..SR WHITE
2 Tim 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedi-
ent to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affec-
tion, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, des-
pisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such
turn away.
All are in constant danger. I warn the church to beware of
those who preach to others the word of life but do not
themselves cherish the spirit of humility and self-denial
which it inculcates. Such men cannot be depended on in a
crisis. They disregard the voice of God as readily as did
Saul, and like him many stand ready
to justify their course.
endless variety of entertainments that are calculated to
lead to a love of the world; and through this union with the
world faith is weakened.
Satan is a persevering workman, an artful, deadly foe.
Whenever an incautious word is spoken, whether in flat-
tery or to cause the youth to look upon some sin with less
abhorrence, he takes advantage of it, and nourishes the evil
seed, that it may take root and yield a bountiful harvest. He
is in every sense of the word a deceiver, a skilful charmer.
He has many finely woven nets, which appear innocent,
but which are skillfully prepared to entangle the young and
unwary. The natural mind leans toward pleasure and self-
gratification. It is Satan's policy to fill the mind with a de-
sire for worldly amusement, that there may be no time for
the question, “How is it with my
soul?” MYP p373

When rebuked by the Lord through The welfare of the soul should not be
His prophet, Saul stoutly asserted endangered by the gratification of
that he had obeyed the voice of God; any selfish desire, and we should
but the bleating sheep and lowing shun any amusement which so fasci-
oxen testified that he had not. In the nates the mind that the ordinary du-
same manner do many today assert ties of life seem tame and uninterest-
their loyalty to God, but their con- ing. AH p513
certs and other pleasure gatherings,
their worldly associations, their glo- The mass of professed Christians
rifying of self, and their eager desire have removed the line of distinction
for popularity all testify that they between Christians and the world,
have not obeyed His voice. 5T 88 and while they profess to be living for
Christ, they are living for the world.
There can be no presumption more Their faith has but little restraining
fatal than that which leads men to influence upon their pleasures; while
venture upon a course of self- they profess to be children of the
pleasing. In view of this solemn warning from God, should light, they walk in darkness and are children of the night
not fathers and mothers take heed? Should they not faith- and of darkness. Those who walk in darkness cannot love
fully point out to the youth the dangers that are constantly God and sincerely desire to glorify Him.
arising to lead them away from God? Many allow the youth
to attend parties of pleasure, thinking that amusement is They are not enlightened to discern the excellence of heav-
essential for health and happiness; but what dangers are in enly things, and therefore cannot truly love them. They
that path! profess to be Christians because it is considered honorable,
and there is no cross for them to bear. Their motives are
The more the desire for pleasure is gratified, the more it is often selfish. Some such professors can enter the ballroom
cultivated and the stronger it becomes. The life experience and unite in all the amusements which it affords. Others
is largely made up of self-gratification in amusement. God cannot go to such a length as this, yet they can attend par-
bids us to beware. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take ties of pleasure, picnics, donation parties, and exhibitions.
heed lest he fall." TM p103
And the most discerning eye would fail to detect in such
The desire for excitement and pleasing entertainment is a professed Christians one mark of Christianity. One would
temptation and a snare to God's people, and especially to fail to see in their appearance any difference between them
the young. Satan is constantly preparing inducements to and the greatest unbeliever. The professed Christian, the
attract minds from the solemn work of preparation for profligate, the open scoffer at religion, and the openly pro-
scenes just in the future. Through the agency of worldlings fane all mingle together as one. And God regards them as
he keeps up a continual excitement to induce the unwary to one in spirit and practice. 1T p403
join in worldly pleasures. There are shows, lectures, and an

8

PRISONERS OF
HOPE
The bulk of this newsletter is
authored by members of the
Mowbray SDA church whose
desire is to provide a thought
provoking newsletter for Ad-
ventists dwelling on the banks
of Jordan; in the process ap-
pealing to entire fidelity to the
Bible and the Spirit of Proph-
ecy.
A profession of Christianity without corresponding faith and works will avail nothing. No
man can serve two masters. The children of the wicked one are their own master's ser-
vants; to whom they yield themselves servants to obey, his servants they are, and they
cannot be the servants of God until they renounce the devil and all his works. It cannot be
harmless for servants of the heavenly King to engage in the pleasures and amusements
which Satan's servants engage in, even though they often repeat that such amusements
are harmless. God has revealed sacred and holy truths to separate His people from the
ungodly and purify them unto Himself. Seventh-day Adventists should live out their faith.
1T p 404
There are amusements, such as dancing, card playing, chess, checkers, etc., which we
cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them. These amusements open the door for
great evil. They are not beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, pro-
ducing in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and dissipation.
All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and something perfectly harmless
should be substituted in their place. 1T p514
The true Christian will not desire to enter any place of amusement or engage in any diver-
sion upon which he cannot ask the blessing of God. He will not be found at the theater,
the billiard hall, or the bowling saloon. He will not unite with the gay waltzers, or indulge
in any other bewitching pleasure that will banish Christ from the mind. MYP p398
Gatherings for amusement confuse faith and make the motive mixed and uncertain. The
Lord accepts no divided heart. He wants the whole man. CT p345
There is no such thing as our entering the heavenly portals through indulgence and folly,
amusement, selfishness, but only by constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer. Spiri-
tual vigilance on our part individually is the price of safety. Swerve not to Satan's side a
single inch, lest he gain advantage over you Letter 47, 1893
Ps 101:2-3 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I
will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine
eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me.
Satan is using every means to make crime and debasing vice popular. We cannot walk the
streets of our cities without encountering flaring notices of crime presented in some
novel, or to be acted at some theater.
The mind is educated to familiarity with sin. The course pursued by the base and vile is
kept before the people in the periodicals of the day, and everything that can excite passion
is brought before them in exciting stories. They hear and read so much of debasing crime
that the once tender conscience, which would have recoiled with horror from such scenes,
becomes hardened, and they dwell upon these things with greedy interest. PP p459
Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school
for morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious
habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments.
Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination and de-
base the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in
principle. There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to
destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for tranquil pleasures and sober re-
alities of life, than theatrical amusements. MYP p380
Contact Information:
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