Fostering Friendships
Friendship is one of life’s greatest blessings, bringing joy, support, and a sense of belonging. The Bible speaks frequently about the value of friends, describing them as“ironsharpeningiron”(Proverbs27:17)andencouragingus to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). As followers of Christ, our friendships reflect the love and grace we receive from God, becoming powerful testimonies to His goodness. However, making new friends and deepening existing friendships can be challenging. Here’s how we can approach both with intention, faith, and love.
Making New Friendships
1. Be Open and Approachable – In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to rush through life with our heads down, distracted, missing opportunities to connect with others. Making new friends requires us to be open and approachable, beginning with a smile, a warm greeting, and a willingness to engage in conversation. Remember, everyone is made in the image of God; each person you meet is a potential friend. When you attend church events, community gatherings, or meet someone at the grocery store, take time to introduce yourself andshowgenuineinterest.Asimple“Hello,howareyou?”can be the first step towards a new friendship.
2. Take the Initiative – Often, we wait for others to make the first move. However, making friends sometimes requires stepping out of our comfort zones and taking the initiative. When meeting someone new at church, invite them for a cup of tea or lunch. Joining a small group or Bible study, or volunteering for a ministry, you can meet like-minded people. Actively seeking opportunities to connect with others increases your chances of forming meaningful relationships. Jesus modeled this by reaching out to others, eating with them, and engaging in their lives.
Deepening Existing Friendships
1. Be Intentional in Your Interactions – One of the keys to deepening existing friendships is intentionality. It’s easy to let friendships drift when life gets busy, but meaningful relationships require consistent effort. Schedule regular time toconnectwithyourfriends,whetheraphonecall,coffeedate, or shared activity. During these interactions, be fully present. Ask questions and listen actively, share your heart, and show appreciation for the friendship. By prioritizing your friends and investing in quality time together, you strengthen the bond between you.
2. Practice Vulnerability – Deep friendships are built on trust and vulnerability. Being vulnerable means allowing your friends to see the real you—your joys, struggles, fears, and dreams. It’s about sharing more than the surface-level details of your life. When you open up and share your heart with a friend,youcreateaspacefordeeperconnection.Vulnerability invites your friend to do the same, leading to mutual understanding and empathy. Remember, Jesus shared His deepestthoughtsandfeelingswithHisdisciples,modelingthe importance of vulnerability in relationships.
3. Offer Support and Encouragement – True friends are thereforeachotheringoodtimesandbad.Onepowerfulway to deepen a friendship is by offering support and encouragement, especially during difficult seasons. Be a source of strength for your friends by praying for them, offering a listening ear, and providing practical help when needed. Celebrate their successes and support them in their struggles. By consistently showing up for your friends, you build a relationship that is grounded in love and trust.
4. Resolve Conflicts with Grace – No friendship is without its challenges. Misunderstandings and conflicts are natural parts of any relationship. How we handle these challenges can either strengthen or weaken our friendships. When conflicts arise, approach them with grace and a willingness to forgive. Seektounderstandtheotherperson’sperspectiveandbequick toapologizeifyou’vemadeamistake.TheBibleremindsusto “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). By resolving conflicts with grace, you turn difficult moments into opportunities for growth and deeper connection.
3. Be Patient and Persistent – Friendships don’t develop overnight.Theyrequiretime,patience,andpersistence.Justas a seed takes time to grow into a strong tree, so too do relationships need time to deepen. Be patient as you get to know someone, and don’t be discouraged if the friendship doesn’t immediately blossom. Continue to invest in the relationship by showing up, being reliable, and offering support. Over time, your efforts will bear fruit, and a new friendship will take root.
The Role of Faith in Friendship
As Christians, our friendships are not just about companionship—they are also about spiritual growth. Friendships rooted in faith encourage us to grow closer to God, hold us accountable,andliveoutourcallingasdisciplesofChrist.Pray for your friends regularly and ask God to bless and deepen yourrelationships.BeafriendwhoreflectsChrist’slove,grace, and compassion in all that you do.
Inconclusion,makingnewfriendsanddeepeningexisting friendships requires intentionality, effort, and a heart open to God’s leading. As you cultivate these relationships, remember, they are gifts from God to be cherished and nurtured. Through your friendships, you reflect the love of Christ and build a community that is strong, supportive, and centered on Him.
GreetersMinistry
by Max Hammonds
The Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church has always had “greeters” at the door – friendly church members, some pastors, and official greeters. In the past, Linda Duncan and Connie Hayward were two of the faithful leaders who did an outstanding job of leading this ministry. The nominating committee recently found a new leader for the Greeters ministry in Angela Woehlcke.
Angelabringsacommitmenttotheassignmentthatbegins with prayer (before arriving at church) to the cause of Christ for her own life, for the greeters, and for the lives of those who cross the threshold of our church.
Shesharesthatwedon’tknowthespiritualjourneyofthose whom the Holy Spirit has brought to the church doors. Some peoplehavehadaseriousprayersessionbeforecoming.Some are adult children who were led to the church because of prayersfromparents,grandparents,orotherconcernedfamily members. Some have come after being absent for many years, bringingtheirwoundedness,hopingtofindanon-judgmental welcometothehometheyleftlongago.Shebelievesthatwhen these visitors arrive, the greeters are to extend the welcoming hand of Jesus. This first contact with visitors will color their interactions with PastorEric,PastorRich,and all other church members.
Angela knows this journey firsthand. Despite having served in music ministry for over twenty years, the tone and demeanor of her previous denomination was hurtful. She never felt accepted; she neverbelonged.AttheArdenChurchfromthebeginning,she was greeted with tender regard by loving, accepting people. She reminds us, therefore, to be careful, to be sensitive to people, to put aside our biases toward denominational differences and welcome these people. They are looking for a
family that is warm and accepting.
With only a few moments to establish rapport, the greeter must not communicate a distant interest, nor a too overbearinginterest.Inthosefewmoments,wisediscernment must pick up clues to create a positive experience. Thus, prayers for wisdom and discernment are necessary before the greeter begins to hand out the bulletins.
And Angela reminds us that the congregation also plays a part in the Greeters ministry – informally engaging where the greeters leave off. The congregational members individually need to maintain a continuity of care and interest in the visitors from pew to potluck.
On Sabbath, September 21st, after the Sabbath potluck, the Greeters will participate in a training session, reviewing dos and don’ts of a first-time contact. They will use their previous experiences for a mutual mentoring session, recognizing strengths and improving perceived weakness.
In addition, the Greeters will review their expected activities:
1. To come with a joyful heart for Jesus in service to others
2. To hand out bulletins to first-time visitors – as if welcoming them into their home
3. Tospeaktovisitors–andchurchmembers–withtact and discernment
4. To hand each first-time visitor an age-appropriate gift bag
5. To offer a VIP card, with instructions about filling it out and putting it in the basket
6. To provide directions to the various Sabbath School classesorrestrooms,offeringtotakethemtotheirdestination, if necessary
7. To answer questions or concerns, or connect them with someone who can
8. To invite them to Sabbath potluck
9. To make a mental – or physical – note of first-time visitors: first name, easily remembered description,andgreetthemastheyexit
10. To collect VIP cards, if you can spot them
Thisseemslikealottodoinashort time. And it is not always possible. But with prayerful attention and observation – being present as people leave as well as enter – much can be accomplished.
Again, the congregation plays an important, if informal part in this ministry. Watch for visitors to invite them to potluck. And pray for greeters as they make those initial contacts.
ATTENTION, PLEASE
For the November issue of Grace Notes, we want you, our reader, to send us a short two paragraph description of: “Why I Enjoy Thanksgiving.” A particular day or a recurring tradition, please send your description to office@ardenadventist.com. Also, for the cooks, please send us your favorite Thanksgiving recipe. We will publish as many as possible with QR codes to look up the full recipe. Please submit your Thanksgiving story and/or your recipe by October 15 to be included. Page 3 | www.ArdenAdventist.org
Great OutreachControversy Project
by David & Isabel Ruiz
In early 2020, news outlets began declaring with increasing intensity that COVID-19 was here in America and spreading. It wasn’t long before everything started to grind to a halt. Schools, churches, some public facilities, and many businesses began shuttingdown.Onlyessentialcomponentsofourhealth, food, infrastructure, finance, and communications sectors were allowed to stay open.
Many things changed that year. We had to maintain social distancing, which kept us apart from the people we care about, and travel restrictions prevented us from visiting loved ones or traveling as missionaries. Anxiety and depression became more widespread due to lockdowns, isolation, and the uncertainty of the situation. Naturally, it was also a bad year for traditional door-to-door outreach. Canvassers were unable to go door to door and teach others to do the same. The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church “reported the lowest annual increase in 16 years” for 2020, which was attributed to “a marked decrease in public evangelism.” It was amid this climate that Streams of Light International (SOLI) was born.
After re-reading The Great Controversy, they were filled with a burning conviction to give away this book for free. After doing this and sharing their testimony with churches, they noticed an unusual interest in the book. Churches began to get involved, and before long, many were requesting that their members be trained in the outreach of the Great Controversy. A book in every home of the North American Division by 2026 became the vision for SOLI.
Sabbath morning worship service sermon at ASI in 2021, “I want to thank God for [those] who are participating, in their own way, in distributing this incredible book,” shortly thereafter calling out SOLI as a leadingexample.SOLIhasalsoreceivedlocalsupportas well, with the Carolina Conference of SDA Churches pledging to financially support half of the total cost of ordering The Great Controversy for all churches across our two states.
SOLI aims to make outreach easier for churches in several ways. First, they provide ample online resources and one-on-one support for leaders inside churches looking to start and lead this effort within their own church. Second, they streamline the purchase and assembly of materials for distribution. The materials we purchasedincludeTheGreatControversybook,acopyof the“Thrive”healthmagazine,andahangableplasticbag to protect it all from the elements. Third, they’ve done the work of distributing the homes throughout all the country among the existing churches. Lastly, they support the leaders and laypeople of local churches by equipping them with in-person training and an afternoon of guided outreach.
This initiative has revitalized churches by creating more vibrant and active congregations. It fosters a sense of unity as people of all ages and backgrounds come together with one mission: to share the three angels’ messages. By mobilizing multiple churches, we can reach alargeterritorywiththe everlasting gospel in a short time. It also invitesfamiliesfromthe community to participate in local church programs, building positive relationships along the way. Church members gain hands-on experience, boosting their confidence in outreach activities, and allowing them to experience divine appointments. This effort leads to long-term follow-up activities, church growth as new members join, and, most importantly, winning souls to the kingdom.
SOLIisnotalonegroupcoincidentallyaligningwith the goals of the church but rather a supporting ministry to the SDA Church. The General Conference’s “The Great Controversy Project 2.0,” which could distribute nearly 1 billion copies of the book worldwide, is directly furthered by SOLI. The General Conference encourages engagement with ministries like SOLI, with President Ted Wilson himself exhorting the ministry during his
Our local Great Controversy Outreach Project is Arden’s answer to the initiatives by the General Conference of SDA and its supporting ministry SOLI. It is our chance to engage in the ennobling and uplifting workofsharingthelightoftheworldwiththoseinneed. It is an opportunity to personally engage in the work of sharing the bread of life with our neighbors and friends. Our territory consists of more than 19 thousand homes,
with each home having one or more potential souls for Christ. We know this to be our work, but we seldom organize with such precision for this cause. Our time is now.
Wewillcovertheterritoryinphases,withlaterphases building on our experience and learnings from the first. The initial phase includes 5,400 books of The Great Controversy to be distributed in the first 2-3 months. The books have been ordered, and we are already at workassemblingpacketseachSabbathwith the help of our children’s ministries and other volunteers. We are preparing to have enough packets ready for the inaugural outreach event taking place on October 19th with the support of Eric Rose, an Evangelism Assistant from SOLI.
Eric Rose and his family will be joining us on the third weekend of October to provide essential training and resources for both church leaders and members, ensuring we’re well equipped for the work ahead of us. This is a fantastic opportunity tolearnhowtoengageinoutreachbyhanddelivering The Great Controversy to our community.
until January 4th, the first Sabbath of 2025. It’s essential that all of us unite in this cause, preparing for this massive outreach by participating in both the training and the distribution of books.
One of our early leaders, Ellen G. White, left us a powerful promise: "[The] Great Controversy should be very widely circulated. It contains the story of the past, the present, and the future. In its outline of the closing scenes of this earth’s history, it bears a powerful testimonyonbehalfofthetruth.I am more anxious to see a wide circulation for this book than for any others I have written; for in [The] Great Controversy the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books." 20LtMs, Lt 281, 1905, par. 3” As a church, our goal is to be part of this powerful nationwide movement to place a copy of The Great Controversy in every home by 2026.
Eric and his wife, Amanda, will be coming to us from their home in Tennessee with their twochildren.Eric'srelationshipwithChristbeganatthe age of 16 after reading The Great Controversy. Both he and Amanda worked as colporteurs in their youth and later served as missionaries in Guatemala for two and a half years, living among the Mayan people. Now, Eric works full-time for Streams of Light International, promoting the broad distribution of The Great Controversy, while he and Amanda also lead a small ministry focused on evangelistic projects in several foreign countries.
It will be a blessing to have Eric and his family visit Arden. Mark your calendars for this important training eventwhereEricRosewillequiptheArdenSDAChurch with the tools, resources, and experience necessary for our outreach initiative to succeed. The weekend will begin with Vespers on Friday, October 18th, at 6:00 PM, followedbyasupperwherewewillhavetheopportunity to warmly welcome the Rose family to our church and come together as a congregation as we embark on this important outreach initiative. On Sabbath, October 19th, Eric will deliver a special sermon about Divine Service, followed by a general potluck. After lunch, he willleadahands-ontrainingsessionandguidetheteam in distributing books in the designated territory for our church. This outreach will last about three hours, after which we will gather back at the church for a time of testimonies, praise, and a light supper.
Followingthismemorableweekend,wewillcontinue meeting every Sabbath afternoon at 2:00 PM to advance this first phase of book distribution, covering the areas mapped out for the Arden Church. This will continue
In the coming months, we invite you to join us as we share God’s message of love with every home in our community. It is up to us to empower our church,impactourcommunity,andhelpsharethethree angels' messages to the world.
“Publications must be multiplied and scattered like the leaves of autumn. These silent messengers are enlightening and molding the minds of thousands in every country and in every clime. -The Review and Herald, November 21, 1878.”
Together as a church, we will scatter these books and publications like the leaves of autumn, which will later be gathered as a harvest for the kingdom of heaven. To join us in this mission, please fill out the brief form by scanning this QR code below or by contacting David Ruiz directly at (252) 571-1582.
References
Colporteur Ministry. (n.d.-a). https://m.egwwritings.org/en/ book/16.24
Colporteur Ministry. (n.d.-b). https://m.egwwritings.org/en/ book/16.585
Kellner. (2021, October 11). Adventist Church sees rate of growth tumble due to pandemic: Report. The Washington Times. https:// www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/11/seventh-dayadventist-church-see-rate-growth-tumbl/
Streams Of Light International. (2021, August 31). Ted Wilson, presentingTheGreatControversyProject[Video].YouTube.https:/ /www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM7SOMCP1as
Page 5 | www.ArdenAdventist.org
28 Fundamentals: “Nature of Humanity” #7 “M
yBibleteacheraskedaveryinterestingquestion today, Pawpaw.” Mark held his fork at the ready, waiting for his favorite dessert. “She said that therearethreebasicquestionsinlife:WheredidIcomefrom? Who am I? Where am I going?” Mark looked at Pawpaw (aka Albert Broot, Mark’s grandfather). “What do you think the answer is?”
“Depends.” Pawpaw smiled at Natalie (his daughter, and Mark’s mother), entering the dining room with a tray of four bowls of strawberry shortcake with ice cream.
“Whatdoyoumean depends?”Markcockedhishead,and lowered his fork.
“Depends on your worldview, Mark.” Pawpaw waited while Natalie served the others. “If you have a good feelings worldview - life is doing what feels good, those questions will have one answer. If you have a fatalistic worldview - everything is determined without your input, you get a different answer. An independent worldview? Another set of answers. An evolutionary worldview? Yet another set of answers.” Pawpaw smiled as his daughter took her place at the table.
“You boys certainly have interesting discussions,” Natalie said, picking up her fork.
“It’s true. God created man with His own hands. But shouldn’t we begin before the creation of man? With Genesis 1:26 and 27 when God deliberately decided to create man?”
Mark gestured with his fork, not having tasted a bite.
“But why? Why create mankind?” Pawpaw was enjoying this three-person conversation. “According to Isaiah 43:7, God created man for His own glory.” Mark and his mother looked at each other in silence. “Mark, please read the scripture you mentioned — from your ever-present Bible.”
Markputdownhisfork,quicklyskimmedthroughhisphone toGenesis1:26,27toread:“ThenGodsaid,"LetUsmakeman in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Mark looked up. “Man was created to rule over God’s creation of earth. He was to be God’s representative . . . God’s steward.”
“More than a steward, Mark. A steward is a hired man,” Pawpaw’svoicewasquietandlow.“Whatdoesitmean‘created . . . in His own image?’ In what ways does man reflect the image of God?
“I’ve thought about this, Pawpaw. Physically, we resemble God in having bodies that are appropriate to interact with our environment - as God does in His. Intellectually, we resemble God in our ability to conceptualize and create a thing or an idea. Socially, we resemble God in caring about and enjoying the people with whom we interact. Spiritually, we resemble God in being aware of the eternal and . . .” Mark paused, looking questioningly at Pawpaw.
“Your son makes me think, Natalie.” Pawpaw raised his eyebrows and nodded. “So, what’s your worldview based on, Mark?”
“I think my understanding of the world is based on Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning, God . . . like you taught me, Pawpaw.”
“If that’s true,” Pawpaw added whipped cream to his dessert, “Then, answer the first question: Where did you come from? Or - I should say, where did we all come from?”
“Didn’t we all come from Genesis 2:7? God’s personal creation of mankind.” Natalie quickly joined the conversation. “I mean, God spoke the rest of creation into being, but He personally and lovingly created Adam with His own hands.”
“Your mother knows her Bible.” Pawpaw looked from one to the other. “Mark, what do you think?”
“And being aware that all of these abilities come from the God who created us.” Pawpaw added, completing Mark’s thought.
“Therefore, we are reflectors of God . . . because we are dependent on God for all these abilities.” Natalie said, staring at her dessert in contemplation, but no longer eating.
Mark’s forefingers were pressed together on his lips; then he spoke.
“And one more way, Pawpaw, that we are like God. Free will. We can choose to recognize our role as a symbol of God to our world and to recognize our dependence on Him, to follow Him, to love Him, and obey Him — which leads to eternal life . . .” Mark nodded at Pawpaw.
“Or choose to reject God’s principles of love and service for others, to rebel and disconnect from God’s protective love — which results in eternal death.” Pawpaw shook his head in consternation.
“Why would anyone purposefully choose such a life?” Mark wondered.
“Before we try to solve that mystery, I suggest we finish our dessert. The ice cream is melting,” Natalie admonished.
Everyone looked at Mark’s little brother, Matthew, who was licking his bowl, and laughed.
GailonMorisette AIphotoby
XerxesandEsther: PartX
EsetareandKhshayarshaweresafeafterMardukafoiledthe plot of two King’s Eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, to lay hands on the king. But how long would the new queen remain safe from harm and intrigue? The fact was, O Reader, our Esetare was harboring a dangerous secret, while a new threat was quicklygainingpower.
Shortly before Esetare was crowned in place of Vashti, Khshayarsha had received disappointing news that Mardonius, left in Hellas—that is, Greece—to break the enemy alliance and consolidate the territorial gain, had perished fighting against the Spartans in battle at Plataea. Further: the bulk of our remaining navy in the Aegean Sea was captured and burned off Mycale in Ionia. Some began questioning the king’s decisions. Whether at Persepolis or in Shushan, intrigue ran high.
CompoundedbytheassassinationconspiracyofBigthanand Teresh, Khshayarsha was not certain whom he could trust. The new queen, Esetare, had proven her loyalty by passing the warning from Marduka. Who else would serve the king and empire faithfully?
During these years—understandably—a shakeup occurred among those most closely serving the king. Some nobles were sent to distant satrapies to govern for a time. Others returned with a loyal look and royal favor. Some left in His Majesty’s cold distrust and suspicion. During this time the Hamana, a noble from the house of Hammedatha the Agagite, began his ascent to power.
Serving both Khshayarsha and Esetare over the next two or three years, I observed this noble ever more frequently. His ideas were praised. His proposals were enacted. He had the ear of the king. Finally, he gained such trust thatKhshayarshasethimabovetheother princes who had charge over the different parts of Shushan. The king instructed all who served in Shushan to bow to this noble and called him the Hamana: a title meaning in Persian “the Illustrious or Magnificent One.” Indeed, the Hamana’s ego and pride were as wide as all Persia.
Marduka, carefully reading the man’s character, would never bow to him. When the Hamana passed through the
Gate of Darius, leaving or returning to the Citadel and King’s Fortress, Marduka stood at his post, never genuflecting, never kneeling in honor.
“Why don’t you kneel to the Hamana?” asked the others serving with Marduka at the King’s Gate. “Why transgress the command of the king?”
Marduka’s only cryptic reply: “I will not kneel or bow to this Hamana, for I am a Jew.”
SuchwasthepressintheDariusGate,suchwastheHamana’s entourage, that he did not notice Marduka’s omission. But some of the coworkers who’d spoken several times to Marduka acted as informers, telling the Hamana of Marduka’s actions and answer. They wanted to know if Marduka would get away with this snub and whether his word would stand in the face of the king’s instruction and the Hamana’s pride.
Once the Hamana saw what was going on, he was filled with anger like boiling poison. But his vanity was so great that he thought it too little to simply dispose of one man. If Marduka would not bow because he was a Jew, perhaps all Jews would be emboldened to slight the Hamana and the king, he reasoned. Thus grew in his mind a monstrous stratagem: all Jews must be destroyed,elsetheywouldspreadlikecankersintheempire,and rot the entire kingdom from within.
A vain, superstitious man, the Hamana had a pur or lot thrown every day, watching for an auspicious omen: the best time to bring his idea and warning before Khshayarsha.
Finally, with acceptable auguries, the Hamana approached theemperorofPersiaanditsfar-flunglands:“Yourmajesty,king over many kings, I have discovered a certain people scattered throughoutyourempire.Youaremerciful, conqueredlandsselfgovern to a remarkable degree. But these people’s laws are different from all others. They do not follow the edicts of the king; you should not tolerate this. If it please your majesty, let a decree be written to destroy them. I am so concerned for the empire and have undying loyalty for your majesty, that I will weighouttenthousandfullunitsofsilverfrommyownassetsto the treasury of the king, to pay those who will do this job for the safety and well-being of the empire.”
Khshayarsha, upon hearing the Hamana’s concern, took off his tabba’at, his signet ring for authorizing royal decrees, and gave it to this trusted prince, this Illustrious One, telling him, “The money is well-placed; do with it what is good in your eyes.”
Esetare had been queen for less than five years, facing palace intrigue and danger. This act by her own husband would place her in perhaps the greatest danger of her life. Since he did not know her secret, this edict would annihilate all the Jews of Persia, she being one of them. Without knowing it, Khshayarsha had just signed his own queen's death warrant.
BlueZonesandthe Seventh-dayAdventists
In2004DanBuettner,NationalGeographicExplorerandFellow, led a project exploring areas where people live to be one hundredyearsoldregularly.Henamedtheseareas“bluezones” after Pes and Poulain in Sardinia, Italy marked their map with blue circles.
InadditiontoSardinia,Buettnerfoundfourother“bluezones” intheworld:Okinawa,Japan;Ikaria,Greece;Nicoya,CostaRica; andLomaLinda,California.Mostpeopleinthesebluezonesshare four major characteristics: eat wisely (maintaining appropriate weight,loweringcholesterol,bloodsugar,andbloodpressure,lowering theincidenceofheartdisease,diabetes,andcancer);seekapurpose and/orareligiousfaith(underpinningtheiroutlookonlife,decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression); are closely connected socially to each other (sharing life values, supporting each other);andincorporatemovementintotheirdaily lives (impacting physical, social, spiritual, and mental health).
Oneofthesegroups,theSeventh-dayAdventists (SDAs),aresimilarintheirlifestyles(non-alcohol use,non-smokers,similarchurchandsocialsupport), makingthemanidealgrouptostudyspecificfoods and other lifestyle choices, helping or hindering longevity and avoiding specific diseases.
had a 74% decrease in coronary heart disease (CHD) and a 73% decrease of fatal heart attacks over the normal US population. Thesenuteatersevenhada40-50%decreaseinheartdiseaseover theSDAswhowerenotnuteaters.Theinternationalnewsmedia wentwildoverthesefindings,andDanBuettnerdiscoveredthat the Loma Linda enclave of Seventh-day Adventists was another blue zone.
The most recent study of SDAs (Adventist Health Study - 2 (2007-2012))suppliedadditionalinformationaboutpotentialhealth benefitsofavegetariandiet.(Allresultswerecomparisonswithin theSDAgroups.)Thisstudydividedthebroadterm“vegetarian” into component groups: total vegetarians (vegans), lacto-ovovegetarians (eat eggs and dairy, no flesh), pesco-vegetarians (eat eggs,dairy,andfish,nootherflesh),andnon-vegetarians(eatmeat up to 3x/week, half of which is chicken or fish).
The first comparison — vegetarians to non-vegetarians — vegetarians were generally more health conscious than the nonvegetarians,watchinglessTV,exercisingmore,sleepingmorehours pernight,consumingmorefruitsandvegetables,consumingfoods with less saturated fat and lower in glycemic index (beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables.) Therefore, the differences in disease and longevity were affected by other lifestyle choices as well as food choices.
All indicators for health (cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), obesity, weight, C-reactiveprotein(inflammationmarker))andalldiseaseentities (coronaryheartdisease(CHD),cancerrisk,TypeIIdiabetes(DM)) improvedwhenprogressingfromnon-vegetariansto lacto-ovo- or pesco-vegetarians to vegans.
ThefirststudyofSDAs(theAdventistMortality Study(1958))determinedthatSDAswholiveinSouthernCalifornia liveseventotenyearslongerthantheirlocalCalifornianeighbors. Theirdeathratesfromcancerwere40%lowerinmen,24%lower in women. Their death rates from heart disease were 34% lower for men with minimal effect in women.
The second study (the Adventist Health Study - 1 (1974-76)) involved32,000participants(allsimilarSDAs)andcomparedthe effect of different food choices in protecting against disease and lowering mortality.
This study had two major findings. In the area of cancer prevention, SDAs who ate three or more servings of fruit/week hadasignificantdecreaseinstomachcanceranda75%decreased risk of lung cancer beyond the decreased risk of non-smokers. SDAswhoatebeans,vegetableprotein,anddriedfruithad1/30th the risk of pancreatic cancer. SDAs who ate beans or fiber (fruits andvegetables)morethan2x/weekhada40%lowerriskofcolon cancer.
Thesecondandmoreattention-gettingfindingwasthatthose SDAswhoatenutsand/orwholegrainbreadmorethan4x/week
Three details emerged. Improved normal weight maintenanceofvegetariansresultedindecreasedobesity, Type II DM, CHD, and cancer risk, especially using a two meal-a-day plan, producing a 16 hr. “fast” (4 pmto8amthenextday).Vegansandlacto-ovo-vegetarians demonstrated a 50% decrease in risk of Type II DM over non-vegetarians. Red meat saturated fat and no fiber increased the risk of obesity, CHD and Type II DM,andredmeatproteinincreasedtheriskforcolo-rectalcancer. Comparison between the vegetarian groups demonstrated a 20%lowercancerriskinvegans,a15%lowercancerriskinpescovegetarians, a 10% lower risk of cancer in lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and a 30% lower cancer risk in all SDA vegetarians compared to SDA non-vegetarians. The risk for the two hormone-responsive cancers,breastcancerandprostatecancer,isunchangedinvegetarians, exceptfora25-35%decreaseinvegans,likelyduetomilkuse(but not yogurt or cheese) in the other groups.
Alltheseindividualfindingsresultedindecreasedriskofdying atanyage,by33%inthoselessthan65yearsoldand22%inthose older than 65. As Dan Buettner noted, “to live longer and have a higherqualityoflife,onemightwanttoadopttheAdventistlifestyle” orthoseofanyofthebluezonegroups.SDAornot,ahighquality of long life is 20% genetic and 80% a matter of choice. Choose wisely.
The references for the information in this article come from: bluezones.com; adventisthealthstudy.org; Gary E. Fraser, Am Clin Nutr., 2009 May, 89(5), 1607S-1612S; Gary E. Fraser, Adventist Review, 2024.08, Adventist Health Update: Adventist Health Study II
HolbrookIndian School
by Tom Arany
some college, I returned to HIS as the associate boys’ dean. Holbrook is my home.”
JOLINA
“For me, Holbrook Indian School has been the support I neededtosucceed.WhenIwas17,Imovedoutofmyparents’ home because of family problems. I had decided to come to HISforaplacetostay,butitbecamesomuchmorethanthat. The staff at HIS have become my chosen family and have helpedmeachievemygoals.Iamcurrentlyattendingcollege. Holbrook Indian School has been a home to me and has helped me create a better life for myself.”
JOVANNAH
“When I first came to HIS, I couldn’t get over the fact that all the students ate three meals a day. I grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, one of the most impoverished reservations in the US. Each day, Meals on Wheels delivered a meal to my grandmother. My grandmother would choose one item from the tray for herself, and I and my four siblings divided up the rest of her meal. That would be our one meal for the day. At HIS, I had three solid meals every day while receiving my education. After high school, I enrolled at Union College. Once I graduated with a degree in English, I returned to HIS and workedinseveraldifferentrolesincludingviceprincipal.Iam currently teaching at Thunderbird Academy.”
SHAWNEWA
“I came to HIS as a Freshman in 2015. I was struggling withsomeissuesanddidn’tdowellin social settings. Through mentoring, Bible studies, and counseling, I came to know Jesus and was baptized. I am currently studying at Missouri State University.Mymajorisinbiomedical sciences. When I finish my education, I plan to return to the Navajo Nation to serve. Holbrook Indian School helped me make connections I needed – to be where I am today. Thanks to people who support HIS, I have a bright future.
The Holbrook Indian School was established over seventy years ago. It has grown into one of the most successful means of reaching this “unreached” population as evidenced by the number of students deciding to embrace Christianity and subsequent baptism. That number varies yearly from eight to twenty students.
It is operated under the authority of the Pacific Union of Seventh-day Adventists. Although conference-supported, morethan80%oftheirbudgetisraisedbytheschoolthrough a constant appeal for donor participation.
Further information, along with beautiful photographs, is available on their website (holbrookindianschool.org) or by calling 928-524-6845. Donations may be directed to:
development@hissda.org
Or mailed to:
P.O. Box 910 2001 McLaws Rd. Holbrook, AZ 86025
TheTasteof PumpkinSpice
by Max Hammonds
Iwait all year for the taste of Pumpkin Spice. Nothing is quite like it. French Vanilla or Italian Sweet Cream are wonderful – the rest of the year. But when the morning temperatures are in the upper forties, the local harvests of apples are in their sturdy wooden crates, and the last autumn tomato vines have yielded their juicy red crops, my taste buds are yearning for Pumpkin Spice. In thecool,earlymorning,enjoyingmyviewofthemountains throughcold-resistant,double-panedwindows,Pumpkin Spice is exactly the right creamer to be added to my hot drink.
Yet I am unable to enjoy it at any other time of the year. When the harvest season ends and the Peppermint of Christmas arrives, Pumpkin Spice is as scarce as a live turkey. Pumpkin Spice cookies, Pumpkin Spice donuts, Pumpkin Spice nut breads are nowhere to be seen – or tasted. In February, April, June, even August, I’m told by the entrepreneurs of taste, “Oh, no, we won’t have Pumpkin Spice until the fall.”
Then I wonder: Would I really want Pumpkin Spice all year long? I read a story about a little girl who wisheditwouldbeChristmasevery day. For a week or so, she enjoyed the continual excitement of awakening every morning to a Christmas tree loaded with presents and a special dinner of turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce. But she soon tired of and then detested the decorations and the presents and the special foods – every day, day after day. And she wished it would not be Christmas but once a year. Would I really want it to be the 4th of July – every day? The parades and the fireworks and grown people acting like children at one o’clock in the morning exploding M80’s? Maybe I feel the same about St. Patrick’s Day or Labor Day or any of the once-a-year holidays that are special – exactly because they happen only once a year and at the right time of year. Easter and May Day in the
fresh yellow-green of Nature’s new beginnings; Thanksgiving when bountiful harvests and a successful year’sendgiveussomethingtobethankfulfor.Maybeit’s the same with pumpkin spice.
In fact, is there anything that I would like to experience every day? Is there anything that would never lose its freshness, its newness, its “taste” – every day? Psalm 34:8 says: “O, taste and see that the Lord is good.” This is not the one of our five senses that we might consider as illustrating our spiritual experiences, our relationship with God – our sense of taste. Like Moses, we would rather “see” God or, like one of the prophets, “hear” His voice.ButDavidsuggeststhatthesensationofadelicious bite of crispy apples or the warm flavor of thick, hearty lentil stew might be just the sensation that jolts us awake to His presence – and His gracious love.
Taste is a unique sense. That is, taste is not objective (similartosmell).Wesay,“Ittasteslike...”Thenwefillin whatever we have tasted before that reminds us of this taste – along with the memories attached to that original taste. Yes, we have four basic taste bud types: salty, bitter, sour, and sweet. But taste is more than these four playing different sensory compositions on our tongues. Taste is an experience.
Ezekielspeaksofthesweetnessofprophecytobeshared (Ezekiel 3:3). John the Revelator speaks of both the sweetnessandbitternessofprophecy:hispersonal,initial reaction and his experience as the prophecy unfolded differently than he anticipated (Revelation 10:9, 10).
David speaks of the sweetness of the Word of God giving him understanding (Psalm 119:103, 104). And multiple biblical authors speak of the “taste of death” as an experience,notachemicalreaction on the tongue. Yes, taste is more than a momentary sensation; it is an experience. And as such, “taste” can serve as a symbol of life experiences – including our spiritual experience.
But every day? If I had Pumpkin Spice every day in my hot drink, would it eventually lose its specialness? Would I cease to relate my Pumpkin Spice creamer to the cool mornings of October and the turning of the leaves into a brilliant palette of reds and golds? Would it cease to stimulate my memories of autumn? If experience is a teacher –probably.
But, as is usually the case, the metaphor tends to fail at fully expressing the item or experience it symbolizes. Just so, in our earthly existence, to be “fresh and new,” PumpkinSpicecanbeexperiencedonlyoccasionallyorit ceases to be “fresh and new.” But God’s Word says: “The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.They are new every morning; greatisYourfaithfulness”(Lamentations3:22,23NASB).
Our family focus this month features Isaac May who joined the Arden SeventhdayAdventistChurchinOctober2023.
Isaac was born and grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado. Being raised as a Seventh-dayAdventist(SDA),heattendedCampionSDAAcademyinLoveland, Colorado and attended Union College and Pacific Union College, majoring in Fine Arts. He has two sisters, Elizabeth and Olivia.
Isaac works as a freelance artist. He does artwork on commission and has artwork hanging in different galleries including Cambodia. You can see some of his artwork on his Facebook page at “isaacmayart.”
Isaac has lived in Colorado, Nebraska, and California. He moved with his family tothisareainMay2023becausetheywantedtobeclosetootherfamilymembershere and really enjoy the area.
His hobbies are hiking, camping, and traveling. He also enjoys trying new restaurants in the area and especially likes Thai food. His travels have taken him to Honduras and Canada for vacation but also to Mexico, Belize, Cambodia, and Thailand for mission trips.
Although Isaac was born and raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, he said he had what he would call a “rebirth” in his early to mid-20’s and wanted to really know God and see how God could use him. Isaac had been working in the secular world for a while,buthestartedtofeellikehewantedtoserveGodinsomecapacityusinghisart.
In 2022, he attended GYC (General Youth Conference) and ASI (Adventist Laymen’sServicesandIndustries),visitingthe“JesusforAsia”booththere.Hewanted to find a good fit as an artist in serving God. He took a leap of faith and filled out an application with “Jesus for Asia.” Four hours later he got an email from Tim Maddox with “Jesus for Asia,” saying he wanted Isaac to come to Cambodia to teach art classes to the students at the Butterfly Paradise School! He went to Cambodia in thesummerof2023andreturnedinAugustofthisyear.
His experiences were many. He said it was very exciting to be there and yet so very different. It took a while for him to get used to so many motor bikes and cows in the road.
Hetaughtartclassesforseventhtotenthgradelevels and worked at the Nature Center at the school. He loved his classroom experiences with the students and brought art to life for them. He tried to give them spiritual lessonsandwouldbeginhisclassesbygivingthemBibleverses,allowinghimtoteach them Bible lessons through art. His students consisted of Christians, Buddhists, and Animists. He was encouraged over the period he was there that some students who didn’t seem interested, at first, did start becoming interested later in time. He rememberssomeBuddhiststudentsraisingtheirhandstoanswerquestionsaboutthe Bible. They became much more receptive to hear about the Bible. Now that he is back home, he says he is very happy to be back but truly misses being there.
Isaac began attending the Arden SDA church with his Mom, Kellie May and his Grandmother Pegg and his Aunt Molly in 2023. They visited other churches in the area, but loved the friendliness of Arden and feels they have such a nice, spiritual atmosphere.HefeltitwasagoodchurchtostrengthenhiswalkwithGodandtomake new friends.
HeattendstheSabbathSchoolclasstaughtbyJoshBelangerandisalsoanalternate on the Outreach Committee led by DeWayne Butcher.
We are so happy to have Isaac May as part of the Arden church family!
ArdenSeventh-dayAdventistChurch IsaSafePlacetoGrow.
Our Purpose is, by God’s Grace, to reflect His character in our community, to demonstrate a quality of life that will attract all to be reconciled to Jesus Christ, and to encourage people to become His loving, maturing disciples.
Grace Notes Editorial Staff:
Max Hammonds...............................................Editor
Chris Small.................................................Columnist
Jean Davey..................................................Columnist
Max Hammonds..................Reporter & Columnist
Pen Braister-Sturgis.....................................Reporter
Sara McCord.................................................Reporter
Dan Reynolds...............................................Reporter
Arizona McCord...............Reporter & Proofreader
Chris Small .....................................Special Graphics
Jim & Carolyn Sullenberger................Proofreaders
Nolan Darnell........................Mailing Management
Shirley Wallstrom...................Circulation Manager
Chris Small .........................................Layout Design
Whitney Barron.................................Layout Design
Comments, suggestions and praises are always welcome. Please email or contact the church office.
Services each Saturday morning: Sabbath School Bible Study, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service, 10:45 a.m.
Location: 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704 Located on Highway 280, (Airport Road), 1.5 miles east of I-26 exit 40, and a quarter mile west of Highway 25.
Church Office:
Office Manager: Whitney Barron Telephone: (828) 684-6700
Email: office@ardenadventist.org
Website: www.ardenadventist.org
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs.,10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Arden Adventist Pastoral Staff: Senior Pastor: Eric Bates, D. Min. Email: ebates@carolinasda.org
Associate/Youth Pastor: Rich Maskelony, M .Div. Email: rmaskelony@carolinasda.org
GraceNotesis published monthly by the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church. Subscription is free by calling or emailing the office.†Doyou have questions about what Adventists believe? Would you like to become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Would you like to study the Bible? You are invited to attend a Pastor’s Bible Study Class. Please call for location and time. All are always welcome.
† Disclaimer—The contents of Grace Notes, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained in this magazine of the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the use of specific medical or Lifestyle Medicine interventions, or about questions you may haveregardingamedicalcondition.Neverdisregardprofessional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of information published in this magazine. Neither Grace Notes nor the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church recommend or endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in published articles. Relianceonanyinformationprovidedissolelyatyourownrisk. If you have a medical emergency, call your healthcare provider or911immediately.
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