Book Review: Beyond Ellen White

For those of us growing up Adventist in Australia, Avondale College was our mecca. I can remember, as a child, always hearing about how Avondale was the place to go to develop spiritually, physically — and find a life partner! In my younger days, I had the opportunity to briefly visit Avondale a couple of times and remember feeling awe at walking on such "sacred" ground. But, it hasn't come as a surprise that this was a very romanticised picture. Avondale is a human institution run by flawed humans and, despite the alleged supernatural circumstances around its establishment, the human has played a major part in its evolution. Contributing to our understanding of this evolution is Michael Chamberlain's deeply scholarly book, Beyond Ellen White: Seventh-day Adventism in Transition.

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Relevance, Part 3

A couple of things have happened in the last few weeks that inspired me to begin this series on relevance.  This will be the concluding post - but you may find this theme throughout much of what I write (both in the past, and in the future).  When I preach, when I write, when I do just about anything, I ask myself, what is the point?  And this becomes the question I have to ask about God, His Word, and His Church - what is the point?

For me, I've found meaning in God.  The Bible was a little more challenging - but once I moved past the cultural distortions, I have found great relevance in those words.  I'm still wrestling with the Church though.  I'm wondering, what is it that people are trying to do there?

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Book Review- LifeStyles of the Remnant

I recently traveled to PA to sing/speak at a women's retreat weekend in Gettysburg. The topic of my seminars was 'How to Overcome Approval Addiction'. Awesome time! While in the area, I visited my Father-in-law who is a Pastor with healthy perspectives. He handed me one of the most amazing books I've read this decade. It's a masterpiece of balanced wisdom! When I saw that Keavin had been involved in the 'Black Hills School of Evangelism', I was a bit nervous- as some very stringent, dogmatic people we know were also there and I wasn't sure what brand of theology is emerging from that school.

However, I tend to give every viewpoint consideration. So began my hours long journey through the book. WOW- couldn't put it down until I had finished! Fabulous thoughts, solid evidence and a fluid writing style. Though I tend to shy away from "remnant talk"- as I feel this often leads to snobbery and exclusivism within our churches, Keavin is truly at the forefront of forward thinking and a grace-based theology. He valiantly upholds both the Bible and the writings of EGW, while exposing the grace and freedom, so abundant in BOTH. Whether you hold Ellen White to be a prophet or simply a growing Christian lady who had a special relationship with God, I believe you would be refreshed by reading this book! :o)

Click here to read sample chapters or to purchase this title.