ISRAEL AND ARMAGEDDON
I enjoyed reading "Israel and Armageddon" (May 2003). But I came up short on page 28 where Steve Wohlberg wrote, "Inside the British Museum in London lies the famous Cyrus Cylinder, which describes how Cyrus, a general of Darius, conquered Babylon."

I don't remember Cyrus being a general. I do remember there being some question about who Darius was. I consulted the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary on Daniel 6 and Isaiah 45; neither refer to Cyrus as a general. All references indicated kingship.

I pulled up the text for the Cyrus Cylinder on two different Internet sites to try to eliminate translation prejudices. The text has Cyrus clearly declaring that he is a king, the great king.

I'm puzzled to know where the idea came from that Cyrus was merely a general.

Melody D. Snow

MISSION PILOT
The cover story, "The Mission Pilot" (May, 2003) brought back a very pleasant memory. I was teaching school in Northern California when my principal informed me that I was to take the ninth and tenth graders on a short-term mission trip during spring break.

Four adults and 13 students traveled to Sonora, Mexico, by an old bus, borrowed from our conference youth camp. Our final destination was a youth camp in a small town of Magdalena de Kino, 60 miles south of Nogales, Arizona.

Karl and Katie Schwinn and their young children met us. Our job was to construct trusses. The first morning Karl conducted "school" for the young people in such loving and informing way that the none of those involved that trip have ever forgotten the experience.

The experience with Karl started me on the path of short-term mission projects with students. Since that spring break of 1985, I have continued to take students to Mexico and Central America every year to build churches, schools, and orphanages. Several students have gone on to become student missionaries. Some have opted for full-time mission service. Karl's influence has, over the years, reached many, many people that he has never met.

Thank you for introducing me to Karl and Katie once again.

Milton Kindrick
Sacramento Adventist Academy

SINCE YOU ASKED
The impetus for this e-mail is William Johnsson's measured editorial responding to inquiries about article choices, covers, and coverage ("Since You Asked," May, 2003). His response was well done, but I just wanted you to know there are plenty of us who really appreciate your stretching away from the old ways and trying on new ideas.

The addition of your columnists, such as Ed Christian, add a needed reality check to our tendency to get inbred. Not only are they a breath of fresh air, but I often find them very inspiring. Christian's article about Sabbath blessings was a particular blessing to me--and I've been an Adventist for almost 50 years. I tore it out and filed it for future reference. Isaiah 53:13 always puzzled me--no pleasure on Sabbath?

I congratulate you on your willingness to respond to questions from subscribers. I noticed this in the above mentioned editorial and also when so many responded about "Unfaithful: When Shepherds Become Wolves" (Feb. 27 & Apr. 24, 2003). It takes chutzpah to face up to questions and answer them calmly and clearly; it takes love to care about what some subscribers churn up. I'm thankful the Lord has given you some of each of those characteristics, and the energy to put them to work.

Mary Bishop
Arroyo Grande, California

PEACE AND WAR
I just have to comment on William Johnsson's editorial regarding the war in Iraq.

It seems that the primary reason he did not address the issue was to avoid offending Adventists, regardless of their position on the issue. I find this an unacceptable silence. If he is convinced that his position on an issue of global importance and scale such as the war on Iraq is the right position supported by God, no less, then the failure to articulate that position is irresponsible. It benefits no one, especially those he purports to protect.

He then went on to say that the Review is not about controversy. This mind set is un-Christian. It is derived from the overwhelming desire for Adventists to be portrayed as "nice," to the point of failing to confront evil even when faced with it. Let's not forget that Christ's life and ministry was wrapped in controversy from the very beginning. He did not hesitate to describe those who attracted His ire as vipers, hypocrites, dogs, and pigs. Triumph over evil cannot be completed without controversy.

Roli A. Antonio
Highgrove, California

MINISTRY SUPPORT
Being a volunteer in the mission field often feels like walking a tightrope--without the rope. It is often difficult to obtain good technical support or assistance.

When I contacted Sean Carney ("A Ministry Portal to the World," May, 2003), his response was immediate. The team at TAGnet provided all the necessary information and allowed us more space than we needed (apparently for the faith-based growth we eventually needed). TAGnet blessed our volunteer career. Every college in developing countries can help its budget by being on TAGnet.

Out on the information highway, where so many say so many things, it is a blessing to have a rest stop with all the right directions. God gave us TAGnet and we are blessed by its ministry.

Falvo Fowler

COMMENTS AND COMMENTS
Roy Adams' editorial, "This Time Around" (Feb. 2003), doesn't need any comment; but the three letters in the May, 2003, issue do.

Mary Connor grieves the fact that we are segregated. But in which church did you place your membership? Remember, the Adventist church was one of the last in South Africa to desegregate, and it has yet to explain why Black pastors were paid a pittance compared to the White ones.

David Grams said in the 1800s we were in the forefront in the battle for racial equality. That is not entirely true; administrators had to be dragged kicking and screaming to address the "southern work." Royalties from Ellen White's books have yet to be given to that work, as her will indicates.

As far as J. R. Layman is concerned, he is the reason I refuse to place my membership in a White church while living in Texas. And regarding his racial remark about Farrakhan, may I remind him that they still "Jasper" in Texas?

My racial attitudes are, more than anything else, a reaction to the lack of an apology for the ongoing rape, pillage, jailing, and economic repression of my race.

Joseph R. Cooper


Though congregational segregation is decried by the church, it is, sadly, a fact of Adventist life. Too often when blacks have attempted to integrate white congregations, they soon discovered, to their dismay, that a demographic shift had taken place and they had inherited a church vacated by the previous occupants; thus perpetuating the "separate but equal" philosophy of the nineteenth century.

How to deal with this phenomena should be an issue of real concern. Unfortunately, we are not a color-blind society nor a color-blind church. If we plan to live together in the new earth, we need to learn how to do so in the old one.

T. L. Mason
Huntsville, Alabama

PASTORAL PREDATORS
I was married to a pastor who sexually molested his own daughter until she was 12 years old. (Unfaithful: When Shepherds Become Wolves.) The conference fired him before everything came to light, but one of the pastors in the conference took him in and has him giving Bible studies. I have spoken to the pastor, but he believes I am just an angry ex-wife trying to get back at my husband. I have tried to warn him that my former husband is sick and will not seek help if someone keeps handing him victims.

My children and I are in therapy. I home-schooled my children until my daughter was in the sixth grade. It was when she went to school with other children that she realized what her father was doing was wrong. I had no idea; it was an unbelievable shock. Therapists have said that he chose me as the perfect victim because I was raised to believe that once married, you stay married before God, and that the husband is the head and priest of the family.

It still amazes me that predators are so good at covering their tracks. Our pastors need to be more closely monitored. I believe there are many more out there as sick as the one I was unfortunate enough to marry.

If this sounds angry, it is. My family is devastated. Their picture of God is mangled. This man goes on as if nothing has happened.

Name Withheld

LABOR UNIONS AND LIBERTY
The article, "Another Look at Labor Unions" (Mar. 27, 2003) presents a profound problem for those of us promoting liberty of conscience in thework place. When a fellow Seventh-day Adventist makes a principled decision not to join or to leave a labor union, the church's "flagship journal" can now be presented as evidence that membership in labor unions is an open question in the church. Our position of unambiguous support for fellow believers is suddenly ambiguous. This will make life even more difficult for church members involved in litigation over union membership.

Gerald F. Colvin pointed out that the labor union question is most critical for those who are most financially vulnerable. I'm shocked that we would pull the rug out from under our brothers and sisters in minority groups.

Timothy G. Standish
Yucaipa, California