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Gilbert Valentine, writing in the article "Coping (Or Not) in the June issue of Pacific Union Recorder, has addressed fundamental issues which we faced in the 1960 and 1970s. This article should be of interest to any student of SDA history and life. The article may be viewed at: https://issuu.com/pacificunionrecorder/docs/0622recorder/s/15918746 This article is a brief excerpt from Valentines' book: Ostriches and Canaries: Coping With Change In Adventism 1966 -1 979., Which was published by the Pacific Union Conference, Oak & Acorn. It is available from Amazon, along with a brief reiew by Willim G. Johnsson, former editor of Adventist Review. See: https://www.amazon.com/Ostriches-Canaries-Coping-Adventism-1966-1979/dp/B09SNSNQW1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AFWKX6U2X2C0&keywords=Ostriches+%26+Canaries&qid=1655834757&sprefix=ostriches+%26+canaries%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

With thanks to my wife for this bit of information: https://www.axios.com/2022/06/18/black-hole-milky-way-hubble-space-telescope

(N) He will hear your cry ?? Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Indeed. Also, should introduce her to the 4 chapters: The origin of Evil, Why was Sin Permitted, Gethsemane, and It is Finished (and I wish the church would put these 4 chapters together under one cover. This would be a very powerful missionary book). While I forgot the order of the first two chapters, one of these was written while the Great Controversy idea was new to her and is full of the wonder and excitement of learning something new, the other after she had years of thought and meditation on it and a more mature approach. Thus the strong and weak points of each complement each other. Gethsemane is powerful looking at what Jesus went through, and the chapter "It is Finished" was by far the best to flow from her pen. Her crowning chapter. It would do you, and me, and the whole church well to read these four chapters together in one setting at least once a year, and pastors twice a year. Also, another important enough to read at least once a year (twice for pastors) is the introduction to the Great Controversy, and her essay on inspiration from Selected Messages, as well as (Not EGW) the essay "The Role of Israel in Old Testament Prophecy" in SDABC vol. 4. With how the church was talking about sending out mass mailings of "Great Controversy" I'd like them to include some things Mrs. White wrote about how difficult it was to write about her concerns about the Catholic church, but not be anti-Catholic and her fear of being more anti-Catholic than she wanted to be. I love what Great Controversy teaches, but much can get lost in what she described in those writings. Also, she writes about the last day events on two levels: One is the specific application of the role of possible Sunday Laws and the Sabbath-Sunday situation, but she also writes on a larger principle level on the issues of liberty of conscience and no force. Fortunately, we Seventh-day Adventists have an auto correct located both on the nerves that connect the eyes to the brain and the ears to the brain. When ever we read about her larger principles about individual liberty and allowing people to follow what they understand and the principle of no force, our auto correct automatically corrects it to read "Sunday laws, and you think you can use the law and court system and punishment to force Sunday on us, but we have a higher law and highest court the worst punishment of all, hell, if you don't accept the Sabbath." and the corrected message is what reaches our brain. While I love Great Controversy, I fear that what a lot of Adventists like about it is how they can use it in a very anti-Catholic way and to use the higher law, the higher court and the punishment of hell as threats to force people to keep the Sabbath. This mindset makes the Great Controversy useless.

(N) Law in your hearts ? Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

Not much to elaborate upon. I'm trying to imagine how an SOP coordinator might function in a local church. Some things EGW wrote in her day might surprise readers of today. For example, her vision for Christian physicians was not one of millionaires with outsize influence or control of local congregations. The College of Medical Evangelists was to train medical evangelists who used their influence and skill to lead people to Christ. Her remarks about physicians earning the same salary as ministers need to be considered in the context of then and now. Pastors don't enter the work force with a quarter million plus of debt as do some young physicians. SOP coordinators are going to meet a lot of unexpected questions and comments if they really read EGW. Unless they want to be perceived as nut job cultists, they will need to be well informed.

(N) Riches,honor, & life ? Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

See: https://spectrummagazine.org/arts-essays/2022/rest-peace-c-raymond-holmes For a list of some of his published writings see: Ministry Magazine | Holmes, C. Raymond For the story of his personal spiritual journey, see: Ministry Magazine | God Made My Decision