January 2015

Volume 11

Issue 1

To reach London with the distinctive, Christ-centered, Seventh-day Adventist message of Hope and Wholeness.

London, Ontario

NEWSLETTER
In This Issue
Ellen White & Conspiracy Thinking......1
Potomac Conference Ordains Pranitha
Fielder, A First for Indian Adventist
Women....3
Growing Deeper...4
North American Division President Issues Statement on Garner/Brown Protests.....5
Adventist Scholar, Author and Administrator Herbert E. Douglass Passes Away
......6
Canadian University College Board Approves Changing Official Name To Burman University.......7
Back in Circulation: Sciatica and Cholesterol........................................................7
Young Adventists Join BlackLivesMatter
Protests
..8
Western District schedule of
speakers...10

by Marcos David Torres

In this post, I would like to more specifically address Seventh-day Adventists and conspiracy thinking by sharing some thoughts from the life of church cofounder and prophetess Ellen G. White and how she dealt with this issue. I trust
this will be a blessing for Seventh-day Adventists and Christians of other denominations as well.
The first thing to point out is that Ellen White didnt really deal with the
issue of conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories, while growing in her day, where
not as widespread as they are today. However, she certainly lived in a time when
indulgence in conspiracy thinking was growing. The Illuminati and Free Masons
were already on the scene and, as we will see later, Ellen White even mentioned the Free Masons. In addition, Ellen White interpreted biblical prophecy using the historicist method, like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Isaac Newton and many
other Christians throughout history. This method assumes that human history and
Bible prophecy walk hand in hand and not separately from one another. As such,
Ellen White understood many apocalyptic prophecies in a manner which exposes
or unveils certain activities that Satan will be involved in during the last days of
earth history.
Continue page 2

Back in Circulation: Sciatica and

Cholesterol
Dec 05, 2014 07:00 am | Michael Greger M.D.
Low back pain became one of the biggest
problems for public health systems in the
western world during the second half of the
20th century. The lifetime prevalence of low
back pain is reported to be as high as 84%,
and chronic low back pain is about 1 in 5, with
1 in 10 being disabled. Its an epidemic.

Continue page 7

London Seventh Day Adventist Church, 805 Shelborne Street, London, Ontario N5Z 5C6 Canada, 519.680.1965

Continued from page 1.

While I believe historicism to be
the most accurate interpretation of Bible
prophecy, there is the danger that it can
breed a desire to go beyond the Bible to
explore these last-day satanic activities.[i]
Those who do this immerse themselves in
conspiracy theories, all the while thinking
they are studying prophecy. But this is a
mistake. Prophecy is what the Bible clearly
teaches regarding last-day events and nothing more. Once one engages in extrabiblical information hunting of hidden information, one is no longer studying prophecy
but biased speculation at best. It is evident
that, while Ellen White was a historicist
(which leads to the Sunday law understanding), she never engaged in extra-biblical
speculations. She did not waste her time
talking about the black pope, Illuminati,

Be a noble, devoted, spiritual worker

Freemasony, Communism, or government
secrets. The reason? One can be shown
from Scripture. The other cannot.
The second thing to consider is the
perceived necessity of investigating and
brooding over perceived conspiracies. If
such an activity were necessary for Christian growth and preparation for final events,
then I wonder why God did not instruct Ellen White to engage in it or why she never
engaged in it herself. For example, the original Illuminati was founded in 1776, just
-one years before Ellen White was born. If
knowledge of the Illuminati and their inner
workings were necessary, why did God
not see fit to tell Ellen White about it? In all
of her writings there is not one syllable devoted to the Illuminati. The Free Masons
trace their origins back to the late 16th or
early 17th century, and during Ellen Whites
day, Free Mason conspiracy theories
abounded. In an article
in Publiceye.org titled The Illuminati Freemason Conspiracy the author states that
The idea of a widespread freemason conspiracy originated in the late 1700s and
flourished in the US in the 1800s. Yet once
again, Ellen Whites writings are void of

such conspiracy theories.

Ellen White mention the Free Masons. But its important to note what she
said and what she didnt say. Ellen White
counseled, under Gods direction, that
Christians were to stay away from the Free
Mason society for practical and obvious
reasons. Seventh-day Adventist pastor
Shawn Brace writes:
Basically, Ellen White addresses
the topic in about five different places, and
each time it is abundantly clear that she
does give counsel to stay away from associating with the Free Masons. However, one
must read why she advises we stay away
from them before prognosticating about
how they are trying to take over the world.
Much to many peoples surprise, no doubt,
the reasons she gives for avoiding them
have nothing to do with their alleged satanic
rituals or sinister plots to take over the
world. Rather, the reasons she gives as to
why one should avoid the Free Masons is
about the same reasons she would give for
not hanging out in a bar.
Ellen White never brought up a
single conspiracy theory regarding the
Free Masons. She simply gave the same
reasons any other wise Christian would
have given. The Free Masons are worldly,
and their teachings are antithetical to the
gospel. As Christians we should not be a
part of such a fraternity.
So far we have seen that Ellen
White, though certainly having had opportunities, never engaged in conspiracy theory
talk. This alone should cause those of us
fascinated with conspiracies to wonder if
perhaps we are wasting our time with pointless investigations. However, I would also
like to point out some quotations from Ellen
White (with personal comments in brackets)
that give us principles to keep in mind when
dealing with this issue.
We need far less controversy [a
characteristic of conspiracy theories], and
far more presentation of Christ. Our Redeemer is the center of all our faith and
hope (EV, 172).
Our work is not to make a raid
on the Government but to prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord.
The fewer attacks we make on authorities and powers, the more work will we
do for God.[Conspiracy theories do
exactly what we are told not to do in this
quote] Do all in your power to reflect the
light, but do not speak words that will
irritate or provoke (EV, 173).

You should have a clear apprehension of the gospel. The religious life is
not one of gloom and of sadness but of
peace and joy coupled with Christlike dignity and holy solemnity [Those fascinated
with conspiracies often exemplify a doom
and gloom version of Christianity and not
the peace and joy that should be had]. We
are not encouraged by our Saviour to cherish doubts and fears and distressing forebodings; these bring no relief to the soul
and should be rebuked rather than praised
[Conspiracy thinking nourishes doubts,
fears, and distressing forebodings. Rather
than praise these things by our focus on
them we should rebuke them by ignoring
them]. We may have joy unspeakable and
full of glory. Let us put away our indolence
and study Gods Word more constantly (EV, 180).
I have been shown that it is the
device of the enemy to divert mens minds
to some obscure or unimportant point,
something that is not fully revealed or is not
essential to salvation [a classic description
of conspiracy theories]. This is made the
absorbing theme, the present truth, when
all the investigations and suppositions only
serve to make matters more obscure and to
confuse the minds of some who ought to be
seeking for oneness through sanctification
of the truth (EV, 182).
A noble, devoted, spiritual worker
will see in the great testing truths that constitute the solemn message to be given to
the world, sufficient reason for keeping all
minor differences concealed, rather than to
bring them forth to become subjects of contention. Let the mind dwell upon the great
work of redemption, the soon coming of
Christ, and the commandments of God; and
it will be found that there is enough food for
thought in these subjects to take up the
entire attention [If we spent more time getting to know Jesus we wouldnt have time
for speculations. Conspiracy adherents often have much knowledge of many
things but they are lacking in the preciousness of Jesus. Rather than allure they repel
those around them] (EV, 183).
Satan is pleased when we magnify his power [This is the nature of conspiracy theories]. Why not talk of Jesus? Why
not magnify His power and His love (MHH,
43)? While these statements may not be
directly dealing with the issue of conspiracy
theories I dont see how one can engage
in conspiracy thinking without violating
many of the godly principles Ellen White
provides above. It is clear that Ellen White
did not see conspiracy theorizing as a
necessary element of preparing for
last-day deceptions.

This Newsletter is produced by the Communication department of the London Seventh-day Adventist Church

Continued from page 2.

However, Ellen White is not our example Jesus Christ
is. In Jesus we find our pattern one that is focused on showing
mercy, love, and empathy to the suffering and who wasted no
time talking about conspiracies. I pray my life will reflect such
beauty. Ellen White wrote,

Potomac Conference Ordains

Pranitha Fielder, A First for
Indian Adventist Women

Millions upon millions of human beings, in sickness and

ignorance and sin, have never so much as heard of Christs love
for them. If our condition and theirs were to be reversed, what
would we want them to do for us? All this, so far as lies in our
power, we are to do for them. Christs rule of life by which every
one of us must stand or fall in the judgment is, Whatever you
want men to do to you, do also to them. Matthew 7:12
In conclusion I ask, what would you want a Christian to
do for you if you were lost? Would you want him/her to share with
you how the shirt you are wearing has masonic symbols, a DVD
on how the Bush administration plotted 911, or how the music you
like has satanic lyrics recorded backwards? Or would you like her
to tell you of Jesus love for you? What would you want him to
say? When your heart is bleeding, when your debt is overwhelming, when your marriage is ending, when your guilt is crushing
you, sitting there in your living room with your world falling to pieces around you what would you want to hear?
I dont know about you, but I would want to hear that
there is a Savior who regards with infinite tenderness the souls
whom He has purchased with His own blood. They are the claim
of His love. He looks upon them with unutterable longing.[MH,
20] I would want to know that there is One whose name is Jesus
who can save the worst of the worst. When my heart is broken,
speak to me of His love! When sin has me bound in iron chains,
tell me of His power! When I am lost, with nowhere left to go,
please talk to me of the One who can calm the raging seas, give
sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet. Tell me God
loves you, with a love so strong hell never let you go, oh youre
not alone.
Fellow Seventh-day Adventists, I appeal to you speak
of Jesus.

Speak of Him. Tell of His

love. Tell of His grace. Tell of
His power. Tell of His soon return! Talk of how He longs for
us to be with Him. Talk of how
He can save the worst of sinners. Talk of Jesus.
Let Him be your theme and song. Let Him be your every
breath. If you and I would do this, if we would choose daily to lift
Him up we would never go wrong Never.

the first ordained Indian-American woman in the Seventhday Adventist denomination.

The Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists ordained Pranitha Fielder on Saturday, December 13 at the Sligo
Seventh-day Adventist Church, making her the first ordained Indian-American woman in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. She was born in India to Jaya and Jasmine Pilli. The family
moved to Maryland when Pranitha was a child. Pranitha Fielder
is married to Kelan Fielder, a pastor at the Emmanuel-Brinklow
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ashton, Maryland. The two met
as seminary students at Andrews University in Michigan. Fielder
has served as Sligo's Youth and Young Adult Ministries Pastor,
and will transition to Pastor of Discipleship and Congregational
Care in 2015.
While Pranitha Fielder's ordination was a first for Adventist women of Indian descent, it was nothing new for the Sligo
Church community, which has a long and storied history of ordaining women. In 1973, Sligo ordained Josephine Benton as an
elder, and she joined the staff as an associate pastor. Benton eventually received chaplain credentials that allowed her to perform
weddings, but she was not ordained as a minister during her career. That changed in July of 2012, when the Columbia Union
Conference in a special constituency session voted to ordain without regard to gender. Josephine Benton received emeritus ordained minister credentials from Columbia Union president David Weigley. Benton, now 89, was in attendance for Pranitha
Fielder's ordination Sabbath.
Sligo held the first ordination ceremony for women pastors in the Adventist denomination on September 23, 1995. On
that day, the Sligo Church ordained Kendra Haloviak, Norma Osborn and Penny Shell. As the service got underway, Charles Tapp,
senior pastor at the Sligo Church, welcomed attendees to Pranitha's ordination, noting that Sligo is known as a church that has
"propelled the rights and the ministry of women as they have received the call of God on their lives."

Continue on page 4.
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cause we keep on doing the same thing.

Its full time now for the church of God to
get deeper in him, the world is dying to
see the difference in us.
If we go deeper we will pray more and if
we pray more we will reap more.
Luke: 5:4 Jesus told some fishermen to

Growing Deeper

God is calling us to go deeper; he is calling us to a brand new level and height.

Prepared by: Elder Kirmane Allen.

Brand new height, in the way we think

Mark 4:4-8.

and live. When we go deeper and higher,

OUR life must bring forth more love,

Have you ever see a plant that grows

more faith and patience. It will be dis-

deeper and not taller? A plant whose roots

played and people will see God through us

are deep into the soil is a plant that grows

and in us,

taller. A plant that grows taller and not

deeper is a plant that will not stand up to
the toss of the wind and storms.
God allows us to go through trials in order
for us to grow. (1 peter 5:10) & (James
1:3) The devil will tempt us and cause us
to stumble, therefore by growing deeper
roots it will give us the strength in the
midst of the storm.

launch out into the deep, after they have

toiled all night and catch nothing at the
voice of Jesus they obey they went out in
the deep and there wasnt enough room to
receive the fishes.
Shadrach,Meshach and Abednego stood
the test because there roots were deepen
into the soil, they would not bow to the
kings image because there roots were

WE CANNOT

rooted in Christ. When we go deeper we

will not bow to the things of the world.

GO DEEPER AND

Daniel was thrown into the lions den because he continued in prayer to his God,

STILL BE THE

when you are deep in Christ you cannot

SAME.

because it keeps you deeper in Christ,

Example: By going deeper we will be-

go without praying, praying is essential

even when you are faced with trials and
tough situations prayer will get you deep-

come Stronger, better, and wiser. This will

er. Every temptation we overcome causes

allow us to be more established, grounded

Change will allow us to feel restored,

us to go deeper and deeper in GOD

and restore to become true and faithful

renew and refurbish in our journey with

MOSES decided that he would suffer with

vine. Mark4: 5, 6 if there is no sub-

him. Every individual must seek for

the children of GOD than to enjoy the

stance, the root cannot become strong

change because it is only when change

pleasure of sin for a season. When you

and will not be able to grow, this root will

takes over, we can feel accomplish and

are deep in Christ Worldly things doesnt

be feeble and weak and the plant will not

grateful for the strong roots that we have

matter.

last long because it is not rooted deep

stand on Correct your character flaws

My brothers and sisters, God is calling us

enough in the soil. In order for our Chris-

before it destroys you, never compromise

to go deeper in him, deeper in his love, let

tian faith to grow, it is expected of us to

Gods words to look good.

the year of 2015 be the year that you de-

become true and strong roots as a founda-

We develop what we focus on, whether

cide to go deeper in God.

tion modeling Christ.

positive or negative. We develop the posi-

Mark 4: 8- the only way we can bring forth

tive by going deeper in Christ. When we

good fruits, our roots must be deep in the

go deeper in Christ, we will become better

soil, that soil is called good ground.

spouse, parents, siblings, teachers, pas-

For us to go higher we must go deeper.

tors, and then God will allow his light to

We cannot build and high rising building

shine through us.

with a shallow foundation. Whats your

We keep on getting the same result be

foundation?

Continued on page 5.
This Newsletter is produced by the Communication department of the London Seventh-day Adventist Church

Continued from page 4.

demonstrations following the grand jury decisions rendered in the

deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. and Eric Garner in N.Y.:

Acts 2:42- 47 Ways in which you can grow deeper

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is deeply
Steadfast in the apostles doctrine.

saddened by the tragic death of Eric Garner and the heartache it

Fellowship with each other and pray.

has caused his family and community. We extend our deepest

Believe in God .

condolences and continue to pray for his family.

Take care of the needy.

Continue daily in one accord in gladness and singleness of

The recent grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Mo. in the death of

heart.

Michael Brown and Mr. Garner in N.Y. have stirred great emotions

Praising God and having favor with all people .

in the hearts of many Americans who question the equity with

Study the word of God.

which all of Gods children are treated. Many citizens, including

Love each other .

Seventh-day Adventist pastors, educators, and students have par-

ticipated in non-violent marches, peacefully calling for equality and

Your partner in Christ,

asking for change. We continue to support the right, which we are

afforded in this country, to peacefully speak out and call for

Kirmane Allen

change.
It is time for our society to engage in open, honest, civil, and pro-

North American Division President Issues

Statement on Garner/
Brown Protests

ductive conversation about the rights and equality of every mem-

In a special edition of the North American Division

We pray that those on either side of this conversation will speak

ber of our community. We pray that the tragedy of these two

deaths will bring about much needed change and address the pain
that many ethnic groups are facing in this country. We pray that
awareness will lead to a two-way conversation that will lead to
healing.

with peace, love, and grace.

We pray for the day when all of Gods children treat each other
without suspicion, bias, and hatred. As the Apostle Paul reminds
us: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Newspoints, the president of the S eventh-day Adventist Church

in North America, Daniel R. Jackson, issued the following statement on December 8, 2014 in response to the growing number of

Continue on page 6
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Adventist Scholar, Author

and Administrator Herbert
E. Douglass Passes Away
by General Conference archivist David Trim.
Herbert Edgar Douglass, Jr., a
Seventh-day Adventist scholar,
administrator and writer died this
morning at the age of 87.
Douglass helped to write
the Seventh-day Adventist Bible
Commentary series and authored
"Messenger of the Lord," a biography of Ellen G. White. He served
as president of Atlantic Union College and Weimar Institute, as vicepresident for philanthropy at Adventist Heritage Ministry, as associate editor of the Review and Herald (now the Adventist Review)
and as associate Book Editor and
vice-president for Editorial Development at the Pacific Press Publishing Association. From 2008 to
2014, he served onThe Hope of Surivivors Board of Directors.
Douglass wrote numerous Sabbath School commentaries for
Spectrum Magazine. He lived in Lincoln, California until his death.
Herb Douglass was truly a scholar and a Christian gentleman, in the fullest senses of those words. I value him for both.
As a scholar: he was an erudite theologian, who wore his
learning lightly and had a gift for communicating to Everyman. He
had an easy yet elegant writing style; he conveyed what he meant
simply but powerfully - unlike many academics! He had a long and
distinguished career in church leadership and administration, and
partly as a result, it often seemed to me that he knew everyone of
note in Adventism since c.1940. Herb had strong convictions and
opinions, but they were always expressed with Christian love one never had any doubt where he stood, but he wrote and spoke
amicably and with wry, self-deprecating good humour. This is why
I will remember him not only as a scholar of religious studies and
church leader, but also as a great gentleman.
I got to know him only in the last six years of his life, and
our acquaintance was sparked because of my own scholarly research on Adventist Christology. I emailed him, out of the blue, not
knowing if he would even reply, because I knew I disagreed with
him, but wanted to make sure I was disagreeing with what he really thought, rather than what others said he thought, or my own
misunderstanding of his position.
To my profit and soon to my delight, Herb did answer my
email. It was the start of a long electronic epistolary relationship we exchanged around one hundred emails and eventually I had
the pleasure of meeting him in person. I quickly realised that his
views were more nuanced than I had thought. For some Adventists who disagreed with him, Herb became a kind of bogeyman;
his views have, I fear, been somewhat caricatured at times. In
fact, he had a subtle understanding of soteriology and Christology,

realised, too, that we had far more in common than I

thought. Not least was his love for Jesus - his theology truly was
Christ-centred; he also had a passion for this remnant Church and
its prophetic role; a strong belief in the Spirit of Prophecy as manifested in Ellen White (on which he wrote a widely read book); and
a zeal for mission.
I was obliged, as an historian, to point out (in public, having done so first in our e-correspondence) that his interpretation of
Adventist historical Christological views was flawed, since the
evidence told a more complex story than of the simple fork in the
road in the 1950s that Herb (often) posited in print. In addition, we
had theological differences: I respectfully dissent from his postlapsarian view of the nature of Christ and concomitant notion that
humans, here on earth, can permanently overcome sin.
However, from the emails Herb sent me, I learned immensely about the history of Adventist theology in the 20th century and the personal relationships that always underpin theological
controversy; he really did seem to have met, known and liked every Adventist theologian and church leader of consequence in the
last 75 years. The result was that our correspondence benefited
me greatly! I hope he got a measure of intellectual stimulation - he
certainly seemed to enjoy our email conversations". But I dont
doubt that I got the better of our exchanges - meaning only that I
got more out of them - they were richly rewarding for someone
who had been an historian of the Reformation and come only lately to Adventist history. And I found myself in an interesting position
- the more I knew about Herb, the more certain I was that he was
wrong on certain theological issues, yet the more I liked and respected him.
At one point, we wrote to each other about the controversies in the Church since the late 1970s. I will take the liberty of
quoting him, for his words show the measure of the man. He wrote
to me, regarding one notable Adventist thinker who became notorious for heterodox views:
"He knows I have never diminished himwe just have fundamentally different worldviews. It is the lesser lights that have said some
outrageous stuff about what they think I think. But this is all understandable. Goes with the territory. I refuse to let anybody be my
enemy."
Herb Douglass never, in my experience, even in private,
ever abused any of the theologians with whom he had crossed
swords. Veritably, he never diminished his opponents. I was really
delighted when Herb at one point called me his friend. But it
makes sense - he wanted to be friends with every other Seventhday Adventist.
There are few scholars who can write for all audiences.
Even rarer is the person who can have strong convictions, share
them firmly, and yet do so in a cordial, even Christ-like way. That
was my friend Herb Douglass. We will learn the truth of all things
in the earth made new; but I hope for several millennia at least of
amicable debates, learning from each other, even while we learn
from Our Lord and Saviour, who Herb loved so much and served
so well.

sensitive to fine distinctions, and I was glad I emailed

him, for although I still disagreed with him, I understood much
more clearly what the actual grounds of our disagreement were. I

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Canadian University
College Board Approves
Changing Official Name To
Burman University

Continue from page 1

Back in Circulation: Sciatica

and Cholesterol
Dec 05, 2014 07:00 am | Michael Greger M.D.
Are people just lifting more heavy stuff? No. Mechanical factors,
such as lifting and carrying, probably do not have a major role in
this disease. Well then what causes it? Ive touched on it before,
atherosclerosis can obstruct the arteries that feed the spine and
this diminished blood flow can result in the various back problems.
This can be seen on angiography, showing normal arteries on the
left and clogged on the right, or on autopsy, where you can see
the openings to the spinal arteries can get squeezed shut by
these cholesterol filled plaques.
Autopsy, because back pain may predict fatal heart disease, just
like clogs in the penile arterieserectile dysfunction, can precede
heart attacks, because its the same disease, we build up plaques
throughout our entire vascular system.

On December 15, 2014 the CUC Board of Trustees approved

changing its name from Canadian University College to Burman
University.
The university is named after Charles A. and Leona Burman the
husband and wife team who founded the institution in 1907
(pictured). Charles A. Burman served as the first and third President (Principal) of the school that would be known as
CUC. Leona Burman taught English, science, language, geography, physiology, and acted as school nurse. Both Charles and
Leona devoted their entire lives to the work of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. It was because of their selfless dedication and
sacrifice that the first school on this hilltop was established, said
CUC President Mark Haynal. In every season of their ministry
both of these individuals exemplified the mission of our
school. They thought with discernment, believed with insight and
commitment, and acted with confidence, compassion and competence.
On July 2, 2014 the Alberta government granted CUC permission
to change the institutions status and name from university college to university.
"Referring to ourselves simply as a university will more clearly
reflect our degree-granting status and enable our students to pursue graduate school and employment without having to repeatedly explaining what a university college is, says Haynal. "Because
university college means markedly different things in different
regions, potential students and administrators of post-secondary
institutions across Canada and around the world have always
been uncertain and often confused by our name.
The name "Burman University" was chosen after an intensive
process of focus groups held in three regions of Canada. Faculty,
staff, students, alumni, friends and citizens of Lacombe joined the
process, suggesting more than a hundred possible names.
CUC will continue as Canadian University College for the remainder of the 2014-2015 academic calendar year. Full implementation of the new name will take place May 1, 2015. The name
change process will be fully complete after petition for amendments through a private bill moves through the Alberta legislature.

Now we have MRI imaging, that can show the occlusion of spinal
arteries in people with back pain, and the degeneration of the
discs. Normal blood flow in someone without back pain, versus
constricted blood flow in someone with. They showed that patients
with long-term lower back pain had these kinds of occlusions, and
those with high cholesterol appeared to suffer with more severe
symptoms. Those with narrowed arteries appear about 8 and a
half times more likely to have suffered from chronic back pain.
This makes sense. The discs in our lower back are the largest
avascular tissue in the body, meaning our discs dont have any
blood vessels. Thus, its nutrition just kind of diffuses in from the
margins, making it especially vulnerable to deprivation. Using
MRIs you can measure the effects of impaired blood flow on that
diffusion, and see how this can turn into that. Although disc degeneration has multiple causal factors, with genetic, occupational,
and mechanical influences, alteration in nutrition has been proposed as the final common pathway. By age 49, 97% of the discs
of those eating the standard American diet show at least grade 2
degradation.
Cholesterol plaques in the wall of the aorta obliterate the orifices
of lumbar and middle sacral arteries and may decrease blood
supply of the lumbar spine and its surrounding structures. Structures with precarious nutrient supply, such as the intervertebral
discs, may suffer and gradually degenerate, as well as herniate.
Not only is there a relationship between cholesterol levels and
disc degeneration theres an association between cholesterol levels and disc herniation.
This compromised blood flow may also damage the nerve roots
that come off the spine, causing sciatica. Sciatica is back pain that
radiates down the legs, causing additional pain, numbness or
weakness, and prolonged disability and may affect as many as 1
in 20 people. And independent of weight, and some other factors,
clinical sciatica may be associated with cholesterol as well. See,
the nerve roots, which are most commonly associated with sciatic
pain, are supplied by some of the arteries most vulnerable to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Obliteration of these arteries by
cholesterol buildup results in compromised nutrient supply to the
nerve itself. And that lack of oxygen to the nerve may be playing a
role in sciatica pain.
Reduced blood flow also hampers the removal of waste products,
such as lactic acid, which can in turn irritate the nerve endings,
causing pain and deterioration.

Continue on page 8

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Young Adventists Join

#BlackLivesMatter Protests

non-indictment dominated social media, following close

on the heels of the non-indictment of Officer Darren Wilson, who
shot and killed Michael Brown, a black teen in Ferguson, Missouri.
Twitter hashtags #BlackLivesMatter, #HandsUpDontShoot, and
#ICantBreathe (Eric Garner's final words) are trending nationwide.
Over the weekend, many Adventists joined the many marchers
who demonstrated against police brutality and racial injustice.

On December 3, when a grand jury did not indict NYPD

Officer Daniel Pantaleo for causing the death of an unarmed black
man, Eric Garner, people in cities across the United States, and
later, around the world, took to the streets to protest. Pantaleo's

On Friday, December 5, students at Oakwood University

demonstrated in Huntsville, Alabama. Oakwood University officials
issued the following statement on the university website:

Continue on page 9
This Newsletter is produced by the Communication department , Email: newsletter@adventistontario.ca

Continue from page 8

We are deeply saddened by the recent
losses of life that raise serious questions about
justice and human rights. This is a deeply emotional time and these events have triggered a
myriad of feelings with our students, faculty, and
staff.
We understand that some of our Oakwood students along with other students have been involved in the organizing of a demonstration
(#ShutItDownHSV) for December 5, at 4:30
p.m. We support the rights of our students to
peacefully protest. However, we are deeply
concerned about the safety and well-being of
our students and anyone else who has planned
to participate. We do not support the breaking
of traffic laws and ask every Oakwood student,
If you choose to participate, to do so peacefully
and lawfully, in accordance with the laws of the
city of Huntsville.
We also invite students who wish to express
themselves, but do not wish to march to join us
on Sunday, December 7, at 5:00 p.m. in Moran
Hall to help assemble an action plan for how
Oakwood students can support the mission of
creating One Huntsville. In Michigan on Saturday, hundreds of students at Andrews University marched two miles from campus to the Berrien Springs Police Department, chanting and
singing "We are soldiers/In the army/We have to
fight/Although we have to die". When they arrived at the police station, they observed silence
for a period signifying the time Michael Brown
lay dead in the street after being shot to death.
Speaking to WSBT 22, a local CBS
affiliate, Andrews University associate chaplain
Michael Polite said, Whats going on in these
major cities, yea, its affecting us too even
though were attending school in a rural area.According to the WSBT report, Andrews
students prayed and thanked police officers,
noting that many police officers were being tarnished by the brutality of a minority of officers.
In an invitation to the protest march,
Chaplain Polite used the hashtag
#BreakTheWalls and recommended students
dress in all black. Black clothing has been characteristic of #BlackOut events all throughout the
United States. Also on Saturday, December 6,
Adventists from the Allegheny West Conference
met in cold weather at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio for a day of prayer led by Pastor John
T. Boston II of the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church and Allegheny West pastors from
Columbus. Evangelist/Pastor Marquis Johns of
the Metropolitan Adventist Church in Hyattsville,
Maryland was a guest speaker at the event.

This Newsletter is produced by the Communication department , Email: newsletter@adventistontario.ca

Clara Baptiste

January 28

St.Thomas
380 Manor
Road

Tim Aka

Alex
Golovenko

Cameron Munro

January
17

January
24

January
31

Gord Rayner

George Perez

Alex
Golovenko

Eustace
Williams

SDA South London Church

Clara Baptiste

Jean Paul

Karl Nickol

Juan Carlos
Atencio

Roy West

Juan Carlos
Atencio

Lois Lafond

Pathfinder
Induction

Cedric Ogilvie

Fred Stele

Fred Stele

Sarnia 1620
Modeland
Road

519.680.1965

Lars Muller

Juan Carlos
Atencio

Roy West

Karl Nickol

Woodstock
594754 Oxford
Road

Dirk Zinner

Dirk Zinner

Jovin
Mwizerva

Dirk Zinner

Chatham
20 Croydon
Street

Marian Kossovan

Charles Shad

Junior Garcia

Marian Kossovan

Marian Kossovan

Windsor
5350 Haig
Avenue

www.adventistlondon.ca

Simeon N.

Dirk Zinner

Charles
Shad

Dirk Zinner

Ramon
Ettienne

Leamington
220 Erie
Street N

Pulpit Speakers @ Western District Adventist Churches

Elden Ramirez, General Conference Director of

Volunteer Ministry & Missions He Said GO! @
Montcalm Secondary School

January
10

January
3

Lo Richards

January 21

West London
471 Ridgewood
Cres

Simone Biggs

January 14

London South
805
Shelborne
Street

Pastor Alex Golovenko

Presenter

January 7

Date

PRAYING MEETINGS

Mid-week Prayer meeting at 805 Shelborne Street, Wednesdays at 7 P.M. London (South) SDA

Western District schedule of speakers, January 2015

10

Junior Garcia

Junior Garcia

Marian Kossovan

Alex Capote

Roberto Lara

Windsor Spanish
3325 Walker Road