Missional Apologetics: Keys to the Hearts and Minds of Urban Young Professionals?

research study in Australia indicated that one of the top spiritual repellents for non-Christian people is a focus on philosophical discussions and debating ideas. In spite of this, a significant percentage of Australian young professionals are still willing to consider changing their worldview if presented with the right circumstances and evidence. This article explores how apologetic material can missionally connect with the hearts and minds of urban young professionals. The Greater Sydney Conference and the South Pacific Division Adventist Media Center developed this approach based on a preliminary qualitative research study of an evangelistic series

Praying and Anointing: A Look at James 5:14-16

Praying for the sick has many benefits—find out how even the church can be blessed

The Theology of Human Work as Found in the Genesis Narrative Compared with the Co-Creationist Theology of Human Work

Contemporary work (or lack of it) can be a source of satisfaction or stress, of elevating a sense of self-­‐worth, or contributing to low self-­‐esteem. The question asked was what contribution could or did Christian theology offer to everyday human work. A study of the history of Christian theologies of work noted significant changes over the centuries to Christian understanding. Since all theologies of work were linked to Genesis material, a complete study of the Genesis narrative was undertaken. Utilizing the methods of narrative theology and reception history of Genesis passages, the prologue, primordial narrative and patriarchal portions were examined, and the findings compared with the contemporary co-­‐creationist theology of work. It was found that the Genesis narrative has a strong theme of work, and this is matched by a notable theme of curse in the primordial narratives and blessing in the patriarchal. The study asserts that the Genesis narrative has a chiastic structure that offers illumination to the issues connected with human work, and that the vision of human work portrayed in the co-creation doctrine of work is not supported by the Genesis presentation. The primordial narrative portrays the negative results of human work unaided by divine guidance, and the patriarchal narratives show the struggle of humans to learn to work with, and wait for, God. Importantly, the patriarchal narrative demonstrates that human efforts to expedite divinely promised blessing tend to result in delayed blessing and relational distress. The concluding Joseph novella offers encouragement regarding what God can achieve through a human dedicated to him. Joseph’s work embraced a full spectrum of work from slave to senior government official. The success he achieved even as a slave is repeatedly attributed as entirely due to the blessing of God. The theology that emerges from Genesis could thus be described as a blessed relational theology of work, with the focus on relationship with God, and the privilege of co-operating with him and with other humans to achieve the divinely intended good

Our Eternally Righteous God: Paul\u27s Great Controversy Theme in Romans 11

The author of this article suggests that Paul’s focus is profoundly apocalyptic and classic Seventh-day Adventist theology

An Apologia for an Earlier Commencement for Day 1 of Creation: A Structural Analysis Based on a Work Correspondence

While Genesis 1 indicates the first Creation workday was foundational and unique, there is scholarly disagreement about when the first day commences in the text. This paper summarizes and evaluates the various scholarly positions on the commencement of the first day and analyzes the structural form of the text to evaluate the strengths of each position. Examination of the Gen 1:1–5 structure supports the conclusion that it is a cohesive unit describing the first day. This paper identifies weaknesses in evidence that has been advanced in support of separating Gen 1:1–2 from the creation week. Using a structural analysis based on a work correspondence, an apologia for the position that the first day commences from v.1 is provided. Also provided is biblical evidence that the merism “the heavens and the .subspace cosmic a as regarded best is) אֵ ֥ ת הַ ּׁשָ מַ ֖ יִם וְ אֵ ֥ ת הָ אָ ֽ רֶ ץ) “earth The conclusion of this paper is that Gen 1:1–5 is best understood as an account of two creation projects: (1) a cosmic subspace, identified as the human universe, and (2) light, both of which were created during the first day of the creation week

Being as Normal as Possible: How Young People Ages 16–25 Years Evaluate the Risks and Benefits of Treatment for Inflammatory Arthritis

Objective To explore how young people (ages 16–25 years) with inflammatory arthritis evaluate the risks and benefits of treatment, particularly treatment with biologic therapies. Methods This qualitative study involved in-depth interviews (n = 44) with young people, trusted others (e.g., parents), and health professionals; audio-recordings (n = 4) of biologic therapy–related consultations; and focus groups (n = 4). Analysis used techniques from grounded theory (open and focused coding, constant comparison, memoing, and mapping). Results Young people aspired to live what they perceived as a “normal” life. They saw treatment as presenting both an opportunity for and a threat to achieving this. Treatment changes were therefore subject to complex and ongoing evaluation, covering administration, associated restrictions, anticipated effects, and side effects. Information sources included expert opinion (of professionals and other patients) and personal experience. Previous treatments provided important reference points. Faced with uncertain outcomes, young people made provisional decisions. Both trusted others and health professionals expressed concern that young people were too focused on short-term outcomes. Conclusion Young people value treatment that helps them to live a “normal” life. There is more to this than controlling disease. The emotional, social, and vocational consequences of treatment can be profound and lasting: opportunities to discuss the effects of treatment should be provided early and regularly. While making every effort to ensure understanding of the long-term clinical consequences of taking or not taking medication, the wider impact of treatment should not be dismissed. Only through understanding young people's values, preferences, and concerns can a sustainable balance between disease control and treatment burden be achieved

Efficacy and safety of intravitreal anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs in adults with non-infectious uveitis - a systematic review

Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) drugs have been extensively used in non-infectious uveitis (NIU), when corticosteroids or conventional immunosuppressive drugs cannot adequately control inflammation or intolerable side-effects occur. However, systemic anti-TNF therapies are also associated with a myriad of side-effects. Therefore, intravitreal administration of anti-TNF biologics has been employed to minimize patient morbidity and systemic adverse effects, while maintaining therapeutic effectivity. We undertook a systematic review to determine evidence of efficacy and safety of intravitreal administration of anti-TNF drugs in adults with NIU. We conducted this systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016041946). We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, from inception to April 2017, as well as clinical trial registries and grey literature. The qualitative analysis included all studies of adult patients with a diagnosis of NIU and who received intravitreal anti-TNF drugs with a 4-week minimum follow-up. A total of 4840 references were considered for title and abstract screening. Seven full texts were screened, and five studies were considered for analysis. All studies were open-label, single-centre, prospective, non-randomized, interventional case series with a follow-up between 4 and 26 weeks, employing either adalimumab in two studies and infliximab in three. Three studies showed a treatment effect of anti-TNF intravitreal injections, while one study revealed short-term improvement and one study revealed no efficacy of anti-TNF intravitreal therapy. None of the studies reported ocular adverse effects but only two studies included electrophysiological assessment in the safety analysis and no study assessed systemic human anti-drug antibodies. The available evidence is not sufficiently robust to conclude about the clinical effectivity of intravitreal anti-TNF in NIU and so no recommendation can be made. In conclusion, intravitreal injection of anti-TNF antibodies remains a possible treatment option to be explored through robust clinical investigation