One weekend in Loma Linda, twelve people and twelve presentations in 24 hours freshened the Adventist air with gospel potpourri. No mentions of beasts, horns, dragons or harlots, just a series of refreshing messages that were all Good News all the time from Dr. Desmond Ford, founder of Good News Unlimited, and a formidible cabal of Adventist theologians, ministers and physicians under the banner of the Good News Tour.

When Desmond Ford speaks, Adventists still listen. In fact speaking with people who heard Dr. Ford's presentation, it became clear that much, if not most, of Adventism is aligned theologically with Desmond Ford where atonement is concerned. Imagine that! Adventism and Desmond Ford in agreement.

The live updates hit a slight SNAFU amid my running to and fro at Loma Linda today. Namely, my computer decided to wipe all my notes from Dr. Ford's presentation. You know what they say about the best laid plans...

Dr. Ford sits on the platform in the Campus Hill Church in Loma Linda poised to address Adventism. It's the moment we've been waiting a long time for. This moment is a significant one in the long story of the relationship between Desmond Ford and the Adventist Church.

A hush has fallen over the audience. Larry Christoffel, associate pastor of the Campus Hill Church, introduces this evening's program with this question, "How can a man be in the right before God?"

It's a hot day in Loma Linda, and the hot topic of the afternoon is Dr. Desmond Ford's presentation on the Forensic Theory of Atonement in Light of the Christian Gospel.

We're in the Loma Linda Campus Hill Church, which is just about the highest point in Loma Linda, and we anticipate that Dr. Ford's presentation this afternoon will be the high point of this theologically packed weekend.

This presentation is as anticipated for the presence of Dr. Ford in an official Adventist gathering as for the content of the presentation itself.

The Good News Tour won't be the only show in town September 5 & 6.

At his newly refurbished blog, AdventistExpressions.com (a reincarnation of Progressive Adventism), LLU professor of religion Dr. Julius Nam writes that Dr. Desmond Ford will present two lectures at the Campus Hill Church in Loma Linda that weekend. Des Ford, a popular if controversial figure in Adventism, will offer a view of atonement that varies from the Good News Tour's perspectives--just across campus.