The North Pacific Union Gleaner for 1990
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NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE GLEANER Volume 85, Number 19 October 15, 1990 Editorial October 15, 1990 Church Size We Witnessed a Miracle As a child I attended a church of about 100 members. Everyone knew everyone else and By Clarence Ledbeter missed the ones who weren't at church. Mostly As told to Kelly McHan someone knew why they weren't there or found out soon. On Saturday nights there was always room at Art has interested me from early on. At someone's home for a get-together. Youngsters age 14 I entered a painting at the county played outdoors and the oldsters sat inside and fair in Wisconsin for which I won first prize. solved the world's problems. It wasn't perfect. We weren't any more perfect After reaching adulthood, however, I than we are now but with churches taking on became active in the workforce and an- such enormous size (congregation size) in recent ticipated a return to painting upon retire- decades, one has to wonder how big a church ment. When retirement did occur, I should be before they branch out. We are here to plant gospel seed, aren't we? A wondered if I would be able to reach the farmer scatters his seed and has to ride out to level of talent I had enjoyed in my younger check on its growth. He doesn't keep it in one days. I prayed that if the judges found favor small spot so he can check from his living room in my work it would be a sign that I should Clarence Ledbeter with one of his oil paintings. window. Talented people can hide in a large church on continue painting. I wanted very much to the premise that they are not needed. In small sell artwork and use part of the proceeds in my age of 78 I give the Lord all the credit churches everyone is needed and they know it. the Lord's work. for seeing me through those many long hours. Young people need to be needed to keep their God performed a great miracle for me dur- By Aug. 2, nine of the paintings were fin- interest until they settle their faith and their future. This is a problem in large churches. Enter- ing the summer of 1989. I wanted to enter ished and nearly dry. The tenth, titled tainment doesn't hold them, responsibility does. 10 paintings at the Polk County Fair in "Lambing Time in the Foothills:' had been Small churches would absorb and use them to Oregon, but due to major remodeling on started only five days before the entry date. good advantage on both sides, making them ac- our house, was unable to start them until I saw miracles at work as the Lord dried this tive agents in spreading the gospel. This is just a seed thought: seeds don't grow until they are the second week of June. The fair entry date special painting in time to finish for the fair. planted. of Aug. 8 provided me with a tight schedule. It was one of seven blue ribbon winners I Grace Streifling Oil paints are a very slow drying medium, entered. There were also two red ribbons, Walla Walla, Wash. often taking up to four weeks to dry between one white ribbon, and the sweepstakes. painting sessions. My wife, and I sent up We can only say, "Our Lord is still per- many prayers. "Lord, if it is Thy will please forming miracles!" help those paintings to dry in time for the fait" We claimed the promise of Matthew Clarence Ledbeter lives in Falls City, Ore. 21:22, "And all things whatsoever ye shall Kelly McHan is wife of Pastor Steve McHan ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." At of the Dallas/Falls City district. Oct. 15, 1990 4Ir Vol. 85, No. 19 ,/ Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Tournament of Roses Board of Directors this year would ask GLEANER 11) all participants to donate their estimated costs North Pacific Union Conference to ADRA instead of purchasing roses and tons (USPS 394-560) LETTE S of plant material that will wilt and die? Letters are we corned for publication. The Who will remember the Adventist float tomor- Address all correspondence to: editor reserves the right to reject letters and row when all is gone? Robert Rouillard GLEANER where necessary, to edit for continuity and space Tacoma, Wash. North Pacific Union Conference requirements. Letters must be signed and should P.O. Box 16677, Portland, OR 97216 not be more than 150 words in length except, We are a little skeptical about the number (503) 255-7300 where, in the editor's discretion, more space is listed by Reader Rouillard as viewing the Rose Parade. We surmise it is far more than the Editor, Morten Juberg available. Address letters to Editor, Box 16677, Associate Editor, Ed Schwisow Portland, OR 97216. 130,000 he mentions. Also, one should remember that the telecast of the Rose Parade Published by the North Pacific Union Con- is seen worldwide. ference of Seventh-day Adventists Please Note — Every reasonable effort is made Rose Parade to screen both editorial and advertising materials Utopia? and to avoid error in this publication. But the Let's project that the cost of 50,000 roses North Pacific Union Conference GLEANER (Adventist Church to be in Rose Parade) could Have you wished to be where you had the does not accept responsibility for categorical or cost 25 cents each. That's $12,500 plus $7,000 following comforts? Freedom from lawn care. for five tons of flowers and plant material for a Quiet for rest or sleep. Wonderful neighbors on typographical errors, nor for advertisers' claims. total of $17,500. I would say that's a low estimate all sides of you. The cleanest of cafeterias serv- North Pacific Union Conference GLEANER, since many floats cost $30,000. ing healthful food. Village bus trips for a variety ISSN number 0746-5874, is published semi- It was interesting that the article preceding this of pleasures. Committee-planned entertainments. monthly except July and December for $10.00 one gave the address for ADRA International One-story fourplexes with private front and rear per year by Color Press, 312 S. College Ave., Col- Philippine Earthquake Fund that reported a total entrances. A pleasant Adventist chapel and lege Place, Wash. 99324. Second-class postage of 22,000 people received food and clothing. Pastor Marvin and Eva Seibel to lead out, who paid at College Place, Wash. LITHO U.S.A. CP43322 It's possible that out of 130,000 people seeing are rated ideal by the members. the Adventist display some might learn about William N. Judd is a most capable administra- POSTMASTERS: Send form 3579 to North Jesus and the Third Angel's Message, if that is tor for the Village Retirement Center and Villa Pacific Union GLEANER, P.O. Box 397, Col- our purpose. North Apartments just across the street. Either lege Place, Washington 99324. But 22,000 people receiving food and clothing place is a prudent choice for retirees where Tri- and the other projects ADRA has should be the Met buses take us wherever. Accept this invita- Don't send correspondence, GLEANER copy or programs to which Pathfinders and teens of the tion to come look, see! advertisements to the above address. All such North Pacific Union Conference could direct Esther Cleveland, Resident materials should be sent to GLEANER, Box their time and energy. Portland, Ore. 16677, Portland, OR 97216. NPUC Gleaner Editorial 3 About Miracles Re: R.C. Cook's letter about miracles and North Pacific Union Conference accusing God of whimsicality. I admit we don't understand the reasons He Comparative Statement of Tithe and Mission Offerings has for sometimes interfering with the natural 8 Months (34 Weeks) Ended August 31, 1990 processes of cause followed by effect. Also I hate to admit that sometimes I am like COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF TITHE my granddaughter, who when her mother said soothingly, "I understand, dear:' screamed, "I Increase or % Increase don't want to be understood." Conference Membership 1990 Tithe 1989 Tithe 1990 Decrease — Decrease — I have had scores of "interventions" or Alaska 2,046 878,782.61 895,798.95 17,016.34 1.94 "coincidences" by whatever name you may call Idaho 4,905 1,725,046.99 1,746,185.75 21,138.76 1.23 them instead of "miracles?' An incident is that of a child, terrified and Montana 3,230 898,380.39 910,162.32 11,781.93 1.31 lonely, his parents taken off to a hospital and he Oregon 26,594 9,642,428.50 10,080,476.21 438,047.71 4.54 is in ours for tests. He couldn't eat. He tried to Upper Columbia 18,577 6,406,235.74 6,657,719.17 251,483.43 3.93 cooperate but vomited. To get his attention off Washington 13,196 4,841,847.59 5,027,887.87 186,040.28 3.84 his woes I turned him around so he faced the window. Union 68,548 24,392,721.82 25,318,230.27 925,508.45 3.79 "Watch for a friend of mine outside the window:' I told him. Of course he couldn't believe COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF MISSION OFFERINGS me. In two seconds a pair of Audubon warblers lit on a twig about 18 inches from the pane, the Increase or % Increase Per Capita Per Week brilliant male strutting and flirting, showing off Conference 1989 1990 Decrease — Decrease — 1988 1989 for his admiring female.