DECEMBER 22, 1981 VOLUME LXXIII, NUMBER 26 E Have Reached a Period in Earth's History in Which Good Will Wseems to Be a Rare Commodity
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DECEMBER 22, 1981 VOLUME LXXIII, NUMBER 26 E have reached a period in earth's history in which good will Wseems to be a rare commodity. Men appear to go out of their way to express contempt and hate for each other. Man's inhumanity to man has reached alarming proportions. Hideous crimes are perpetrated against fellow beings continually. Indiscriminate bombings against unsuspecting citizens are commonplace in some areas. Innocent victims are frequently held hostage and sometimes brutally murderd by fanatics determined to get their own way. In the last few days, Americans have been shocked by the revelation that leading government figures of this country including the President, are the targets of trained assassins from another country. The sad state of affairs is undoubtedly a fulfillment of Scripture which indicates that in the last days "men shall be lovers of their own selves," and "without natural affection." It is even more alarming, however, to notice that good will is declining among God's professed people. Misunderstanding and bitterness are on the increase among members of the remnant church. Brother is against brother. Sister is at odds with sister. Children rebel against their parents. Fellow workers have Good irreconcilable differences. Our Saviour was quite accurate when He predicted in Matthew 10:21: "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death and the Will father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death." Toward Because mankind appears bent on manifesting a spirit of intolerance and malice toward one another, this world as we know it now is doomed. There is little doubt that unregenerate men under Men Satan's control will continue on a path of self-destruction. Man's only hope for salvation is to turn to his Maker. Jehovah is Robert H. Carter willing to take away our sin-hardened hearts and give us hearts with President feeling, hearts of good-will; hearts that love. Lake Union Conference At the birth of our Saviour, holy angels were dispatched to earth with a message to earth's inhabitants. They exclaimed: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men." In the January 2, 1894, Review and Herald, Ellen G. White wrote: "We are to learn what it means to have good-will towards all men, a sincere desire to be as sunshine and not as shadow in the lives of others." It is my hope that during this Christmas season every believer in COVER the Lake Union Conference will glorify God and experience peace God's greatest agift to man—His Son, Jesus Christ—is revealed in and good will toward all men. the Holy Scripture. At this season of the year let us renew our acquain- tance with Him. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being inter- preted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23. The photo was taken by Julie Dickey as a class project in Color Photography at Andrews University. The LAKE UNION HERALD is entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103. Send Form No. 3579 to Box C, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103. TWO THE HEART OF THE LAKE UNION Something Wonderful Ruth's earliest recollections include knowing of her father's faith in the Seventh-day Adventist in Everyone Church. "He has been gone for so many years now," by Bonnie Planck Ruth says, "I wish I had been old enough to see the value of having him record for me how he learned about the Adventist message." And when Ruth speaks of her one sister, she says, "She was like a mother to me; she was a wonderful sister." HO is the lady in the green dress?" Jill asked A widow, Ruth shares this philosophy: "You feel a Wme one Sabbath. special closeness to the Lord when you are left "That's Ruth Rhoades." alone." "I wondered who she was, because she is always If you were to ask Ruth what she does for the Lord, so friendly to me. Every Sabbath she smiles and says she would say that she really doesn't do anything. Hi!" She wouldn't tell you how she looks around the There are many ways to describe Ruth Rhoades. church each week to see who's missing, and then You could say she was short. You could say she was writes a note to them to send with a copy of the a teacher who retired after 35 years of teaching in church bulletin. She wouldn't tell you that she visits Indianapolis. Or you could describe her as a with shut-ins each week. Neither would she mention generous financial supporter of Vacation Bible that she takes a certain church member to her School, the Ingathering program, the blind, and doctor's appointments and other errands every week. college students. If you were to ask Ruth about herself, she would But it is not these things that bring a warm feeling tell you about all her friends in the church. She would to your heart when you talk about Ruth. "Friendly, tell you about her closest friend, Jesus, and how smiling and caring" are adjectives affixed to Ruth good he is to her. She wouldn't tell you that her Rhoades' name. former students love her so much that they still write to her. And she has a large collection of pictures of grandchildren—grandchildren of former students! Ruth's cheerful, friendly spirit is an inspiration to the Glendale church members. And I sometimes Bonnie Planck is the fifth- and sixth-grade teacher wonder: Is everyone in the world really as nice as at Indianapolis Junior Academy, the communication Ruth's description of them? Or does she have so secretary of the Glendale, Indiana, Church, and a many friends because she finds something free-lance writer. wonderful in everyone she meets? THREE 'Abdi, I Love You' by Elaine Meseraull illustration by Nadine Dower "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments, ... and he healed them." Matthew 4:24. Christmas gives us wonderful attack on silence because he did His mother always said, "I love opportunity to think about the life not hear it. No sound had ever you, Abdi," even when her lips of Jesus. Time has not dimmed the startled Abdi, because he had never moved at all. Perhaps he impact of His love. We can still never hear a sound. Abdi was deaf. really understood her better than feel the warmth of His presence as He did not hear the water people who heard her speak, for we trace His miracles of pattering back to the wash bowl as who expects to find a poet dressed compassion, but we can only begin it dripped from his hands and chin. in rags? to imagine what meaning He gave He did not hear the birds begin After all, if you are poor, it is to the lives of those He their morning gossip outside the because you are stupid—because touched.... open window. He had never even God does not bless—sin lies at heard his own heartbeat in his ears your door. If you have nothing, it is BDI opened one eye and as he ran across the fields. because there has been no effort. Alooked around the room. And he did not hear the smile in Some things are common Sleepily, he closed it again, rolled his mother's voice when she said, knowledge. over and yawned. Already the "Good morning, Abdi. How's my But poets have a way of eastern sky was warming from ice- boy today?" Gently she touched recognizing poets. Rags or no rags. black to a more friendly shade of his shoulder, and he turned to face And that is why on this particular pink, and he knew he should be her. day Abdi's mother planned a about his daily chores. Patient mother. Little could Abdi surprise. She motioned for Abdi to Slowly, a 9-year-old toe crept know of her pain. Not pain of body, hurry with his chores, for they were adventurously from beneath the but of spirit. She seemed such a going to see Someone. covers to sniff the morning air. simple woman—poor, widowed, From what little she knew, this Hmmmmm. Still chilly. dressed in tatters. Person could speak in words Bravely, Abdi rubbed his eyes, But internally and eternally, musical and mysterious. He could swept his blanket around him, and Abdi's mother was a poet. She speak in soul poetry—a very with courage born of necessity could look at rain and see the different language from Aramaic. It shuffled over to the wash bowl to flowers—look at her boy and see was, perhaps, her one chance in splash himself awake. intelligence trapped in silence. life to listen to the language of her At that precise moment, the How could she tell him inner self. rooster, perched in the window things—things he needed to know And, perhaps, Abdi's one chance crevice, as was his nightly custom, and yet didn't know he needed? as well. heralded the day's arrival with a Common things like how to When they found Him, He was magnificent, well-polished, and bargain in the market. surrounded by a crowd, but as we much-practised crow. She could never even hold him already know, Abdi's mother was a Abdi did not notice.