Adventist Review General Organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church November 20, 1980
F.Y.I. Page 3 "I could never outlove the Lord" Page 5 Are you ready for marriage? Page 8 SDA amateur radio call list Page 18
Autumn morn Suddenly a stark, dead sentinel, Bleached to silver-white, By NORENE LYON CREIGHTON Stands revealed in the spotlight. Through gray mists of departing night, Gnarled trunk that housed the The slanting, early sun summer woodpeckers Torches the treetops of orange and gold. Slowly blushes gold. Downward, each leaf slowly ignites, For one short moment, As though the Master Electrician Each bare limb, each tiny twig, Has turned them on—one by one. Becomes a rare and beautiful sight. And so may I (Stationed in my humble place, With common dress And work-worn hands) Become an object of beauty, not only When first illumined by Thy light, But throughout the unmeasured brilliance Of eternity! THIS WEEK Adventist Review
i f411% While, as we stated in the This "It took only about 15 minutes poetry, Mrs. Vess authored a •• book telling the story of her life, Week column of November 6, we for the golden light to travel from Mri may not publish an average of the tips of the tall trees down to entitled From Show Business to even one poem per week over the the lowly vegetation growing at God's Business. 130th Year of Continuous Publication course of the year, our poetry their feet. But to me it was an Most of the poems that we EDITOR editor likes to plan an issue or two inspiring moment." have in our files written by Kenneth H. Wood around a holiday or change of Mrs. Creighton lives in Marian Ferner are modern ASSOCIATE EDITORS Leo R. Van Dotson, William G. Johnson seasons that contain a whole page Worthington, Ohio. psalms, as is "Psalm for Modern Herman T. Roberts, author of Israel" (p. 9). In the 1979 Week ASSISTANT EDITORS of poems. In this issue poems Jocelyn R. Fay, Aileen Andres Sox appear on our cover, page 9, and "We Thank Thee" (p. 9), lives in of Prayer issue we published a page of her psalms. Mrs. Ferner ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR page 12. Several relate to the Hinsdale, Illinois. A prolific poet Eugene F. Durand who has been published several lives in Pendleton, Oregon. Thanksgiving themes of rejoicing ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY and praise. Following are brief times in our pages, Mr. Roberts Patricia Erwin Nordman, Corinne Russ who wrote "Psalm 103" (p. 12), notes from and about our featured has had several religious poems EDITORIAL SECRETARIES poets: accepted and set to music by has contributed both prose and Chitra Barnabas, Celia Singer Norene Lyon Creighton, Lorenz Publishers, of Dayton, poetry to many journals, includ- ART author of "Autumn Morn," Ohio. ing Still Waters. She lives in Director, Byron Steele G. W. Busch featured on our cover, wrote Virginia Vess, author of De Land, Florida. She helps with Designer, "Rejoice" (p. 9), is a retired the music in her church as a song CONSULTING EDITORS about the experience that moved Neal C. Wilson, Charles E. Bradford, L. L. her to poetry: "Being an early employee of the Review and leader, soloist, and trumpeter. Bock, L. L. Butler, Alf Lohne, Enoch Oli- Herald. A dancer in vaudeville Art and photo credits: Cover, veira, G. Ralph Thompson, Max Torkelsen, riser, I was impressed and com- Francis W. Wernick pletely captivated early one fall and movies prior to her conver- design by Patty Main; p. 5, Russ sion, she served as a colporteur Harlan; p. 7, Harry Baerg; p. 9, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS morning, as I watched the sun R. R. Figuhr, Robert H. Pierson, George W. begin to light up the woods back and as dean of girls at Little Creek Review; all other photos, cour- Brown, G. J. Christo, W. T. Clark, Bekele tesy of the respective authors. Heye, R. J. Kloosterhuis, Edwin Ludescher, of our place. School. Besides two booklets of Kenneth J. Mittleider, K. S. Parmenter, W. R. L. Scragg, Joao Wolff EDITORS, NORTH AMERICAN UNION EDITIONS Columbia, Ernest N. Wendth LEITERS Southwestern, Richard W. Bendall AFRO-MIDEAST EDITION Editor, Jean Thomas Letters submitted for publication should "Homosexuality in the Family" and is found. And they began to INTER-AMERICAN EDITIONS contribute ideas and comments on articles or Editor, Wanda Sample ADVENTIST REVIEW. articles, I expected that they be merry" (Luke 15:24). "For material printed in the Associate Editors. Simone Doleyres, French, They should be brief, not exceeding 250 would be an encouragement to with God nothing shall be impos- Humberto Rasi, Raul Villanueva, Spanish words, and must carry the writer's name, anyone with the problem. It sur- sible" (chap. 1:37). address, and telephone number (although this SOUTH AMERICAN EDITIONS number will not be printed). Letters must be prised me to learn that some MEG TRUE Editor, R. S. Lessa, Portuguese legible, preferably typewritten, and double- considered the articles an affront. Editor, Jose Tabuenca, Spanish spaced. All will be edited to meet space and Cruel family members literary requirements, but the author's mean- Instead of reading their message CORRESPONDENTS, ing will not be changed. Views expressed in Re "Cruel Family Members" WORLD DIVISIONS the letters do not necessarily represent those as "God loves you; do not ever Africa-Indian Ocean, I. B. Kio; Afro- of the editors or of the denomination. give up hope of recovery," they (For This Generation, Oct. 23). Mideast, Jean Thomas; Australasian, R. M. The circumstances are a little Kranz: Euro-Africa, Heinz Hopf; Far East- understood me to say, "You must ern, M. G. Townend; Inter-American, Fred Homosexuality be guilty of inadequate faith different from those discussed in Hernandez; Northern European, H. J. Smit; South American, Arthur S. Valle; Southern In the February 23 and March because you have not yet been the article, but the same type of Asia, A. M. Peterson; Trans-Africa, Barbara 2, 1978, issues, the REVIEW changed." rude comments and questions Mittleider published two articles that I wrote Nevertheless, as I visualize my have been directed to us after CORRESPONDENTS, on the subject of "Homosexuality son's life as it likely would have receiving a modest inheritance. NORTH AMERICA UNIONS: Atlantic, Geraldine I. Grout; Ca- in the Family." In them I told of been had he not been freed from The comments were totally nadian, P. F Lemon; Columbia, Ernest N. my son's recovery from his prob- homosexuality, and compare that unsolicited and came from church Wendth; Lake, Jere Wallack; Mid-America, Clara Anderson; North Pacific, Morten Ju- lem of homosexuality and of with the reality of his life today, I leaders and influential members berg; Pacific, Shirley Burton; Southern, do not hesitate to continue to in our area. Oscar Heinrich; Southwestern, Richard W. God's ways of delivering him. Bendall For those in despair who may extend the hope that change is These comments do not come possible and that God is able. from people who lack education UNIVERSITIES: Andrews, Chris Robinson; not have read the articles and may Loma Linda. Richard Weismeyer not believe that such recovery is My original commitment to a or good manners normally, or who are in need. We have not CIRCULATION possible, I would like to empha- ministry of hope to the homosex- Manager, Robert S. Smith size again that there is hope for ual and his family has deepened mentioned the inheritance in con- Associate Manager, E. W. Moore versation or flaunted it in other Field Representative, Ron D. Spear the homosexual; his family as I daily associate in an expand- Advertising and Marketing, Edmund M. should never give up hope. The ing program of Christian outreach ways. On the contrary, we have Peterson problem is not bigger than God, and healing to homosexuals. My almost tried to hide any purchases TO CONTRIBUTORS and He is not overwhelmed by it! son is much more involved in this we have made. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, but notification as to acceptance or rejection may As the trend to see homosexu- program than I am. The one kind comment we be expected only if accompanied by a ality either as an incurable prob- This Thanksgiving will be the heard came from a person of stamped, self-addressed envelope. lem or as a natural, approved-by- fifth anniversary of my son's moderate means who said, An index is published in the last Review of God orientation grows, the truth disappearance and our subse- "Maybe things will be a little June and December. The Adventist Review is indexed in the Seventh-day Adventist Period- that God can free and has freed quent discovery of his homosexu- easier for you now." The major- ical Index. ality. My husband and I will ity seem to be unconcerned that people of their homosexuality The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is needs to be proclaimed with gather with other family members with the inheritance comes the published every Thursday. Copyright © 1980 in our son's home with his wife loss of a loved one who cannot be Review and Herald Publishing Association, strong conviction. 6856 Eastern Avenue NW., Takoma Park, I believe that those of us who and three children. And I will replaced. Neither have they Washington, D.C. 20012, U.S.A. Second- seemed to care that the material class postage paid at Washington, D.C. Sub- have experienced God's freeing acknowledge anew that God not scriptions: one year, US$21.95. Single copy, power can be of real service to only is the Creator, He is the gain came to our loved one 65 cents. Prices subject to change without homosexual persons and their Re-creator. because of good management and notice. families by witnessing to them. "For this my son was dead, much hard work. Vol. 157, No. 52. When I wrote the original and is alive again; he was lost, NAME WITHHELD 2 (1386) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 20, 1980 EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT after members of the committee insisted that he be granted this privilege, even bringing the matter to the floor for a vote? No. As the editor of Ministry wrote in the October issue: "This report is pure fabrication; no such vote was taken; the issue never reached the floor, because provision was made promptly for Dr. Ford to speak following the F. Y. I. suggestion by several committee members." Originally it Ever since the Sanctuary Review Committee met at was felt that inasmuch as Dr. Ford had set forth his Glacier View in August, rumors about what happened at positions at length in his 1,000-page document, little if that meeting have been rife (in spite of full and accurate anything could be added by a personal presentation; reports published in the REVIEW and Ministry). Articles, however when some members of the committee indicated letters, and documents written by people who were not at that they were unacquainted with Dr. Ford and had never Glacier View (and hence received their information heard him speak, the chairman arranged a late-afternoon secondhand or thirdhand) have been circulated, session each day for three days to let him make a apparently attempting to surround the meeting with a presentation and answer questions. It was felt that this climate of mystery. These reports have contained would be appreciated by all parties concerned. speculation, distortions of fact, falsehoods, and state- Is it true that denominational spokesmen and ments that tend to undermine confidence in church publications had "agreed to suspend public discussion leadership. of the issues" during the six months when Dr. Ford We do not question the motives of those who have was researching and writing his document? disseminated inaccurate information, nor do we question No. No such request was made or agreed upon. Those the right of people to think whatever they want to think or who have reported this may have confused the request, say whatever they want to say; but inasmuch as the made one year earlier, that controversial discussions be REVIEW is committed to keeping church members suspended on the subject of righteousness by faith until a informed concerning happenings that interest or affect large committee, which met at church headquarters in them, we believe we have a responsibility to respond to Washington, D.C., late in 1979, could complete its work. recent rumors and questions. This editorial, then, is For The document produced by that committee was published Your Information. in the July 31, 1980, REVIEW. A report in one magazine said that "over the last Was there a sharp division between administrators three decades, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has and theologians at Glacier View? been shaken to the core by a few of its theologians, who No. The unity was remarkable, produced, we believe, believe the church has erred in the basic beliefs that by the Holy Spirit. Doubtless no two people—whether separate it from historic Protestantism." Is this true? theologians, administrators, or others—will see things No. A few theologians, uncomfortable with the fact that exactly alike; there always will be some differences of the Advent message includes beliefs that are out of opinion; but at Glacier View administrators and scholars harmony with standard Protestant thought, have been agreed with each other as consistently as administrators shaken; but the church body has not been shaken—cer- agreed with administrators and scholars agreed with tainly not "to the core." Most ministers and lay persons, scholars. The majority of both groups were thoroughly recognizing that "Babylon is fallen," consider it a satisfied that the historic positions of the church have privilege to proclaim the distinctive truths embodied in the better support than the alternative positions offered. And, three angels' messages. They believe wholeheartedly in contrary to what has been suggested by a few people, these truths that were discovered through careful Bible scholars were included in the Sanctuary Review Commit- study by the pioneers of the Advent Movement. Because tee not to legitimize later administrative actions but the church has always encouraged earnest study of the because of their specialized gifts and training. The Bible in its efforts to complete the Reformation, and has decision by administrators to set up the larger-than-neces- refused to formulate and adopt a creed, inevitably sary Sanctuary Review Committee and to include doctrinal agitation has existed from time to time representatives from numerous categories of people throughout its history, but considering the present size of within the church was rooted in a desire to obtain the church the current agitation is minor compared with maximum input from all groups and thus conduct church the controversies of earlier decades, such as those business in a thoroughly democratic manner. involving Jones and Waggoner, J. H. Kellogg, and A. F. Did the consensus statement of the Sanctuary Ballenger. Perhaps today's agitation is perceived as larger Review Committee contain "major theological and more significant than it is because methods of changes" in historic Adventist beliefs? communication have improved—primarily tape record- No. The statement supported fully the historic views of ings. the church on the doctrine of the investigative judgment, Is it true that Desmond Ford was allowed to speak at the significance of 1844, the identity of the "little horn" Glacier View against the chairman's wishes and only Continued on page 11 ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 20. 1980 (1387) 3 The witness of excellence in workmanship Does the quality of our daily work so impress those who observe that they associate excellence with Seventh-day Adventists?
By MILTON MURRAY
It was Ingathering time in New Jersey, 1967. The of service to the communities of northern New Jersey. Its routine calls became not so routine when an appeal to witness grows with each passing day. support our work was made to the president of the Curious as to why Mr. Roerich insisted that the com- Hackettstown National Bank, Mr. Henry Roerich. munity leaders explore the Adventist hospital possibility, The businessman, alert to the community's needs, it appeared proper to ask: "Why did you insist on this responded with a question: "You Adventists have hos- matter in your contacts with Mr. Allen and his fellow pitals all over the world—why don't you build one right civic leaders?" here in Hackettstown?" As he finished the question, Mr. Mr. Roerich's reply should make an indelible impres- Roerich noticed a civic leader pass by outside who was sion on every devout Christian. "When I was a boy of 8 part of the local commission that had been assigned to or 9 my father owned a bowling alley. There was one work on the idea of developing a hospital. Mr. Roerich man alone that he would have polish those lanes. To put knocked on the window, motioning him to come in. it simply, the workman was a master at his craft, and my Within minutes the banker had arranged for the Adventist father regarded him highly. But I'll never forget that he and the local businessman to explore cooperating to would not work on Saturdays—a fact that was impressed establish a hospital in Hackettstown. on me one day when I asked why he didn't. His reply Several weeks elapsed without word of progress made a lot of sense to me. He said: 'In the Good Book reaching Mr. Roerich. Being acquainted with the hospi- we are told to work six days and then rest on the seventh. tal commission chairman, Dan Allen, he inquired as to It does not say to rest first and then work six! the results of the conversations with the Adventists. "He was the only Adventist I had ever known until Replied Mr. Allen, "We took up the matter at one of our several of you came to Hackettstown in recent months. meetings, but decided not to pursue it." And the reason I insisted on the community's exploring Somewhat surprised at this turn of events, Mr. Roerich fully the possibility of Adventists running our hospital felt that a superficial treatment of the matter did not do was that I knew that our town here would be greatly justice to the community's urgent requirements in health benefited if people like that floor polisher would be care. involved. We need such people in our community." "You know," he said later, "Dan and I have been What a tribute to the effectiveness of conscientious friends for many years, and I was not going to let him get workmanship! In the same way that God used that man away with a superficial evaluation of the Adventist health soon after the turn of the century to impress a youngster system. So I asked him, as a personal favor, to recon- who, as a civic leader 60 years later, provided the link sider the matter, studying carefully what would be the that brought a Seventh-day Adventist hospital to Hack- pluses and the minuses. If after a serious evaluation it ettstown, He is depending on us to witness in a way that was determined that the community would not be well will inspire others to help us to build His church and that served by an Adventist facility, I'd accept that verdict. will extend the story of salvation and bring hope to But I wanted to be sure that the commission had zeroed many. in on the matter." How well are we doing? As we undertake our daily Subsequent events are now history. The hospital was round of tasks—no matter how humble or seemingly established and is now about to complete its eighth year incidental they may be to so-called "important work"—be assured that a plan is unfolding that knows Milton Murray is a member of the General Conference no limit when it comes to exalting Jesus Christ. Ours is staff as director of the Philanthropic Service for Institu- the opportunity to emulate the craftsmanship of the tions. His father, W. E. Murray, was president of the Seventh-day Adventist layman described above and to South American Division, 1950-1958, and a vice-presi- demonstrate anew that the witness of excellence in dent of the General Conference, 1958-1966. workmanship is a viable means of reaching people. ❑ 4 (1388) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 20, 1980 could never outlove the Lord Whether it be God's love for human beings or our love for God, love is never for sale. It always is given freely.
By VADA KUM-YUEN
"I'm going to live the way He wants me to live; The greatest manifestations of grace occur where sin I'm going to give, give till there's no more to give; abounds, so there is a sense in which grace has to do only I'm going to love, love till there's just no more love; with the sin problem. If there had been no sin, the universe I could never, never outlove the Lord." would not have witnessed those most "unspeakable" gifts These words of a well-known religious song are among of grace—the mercy with which the Creator treated my favorites. The last line in particular expresses sinners, Jesus' taking human flesh to tell us about God's profound truths about love and grace. love, His living and dying a substitutionary death for us, Why do I need grace, the supreme evidence of God's and His ministry on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. love, now? Because I am a sinner, and "the wages of sin is But our thinking is rather negative and shortsighted if death." A great heavenly gift of grace alone can save me; we see sin as the only reason we need God's grace. The I need the covering robe of Christ's perfect righteousness. love of the great I AM is perfect, measureless, absolute, and unchanging (see Matt. 22:37-40; 1 Cor. 13; 1 John Vada Kum-Yuen is a homemaker and free-lance writer 4:8; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). Grace is as eternal a property of living in Australia. that love as any other. ADVENTIST REVIEW. NOVEMBER 20. 1980 (1389) 5 When I become sinless by His grace I cannot dispense the glory of His grace as they perceive it in heaven. They with Christ's righteousness and say, "I'm perfect; my know that their Creator could destroy any of the works of love equals Yours now; I can go it alone; I don't need Your His hands at any time, but they do not live in fear, for the grace any more." That would be unthinkable! cross has forever proved the unchanging nature of Jesus' If God's creatures were able to love to the degree God love and grace, His worthiness to be trusted and adored, to loves, they would first have to equal their Creator in be obeyed implicitly. And they have used their freewill intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, and power. Such can powers to believe fully and continually in this grace. never be. God alone is God. We can see plainly the Thus, there is a sense in which God's creatures forever confusion Satan has created in an effort to contradict this will live "by grace alone, through faith alone." truth. God's love will always be infinitely greater than Further, sinless creatures will be growing in love for ours, even when sin is no more. God throughout eternity. Paul says, "It is accepted The redeemed saints will sing praises to their God, not according to that a man hath, and not according to that he merely for what He has done for them as sinners, but for hath not" (2 Cor. 8:12). A thousand people from a thousand different walks of life can commit their all to Jesus, by loving Him supremely, just as His law requires, HEALTH CAPSULES and yet all be loving to different degrees. The errors of an Sponsored by the General Conference Department ignorant savage are judged very differently by God from of Health and Temperance the way He judges the same errors of a knowledgeable and highly civilized person. Until we are glorified, we shall possess sinful natures. There is indeed such a thing as the sin of ignorance (see Lev. 4), which must be covered by the grace of Christ and State of the coronaries paid for by His blood. A fallen person who has caught a in working women vision of the infinite purity of Jesus' character will ever be mindful of this fact, so that we will never in this life claim By DON G. KING, M.S.P.H. to be sinless, but always have an attitude of humble During the past 30 years the number of women par- repentance and deep gratitude for His mercy. ticipating in the United States work force has increased from 28 percent in 1950 to 42 percent in 1978, but not Ignorance and willful sin without corresponding changes in their health status. A study designed to examine the relationship of em- But in the judgment an individual is held personally ployment status and employment-related behaviors to the responsible only for his freewill choices—what he has incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women done on the basis of the light he has received, or might was conducted by Susanne Haynes, and Manning Fein- leib, of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in have received, had he put forth the effort. "The times of Bethesda, Maryland. Between 1965 and 1967, a psy- . . . ignorance God winked at" (Acts 17:30). chosocial questionnaire was administered to 350 house- In fact, so great is the distinction in God's mind wives, 386 working women, and 580 men participating in the Framingham Heart Study. For eight years, the between the sin of ignorance and willful sin that, so far as respondents, aged 45 to 64 years, were followed for the our personal records are concerned, there is a sense in development of coronary heart disease. Here are some of which He does not even consider the former to be sin: "If the results. ye were blind, ye should have no sin" (John 9:41); "If I • Regardless of employment status, women reported significantly more symptoms of emotional distress than had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin" men. (John 15:22); "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth • Working women and men were more likely to report it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17); "Whosoever is born strained behavior, excessive ambitiousness, and marital of God doth not commit sin" (1 John 3:9; see also disagreements than were housewives. Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 116; The Desire of Ages, pp. 239, • Working women experienced more job changes than men, and more daily stress and marital dissatisfaction 475, 490). than housewives or men. It is sometimes difficult for us to distinguish between • Although working women generally did not have willful sins and sins of ignorance. But the vital point is that significantly higher incidence rates of CHD than house- God can, and does, easily make this distinction. His wives (7.8 versus 5.4 percent, respectively), CHD rates judgments are infallible, and as we need and are ready to were almost twice as great among women holding cleri- cal jobs as compared to housewives. know, He can impress us with this knowledge by His Holy • The most significant predictors of CHD among clerical Spirit. workers were: suppressed hostility, having a nonsup- Sin, like love, is an inner principle or motive of the portive boss, and fewer job promotions. heart. Outside actions or works are merely the result of • CHD rates climbed among working married women as either sin or love. "Good works do not purchase the love the number of children increased. of God, but they reveal that we possess that love. . . . His • Among working women, clerical workers who had children and who were married to blue-collar workers love as a free gift will be received into the soul, and from were at the highest risk of developing CHD. love to [and faith in] Him we shall delight to obey His commandments."—Chrisr s Object Lessons, p. 283. 6 (1390) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 20, 1980 (See also The Acts of the Apostles, p. 563.) In precisely the FOR THE YOUNGER SET same sense in which our faith is not our works, our love is not our works. With this concept of sin in mind, we may understand how, through the ministry of angels and the latter rain power of the Holy Spirit, the saints, after probation closes, could sin but will not. When Christ says, "He that is righteous, let him be righteous still" (Rev. 22:11) and ceases His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary, His saved ones manifest a living, growing, maturing love. Very often in the Bible, love and perfection are linked together (e.g., Matt. 5:43-48; 1 Cor. 13:11; 1 Thess. 3:10-13; 1 John 4:17, 18; 1 Peter 4:8). No unfallen being, created of God, could ever become good enough to earn His measureless love. How much more foolish for fallen mortals to consider they could earn salvation by lawkeeping! In any case, love, whether it be God's love for us or our love for God, is never for sale. Either it is given freely with no strings attached or it is not love. There are only two opposing principles at work in the universe—love and sin. A living, growing, maturing love demonstrates our connection with Jesus' saving grace. A gospel that preaches or implies anything else is the devil's lie to lure us out of our place in the kingdom. One of the greatest facts we need to comprehend at this time is that the simple acts of looking to Jesus, making our decision for Him, centering our attention and hopes on The bee-sized "boomer" Him, believing in and accepting His free gift of grace, are By KATHERINE HAUBRICH the very heart and soul of God's eternal law of love. We Little Joey is about the size of The man shrugged his shoulders forget too easily the spiritual nature of His law. a bee when he is born. His little and replied, "Kangaroo," The law calls us to accept and believe in the awesomely hands help him climb up his which meant "I don't know." mother's fur to the warm pocket Captain Cook thought the man well-proven grace of God. It invites us and pleads with us called a pouch where warm milk was saying the animal's name, to come into a close, personal relationship with an is waiting for him. Joey stays in and we have called it kangaroo infinitely beautiful Lord, One who loves us as a father and mother's pocket for about four ever since. months, growing big and strong There are many different will always do for us that which we cannot do for on the warm milk. kinds of kangaroos. Some are ourselves. Such a law deserves to be cherished and Joey belongs to an unusual small, about the size of a rabbit, defended with everything we have. Indeed it is a "perfect family of large animals found and some can even climb trees. only in Australia and nearby Joey belongs to the large order law of liberty" (James 1:25). We are free, happy, and at islands. No one would ever of kangaroos known to some as rest only to the degree that we live in harmony with its guess that tiny, bee-sized Joey boomers. principles. would grow to be six feet tall If mother boomer is in dan- and weigh 200 pounds when he ger, she will lope along as fast A multitude of Bible texts state that peace, assurance of is full-grown. Joey is a baby as 25 miles an hour. Sometimes salvation, deliverance, forgiveness, justification, sancti- kangaroo. she will reach into her pouch fication, glorification, grace, predestination to eternal life, When Joey grows up, he will with her hands and toss Joey out look something like a very large into a secure hiding place while the kingdom, and the crown of eternal life are alone for rabbit. He will have long, pow- she runs. When she has outrun "them that love God" (see Ex. 20:6; Deut. 5:10; 7:9; erful hind feet that help him her enemy and the danger is jump as high as ten feet into the passed, she will return to where Neh. 1:5; Ps. 91:14; 119:132, 165; 122:6; 145:20; Prov. air. Joey will be able to hop Joey is hiding. Lovingly she 8:17, 21; Dan. 9:4; Luke 10:25-28; John 14:21-23; Rom. along, bounding 20 feet with will pick him up and put him 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 2:9; Eph. 6:24; 2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; each leap. Someday he will safely back into her warm, 2:5; 1 John 3, 4). graze in the meadow grass just comfortable pocket. as the sheep do. When he is big, If you have a map or a round What a glorious future to which to look forward! Joey's coat will be thick and soft globe of the world, see if you Through grace, through the imputed and imparted and gray in color. But now Joey can find the continent of Aus- is quite content to stay safely tralia. If you can find it, then righteousness of Christ, we can begin the wonderful life of snuggled in mother's warm you will know where Joey lives. obedience now. And the grand adventure of growing into pocket. Perhaps you will meet a kan- harmony with the principles of God's law of love will When Captain James Cook garoo someday when you visit never cease, not even in eternity. visited Australia in 1770, and the zoo. If you do, remember first saw a kangaroo, he asked a the bee-sized baby who grew up In every respect, "I could never, never outlove the native man what it was called. to be a giant boomer. Lord." ❑ ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 20, 1980 (1391) 7 FAMILY LIVING crossings: STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! There are basic principles that should be candidly faced, understood, and accepted by individuals contemplating marriage. Are you ready The first such principle is to take seriously the Bible teaching that God has a plan for our lives. A rejection or a superficial acceptance of this truth causes many to run for marriage? ahead of God. It is false reasoning to marry simply for the sake of avoiding being single, or to marry in the face Marriage includes more than two of evidence that the union will be incompatible. Follow- ing carefully God's plan alone will bring happiness and people in love; it also involves keep a couple from the trauma of a broken marriage. two people in partnership. Another principle that could prevent many unhappy marriages is the recognition that marriage covenants are for life. Jesus' view of marriage should serve as a warning to those who enter lightly into such arrange- ments. He declared, "What therefore God hath joined By DOUGLAS BENNETT together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:6). In far too many marriages, divorce rather than death ultimately John and Sue stood before the altar with feelings of terminates the marriage union. Couples contemplating ecstasy, their hearts pounding rhythmically and almost marriage need to remember that "this vow links the audibly as the ceremony commenced. In their eyes was destinies of the two individuals with bonds which nought reflected a determination to make their marriage a but the hand of death should sever." 6 Paul underscored permanent, happy experience and a note of optimism the permanence of the marriage bond when he wrote: about their chances. "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the Had they possessed prophetic insight to see the year law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the ahead, however, it is likely that their marriage would husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her never have taken place. After months of maladjustment, husband" (Rom. 7:2). To disregard this counsel is to flirt tension, and bickering, their newly formed home disin- with danger and possible disaster. tegrated. A third principle to be considered is the necessity for Although more than 2 million marriages are entered mutual compatibility between partners. This truth was into each year,1 one out of every four terminates in emphasized by the eighth-century-B.C. prophet who divorce, with 80 percent of the partners remarrying.2 asked, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Twenty-one percent of married couples in the United (Amos 3:3). Courtship can at times be blinding, with the States have divorce somewhere in the background of one result that couples mistake an emotional high for suita- or both partners.3 Paul Glick, of the Census Bureau, bility. Although in serious courtship, affection will nat- estimates that among today's 30-year-old wives, one out urally pulsate vigorously, it is vital that it be monitored of three has been or will become a divorcee.4 There are by the principle of compatibility. some indications that the number of broken marriages also has increased among church members to an alarming Several areas of compatibility extent. Compatibility itself involves several areas. The first of Rather than being what God intended it to be, a harbor these is emotional maturity. A danger signal should be in the storm of life, marriage seems too often to be a recognized when one or both parties demonstrate imma- storm in the harbor of life. Couples contemplating mar- turity in family ties, finances, or general behavior. In riage need to be more analytical, introspective, and particular, views and practices concerning the handling objective about courtship and marriage if they hope to of money call for discussion. A person can plunge into avoid the reefs of discord and divorce. Disastrous mar- marriage believing that love covers all, only to discover riages often follow bad courtships and could be pre- that bills provide fertile soil in which misunderstanding, vented if the two parties honestly faced up to their bickering, and criticism grow. If financial difficulty is to deficiencies to function as partners. The aphorism "an be avoided, partners in marriage should not be unequally ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly matched in the area of finances. In a study of 490 couples applies to marriage. It is easier to make a mistake in who had been married for an average of 20 years, it was entering marriage than to correct it afterward.5 Before revealed that adjusting to a mutually agreeable financial crossing those matrimonial tracks, candidates for mar- program posed a difficulty for almost half the couples.' riage need to heed carefully the words posted at railroad Marriage commences with billing and cooing and in too many instances only the billing lasts! Douglas Bennett is chairman of the religion department A second area of concern for compatibility is that of at Southern Missionary College, Collegedale, Tennes- mutual interest. Partners in marriage must share some see. mutual interest other than affection. While it is impos- 8 (1392) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 20, 1980 sible that interests will be completely identical, there Extremely strong interests should be given opportunity should be a common core of mutual interests. It is good to be pursued and enjoyed by the partners in marriage. for couples to determine which interests are the same, Adam and Eve undoubtedly shared a commonality of which can be naturally blended, which will always be interests in a unique way, and this unity of togetherness different, and which may create tension and conflict. was intended not only to provide happiness but also to Shared interests relating to church, reading, music, chil- serve as a bulwark of protection against the threatening dren, and love have been found to be characteristic of vicissitudes of life. happily married couples.8 The third area in which couples should be compatible
We thank Thee By HERMAN T. ROBERTS We thank Thee, dear Lord, for such wonderful things As life in Thy care and the hope that it brings; For bountiful harvest and plenty in store And health and good wishes from neighbors next door; For homes where the blessings of laughter and love Are sweet benedictions from heaven above. We thank Thee for church bells and purple-robed choirs And evenings with friends around warm, crackling fires; For moonlight and starbright and dawning sunrise And lilies and rainbows that ribbon the skies; For Thanksgiving Day and the joy that it brings, When we can give thanks for such wonderful things.
Rejoice By VIRGINIA VESS All kind deeds blend in joyful anthem Of bird songs on a golden day, With beauty of each tinted flower To make thoughts shine in bright array. Psalm for modern Israel Our God is author of all kindness, By MARIAN FERNER And this can fill our hearts with praise; For in the joy of our receiving Praise the Lord in the morning A touch of heaven fills our ways. And welcome the Sun of Righteousness. His rosy light blesses the land. The earth heaves with His abundance, His Spirit touches me like a gentle wind, And His grace flows like a river. In the morning I put on a soft robe of gladness; My shoes are winged with enthusiasm. In the evening my garment is stained and wrinkled, My heels are broken, My hands are scratched with futility. But the cleansing wave of prayer comforts me And eases my weary soul. Then a little rest, a little sleep, While the warm blanket of faith covers me, And I am ready again to meet the morrow.