Prayer by Some of the Best-Known Writers in the Church

Special Issue

One Oneon GODWith From the Editors: A Book to Do Meet Him—Again We all have them—lapses in our devotional life. It isn’t that we intend to lose touch with our Creator; we You Good just do. In a cruel bit of irony, the One who gave us life often gets By William G. Johnsson pushed out of our lives. The guilt piles up, and we shoulder it One of the biggest-impact books among Adventists this year isn’t available submissively. But we don’t have to. for cash. God is love, and love is a lot of In January several of us got together and came up with the idea of a book on things: patient, kind, gentle. And answers to prayer by some of the best-known writers in the church. I sent out 20 so—patiently, kindly, gently—He invitations, asking if the writers would share from the heart something personal, waits for the reunion: the crisp something out of their experience. morning walk, the midafternoon Their responses came back and are prayer, the evening psalm. Just you wonderful. Some made me cry; some and He. One on one. brought laughter; all did me good. Jeannette Johnson shared her “most sacred Contents experience.” Dick Duerksen told how 4 Meeting God Through . . . God changed the words of his prayer; BY REBECCA BRILLHART ET AL. Hyveth Williams related how a crowded jumbo jet ready for takeoff turned back 10 Walk in Wonder to the gate–because of her. Randy BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON Maxwell and Manuel Vasquez shared accounts of battles with cancer. Roger 14 A Breath of Fresh Prayer Morneau told of the copier that kept BY RANDY MAXWELL on copying long after the toner ran 18 A Talk With Roger Morneau out. BY ELLA RYDZEWSKI All these and more in this wonderful little book, God Answers Prayer. 22 Shoot for the Moon Robert Folkenberg’s amazing story of the $3,000 tractor- BY SARAH E. COLEMAN trailer, and answers to prayer that came to columnists Gina Spivey Brown and Loretta Parker Spivey, and to Charles Bradford, Chris Blake, Calvin Rock, and 24 How Prayer Works others–20 in all. BY BEATRICE S. NEALL This book is being read and quoted and devoured around the country. It will do 30 Louder and Clearer you good. BY JON DYBDAHL But it’s not for sale. You get it only as a gift from the Adventist Review by: (1) subscribing for the ﬁrst time, 36 A Word in Season (2) giving the Adventist Review as a gift subscription, or BY GORDON BIETZ ET AL. (3) adding on a year to your current subscription. Call 1-800-456-3991 or contact your Adventist Book Center and get your copy! 38 Love Responding to Love BY DIANE FORSYTH

The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the ﬁrst Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Copyright © 1997. Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD. Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 174, No. 22, May 29, 1997.

Scriptures credited to ICB are quoted from the International Children’s Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1983, 1986, 1988 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All right reserved.Bible texts credited to NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.

ADVENTIST REVIEW (707) 3 MEETING GOD THROUGH... Prayer

BY REBECCA BRILLHART

ot long ago my prayers and planted by the rivers of water” (Ps. 1:3). I devotions had become ﬂat. stopped the obligatory form of prayer I The words that formed on had been practicing—“touching all the my lips and in my thoughts bases”—and wrapped a part of myself barely around every word. scratchedN the surface of By becoming more Nwhat I wanted to express willing to express any to God—and I didn’t thought or emotion know how to release boldly to God, I entered them. a dynamic relationship After attending a prayer with Him. Being conference, I reluctantly authentic with myself decided to keep a journal, and God has become an a “chore” I had been integral part of my being avoiding for 20 years. The able to be generous with ﬁrst few weeks were rough. others. Perhaps that is I wrote pages and pages the other lesson I found without sensing that I had in the Psalms—that the revealed even a small part songs expressed in of myself. solitude are as relevant to And then I opened my the community of Bible to the Psalms—something the believers as they are to each individual. main speaker had encouraged during Staying connected is the key. the conference. I began with the first and decided I would rewrite each one Rebecca Brillhart owns and operates her own business in in my own words so that I might Columbia, Maryland. experience the height and depth of each emotion found there—from joy to despair. It worked! Instead of the dry desert it had been, my devotional life became “like a tree

4(708) ADVENTIST REVIEW MEETING GOD THROUGH... Bible Study

BY LEE GUGLIOTTO

hen I study the Bible, beliefs and put on spiritual ears when I’m reminded of the evangelist Jac Colon challenged me to youngster who heard show him from the Scriptures that the the sermon begin Sabbath had changed from the seventh to while the ﬁrst day of the week. Wshe played in the Three days later I church’Ws mother’s room. admitted that I could Fascinated, she stared at not—and eventually asked the corner speaker, then for baptism into the turned to her mother Seventh-day Adventist and announced, “It’s the Church. voice of God.” Bible study continues In a way, she was right. to change my life. Each The Bible is God’s Word. time I plunge into the Though written in human ancient Book with its language, it is a super- obsolete customs and old- natural book. As Solomon fashioned personalities, says, God speaks to us the God who is the same through the sacred page: yesterday, today, and “For the Lord gives forever makes every word wisdom, and from his fresh and relevant. He mouth come knowledge and comes alive with every transforming understanding” (Prov. 2:6, NIV). By truth. I really do hear His voice. listening for His voice, we can hear—and learn—the truth of every text. Lee Gugliotto is senior pastor of the College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church at Canadian Union College in Alberta with his So every time I study God’s Word, I try wife, Jolynn. His Handbook for Bible Study (Review and to let Him speak for Himself. I do not Herald) won the 1996 Gold Medallion from the Evangelical come to the Bible to prove something I Christian Publishers Association in the category of Bible study. believe or to disprove what I do not. I come to learn. That’s why I set aside my Presbyterian

ADVENTIST REVIEW (709) 5 MEETING GOD THROUGH... Small Groups

BY SHERLYN PANG

n my formative years I was entirely questions and that He can give me comfortable keeping God at pew’s answers through the people there. But length. But as a young adult desper- I’m shocked to realize that God is also ate to identify and meet my spiritual using me to help others. I’m no public needs, I’ve found speaker or Bible scholar, Ithat God will go to great but I do have my own Ilengths to seek me out. story. Just as I’ve gained Speciﬁcally, He’s assem- direction from someone bled several of my peers else’s story, I know that I who meet regularly to must let down my guard search spiritually. and trust God when He This small group has moves me to tell mine. made other believers real I’m not alone in my for me. No longer are quest to get closer to God; they the one-dimensional our small group has shown smiles and handshakes me that. By exposing our that greet me from week thoughts and hopes, our to week—or the grungy anger and fears, we can be rebel with the dis- supported in our weak- interested look. Each nesses and challenged in participant brings a our moments of strength. unique perspective to our discussions. As And amid this raw exchange, God I hear their questions, their struggles, I continues to pull me away from my frenzy often find that I share them. and into His care. I come to the group to get real answers for my life. It’s where I seek God in an Sherlyn Pang works as a recruiter at the Museum of Science in intimate way, where others will see my face Boston, Massachusetts. Recently she helped organize Face It! (a and hear me stutter when I don’t have the lay young adult working conference held in Laurel, Maryland, focused on empowering young adults to take responsibility for the right words, where my silence will be spiritual state of their generation). The next Face It! conference noticed. is scheduled for the fall in South Bend, Indiana. For more infor- I’ve learned that God likes us to ask mation, contact Sherlyn at [email protected].

6(710) ADVENTIST REVIEW MEETING GOD THROUGH... Music

BY CHARLES D. HAUGABROOKS

can’t really say that I ever got of song. I no longer have a need to sing for into music. I do know that in show or the applause of humanity. Instead some miraculous way, music got of wanting money to be thrown at my feet, into me. Singing has always been I now want to cast all of my praise and joy spontaneous and at the feet of Jesus Christ. Ienjoyable—especially I am close to God when Iwhen I found the right my spirit sings the words songs to sing. of John the Baptist: “He For years I thought I must increase, but I must was singing the right decrease.” And I pray that songs. My mom died my audience will look not when I was 3, and at this upon the frail human age I began to sing. My instrument that I am, but nephew, first cousin, and I instead, “Behold the Lamb would listen to and mimic of God which taketh away various voices on our the sins of the world.” radio or record player, and our relatives got excited Charles D. Haugabrooks lives in Mount to hear the blending Dora, Florida, with his wife, Minerva, voices of their newly and their children, Esther, Ezra, and Sherrard. He works as a human formed “trio.” Before long resource specialist for a government we were invited to sing in area churches defense contractor and, on the side, has recorded four albums: and talent shows. Sometimes the audience Songs Reﬂecting Him, Pleading Heart, One Step Closer, and would even throw money onto the stage. God’s Touch Through You. Throughout high school and college I sang regularly in nightclubs: rock ’n’ roll, top 40, rhythm and blues, you name it. Then the Lord Jesus Christ taught me a new song. Listening to His voice and mimicking His tones have taught me the true meaning

ADVENTIST REVIEW (711) 7 MEETING GOD THROUGH... Nature

BY JUDY LARSON

s I was growing up in the pattern for conducting our own lives. country near Paradise, That’s why I choose to portray the California, my family admirable qualities of animals that I instilled in me a love and believe God instilled in them—working respect for faithfully, relying on one Anature. My father, noted another, protecting their Aartist Clyde Provonsha, young, and having often incorporated ani- offspring only when they mals and nature in his can be cared for properly. religious works. One of The hidden images in my favorite paintings is my pictures are designed his Our Rejoicing to provoke an awareness Shepherd, which portrays in the observer that many Jesus rejoicing upon of God’s creatures live in finding the lost lamb. danger and in need of our This picture has been a protection. As a blessing to people around Christian who believes the world. that what God created I consider my move He deemed “good,” my eight years ago from goal is for people to gain commercial art to a greater appreciation painting wildlife to be providential. and respect for His handiwork. Doors opened that I never knew existed. As a result, I deal almost exclusively Judy Larson is an internationally known wildlife artist specializ- with people outside my denomination. ing in concealed imagery. She was named among the top 15 print artists of 1996 by U.S. Art magazine. She lives in Elsinore, Although I try never to be “preachy,” California, with her children, Rakel, Erik, and Krister, as well as moments arise when I am asked why I two horses, three dogs, one cat, six ﬁsh, and two hermit crabs. portray animals so “up close and She is published by Applejack Limited Editions of Vermont. personal.” I respond that in the Bible we are continually asked to look at nature as a

8(712) ADVENTIST REVIEW Walk Wonderin Open your eyes, open your ears— God is all around.

BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON

n a rainy- shiny morning I walked to Hawk’s O Nest beach Oon the Australian coast north of Sydney. The huge sweeping arc of sand and surf split my gaze as I came through the dunes. Far to the south a head- land terminated the curve; to the north the beach stretched on and out into infinity. Not

10 (714) ADVENTIST REVIEW another soul on the The sound of the surf sinks deep into now live in the flesh I live by the faith your soul and wells up years later. You of the Son of God, who loved me, and beach. hear again the shrieking of the gulls and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, KJV)— the splash-splash-splash of dancing feet, this is the highest experience open to Stripping to swim shorts, and you know that God is infinitely good the human heart. and that you don’t treasure His earth half People who don’t believe find this I began to run barefoot, as much as you should. concept incomprehensible, foolish. Open your eyes—God is all around. But we who have taken the Lord at splashing through the Open your ears—the air vibrates with His word, who have tasted and found His voice. Open your heart—walk in that He is good, have discovered that waves, headed north. The wonder. Tread softly on this earth, for His word is true, that Christianity it is holy ground. works, that in Christ Jesus every booming of the surf filled I believe regular times for prayer divine promise is Yes! and Amen! and Bible study sustain the Christian (see 2 Cor. 1:20). my ears, broken only by life, that without them we will In theological terms, the personal gradually dry up spiritually or wander experience of God, being constantly intermittent cries of off into false religion. For me, online with Him, reflects the teaching morning is key: start the day with of the Holy Spirit. Although the wheeling sea birds and the God, give Him my first thoughts and doctrine is mysterious, the one God is my deepest desires. My mind works also the three—the Father, from whom steady splash-splash-splash of best early in the day, and I try to give all things come to be and to whom all Him the best portion. return; the Son, eternal and self- churning feet. A rain But these programmed periods of existent, who came to this earth to personal devotion are only the walk in our shoes and to die in our squall came down; sea and appetizer of the feast God plans for place; and the Holy Spirit, who is God us throughout the day—and night. I with us, God in us, working out His sky, surf and sand, merged believe these regular times of prayer will and lovingly guiding us. and Bible study can open our eyes Just before Jesus, the Son incarnate, into an incandescent and ears to God so that we may left this earth, He promised: “And I walk in wonder with Him every will ask the Father, and he will give whole. I was one with the waking moment. you another Counselor to be with you We needn’t think that God is near forever—the Spirit of truth. The world elements, one with God’s only when we feel a spiritual “high.” cannot accept him, because it neither If we get online with God first sees him nor knows him. But you good world. thing—turn on the spiritual computer know him, for he lives with you and when we awaken—we can be sending will be in you” (John 14:16, 17). Buoyed by the and receiving messages constantly. Then Jesus said: “I will not leave Surely this is what the apostle meant you as orphans; I will come to you. experience, feeling very by his admonition “Pray without Before long, the world will not see ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17, KJV). me anymore, but you will see me” close to God, I ran on and God is real; God is personal. He (verses 18, 19). So although the Holy created the universe and sustains every Spirit is not Christ, He is the on—one hour, two hours, whirling galaxy and every wriggling presence of Jesus, just as real and just amoeba, but more—He walks and as wonderful as if Jesus were in the who knows for how long? talks with humanity. He wants to be room with us. with us, to be our best friend. “Have Godly men and women have known At times I sang and them make a sanctuary for me, and I this reality throughout the ages. They will dwell among them,” He instructed have found in God their deepest

ISC * D shouted out above the the ancient Israelites (Ex. 25:8), and longings, their highest aspirations. They He promised: “I will be their God, and have sung with the psalmist: “As the HOTO

P —is the essence of Christianity. To live thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. talking one-on-one with as Paul described—“I am cruciﬁed with 42:1). They have cried out with Paul: Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but “Whatever was to my proﬁt I now Him. Christ liveth in me: and the life which I consider loss for the sake of Christ. . . . I

ADVENTIST REVIEW (715) 11 want to know Christ and the power of Lord’s life was occupied in the Lord Almighty” (Zech. 14:20, 21). his resurrection and the fellowship of humdrum, nonspectacular tasks and Your work may be menial, or it may sharing in his sufferings” (Phil. 3:7-10). duties of life. He spent a full 30 of His be professional. But if you walk in Ellen White, pioneer and shaper of 33 years in Nazareth—going about His wonder, even the dishes in the sink or the Seventh-day Adventist Church, job as a carpenter, eating, sleeping, the video teleconference may glow knew God personally. She kept online bathing, talking. Even after He left His with the presence of the living Christ. with the Lord; she walked in wonder. hometown for three-plus years of Over and over she called, and calls, itinerant ministry, most of His time 2. Look for divine serendipities. the Adventist people to “heart was taken up walking from place to God has a delightful way of religion.” Listen to the breathtaking place, simply being with people, living surprising us. He comes to us in the ideal she holds out before us: “If we as a human. most unexpected ways, at the most consent, He will so identify Himself Yet Jesus’ ordinariness glowed with unexpected times, in the most with our thoughts and aims, so blend the divine. Constantly He communed unexpected places. our hearts and minds into conformity with the Father—sometimes all night Remember Jacob, that smoothie, to His will, that when obeying Him too clever by half? His schemes went we shall be but carrying out our own awry, his world fell apart, and he had impulses” (The Desire of Ages, p. to flee for his life. Alone in the bush, 668). “Godliness—godlikeness—is feeling a fugitive from the family of the goal to be reached” (Education, God, he lay down to sleep with his p. 18). God comes to us head against a stone. But in the night How do you walk in wonder? he dreamed of a stairway reaching Begin the day with God—that’s at the most from earth to heaven, with the angels the first and most important point. of God ascending and descending on But after that, and throughout the it and the Lord above it all. When day: unexpected times. Jacob woke up, he said to himself, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and 1. Look for God in the ordinary. I was not aware of it” (Gen. 28:10- When you stand back and 19). Setting up a pillar, Jacob called it consider the life of Jesus, what Bethel—house of God. strikes you is how ordinary it was. Oh in prayer, but always online. His face I remember how moved I was at the yes, it had extraordinary moments, was open to the sparrows and the first symphonic concert I attended. I beginning with the miracle of birth ravens, to the anemones that grew had no inkling that the great music and ending with the wild on the Galilean hillsides, to the would unleash creative energies within miracle of smell of the rain and the whip of the me, galvanize me to attack tasks that I resurrection. But breeze. He walked in wonder. had felt too burdened to contemplate, think: the great God walked this earth. People send me out into the world with a majority of saw Him but didn’t see; they heightened awareness of God. Since our heard but didn’t hear. Their that experience I have turned again hearts weren’t open to God. So and again to music for refreshment, don’t be surprised if today the comfort, and inspiration. crowds don’t see and hear Him. But I vividly recall also the sense of you may, and I may, if we walk in wonder when I saw my firstborn, a son, wonder. emerge from the womb, and two years Toward the close of the Old Testa- later, a daughter. The world held its ment you come upon two amazing breath; time stood still. In the presence verses. In a description of what of new life I felt the mystery of our Israel might have become if coming and our going, of time and she had opened herself to eternity. We are bound up with the life God’s will for her, you of God, in whom we have been, are, read: “On that day and will be. HOLY TO THE LORD I live in Maryland, and as I write, will be inscribed on the bells the deer population is multiplying of the horses, and the cooking pots in along the eastern seaboard of the the Lord’s house will be like the sacred United States. There are deer in woods bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in behind the street next to ours; I ran Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the into a deer on crowded Interstate 95.

12 (716) ADVENTIST REVIEW Deer are everywhere, but you have to know how to look for them. You have to look for horizontal lines among the vertical, and expect to ﬁnd deer. They are there—if you can see them.

3. Look for God in the darkness. This may be the best news of all: God comes to us in the night as well as at noonday. Even when, crushed and broken, we don’t want to live another day. Even when, bowed down by worry and care, we don’t want to trudge another mile. Jesus—God of ordinary grace. But think of the last moments of Jesus, of that lacerated body crying out for water from the cross, then that moan of dereliction, of God-forsakenness—“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46, KJV). Here is the Saviour of the world drinking the cup of our woe, our pain, our guilt, to the last dregs. At that moment He could not see beyond the portals of the tomb. But God was there, even at the soul’s darkest midnight. God was there, although bleeding body and fevered mind sought to deny it. God was there, suffering with the Son. It’s hard to believe from the belly of the whale. It’s easy to doubt when our house comes tumbling and our bodies are so broken we don’t know who we are or what we are saying. But God is there. Friday afternoon Jesus died in agony. But Sunday morning Jesus rose in glory. Faith is the ﬁnger reaching out through the darkness, stretching to touch God. Faith is the conﬁdence that the God who has walked with us in wonder all our days has not forsaken us now. ■

* All Scripture references come from the New International Version unless otherwise indicated.

William G. Johnsson is editor of the Adventist Review.

ADVENTIST REVIEW (717) 13 A Breath of Fresh Prayer

Seven ways to invigorate your communication with God

BY RANDY MAXWELL

hen it comes to our relationship with Jesus, choosing to pray— to be with Him—is often the greatest battle. I may have the best of intentions, the warmest feelings, but I must choose to talk to God every day. There are no shortcuts. Once we’ve made the choice, however, what can we do Wto shake ourselves out of the doldrums and experience some fresh, new approaches to WGod in prayer? Pray whenever you think about it. Jesus, in answer to a theological question put to Him by the woman at the well, replied, “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23).1 The Samaritans (and the Jews, for that matter) were hung up on the right place to worship. They were sure that the true God could be approached only at the “right” spot. Hence the Samaritan woman’s statement: “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem” (verse 20).

14 (718) ADVENTIST REVIEW Jesus adjusted Do the same her attitude by with prayer. Don’t revealing the truth pray about the about God—that same things all the He is spirit and time, and don’t try not conﬁned by to cover everything human-made in one prayer. Vary temples or times. your conversation. God is an ever- Pray about the present reality. supervisor who And true wor- gives you grief shipers of the true today, and save God can make time for the contact with missionaries Him anytime, tomorrow. anywhere. Pray different Don’t make the types of prayers. Try mistake of thinking praying a prayer of you can pray only praise without any at certain times petitions. Put away and in certain your shopping list places. Pray when and just spend time TENBAKKEN you think about it. praising God for S

In your car, in a who He is in your RIK meeting, in bed life. © E when you can’t Or sing your HOTOS sleep, as you mow prayer to God. P the lawn or wash Paul admonishes us dishes, while to “sing psalms, brushing your hymns and teeth. spiritual songs with The natural gratitude in your man or woman hearts to God” doesn’t desire (Col. 3:16). There prayer. “You, are times when we however, are pray by singing controlled not by the sinful nature but when you think about it. favorite praise hymns, such as “Great by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives Pray about a variety of things. Is Thy Faithfulness” or “I Love You, in you” (Rom. 8:9). If it’s on our minds My wife and I used to talk and pray Lord.” to pray, it’s the Holy Spirit calling. about the new minivan our family of During sung prayers I sometimes Don’t put the King on hold! five so desperately needed. Today experience the presence of God more I used to fall into the trap of we’re praising the Lord for the Grand profoundly than when I’m at my telling myself, “I’ll pray about that Caravan we cart our “tribe” in. “regular” prayers. later.” I’ll be mowing the lawn, Before the answer to our prayers was Pray without words. You don’t thinking of someone I need to pray realized, however, Suzette and I always have to have something to say for. I’ll mentally review the details of talked about it a lot—but it wasn’t all in order to be with God. I know this that person’s need and even rehearse we talked about. may seem odd to some, but sometimes what I plan to say later during my We talked (and still do) about the it’s perfectly all right to “be still, and “prayer time.” It’s then that I catch kids, schooling, the church, vacation know that [He is] God” (Ps. 46:10). myself and smile at how foolish it is plans, family members, music, bills, One morning not long ago I had a for me to pray later about something romance, TV programs, work, etc. deeply moving encounter with God I’m thinking about now! And guess what? We don’t try to talk without saying a word. It was one of If you kick yourself for forgetting about everything all in one sitting. We those extremely rare times when both to pray for people whom you’ve pace ourselves. Talking about this now, the house and my spirit were quiet. I promised to pray for, learn to pray that later; this thing today, the other sat in the stillness and just allowed my when God puts it on your mind— thing tomorrow. heart to be an open book to God. As I

ADVENTIST REVIEW (719) 15 sat there with the first rays of dawn read: For you today: That your delight other individuals who love you and spilling onto my office carpet through will be in the law of the Lord, that you will need your prayers. Claim promises on the tiny slits in the miniblinds, I knew meditate on it day and night. That you behalf of your best friend, coworker, I was in the presence of God. will be like a tree planted by streams of family member, nieces and nephews, Don’t be afraid of silence. In our water, yielding fruit in season without or pastor, and let them know that you culture we drown out silence every withering. And that whatever you do will are praying for them. Any relationship chance we get. We feel compelled to prosper (Ps. 1:2, 3). Love ya. will be strengthened by this prayerful quench quiet with sound. TV, radios, You love your spouse. He or she act of love. CD players, Walkman stereos, Game has struggles, frustrations, goals, Pray (or speak) a blessing on your Boy video games, our own chatter. family members. In the sixth chapter On airplanes, while exercising, at of Numbers we come across the the dinner table, in the restroom, priestly blessing that Aaron and his and on elevators, we have to have sons were instructed to bless the some kind of music, noise, or other Israelites with: “The Lord said to auditory distraction grinding away Don’t be afraid of Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, in the background. “This is how you are to bless the Learn to “be still, and know.” silence. Israelites. Say to them: ‘The Lord Quiet can be profound. Don’t feel bless you and keep you; the Lord like you “fail” if words escape you make his face shine upon you and be occasionally when you pray. gracious to you; the Lord turn his face Remember, there are times when toward you and give you peace.’” So “we do not know what we ought to hopes, and needs that you probably they will put my name on the Israelites, and pray for, but the Spirit himself don’t know about. Take those things I will bless them’” (Num. 6:22-27). intercedes for us with groans that to God in prayer. Lift your husband or Did you see that last part? God words cannot express. And he who wife before the Father, and ask Him said that the priests—Aaron and his searches our hearts knows the mind of to meet his or her needs according to sons, in this case—were to put the the Spirit, because the Spirit His unfailing love. Lord’s name (the promises that are intercedes for the saints in accordance Search the Word for specific verses inherent in His attributes, His with God’s will” (Rom. 8:26, 27). that fit his or her situation, and pray nature, and His character) on the Keep your prayer time and Bible those verses back to God, inserting your children of Israel by speaking these study time separate. This suggestion spouse’s name in the appropriate place. I words of blessing. may get me in trouble, but it’s worth did this recently for my wife while I was As recipients of the new covenant, trying. out of town and she was nervously we who have received Christ as our It’s been my experience that when I awaiting the results of some medical Saviour are part of a new breed of bring quarterlies, commentaries, and tests back home. We were both on edge, humans on earth. Regardless of race or multiple translations of the Bible into and I went to the Bible for a word of gender, we have been made into “a my devotional time, I spend little time encouragement from the Lord. I found it chosen people, a royal priesthood, a in prayer and much more time in study. in Psalm 33:18-22. I claimed the holy nation, a people belonging to Prayer is primarily meeting with promise for Suzette and then prayed it God” (1 Peter 2:9). Additionally, we God. Reading and studying during this back to God something like this: Suzette are the spiritual children of Abraham, time may not always be required. waits in hope for You, Lord; be her help inheritors of the promises to Israel. Whether you’re just being quiet with and her shield today. Let her heart rejoice in These two facts provide us with the Him or focusing on your own needs, You, and help her to trust in Your holy commission, qualification, and you’re still meeting with Him. This is name. May Your unfailing love rest upon authority to bless, as priests under the not wasted time. us both, O Lord, even as we put our hope old covenant did. Pray for your spouse. Not in a in You (verses 20-22). My wife and I have done this general, vague way, but in specific Later I called home and told her I together. With our hands placed gently terms, claiming certain Bible promises was praying this promise for her. I on the heads of our girls, I’ve prayed for him or her that are tailored to could tell she was pleased. Nothing this blessing on them: “Candice, individual needs. brings you closer together as a couple Crystal, Danielle: The Lord bless you I like to do this for Suzette and than praying earnestly and specifically and keep you; the Lord make his face sometimes will leave her a note with for the man or woman who shares your shine upon you and be gracious to you; the verse that I’m claiming for her on life. (You can pray for your children the Lord turn his face toward you and it. She saved one of these notes and the same way.) give you peace. Amen.” kept it on the bathroom mirror, where And singles, the absence of a You can’t imagine the intensity of she could see it, for several days. It spouse doesn’t indicate the absence of hugs and beaming faces that come

16 (720) ADVENTIST REVIEW after a prayer like this. Your children mind-set, we often look at the news And as you do, receive this blessing won’t forget, and neither will you. It’s with a prophetic sense of inevitability. from God: not something to be done casually. But “More signs of the times,” we say. “Jesus The Lord bless you and keep you; this is what a life of prayer is all about. must be coming soon.” Sometimes our The Lord make his face shine upon you It’s not just words and requests and “sign watching” instills a subtle and be gracious to you; routine. It’s love and power and indifference in our attitudes toward The Lord turn his face toward you relationships and heart and soul. suffering humanity—or at the very And give you peace. One word of caution: be sure your least, a sense of helplessness. But there Amen. ■ life supports whatever your lips speak. is something we can do. We can pray. Words spoken in blessing are Each news story represents lives, real 1 All Scripture references come from the New International Version. invalidated when a child (or spouse) people who are hurting and desperate, 2 The thoughts expressed in this action point hasn’t sensed the daily touch, concern, and in need of Jesus. Read the paper are credited to Pastor Jack Hayford from a taped interest, availability, and care of the with the eyes and heart of Christ, and sermon entitled “The Importance of Blessing Our Children: Passing Our Spiritual Inheritance blesser. We must build a platform of ask God to intervene mercifully. On to the Next Generation” (Ventura, Calif.: relationship from which to bless. Gospel Light, 1991). Remember, the life we lead backs up o there you have it. Seven sug- the words we speak.2 gestions for putting new passion Pray through the newspaper. For Sinto your personal prayer jour- those who have trouble coming up ney with God. Not an exhaustive list with enough things to pray about and by any stretch. You may already be Randy Maxwell, formerly for those who, like many people, are experimenting with several creative coeditor of ParentTalk mag- addicted to the morning newspaper, forms of prayer that aren’t even men- azine, is currently director of this can revolutionize your prayer life. tioned here. Great. Go for it. What- publicity and public relations The paper is full of needs, crises, hurts, ever you do, though, pray. Don’t just for Paciﬁc Press Publishing and troubles that should cause the read about it or mentally assent to it. Association. He is a frequent prayer con- heart of the Christian to break. What Pray. Be real. Be consistent. Be cre- ference speaker and seminar presenter. fertile ground for prayer! ative. But above all, pray. There’s so This article was adapted from his book If As Adventists with an end-time much in store for you if you do. My People Pray.

What? Pray for Larry Flynt? Now, to be perfectly honest, it had never even occurred to me to pray for either Larry or Hugh. Occasionally the BY RENÉ ALEXENKO EVANS name of an almost-forgotten acquaintance pops into my For whom do you pray? head, along with a strong conviction to pray for that person. Your sister and her husband and their struggle with But in general I have a hard enough time remembering to infertility? Your best friend’s father and his unhopeful pray for people I know and like. diagnosis? The publishers of pornographic magazines? But what would happen if I—if you—were to break out of Say what? our comfort zone and take intercessory prayer to a new I work with a freelance graphic designer who’s obviously level? What if we were to decide that no one is off-limits? a Christian. It says so right on his business cards. Proverbs Even people we don’t like. Even people who have wronged, 3:6. He works out of his home, and when I stop in, his mistreated, or assaulted us or someone we love. Even open Bible is usually sitting on the table or kitchen counter. people who do such vile, disgusting things as publish His framed baptismal certificate hangs over his desk. pornographic magazines. Especially people like that. Last week I dropped off a direct-mail piece for owners of What would happen if just one Larry Flynt gave his life to high-performance boats, and as we talked about the job, I the Lord? Imagine the potential in such a high-profile mentioned a magazine for “hot boat” owners published by person. Sound far-fetched? I’m sure the disciples thought Larry Flynt. the same thing about Saul. “Something’s about to happen with Larry Flynt,” he said. At the very least we would become more like Jesus, who “Oh, really?” I asked, with no clue as to what he meant. with His dying words added to His prayer list the very men “God’s gonna reach out and grab him.” who were nailing Him to the cross. “Oh?” I said again, a teeny bit incredulously. “Yes,” he said firmly. “Larry Flynt is going to give his life René Alexenko Evans is a part-time public rela- to the Lord. My wife and I prayed for him and Hugh Hefner tions consultant and a full-time wife and mom by name this morning.” near Nashville, Tennessee.

ADVENTIST REVIEW (721) 17 A Talk With Roger Morneau

ELLA M. RYDZEWSKI

oger Morneau, a Seventh-day Adventist, has written three top-selling books on prayer as well as his biography.* In preparing our special edi- tion on prayer and spirituality, we felt it appropriate to include him. As the staff discussed how best to conduct the interview, I remembered that my upcoming vacation in California included going through San RFrancisco, not far from Morneau’s home. I called him and made an appointment. I also Rmentioned to him my discomfort with (and usual avoidance of) ﬂying. He prayed for me, just as some of my friends were doing. My husband and I arrived in San Francisco after a bumpy but pleasant trip and not even a twinge of my lifelong phobia. We found Roger and Hilda Morneau living in a small apartment in Modesto. It was in one of those two-story complexes, so familiar to California, built close together with sidewalks lined with rich, green foliage. The Morneaus greeted us like old friends. After visiting awhile, we began the interview.

18 (722) ADVENTIST REVIEW This article focuses on inter- of Your righteousness as I come to the cessory prayer. Is there one Holy Father.” I know I’m being incident that started you on this listened to by the precious Redeemer, ministry? Father, and Holy Spirit. A lot of us In 1984 I was admitted to the don’t understand the value of the hospital in Niagara Falls. I went in Trinity. on a Saturday night with congestive We say, “Dear Jesus, we have read heart failure. They worked to keep these letters, and some have made us me alive. I was next to the nurse’s cry.” We refer to specific problems. station and could hear what was “They need Your help, not mine— going on in the unit. About 8:00 grace, divine strength, and Your p.m. on Sunday I said to myself, A lot sacrifice on Calvary. A lot of them of people here won’t make it overnight. don’t understand that their spiritual, I began to pray for these people. I mental, emotional, and physical said, “Lord, these poor mortals are faculties need re-creating. So many going to their graves early.” I talked kids have been destroyed by drugs and to the Lord for them, asking for their other things. They have the capacity forgiveness and His blood over them. experience how God honors certain for destruction, as we all do. They need to From then on they began to improve. prayers and not others—I guess this be re-created.” Christ didn’t give up on You asked God to forgive their sins? sounds weird. people, even though many brought disease Yes, I always do this. I was in the Tell us what you mean. on themselves. He cared for their spiritual Woolworth parking lot one day doing a I found that I do not pray for anyone disease as well. work report. A Mercury parked in front unless I have prayed for myself. I need to So you see people as whole beings of me, and the husband and wife were pray that my own sins be forgiven and who need re-creating mentally and fighting. The man yelled profanities at acknowledge His claim on me through emotionally as well? his wife. Without speaking a word, I said His death. Yes, in the field of human behavior in my mind, Lord, please have mercy on Then I pray for the people. I pray that we find that extremism and fanaticism this man, because I think he hasn’t had his their sins be forgiven, and ask Jesus to cripple the intelligence. People’s minds sins forgiven and doesn’t know the merits of appropriate His divine blood shed at need to be re-created according to God’s Your blood over him. May the evil spirits Calvary for their salvation. Then I ask to standards. They need to appreciate what stop harassing him. In 20 seconds the man see the Holy Spirit move in and do God is doing for them. When the fallen apologized to his wife and said he would something special for these people. See heart becomes attuned with God’s heart never talk like that again. She seemed The Desire of Ages, page 671. of love, things happen. They are surprised and apologized for her digging What is a typical prayer session for ministered to according to their faith. words, and they went off smiling and you? Today people are fascinated with the hugging each other. Every day I receive a stack of mail supernatural. Demon spirits are Sounds as though you were doing through our post office box. I don’t have conditioning people. Through hypnotism intercessory prayer before 1984. time to read them all, but Hilda reads they can take control of the mental I prayed for people on my job. When them to me while I eat. Hilda is my right- capacities. And demons have the I did that, the Holy Spirit would have hand person. We take these letters and capacity to flash false thoughts into the people open up to me. But this open the Bible to Matthew 27—the minds and create strong feelings. They Woolworth incident was the beginning power chapter of the Bible. Years back I can make people miserable, and they of a new experience in my prayer life. I read it—now I know it by heart. love to play with Christians. But people told the Lord, “What a glorious We put these letters on the open Bible. still have choices. experience You allowed me to have. I We commune all morning about the What about inherited weaknesses? want to pray in a way that will honor names. This has been done with all 17,000 These also need to be re-created. The You. You taught me today the most on the list. I usually do the praying, saying Lord says He has given all a measure of beautiful understanding that I could have something like “Dear Jesus, we are so faith. Many have thrown it to the winds. on the power of intercessory prayer.” I happy here today. We are privileged to be They don’t love God and couldn’t care thanked the Lord and cried, I was so intercessors in this land of the enemy.” We less. We get so many letters from parents. moved over this experience. ask, “How have we offended You in words I noticed it’s difficult to get you by I wanted to see the Holy Spirit work or deeds?” And we say, “Thank You for phone. on the lives of wicked and degraded Your death on Calvary for our salvation.” Until 1996 people got our number people who have no use for God. I had Sometimes I say, “We are by nature very when they asked. But I can’t do it seen good results before for some people. sinful, and our righteousness is like filthy anymore because of my heart. I got calls But after that I saw more. I learned by rags. Lord, please clothe me with the robe from Australia and Europe in the middle

ADVENTIST REVIEW (723) 19 of the night and sometimes slept only came back to church, two are being two hours. I didn’t have as much baptized, and the family of the other one pressure then—now I am writing books. is attending. How do you handle all the mail? How do you remember all the I asked the Lord how to keep the quotes you use? mail from getting out of control. I was When I became an Adventist blessed with a computer three years ago. Christian, I realized I had to break from But I needed help. my past. I had to keep my mind on I am on Social Security; my wife is also heavenly things, so I started memorizing and gets a small pension. When I became verses. I prayed about them first. I disabled at 59, I had no company pension memorized, while driving or walking the because of the way they had formulated dog, more than 2,000 over the years, the contract. We could meet our many in French. obligations, but had no way to pay for help Tell us about the photocopy with the computer. I talked to the Lord machine. That’s a story some find too about getting a computer analyst to help incredible to be true. me. That was 10:00 a.m. Monday. By The Lord produced toner for a little 11:00 a.m. a letter had come from Angwin more than two years. We moved here in from a man who had read one of my Roger Morneau and the “Prayer Tower” April of 1992. I was working on a book, books. He told me that if I owned a and my copier ran out of toner. (I keep computer and needed help, he’d fit his feeding of the 5,000. When I pray, I copies of all letters sent out.) We didn’t schedule to spend some time at my home. believe God is attentive to all these have the $70 for a new cartridge. I talked I called the man and said, “You are a direct people. Jesus said bless the food and pass to my Problem Solver. “Please honor me answer to prayer. I don’t have any money, it on—He didn’t ask them to re-create it. by creating toner so I can use my copier but could pay your gas. You can stay with I pray for the Lord to focus my attention till the next check.” I told Hilda we were us.” This man blessed my life, and I now on persons who need special grace at going to see a miracle. We went to the have 37 buttons that do beautiful things. times. People I haven’t heard from in five copier and put the power on, put a letter I have stored 100 letters for certain years will pop into my mind. I understand down, and made a clear, sharp copy. I needs, so I don’t have to start from this as an SOS for a soul in distress. said, “Glory to God.” Hilda was so scratch with my answers. Then I have a How do you tell people to start to stunned she couldn’t say anything for a special two-page letter that gives pray regularly in our fast-paced world? moment. After the three weeks was encouragement. I let people know I am I often send a one-page article about done, I had my check. praying with and not just for them. I have entitled “A Four-Minute Audience With At that time I had a lot of letters 500 paragraphs that I can add or replace Christ.” A teacher wrote me and said to from people stressed over the time of in the letter. I also use a one-page letter have it put in the Adventist Review. I trouble. One woman said her minister when the pressures are great. said, “If the Lord wants articles run in talked a lot about the subject, and it What about postage? the Adventist Review, He will have them stressed her daughter. I told the Lord, I spend $60 to $75 a month. I use contact me. I have already talked to Him “Lord, have the Holy Spirit create toner writing royalties to pay phone bills and about it.” But she said she would send it for several months, and I will tell people postage. When I run out of money, in anyway. that this miracle took place as an someone will send me just enough in Give us an example of an answered assurance that He would be with His the mail. prayer by letter. people during the time of trouble.” The You don’t ask for funds? There was a woman with five machine continued for 721 days. I had a Nope. I say, “Lord, You know my children—professionals and all out of the plaque made for the copier. Then one needs.” church. I gave her encouragement and day I made the mistake of doing 130 Do you keep a list of these 17,000 sent her the two-page letter. pages without putting the lid down, and names? I said, “You must promise me that you it caught fire. That was the end of the At first we had a beautiful red book. will not try to do the work of the Holy copier. Someone donated another one. Then we started putting the letters in Spirit. In bringing your children back to Tell us about the new book you boxes, then in stacked trays that I call the church, don’t talk to them about have been working on. my “prayer tower.” religion. If they bring it up, that’s OK, It’s called Beware of Angels. Angels How can you pray for 17,000 but they have had more of it than they come in two kinds. I had experience with people? can stand. They probably have spiritual evil angels in the 1940s. In the past few It started with one person. After indigestion.” years people, even Adventists, have been about 50 I knew I couldn’t do all of Six months later she phoned and said seeking out angels, and they have them. I think of my intercession like the it is working—three of her children appeared. Among other things the book

20 (724) ADVENTIST REVIEW tells of two women in Oregon. I inter- Adventist terms taken out and be viewed them in prison. They felt the printed as one book for public and time to see angels had come. Their desire Christian bookstores. The Spirit of God was self-motivated. The angels came— is doing some marvelous things. beautiful creatures—and gradually We finished our interview, then visited deceived them into killing two people. awhile, and Roger Morneau prayed I know you write to inspire people something like this: “Now that You have to pray. Are you hopeful that this is forgiven our sins and iniquities and have happening? appropriated to us the divine merits of What is happening in certain parts of Calvary for our salvation, may the Holy the world is wonderful. In 1995 a Korean Spirit surround these people with a glorious evangelist stopped by on his way to atmosphere. Do something special for them Korea and China. He wanted to translate today.” And He did. the prayer books into Korean. Two Roger and Hilda Morneau On the flight home I decided I rather months ago he came back. He said the liked airplanes. Was that a coincidence? I Lord has blessed me. He told us people in of Muslims attend church as a result of don’t think so. ■ Korea were praying and having divine prayer. interventions. He also went to China, I don’t ask for royalties in other * Incredible Answers to Prayer, More Incredible Answers to Prayer, A Trip Into the Supernatural, and and the same thing happened. He flew to languages. I’m not a trained writer— When You Need Incredible Answers to Prayer. Japan, and they had the same experience. I’m just a person telling people what Buddhists don’t change overnight, but Jesus has done in my life. I’m an old Ella Rydzewski is editorial when people pray for their relatives, guy brought up as a French Catholic in assistant at the Adventist many become Christians. Canada. My editor understands me. Review. A woman in Saudi Arabia writes Recently he had a surprise for me. By frequently and tells me how a number midsummer the prayer books will have

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ADVENTIST REVIEW (725) 21 Shoot for the Moon

We both wanted the same thing, but Dad’s vision was much more inspired than mine.

BY SARAH E. COLEMAN

AD,” I VENTURED ONE WINTER EVENING Finally, oh, finally, Dad removed both boots and set when he came in from the shop, “can I ask you them against the wall. Carefully he adjusted their stray something?” laces and after an eternity of silence stood up and looked He looked up from the work boot he was me full in the face. untying. His curly red beard held tiny frozen “Why do you want old boards?” he asked softly. I Dwater crystals that sparkled in the lamplight. “Sure.” caught my breath, prepared to suggest even the rotten DI took a deep breath and looked away, hoping he couldn’t boards he’d already thrown away. Before I could answer, read the hope in my face. Trying desperately to sound casual, however, he continued, “Why do you want old boards I posed my case. “Well, you know how sometimes the when you know I can get you new ones? You want weather gets nasty?” somewhere to write, don’t you? Why not make it special? He nodded, his blue eyes brimming with laughter. Shoot for the moon.” He flashed me a fatherly I’m-older- “I mean, even in the summer. It just rains and rains and, and-wiser-but-I-love-you-anyway smile and started down well, I was wondering if you could give me a few old boards the hall toward his bedroom. to make a roof with.” “Wait!” I grabbed his ﬂannel sleeve just in time. “What To my surprise, Dad began to chuckle. I turned to face do you mean, shoot for the moon?” him, afraid he’d already rejected my request. “Just a roof?” he asked. “What about walls?” Dad, a general contractor by ur conversation that chilly January evening sparked trade, couldn’t resist asking the obvious question. a creative streak in both of us that continued into “Well, uh, I didn’t think you’d have time to help me Othe summer. For a week of evenings we pored over out,” I stammered. “Besides, I just want something to keep various designs for a small, weather-tight structure. Dad’s me dry when I’m writing outside.” At 12 I already knew optimism left me awestruck. “Why not have a porch?” he that writing had become my passion, and I longed for asked one day. Later he announced that if I would dig the somewhere private to conduct my experimental scribblings. trench, he’d install electricity and a phone. And when I “I could put it way off in the ‘boonies’ and it wouldn’t mentioned cutting a few holes in the walls to let in the bother anyone . . .” My voice trailed off as Dad bent over his light, he simply scoffed. “You’re going to have real windows, boots again. Was this the rejection I expected? Sarah. With glass panes.” I stared at the top of his head, noticing the ridges and The next months are marked in my memory by valleys his curly hair formed against it. What was he milestones such as: deciding on a color to paint the thinking? Shifting my weight to the other foot, I waited exterior of my little cottage, choosing the perfect material dejectedly for my verdict. for my curtains, and carpet-sale hunting for the ideal color

22 (726) ADVENTIST REVIEW approach God God has limitless capabilities. John with requests reminded me of this when I read his that insult His words: “This is the conﬁdence we have abilities. I feel in approaching God: that if we ask as though I anything according to his will, he shouldn’t hears us. And if we know that he hears bother Him us—whatever we ask—we know that we with my have what we asked of him” (1 John concerns. I’ll 5:14, 15, NIV). Why should we limit take whatever our requests to our perception of His You have left will, as I did when I asked only for over, I promise, used boards from Dad? Why not make but don’t let me His will our prime desire and, at the interrupt Your same time, ask for what we really work. want? But I am Why not try this approach with His work! God? The Bible encourages it. What More than can you lose? Either you’ll receive the anything else, thing you asked Him for, or He’ll give my Father you something that in the end will wants to make make you happier than what you me happy. originally wanted. What could Either way, it’s simple, open com- thrill Him munication with God. Why not shoot more than the for the moon? After all, you’re talking opportunity to to its Creator. ■ and size of remnant. become deeply involved in my life? But nothing in my craziest dreams If I restrict Him to the role of a prepared me for the miracle that met used-goods supplier, He won’t Sarah E. Coleman is an my eyes late that summer. After weeks overstep those boundaries. But if I English student at Walla of oil-based paint, rough-wood slivers, take His advice and “shoot for the Walla College in College and carpet-ﬁtting dilemmas, I opened moon,” I turn Him loose on the Place, Washington. the front door into perfect bliss. project of His dreams. Situated near a stream and surrounded by cottonwoods, the house even smelled of nature. One window faced the trees; the other greeted the sunset. Through my curtains sunlight laced its way across a broad, smooth desk, a sturdy bed, and freshly painted walls. Beneath the window an electrical socket waited expectantly to power anything I plugged in. More than I’d ever dared to hope, this little writer’s cottage left me breathless and smiling. “Thanks, Dad,” I said, turning toward where he stood on my spacious porch. He smiled. “All you need now is a lawn chair.” I laughed and followed him toward our family house. “No, I’m

ISC serious!” he continued. “A lawn chair D and a little stone walkway would be HOTO nice. We could put a birdhouse just © P outside your window . . .” HOTO

P Shoot for the moon. So often I

ADVENTIST REVIEW (727) 23