The North Pacific Union Gleaner for 2010
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NorthwEst Adv ENtIsts IN ActIoN August 2010, Vol. 105, No. 8 Imageintegrity is Everything. > ImAgEs of crEAtIoN ven youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV) “Undecided” by Debbie Blackburn Beierle of Snohomish, Wash. E E dItorIAl Editor’s note: Bryce Pascoe, who has served as the North Pacific Union Conference executive secretary since 1994, is retiring as of August 1 this year. A short paragraph about his service is included on page four. A more in-depth article will appear in the September GLEANER. Here are his perspectives as he enters this new phase of life. Lifetransitions was reminded of the transitions of life while visit- these gifts prepares us for and enhances our experi- “Life offers no Iing my dad during the late stages of what would ence in the world to come. prove to be a terminal illness. One morning our In all phases and circumstances of life, we bear guarantees, but extended family prepared to visit him at the hospital. witness to God’s character and our trust in Him — at God does.” Before we left, his three great-grandchildren each home, at school, at work or at play. Whether we are drew a special picture for him. They concluded their in a period of good health or facing an experience of delightful creations with comments of affection, serious distress, our level of trust in God reflects our adding personal signatures with a flourish. When sense of adequacy in Him. Life offers no guarantees, we arrived at the hospital, my dad was thrilled with but God does. The Giver of Life promises to walk these gifts from the heart. As the little ones gathered with us through every circumstance. By His grace, around his bed, he looked up appreciatively and said He provides a guaranteed outcome that all who to me, “This is the cycle of life. As I prepare to leave, believe in Him will be made new. This is why the they are just coming onto the stage.” Advent Hope is the blessed hope. It brings to ful- Life is filled with transitions. From birth onward, fillment all of life’s transitions with an ultimate we celebrate the many stages of life: from birth to transition to our heavenly home. walking; from cradle roll to young adult Sabbath As I transition into retirement this month, Schools; from the early play-filled years to the school our granddaughter is making her transition years; from one graduation to another; from the into school for the first time. The experience single life to married life for many; from employ- of lifelong learning lies before both of us. ment to retirement; from retirement to eternity. The cycle of life continues, but from my own Each transition provides opportunity for growth Christian perspective, it is moving rapidly and development. Lifelong learning and service are toward an eternal climax. hallmarks of the Christian calling. What a reunion that will be for every A life devoted to and spent for God is the high- generation of believers. What an ex- est form of significance for us as individuals. True perience it will be to meet our significance emerges as our life becomes centered Savior face to face. He has in Christ and His purposes. He entrusts us with made our ultimate transi- the management of life that finds its fulfillment in tion possible through His glorifying Him. As we discover our spiritual gifts and loving self-sacrifice. Praise invest them for His purpose, we find our true place God from whom all bless- and our greatest joy in this world. And developing ings flow! Maranatha! BrycE PAscoE North Pacific Union Conference executive secretary August 2010 • glEANEr 3 N Ews ANd NotEs JAmEs Bokovoy Jackson replaces schneider as NAd President Dan Jackson, 61, is the new president of the North American Division, elected June 28 by delegates of the World Church at their business session in Atlanta, Ga. Jackson was appointed by the church’s 246-member nominating committee and confirmed by the General Conference Session delegation. He replaces Don Schneider, who has served as president since 2000. Jackson is a native Cana- dian and, with the exception of five years of service in the Southern Ted N. C. Wilson, newly elected General Conference president, addresses the GC Session delegates following his election, with Asia Division, has lived and ministered in Canada. He is a gradu- his wife, Nancy. ate of Canadian Union College and Andrews New world church President Elected University, from which he Ted N. C. Wilson, a vice president of the General Conference holds an master’s degree of Seventh-day Adventists and the son of Neal C. Wilson, former in religion in systematic church president, was elected World Church president on June 25, theology. He comes to during this year’s General Conference Session in Atlanta, Geor- this new position from gia. He replaces Jan Paulsen, who has been president since 1999. his role as president of the Wilson, 60, was elected as a general vice president of the Adventist Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2000 during the General Conference Session in Toronto, Church in Canada. He Canada. His 36 years of denominational service include adminis- and his wife, Donna, have trative and executive posts in the Mid-Atlantic United States, Africa three children and four and Russia. Wilson holds a doctorate in religious education from grandchildren. Donna and Dan Jackson New York University, a master of divinity degree from Andrews University and a master of science degree in public health from Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health. He is married to see Nancy Louise Vollmer Wilson, a physical therapist. The couple have What You're Missing three daughters. online Pascoe Begins retirement If you don’t visit gLEANER online, you’ll miss Bryce Pascoe, who has served as North the following stories and more: Pacific Union Conference executive secretary since 1994, is retiring as of August 1. In addi- • Montana — Peace, guidance and His Protection tion to pastoral training and experience, Pascoe, • Montana — the Youth shall Lead them who has a master’s degree in public health, has served the church in health education posi- • Oregon — Concert Benefits Canyonville ACs tions as well. He and his wife, Genia, plan to remain in the Northwest. The NPUC executive Bryce Pascoe • Oregon — HVJA students Help Build Africa Wells committee expects to select a replacement for • Oregon — gladstone Men of Action Pascoe at its regular August 25 meeting in Ridgefield, Wash. More on Pascoe’s ministry will be shared in next month’s GLEANER. • Oregon — Milo Music takes Midwest tour • upper Columbia — Project PAtCH Dedicates New Family growth Center corrEctIoN • upper Columbia — single Mom’s Oil Change In several instances, we have incorrectly used Mount Ellis Adventist Academy or MEAA to glEANEroNlINE.org describe Mount Ellis Academy (MEA). the official name does not include “Adventist.” 4 glEANEr • August 2010 l EttErs Bad Balloons In the interest of good earth stewardship, I think it would be well for the GLEANER not to pub- lish articles about kids sending balloons aloft attached to Ziploc bag- GLEANER gies (“Children Send 5709 N. 20th St. Ridgefield, WA 98642 Balloons Aloft,” Or- egon News, May 2010). This is a lot of plastic going out into anywhere — forest, rivers, lakes, oceans — that can severely damage wildlife. I know the idea sounded A second to the motion good to give a biblical mes- I am an avid reader of the sage to those who might find GLEANER and enjoy most of the balloon, but needs to be the articles. Even if I have a These are not the books or reconsidered in view of good small disagreement, I do not movies that Seventh-day earth stewardship. always sit down and dash off Adventists should be encour- —Yvonne Stratton, a letter regarding the point aged to read or watch. illustration some readers (who College Place, Wash. in question. Today I felt dif- This is what really bothers may have learned to tune out ferent. I felt that I was being me. Others may make the the more traditional sources) Beware the lord of the asked to accept something assumption that if you have would identify with. Along rings not to the standards of our quoted from this source, with music and diet, where In the article “The Next profession of faith. then it is all right for them to some see black and white Step” by Steve Vistaunet The first and last para- follow your perceived lead. and others see gray, perhaps (Let’s Talk, June 2010), the graphs of your article make Much is written in the books this is an area in which we author quotes from The Lord reference to a trilogy: The of Ellen White in regards to can extend to each other a of the Rings. This was quite Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. quality entertainment and generous helping of Christian unsettling to me and my Tolkien. The books and mov- that which should be avoided. grace. Even our Lord used a husband. We don’t believe ies of the same title are classic Being the excellent writer fictional fantasy of the rich that our church should be science fiction works of the you are, could you not have man and Lazarus as a creative dealing with books such as great adversary of Christ. opened and closed with a illustration, and it has created this, especially not in official Having only returned to the quote from the Scriptures or theological debate ever since! publications, but also in any church four years ago after an Mrs.