N. O cr 0 0 RECORDISSN 0819-5633 VOL 95 NO 42 October 27. 1990 0 P lia tra s Au by d re te is Duet Reg by Adele Hellestrand This morning a lark sang in a tall treetop. It's pure, coloratura melody rose and fell in sweet cadence to the still starlit sky, heralding the dawn. My soul, listening, soared to join the lark-song in exultation. In thanks to God for all created beauty. For life, love, and a heart to understand. We sang, the lark and I, until the rising sun blushed the heavens a fiery red and gold, ushering in a new day and blossoming Spring. Adelle Hellestra rid writes from Frenchs Forest, New South Wales. RECORD EDITORIAL Official Paper Universal Language Seventh-day Adventist Church South Pacific Division f there's one characteristic that should Love demands that we learn to focus Editor James Coffin 71- Associate Editors Gary Krause I identify Christians, it's their ability to our attention beyond ourselves to the Bruce Manners love. Unconditionally. needs of others. The crippling effects of Assistant Editor Joy Totenhofer Editorial Secretary Glenda Fairall Before He returned to His Father, loveless lives are seen on psychiatric Copy Editor Graeme Brown Christ's urgent message to His followers couches and in reform schools and gaols Illustrator Wayne Louk was: "By this all men will know that you around the world. Senior Consulting Editor Athal Tolhurst Correspondents Ray Baird, Lyn Bartlett, Terry are my disciples, if you love one This, I believe, is what Paul was trying Butler, Ray Coombe, Mau Kemo'o, Aisake Kabu, another." John 13:35, NIV. to get across in I Corinthians 13. Here he Louis Solomon, Neroli Zaska Regional Reporters Robert Douglas, George Dictionary descriptions of love prove gives us a description, a comparison and Drinkall, Chris Foote, Eric Greenwell, Lany Laredo, inadequate. To me the only real expla- a definition of love. Malcolm Potts, Leigh Rice, Lyndon Schick, Gordon Smith, Bill Townend nation of love is found in considering the A pioneer African missionary para- Local Reporters Church Communication Secretaries character of God. phrased this chapter: "If I have the Subscriptions South Pacific Division, $A25.00 Love is the personification of God. It's language perfectly and speak like the SNZ28.75. All other regions, $A48.25 $NZ55.50. Air mail postage rates on application. Order from Signs the language of heaven. And it's the an- local people, but have not His love for Publishing Company, Warburton, Victoria 3799, tithesis of what many regard as love. them, I am nothing. Australia. Manuscripts All copy for the paper should be sent Love is not getting something. It's best "If I have diplomas and degrees and to The Editor, RECORD, Signs Publishing Company, expressed in giving. know all the up-to-date methods, and Warburton, Victoria 3799. Phone (059)66 911 I. Telefax (059) 66 9019. That's the real difference between have not His touch of understanding Printed weekly by Signs Publishing Company. heaven and earth. The inhabitants of love, I am nothing. heaven think of others; earthlings think "If I am able to argue successfully Directory of the South Pacific Division of the mostly of themselves. against the religions of the people until I Seventh-day Adventist Church, 148 Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, NSW 2076. The story is told of a man who had just make fools of them, and have not His Phone (02) 489 7122. (Legal Trustee: Australasian arrived in heaven. He expressed his joy at wooing love, I am nothing. Conference Association Limited. Secretary: Tom Andrews, Assistant Secretaries: Richard Milne, being in such a glorious place. Then he "If I have all faith and great ideals and Properties; Bruce Jackson, Finance.) requested just one glimpse into the magnificent plans, and not His love, President Bryan Ball "other place," in order that he might which sweats and bleeds and weeps and Secretary Athal Tolhurst Treasurer Tom Andrews more appreciate his good fortune. prays and pleads, I am nothing. If I give Associate Secretary Vern Parmenter In hell, the man saw a long table ex- my clothes and money to them, and have Associate Treasurers Owen Mason, Lynray Wilson tending as far as he could see. It was not His love for them, I am nothing. Field Secretary Arthur Ferch loaded with the most delectable foods, "If I surrender all prospects, leave Departments and Services: delicious fruits and mouthwatering home and friends, make the sacrifices de- ADRA Harold Halliday (Director), Neil Hughes, Peter Truscott sweets. But everyone around the table manded of a missionary career, and yet Adventist Health Don Bain (Director), Harley was starving to death. turn sour and selfish amid the daily inter- Stanton Adventist Media Centre Nat Devenish (Manager) Amazed, the visitor asked for an ex- ruptions and slights and lack of appreci- Archivist and Statistician Roy Clifford planation. ation that goes with a life of ministry, and Auditing Service Max Mitchell, Ron Herbert, Eric "Everyone is required to take food Hokin, Ernie Moffitt, Neville Sawed, Robert Stratford have not the love that yields its rights, its Christian Services for the Blind and Hearing from the table only with metre-long leisures and its pet plans, I am Impaired Em Lemke chopsticks," his guide replied. "The nothing. Church Ministries Bryan Craig (Director and Sabbath School, Family Life), Barry Gane (Youth), chopsticks are so long that the people "If I can heal all manner of sickness, Alwyn Salom (Personal Ministries), Wilfred Bili can't bend their elbows enough to reach but wound hearts and injure feelings for (Stewardship), Eric Winter (Sabbath school), Lynelle Chester (Children's Ministry) their mouths. Therefore they're dying of want of His love that is kind, I am Communication, Public Affairs and Religious starvation." nothing. If I can write articles or publish Liberty Ray Coombe Upon returning to heaven, the new- books that win applause, but fail to tran- Education Gerald Clifford (Director), Les Devine, Barry Hill, Ian Howie, Bob Spoor comer was ushered beyond the outer scribe the cross into the language of His Health Food Eugene Grosser (Director), Lance walls. There he saw an identical table, love, I am nothing. ." Rogers, Alan Staples, Ray Windus, Greg Gambrill Ministerial Association John Gate laden with identical foods, but everyone Ellen White says: "We may be active, Nutrition Education around the table was happy and enjoying we may do much work; but without love, Publishing Bruce Campbell the banquet. such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, Risk Management Service Robert Smith (Manager) Trust Services Jim Lansdown "With what do they take the food from we can never be numbered with the fam- the table?" the newcomer asked. ily of heaven."—Christ's Object Lessons, "With the same metre-long chop- page 158. sticks," his guide replied. No wonder many Christians recognise "Then why are all those in hell starv- that 1 Corinthians 13 deserves daily ing to death while these are well-fed?" meditation. The guide smiled and replied, "In Joy Totenhofer. heaven we feed each other." 2 RECORD October 27, 1990 LETTERS Disciplining With Stones? teaching, it may be helpful to hear what of Christ's righteousness, which is: I apprecite your call (Editorial, Sep- he has to say. In his Thoughts on always His righteousness, always His tember 8 and 15) for more compassion Christian Perfection he says: property, always perfect, ever counted to and sensitivity in helping people who vi- "Q. What is Christian perfection? A. us as ours as we daily surrender to His olate the seventh commandment. Cer- The [sic] loving God with all our hearts, control. tainly it's better to err on the side of minds, soul and strength. This implies We can become confused when we mercy when there is doubt. that no wrong temper, none contrary to talk about striving for perfection from a However, I'm confused over some of love, remains in the soul; and that all human perspective. We're tempted to as- the implications from your editorials. thoughts, words and actions are sume that it's acquired by human en- That the seriousness of disciplinary ac- governed by pure love." deavour and can, with divine power, con- tion suggested by the church manual is This excludes the charlatan and the tribute credit toward salvation. The equivalent to stoning. That if two people contentious—the twin scourges of this Bible compares our own righteousness to commit the same overt action, love and doctrine. Jeff Webster, Vic. filthy rags. impartiality require the same treatment Bob Donaldson, New Zealand. for both without the circumstances being Let's Be Positive considered. And that mercy, compassion I've just returned from the South Pa- Can You Help? and tenderness are incompatible with cific Division session in Adelaide. I've The Sabbath school with its threefold discipline. Name Supplied, Qld. seen many of our church workers en objective of winning, holding and train- masse, so to speak. I couldn't help but ing for Jesus Christ is an important Enthusiastic Appealing notice what a competent, cleancut, well- branch of missionary work. The Sabbath I really appreciated the article about presented group they were. They're men School Department in Mafoluku, the Adventist Appeal ("Can I Stop with a mission—teammates—and we Nigeria, recently established a library to When I'm 16, Too?" September 29). It should be proud ofthem and thankful for help nourish the spiritual lives of church reminds me that as I get older I need to them. members. maintain my close relationship with So let's be supportive rather than criti- Our members have donated a good Jesus so that I will continue being an ac- cal.