June 2, 1986 Volume Si Number ii erty and wealth, exclusiveness and in- clusiveness, and eventually freedom. A friend is a true friend when they love you even if you are unlovely in a lovely world. God is my friend, as in John 15:13-15 God is love and calls us friend. I believe that when a person accepts the 'He's My love of Christ, they are whole and beautiful whatever their abilities or disabilities, and though He does not will a disability, He does Father' will that we overcome all boundries that stand in the way of realizing a complete By Hank Severeid unity with Him. And that is fair. My wife and I attended the Revelation Seminar at our church recently, and one passage seemed to stand out. Revelation 21:4, 5. He promised to end all tears, pain, suffering, even death. I know this is what I have to look forward to because my friend told me so. And that is fair. A few years ago, when my son was about has to lug my wheelchair in and out of the As a result of my family's relationship five years old, he was playing with some car, then push me around not unlike a baby with God, because His Son suffered and children who lived in the neighborhood, just in a stroller? There is the feeling of self-con- died, despite my disability, I have the op- as I arrived home from the local university. sciousness I feel when I need help in cut- portunity to join others in the Christian As I transferred from my car to the wheel- ting my food, whether at a restaurant or a family to enter into His Kingdom and en- chair, the youngsters grew silent, watching friend's house, no matter how unobtrusively joy the freedom to walk and run, to work intently as I maneuvered up the ramp to the she does it. and carry my own weight, to sleep without front door. Then I heard one of them say, My son likes all sports; is it fair I cannot pain, to dream other dreams instead of the "Who's that man, what does he want?" run for a pass or play catch? That I cannot nightmares of imprisonment in one's own Then I heard my son's voice, "That's no go on hikes with him, or roughhouse with body. Because of Him, a new entity has been man, that's my father," I rolled back down him? Recently I became very uncomfortable formed. And that my friends, is more than the ramp and without a word I hugged him. when I saw a father carrying his son on his fair. Although I'm locked in a body which does shoulders, they were laughing, I felt like not respond to relatively simple commands, crying. Is it fair? I wondered. frustration arises when I cannot perform a But thanks to the welcome we received simple menial task, faced with the prognosis into the Christian family and our involve- that my condition is progressive, and as yet ment and participation in the Heyburn North Pacific Union Conference there exists no known cure, I have tried to Seventh-day Adventist Church, my family make an honest, realistic assessment of my has been afforded the opportunity to clearly Gleaner situation, although I was constantly troubled understand that despite my disability our by the question, was I being unfair to my lives are full. It has progressively modified (USPS 394-560) wife and son?, our values, judgment, and overall view of Member Associated Church Press Was it fair they had to cope with the life. And I am aware that although I am Address all correspondence to: prevented from doing some things, I can GLEANER daily burden of caring for me, constantly be- North Pacific Union Conference ing forced to make decisions about the prac- devote more time to them with the knowl- P.O. Box 16677, Portland, OR 97216 tical affairs that affect our daily lives? edge God will help me to use the quality, (503) 255-7300 I know that in this society a man is sup- not the quantity of time effectively. June 2,1986 Vol. 81, Number II posed to be gainfully employed, and able to Faith is a liberating power; it liberates us Editor, Morten Juberg Assistant Editor, Ed Schwisow support his family. Because I am unable to from anxiety, fear, loneliness, hopelessness, Published by the North Pacific Union Conference work steadily, is it fair for my wife to work and despair. He gives us the choice to call of Seventh-day Adventists long and hard hours to support the family? upon Him for the courage to overcome the worst life can deal us, and that is fair. Please Note — Every reasonable effort is made Is it fair that when we go out together she to screen both editorial and advertising materials I believe Christ is the model for humanity; and to avoid error in this publication. But the through Him we are able to experience life's North Pacific Union Conference GLEANER does Hank Severeid writes from Rupert, Idaho. joys and sorrows, justice and injustices, pov- not accept responsibility for categorical or typographical errors, nor for advertiser's claims. Second-class postage paid at College Place, Washington. Published semimonthly at Color Press, except one issue in December. Subscrip- tion, $7.00 per year. Litho U.S.A. CP37979 About the Cover POSTMASTERS: Send form 3579 to North Pacific Union GLEANER, P.O. Box 397, Col- Intrepid photographers, such as Willard Colburn, Eugene, Ore., are not deterred by any hindrances lege Place, Washington 99324. to their shooting. Colburn writes: "The robin's nest was about 12 feet high in a magnolia tree by our driveway. I put a blind on top of our motor home and drove it to just the right spot so I could look Don't send correspondence, GLEANER copy or right into the nest." He is a painting contractor. His camera is a Nikon FTN and he uses Kodachrome advertisements to the above address. All such 64 and Ektachrome 200 film. materials should be sent to GLEANER, Box 16677, Portland, OR 97216. GLEANER June 2 1986 page 2 to show how reasonable she was? For starters, I am presently a member of the Sunnyside Church I have articles describing the dangers of alcohol, in Portland, Ore. caffeine, tobacco and sugar. The problem with Your publication is the only one I know of that Letters Newsweek, of course, is that it doesn't pack the could inform my many Adventist relatives and punch of a divine revelation; nothing compares friends from the Coeur d'Alene Church to the with the power of the Holy Spirit. Enumclaw and Walla Walla College churches. I Originally, that was where Ellen White's have many friends in many churches that I have Letters are welcomed for publication. The ministry came in. In the 19th century, the land shared with in the North Pacific Union Conference editor reserves the right to reject letters and was swarming with health reformers but the while on religious drama presentations or college where necessary, to edit for continuity and reforms seldom took. Through Ellen White God brass choir trips or visiting. space requirements. Letters must be signed and convinced Adventists to take health reform I am continuing to do something productive with should not be over 200 words in length except, seriously. It was a sensible Christian duty with my life thanks to the encouragement and support where, in the editor's discretion, more space a built-in blessing. of my friends and especially one of the grants I is available. Address letters to Editor, Box But we jeopardize the blessing if we don't have received to help me financially through college 16677, Portland, OR 97216. good reasons. Ellen White once warned the church was the NPUC grant. For that I am eternally in Battle Creek: "There are many of you who pro- grateful. fess the truth, who have received it because Michael Saucedo 'I'm Worried' somebody else did, and for your life you could Portland, Ore. Alden Thompson begins his article . (April not give the reason. This is why you are as weak 21, GLEANER) with the words, "I'm worried." as water" (2 Testimonies, p. 367 [1870]). -414 Mr. Saucedo has been accepted for the I'm worried too, about Alden Thompson. His A more subtle reason why Adventists School of Law at the University of California, works lack enough clarity to give convincing force sometimes have difficulty with Ellen White's Davis. to his ideas. One point is clear enough, though. writings is bound up with the very nature of a He is bringing disrepute on Ellen White. devout religious experience. Fearful of rationaliz- Thompson writes, "Let me be bold . ." and ing away a divine command, we are inclined to Effect a Reconciliation? take the messenger's counsel "as it reads." then suggests some reasons why the church is ... the "Update" included with the April 7 selfish, one of which is the use of the Spirit of Almost inevitably, then, we end up confusing specific counsels with timeless principles. issue highlights our concern for those who are no Prophecy. longer members. "Will you go through with this Our traditional ways are "supported by mere This was already a problem while Ellen White was still alive. In 1904 the believers at St. Helena, church?" is an appropriate question. But it is not authority — by an 'Ellen White says' — rather enough just to pat ourselves on the back because Calif., resisted the idea of a kindergarten because than by reason and experience," he writes.