Faith, reason, and the educated Christian Creationism - College and ...

Stranger
in the road
Continued from page 27.
present, I approached my father’s bed.
He was propped up on his pillow asleep,
just as I had left him. I put my hand
upon him and prayed, “Dear heavenly
Father, forgive my father his sins and
receive him into Your everlasting kingdom.”
About an hour and a half later,
my father died. What a privilege that I
could put a benediction upon the one
who had made my introduction to the
world possible.
When I was just a kid, my father told
me that one night he had had a dream
in which he was instructed to give ten
days to God. Throughout my life, I
would periodically ask him if he had
given God those ten days. Repeatedly he
told me, “Not yet, but I will.” Strikingly,
I spent ten days with my father in the
hospital. He died on the tenth day, a
day that Catholics call “All Saints Day.”
I believe that my father, Catholic as he
was, Adventist as he became, is now listed
among the saints, and that the ten
days I was with him at the close of his
life were the ten days he was commissioned
to give. No one should ever give
up on the salvation of another. God’s
grace can come any time, even in circumstances
of suffering, and even at the
end of life.
Previous to my father’s death, the
night nurse made a memorable statement:
“God is not good. I am good.”
This was not a blasphemous remark. She
meant that she was doing everything
she could for the comfort and healing of
her patients, but God did not seem to be
doing anything. Where was the evidence
of His presence? But I believe God
was there. His unseen presence was
working through my father’s suffering.
God did not take away his suffering,
though his death brought a halt to his
pain, but His providence guided my dad
to a heartfelt conversion experience, not
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merely to Adventism, but to God as loving
Savior and Lord. When my father
awakes, he will find himself in the loving
arms of God.
Elder Carcich, you were right. The
love Adventists showed led my father to
the God of love. And Ellen White, you
were right when you wrote, “The last
message of mercy to be given to the
world is a revelation of His [God’s] character
of love” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p.
415). That can only happen through us,
God’s servants, as we extend love and
care to every stranger lying in our road.
Ivan T. Blazen (Ph.D., Princeton Theological
Seminary) is a professor of religion
at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda,
California, U.S.A.
Faith & Science
Conference
in Europe
Adventists interested in the
relationship between faith and science,
especially in connection with the origin
of the earth and its varied life forms, are
invited to attend a conference scheduled
for March 26-30, 2004
at Friedensau University, Germany.
For more information, log on
http://ifsc@euroafrica.org
Fargo
Continued from page 21.
itable conflict they will face in their professions.
As a result, we have people
moving out from jobs, localities, and
even the ministry. Through this training
we learn to prevent and resolve issues
such as abuse, domestic violence, adultery,
and divorce. Yes, it will be a good
thing to teach students in our institutions
the biblical way of conflict resolution.
■ Many Dialogue readers may be interested
in being peacemakers. Any advice?
Peace is the essence of God’s character,
and He gives it to those who follow
Him. Peace is about working with the
Holy Spirit and being committed to applying
God’s Word to everyday situations.
Those who want to work in conflict
resolution must have a daily, meaningful
walk with God, and have the desire
and the will to help others in problem
situations.
■ How can interested readers contact Peacemaker
Ministries?
The headquarters address is Peacemaker
Ministries, 1537 Avenue D, Suite 352,
Billings, MT 59102, U.S.A. Phone: 406-
256-1583. E-mail: mail@Hispeace.org
Website: http://www.HisPeace.org
My address is P.O. Box 976, Sandpoint,
ID 83854, U.S.A. Phone/fax: 208-263-2020.
E-mail: mafargo4peace@msn.com
Interview by Ella Rydzewski.
Ella Rydzewski is the editorial assistant
of the Adventist Review.
Dialogue 15:3 2003
31