March - Lake Union Conference

President’s Perspectiveb y W a l t e r L . W r i g h t , L a k e U n i o n c o n f e r e n c e p r e s i d e n tMarvelousGraceCould there be anything more precious than the grace of God? I think not. I just thought I mightconsult a secular source to get another slant on this word grace. And there it was, under thesubtitle “theology” in the dictionary. I quote, “The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.” Wow,even Webster got it right!Every one of us at some point in our life is the beneficiary of this grace. And in this special issue on grace,your elected leaders have the opportunity to share our stories of grace with you.God has been so extraordinarily gracious to me, and the “unmerited” portion of the definition is so obvious.Personally, I want it continuously in my life.It was November 15, 2007, and I stood before the Lake Union Executive Committee making an impassionedplea for Christian education. (I feel very emotionally involved with the importance of educating ouryoung people in a spiritual environment by spiritual teachers.) As I made the presentation, my right armbegan to swell and burn for no reason. It really alarmed me, and a few committee members noticed mydiscomfort.The next morning my physician was consulted, and he ordered a CT scan with infusion to attempt to detectthe problem. Well, the news came back that there was a blood clot near the port in my chest usedfor chemotherapy. But that’s not all. The scan detected a new cancer growth in my right lung. That madefor a very anxious weekend for me and my wife Jackie.That Sunday night I entered the University of Chicago Hospital for treatment. Prior to treating my condition,the physicians there ordered another scan. As I lay in the scan machine, once again anticipating thetorturous cancer regimen, I began to pray.It was a simple but sincere prayer to my heavenly Father, the Author of grace. “Lord, my mind is tired, andmy body is exhausted. If it will please You, could we pass on this new cancer? I am asking You to pleaseremove it this time. Since You know everything and can be trusted without question, I give it to You fordivine intervention, if it pleases You.”Surgery was done to correct the clot situation. Two days later I was informed that there was no canceranywhere in my body! “Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace! Freely bestowed on all who believe. You thatare longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive?” 1And so, how will I respond to this most recent evidence of His grace? The words of the apostle Paul speakfor me as I gear up to conduct two series of meetings in Michigan and Indiana this spring. “Unto me, whoam least of all saints, is this GRACE given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchableriches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8, 9). [Emphasis added]1. Julia H. Johnston, “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” in Hymns Tried and True (Chicago, Illinois: The Bible Institute Colportage Association,1911), number 2.Vi s i t w w w. L a k e Un i o n He r a l d . o r gL a k e U n i o n H e r a l d • Ma r c h 2 0 0 8 |