Camelback Sabbath

It was a sunny Sabbath in Phoenix, AZ as I drove to the Camelback Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Arizona ASI convocation was gathering. As I entered the sanctuary the friendly greeting of Mary Jo Oft, one of our ASI members, graced the foyer. (See http://www.asipacificunion.org/ for more information about this lay-led ministry of the Pacific Union)

After a spirited Sabbath School discussion I was blessed during the worship service by the outstanding musical talent of the Camelback Church family. It was a special joy to look out into the audience as I began my sermon and see by friend, Elder Tony Anobile, Arizona Conference President.

In the shade of the the outside patio I visited over lunch with a wonderful couple from Canada. One topic of our discussion was the "1-day Church", the ASI sponsored effort to build a basic church structure for thousands of congregations throughout the world. (Again, see http://www.onedaychurch.org/home.html to learn more about this project.) We were soon joined by Elder Anobile and Pastor Charles White, as together we enjoyed the potluck fare so generously provided by the church.

The 2:00 p.m. program was hosted by our Arizona ASI President where we heard exciting reports of God's working through committed business owners. Our special guest was Raymond Chow who serves as Executive Secretary of the National ASI. As we closed in prayer it was with confidence that God is using so many people to hasten the proclamation of the Gospel both in Arizona and around the world.

The Pacific Rim in the Pacific Union

Jesus Saves!

Waft it on the rolling tide:

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Tell to sinners far and wide:

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing, ye islands of the sea;

Echo back, ye ocean caves;

Earth shall keep her jubilee:

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

This song came to mind as I sat together with pastoral representatives from many of those “islands of the sea”—Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Tonga,--as well as the nations of Korea, China, and others.

The Asian-Pacific pastors of the Pacific Union gathered in the ballroom of the Palms Hotel in Thousand Oaks, California for several days this past week. Elder George Atiga invited me to present a devotional thought for the final morning. My subject, “Haiku Gospel”, spoke of the succinct way that God presents His Truth about Himself, us, and our destiny with Him.

The joy of the journey for me was to again meet colleagues from past fields of labor as well as make new friends from among the wonderful team of Asian-Pacific workers who labor in the many language groups scattered throughout the seven conferences of the Pacific Union. Their witness, in a literal sense, fulfills the poetry of the hymn. Together they proclaim, “Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”


My devotional closed with a Haiku written by my wife, Jennifer, last Sabbath afternoon. It speaks to me so beautifully of the work of the Trinity for our salvation. Notice that it follows the form of the English Haiku of three lines, 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.

Father
Gave His only Son
Watched Him live a perfect life.
Welcomed Him back Home.

Son
Born in a manger
Lived the life that I could not.
Died that I might live.

Spirit
Quietly teaches
Rejoices when I listen.
Never abandons.

All three are involved.
One gave, One died, One Comforts.
As One—Salvation.