Heart To Heart
By Pastor Richard Wright
We have been shocked and in a state of unrest and confusion since the terrorist
attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We realize that we live in a
very wicked world.
Genesis 6:5 says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." God was speaking about Noah’s day. What must He think now? How can humans be so cruel as to take thousands of innocent lives? Only Satan could be behind this chaos and evil.
We realize that our government cannot totally protect us no matter how hard they try. We are vulnerable to attacks and violence for we live in a world of sin.
It is only in God that we can find protection and peace. Psalm 91:2 says, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust." Verse 11 says, "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all they ways." We can be secure in Christ no matter what happens on this earth and we can have peace in Him.
We can find strength and comfort in the words of Christ. In John 14:27, it states, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
The tragedy we have experienced in our nation is one more sign that we are closer to the soon coming of Jesus. The important issue is, are we ready for Jesus to come? Are our hearts right with Him? Do we have a right relationship with Him? Because of His love and mercy he will come soon. In the meantime, lets continue to pray for the victims and their families. Let’s pray for the President and leaders of our country that they will seek wisdom from God and do what is right and just.
Note
September 11, 2001 the reality of terrorism touched our American soil as
never before. We were shocked, moved and awakened to the unfortunate taste of
true hatred.
Note
We Will Miss You DON MASON
Nine Adventists Missing After Terrorist Attack
Adventist News Network
Nine Seventh-day Adventist Church members are among the more than 5,000 missing and presumed dead following the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Ted Moy, a deacon at the Spencerville Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, worked at the Pentagon. He was on a training exercise at an office very close to the point of impact. Moy leaves behind his wife, Madeline, and two teenagers, Jessica and Daniel.
Michael Baksh, mid-30s, was working in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center (WTC), his first day on the job. He was a very active member of the Church of the Advent Hope in Upper Manhattan and was recently elected chair of the church board. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
Lissy Martinez, late 20s, was also working in Tower 2. She was a Pathfinder leader of the Spanish Fort Washington Church in Upper Manhattan. She leaves a husband and two children.
Maxima Jean-Pierre, mid-40s, worked in Tower 2. A youth Sabbath School teacher at the Spanish Patchogue church, in Long Island, New York, she leaves a husband and four children.
Josue Velasquez worked at Tower 1. He was a faithful member of the Spanish Intervale Church in Bronx and helped out with camp meeting programs. He leaves a wife and three children.
LeRoy Homer was co-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Western Pennsylvania. He was a frequent visitor to the Mt. Holly English Church in New Jersey where his wife Melodie is an active member.
Jorge Velazquez was a member of the Passaic I Spanish Church in New Jersey. As chief of security in Tower 2, he was busy ushering people out of the building from the 31st floor. He called home to communicate with his family at that time, but has not been heard from since. "Your father is a real hero," the company president told Velazquez's family.
Steve Bunin, late 40s, was active in the audio visual department of the Corona Church in Queens. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 103rd floor of Tower 1. He leaves behind a wife, Hyacinth.
Michelle Nelson, 27, also worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 103rd Floor of Tower 1. She was a member of the Linden Church in Queens, serving as a clerk, Adventist Youth Services leader, and in the youth choir. Church members say she was well known for baking great pies.
Adventist members have also lost family and friends in the tragedy. Joan Silver, a member of the Sligo Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland, lost a daughter, Valerie, 46, who worked near the top of one of the towers.
Dick Stenbakken, chaplaincy ministries director for the Adventist Church, reported that, despite rumors to the contrary, Rear Admiral Barry Black, chief of chaplains for the United States Navy and an Adventist Church member, was not harmed in the attack. "Chaplain Black was away when the attacks occurred and is safe," said Stenbakken.
"Our Adventist family has been hurt deeply in this tragedy," said Don Schneider, president of the Adventist Church in North America, on reading reports of those missing. He urged church members to "work even harder to share the hope that comes from knowing Jesus Christ" and to continue to pray for all those grieving loved ones lost in the attack.
Savannah Wilson’s Favorite Bible Verse and Why
Point of Grace In Concert
Point of Grace with Special Guest FFH (Four For Him)
Friday, October 12 @ 7:30 pm
Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland Maine
WHO AM I??
1. I have been to England, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany & Austria.
2. My approximate weight is 3200 oz..
3. You may not guess that my favorite color is blue.
Last Month’s Who Am I was TIA GLADDEN
So Wisely Spoken
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill,
that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support
any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."
John F. Kennedy
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Answer to Last Month’s Circle Verse
This Scripture is found in Isaiah
| Concentrate on the four dots in the middle of the following
picture for about 30 seconds. Then look at a light colored smooth surface (a wall or ceiling) and keep looking (try not to blink) until the white circle disappears. Have Fun!! |
 |
Woman’s Ministry Weekend
On Friday, September 5th, One hundred thirty women from Northern
New England Conference and as far away as Massachusetts and New York, gathered
together at our own "Camp Lawroweld" for the annual Women’s Ministry Weekend.
The theme for the weekend was "SONflower Seeds". The featured speaker was Ginnie
Allen from the Pacific Northwest. She was especially charismatic and animated.
Her talks were not only inspiring but applicable to our everyday lives. Sherrie
Shroader from Nashua, New Hampshire, shared her thoughts in a "good old
fashioned bible study" format (as she called it) for Sabbath School study. Her
approach towards revealing the true gospel of Christ was especially
enlightening. Woodstock SDA had the largest group of women, totaling 20. Their
presence in the Staff House Cabin was made well known to the rest of the camp,
as evidence by their roars of laughter and fun. Their cabin became a magnet to
others as the noise became contagious to the rest of the camp. What a ministry
in itself. Other activities were enjoyed that weekend, including crafts,
swimming, boating and hiking. It was a weekend enjoyed immensely by all those
who went. Burna Wilson found the weekend to be "so uplifting and inspiring, very
spiritual." She described an "emphasis on commitment" Burna certainly hopes to
return next year and encourages women who can to also attend. It will be a
weekend you won’t want to miss!
Note
"Woodstock SDA had the largest group of women, totaling 20. Their presence in
the Staff House Cabin was made well known to the rest of the camp, as evidence
by their roars of laughter and fun. Their cabin became a magnet to others as the
noise became contagious to the rest of the camp."
Note
Joe Pete Appleby Chooses Death to sin and Life in Christ!!!
Hello Friends
By Laurie Wilson
Our family has raised many pets over the years, rabbits, birds, fish,
Dogs, etc. We always said that we would get a dog for him or a cat for her but
when our children went off to a friend’s house for the weekend, a camping trip
or eventually academy dorming for a week, guess who got to feed or bathe the
pet? (At least we didn’t have to participate in bathing the fish. Haha!) We once
had a white weasel (wild,not a pet) that lived nightly in our house for a whole
winter, seriously! It wasn’t planned that he spent Christmas with us around the
Christmas tree but he felt welcome and part of the family. Guess it was in God’s
plan that our friend wasn’t meant to be caught as we tried many traps and
covered the hole he entered but always to no avail. Just yesterday, I watched
our friendly black lab, Rosco, crouch down, like a cat, ever so quietly near a
mouse hole hoping to pounce on a scurrying mouse. Our dog thinks he is still
tiny like he was the day we brought him home! It surely was a funny sight to see
a huge dog sitting by a small mouse hole patiently waiting for his toy to come
to his presence. He could care less about his heavy breathing that sent the
mouse to a far corner of the cupboard or just Rosco’s black plush coat that was
wedged into the hole was scary enough! The whole scene reminded me so much of a
book I used to read to my 3 children over and over—"Clifford, the Big Red Dog."
It makes me think even more about God’s plan for us. We definitely are His
precious ones and we know He is taking well care of us with the food He provides
and the water we are given to bathe in. Let’s come out of our mouse hole and
trust that God will love and protect us. We don’t need to be afraid in this
sinful world. He is calling us to live with Him forever. That’s His plan.
Verse
"I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me. He saved me from all that
I feared." Psalms 34:4
Note
"But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and
the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms.
The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions
of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which
they represent, the voice of the majority-not one nor all of these should be
regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before
accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain "Thus saith the
Lord" in its support. Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to
man in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to
professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to
learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these
leaders, He can influence the multitudes according to His will." Great
Controversy pg. 595
In this day of unrest in our country, despite the birth pains of Our
Lord’s return, despite talks of the end of time may we not be deceived by the
prince of darkness. May we search out the truth for ourselves. Not looking to
man for our ultimate guidance but to our Heavenly Father with whom, I pray, we
have chosen to be our ultimate guide. We will continue to be bombarded with more
and more information, but may we not let the "truth" be swallowed up by the
shallow words of our deciever, Satan, in his attempts to baffle our minds. We
cannot fight this fight alone. We must know that our captain "Jesus Christ" has
overcome the world already (John 16:33). With that reassurance may
we find true peace amongst the chaos of this world.
Remembrance & Hope
By An Anonymous Woodstock SDA Writer
| A clear day dawns A commuter yawns As life in the city has begun But the day soon would end With the terror "they" did send To a country who’s freedom abounds Life was cut short For the lives that were lost There’s rumor of war Yes freedom was fought for |
There are tears being shed For the missing and dead And our minds struggle to grasp the reasons why If the answers were clear It might take away our fear But what of the lessons we might learn For it’s in hardships our skin May I remember this day For a place of love |
Forestdale School News
By Bill Snow, Principal, Forestdale SDA School
We have started out the new school year with an excellent group
of students. The good spirit and attitude have been really appreciated! We have
added a kindergarten this year. We now have a program that encompasses grades
K-9. Mrs. Wiggin teaches grades K-2. Mr. Stahl teaches grades 3-5, and Mr. Snow
(yours truly) teaches grades 6-9 and is principal. We do not have a paid
teacher’s aide or 9th grade health teacher this year, however, Mrs.
Stahl is volunteering once a week to teach 9th grade health.
Our playground continues to improve. As many of you know, last years Home & School Association worked to get new playground equipment. With the help of the Gadways we got it installed-just before snowfall. (Trust me it was tough digging!) Frank Hodson Jr. along with last years 9th grade (Kenny and Jeremy) built a magnificent fort. And most recently, Scott McLeon worked on "modifying" the fort and adding a double wide slide to it. Thank you! This has all taken a great deal of time, cash and effort. If you visited the school, I think you’ll agree it has been worth it. We do have challenges and obstacles that we are facing, however. The school, just like the church or any business, needs more than kind words, prayers, and good thoughts—as important as those are. We must have a steady, reliable cash flow. At our last board meeting it was reported that we have outstanding tuition of nearly $25,000. This was a shock to many (including myself) on our board. I usually do not write much about our finances—even though they are very important. That is not my department. Our school and church however is my business and it is yours as well. Recently both our church and school have shown a steady decline in income. This is not only unhealthy and alarming it is also in contrast to Biblical teaching. It is my sincere prayer and hope that our financial situation can be corrected both quickly and responsibly, not only for the sake of our institutions but for the sake of each individual involved. This should be a matter of both prayer and action.
Beyond finances, we ask for your input, support and prayers on our school program as a whole. We have some difficult issues to decide during this school year. Our future will be shaped in part by the decisions we will be making in the coming weeks. We ask for you the parents and church members to be a part of this. Most importantly we ask that all our discussions and decisions be in accordance with God’s will for our lives. After all, that is what is most important. Please stop by and see us if you get the opportunity. We would love to see you! Thank you to each one who has already helped us with so many things this year! Each one of you is appreciated!
I asked my students to report on some of the things that have been going on at school so far this year. I hope that you will take time to read what they wrote. After all, they are the reason we have a school.
God bless each of you and God bless our country.
Sincerely,
Bill Snow
Grade 6-9, Principal
IMMEDIATE NEED TO BRING BEFORE OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Our children at Forestdale School are in an IMMEDIATE NEED of
bark around their playground equipment. For the safety of our students,
it is recommended that it be several inches deep. If you care enough to help
please contact:
Frank Hodson Jr.—#665-2074 or Bill Snow—#539-4524
ALSO
Save your General Mills coupons for Forestdale School. You can give them to
Goldie Mason
The Basketball Court
By Emily Vail, Grade 5
Last year’s eighth grade class cemented our basketball court as a gift to the
school. It looks and works well. Besides basketball, some other games we have
played on the court are dodgeball and four square. We like it a
lot.
P.E.
By Eden Bartholamew, Grade 6
Dear Readers,
Mr. Snow has been working us hard. We have to do pushups and up/downs, chinups,
sprinters and laps around the church or Thurlow Hall. Everyone has decided that
Mr. Snow is working us too hard. Unfortunately we do these exercises every day
to help make us stronger and so we progress on with our exercises and we march
on and on and on.
Fundraisers
By Savannah Lee Wilson, Grade 9
Hi,
Forestdale School has been doing the magazine drive again this year. It is a
fundrasier that we do every year with the school. I sold 15 in all, this year.
Every kid in the school did so well too. We get magazine prizes for different
amount of magazines that we sell. Last year we made: $3446. This year we made
about $1,274.85. Thanks to all the people that have helped over the years.
Climbing A Mountain
By Chris Christianson, Grade 8
For outdoor school I chose rock climbing. I was surprised to find out that I was
the only one in school who had. We spent the first night at camp. My bunk-mate
took down our tent even though he wasn’t supposed to, so we had to make it
twice. The next morning we climbed the rock wall. Some parts were hard and some
parts were easy but they were all fun. I found that many backpacks have a
problem. They are too small! We all had trouble stuffing things into our
backpacks, and when we got to the mountain it just exploded out. We climbed the
mountain and then the cliff. It was really fun. I found a cave under a pile of
boulders that had rabbit droppings all over the floor. We all made it up all the
walls except the hardest one.
Backpacking
By Cody Ballweber, Grade 7
During outdoor school Mrs. Snow, myself and 11 other kids went backpacking on
the Appalachian Trail. Mr. Snow invited, Morley Thomas as a guest speaker to
talk to us. He has hiked all the Northern New England portions of the
Appalachian Trail. Then we left for the trail. We hiked up to the Sabbath Day
Pond lean to. We met two hikers at the Sabbath Day Pond lean to. One of the guys
had a trail named "The Poet". The next day one of the counselors had a moose
right in front of her tent. Later that day we fed birds right out of our hands.
Then we hiked to the tent site. The next morning we left and got to the van. We
got back to Lawroweld.
Lakes & Ponds
By Bradley Sica, Grade 6
I studied lakes and ponds in Camp Lawroweld. We got to catch crayfish and frogs.
We also made an aquarium. We found the temperature of the water by putting the
thermometer in the aquarium. We also waded in the water and caught livings
things. The instructor was Mrs. Wall. She is very nice. Her assistant was Judy
(I don’t know her last name.).
I love to learn about lakes and ponds. We had to close our eyes and write down what we heard, when we opened our eyes we had to write what we saw.
Outdoor School
By Billy Snow, Grade 6
On Tuesday to Friday, September 11-14, grades 3-9 went up to Camp Lawroweld for
Outdoor School. As soon as we got there we found where we were staying
(Tumbledown), and unloaded our things. Then, there was time for a football game.
We got to bed early that night! The next day was quite hard. After breakfast,
everyone in grades 1-6 split up into groups. I was in the swamps/wetlands group.
Everyone had a journal to use, and I wrote in it often. We had lunch next and
then we had recreation. I was in the hiking group. The first day, we hiked
Tumbledown by way of the Brook Trail. The next day, we hiked up Canter Hill,
elevation 1640. Not bad compared to Tumbledown’s 3000+ summit. After hiking
period, there were other fun activities, like a maze, a rope activity, and an
obstacle course. The next day, Friday, the groups had a show and tell, telling
what they did and found. Then we packed up and left. I had a wonderful time.
Playground Update
By Hannah Vail, Grade 6
In the past one to two years, Forestdale school has purchased new playground
equipment. The most recent addition is the slide added onto the fort. We thank
Mr. McLeon for his volunteer effort to put the slide in. The fort itself is new,
along with pullup bars, monkey bars, parrallel bars, and tether balls. Last
years graduating 8th grade class cemented the basketball court as a
gift to the school. The school now has new playground equipment for students and
staff to enjoy.
Changes
By Lyndon Mason, Grade 6
There have been many changes at Forestdale School this year. One change is that
we have a new kindergarten program. There are three students in kindergarten.
All the teachers teach different grades this year. Mrs. Wiggin teaches
kindergarten through second grade. She has eleven kids in her class. Mr. Stahl
teaches grades three through five. He has 7 kids in his clas. Finally Mr. Snow
teaches grades six through nine. He has 9 kids in his class.
In My Humble Opinion
Thoughts Expressed By Lamplighter Editor, Christie Hodson
Believe it or not I had two editorials written for October’s newsletter. I kept
going back and forth in my mind as to which to use this month. That was until
yesterday, when like many of you, I was paralyzed by the events that unfolded
before all of us through various media forums. All to often such atrocities take
place overseas, unbeknownst to us. Yesterday things hit home in a big way. As my
children watched with me the horror of what was unfolding, I scrambled for words
to explain. I explained that "someone with hate in their hearts wanted to hurt
others". That seemed to be ok until my son said that he wanted Jesus to help
those people and "make them new again". What a wonderful opportunity it was to
talk of God’s return to our chaotic earth to rescue us from Satan’s playground.
To escape this world of hate to a heaven where only love would abound. It seems
unrealistic at times for adults to have such idealistic thoughts but for
children, whose innocence protects them from all the details that muddle or
manipulate our thinking, the thought of Heaven is a realistic and understandably
wonderful thought. How I know it must grieve many of us to see our children
experience tragic events, but we must "grow up" and be a pillar of strength for
their vulnerable minds. As Christians we should feel at peace with all these
events unfolding. Who should feel any freer than an American Christian. We’ve
had such a tremendous life here in America as Christians. We mustn’t fold. We
must stand strong, we need to believe that God’s in charge and that He has
overcome the world. Why should we fear? Jesus even told His followers before
returning to heaven, "In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have
defeated the world." (John 16:33). What a pep talk! As I write this, I too feel
a human fear as the rest of you may but I keep reminding myself that such fear
will only impede my quest for a strong faith and a true peace. It has all but
been established by our government that a man named Osama Bin Laden is
responsible for an entire network of terrorist cells, that in the name of their
"Allah" find it necessary to destroy the "evil ones" (Americans). It’s a
community of people that have perverted the Muslim religion maybe to fit their
own personal vendettas. One knows not why such a hatred poisons their mind. It
has united many in a struggle for liberty that we have so long been blessed
with. What a joyous day on earth it would be to once again experience the
freedom we experienced prior to this event. We have to wonder whether we will
lose that freedom without a fight or be sickened by the reality of what may be
the price we have to pay. Christ had such a decision to make on earth. His own
people accused Him, yelled at Him, spat upon Him. Jesus was an innocent man.
Christ had the power to save Himself but He knew what His mission was, "To
redeem the world." Our mission as Christians is to realize what our Saviour has
bought with His love, and share that love and assurance to all those around us.
Yes, and to even forgive the unforgivable. That train of thought may not fit
into our earthly ideals for our present situations, but it’s an ideal worth
looking at if we carry the title "Christian". This earth is but a stop on our
way to our eternal home. May we this day look to the skies and shout, "Come,
Lord Jesus come, I’m ready to go home." The following song by Chris Rice speaks
to the questions we may have now. May we leave the world in bigger hands. May we
leave it in Yours, O Lord. May we continue to angst for Your coming and prepare
our hearts to be ready for that day whenever it may be.
Naive
By Christian Artist Chris Rice
How long until You defend Your name and set the record right?
How far will You allow the human race to run and hide? Yeah.
And how much can You tolerate our weaknesses
Before You step into our sky blue and say "that's quite enough"
Am I naive to want a remedy for every bitter heart?
Can I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark? Yeah.
And can I leave the timing of this universe to bigger hands?
And may I be so bold to ask You to please hurry?
I hear that a God who's good would never let the evil run so long
But I say it's because You're good You're giving us more time
'Cause I believe that You love to show us mercy
But when will You step into our sky blue and say
"that's quite enough, and your time is up" Yeah.
Am I naive?
Can I believe?
And can I leave in bigger hands?
And may I be so bold to ask You, to ask You, to ask You
How long?
Note
Our Church is on the Web!
www.hodsonhome.com/woodstocksda
Guard Against Stereotyping, Urges Adventist Leader
"There is a very natural reaction of wanting to assign blame," acknowledges Graz. "But in this time of international distress, we must be sure that the innocent do not pay for the acts of the guilty."
"There are good people everywhere, but there are also fanatics everywhere, in all religions," says Graz. "This terrible suffering has been caused by fanatics who are blind to the value of human life."
"These people are a minority," he adds. "Most people, no matter what their religion or beliefs, want to live with their families in a world of peace."
In the days following Tuesday's attack, many Muslim and Arab groups across the United States and around the world have condemned the acts of terrorism. But in the United States, Muslim organizations have reported a marked rise in harassment of Muslim-Americans, especially of women who wear the traditional religious head covering, called a hijab.
Graz, who has been interviewed on a number of European radio stations over the past few days, says, "We must find more ways to build bridges between all people of goodwill, in every religion, and present a united front against evil of this kind."
The Adventist Church will continue working to promote tolerance and respect for all individuals, regardless of their race or religion, says Graz.
"Hate, not religion, was at the root of these barbaric attacks," he says, "and we must resist the temptation to perpetuate this hate."
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