Torch, Spring 1993

spirit is one with others? Are you sharing a common purpose with fellow believers in your local place of worship? Are you living a life marked by harmony? Are you practicing humility? Are you making decisions that reflect unselfish priorities? "Prof, does it bother you that I ask you about your cancer?" my student asked me last week after class. He had just related that a family member was undergoing a health crisis that didn't seem to go away. He had dealt harshly with her on the phone, but after I had shared with the class some of the physical and emotional challenges I continue to face, he had been rebuked by the Holy Spirit. "No," I assured him, "I don't mind at all. In fact, sharing my lessons and conclusions with someone else seems to be one way that God redeems this experience for good." My health status is one of those situations in which the incidents are not good but the working together makes something good come out of 12 Torch them. It's like music. Singing only the bass line of a song sounds rather boring, but adding the tenor, alto, and soprano makes beautiful music. The challenges in my life have brought much pain- physical, emotional, and even spiritual- but when God is all done with this song, it will be beautiful. Talking and sharing along the way helps me to see that the song can be beautiful. For the last little while, God and I have been writing the bass track, but later we will get to the melody line, and I will understand much better what He has in mind. He is the ultimate in the acquisition of good. He brings me joy. The National Youth Ministries Conference recently recognized Dr. Cheryl Fawcett, assistant professor of Christian education at Cedarville College, for "Outstanding Contribution to Youth Ministry, 1993." A popular speaker and seminar leader in Christian education, Dr. Fawcett also writes Sunday school materials for Regular Baptist Press. Dr. Fawcett holds degrees from Baptist Bible College, Wheaton Graduate School, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. ~JJ