Bé6é - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 26, 1995 A spiritual wilderness By Amold Peters House of Praise IN THE BOOK of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts to the people of Israel the dealings af God in their lives and the way He had led them toward the land that had been promised to them, ’ Tn chapter cight, verse two it states: ‘‘And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wildemess that He might humble you, testing you te know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His command- ments or not.” It is a chilling thought to con- sider having to go through a wilderness. While we may not live in a physical wilderness as did the Israelites, those who seriously intend to follow and have an intimate relationship with Jesus will in all probability en- counter a spiritual wilderness. It is a time when all who we are and everything we have done passes through the heat of the desert sun. It is a time when any theologi- cal learming or understanding we might have does us no good and answers mo questions; a time through ‘which past experience and accomplishments do not cary us; and a time when church attendance does not bring a balm for our soul or a soothing in our spirit. It is a time when our prayers seem to dribble out of our mouths and fall lifeless onto the floor, and a time when the hot desert sand prevents our feet from making any progress, and as much as we struggle onward, we seem to be at a virtual standstill. Tt becomes the time when God tests the heart, Our wilderness comes ata time such as this because when every- View Point thing is going well in our lives and the blessings of God appear to be upon us and the accolades of men come our way we do not truthfully know what js in our heart. In wilderness experiences in peoples’ lives we may hear the cry of self vindication — “But God knows my heart!” Yes, He knows our griefs, hurts, sorrows and our desire to fallow Him, but He also knows our well hidden ambitions, schemes of success, carefully screened manipulations and motives, our pride and our atrogance, Itis in our wilderness times that our anger and hurts surface —~ both toward God and our fellow human being, It is at such a time that we begin to review our options — whelher we ate truly under the hand of divine providence or whether we are harassed by the conflicts of our soul, It is at this time when our stead- fastness to God is either dis- carded or solidified. It is now that brings a separation between those who carry on out of duty and those who persevere out of love, It separates those who no longer want to continue on and decide ta sit it out on the sidelines and ultimately die in the wilderness. One of the meanings of the word ‘thumbled” is ‘“‘to till the ground to bring the carth into cultivation — a furrow.”? The purpose of our personal wilder- ness if we respond correctly is so there may be productivity in our lives in a proper and orderly man- ner as directed by the hand of our Creator, The purpose of Israel’s wilder- ness was to see if they would keep the commandments of God. The people of Israel were ata transition point. They were on the - verge of leaving the wildemess for new experiences in a Jand of provision that Was being given to them. This new land was a place of conquest and victory and their fu- ture success lay in the Jessons learned in the wilderness in ob- Serving and keeping the con- mandments of God. Has the Church of North Amer- ica been in a wilderness? I be- licve it has been but not recog- nized as such by all who are wandering along with the crowd, Like those born in Israel’s wilder- ness it was a normal way of life. Is the wilderness being responded to in humility as earth is turned so that it may be pro- ductive in an orderly manner? Yes, by an increasing number of individuals who desire to see and experience the power of God in victory in their lives, Will the Church walk into a new territory and experience con- quest and victory? That all depends on the lessons you have learned and retained during the time of your wilderness or whether you desire to merely remain religious, The above column is one in a series of articles from the Terrace Ministerial Association and ex- presses the views of the author. THE 7TH DAY ADVENTIST Church holds its first service in its new building, located on the corner of McConnell and Kalum Lake Drive, this Saturday. Construction started on the combined church and school last sum- mer. Their old building is located on Griffith, west of town, and has been sold to the Skeena Valley Baptist Congregation. The new school can accommodate up to 50 students, though only 16 are currently enrolled. The public i is invited to come by and sce the new building at wor- ship service, this Saturday morning at 11 a.m. New church building finished Now Spirit Gives You Another | eason lo Smile. Get A Free Camera When You Buy A Pair Of Easy Spirit Summer Casuals. IRIT Source For Sports 4555 Lakeise Ave. 635-2982 2 262 = «= —_ # 7 _ mt _ p2@2tis =semRmeerqne Latin zee” . FER SEES! gee wee! 2 2272 5) 1 HJ 2 424352 7 hy 7 oo A. & FY & ry & vs CHECK OUT THESE GREAT DEALS ON THE HOTTEST _ ELE CTRONICS INTOWN! HITACHI ai INCH COLOUR TV JIKX2Z0KC * Ultra BLACK High Contrast Tube * 650-Line Horizontal Resolution « Slim Genius Remote Control with Cursor Contral * Easy Guide OSD: * Auto Demonstration * Matrix Surround Sound : ° S-VHS + 2 Video/Audio inputs (1 Front/i Rear} * Variable Audio Output : «Oak Console with VCR Storages MTS Stereo with HITACHI 35 INCH COLOUR TV SSTAXIOCBC * Ultra BLACK High Contrast Tube * 700-Line Horizontal Resolution + Al Fine Definition Circuitry * Variable Audio Output * Slim Genius Remote Control with Cursor Control * PIP with Quick Freeze « Easy Graphic Guide OSD *3-D Surround Sound * S-VHS Input « 3 Video/Audio Inputs (1 Front/2 Rear) + Sculptured Cabinet with Frant-Firing Speakers _ Recoive ot . FREE TV. ar | FITACHI 32 INCH COLOUR TV SILX4BC » Ultra BLACK High Contrast Tube * 700-Line Horizontal Resolution + Illuminated Slim Genius with Cursar «Easy Graphic Guide OSD + Favourite Channel Feature - + PIP with Quick Freeze * §.E.5. Sound System *3-D Surround Sound - + S-VHS + 3 video/audio inputs (1 front/rear) « Sculptured cabinet with front firing speakers HITACHI DA-4 Head HI-FI VCR with 10 key OSD. Guide . VT-F391 «Video Brain Remote Contral far TWAVCR/CATV Control * Front Audio/Video Inputs Movie Return Switch * Auto Head Cleaning System —_* Digital Auto Tracking HITACHI 26 INCH COLOUR TV 26AX108¢C * 600-Line Horizontal Resolution + Video Audio Output «MTS Stereo with Surround Sound * Sculptured Cabinet Comb Filter & Wide Band Video Amp » Quick Start VHS Index Search Sysiem Easy Guide OSD * GO-TO Search * Real Time Counter Closed Caption Decader + High Speed Rewind *10-Key 0.8.D Guide NOT EXACTLY AS SHOWN NOW ONLY ~ Bonus 5 year _. Warranty HITACHI Full Sizo VHS Movie Camcordor VM-1700A HITACHI 8mm Compact Cameorder VM-ES2A I + 11.8x12 Lens *Bmm Recording Format + Automatic Macro Focusing * Wide Angle Levs + Auto Power Save *1-Lux Minimum Jlumination + 1/3" CCD, 250k f 12x Power Zoom + Auto Wind Filter * Wide Macro _ + Built-In Mic + Hot Shoe + A.A.LT. (Advanced Aniificial Intelligence Technology) + Edit Search * Synchro Edit (Capability) *D.S.P, (Digital Signal Processor) * DSP, (Digital Signal Processor) ‘ Titler (2-Line, 2-Page Character Generator) « Credit Card Style Remote Control ONLY — Mast waa) a} = Downtown Terrace