30
September 2015 SR
My oldest daughter is 39; my youngest is 16. But all six
“kids” have heard it so many times they can complete
what jokingly became a mantra. “There are three most
important things in life: Faith, Family, and Education.”
The echo then comes, “Not necessarily in that order.”
When we borrow a term from Biochemistry, we can
say that Seventh Baptists have Deoxyribose Nucleic
Acid. Okay, let’s translate: as a people, Seventh Day
Baptists have a DNA. We have core values that identify
who we are as a people. (You might discover those values
by purchasing “Identity” from the Seventh Day Baptist
Store:
). Reach back
with me to my family mantra and discover who we are as
Seventh Day Baptists. Discovering our people’s DNA can
be defined as “Faith, Family, and Education”
Do you remember the commercial which closed with
these words, “What’s in your wallet?” Open your wallet
and see what you have inside. Now we’re not checking
to see if you have 5, 10 or even 100 dollar bills...though
your local church could use them in the offering plate
this Sabbath. When you check your wallet, see if you find
Faith. Look at it closely. Is it counterfeit Faith or does it
rest in Jesus Christ alone as both Savior and Lord? Then
check in your wallet – do you find Family? Is it Family as
the Southern Gospel tradition shouts, “We are brother
and sister down here”? Check the wallet one more time
and you should find Education. We’re not talking about
Pseudo Education. Is it real currency? You remember
what Paul wrote to Timothy, “Study to show yourself
approved unto God rightly handling the word of truth.”
You found true Faith, actual Family, and spot on Education.
The challenge is to spend them and not keep them
enclosed in your wallet.
There is an old preacher’s story about a dad and his
son who were walking through a rural cemetery. The
young man with a gleam in his eyes inquired of his dad
as they stood in front of a headstone.
“Dad, that first number is the birthdate, correct?”
“Yes”
“The second number is when the person passed, correct?”
“Yes”
“What is that little line in between?”
Dad was silent for what seemed an eternity, and then
said, “Son, that’s what the person did during his life.”
We are bound on one side by General Conference
Sessions in Lancaster 2015. We are bound on the other
side by Houghton Conference 2016. While our gatherings
are highlighted and necessary, it is what we do between
sessions that makes the difference. Make a difference.
Live out “Faith – Family – Education”.
— Pastor Ken R8:28
President’s Page
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Chroniger
Alfred Station SDB Church, NY
Pastor Ken with Peggy, Madge & Elianna
Passing the gavel to new President
SR
