Opening the Work in Crestline

It is not always easy to understand why we are at times hindered from doing something that seems absolutely the right thing to do. But as time goes on we can look back and see that it was Providence that led us.

By M. H. VINKEL, M.D., Crestline, Ohio

It is not always easy to understand why we are at times hindered from doing something that seems absolutely the right thing to do. But as time goes on we can look back and see that it was Providence that led us.

Settling in Crestline to practice medicine never entered my mind till about two weeks before moving here. Other places we looked at were hedged about with difficulties, but this place seemed wide open. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord had a hand in leading us to this place. Conditions for starting work here were just ripe, along medical as well as spiritual lines.

We had been here only four days when the superintendent of the Fort Wayne division of the Pennsylvania Railroad came to visit. The company was in need of a doctor to care for their employees in case of accident and injury. The company surgeon they had was unsatis­factory, for various reasons, and many of the employees refused to go to him. The company was therefore compelled to make a change. Be­cause of the drinking habit and other factors they considered the four other doctors in the city to be unfit for this work.

This city is important as far as the railroad is concerned, because it is the terminal of the east and west divisions of the main Pittsburgh-Chicago trunk line. Engines and crew change here, and many of the crew members have their homes in Crestline. The repair shop of the company employs a goodly number also. In fact, a great number of the population of this city of about five thousand are or have been employed by the company.

The superintendent who came to see me knew I was a Seventh-day Adventist. He first went to see one of our church members who works for the company, and asked him whether he thought I would be willing to take care of the injured on the Sabbath. Our brother said that he was sure I would take care of an emergency case any day of the week.

Incidentally, this brother has worked for the company for many years and accepted the truth while working for them. On the first Friday after he made up his mind to keep the Sab­bath, he told the officer in charge that he could not work on the Sabbath. The officer dismissed him right there, but when our brother returned the following Sunday morning he was put to work. For several years thereafter he was dis­missed every Friday and rehired every Sunday. Now the company says no more to him but lets him keep his Sabbath. They respect him for his stand. They know they can trust him. He has a marked influence for good on his co­workers.

At first I rather hesitated to accept this rail­road position, fearing that my Sabbathkeeping would be interfered with. When I brought up the Sabbath question to the superintendent, he asked, "What are you goihg to do on Satur­days? Are you going to play golf?"

"No," I answered. "We do not keep Satur­day as most people keep Sunday."

"That's right," he said. "I know of Seventh-day Adventists in Los Angeles associated with your work at the White Memorial Hospital, and I respect them. You don't mind taking care of those injured on your Sabbath, do you? That is all we ask you to do. The rest of the work you can do when you please."

The prestige of being the company surgeon goes far in this place. It has increased my pri­vate practice severalfold, because in case of sickness many of the employees come to me, and often bring members of their family for treatment.

I have found that the company respects our religion. Nearly every time they find it neces­sary to call me by phone on the Sabbath, or to send one who has been injured, they apolo­gize for having to bother me on my rest day. It is not only the local office that apologizes but also the head offices in Fort Wayne, In­diana, and Pittsburgh.

We have succeeded in building up the confi­dence of the people in this community. It is true there is opposition, but the Lord so far has seen fit to turn it into a blessing. To draw patients away, two of the doctors started a rumor that I do not see patients on Saturdays no matter how badly they need help. This only brings our religion before the people, and they in turn soon find out that the rumor is not true.

God's Call to Sanctification

I. CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE, CONDUCT, AND DRESS.

1.What does God desire of those who are waiting for the return of Jesus? 1 Thess. 5 :23 ; I Cor. 1 :8; Col. 1 :22.

2.How much of our lives will be affected by Bible religion ?  1 Cor. 10:31; 6:19, 20.

3.With what is true temperance classi­fied? Gal. 5:22, 23.

NOTE.--True temperance is total absti­nence from all that is harmful, and mod­erate use only of that which is good.

4.Where in Christian growth and experi­ence is temperance placed? 2 Peter I: I Cor. 9:25, 27.

NOTE.-Temperance is rightly placed here as to order. Knowledge is a pre­requisite to temperance, and temperance to patience. It is almost impossible for an intemperate person to be patient.

5.In what way does the Lord express His will for us ? 3 John 2 ; Jer. 30:17; Ps. 67:1, 2 ; Isa. 58 :8.

II. RELATION OF DIET TO HEALTH.

I. What is essential to good health? Prov. 4:20-22; Lev. 18:4, 5.

2. What food was originally given to man? Gen. :29.

NOTE.-Fruits, grains, and nuts com­prised the original diet of man, and it was not until after the Flood that man was permitted to eat flesh. (Gen. 9: 2-4.) God "intended that the race should subsist wholly upon the productions of the earth; but now that every green thing had been destroyed, He allowed them to eat the flesh of the clean beasts that had been preserved in the ark!'-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 107.

3.How are clean and unclean meats distinguished? Deut. 14 :2-20 ; Lev. 2:22.

4.What shows that flesh was not for gen­eral use? Ex. 16:4; Ps. 78:24, 25.

5.What promise does the Lord give to those who would heed his counsel? Ex. 23 :25 ; 15:26.

6.Were the Israelites satisfied with "an­gels' food"? NUITI. 2I5 11 :4, 13, 31-33.

7. Did this lapse affect their spiritual life? Cor. To:5-ii.

Note.-"That which corrupts the body tends to corrupt the soul. It unfits the user for communion'Ivith God, unfits him for high and holy service."-Min­istry of Healing, p. 280.

8.What will be our fate if we defile the temple of God? i Cor. 3:16, 17. NoTE.-Daniel's noble example of true godliness (Dan. i :8-20), is a lesson for this age. "Daniel was blessed because he was steadfast in doing what he knew to be right, and we shall be blessed if we seek to honor God with full purpose of heart."-Counsels on Health, p. 156.

9.Against what evil does Christ especially warn us? Luke 21:34, 35; Matt. 24: 45-51.

10. How will God deal with those who re­fuse to heed His call to complete sancti­fication? Isa. 65:2-4; 66:15-17; Deut. 14: 23.

III. REFORM IN HABITS, AMUSEMENTS, AND DRESS.

I. What else does God forbid besides un­clean foods? Lev. 10:9, 10; Deut. 29:18 (margin), 19, 20; Prov. 23:31, 32; 20:1. Note.-Everybody-and-soul-defiling habit must and can be overcome by the grace of God. The use of drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee, unfit us to walk with God.

2.How will the true Christian relate him­self to things of this world? s John 2:15; Rom. 12 :2; John 15:18, 19. NOTE.-One who is walking with God will not be found patronizing theaters, dance and billiard halls, or places of worldly amusement. Such things as gambling and card playing deaden spir­itual senses.

3.What counsel is given concerning our attire? I Peter 3 :3, 4; I Tim. 2:9, io; Isa. 3:16-23.

NOTE.-Our attire "should have the grace, the beauty, the appropriateness of natural simplicity. Christ has warned us against the pride of life, but not against its grace and natural beauty.. .. The most beautiful dress He bids us wear upon the soul. No outward adorn­ing can compare in value or loveliness with that 'meek and quiet spirit' which in His sight is 'of great price.' "—Min­istry of Healing, pp. 288, 289.

4. What beautiful promise is given to the overcomer? 2 Cor. 6:17, 18; Rev. 21: 7, 27.

R. A. A.


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By M. H. VINKEL, M.D., Crestline, Ohio

February 1949

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