NEWSLETTER
of
THE AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION
VOLUME 15, NUMBER
6
December 1973
A NEWS YEAR: OR A NEW YEAR'S GREETING
December. 'Time for ASA News to send you our warmest greeting at Christmas and
our best wishes for the New Year. The year fleeting by, 1973, has certainly been
full of news--and new beginnings. Painful news about our national
leadership--but citizens waking up and taking responsibility for government.
Frightening news from
the
Middle East--but realistically reordering our priorities rather than killing
for oil. Sobering 'news of the national economy--but our sinews tightening
in response.
And what news we've had this year in the
American Scientific Affiliation! First the
awarding of the $10,000 matching grant--now the news that we've matched it from our
own contributions well before the November 30 deadline.
So in the midst of new beginnings, we greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and in joyous celebration of His birth. And we thank you for your interest in ASA
News, your encouragement and your many contributions to its pages.
PRAISING THE LORD-AND PLANNING THE LEAP
yes, yes, YES! Over 500 members contributed, and already by Oct. 15 we had some
$8,000 in cash and enough pledges to put us over the $10,000. By Nov. 15 we had
over $10,000 in cash, with some pledges still not paid. So with the $10,000 matching money from OUR FAVORITE FOUNDATION (God bless
em!), the ASA has at hand more
than $20,000 for our "great leap forward" in 1974.
we praise God, "giver of every good and perfect gift," and pray for His wisdom in
using these funds. Things are happening already. The Executive Council is organizing the country into areas, with members responsible for recruitment in each
area making up a National Committee for Growth. Six people of a hoped-for total of
20 have already agreed to serve on that committee, working primarily during the four
months of January through April 1974.
Executive Secretary Bill Sisterson
has drawn up week-by-week schedules for his activities and those of the Growth Committee and local contact persons during the big push
The February ASA News in a new format will be mailed to a list of 1,500 people peripherally or potentially interested in the Affiliation. A new
Brochure is being
designed for distribution to prospective members. "See how great a fire a little
matching grant) hath kindled!"
All this organization bogleth the mind. But as always, it's personal contact that
draws in new members. Former Executive Secretary Harold Hartzler has a scheme to
promote that in a big way. He has pledged to be responsible for recruiting at least
10 new members within the next year, and is urging the rest of us to do the same..
(Who can resist Harold's enthusiasm for the ASA? We couldn't, so we signed the pledge. Here we go after another 10 new members.)
There's a job for each of us to do. If we do our recruiting job the way we did the
giving job, maybe we'll surpass our next goal, too.
ASA OPEN HOUSE AT THE 1974 AAAS MEETING
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) usually meets between
Christmas and New Year's. This year AAAS is trying an experiment, shifting its
annual meeting to the week of February 24 - March 1. Theme of the meeting, to be
held in San Francisco, is "Science: Challenges of Today--Out look for the Future."
The program, being previewed in Science, promises coverage of every conceivable
current event" in science, from Richard Leakey lecturing on the startling new
hominid finds near Kenya's Lake Rudolph to a symposium arranged by Owen Gingerich
on "Velikovsky's Description of Our Planetary System" featuring supporters, critics,
and Velikovsky himself as speakers.
The American Scientific Affiliation has often sponsored a breakfast during AAAS
meetings. Difficulties in arranging such affairs and getting people to make the
advance reservations required by caterers, plus increasing costs to participants,
make meal functions less attractive. But the ASA Executive Council wants to promote
ASA contacts at national scientific meetings. Realizing that our local sections
tend to center around the same large cities or universities where scientists hold
meetings, the council came up with this idea: why couldn't the local section host
an informal party for visiting ASA members in a local member's home? A
come-if-you can, have a good-time, bring-your-spouse, evening get---together, no hassles or reservations necessary? Light refreshments, easily expandable if everybody brings a
friend? Visitors would be able to meet other ASA'ers informally while taking a
break from heavy papers and society business. And if nobody from out of town shows,
the section has at least had a chance to get to know each other better, especially
new members. So, here goes our first experiment:
The American Scientific Affiliation
invites
All ASA members and friends attending the 1974 AAAS meeting
and
All ASA members and friends living in the Bay area to
An informal Open House
8 to 10 P.M. at the Hearns Troll House
Tuesday evening 761 Arlington Ave.
26 February 1974 Berkeley,' Ca. 94707
R.S.V.P., if convenient Phone (415) 527-3056
From Sanp Francisco by car: Cross the Bay Bridge; from L. lane go N. on 1-80 past
T-Berkeley exits to Albany exit R; exit, go E. on Marin
lk
mi.
to Arlington Circle;
from circle go N. on Arlington, make U-turn at Thousand Oaks to 762.
From San Francisco by bus: From hotel, walk or take city bus to Trans-Bay Terminal,
First & Missions Sts. Take "F" bus across Bay bridge, past downtown Berkeley, to
Solano & Alameda. On N.E. corner, walk up Indian Rock Path 2 blocks, turn L. on
Mendocino, 1 blk. to Arlington; L. 1 blk. to 762. Buses run about every 20 min.,
require 5U fare in exact change, and the trip takes about 30 min.
-3-
LATE NEWS FROM THE ANNUAL MEETING
We've received word that "the youngest person attending the Geneva College meeting"
in August turned out to be a girl named Ann. She was born to Pat (qill) Sisterson
the first week in November. Bill says they're not getting much sleep these days
but that Ann and Pat are both doing fine.
Congratulations! Is Ann's full name) "Annual Meeting Sisterson"
TELLING US LIKE WE IS
Over the years several ASA members have brought their pastors with them to our meetings. A young pastor who came on his own to the 1973 annual meeting has since shared
with us some of his impressions. Michael L. Chambers of Collinsville, Illinois,
Says
he has
benefited from
the Journal and ASA
News the three years he's been an ASA member, but came to his first ASA
meeting feeling pretty much an outsider. That
feeling didn't last long:
1. "The benefit of an annual meeting for any member is incalculable. My interest in the Affiliation and understanding of its workings have increased to the point
that I feel personally, involved even though the significance of any contribution I
might make is doubtful... I experienced at the meeting, with many of the participants,
something akin to the Biblical koinonia: a more total fellowship than that of merely
being thrown together with something in common, a communion on many levels. This
strikes me as remarkable, taking place in the short space of a few days."
2. "1 feel the meeting would have profited from the participation of member
linguists and Biblical exegetes. I came with a marked deficiency in the area of
the testimony of scientific evidence and profited greatly from what I heard and saw;
I think science-types could profit conversely from a more in-depth handling of the
Biblical matters. Bible study, I think, should rightly be considered everyman's
domain; but we must have more serious regard for specialists in the technical
fields related to it (e..&., semantics, hermeneutics, etc.)..."
3. "Scientists cannot be stereotyped. Quite frankly, one of my interests in
attending was to see what science-types look like...I was amazed to find that you're
thoroughly human! After considering at length Harold Hartzler, Walt Hearn, Hugh
Paine, and David Willis, I gave up trying to stereotype scientists. What a joy to
share with such spiritually and intellectually wealthy people of God, rich also in
variety!"
Wow! Mike Chambers hardly fits any ministerial stereotypes, himself. For one thing,
he's continuing graduate work in philosophy and Christian doctrine at Lincoln
Christian Seminary while serving as a full-time pastor. For another, he's adept at
oriental martial arts! And he's willing to experiment: ASA News hopes to describe
an innovative education program of Mike's in a future H0W T0 START SOMETHING.
Meanwhile, we appreciate his criticism as wel1 as his kudos. We-printed only the
gist of it but Mike expressed at length a concern that ASA have access to the best
possible Biblical exegesis. His scholarly interest in linguistics is demonstrated
by an excellent 54-page booklet he published this year, The Message of God in the
Language of Man (An Introductory Study in the Nature of Language and Bible Translation). It grew out of discussions with members of his church and will eventually
be accompanied by an annotated bibliography of perhaps 100 pages. Copies of the
original booklet are available at 50c each from Kike Chambers, % First Christian
Church, 1502 Vandalia, Collinsville, Illinois 62234.
DONALD F. JOHNS DIES UNEXPECTEDLY
Donald F. Johns (dean of Central Bible College, Springfield, Missouri) died of a
heart attack on October 9 at the age. of 51. Born in Rochester, New York, he had
attended Rochester Institute of Technology and Nyack Missionary College and then
received B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from New York University. He was a professor
of religious education and
Bible, highly
respected for his teaching and
counseling
of students. In addition to ASA, he was a member of the Evangelical Theological
Society and the Religious Educations Association. He had been on the faculty of
Central Bible College since 1952, dean since 1965. Ordained by the Southern Missouri
District of the Assemblies of God in 1956, he actively participated in denominational
affairs. He had recently begun teaching in the new Assemblies of God Graduate School
in Springfield. Donald Johns is survived by his wife, Dorothy; two sons attending
Central Bible College; his mother, Mrs. Carrie L. Johns, and a brother, both of
Rochester, New York.
ASA News expresses our sympathy to the Johns family and our thanks to Stanley Horton
of Central Bible College for supplying this information.
WERE THEY AT THE SAME METING?
Once in a while we run across a young Christian disturbed by what seem to be discrepancies in different accounts of the same event in the Bible. Or we find a
non-Christian using these supposed "errors" to hammer away at the faith of others in the
divine inspiration of Scripture. "Hardliners" with a rigid definition of Biblical
inerrancy might object to the way we look at such discrepancies. But we expect a
certain amount of variation in reports by different observers. We take it as evidence that the Bible hasn't been "doctored"--and hence is worthy of trust. A
standard example from the New Testament is the healing of the blind man (men?) by
Jesus on the way into (out of?) Jericho (Matt. 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:
35-43).
Seldom have we had such a magnificent example of this human phenomenon as in the
reports reaching us of a "debate" between recent-creationist Duane Gish, associate
director of the Institute for Creation Research in San Diego, and theistic-evolutionist '
Roger Cuffey, professor of paleontology in Penn State's Dept. of Geosciences.
The reports agree that the meeting (1) took place at Penn State on Oct. 10; (2) was
sponsored by the Overcomers, a (Mennonite?) student organization; and (3) drew over
1,000 people ("over 1,500 students and faculty" in one account), many of whom stayed
for a two-hour question-and-answer period after the two presentations.
Beyond these points of agreement, however, you wouldn't think our two reporters had
been at the same meeting. One said Cuffey's evidence of transitional fossils so
overwhelmingly supported an evolutionary interpretation that Gish "immediately stated
that a creationist view had to be based upon extra-scientific evidence." The other
said Gish "showed conclusively" that Cuffey's "supposed 'transitional forms' were
either invalid or
irrelevant."
As to the outcome, one reporter said "general student reaction indicated that Gish's
arguments and evidence were more cogent and persuasive than those of the evolutionist."
The other said the question-and-answer session was "dominated by students and faculty
challenging creationists' misuse or misinterpretation of scientific data and concepts
from diverse disciplines."
Hmmm...How do you suppose you'd have felt if you had been there? Even apart from
judging the merits of the arguments, I mean. Would you have been saddened to see
that much division between Christians who try to take both science and the Bible
seriously? Maybe. But if Roger and Duane were able to demonstrate love for each
other as brothers in Christ, maybe seeing them disagree publicly before that many
onlookers wouldn't have seemed so bad.
At least it must have been obvious that what a person thinks about evolution isn't
enough to make him a Christian--or to keep him from being one.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR STATE?
Science for 16 Nov. 1973 carries on p. 696 a story by Nicholas Wade entitled
"Evolution: Tennessee Picks a New Fight with Darwin." Pointing out that the 1925
"anti-evolution law" which brought on the famous Scopes trial stayed on Tennessee's
books until 1967, the story reports passage of a 1973 law setting the scene for a
similar confrontation. "The new statute
makes the legally more subtle stipulation
that wherever Darwin's theory is taught, alternative (that is, Biblical) theories
must be taught in parallel."
Evidently the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) has appealed for funds
to hire legal counsel, planning to challenge the new law in the courts
immediately.
immediately. Would somebody in Tennessee please keep us informed with newspaper clippings or
reports on these developments? The editor of ASA News wants to keep ASA up-to-date
on the creation/evolution controversy--and he's also writing a book on the subject.
In fact, we'd appreciate any news from any state on these public controversies.
Send to: ASA News editor, 762 Arlington Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707. Many thanks.
THE SCIENTIST AND ETHICAL DECISION
The Scientist and Ethical Decision, edited by Charles Hatfield, a new Inter-Varsity
Press paperback ($2.95; Downers Grove, Illinois), is worthy of attention by Christians (and non-Christians) in science. It contains 13 papers presented at last
year's Institute for Advanced Christian Studies conference at the U. of Michigan
(reported in Dec. 1972 ASA News,, p. 4), plus a brief introduction by mathematician
Hatfield, who organized and chaired the conference.
Three philosophical papers on "Ethical Principle" are followed by four on "Ethical
Practice" (including one by physicist Jack McIntyre, another by biochemist Walt
Hearn). Papers by geneticist Elving Anderson and zoologist Frank Cassel comprise
an excellent and timely section on "Ethics in Genetics." Three papers on "Ethics
in Psychology" (including one by psychiatrist David Busby) touch on B. F. Skinner.
The final section, "The New Image of Man," is an address by Carl F. H. Henry.
HOW TO START SOMETHING. No. 18. MARTIN PRICE
"Logos" is the name of a chain of bookstores in university neighborhoods established
a few years ago by Inter-Varsity Press (IVP) to make significant Christian books more
readily available to students. IVCF staff member Jim Carlson started the first Logos
store at the University of Michigan, now directs both that greatly expanded enterprise and the whole Logos chain. A number of ASA members are shareholders or advisors in the store near the campus where they teach. A few actually put in time in a
Logos store to help sell books, witness to people who walk in, or both.
Logos fans attending the 1973 ASA national meeting were surprised to discover a
brand new LOGOS BOOKSTORE in downtown Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. They were also
surprised to find an ASA biochemist, (former) Geneva College faculty member Martin L. Price
managing the store. And Walt Hearn, conscious of the Berkeley store's struggle to
break even in its second Yea, was dumbfounded to learn that the Beaver Falls store
had become profitable after only three months--and in the summer with no students
around!
We thought many of you would be interested in Martin's story, so we asked him to
tell it in full. We've edited his fascinating letter only slightly, thinking the
details might be encouraging and useful to others.
First, a few words about the writer. Martin became a Christian at the end of his
sophomore year at Ohio University through the IVCF chapter there. As a senior he
was chapter president, and as a grad student was 'Later IVCF president at Indiana
University when that chapter ran short of undergraduate leadership. Martin is
single. He
taught blood chemistry one summer at the "Evangelical University" in
the
Dominican
Republic. Martin thinks that someday the Lord might lead him back
to Latin America as an agricultural chemist to make full use of his Ph.D.
training But, for the time being, here's what's been happening to him:
"After my conversion I read nearly everything IVP had available. I realize what a
debt I owe to Christian literaturefor my growth, both in character and in understanding. I soon learned not to expect from a church the kind of teaching I could
get from books., which opened whole realms to me and often kept me going in times of
dryness or intellectual questioning.
"At the end of my second year of teaching chemistry at Geneva College, I was in
contact with a number of Christian students and wished they could be persuaded to
read some of the IVP books I had found helpful. I also wanted to save them some
money, so I bought about $100 worth of books on IVP's 'Press-o'matic deal, arranged
them on my living room mantel, and started selling them to students at cost.
"By the next fall I had become a 'Permanent Book Table' or PBT for Inter-Varsity,
now selling at 20% off and using the rest to build up more stock. Response was
quite favorable, about $1,000 worth that year. Then I learned of Cicero Bible Press
a 'Jobber' that could supply me with almost any Christian book and gave me the usual
dealer discounts. So I expanded my stock to the point of being almost driven out of
my living room. During a church conference I found that adults other than students
were also hungering for such books, so I started a few book tables in churches.
It
It
In December 1972 1 was praying more and more about how I could get the books to
where the people-were. It's rather amusing to me now how I confessed that my vision
had been too small to see what God really wanted me to do: establish book tables in
churches. (My sales that year, up to the time I turned things over to Logos in
April
were about $4,000.) But I also thought of renting some downtown hole-in-the-wall an,
setting up just for the summer. I even thought of putting Christian books into othei
kinds of stores.
"Gradually a new idea formed. Maybe I should try what I had seen starting up at
Cornell University the previous summer when I was there doing research on herbicide
chemistry. A unique Christian bookstore called 'Logos' opened there, with a fresh
and exciting philosophy of reaching students.
"I returned from Christmas vacation early and called Larry Sibley, a former IVCF
staff worker who had just started a Logos bookstore in Cleveland. I was still
apologetic and defensive for having dared to think I might start one, but he encouraged me. He said it would take a minimum of about $12,000. Then I called
Walt Siegfried, a man known throughout western Pennsylvania for his work as a PBT,
and said, 'Walt, I have a really wild idea to throw out...' Within a few minutes,
he had agreed to invest $7,000. That was about what I could scrape together, so it
looked like we had it made.
"I wrote to Jim Carlson in Ann Arbor, who called me as soon as he received my letter.
Meanwhile, a recent Geneva College graduate home from vacation, Paul Kilpatrick,
told his minister that he had learned of a bookstore chain called Logos; Paul said
he wanted to start one in Beaver Falls: Within a few days of my initial call, we
had three of us with $7,000 each.
"We began looking at the new suburban shopping mall and downtown Beaver Falls, taking
Jim's advice to make pedestrian counts at different locations. We found more people
walking in the supposedly 'dying' downtown area than in the side aisles of the mall.
The side aisles had the only spaces available in the mall, at a yearly rent of $7,000
for 1,000 square feet. We would have to sign a 5-year lease (as individuals), a
space with a dirt floor and a tin ceiling. The mall would contribute $3,000, but
we would literally have to build the store from the ground up. Besides, of those
people who were in the mall, we noticed a great many there just for the experience.
They carried no packages.
"Then we found a vacant building in Beaver Falls with reasonable rent and somewhat
more than 1,000 sq. ft., with a count of about 35 pedestrians every 10 minutes. We
had to act fast, so we gave Jim a call. He said we ought to look some more (an
example of the kind of helpful advice provided by the Logos franchise). So we
went to look at a huge corner storefront, horrible inside, in a part of town we
thought would have less traffic than our first choice. But our count showed about
60 pedestrians per 10 minutes. The realtor said the rent would be $325 monthly for
about 1,800 sq. ft. in front plus another 1,000 sq. ft. in the rear which could
serve for Sunday school supply room, lounge, storage, office, receiving, etc.
"Jim flew out to help us decide, and gave his approval. The owner was so eager
(after bad experience with tenant turnover) that she agreed to rent to us at the
specified rate for two years, with our option to renew for up to 10 more years at
the same rent! She also put down $1,400 in carpet of our choice up front. Fortunately we put in the contract that the air-conditioner was part of the building:
after our first business day this summer it broke down and cost the landlady $1,200
to replace.
"We had expected to have to panel over the awful-looking walls, but Jim suggested
covering them with ordinary burlap. We were able to put a superior grade of
bright-colored burlap (burlon) on 13-ft. high walls in a 13 x 93 ft. room for only $300.
It gives a unique look to the store and we can hang plaques, posters, calendars, etc.
on the walls anywhere without leaving a mark when they're removed. About a dozen
Geneva students and several profs worked with us. Many hours of carpentry work at
very modest pay were done by a psychology prof (Dave Harvey) and a recent Geneva
graduate. We hadn't anticipated our need for that much work but the Lord provided.
In general we underestimated the amount of work needed to-get the place going. It
was morning to midnight for Paul and me, who lived locally and by May were not
employed elsewhere.
"Let me back up. I felt one of the main problems would be finding someone to manage
the store after September when I had to go back to teaching. About the middle of
February it became apparent that the college would be in a financial crisis due to
decreasing enrollment. So I suggested that I work half-time at the college and
half-time at the store. My suggestion was eagerly, tentatively accepted. In retrospect I can see that I couldn't have made it, since I ended up putting in at
least 60-hr. weeks for the first five months and nearly that much now. Then the
cut became worse than anticipated and the college lost about 18% of its staff. I
was dropped completely.
"I suppose I'm one of very few faculty members suddenly without a job who could see
it as God's provision and direction, not a tragedy. Part of the Geneva termination
agreement was to supplement our normal earnings during the first year after being
dropped. This helped the bookstore break even during our first year, since I draw
only $5,000 a year from the store. Another provision God prepared before we knew
that we needed it!
"I should have said earlier that sometime in February Jim Carlson told us of his
reservations about whether we had enough money together to make a go of it. Eventually we were required to raise a minimum of $30,000, a
requirement that disheartened me for about a day. Then I began looking around. Within 10 days we were
able to raise $31,000, and not by asking just anybody with money to invest. Only
people we would be glad to have work in the store, for instance, were asked if they
would like to be shareholders, and only those who could buy at least $1,500 worth
of stock were accepted. This policy gave us a small number of owners and a very
competent group. We were amazed at how many people were eager to get in on something like this, and we've been grateful ever since that Jim Carlson kept us from
making a terribly undercapitalized start.
"All of us wondered if Beaver Falls could adequately support a Logos bookstore.
This is primarily an industrial town, mostly steel, with a population of 15,000
and many old buildings. However, the towns in our area are right next to each
other, so the realistic shopping population in the vicinity is more like 64,000.
The only colleges are Geneva, a community college, and a branch of Penn State,
each with about 1,200 students. Geneva College was in walking distance, but
farther than many students would likely walk; the two others are a 20-minute
drive away. But other than the small college bookstores, which handled mainly
textbooks, there was only one other bookstore in Beaver Falls and it had a relatively small selection.
"I felt it would be well for Logos to carry a wide selection of secular books.
First, unlike the situation near big universities ' we would be about the only
place where people could find a good selection in art, music, history, classics,
etc. Second, Christians are interested in many things other than just 'spiritual'
things. I thought we would give a better witness if we were well-rounded in our
book selections as well as in our lives. Third, we would have a better chance of
surviving financially if we could sell both kinds of books.
"At times it's tricky deciding which books to carry. Our general rule of thumb:
we will consider a book if it is good, true, of good report, or, if none of these,
if it is of such importance that Christians should know about it. In fiction we
have special problems, since you can't tell at a glance what a book will be like
and since much fiction, written primarily to make a fortune, is of poor or immoral
quality. We decided to carry a heavy selection of the classics, explaining to
customers that we intend to stock those books that have proved their worth by being
around a long time. We supplement these with some current fiction but make no apology for not having everything that's in print.
"Because the college population in our town isn't high there are fewer people interested in our kind of Christian bookstore. That makes us a light in the darkness to
those who are, so we get much greater attention from them. Our service to educated
people is as significant as our service to those in the process of being educated.
But it would be wrong to imply that we draw on an elite clientele. It's a pleasure
to find that 'little old ladies', young high-school students, businessmen, housewives, etc., seem to find our store a joy. We receive compliments on the store
from people in all walks of life.
"We carry Sunday school supplies but keep them in the back so as not to drive off
anyone who is turned off at once by religion. Those who are trying to teach Sunday
schools are in need of all the help we can give them, and the store could potentially realize a substantial part of its income from Sunday school business. We definitely limit the amount of combs, pencils, plastic Jesuses, etc., that clutter up
many Christian bookstores, and try to handle more significant things. We have some
jewelry and handcrafted items, and a new section of art supplies near our growing
collection of art books. our children's book section is much appreciated.
"When I was studying chemistry I never dreamed I'd be managing a bookstore. Perhaps
I should mention that the Logos franchise (which costs an initial $3,000 plus 1% Of
sales) includes a week's training at the Ann Arbor store for each new manager. I
learned the tricks of the trade there and received lists of countless suppliers of
unique cards, posters, etc. It would have been very
difficult to compile
that kind
of information on our own, and it was an invaluable help.
"Logos has a new computer inventory service that saved us a lot to time at the very
beginning. It printed out a recommended list of Christian books (with Suggested
amounts to order) in the form of purchase orders. I added, and continue to add,
whatever I wish to the computer's list for our store. The computer sends us an
inventory card to put in each book when it arrives from the publisher and to return
when the book is sold. We get a monthly printout listing every book in the store
alphabetically, with the number on hand, the number we desire to carry, author's
location in the store (for the benefit of new help), and how many have sold in
various time periods. Computer cost runs about $120 a month for a store with our volume of business (about $200 daily)."
We're expressing our thanks to Martin with a dozen complimentary "Scientist's Psalm"
greeting cards, mailed % Logos Bookstore, 1028 Seventh Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.
If you'd like to .rap about Christian entrepreneurship, about books or bookstores,
you could write to him there. Better yet, drop in at the store when you're in the
vicinity. Martin will also be at URBANA 73, the 10th Inter-Varsity Missionary
Convention, at the University of Illinois, December 27-31, and would be glad to see
you there. He'll be working with the Inter-Varsity Press set-up.
LOST IN SPACE
Last January, James A. Green wrote ASA News a letter that fell into a pile of 1972
Christmas cards we'd already read--not exactly where the action is on our desk. I'm
surprised it ever turned up again, but it did--just as 1973 Christmas cards began to
arrive. Sorry about that, Jim. Your letter almost got filed like a White House tap
recording!
Jim (who was living at 12682 Poplar St., in Garden Grove, CA 92645, last January) is
a PH.D. biochemist who has had an interesting career in aerospace medicine. He began
it in 1956 at the USAF School of Aviation (now Aerospace) Medicine, then was associate director of research for the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City,
and for a year director of life sciences at Oklahoma City University. In 1962 he
moved to California to head the Department of Bio-medicine for North American
Rockwell's part of the Apollo space program. The moon program waned, with Jim's
responsibility for the biomedical requirements completed in 1968. For the next
three years he studied the impact of artificial gravity environments for Space
Station/Base Type vehicles.
By 1972, Jim was working some on Skylab and some on the International Docking
Program with the USSR, but also wondering what he should do next. He had applied
to NASA Houston and have several other irons in the fire. We hope he's found a
satisfying and challenging position since then. It must be hard to follow an act
like landing men on the moon.
Jim has always been active in the Church of Christ, and (a year ago!) was an elder,
music director, and teacher of Bible classes in his local church. In spite of some
misfortunes and regrets, Jim says, "God has blessed me and my family beyond measure."
I'm glad the Lord never loses track of His people the way some of us lose track of
our correspondence.
PEOPLE LOOKING FOR POSITIONS
David A. Saunders (20-Staniford St., Boston,
Mass. 62114) is seeking academic or indtistrial employment in the fall of 1974. He
has a B.S. from MIT and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins, both in biology. His doctoral
work was in cell and developmental biology. A thesis on transplantation genetics
gave him experience in immunological and cell culture techniques. Since fall 1972
he has been a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Developmental Biology at
B.B.R.I., working on the enzymology of differentiating cellular slime mold. David
also expects to gain experience in systems analysis, incorporating his biochemical
data into a computer model developed by the research team in his department.
A few ASA members listed in earlier issues remain in the job market. Several are
overseas, where making contacts for a return to the U.S. may give a person a particularly desperate feeling of being "out of it.". Here are capsule reminders of
some good people still available for June or September 1974:
Bryan L. Duncan (Central Philippine University, Iloilo City, Philippines). Biologist
Ph.D. in parasitology & microbiology. Teaching and Peace Corps experience. Details:
Oct. 1973 ASA News, p. 9.
Alonzo Fairbanks (Haigasian College, P.O. Box 1748, Beirut, Lebanon). Bio-physicist.
Ph.D. on radiation, electron spin resonance of biomolecules. Ten years' experience
teaching molecular biology, embryology, genetics, plant physiology. Details: Aug.
1973 ASA,News, p. 8.
Charles M. Flynn, Jr. (Chemistry Dept., University of Virginia, Charlottesville,
VA 22901). Chemist Ph.D., inorganic. Teach general, analytical, physical, or
advanced inorganic; research on solid ionic metal complexes. Details: Feb. 1973 ASA News,
p. 6.
James R. Moore ' (12 Monaco Drive, Northenden, Manchester 22, England). Historian.
Ph.D. in ecclesiastical history, interaction of science & religion. Teach history,
elementary science (B.S. in E.E.), interdisciplinary. Details: June 1973
ASA,News,, p. 8.
POSITIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
Westmont College has an opening for a Ph.D. psychologist to teach in either the
experimental-physiological or the education-measurement area beginning fall 1974.
Appointment at the assistant or associate professor level. For information, contact Dr. George Brushaber, Vice President and Academic Dean, Westmont College,
955 La Paz Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.
The Biology Department at Wheaton College has a teaching position available for the
1974-75 year. Qualifications for the position include the Ph.D. degree, primary
interest in teaching physiology, some teaching experience, a desire for continued
research on a part-time basis, and a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and the
goals and objectives of a Christian liberal arts college. Qualified applicants
should write to Ray Brand, Chairman of the Department and include all pertinent
materials. Faculty appointment questionnaires will be sent to the most promising
and qualified applicants.
LOCAL SECTION ACTIVITIES
1. The Christian View of Science and Scripture, by Bernard Ramm. Published by Eerdmans; list price - $2.95; members price - $2.50. Despite its age (1954) this book is a '!must" for all serious students of the relationship of science and the Christian faith. It caused a great stir among Christians when first published because of its open treatment of problem areas. There is an extensive review of it in JASA, Vol. 7, No. 4. Ramm is an ASA member.
William D. Sisterson
Executive SecretaryPERSONALS
Stanley M. Horton is now dividing his time between the Division of Biblical Educator
at Central Bible College and the new Assemblies of God Graduate School, both in
Springfield, Missouri. An associate professor at the Graduate School, Stan says his
science background comes in handy, especially in teaching a course on problems in
Genesis.
Joseph Kozinski has graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in
psychology. In the Lord's good time, Joe plans to go on for a master's degree.
Meanwhile he has become one-third owner and manager of a Christian bookstore in
Pittsburgh. Joe says "The Lord has just relocated the store in a neighboring community, a stepping stone to 'greater things."' (Wow, that makes two ASA'ers managing Christian bookstores, both in western Pennsylvania. See HOW TO START SOMETHING in this issue.--Ed.)
Vincent J. Krabill has returned to Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, as head of
the Biology Department, after two years' teaching at Navajo Community College in
Many Farms, Arizona. Vince helped plan and equip microbiology and anatomy/physiology
labs while at the Indian school.
T. H. Leith has been teaching four courses at York University in Toronto, including
one on "science and pseudoscience." But helping Canadians celebrate the 500th
anniversary of Copernicus's birth has also kept him busy. For instance, Harry did
a coast-to-coast one-hour show on CBC radio on the astronomer's birthday, a show
that has since been rebroadcast several times. For the private Canadian TV network
(CTV), Harry did five half-hour shows appearing weekly this fall, and for the public
network (CBC-TV), he helped produce a one-hour special for prime time viewing in
October. All this has led Harry to propose doing a daily 3-minute news item on TV
giving background to news of science and technology.
Fred Shannon has become academic dean of Houghton College, Houghton, New York. He
was formerly professor of chemistry at the college. Fred is currently president of
the Western New York local section of ASA.
Bob Wilhelmson is presently working at the Laboratory for Atmospheric Research at
the University of Illinois in Urbana. Bob is investigating the "life cycle" of
thunderstorms through numerical simulation. The large thunderstorm model is run
remotely on UCLA's IBM 360-91, and was one of the first large codes to be run
remotely over the ARPANET.