The Stan Chinn Experience

We first had the privilege of meeting Brother and Sister Stan Chinn at the Laurelwood Academy prayer series. Then our paths crossed not long afterward at Bozeman, Montana.They were on a business trip - a prayer mission. But, as always, they loved to share the love, the protection and the care of our miracle-working Christ.
As we entered their motel room that Saturday night, by kind invitation, the fellowship in Jesus Christ was sweet. As you read these wonderful experiences, we believe you will unite with us in exclaiming: "0h magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." Psalm 34:3.“THE CHALLENGE of my life is to defeat the devil." Those are strong words from a puny man! Stan Chinn had been a super-salesman, with deals of up to $1,000,000 Then he became president and owner of Compass Industries, Inc. with headquarters at Gresham, Oregon. When Stan spoke these meaningful words, he was in a crisis. A trade union was trying to infiltrate his construction industry. Although Stan believed that big business had often taken advantage of the working man, and that unions have often been a help to laborers, he disagreed with their methods. The Scripture teach that the laborer is to, "Be patient therefore, brethren, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. behold, the judge standeth before the door." (See James 5:1-9.) "Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also," is a principle direct from the lips of our Lord Jesus, Himself (Matt. 5:39). "Avenge not yourselves." Love "seeketh not her own." "Freely give." "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you," commanded Jesus, "that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." (Rom. 12:19; 1 Cor. 13:5; Matt. 10:8; Matt. 5:44, 45.) These verses of Scripture epitomize Stan Chinn's code of honor-not the principle of force, with it's resultant strife.

Even bloodshed has followed in the path of trade unions in an effort to receive what man believes is his own due. So Stan decided not to permit the union.
Jesus had said of Satan, "He was a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). Again and again, Stan had won out against the powerful pressure of trade unions. Try as they would at intimidation, they met with a Luther-like response: "Here I stand. God help me. I cannot do otherwise." Stan Chinn wondered if his standing firm to principle might result in bodily injury, or even jail. But little did he dream Satan would attack him from within.
"So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils" (Job 2:7).
At first something appeared on Stan as knots on his chin and back of his right ear. His family doctor gave him a series of antibiotics, hoping that these knots were mere infection symptoms. When after a week, the knot behind Stan's ear was larger, his doctor suggested they consult with Dr. Syphers, who felt surgery would be wise. Dr. Syphers informed Stan that the right side of his face would probably be paralyzed temporarily-possibly three months, or so. He also warned of sizable scars in the two locations.
Stan realized the full import-confinement, and the inability to carry on with his construction activities as before. But Stan had complete confidence in these Christian doctors. "I did not feel there was any reason for concern over the possibility of this being a malignancy," he said. And the following Tuesday evening Stan checked into the Portland Adventist Hospital as a patient. Stan found himself among friends when he entered the spacious hospital lobby. Many of the workers attended the Mt. Tabor church located across from the hospital, where Stan served as the head elder. While chatting with a friend, he learned that his Pastor, Brother Ernsten, was a patient in the hospital at that time. So Stan requested to be assigned the unoccupied bed in the pastor's semiprivate room.
A pleased smile brightened the face of the ill pastor as Stan walked into the room, for he thought Stan had merely come for a visit. After chatting a while, Stan chuckled: "I like you so much 1 think 1 will spend the night with you. "
Pastor Ernsten was somewhat embarrassment when Stan began to remove his shoes and to do just that. "That is all right with me,” said the pastor, “ if you think the authorities won't object."
"Seriously bow,” said Stan “I am a patient, too, and requested the privilege of sharing your room," Stan explained.
The operation the next day took about three-and-one half hours. When Stan awakened, he saw his wife and Mrs. Ernsten standing over him. That night the side effects of the anesthetic caused Stan great discomfort, as he tossed restlessly.
The next morning Stan overheard Mrs. Ernsten ask her husband, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"No," the Pastor replied, "I couldn't sleep. My brother was sick."
"Pastor Ernsten was a very Godly man," Stan told me. "He was concerned for my life and could not rest, knowing that I was sick. He was that kind of man," Stan emphasized. Thursday afternoon, a customer of Stan's from Denver called him, stating that he wanted him to build a plant for him back in Montana. After concluding the call, Stan's wife and two daughters came in to see him. They were quite elated over the prospect of the deal. Although Stan was still in the hospital, they were thrilled that he was able to carry on his business.
In the midst of their rather carefree conversation, suddenly Dr. Syphers appeared in the room. He visited with the family for a while, and then said, "Well, I hate to break the spell of a happy family, but I have a message for you that I don't like to share, but it is my duty to do so. Our findings were, that your tumors were malignant. Being in the lymph glands, it is impossible to know how extensively it has spread."
In relating this story, Stan said, "I don't know whether or not any of you have had this shock; but if you have, you know somewhat the way I felt." "I realize," he continued, "that I am not the only one who has ever had cancer. I am not the only one who has been afflicted. Needless to say, my emotions changed quite rapidly." Mrs. Chinn asked their two daughters to leave the room. These things are not easy, or simple, for a family to take.
"If you've ever seen a grown man cry," Stan continued, "you know what it is like." (He recalled that at the Toastmaster Club, they recommended that each of the students get to his feet and give a two-minute talk on what he would do if he had only two days left to live. Stan challenges the readers of this experience, and all with whom he comes in contact, to give this same solemn thought much earnest consideration. )
Stan actually, for days, gave himself up to almost uncontrolled tears. "All the things 1 thought 1 had to make me secure, suddenly became very insecure. 1 couldn't seem to think of any magic number 1 could dial to ask for money to save my life." Stan exhorts business men who have made their business their god, to remember that they cannot call on business to save their life. "I can testify that your only salvation is Jesus Christ," Stan says. But the greatest challenge that faced Stan in that crisis hour was the possibility of breaking the chain of friendship. "I don't know how much you crave the friendship of those around you," he said, "but 1 know how much it meant to me in that hour."
"I had a pretty long, drawn-out discussion with God after this announcement of the doctor," continued Stan. "So 1 felt that He and 1 had a pretty good understanding about things. But 1 remembered some of those 1 loved very much who were not in the Ark of Safety; who had not accepted the truth of God's Word; who had not come all the way; who had not taken Christ as their Savior. This is a hard link to take out of this chain. 1 remembered the letters I should have written to those I love, to encourage them to give up the gods of this world, and to lay hold on the One who is life eternal."
Later, in his public testimony, Stan challenged his hearers, "I wonder if you are remembering the letters you have not written yet; of the ones you have not yet approached with the knowledge of the love of God, of His Word; of the surety of salvation it offers through Jesus Christ. "
"The word cancer, continued Stan, "will change your prayers, and bow your head. If you prayed a 'canned' prayer previous to this, it will change that, too. It will change your conversation with the Lord. It will change the type, the quality of the music you listen to. It will change your talk. It will change your value of time. It will change the excuse, 'I'm too busy to win souls.' It will change your attitude toward the pastor, toward church work, and toward the spirit of cooperation. Toward unity, toward criticism, and toward every branch of the work of Christ. "
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).
“Oh GOD, WE love this man. We are not willing that he should perish. We feel there is a work for him to do. We have loved him in the church. And we know that You love him as a father loves his child. Father, be mindful of his family." This was part of the heart cry of Pastor Ernsten, Stan's roommate, as he humbly knelt there beside his suffering friend. The tears were running down his cheeks as Stan awakened in the morning to the most beautiful love prayer he had ever heard! It was the morning after the diagnosis of cancer.
Not merely did good Pastor Ernsten offer his tearful love prayer, others followed suit. They came from the church, the hospital, the day school. They prayed also wherever two or three could assemble. Nurses met for prayer. The associate chaplain of the Portland Adventist Hospital came to Stan's room, and kneeling by his bed, placed both his hands over Stan's. Solemnly and humbly, lovingly and pleadingly he implored the great God of heaven to come to the rescue. Others, many others, came, prayed, and went.
Jesus had said that if even two agree on earth, it shall be done. There is power in harmony-prayer harmony. One of Mr. Chinn's favorite texts since this experience with death is Acts 12:5: "Prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him [Peter]." With it, he loves another promise, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). The latter passage of Scripture Brother Stan applied to such men as Pastor Ernsten, Pastor Avery, and a large number of other ministers of righteousness. Combined prayers in the first century worked for the deliverance of Peter, meeting the executioner the next morning. And in the 20th century for Brother Stan Chinn, meeting the Grim Reaper face to face.
"I want to make a little confession about our Pastor," Stan continued. "One morning I was in the little bathroom, about 4 feet by 6 feet in size, taking a bath in the tub, when overwhelming grief flooded my soul. I don't know whether there were more tears or more water in that bath tub. After I cried so long I felt I did not have any more tears, I came back to my room and saw my own Pastor Avery standing there. His back was turned toward me. I did not want him to see me in tears. I wanted him to think of me as happy, courageous, carefree and hopeful in trying to lift another. I did not care to have him see me in the terrible state I was in.
"So I went back into the bathroom, closed the door and locked it, and waited until he left. I know that isn't a very courageous thing to do," Stan remarked self-reproachfully.
Just then, lovely Mrs. Chinn broke in with, "Don't think for a moment," she spoke kindly, "that this attitude of self-pity is part of the general attitude of my husband. He is anything but a man given to self-pity." And, friends, when I heard the story through to its close, I could utter a redounding "Amen." Seldom have I met a man of stronger fortitude and abounding faith and courage. Stan Chinn radiated kindness, and yet of stamina; of love, and yet of amazing action; of the up look, but not of pride; of confidence, but not self-centerdness. His spiritual maturity blessed my own heart and that of my wife, Ethel, as we listened to some of his taped recordings, and to his own testimony as he related it to us personally.)
Although Brother Chinn was able to stay in the bathroom that day until his Pastor Avery had gone, yet another day the same pastor caught him napping. A wakening, he saw the kindly-faced minister sitting close by his bedside. Coming to full consciousness with a little sudden surprise, Brother Chinn looked his pastor full in the face and began: "Pastor, there are a lot of things 1 don't understand about this."
Like Job of old, Brother Chinn felt that his business was "somewhere in the realm" of Christian justice and integrity. Therefore, the question "WHY?" appeared before him in big blocked letters. Now Stan Chinn looks back and feels just as Job did when he uttered that meaningful prayer: "But he knoweth the way that 1 take: when he hath tried me, 1 shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).
"1 was not well enough acquainted with the Word of God," Stan said, reminiscing with keen insight into the past. Christ has said, "What 1 do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter" (John 13:7). There is no question now in Brother Chinn's mind. If we could see the end of time from its beginning; if we could only discern clearly the purposes of God in permitting Satan to afflict us, we would choose to be led in no other way than the road in which He is now leading us.
Stan saw it clearly after it was over. The affliction was nothing less than Satan's response to his statement, "The challenge of my life is to defeat the devil." But Satan's response was in such a different garb than anticipated that for the moment it had almost floored Stan. This is one of the tricks of the warfare-unexpected attacks in unexpected places and unexpected times.
About this time Brother Chinn picked up a book in one of the rooms in the hospital which proved to be a real blessing to him in his hour of suffering. One of the experiences related in the book, told of a man who lost his son while in the service of his country. The father in scorn had approached a minister of the Gospel. "You have preached God to me," he began, and with a sneer continued, "and where was God that night my son died out there on the fields of battle? Tell me now, where was He?"
For a moment the minister remained silent, reflecting on the question. Then, with a heart full of understanding, he replied, "The only thing I can tell you, sir, is that God was the same place He was when His own Son died on a cross on Golgotha."
Many of you may have read before the following quotation taken from the Signs of the Times, Dec. 30, 1889. I feel it is at the very heart of the matter under consideration. It places the cross at the answer point of man's questions-and of angels;
"The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan."
"So the book I found in the hospital and its story," Brother Chinn continued, "gave meaning to my situation in those days of grief and doubt."
Pastor Avery knelt by the bedside of the afflicted man and offered a wonderful prayer for a man whom he must have known had criticized him and his sermons, his activities and his program.
"He prayed and wept for me for about thirty minutes," Brother Chinn continued, adding, "And I cried that long. So the Pastor did see me, a grown man, cry after all. This time I couldn't evade him." Oh the blessing of that hour of humble, loving, contrite prayer!
Love prayers were aided and abetted by love songs, flowers and tears. Morning by morning during Stan's stay in the hospital, he heard the sweet strains of music coming through the sound system or the hallways of the Portland Adventist Hospital. Heart-healing melodies such as, "There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus," or, "I Will Sing of Jesus' Love," or, "Sweet Hour of Prayer," caused the nurses' voices to sound to Stan like "an angel chorus direct from glory-land." Especially dear to Stan in his struggle to defeat Satan, the author of death, were the words of that song which goes like this:
"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of Life;
Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of Life.
All so freely given, Wooing us to heaven;
Beautiful words, Wonderful words, Wonderful words of Life."
It seemed almost as if heaven itself had selected these prayers, songs, and flowers to woo the fear-tortured soul of Stan Chinn to heaven. They were all God's preparation. Stan would build on this fellowship, and through his radiation of that love the whole church would be blessed.
"WHILE STAN was confined in the hospital, some of the most refreshing experiences came to him in the form of fellowship with the medical doctors on the staff. One after another, they came to his bedside. Although their tight schedules all but demanded they be about six places at the same time, they took time to speak kindly to him, and then to pray prayers of faith.
"Yes, doctors have tears, also," Stan mused. Then added, "You may think they operate on enough people, and see enough sickness and sorrow, and witness enough death to lose their ability to sympathize or weep-almost as if they have no more feelings. I can testify this to be untrue. "
On the Sabbath when Stan gave his testimony in the Portland Tabernacle church, his physician, Dr. Edgerton, sat on the rostrum, listening to every word. Pointing to the doctor, Stan said warmly, "This man is one of them. Every day I was in the hospital he was there to inspire me, to keep me up-to-date on my progress, and to notify me if there was anything that might be encouraging. For several days after I was out of the hospital, he either came to see me, or called me every day. That is what a true friend is-someone who cares enough to go the extra mile."
Stan, referring back to the statement made earlier when he said, "The challenge of my life is to defeat the devil," added wisely, "Satan took offense at that statement. He is jealous, proud, retaliatory, I believe." Stan paused in his graphic description of the arch enemy. "Satan was the cause of this affliction. God only permitted it."
Isn't that Job's experience allover again? If we only could see God's tears, and feel His heartache when he accepts the challenge, we would cry out, "in all" our "affliction he" is "afflicted," for He is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (Isa. 63:9; Heb. 4:15.)
As Stan shared this experience one morning in church, he said, "I can tell you, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life, because of the experience that this has brought me."
Then he prayed, "Dear Lord, take my life and use it in any way You see fit, that it might mean the salvation to those I love."
"Now," he asked others, "did you ever think about how you pray? Do you expect the Lord to answer your prayers? I didn't tell Him how to answer this prayer. But He did exactly what I had asked Him, but in His own way. I see people right here this morning that this has had a reconverting influence upon. They've told me it has. And if it has saved even one of them, it has been an affliction that would be easy to bear again-a price not too great to pay."
The doctors told Stan there were two "chances" he could take that is, two possible cures. One was cobalt. The other was prayer. "They put the heavy emphasis on prayer," Stan said. "And I am putting heavy emphasis on prayer, also. "Sabbath morning, the day I was to be anointed, I sat on my bedside. Half of my room was on the corner where I could look out upon the church. I saw my friends coming and going from the church. As my mind wandered, I began to think. I wondered if I would ever have that' privilege again-of being in the sanctuary with those whom I loved so much. As I sat there reminiscing, my mind was flooded with memories of happiness that such occasions had brought. I recognized almost everyone that came in and went out of the church that morning, because I had always made it a point to find out who people were. I love people, and they are all my life to me. So I knew almost every one who made his way in or out of the church.
"And after the church service started, all was quiet. Nothing was stirring. I was sitting with my head in my hands weeping. No one was in the room with me. I was quite alone, I felt.
"But in my tears, suddenly I felt some reassuring hands on the back of my neck. You have probably already guessed it. It was my wife."
As Stan was relating the story, he directed his remarks to the men, and said, "Fellows, I don't know how much you care about the bonds of marriage, the bonds of love that come from a faithful wife. But I confess this had meaning to me. I don't know how she knew I needed her in the worst way at that moment. But she did, and she was there. Let us re-evaluate what our wives mean to us."
"Just before the anointing," continued Stan, "my wife and I, my brother and his wife, went over to the home of the Agnetta's. We knelt down in their living room in a circle of prayer. Each of us prayed. I promised the Lord that if at the anointing, He should see fit to raise me up, and had use for me in His service, I would serve Him all the days of my life."
At three o'clock that afternoon, Dr. Edgerton, Dr. Syphers, Pastor Avery and Pastor Hackett met in the hospital room. They laid their hands on Stan's brow and anointed his head with oil, calling upon the Lord, each one of them individually, in his behalf. "I wish that I could relate to you the words that were spoken, the meaning that they had for me, and the power that was felt," Stan continued.
It was more than merely Elders meeting and praying for a man. Pastor Hackett called upon the Lord to perform a miracle. "Lord," he prayed, "we need this miracle. Our church is in such a state that we almost have to have a miracle. We expect big things from You."
At this point in relating the story, Stan said, "Since then I have been thinking, 'I wonder why we don't see more miracles. Do you suppose if we weren't so lukewarm, we would witness more miracles?'" Obviously, God would be frowned upon were He to perform miracles for a church which is not on fire in His cause, don't you think?
"After the anointing, I felt strengthened. In fact, I was strengthened to such an extent that they let me go home immediately. Dr. Edgerton, and his family came out that afternoon, and we took a long hike on our little acreage at Gresham, and had a very prayerful visit, all of us rededicating our lives to God."
"Isn't this wonderful! Isn't this an occasion! We were up until eleven o'clock at night visiting about our plans for the future."
"On the following Monday I had an appointment at Dr. Hyman's office. He is an X-ray specialist, using the cobalt treatment. I waited two-and-one-half hours before I got to see him. And if you haven't already guessed, was praying most of this time. I was praying that God would show by this examination that He had performed a miracle.
"The doctor took me into one of these little rooms where they give you the check-up, and examined me very thoroughly in the area that had been affected. Then he left the room to get the X-rays that had been taken before the anointing service. He returned and showed me the X-ray pictures of my chest. It looked as if I had a large sack, or balloon, between my lungs. I don't know all the medical terms or details. But he said, 'The doctors think this is the area that is most critical. And I am inclined to agree with them. This will be the area that we will have to treat first.' "
Trying not to sound too pleading, Stan asked, "Don't you think we should take another X-ray just to be sure there isn't anything faulty here?"
"Well, I suppose it would be all right," returned the good doctor. As he left the room, Stan prayed, "God, let this be the answer. If this X-ray reveals that this area is back to normal, I will know this is a direct and specific answer to our prayer for healing last Sabbath afternoon. " Repeat X-Rays
Stan continued his story with growing enthusiasm.
"The doctor carried the new X-ray back to the little room. In about ten minutes, the technician returned and said, 'Mr. Chinn, you will have to come back to the X-ray room. We want to X-ray this area again.'
"They did this three times. Before I left that evening, Dr. Hyman told me, 'I just don't know about that chest of yours.'
"Is it smaller?' I asked.
"Much smaller,' he replied." As Stan told this, he exclaimed, "Can't you say, 'Praise God' for that?
"My wife had been sitting in the car all afternoon with a sick headache. You can imagine why. "Dr. Hyman had me lined up with a specialist before the last X-rays were taken. This man was the head of the cancer department of the Maryland University-world renowned in the cobalt treatment of cancer. But with a strange, and almost embarrassing expression of humor, he added, 'I don't think you need to see this specialist. You don't have anything to show him except some stitches and an incision.'
"Needless to say, I had the cure for my wife's sick headache. I don't know whether I hit the ground between the doctor's office and the car or not!"
Stan Chinn brought to his home church a ringing challenge to be reconciled to one another. To give up the little criticisms that grieve the Holy Spirit. And that challenge worked. What a spirit of love flowed through ~he church! What differences were reconciled! What hard feelings cured!
Foolish prayer of continued faith When Cancer Strikes Repeatedly
STAN CHINN brought to his home church a ringing challenge to be reconciled one to another. He also became a physical fulfillment of the Savior's promise, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me," in areas outside the church. (See Acts 1:8.)
Everywhere he went, Stan told of Jesus and His love, of His healing power, of the Lord who was mightier than cancer and stronger than the mysterious foes of darkness. He was fulfilling a mission to live to defeat Satan by representing Jesus and telling of His love.
One day he was on a street comer in the city of Caldwell, Idaho, chatting with a fine Christian banker. He related the story of his own healing from cancer, of the love of his God, and of the power of the Holy Spirit. So thrilling was his testimony that both the banker and a friend of his became entirely disinterested in a dinner appointment they had started out to meet. They stood and listened in rapt attention right through the dinner hour. This kind of experience in a man's life obligates him to witness for his God; for, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7). If a man wants to receive fabulous answers to prayer, let him "magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together" (Ps. 34:3). This is the first challenge Christ gave to the healed demoniacs (recorded in Mark 5:19), and it is His commission to us today.
But Satan listened. Satan puzzled. Satan decided. Satan talked it over with God. He offered a challenge, some thing like this: "God, if you let me strike this man again, You will see what will happen to his submission, to his integrity, to his faith."
And God accepted the challenge! "Go, Satan. But do not take his life. You will see there are men and women in this dark age of human history who love Me more than all else beside, and whose only object in living is to bring glory to My name."
So it came about that on Stan's birthday, July the 29th, that Satan struck again. It came in a mysterious way, and only three months after his apparent healing mentioned earlier in this book.
"I really don't feel too well today," Stan told his wife early that evening. "But I guess I can make it out to the fair at Gresham. I hate to be a killjoy, when we had the evening all planned."
At the fair they met a friend and watched an entertainment together for awhile. Stan, in telling the story later, still seemed unable to account for the sudden illness, which struck him then. "I was feeling like I was paralyzed. I had a hard time breathing. So I suggested that my wife and friend stay there, and I left to drive over to the friend's home in Gresham to wait for them.
"By the time I reached the house, I was barely able to drive, and I did not feel normal at all. I was almost unable to walk up the steps. I had a strange feeling that I was going to die. I was nearly paralyzed and scarcely able to breathe. "
Stan sat down beside the phone and began a fruitless search for a doctor. Trying every doctor friend he could think of-which amounted to about ten-and finding none of them at home, he finally gave up.
"This was evidently another of the tricks of Satan," Stan continued. "I kept the door unlocked so my wife could get in. I felt I could not live until they returned from the fair."
Stan went downstairs and rested on the bed.
"Dear Lord," he prayed, "I've gone through some other experiences with You, and my fear is all gone. I don't need anyone's sympathy or tears, but I do want You to know, that if You see fit to sustain my life, 1 have many things 1 would like to do in Your behalf for the benefit of the salvation of others. But Lord, if You don't see fit, 1 am perfectly willing to cast my life to You. We have been through other crises before, and 1 feel secure in Your hands. Do whatever You see fit."
"About thirty minutes later," Stan continued, "1 felt better. 1 felt strengthened to the point that 1 was able to go back upstairs. 1 called the doctor who had previously done the biopsy on me. He answered me almost immediately and suggested 1 go to the hospital. 1 did, and was examined very carefully. By the time 1 arrived at the hospital, however, whatever it was that had afflicted me had disappeared just as mysteriously as it had come. The doctors found no reason whatsoever for it.
"1 have my own opinions about that strange attack," Stan concluded. "It was just another trick of Satan, to make me lose my faith."
Stan Chinn had reached an important peak in his life. He knew in his innermost soul of souls what the Christian life is all about. He knew what it meant to give Satan the challenge, "My great purpose in life is to defeat the devil." Maybe Stan had already read a concise statement we ourselves have read many times. It is from the pen of our favorite author.
"No man can serve God without enlisting against him self the opposition of the hosts of darkness. "-The Great Controversy, p. 610.
About eighteen months later, Satan came again. In eternity we shall know more of how the devil sought permission of God to attack Stan, and how it parallels that of ancient Job. (See Job, chapters 1 and 2.)
Stan noticed one day large lymph nodes under his arms and in his groins. He realized this to be a recurrence of the cancer, and that this attack was much more severe.
This time Stan had no fear. Believing, however, that we are to do all we can to maintain our life and our health, Stan felt he should seek help. Since we are created in the image of God, He expects us to do all we can. Then when we have reached the height of impossibility, He can do the most. Then it is that God's work can start.
At the suggestion of friends, Stan left Portland and went to California. He began to run down all the leads he could find on any place that might have help for his problem.
"It seemed that all roads led to one particular man who had just finished a specialized course in hematology," Stan said. "He gave me quite extensive examinations. He sent me through a bone-scan and numerous tests, using very specialized electronic devices to try to see how far this had spread. After his complete analysis, he indicated that there was no question but what I would die in just a few days. I was in the very final stages of this disease, and whatever I had to do, or anything that had to be done, I should get it done immediately, because I could not live more than a few days. He sent me home without any hope, as far as medicine was concerned."
After arriving at home, Stan concluded that unless God saw fit to sustain his life, it was nearly at an end. While there was no fear involved, Stan experienced a feeling of lonesomeness in that he knew he was going to have to give up his family and all that was dear to this life. On a Thursday evening, Stan still felt impressed that he must do all he could in cooperation with God, so God could cooperate with him.
That evening Stan held a special prayer session with God. In describing that prayer, Stan said, "I say a very special session. It was special to this extent-I knew Him well enough by this time that I could talk to Him as a heavenly Father. I talked as one who could talk to his Father with whom he had a perfect understanding. "I talked with the Lord just as I would talk with a friend. I told Him all about my heart, and just how I felt. I reminded Him that my greatest challenge was still to defeat Satan, and somehow to bring salvation, and hope, and help to those who were afflicted. I desired to help others to know that God's grace is sufficient for them. I asked the Lord to permit me to do this. I told Him that if He saw fit to sustain my life, and if He really felt I could carry out this mission, I would forever try to be a fit vessel and to reflect Christ's character."
Thus Stan rededicated himself to his Master. Then left the consequences with Him.
The following Sunday, Stan received a surprise telephone call from a doctor whom he did not know.
"I thought this was rather strange that a doctor would call me," Stan recalled. This is highly unusual to be called by a man in this profession whom he knew not at all. This doctor suggested that he would try to help Stan in his distressing condition.
"The next morning 1 went to see him. The swellings had started to dissipate. He gave me a very thorough examination, and then gave an injection of some kind of chemicals. Within five days 1 was back to see him. All the swelling was gone. 1 only had one little kernel on the back of my neck.
"After examining me, he just sat back on his table and exclaimed, 'Stan, this is impossible! This medicine just does not work that fast. I've never seen it react this way before.' "
The doctor continued with a course in chemical treatments. From that time, Stan has had regular checkups, approximately every three months. After a recent treatment the doctor told him, "You are the sunshine of my day. "
Stan does not claim that he will never die of cancer.
Not at all. He asks, and believes, only that he will be spared until his work is done.
It has been some four-and-one-half years now since there have been any symptoms of the disease. Yet Stan takes advantage of every scientific medical treatment he can find. He believes in the Bible statement that we are "workers together with" God (2 Cor. 6:1).
As long as life shall last, Stan is committed to a blessed partnership with God. He desires to live up to his challenge of life to defeat the devil.
As this goes to press (1972) , Mr. Stan Chinn writes: "After the last checkup, the doctor told our family physician that I was healed. I am now completely off of all medication, feeling fine, and praising God."
My response is, "Let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord" (Ps. 106:48).
So FAR, each of the discouragements of Satan had been overruled by God. And each one to His own glory. But Satan had not finished with Stan Chinn.
While he was taking cobalt treatments, shortly after the first affliction, a multimillion-dollar corporation began negotiating to buy Stan's company. They indicated they would be willing to consider $250,000 as the purchase Price, with a five-year contract with him for $35,000 per year to continue the management of the company.
Stan spent much time in meditation and prayer. Finally his decision was made. He felt that the Lord had blessed his company and made it possible for them to succeed that far, giving them many material things in life. The company provided employment to Sabbath-keeping men where they could have Sabbath privileges, without the worry of trade unions. Stan felt sincerely that this was at least part of the reason why God had so bountifully blessed the business.
So Stan elected to maintain the business. He hadn't much more than rejected the offer until it seemed the company could do nothing right. Satan began an assault
with all his forces, on the financial front. It made no difference how hard they tried, or how effective they tried to be, no matter how many critical paths they tried to follow, everything they did was wrong.
In trying to send freight to jobs, it would often get lost, sidetracked, or pushed off on a siding. Some of it they never did find. As a result, $110,000 was lost.
The business went downhill just as fast as Stan's health. It seemed there was no possible way of existing, and being able to maintain the business.
It came to the place where the company was $182,000 in debt. Stan's attorneys, accountant, and bookkeepers all indicated that the company was bankrupt; the liabilities were much greater than the assets, with no possible way of going on.
"I find this is the time," Stan testified" "that God can effectively work. Always, when I find that I am helpless, that my self-sufficiency is without honor, then I can come to God, and He takes care of the impossibilities."
Stan's attorneys refused to service his account any longer, because of his financial condition. The accountants would go no further, because Stan owed them both money and could not pay them further. They dropped him at that juncture.
"Somehow I will have to maintain the banner of Christianity. I know God has seen me through some places that were narrower than this," Stan told these men. "So, as long as my key fits the door to my business, bankruptcy is not a part of my vocabulary. I will continue to work as long as my key fits that door."
In telling the story later, Stan added, "My key still fits the door! Somehow, God has seen me through, step by step. Through every financial hazard and every trial that Satan has made to defeat me, God has given me the victory."
"So," Stan continued, "Satan has tried to reach me five separate times: First through the trade unions. Then three times in physical affliction. And last of all, through the affliction of my daughter." *
Actually, the financial attack of Satan began from the time of Stan's first attack of cancer, and lasted for five years!! It is only now that Stan Chinn is recovering. He had to sell his $50,000 home. He now lives in a modest apartment in connection with his business. But if ever his daughter had a mole on her shoulder diagnosed as melanocarcinoma the .doctor did a skin graft. No further development of the disease has appeared Since then, and two years have passed.
If ever there was a stalwart man of faith, it is Stan. Just to hear his story, and observe the pure, wholesome, unselfish resolution stamped on his countenance, is enough to stimulate one's faith and trust in our Heavenly Father's care and provision.
"I have had many interesting experiences with the Lord through the things 1 have discussed with you, Pastor," Stan continued. "I've found there is no restriction with God. God is absolutely not limited! 1 found also that God's ways are perfect, and that if we only have faith to believe, no matter what the crisis is, no matter how dark the picture-in all cases, God's grace is sufficient!
During this very severe period in the company's financial straits, when they desperately needed work, a contract became available near Salem, Oregon. It came after the third attack and victory over cancer.
"By this time," said Stan, "I had learned to completely believe in God, and to know that regardless of what happened, His will is being done, because 1 have given my life completely to Him. 1 did not know for sure that He meant for us to go ahead and maintain the business. The only thing 1 did know for sure was that 1 was going to do all 1 could. And then if it failed, 1 would know it was His will, and He had something else in mind."
The job under consideration in Salem involved a rather large facility which would amount to about $120,000 in cost. Stan badly needed this work, and did everything he could to convince them to buy his facility.
But another company had built all their other structures. They had built their feed mill for them, a grain elevator, a seed mill, and even their offices. Worst of all, this company's price on their design for this particular facility was $15,000 less than Stan's design.
Stan felt he didn't have a chance of coming out on this job. He felt he had gone as far as he could. In fact he knew he had gone as far as he could, on his own. So he decided it was time for a talk with his Heavenly Parent.
"God, you know that I have gone as far as I know how to go," Stan prayed. "So if it be Your will, show me a design that I can somehow create that will convince these people they should make this purchase from me. I am willing to accept whatever Your answer is. "
Shortly afterward, Stan met with the manager of the cooperative there. At that time he said, "Stan, I am going to feel terrible if you don't get this contract, because you have worked so hard on it. But I don't see any way that we can overcome this $15,000 difference. I feel that I would be inclined to give it to you, but the Board of Directors cannot see past that money difference."
"Herb, do you know something?" Stan replied. "Your Board of Directors may think they are the ones to decide whether I get this contract, but they really aren't. I've talked this over with God. And He is going to be the One who decides whether or not I am the one who gets this contract. If God wills I get the contract, there is nothing ~our Board of Directors can do to keep me from it. And If it is His will I should lose, there is nothing I can do to keep from losing it, for I have done all I can to get it."
Herb regarded his friend for a long minute. "You really believe that, don't you?" he stated.
"I certainly do!" Stan replied.
After Stan's conversation with Herb, he felt all the more determined to plead with the Lord to give him the contract if it could possibly be arranged.
"I prayed," said Stan, "that He would give me some design. On the way to Seattle the next day, I did not know what I would present for a plan, but I knew I was going to come up with something! So I took a piece of paper and a pencil, in certain faith, believing that God would instruct my mind as to what to put on it.
"I started to scribble on the paper. Suddenly, I came up with a configuration. It was of a bin that made so much sense, was so practical, and so perfect for what the company needed!
"The characteristic of the product which is handled in these chemical fertilizer plants is one that is a water conductor. It sucks moisture out of the air on condensation. If it isn't constructed in a particular configuration, it will bridge, and hold up in the bin. And removing the product from the bin when this happens, can be an almost impossible process.
"The configuration which God gave me was the biggest and best step to eliminate this problem that the industry knows today. I was so thrilled with it that I have a patent search on it. I have since learned that it is patentable.
"I went back home," Stan continued, "and told my engineer to design it structurally. He did, following my plans. We all were so elated with it that we built a little model bin to scale and made it so we could run the product through it and demonstrate the merits of the bin."
Excitedly, Stan strode into the plant in Salem-box in one hand, and bucket of sand in the other. Placing the tiny model on the manager's desk, Stan proceeded to pour the sand in the box and put a bucket below.
"Here's how it works, Herb," Stan said, demonstrating the procedure. "And I want you to know that I am not the designer of this revolutionary idea. God is. The Lord gave me this on the plane on my way to Seattle!"
Herb watched the mechanism with growing enthusiasm. "That's wonderful, Stan! That's wonderful! It looks better to me than anything I've seen."
Stan looked up from playing with his miniature "toy". "Herb, if you really do believe that, call your Board of
Directors. Let me show it to them."
"All right," he said, "I will."
A little later at the meeting of the board, Stan took his little box and bucket of sand. They teased him a bit about having his "squirrel cage" with him. Stan grinned good naturedly. "This is really 'a better mouse trap,' "he replied.
Setting the miniature model on the desk and pouring it. full of sand again, he demonstrated it to the Board of Directors. The president of the board walked around and around the table several times, rubbing his chin. He looked over to the manager and asked, "What do you think of that?"
"I think it's great!" the manager answered.
"That is the most perfect thing I've seen!" exclaimed the president. "It is exactly what we want. Its just what we need. What do the rest of you fellows say?"
The members of the board looked at one another and back to the tiny model on the desk, smoothly and efficiently doing the job usually so hard to do. One by one, they began to add their compliments to that of the president's. They unanimously voted to give the job to Stan at a price $15,000 above the bid of his competitor!
The victory appeared to be complete when Satan began another assault. The cooperative group was borrowing money from the Bank of Cooperatives in Spokane, Washington. One of their requirements was that the contractor had to furnish a performance bond. Stan, for a moment, felt shot down. He did not have enough net worth to come up with a performance bond.
But the God Stan serves is a God of impossibilities. As related earlier, a year-and-a-half previous to this, Stan had been given an opportunity to witness to a man on a street corner in Caldwell, Idaho. Stan had known at that time that he was a bank official, but did not know in what capacity. But he had felt impressed to tell him about the God he served-the God of impossibilities.
"I had told him about how God had sustained my life. I had told him I had faith to believe that He would see me through any other crises that might come to me in this life," Stan said.
Herb was the manager of the cooperative, and he discussed at some length with Stan the apparent impossibility of securing a performance bond. Finally Stan turned to Herb and said,
"God has seen us through this far. Call a meeting with the bankers. I will tell them the honest truth, just exactly what is my position. God will take care of the results. Either they will accept in the affirmative, or they will decide in the negative. Whichever way it is, I will accept it. Because I know it will turn out the way God wants it."
The day of the meeting found Herb fidgety. While they waited in the prescribed place near Salem, Herb nervously reiterated the impossibility of the situation.
"I've learned to appreciate you as a very good friend, Stan," he said. "I do wish you could have the job, but I just don't see how it can happen."
In a few minutes the door opened and in walked the banker to whom Stan had witnessed a year-and-a-half before. He now held the position of bank official from the Bank of Cooperatives in Spokane, Washington. He had been sent to this job to determine whether or not Stan should get this contract.
Herb jumped to his feet as the bank official entered the room. "We surely like Stan's plan," he said, shaking hands. with the new arrival. "I'm sure he can do the job. There is one minor problem. He doesn't have enough net Worth to secure a performance bond. Isn't there some way that problem can be overcome? What would you suggest?"
"Herb," the banker began, "this man doesn't need a bond. His word is just as good as his bond. If every contractor we have was like this man, we wouldn't need a bond from any of them."
"You understand he hasn't the required money, don't you?" Herb didn't think that the banker had heard him correctly.
"Oh, I know this man," he said to Herb. Then turning to Stan continued, "The story you told me about your experiences with God-you'll never know how many times I have repeated that. It has been a wealth of good to my friends, too."
Very little time after that was devoted to bonds. The banker was more inclined to talk about the God .of impossibilities.
I asked Stan what his attitudes were before he received answers in business like the one stated above. This was his reply:
"The day I avowed the name of Christianity, I took on a Friend, and I took on an enemy. I declared war with Satan the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my partner. I've realized I have had those two to deal with ever since then. God has used each of these experiences to mature me spiritually; to give me the degree of faith needed to face the next trial that Satan brought. So in all my prayers I have special faith that I serve a special God. That God is willing and anxious to give me anything that is good for me. Each time I pray, I have no doubt but that God will answer in a perfect way."
"Brother Chinn," I asked once again, "have you ever claimed specific Bible promises?" His answer brought me a great deal of delight.
"Ever since I first heard your series of sermons, I have been claiming promises. The first time I ever heard you speak on the Bible promises, I thought you must have been inoculated with some special kind of serum. I was delighted with your enthusiasm and message. Yet, being a business man, I knew I always had to decide on the basis of facts. So I purchased a set of your four books on the subject of prayer, and began a personal investigation of this 'new kind of prayer.'
"Each crisis that has come into my life that I have shared with you has been a time of claiming Bible promises in a personal manner. I have found the Bible facts, and know your theology on the ABC's of prayer-ask, believe and claim-are Biblical. There are times when my wife and I have found ourselves opening the Bible and placing our hands right on the promises of God, just as you teach."
Stan concluded with a ringing testimony: "Since that day, more than five years ago, when I was first afflicted with cancer and was given for a time to self pity, until today, I have learned that the things that Satan brings to us to crush our lives, and to ruin us through discouragement and disappointment, may be turned into beautiful and fruitful blessings through the God of impossibilities."
"My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19)."My only purpose and challenge in life is to know God and defeat His foe-the devil."
Dear reader, "What is your real purpose in living?"