I read with deep sadness the report about the 14 lives lost in the tragic truck accident in Fellowship, Portland, on Saturday, December 20 2008. The title of the report, which read, "I had to respond - rescue worker tells how he broke his Sabbath to save life", was regrettable. It wrongly characterised the merciful act of Eric Spence as breaking 'his Sabbath'.

I am certain the title chosen for this story was not meant to misinform on what it means to keep Holy Sabbath, but I feel it my duty to ensure a correct biblical perspective is presented to your readers.

The hours from Friday evening to Saturday evening, the seventh-day Sabbath, commemorates both Creation and, most importantly, the God of Creation. It is the only weekly Holy Sabbath established by him for man to observe.

Contrary to popular but erroneous teachings, the seventh-day Sabbath was never changed to Sunday by God. Further the Bible and historical records clearly confirm that all the apostles, including Peter, Paul and John and all early Christians, kept only the seventh- day Sabbath.

Good deed

Therefore, the Sabbath allegedly broken by Spence was not his, but God's. There is not a 'Christian Sabbath' and a 'Jewish Sabbath'. Anyone who wishes to worship the God of Creation and of the Bible is required by Him to 'keep the Sabbath Holy'.

I am sure Jesus was pleased with Mr Spence's good deed. This is evidenced by this and similar passages of scripture: "And, behold, there was a man which had [his] hand withered. And they asked him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Days?" that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath Day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift [it] out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath Days. Matthew 12:10-12.

Those of us who keep the Sabbath of Creation according to the Bible will never hesitate to act as Jesus would to save lives and relieve pain and suffering whenever the situation presents itself. Any who think otherwise is invited Jesus to ponder the question: "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" Mark 3:4.

May God help us all to truly understand His desire for us to be totally unselfish by cooperating with His Holy Spirit.

I am, etc.,

JOSEPH L. PATTERSON

joseph.patterson@sympatico.ca

Brampton, Canada