News by Stephen Gorham "My pain policy is to pray hard and look for new solutions."

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Send mail to The Voice Dr. Friesen on sabbatical because of back pain Dr. Garry Friesen has served as both a professor and the academic dean at Multnomah. Dr. Garry Friesen began an unexpected sabbatical for the spring semester because of severe back pain. A faculty committee recently approved the sabbatical because in spite of pain, Dr. Friesen can now handle a 40-hour work week. Otherwise, he would have gone on a medical leave of absence. The faculty committee already had decided that he would not teach this semester. Dr. Friesen said the committee's decision was wise because he has discontinued pain medication although his back pain has not decreased. Recently, Dr. Friesen was wired with a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator to help with his back pain. The device floods the brain with non-pain messages from the pain area. Although the device works for many people, it has not helped Dr. Friesen. "My pain policy is to pray hard and look for new solutions," Dr. Friesen wrote in a recent e-mail update to students and staff at MBC. He added that he is investigating new and better solutions. Instead of teaching, Dr. Friesen is finishing projects that were left undone last semester. He also has signed a contract with Multnomah Publishers for the second edition of his book, "Decision Making and the Will of God." He said the edition will be a revision of the text that will include additions, subtractions and clarification of some points. It will also include a list of the most frequently asked questions. In the future, he would like to write a second book about C.S. Lewis' view of Scripture. Dr. Friesen also would like to write a book on the filling of the Holy Spirit. The professors see Dr. Friesen around the faculty offices, but the students seldom see him. "I know the students were very discouraged to see him go," Professor Doug Schaak said. Many of them had signed up for his C.S. Lewis class andwere sad to see it canceled. Dr. Friesen said that he thanks students and staff for their prayers. Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2002 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.