Pastoral Resources

For the person who is out of Christ, death is generally viewed with terror. It is said that the French nurse who was present at the death of Voltaire, being urged to attend an Englishman whose case was critical, said, "Is he a Christian?" "Yes," was the reply, "he is a Christian in the highest and best sense of the term-a man who lives in the fear of God. But why do you ask?" "Because," she answered, "I was the nurse who attended Voltaire in his last illness, and for all the wealth of Europe I would never watch another atheist die."

While studying in the Holy Lands, a seminary professor of mine met a man who claimed to have memorized the Old Testament—in Hebrew! Needless to say, the astonished professor asked for a demonstration. A few days late they sat together in the man’s home. “Where shall we begin?” asked the man. “Psalm 1,” replied my professor, who was an avid student of the psalms. Beginning with Psalm 1:1, the man began to recite from memory, while my professor followed along in his Hebrew Bible. For two hours the man continued word for word without a mistake as the professor sat in stunned silence. When the demonstration was over, my professor discovered something even more astonishing about the man—he was an atheist! Here was someone who knew the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet he didn’t even believe in God.

Bertrand Russell was born into a Christian home and taught to believe in God, but he rejected his training and became an outspoken atheist. His daughter, Katherine Tait, said of him, “Somewhere at the bottom of his heart, in the depths of his soul, there was an empty space that once had been filled by God, and he never found anything else to put in it.”

Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, is the only athlete to have hit a Major League home run and scored an NFL touchdown in the same week. Sanders grew up on the mean streets of Fort Myers, Fla., where exposure to some would-be athletes spurred him to make a success of himself. He explains: “I call them Idas. ‘If I’da done this, I’d be making three million today…If I’da practiced a little harder, I’d be a superstar.’ They were as fast as me when they were kids, but instead of working for their dreams they chose drugs and a life of street corners. When I was young, I had practice; my friends who didn’t went straight to the streets and never left. That moment after school is the moment we need to grab. We don’t need any more Idas.

Imagine a ship filled with people crossing the Atlantic. In the middle of the ocean there is an explosion. The ship is severely damaged and slowly sinking. Most are dead, and the rest are rushing for the lifeboats. Now suppose one man doesn’t know about the lifeboat, so he does not get aboard. He doesn’t have knowledge, so he is not saved. Suppose another man knows about the lifeboat and believes it will save his life, but he is grief-stricken over seeing his wife killed, so he chooses not to get aboard and dies with his wife. He has knowledge and mental assent, but he is not saved. Others believe the lifeboat will save them, and they get into the boat. They are saved by faith, that is they have knowledge, mental assent, and trust. However, it is not their faith that saves them—no matter how much they have. It is the boat. Saving faith trusts Christ, and Christ saves.

Some years ago, Dr. Karl Menninger, noted doctor and psychologist, was seeking the cause of many of his patients’ ills. One day he called in his clinical staff and proceeded to unfold a plan for developing, in his clinic, an atmosphere of creative love. All patients were to be given large quantities of love; no unloving attitudes were to be displayed in the presence of the patients, and all nurses and doctors were to go about their work in and out of the various rooms with a loving attitude.

At the end of six months, the time spent by patients in the institution was cut in half.

Time technicians at the National Institute of Standards & Technology (Formerly the National Bureau of Standards) set a new level of precision in 1949 by inventing the atomic clock. It counted the oscillations of the nitrogen atom in an ammonia molecule--and was reliable to within one second in three years.

More recently, NIST switched to an atomic clock based on the vibrations of cesium atoms. It will need 300,000 years to gain or lose a single second. But NIST scientists are working on a still-better model: a single mercury ion will be trapped in a vacuum by laser beams and cooled to its lowest possible energy level. The atom’s oscillations will then be so stable that the new timepiece should be accurate to within one second in 10 billion years--the total life span of stars similar to our sun.

“It was May 21, 1946. The place - Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific atoll at Bikini. “He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction—scientists call it the critical mass—he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction. But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction. By this instant, self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room. . . (A)s he waited. . for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, ‘You’ll come through all right. But I haven’t the faintest chance myself’ It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony. Nineteen centuries ago the Son of the living God walked directly into sin’s most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life . . . But by that act He broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin.

In Planet In Rebellion, George Vandeman wrote:

It was May 21, 1946. The place—Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific atoll at Bikini. “He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction—scientists call it the critical mass—he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction.

But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction.

By this instant, self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room. . . As he waited. . for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, ‘You’ll come through all right. But I haven’t the faintest chance myself.’ It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony.

“Nineteen centuries ago the Son of the living God walked directly into sin’s most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life . . . But by that act He broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin.

A counselor at church camp told of his experience with a nine-year-old boy who started to cry when they turned out the cabin lights the first night. "Was he afraid of the dark?" the counselor asked. "No," the boy replied; "he just didn't want to be attacked by the 'killer rabbits.'" Some older kids at home had told him that there were "killer rabbits" who would come out at night and attack the campers.

Jesus was constantly reassuring the disciples with the words, "Fear not." Their fears betrayed their lack of faith. When one traces these words and their usage throughout the Bible, it seems that one of man's constant needs is to be reassured of the presence and comfort of God almighty. Christians can draw on this presence to find comfort and destroy their fears.

Watch out for "killer rabbits!" They can destroy your peace of mind at camp and throughout life.

Written on Sept. 6, 1941 by journalist Clarke Beach.

“A Japanese attack on Hawaii is regarded as the most unlikely thing in the world, with one chance in a million of being successful. Beside shaving more powerful defenses than any other post under the Am. flag, it is protected by distance.”

In Pulpit Digest William H. Willimon used this illustration:

“Philip Haille wrote of the little village of Le Chambon in France, a town whose people, unlike others in France, hid their Jews from the Nazis. Haille went there, wondering what sort of courageous, ethical heroes could risk all to do such extraordinary good. He interviewed people in the village and was overwhelmed by the ordinariness. They weren’t heroes or smart, discerning people. Haille decided that the one factor that united them was their attendance, Sunday after Sunday, at their little church, where they heard the sermons of Pastor Trochme. Over time, they became by habit people who just knew what to do and did it. When it came time for them to be courageous, the day the Nazis came to town, they quietly did what was right. One old woman, who faked a heart attack when the Nazis came to search her house, later said, ‘Pastor always taught us that there comes a time in every life when a person is asked to do something for Jesus. When our time came, we knew what to do.’”

True habits of the heart are there when they are most needed.

Do you believe in the sun when it is pitch dark?

We are always getting ourselves into tight corners (coming to our “wit’s end”). The Bible has just such an expression and shows us how God makes full provision for His children who need more than human wisdom.

The apostle Paul five times uses a Greek word which means “in a tight corner,” or, as we would say, “at our wit’s end.” Note these passages and see how God always opened the way of escape.

1. 2 Corinthians 6:3-7. In the midst of a long list of hectic circumstances faced by Paul, he says (v. 4) “In all things approving ourselves [or demonstrating our confidence ]...in distresses” (Lit., when in tight corners).

We do not need to be panicky: His grace will enable us to commend ourselves and to have a victorious testimony, even when it appears, humanly speaking, that there is no way out.

2. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed” (v. 8) Lit., “Not completely cornered.” Rotherham trans., “not hemmed in.”

No tight corner can hold us if Christ is with us in it. Wit’s end corner is a blessing in disguise, if it presses us nearer to Him.

3. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. “I take pleasure in...distresses [lit., tight corners] for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (v. 10).

God plans nothing less than our completeness and holiness. He knows what process to use. We need never be morbid.

4. Romans 8:35-37. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall...distress [lit., being in tight corners]?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

One who is sheltered under His love finds God’s worst better than the devil’s best. Disappointment is His appointment. Glorious victory is assured those who love Him—in His good time.

Several years ago a man encountered the idea that we should live our lives in such a way that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry that we are gone!

The saying is that life begins at 40. It really begins when we want it to begin!

At age 71 an agent turned down Jack Benny thinking he was washed up. Jack found another agent and fulfilled twelve million dollars more in bookings before he died at the age of 81.

Moses was 80 when he received the Law.

Aaron was 83 when he began to perform miracles and plagues in Egypt.

Joshua was 85 when he led Israel into the promised land.

Will Durant sold a series of television programs at the ripe young age of 91.

Frank Lloyd Wright created the magnificent Guggenheim Museum at 89.

Colonel Sanders was in his 60s when he sold his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.

A University of Wisconsin study says that if we are physically well, and keep active as we get older, we can enjoy people, laugh at ourselves, and get as much out of life at 90 as we could when we were 40!

In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber. So long as it receives a message of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage-so long are you young. When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snow of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, are you grown old.

A person’s mental attitude has an almost unbelievable effect on his powers, both physical ad psychological. The British psychiatrist, J.A. Hadfield, gives a striking illustration of this fact in his booklet, The Psychology of Power. “I asked three people,” he wrote, “to submit themselves to test the effect of mental suggestion on their strength, which was measured by gripping a dynamometer.” They were to grip the dynamometer with all their strength under three different sets of conditions.

First he tested them under normal conditions. The average grip was 101 pounds. Then he tested them after he had hypnotized them and told them that they were very weak. Their average grip this time was only 29 pounds! In the third test Dr. Hadfield told them under hypnosis that they were very strong. The average grip jumped to 142 pounds.

Harry Emerson Fosdick once told how as a child, his mother sent him to pick a quart of raspberries. Reluctantly he dragged himself to the berrypatch. His afternoon was ruined for sure. Then a thought hit him. He would surprise his mother and pick two quarts of raspberries instead of one. Rather than drudgery his work now became a challenge. He enjoyed picking those raspberries so much that fifty years later that incident was still fresh in his mind. The job hadn’t changed. His attitude had, though, and attitude is everything.

It is a commonplace how easily a child of 3 or 4 picks up a foreign language if exposed to it without any formal teaching. Yet we are unwilling to admit that a child of the same age picks up our unconscious attitudes and prejudices without being taught—and often retains these longer than any of his formal education.

- Sidney J. Harris

Sin comes when we take a perfectly natural desire or longing or ambition and try desperately to fulfill it without God. Not only is it sin, it is a perverse distortion of the image of the Creator in us. All these good things, and all our security, are rightly found only and completely in him.

1. Lord make me good, but not yet.

2. Lord make me good, but not entirely.

3. Lord make me good.

The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn’t know what to do. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church. The pastor rose and said, “Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us.”

The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.

To use authoritative words undiscerningly runs the risk of treating the power of God as if it were something to be conjured up at will. To use such language as a matter of routine rather than one of discernment borders on the magic mentality. For instance, occasionally it is possible to hear someone binding the devil in prayer so that the meeting will go well. This is not because there has been a moment of discernment but because it is presumed that the devil must be at work unless we bind him. Authority is being used here as a fetish. If we need the reassurance that God is in control, why not simply affirm this fact and thank him for it?

Anesthesia: The abolishment of pain in surgery is a chimera. It is absurd to go on seeking it today. Knife and pain are two words in surgery that must forever be associated in the consciousness of the patient. To this compulsory combination we shall have to adjust ourselves. - Dr. Alfred Velpeau, 1839

The Atomic Bomb: That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done. The bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives. - Admiral William D. Leahy to President Truman, 1945

Aviation: The demonstration that no possible combination of known substances, known forms of machinery, and known forms of force can be united in a practical machine by which man shall fly long distances through the air, seems to the writer as complete as it is possible for the demonstration of any physical fact to be. - Simon Newcomb, astronomer, 1903

Insanity: We are gradually approaching, with the decadence of youth, a near proximity to a nation of madmen. By comparing the lunacy statistics of 1809 with those of 1909, an insane world is looked forward to by me with a certainty in the not far distant future. - Dr. Forbes Winslow, 1910

Invention: The advancement of the arts from year to year taxes our credulity and seems to presage the arrival of that period when further improvement must end. - Henry L. Ellsworth, U.S. Commissioner of Patents, 1844

Population: The population of the earth decreases every day, and, if this continues, in another ten centuries the earth will be nothing but a desert. - Montesquieu, 1743

War and Violence: To kill a man will be considered as disgusting as we in this day consider it disgusting to eat one. - Andrew Carnegie, 1900

The West: I have never heard of anything, and I cannot conceive of anything more ridiculous, more absurd, and more affrontive to all sober judgment than the cry that we are profiting by the acquisition of New Mexico and California. I hold that they are not worth a dollar! - Daniel Webster, Senate speech, 1848

World Collapse: My figures coincide in fixing 1950 as the year when the world must go to smash. - Henry Adams, 1903

The concept of authority as something that causes another person to “do what you want him to do” is reflected in most definitions. For instance, the Random House Dictionary of the English Language speaks of authority as “a power or right to direct the actions or thoughts of others. Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations.” Again the root idea seems to be control or direction of the actions of others.

We see this same idea even in sophisticated examinations of authority. For instance, William Oncken, Jr., in a 1970 Colorado Institute of Technology Journal, gives an analysis of authority that suggests it is comprised of four elements:

1. The Authority of Competence: the more competent the other fellow knows you are, the more confident he will be that you know what you are talking about and the more likely he will be to follow your orders, requests, or suggestions. He will think of you as an authority in the matter under consideration and will feel it risky to ignore your wishes.

2. The Authority of Position: This component gives you the right to tell someone, “Do it or else.” It has teeth. “The boss wants it” is a bugle call that can snap many an office or shop into action.

3. The Authority of Personality: The easier it is for the other fellow to talk to you, to listen to you, or to work with you, the easier he will find it to respond to your wishes.

4. The Authority of Character: This component is your “credit rating” with other people as to your integrity, reliability, honesty, loyalty, sincerity, personal morals, and ethics. Obviously you will get more and better from a man who has respect for your character than from one who hasn’t.

A medical doctor, sitting in the company of friends, quickly cut in on a lay person who was talking about a particular disease with an air of authority. "Only a specialist who has devoted his life to medical science is entitled to speak with authority," he declared. He was right. Before long, however, the conversation turned to a religious question. Without a moment's hesitation the doctor became equally dogmatic. When it was politely pointed out to him that he had not made a study of the Bible and was not religiously inclined, he confidently voiced the assumption that all people are equally entitled to an opinion on questions of religious truth and experience. According to him, the person who hardly gives five minutes' serious attention to the claims of the Spirit is entitled to rank equally with those to whom the reverential fear of God is a daily study and passion.

According to a UPI news item, the Metropolitan Insurance Company received some unusual explanations for accidents from its automobile policyholders. The following are just few:

“An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.”

“The other car collided with mine without warning me of its intention.”

“I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had the accident.”

“As I reached an intersection, a hedge sprang up, obscuring my vision.”

“I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.”

“The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.”

“The telephone pole was approaching fast. I attempted to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.”

“The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.”

“The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.”

Loan Officer: “Based on your credit history, it seems the only kind of loan you qualify for is an auto loan.”

Customer: “You mean money to buy a car?”

Loan Officer: “I mean money you lend yourself.”

Johnson’s first law of auto repair: any tool dropped while repairing an automobile will roll under the car to the vehicle’s exact geographic center.

A young couple who had just witnessed a Bill Cosby performance went backstage hoping to get the comedian’s autograph in their newly born son’s baby book. An aide took the book to Cosby, and when it was returned the couple excitedly looked for his signature. They couldn’t find it, and they left the theater disappointed.

Days later, however, the mother found it on one of the inside pages. Under “Baby’s first sentence” was written “I like Bill Cosby.”

An unbeliever once ridiculed the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ by saying, "If Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost, why is it that there are so many unbelievers?" The Christian to whom he was speaking stopped a very dirty little boy who was passing by and turning to the unbeliever said, "Can you blame soap and water for the filth of this boy?" It was available to all, but only those who accept it experience its regenerating power.

On an average day in the USA: 1,169,863 people take a taxi, 176,810,950 eggs are laid, 21,000 gallons of oil are spilled from tankers and barges, 63,288 cars crash, 28 mailmen are bitten by dogs, 2 billion $1 bills are in circulation, industry generates nearly 1 pound of hazardous waste for every person in America, 1.1 million people are in the hospital, the U.S. Postal Service sells 90 million stamps, handles 320 million pieces of mail and delivers 833,000 packages, 180,000 people buy new radios, 500 million cups of coffee are drunk, 80 million people hear Muzak, 10,205 people give blood, $54,794 is spent to fight dandruff, bricklayers lay 22,741,000 bricks, amateurs take 19,178,000 shapshots, 9,077 babies are born, 2,466 children are bitten by dogs, 5,962 couples wed, every one of us produces nearly 6 pounds of garbage.

48% of church-goers attend an average of once a month.

Married couples spend an average of 27.5 minutes per week talking to each other, according to Ray Bridwhistell, speech communication expert. TV viewing (46 hours per week), children, household chores, social obligations, and working wives are the reasons for this lack of communication between spouses.

The average church member contributes between 1.5% and 2.5% of his total income specifically to the Lord’s work.

Every person in the U.S.A. today has an average of $12,000 of debt. Rick Beggs, Ronald Blue & Co., 1997

While the average child laughs 150 times a day, say researchers at the University of Michigan, the average adult laughs only 15 times.

The average male is: 5’ 9” tall and 173 pounds. Is married, 1.8 years older than his wife and would marry her again. Has not completed college. Earns $28,605 per year. Prefers showering to taking a bath. Sends about 7.2 hours a week eating. Does not know his cholesterol count, but it’s 211. Watches 26 hours and 44 minutes of TV a week. Takes out the garbage in his household. Prefers white underwear to colored. Cries about once a month--one fourth as much as Jane Doe. Falls in love an average of six times during his life. Eats his corn on the cob in circles, not straight across, and prefers his steak medium. Can’t whistle by inserting his fingers in his mouth. Prefers that his toilet tissue unwind over, rather than under, the spool. Has sex 2.55 times a week. Daydreams mostly about sex. Thinks he looks okay in the nude. Will not stop to ask for directions when he’s in the car.

Many of us are like that man who prided himself on his morality and some specific virtues and said, "I am pretty good on the whole. I sometimes get mad and speak a couple of unnecessary words, but then I am pretty honest. I work on my farm on Sundays when there's work to be done, but I give a good deal to the poor and have never gotten drunk in my life." This man one day hired a Christian to build a fence around his pasture. He gave him very specific instructions. In the evening when the Scotsman came in from work, the man said, "Well, Jack, is the fence built, and is it good and strong?" "I cannot say it is all tight and strong," Jack replied, "but it's a good average fence, anyhow. If some parts are a little weak, others are extra strong. I have left a little gap here and there, a yard or so wide, but I made up for it by doubling the rails on each side of the gap. I dare say the cattle will find it a good fence on the whole and will like it, though I cannot say it is perfect in every part." "What!" cried the man, not seeing the point, "Do you mean to tell me that you built a fence around my lot with weak places and gaps in it? Why, you might as well have built no fence at all. If there is one gap or a place where an opening can be made, the cattle will be sure to find it and will be sure to go through. Don't you know, man, that a fence must be perfect or it is worthless?" "I used to think so," said the man, "but I hear you talking so much about averaging matters with the Lord, it seems to me we might try it with the cattle."

Number of times a child laughs each day, on average = 400

Number of times an adult laughs each day, on average = 15

Number of Americans with stress-related insomnia = 1 in 5

Number on any given day who need more sleep = 45 million

Percentage decrease in average sleep time, since 1900 = 20

We should not let the sickness of other Christians lead us to brag that we are well because we are sinless while other Christians are sick because they are sinners. The proud heart is detestable to God. Perhaps we need to pray the well-known prayer of an early Wesleyan preacher: "Lord, save me from that good man-myself." It must be awful in the sight of God to see His children boasting of their health while condemning others because they are sick.

If a cube of lead is placed on a cube of gold, the two metals slowly but inevitably begin to penetrate each other. In the same manner we tend to imbibe the spirit, to share the opinions, to partake of the qualities of our intimate associates. Though we may believe that our gold will enrich their lead, the opposite is far more likely to prove true-their lead will debase our gold. That is why the Psalmist said, "Depart from me, ye evil doers, that I may keep the commandments of my God" (Psa 119:115).

A man let an offender go instead of avenging himself for an insult. He was criticized in consequence, and he said to the friend who chided him, "Tell me, my friend, if you were climbing a hill, and a great stone or block rolled down toward you, would you consider it disgraceful to step aside and allow it to roll past? If not, what disgrace can there be in avoiding and giving way to a man aroused by anger until he has had time for reflection, and his agitated mind finds rest in repentance?" There is an old legend that tells of Hercules encountering a strange animal on a narrow road. He struck it with his club and passed. Soon the animal overtook him, now three times as large as before. Hercules struck it fast and furiously, but the more he clubbed the beast, the larger it grew. Then Pallas appeared to Hercules and warned him to stop. "The monster's name is Strife," he said. "Let it alone and it will soon become as little as at first." This is valuable advice for those of us Christians who engage in counterblows, thinking that only thus can we stop the blows.

Jimmy had trouble pronouncing the letter "R" so his teacher gave him this sentence to practice at home: "Robert gave Richard a rap in the rib for roasting the rabbit so rare."

Some days later the teacher asked him to say the sentence for her. Jimmy rattled it off like this: "Bob gave Dick a poke in the side for not cooking the bunny enough."

He evaded the letter R.

There are many useful, committed Christians at church, but it is sad that so many others are evading the R meaning R-eady: ready to serve, sing, visit, teach and be truly committed.

These friends are saved, we believe, they are good people, accommodating, and are religious, but are just not committed.

It is possible to be so religious that we cannot be Christian.

Are you handling the letter "R" right?

As that great preacher of the Word, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, said, "To me the second coming is the perpetual light on the path which makes the present bearable. I never lay my head on my pillow without thinking that maybe before morning breaks, the final morning may have dawned! I never begin my work without thinking that perhaps He may interrupt my work and begin His own. This is now His word to all believing souls, till He comes."

O sirs, how plainly, how closely, how earnestly, should we deliver a message of such moment as ours, when the everlasting life or everlasting death of our fellow-men is involved in it!…There [is] nothing more unsuitable to such a business, than to be slight and dull. What! speak coldly for God, and for men’s salvation? Can we believe that our people must be converted or condemned, and yet speak in a drowsy tone? In the name of God, brethren, labor to awaken your own hearts, before you go to the pulpit, that you may be fit to awaken the hearts of sinners…Oh, speak not one cold or careless word about so great a business as heaven or hell. Whatever you do, let the people see that you are in good earnest…A sermon full of mere words, how neatly soever it be composed, while it want the light of evidence, and the life of zeal, is but an image or a well-dress carcass.