"This is something that all pastors need to read"

We can no longer sit idly by and let the forces of evil wash across the land. For many of us are just waking up to the many dangers facing our country. Upon coming out of our stupor of complacency, we are shaken awake by the realization that we are faced with only two clear choices; surrender or resist. No longer can we sit on the fence and expect someone else to fix the mess that we the people have permitted.


I do not believe that the ills of our nation can be solved by political solution. The only solution is a restoration of the principles that guided out founders. Only a cultural revolution can save our Republic. We must change who we are as citizens of this great Country. Our liberty, the pursuit of happiness and our very lives are a gift from our Creator.

The attached guideline is published by The Concerned Women of America, a national Christian activist group.  I.C. Holland. I definitely agree!

I am proud to be a grass roots activist, helping to inform and energize my fellow patriots. We the people got us into this mess and it is up to We the People to take our country back. Already we are making a difference. It is my sincere hope that the good people of America will get off the fence and join the millions of Common Sense Americans who are re-learning what it means to be an American.

James N. Holland

Callaway Patriots Tea Party


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AN UNSNSWERED QUESTION

For more than three score years and ten I have been a preacher, though in a very limited way in recent years. In those many services a few have stood out as very special in one way or another. I will tell of one that was different, though I have no answer for it.


In the month of February 1965, I was in ministry at the church of North Sound on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. The preceding night I had preached on holiness. Never Before nor since have I had a greater sense of the Power of the Holy Spirit. In my attempt to close the sermon, Brother Halstead Dixon, missionary - pastor to those islands, shouted out, "Go on! We're with you till midnight." There was good response to the invitation and we were blessed with good results.


The service the next morning was, I thought, very ordinary. In thinking back on it, there is not one unusual feature that I can recall. I asked the congregation to stand for the benediction as usual. Then I gave the dismissal prayer and walked down between the standing groups and out the door to Gravette House, the tiny Mission Home.


After waiting around for some time, I wondered what was detaining the people. On going back to the church, I found all of them standing, just as I had left them. Why was that? No one has ever given an answer.


Brother William Hayton, later missionary to the Virgin Islands, tells me that many years after this occurrence the people there were still speaking of that service.


I am still wondering, but have no answer.

IT HAPPENED IN CHURCH - PART IV

A pastor I knew had this unique ability to fell asleep in church regardless of the occasion. At one time during a revival meeting at his church he introduced the evangelist, sat down and promptly did what he did best. He fell fast asleep and slept through the sermon.


The evangelist finished his message and sat down beside the sleeper. This roused the sleeper. He rose to his feet and announced, "Brother P. will now bring us the message."


This good brother is long gone from the scene. Too late the thought came to me that he should have been given some special recognition. "Sleeping Beauty" is out. How about "The Composed Man" or should that be reposed?


It is easy, in fact it is quite common, for public speakers, even preachers, to make great errors in their addresses. A certain preacher was preaching the funeral of an elderly lady. This happened in the church where I was pastor. He had know this lady and her extended family for many years. Her son was a board member of one of the city's schools. The school superintended and other public figures were present.


Among other things of complementary nature, the preacher stated, "If anyone deserves a good funeral, this lady does." It seemed to us that he meant, "And I'm going to see that she gets it!" As he waxed eloquent in his remarks, he said, "By this time she is sipping Neptune."


He knew quite a lot about Roman and Greek mythology and certainly the difference between nectar and the god of the sea, but this slip of the tongue had "gone public". For all time thereafter, we employed a new term whenever something for drink or even for food was really good. We would say, "This really sips neptune" or "is like sipping neptune."


It is strange how far some people will go in capitalizing on someone else's mistakes.

IT HAPPENED IN CHURCH - Part III

It was in the old chapel at the annual College Mound Camp meeting. Bro. J.E. Bankson of Ottumwa, Iowa was preaching in an afternoon service. In a particularly loud and vigorous part of his discourse, his upper plate escaped him and hit the rug. In one swift move he bent down, retrieved his escaped dentures, restored them to their place, and went right on preaching as though nothing happened.


He was so adroit in this maneuver that we felt he must have had this experience before.
While I was serving as secretary of the College Mound camp a request was made that the General Camp might meet in conjunction with the College Mound Camp in 1940. This was granted for 1940 and again in 1941.


During one of the camps, a certain preacher brother from an eastern state came to visit his old parents who lived at the "Mound". Most of us had not previously know this brother, though I well remember his parents. Prior to this time the preacher had been associated with the holiness people, but had for many years belonged to another denomination. The camp committee felt it should show him the courtesy of giving him a preaching service.


Although he accepted this request, it was obvious that he was ill at ease in the pulpit. He stated that he really should not be preaching when so many there were so much more capable. But J.T. Kimbrough, father of the late Ray L. Kimbrough, seated in the amen corner, just off the pulpit, had more than enough protest.


When the speaker repeated this, "There are many who could do so much better than I...", Brother Kimbrough came out loud and strong, "Amen! That's so!"


That brought the alibi process to an abrupt end. It got the preacher off dead center, but didn't seem to help him a bit.


From 1942 to the present the General Camp has been held on the grounds of the Kansas City College and Bible School which were purchased in 1941. For several years the General Camp meeting was held under a tent. In 1946 the Young People's League was granted a delegate to the annual convention. In that same year, the League presented a resolution that a Board of Education be elected to provide a home study course for ministers who lacked formal education.


A great deal of discussion followed. A strong feeling was expressed that from this day onward, a higher level of competence or experience should be attained for a person to receive ordination as an elder.


One brother rose in the assembly and addressed the chairman, Bro. C.E. Cowen, loudly stating that the Bible says that whom the Lord calls, He also qualifies.


To this, the chairman, obviously amused, replied, "Brother, tqhat' not in the Bible."


Right back came the rejoinder, "Then give me chapter and verse".


This produced quite an outburst of laughter as the delegates pondered the problem - if it's not there, where's the chapter and verse?

IT HAPPENED IN CHURCH, Part II

The incident I relate happened in one of our Southern Churches more than seventy years ago. I became acquainted with the participants in this little drama and found it interesting. A young lady had become a lover of the picture shows in the days of the silent films. Now, in a revival meeting, she was trying to sort things out and had come to the altar of prayer as a seeker.

She had suffered a knee injury and was not kneeling, but was seated on the altar. A certain brother who sought to be of help, and knowing of her addiction to the picture shows, said, "Yo' old shows wouldn't bother me none."

Wrong move! She knew that he was a secret snuff dipper, and that was a "no-no" in the church. It seems remarkable to me that these young people are so alert to some things that older folks may not be aware of. In this case the seeker turned on the would be altar worker and spat out, "And yo' old snuff wouldn't bother me none!"

That ended this brother's attempt at being a counselor to seekers, and he withdrew in embarrassment.

In 1959 the annual Youth Camp was held in Kirksville, MO. H.E. Schmuel was evangelist and William Mays was Bible Teacher. In The Friday night service there were several young people who responded to the altar call. At length all had departed except one young man from one of the Kansas churches. Brother Ray Pollard was kneeling several yards away. Instead of rising he "walked" on his knees to the side of the seeker and asked, "Young man, what is your problem?"

Without lifting his head, the young fellow said, "I guess I'm in confusion."

To this, Bro. Pollard asked, "You know who is the author of confusion is, don't you?"

"Some Chinese," was his reply.

There was a bit of quiet mirth evidenced among those of us who were in attendance. The good brother, so intent on being a helper, withdrew to his point of origin in the manner in which he had come.

IT HAPPENED IN CHURCH

I am aware that my friend, the late D.P. Denton, has used my title to his bit of script, and I barrow it from him. I am thinking that some of my readers may be interested. It is pretty well agreed upon that we tend to remember the funny, the strange and unusual more readily than the sermons. Once in a service I heard Bro. W.C. Spaur ask the question: "What would you think if you came in and found me and your wife sitting on the buffet?" This drew quite a lot of laughter. Doubtless he had meant to say sofa or divan. When things calmed down, he started, "I'm glad I said that. Now you will remember one thing I said tonight." That happened 70 years ago, and that's all I remember about the sermon.


About 1938 or '39, the trio of Lucile Baker, Elvira England and Carol Yocum was singing for a tent revival at Bronson, Kansas. While they were on the platform singing a cat and her string of kittens decided to get religion and came marching single-file down the aisle toward the platform. Elvira, I think it was, for her tickle-box was easily upset, choked a little, then broke out laughing. The other two had a break-down and followed suit. The audience, of cue, followed their lead, thinking the girls got blessed. It was quite a time of "blessing," actually generated by a cat and kittens.


A good Tennessee Brother whom I knew long ago was preaching in an old camp meeting tabernacle. This preacher, though not tall, was quite stocky in build and jumped a lot when he preached - a quite unique way to add emphasis to his preaching. Obviously, the flooring of the old tabernacle was decayed, and in one of his leaps, he broke through the floor and sank up to about his neck. Not to be deterred by such an insignificant matter, he clambered up out of the wreckage and went on with his message. Awhile back, I held a meeting in this man's church and stayed in his home. Well, that was 70 years ago, lacking one year. He told me of another embarrassing incident that occurred when he was preaching. He was wearing a pair of light weight "summer" pants, like all of us wore in those days. In one of his characteristic leaps, he came down so hard that his britches split at the seam all the way down from his belt line. A lady preacher, who shall remain unnamed said, "Oh, Bro. S., You busted your pants."


"As if I didn't know it," he continued. He did the proper thing, backed off and set down saying, "Sister C., you take the service." This she did, gave an alter call, and several came as seekers. All during this time, the preacher man remained seated with head bowed. The people remarked that Bro. S. was under a terrible burden. He didn't even participate in the prayers for the seekers.


After all had left the meeting, the preacher recovered from his reverie and made his way homeward.

A WORD ABOUT BIBLE CRITICS

The people who are most blessed by the Bible are, without question, those who believe it and receive it as the Word of God. That there are statements and passages hard to comprehend all will agree. Even the Apostle Peter spoke of St. Paul's writings as "some things hard to be understood" II Peter 3:16.


Most all of our Bible is written in Hebrew and Greek, and in those languages, as in other tongues strange to us, there are employed sayings expressed in what we call "figurative language" and "folk" sayings. For example, "the beam in one's eye" Matt. 7:4, or the camel to go through the eye of a needle - Matt. 19:24. Others are found in the Revelation. In Chapter 11:8, " And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." And again in 17:1, " The great whore that sitteth upon many waters." Now proceed to verse 15, "The waters ... where the whore sitteth are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Also Rev. 17:7, "The mystery of the woman and the beast ... which hath seven heads" and verse 9, "The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth." Incidentally, there are seven hills along the Tiber. I have seen them and know their names: Palatine, Capitoline, Esquiline, Viminal, Aventine, Caelian and Quirinal. Is there any other place that fits this description?


One of the objections of critics is that the Bible contradicts itself. Take a case in point. Proverbs 26:4 states: " Answer not a fool according to his folly" and the very next verse: "Answer a fool according to his folly." Which is right? Both. Sometimes you do and sometimes you don't! It depends on the occasion. Sometimes it would be like "casting your pearls before swine."


I knew Dr. Walter Wilson only slightly. He pastored a Baptist Church in Kansas City while I was also a pastor there. Once a critic told him, "You can't prove that one thing in the Bible is true." Dr. Wilson replied, "Yes I can If you will stand for it!" He then quoted Prov. 30:33: "Surely ... the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood."


Once while I was on vacation I met a fine young man who was employed by the National Forest Services. On a Sunday afternoon when we were both n camp we were engaged in conversation. He stated that he had a problem with the Bible because there were so many contradictions in it.


My reply was something like this: "Well, let's check this out. What are some of them?"


An embarrassed look came over his face, and he admitted, "I guess I don't know any."


Somebody had sold him a bill of goods, probably when he was in college.

WORDS AND PRINCIPALS TO LIVE BY

Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.


Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.


Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.


Then let us consider some guidelines others have set for themselves.


Mrs. Susannah Wesley, wife of Rev. Samuel Wesley and mother to John and Charles, was the twenty-fifth child of Dr. Samuel Annesley. She was the mother of nineteen children, "most of whom lived to be educated, and ten came to man and woman's estate." All of her children were educated by herself.


Mrs. Wesley's statement in a letter to her son Charles: "Whatever dulls the sensitiveness on my spirit towards God, or take the fine edge off my thought of Him - must be ruled out, for He is my Lord. Whatever injures or weakens my body, or affects the mastery of it - must be ruled out, for it is the temple of the Lord. Whatever adversely affects the clearness of my witness of Jesus Christ before others - must be ruled out for it was His parting wish that I should be a witness of Him. Whatever may cause my brother to stumble in his Christian life - must be ruled out, for that would grieve Jesus."


Here is the rule of J. Wilbur Chapman: "The rule that governs my life is this: Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it. This simple rule may help you find a safe road for your feet along life's road.

TO TELL THE TRUTH

I was surprised to learn from a daily devotional book that about a score of years ago a certain Mr. Hirsh Goldberg had established a National Honesty Day "as a day to honor the honorable and encourage honesty." That day is April 30. Here is his reason for selecting the last day of the month. "April begins with a day dedicated to lying (April Fool's Day) and should end on a higher moral note."


Well, I'm all for it, but haven't noted any discernable improvement. In fact, it surely hasn't been announced or observed in our national capital. Perhaps it would be so new to them that it would interrupt normal proceedings.


I heard this on the radio. A boy in West Virginia won a contest. He took first place in a "Liar's Contest," a person who could stretch the truth farther than anyone. The report went on to say that he was headed for Washington D.C. to study political science. I predict that he'll fit in there without any waiting period.


We have had a hard time in our country to develop real saints. According to the Catholic Church, the first native born American to be sainted was Elizabeth Ann Seaton, who died at Emmitsburg, Maryland Jan. 4, 1821. It took the church until 1975 to get her on the official records. Perhaps she got tired waiting for her halo. About the time they sainted her, they dumped several dozen who had been "saints" for many years!


I like God's way of making saints a lot better! And He is at it all the time! Also, I like Paul's doctrine of "absent from the body, present with the Lord."


I have a comfortable feeling and an active faith in reading the passage where Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd who know His sheep. That's us! And His sheep know the Shepherd! He knows us not only by name, but by nature, character and conduct. He states plainly, "I am the truth". The apostle John in his second epistle uses the word "truth" five times in the first four verses. Then in his third epistle states, " I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth".


None of us is perfect in knowledge or performance, but Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can work with our imperfection. However, insincerity and hypocrisy close the door. Such are "not of His," because not of the truth. He is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Heb. 4:12. "For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed." I Sam. 2:3.

PAUL AND THE THORN

Part Four, Miscellany


This could be titled: St. Paul's Thorny Problem or The Problem and Pain of unanswered Prayer.


It could be outlined: The Misery of the Thorn, The Mystery of the Thorn and The Ministry of the Thorn.


Lessons and Observations


· There are ups and down in the Christian life. ("Canaan is a land of hills and valleys.")


· The "Caught up to heaven" is not an experience to be sought after - until the rapture.


· Often great trial follows great triumphs.


· We don't quit praying when we don't get the answer we expect.


· God's refusal is no sign of His displeasure.


· If God revises or refuses a petition it is no sign he refuses the person!


· We are not to give up when we face things we do not understand.


· There is purpose in the things God permits.


· The very best Christians may be subject to severe and mysterious trials. Think of Job.


· We must not expect to duplicate someone else's experience.


Suggested Study: Paul's Pleasure, Paul's Pain, Paul's Prayer, Paul's Profit


It was: Personal, Painful, Perplexing, Prolonged, Purposeful, and Profitable

PAUL AND THE THORN

Part Three; II Cor. 12: 8 - 10


Talk about an up and down life - Paul had it! As soon as he was converted his life was threatened and he was let down over the wall at Damascus in a basket. Later when he was caught up to the third heaven, had to come down to what must have been a lifelong "Thorn in the flesh" experience. In his life there is no even distribution of pain, yet sometimes liabilities and limitations are turned into assets and opportunities. The glory comes through the action of God, but the determining factor as to benefit comes through the attitude of mind and will.


Paul had no question as to the identity of his persecutor or the source of his help. Naturally, he turned to God in prayer, once, then again, apparently without an answer from God. On his third petition the answer came. God said, "I have enough grace for your need." He didn't say that He would remove the thorn.


I may be going into forbidden territory to ask a question, or to make a suggestion. There is an ancient and inevitable law of sowing and reaping. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. In his preconversion days, Saul of Tarsus had persecuted, imprisoned and killed many Christians. We understand his explanation that he did it in ignorance. But was that enough to escape the retribution of reaping? Maybe we had better stick to what we know. And it seems obvious that this "messenger" was sent to counter-balance over his tendency to glory special trip to Paradise.


In addition to the promise of sufficient grace, God told Paul "My grace and my strength are made perfect in your weakness." Paul gladly accepted this trade off and preferred to glory in his infirmity if it was exchanged by the power of Christ.


In both verses 5 and 9 Paul speaks of his glory in infirmities and in verse 10 states that he takes pleasure in infirmities! This is strong medicine, but he does this that the power of Christ may rest upon him. He sets an exceedingly high standard for us. How he does this is partly explained in II Cor. 4:17 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.." The affliction is light in comparison with the glory, and is just for a moment in contrast to eternity. and he is right!


All of us ride on St. Paul's promise of grace sufficient for our needs. It is a universal promise, for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Our needs will never exhaust His supply. All that God does for us and in us is a result of that grace. The generic definition of grace is that it is the unmerited favor of God. That is good an far as it goes. The word "unmerited" is employed to state that this is not something owed to us or accomplished by us. It is more than a mere nod from God indication his approval. His grace is a many-faceted term. We speak of justification and sanctification as works of grace.


The promise here of a sufficiency of grace has direct reference to St. Paul's enablement to accept an answer to his petition that is the direct opposite of his request.

PAUL AND THE THORN Part Two

His Pain and His Gain ...Cor. 12:5-8.


I regret the long gap in my communication. Part of that was occasioned by being away for General Camp. Our last post was a brief survey of Paul and the thorn in the flesh experience - Verses 1-4. Today's study will be of verses 5-8.


In a rather strange way Paul seeks to glory and yet not to glory of or for himself and his unusual trip to the third heaven. In this attempt, he seeks to distance himself from himself by referring to "such an one." He lets that other man receive the glory while he, Paul, glories in his infirmities. He rejoices as a grace that enables him to triumph over them. This is a remarkable virtue, and may God enable us to do likewise.


In all of the references to glory, the Authorized Version and others use the word "boast."


In Verse 6, Paul implies that there may be some tendency to find comfort in self-glorification, but to do so would be the act of a fool. This, he carefully avoids. Here he stands totally apposite to so many today are the most highly acclaimed church leaders. Some years ago I read a book titled "The Preachers." In it the life style and ministry of ten prominent churchmen of that day were critically examined. Only one of the ten was judged by the author to be truly Christian. We don't know how God judges except that it is fair and accurate. St. Paul is concerned that those who see and hear him have a right conception of his integrity.


In verse 7, Paul tells the whole world of something given him as a counter balance against self exaltation or boasting. This he identifies as a thorn in the flesh and a messenger of Satan! The commentators have had a field day in their attempt to identify that thorn. Some of these I list from their writings: epilepsy, severe and prostrating headaches, malarial fever, physical weariness (Whoever is there who hasn't had that one!), opposition from critics, slander, ophthalmia. Barclay gives another opinion, not his own, "the grinding, boring pain in one temple." Now that's getting it down to a fine point. One went so far as to think it was his mother-in-law! Surely this must have been a person who himself had a problem, and because he had not carefully read his New Testament.


Why bother to attempt to discover some new theory on something that cannot be known and give a solution based wholly on conjecture? Why, indeed! Being far removed from the scene, I boldly submit my opinion. Since Paul identifies this thorn in the flesh, I conclude it to be a physical infirmity.


What is to me a greater problem is that God permitted - even sent - such a person to do this to God's chosen apostle, one who perhaps did more than other man to check or destroy the satanic work of an adversary. Yet Paul explains it and accepts it. Twice in one verse he writes, "lest I should be exalted." What acute perception!


This is cause for all of us to take stock and to ask God for His searching as in Psalm 139: 23-24!

PAUL AND THE THORN

or His Pain and his Gain


Part One


I think that we may profit by a closer look at what I consider the most remarkable account in the whole New Testament that deals with mortal experience. Certainly there is none like that of St. Paul's being "Caught up to the third heaven" and return. Text: II Cor. 12:1-10


Basic Facts: Paul was "caught up" to the third heaven. We do not know just when this happened - only that this occurred 14 years before II Corinthians was written.


One "Authority" suggests Acts 22:17, Paul's experience in the temple - "I was in a trance."


Another: When Paul was blind for 3 days - Acts 9:9.


How about Acts 14:19, when Paul was stoned and left for dead for a length of time?


The Jews had an expressed belief in seven heavens. Paul settled for three, which he also called Paradise.


Paul states: "I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." The visions are manifestations that cannot be seen with the eye of sense, and yet presented to the mind; while revelations are the truths conveyed and the ability to apprehend and comprehend.


By saying, "Whether in the body or ... out of the body," Paul is expressing the possibility of belief in an out of the body experience.


In verse 3, the literal translation is, "I know a man," This is Paul's modest way of saying, "I am that man."


In recounting this great experience, St. Paul waits for fourteen years, and then three times states, "I cannot tell." Just think of the possibilities if something even remotely similar to this should happen to some radio or television evangelist! Think of where they could go with that! From day one it could be spread worldwide, and a move be made of it. Yet St. Paul waited 14 years, and then got it told in four verses.


In this "Caught up" experience, Paul said that he heard "unspeakable words ... not lawful for a man to utter." Unspeakably great in content, no doubt. The New American Standard Bible renders "not lawful" as "It is not permitted." Although Paul was a man of many languages, he had no human language that could describe celestial happenings.


Suggestion: Perhaps we should take a lesson from Paul. Don't be too quick to tell something we don't know, or even something we shouldn't tell!


More later, D.V.

I AM BLEST

I hope you will not be turned off when I state that this is about me. I will hasten to explain. In my childhood I was troubled with what in my adult years I self diagnosed as rheumatic fever. Then while I was a student at MU, I was hospitalized with a severe case of scarlet fever.


About three years later, when I was a married man and an expectant father, it occurred to me that some insurance might be appropriate in case my young wife should become a widow. My trip to Dr. Durst was not encouraging. His report to the insurance agent resulted in a denial to my application. The trouble was my heart. However, the agent left the matter on hold with suggestion of another examination. This test was much the same as to results, but the doctor suggested that I might just be an exceptional case - and perhaps a lot of people have had that impression! The insurance agent really wanted to make a sale, and after all, the policy was only $1000. So we closed the deal.


Things went on pretty well for a while. Then about three years later while teaching a class at KCCBS, I had some sort of attack and chest pain. I dropped in my chair and leaned on my desk waiting for the thing to pass. Someone came to my assistance and took me to my residence there on campus. Dr. Grayson was called. He did his examination there at the house. His words as near as I can remember, were, "It's your heart. If you have any insurance, be sure and keep it up, for you can't get any more." I still think that pretty strange, but it was pretty convincing. This doctor turned me over to a grand old heart specialist who had offices in the Country Club Plaza and also in Bell Memorial Hospital. I mention the this last place especially because so many of our KCCBS students of the "old days" have memories of those days. However, many, if not most have already gone beyond the river.


At the close of the school year, we moved to Bynumville in North Missouri where my wife's parents lived and where I still pastored. It was a very quiet summer for me. I was advised by everyone to take it easy. While Still on campus, my three year old son would urge me, "Don't run. Just walk" when I left for the class room. And that was about 66 years ago!


Gradually, things came back close to normal with good help from family, and especially from the Lord. In 1957 I was sent by our mission board on special assignment to Jamaica. This tour lasted for one month. Now, my chauffeur there was the late Bro. Mauck, who, you will remember was slow of speech. However, when he got behind the wheel, got beyond all that. If they have any speed laws down there, they haven't been made public, and all of those people drive on the wrong side of the road. It's a British thing. M heart stood the test, though a few times it seemed to be dislocated and lodged in my throat!


The next year I spent one month on a mission trip to Bolivia. Eight more trips followed this one. I will forego any attempt to describe the roads there, for you wouldn't believe me. We went over passes at about 15,000 feet elevation and around sharp bends where; if you went over, you would land about a quarter of a mile below. There were no warning signs, and no guard rails. All of this wind-up is to praise the Great Physician for His restorative and healing power that has helped me to pursue His call to service.


The Psalmist wrote, "He restoreth my soul," and that's good. But when He rebuilds worn physical equipment and permits one to minister into the ninth decade of life - well, that' double good! That's all bonus.

THE GREAT PHYSICAN

The Threefold Ministry of Jesus: Matt. 4:19; 9:35; Isa. 53:5

Teaching, Preaching, Healing.

The "All manner of sickness and disease" comprehends more than bodily illness.

Note: Isa. 1:6 repeated I Pat. 2:25. It was not the beating He took, but the death He died that heals.

I The Physical Healing Ministry

Wherever Jesus went there were all kinds of healings

· He had compassion on hurting people

· His miracles gave witness to his divinity.

Jesus still heals today. Scripture refers to the gift of healing but the fellow who claims to be a healer, probably isn't.


II Healing of the Mind

Dr. Paul Ernest Adolph, retired Lt. Col. of the Medical Corps. "Eighty percent of all illnesses encountered in general practice in our large American cities have a predominantly psychic causation, the half of these 80% involve no demonstrable organic causative factors whatsoever.

Dr. Carl Jung, Psychiatrist (in Modern Man In Search of a Soul) - "During the past 30 years people from all people from all civilized countries of the earth have consulted me. I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among all of my patients in the second half of life - that is to say, over 35 - there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life."

Dr. William Sadler, Psychiatrist - Writer of Medical Textbooks for physicians - A Doctor's Doctor - Gives strong emphasis on prayer and systematic Bible reading.

Stress is a major crippler and killer.

Illustration: The lion caged, restless and stressed, has very large adrenal and thyroid glands, lives about 25 years. The lion has a furrowed brow "like a man making out his income tax forms." The crocodile has very small adrenal gland, lives a lazy life and is still young at 100. (Don't misunderstand me to say that if you'll just lie around all the time you'll live to be 100!)

III Jesus is the Healer of broken hearts

No need, no problem is too small or too personal to bring to Him.

· He is the Perfect Comforter

· Ps. 23; "He restoreth my soul."

IV Jesus is the Healer of Personal Relationships

Carry with you the Golden Rule and lay it down on all human relationships.

See Matt. 5:23-24 - Remember, Reconcile, Return

V Jesus is the Healer of the Soul's Disease - Sin.

The Moslem says, "Go to Mecca; The Catholic says, "Go to Rome," but Jesus says, "Come unto me."

"Come as you are, and come now." All sins have forgiveness when confessed, repented of and abandoned. Jesus came to give healing for the whole man as stated in 1 Thess. 5:34 - Spirit, soul, and body.

Admittedly, this is a lop-sided outline of a larger message. We desire to emphasize the exercise of the will, the adjustment of attitudes, the bringing all under the will of God and in conformity to Christ.

RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE

I hope that my readers will not think I am stuck in a rut when I send out consecutive stories that are remarkably alike. The subjects of both concern strong young men aged 28, and both subjects of fatal accidents.


I was in my study at the church when a call came for me to rush to Bell Memorial Hospital, (now K. U. Medical Center) on the Kansas side of the state line.


The victim of the accident was coming home from a night class in south Missouri when his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver whose vehicle lights out. The crash was fatal to both drivers.


The man I went to see was conscious but unable to speak because of a spreader in his mouth and other equipment. Two young doctors and numerous nurses were attempting to save his life. The room was a large one so that there was plenty of room. However, I assured the medical people I would not get in their way in my attempt to help the patient. One of the doctors replied that "He's in your hands if you can help, because we're not able to save him." They had already given him over forty units of blood, but his crushed body was unable to retain it.


I asked the dying man, "Orville, are you saved?"


He shook his head to give me a negative answer. Other questions followed, such as do you want to be saved? Are you praying to be saved?"


It was a tense time. His parents whom I knew were in an adjacent room struck almost dumb with sorrow. I heard his wife cry out to the doctors, "He can't die. He's not saved!" When I had access to the patient, I kept up encouraging him to pray, and when the medical staff were not busy him I was in the corner of the room on my knees, pleading for his salvation.


One thing I thought exceedingly strange. The dying man's right arm was crushed, but he kept raising his left hand to look at his wrist. We discovered that he wanted to know what time it was. With almost no time left he wanted to know the time!


This running interview with a man who could not talk went on, with its intermissions, for about an hour. We will come to the point. At the last we questioned, "Orville, have you confessed your sins and trusted Jesus to save you?" There was a nod in the affirmative! Again, one more question, "Are you saved?" And once more there was as firm an answer as he could give, a nod of affirmation.


We closed with a prayer of gratitude and Orville Good was in the hands of God!

NO TIME TO SPARE

For today's script, how about an emergency run to the hospital? There are many of those in a preacher's life. In fact, this one is a late night run. Last night there was a call a little past midnight, and now about the same time another one. The patient had been swimming in a small lake in North Missouri. A miscalculation in water depth and a broken neck had sent Glen Guthrie to Research Hospital in Kansas City. The previous night I had made this trip and found the patient paralyzed from the neck down. Heavy weights attached to the skull kept the head immobile.


I had never net Glen. He was 28 and married. His wife and her sister-in-law had been with him constantly since his being brought to the hospital. On my first call Glen had been only partially clear in his mind and was anxious to make his peace with God. The special nurse was a lady I judged to be past middle age, and was concerned for her patient and didn't want him to be disturbed. However, Glen spoke out, and said, "Nurse, I'm trying to find God, and I want this preacher to help me." After that, she made no objection. After all, a dying man's request ought to have some bearing on the matter.


It was a race against time. I explained the way of salvation a plainly as I could. There was no time for theological discourse, just simple facts on the line, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins ....." No mention of particular sins, just the basic route, and Glen picked up courage and did his own simple praying. The victory was won, and peace came! All at once, the patient was calm and quiet.


Knowing that the two ladies had been at his bedside for such long hours, I suggested that they might like a break and reminded them that just across the street there was a place that stayed open 24 hours where they could find refreshment. (That was the Old Research Hospital located at 23rd and Holmes.)


I assured these ladies that I would stay at the patient's side until their return. Thus assured they went on their way. About that time, Glen began to pray for his children. Up to this time, I did not know that they had children. First, he named the oldest girl and prayed for her; then for the second girl, he gave her name and prayed for her. Lastly, he said, "And there's little Butch, he's just three," and having prayed for his little boy, he was done. All was quiet until the women returned.


About the time the ladies came back into the room, the pains came back upon him. Glen Guthrie had gotten saved in the last half hour of consciousness! He had stated, "My mother-in-law will be happy to get word that I got saved! I won't need those cigarettes anymore." There had been no mention of cigarettes or anything like that. And his very last words were in prayer for his children!


That's what I call getting in at the last hour!

THE HILLS OF GOD; Part Two

Prior to this we have called attention to the Psalmist's statement in Psalm 121, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help." This declaration of the will is followed by a statement of knowledge and confidence: " My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." Surely a Heavenly Father of such power and magnificence can surely furnish all the help a mortal needs! We encourage the discouraged to look up for God and heaven are above us.


Today, I purpose to give a sketchy review of some of the hills of God.


I Mount Moriah; Genesis 22 :2


This is the place where Abraham offered up Isaac, the son of promise. Actually, the Bible reference tells us that Abraham was directed to the land of Moriah and "to one of the mountains which I shall tell thee of." Later, "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh." Verse 14. We have a reference in II Chron. 3:1 to Solomon building the temple in Mount Moriah. It is now almost universally accepted that this is the very spot where Abraham offered up Isaac. However, we have no valid proof from any source that this is the spot. What is of supreme importance is that on some hill of the Lord's choice there was that monumental demonstration of a faith that illustrates the offering up of God's only begotten Son. There is nothing else in all of holy writ or human history that can match it. It is typical of a justified believer's consecration to surrender all to God.


II Mount Sinai


This is the place where Moses received his commission from God to lead Israel out of Egyptian Bondage. Exod. 3:12, " And God said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee ... when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain." God sent Moses on a serious errand, to lay God's commands upon Pharaoh and eventually lead out of a bondage of more than four centuries that great multitude of Israelites. Now the record picks up at Exod. 19:3; "And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain ..." God keeps His promises!


It is as though God had said, "You go and carry out my plan, and when you get back, I'll be right here." And He was. There were thunders and lightnings. The whole mountain "quaked greatly" and was enveloped in fire and smoke. There was the long sounding of a trumpet. Moses came down with ten commandments. As some have stated, "They are not 10 suggestions. They are 10 commandments."


The God who says, "I am the Lord. I change not" fixed in place the moral framework for humanity for all time to come. As there are fixed natural laws in the physical universe, just so there are moral laws by which a moral people are to be governed. Those who break God's laws or challenge His right to rule His world should be reminded that they do so at their peril.


III Mount Calvary


All of these mounts are mere hills in comparison to the Alps or Himalayas. It is not the height of the hill, but what occurred there that gives significance. It was at Calvary, that low eminence outside the walls of old Jerusalem, that the Lamb of God suffered and died for the sins of the whole world. This was the most remarkable transaction ever to take place on planet earth!


The plans had been made in the counsels of eternity before the foundations of the earth were laid. Prophets had foretold it. Abraham's offering of Isaac had prefigured it. Isaiah 53 had pictured it! Zech. 13:11 stated that a fountain for sin was opened. It was there on Golgotha that Jesus cried, "It is finished!"


Reason asks, "How can God be just and justify the ungodly?" And revelation answers back, "By forgiving confessed and repented sin, by removing the barrier and cleaning the guilty."


IV Mont Olivet - Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives.


This hill of His departure was also the place of promise. Angels confirmed the promise. This same Jesus will come again as He promised.


Here again Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit and the reception of power by those who received Him.
 
Again, in essence, was the giving of the Great Commission.
 
Jesus will return!

A PENNY POST CARD

This brief narrative dates back about sixty-five years when a post card could be bought and mailed for one cent. As pastor of a village church in North Missouri, I used this instrument to invite people to a revival in our church. An old couple with an unmarried son and daughter still living at home received this missive and all came to the meeting and never once returned to their former church. The addition of four adult members is no small gain to a not too large congregation. Not long afterward, I was called upon to conduct the funeral of the father, and later that of the mother.


Now, a penny is not much of an investment, but "little is much when God is in it." One day the son appeared at my door with an unusual request. He had just purchased a tract of land, something over 700 acres of fertile river bottom land and wanted his pastor to go with him to have a prayer of dedication on the property. It was the only task exactly like that I have ever had. You can be sure I was glad to accommodate him!


We knelt under a large cottonwood tree, near the river. I led in prayer; he followed and my son about four years old chimed in and added his part. This farmer told the Lord that if He would bless his effort that he would give back a double tithe of his income. It soon became evident that the Lord of the harvest was pleased to have a tenant like that. He had bumper crops year after year and gave generously of multiplied thousands of dollars at a time to the work of God, especially Bible schools, and at his death left a great legacy to the kingdom of God. Pretty good return for a one cent investment!

FATHER HOLLAND

All of our friends know that Carol and I have two sons. However, not many are aware that on one occasion I was placed in a very special situation where I was "Father" for a day, or at least, part of a day. I hasten to explain.


On a visit to Bolivia it was my duty and pleasure to visit the church at Baja Pampajasi where Bro. Allejandro Flores was pastor. I was to preach the morning message, and was told that at the close of the service a Catholic lady was to become a convert. Many of her friends had been converted and she had seen the great change in their lives. Now she had made up her mind and announced the fact. Possibly the great change had already taken place in her heart, but the way to do this thing was to "go public" at the altar.


At the close of the message, I made an appeal to the unconverted. It was the custom there for the women to sit at the left of the speaker and the men at the right. From the back of the church a lady headed for the altar, and from the other side of the church a man followed. To the surprise of all, it was her husband. Together they burst out in tears and earnest praying. Spanish was a puzzle to me, and Aymara was something else. I'm not sure what the mixture was, but felt they were sure what they were after, and that praying like that would be answered.


After a while they both looked up at me with tears on their cheeks but with smiling faces. Each one had something to say, but I don't know what it was. Many of those people are bilingual, but I, for all those courses in Latin and Greek, was still locked up in English as far as conversation is concerned.


These new converts had perhaps often gone to the Catholic Confessional with sad faces and heavy hearts to tell the priest, the Father, their sins. Now, they had gone to a higher level and were hilariously happy about it. They were making their confession to me, and I knowing only a bit of their language, could only say "God bless you" in Spanish. I think that the missionary and the Bolivian pastor were thinking that they were having all the fun in observing my awkward performance, but they had it all wrong.


It was one of the high points of the whole trip!

THE HILLS OF GOD; Part #1

Today let us take a look at Psalm 121 for a devotional lesson- more of a study than a sermon.


At a glance we see:


· A statement of determination - I will.


· A recognition of need


· A knowledge of the Source of help


· an expression of faith


· a comfort of security


Many of the later translations place the last part of verse one into a question - "Whence cometh my help?" But the net results is the same.


Throughout the Psalm the personal pronouns are prominent.


· Verse one and two: I, my, mine.


· Verse three - eight: Thee, thy, thee.


The times of deepest need pressures us to seek the help that comes from a higher source. Other Psalms relate times of uncertainty and darkness; Times of imminent danger; times of intense enmity, of disappointment, of friends who prove to be unfaithful, etc.


Note Ps. 61:2 When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock which is higher than I. Help comes not from around me, but from above me. This rock gives elevation, purer air, clearer vision, protecting permanence.


There are certain laws of spiritual geography and topography that apply to spiritual matters.


1. God is Creator. The God who created the universe from nothing and upholds and sustains it by His power can surely attend to what He has created, including ourselves and our need.


2. God is a dependable watchman. Since God is Spirit, and not physical, He has no demand or requirement for sleep. He is always alert, available, on duty. Ps. 33:18; Ps. 34:15; Ps 101:6.


The late Bishop Quayle, when a college student, late at night was walking the floor worrying how he could pay his college tuition his rent, and support his family. Then he felt that the Lord spoke to him: "Quayle, why don't you leave all that up to me and go to bed. I'm going to be up all night anyway."


3. God is protector. Shade is metaphorical, as also in Ps. 91:1 - 10. Shadow of the Almighty.


vs. 11. "He shall give His angels charge over thee ... "


Ps. 17:8. "Hide me under the shadow of thy wings."


This protection is continuous - day and night.


4. God Preserver. Physical - From all evil. Spiritual - Of the Soul.


5. He is God of Promise - All this. How long?


Verse 8: "From this time forth, and even forevermore."


Matt. 28:20. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always (and all the ways) even unto the end of the world."

AN OLD TEXT WITH PRESENT DAY MEANING

Eccl. 11: 1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.


If you take this verse literally, and throw bread unto a stream it will soon disintegrate. However, we have seen some bread that was hard enough to last a while. But this is not the point. Some commentators try to make this apply to the planting and harvesting of rice.  

Obviously is has its main application to charitable giving, the giving to the poor and such like. It could apply to giving to multitudes abroad, to missions or to the recent help sent to Haiti in their time of distress. Jesus taught that that which was given in His name would not go unrewarded.


My story has to do with a very different situation. When I was a student at Missouri U. I often attended the Columbia church where Bro. Cowen was pastor. In a revival there on a Sunday night there were several seekers at the altar. There came a lull in the praying. Some of the seekers were not getting through to victory, and I felt a strong urge to start that old song "Step Out On The Promise." That was not an uncommon practice away back there over seventy years ago. However, it was rather uncommon for me to be the person doing the singing. But this was one of those times when it seemed it must be done! So I leaned hard on my courage, just knowing that others would join in and sing with me.


That's where I was surprised. If anyone knew the song, they didn't make it known. So I sang a solo of a grand old song. The Holy Spirit fell on the scene and swept the altar clean. Seekers came up with victory and glory stamped on the countenance. Part of the song goes like this:


Vs. 1: O mourner in Zion. how blessed art thou,


          For Jesus is waiting to comfort thee now;


          Fear not to rely of the Word of thy God,


          Step out on the promise, get under the blood.


Vs. 4: The promise don't save, tho' the promise is true;


          Tis' the blood we get under, that cleanses us through:


          It cleanses me now, hallelujah to God!


          I rest on the promise, I'm under the blood.


The years swept by, a generation and more. Then one day 66 years after this experience, I received a letter from a girl - now an old woman - who had prayed through to victory on that memorable Sunday so long ago. She still had the victory!


Here's part of her letter, partly direct quotation and partly summarized. "At that time I respected Christians but had no desire to be one of them ... Upon arriving (at Church) on Saturday night, my best friend (C.R.) told me that she was saved the night before. She wanted us to sit near the front of the church as I might want to be saved also. I assured her that this would not happen, so we sat near the back."


Both evangelist and pastor invited her to seek the Lord. She told them what she had said since grade school years. She didn't want to be saved. Four of her girl friends - I knew all of them - begged her with tears, to seek the Lord. "Though unmoved, I did tell them to ask God to give me the desire. The next morning I woke up with a fear I could not shake." That night she knelt at the altar for the first time in her life.


"Now your part: No altar worker could have instructed me as clearly as the song you started singing. After going through fourteen hours of total misery I was in need of everything the song promised. I've underlined the words that really spoke to me. Brother Holland, I have felt for some time that you should know how much your singing that song meant to me. I thank God for the song and want you to know on my appreciation to you for singing it when I needed it so much".


The underlined song she sent me was a little different from the copy I have in that old Best of All song book. It was copyrighted in 1884 by E.F. Miller who wrote the music.


So, we look back to our text: Cast thy bread upon the waters - or air waves - for thou shalt find it after many days. Truly 66 years represent many days! More than a lifetime for many. The writer of the letter which I received in 2004 is still living in victory today. Though the letter was long in coming, it was gladly received.

WEDDING NOTES

If people have been following my blog, they have noticed that I have observed a recess of sorts. There are reasons for this that would not interest you. One is that I was obligated to go to Kirksville to conduct the funeral of a long time friend. Now back to business.


The life and labors of a minister involves many venues. Weddings form a part of the ministerial duty. For some you have no advance notice. Talk about premarital counseling; that's out of the mix.


One night at bedtime - or really, some time thereafter, there came a knock at the door. A young couple wanted to get married. That was before we were engaged in World War II. The groom was in uniform and was, I believe, ready to be sent overseas. The room was serving as both living room and bedroom. With good grace I invited the couple and the two persons who had come along as witnesses into the room where my wife was in bed. By doctors' orders she was confined to the bed for some days due to the fact that our first son was but a few days old. The company made our room somewhat crowded.


To assist us during my wife's confinement, one of her sisters was with us at the time and was asleep in the adjacent room. As a precautionary move, I placed the baby's crib as quietly as possible in the next room.


Fortunately for me, I was fully dressed when this intrusion occurred, but not with coat and tie. Since it was a "come as you are" visit, I "went as I was" to perform my first wedding assignment. I learned later that my sister-in-law on waking up in the next room heard me reading from the minister's manual: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony ... " She was struck with wonder! What's he doing? practicing his lines for a wedding? Well, it was sort of a trial run, and the precursor of many to follow.


I agree with Bro. R.E. Carroll who said, "I don't think that boys and girls ought to marry." Then as soon as the astonished people had time to catch their breath, he continued, "I think they should be men and women." It seems fair to state that too many too often rush into marriage too soon and too ill prepared for marriage. This reminds us of the story - real or not I know not - of a very young couple of kids who were being married. When the minister read the words for the boy to repeat, "And with all my worldly goods I thee endow," the groom's father spoke right out, "There goes Junior's bike!"


In 1957, the Annual Youth Camp of the Church of God was held at Morrison, Colorado, near Denver. I was the evangelist for this camp. Several young people were converted and among them a young man I judge to be about "of age", which in those days was 21, not 18 as of today. It was at this camp he met a fine young lady who became his wife. It was quite some time after this meeting that their wedding was performed at Overland Park. Just after the ceremony, the wedding party formed a line and friends were passing by to congratulate the bride and groom. As I came by to greet the groom, he stepped out of line and fell on my neck, and bawling like a baby, exclaimed, "You were the cause of all of this!" Really, he was overjoyed and connected his conversion under my ministry to this happy occasion.


I've surely been accused of being the "cause" of worse things!

MEDITATION

The hurried, stressful pace of modern times has, for many people, all but destroyed the practice of meditation. Yet is one of the most necessary of all spiritual exercises. Prayer, Bible reading and public worship are all essential, but let us not forget the necessity of a quiet time of reflection and listening for the "still small voice" to speak to us.


From an anonymous writer we read: "By meditation I can converse with God, solace myself on the bosom of the Savior, bathe myself in the rivers of divine pleasure, tread the paths of my rest, and view the mansions of eternity."


Jeremy Taylor adds: "... according as we neglect meditation, so are our prayers imperfect, - meditation being the soul of prayer and the intention of our spirit."


In Hebrews 4:2 we read: "... the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." In that passage, the loss to the hearers was caused by unbelief. So often, in the case of modern hearers, the distracted mind, the hurried pace and a lack of serious attention to spiritual concerns all combine to cause us to fail to profit from what we have heard. Let us remember the words of Jesus, "Let these sayings sink down into your ears ..." (Luke 9:44).


Meditation may be primarily an analyzing or rethinking of a truth one has read or heard preached, or a continuous and concentrated thinking upon a passage of Scripture, or a deliberate dwelling upon the majesty, goodness, or grace of God. It may be a fixing of the mind in solemn reflection upon the price of our redemption, the love that brought it, and the blessings that flow from it. It is the spiritual digestion of mighty truths. It ponders the path of duty and the obligations of service.


This contemplation turns to communion, a blending of spirits, as the Spirit speaks to us, and the stream of devotion is filled with loving thoughts of God. In this relationship the spirit of confidence grows strong, and determination and courage are renewed.


Sometimes the chapters we had planned to read for the day are turned into a single verse, as the mind is arrested by some compelling thought. The Book may be temporarily closed, but the windows of the soul are opened and the soul is lifted heavenward, possibly in a wordless prayer of desire for more of God and His unsearchable riches in Christ.


Some solitude is essential for soul culture - not the reclusive attitude that withdraws completely from society and from service, but the "coming apart" for a time to be alone with our Lord. In some cultures and in some lives, it is difficult to find a quiet place of solitude. What then? If we cannot find the ideal, let us not forsake the whole idea of maintaining vital contact with God.

All comments are welcome and appreciated. If you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know.


pastoricholland@gmail.com

UNDERTAKER, TEMPORARILY

I was not yet out of my teens and in my second year as a one-room rural school teacher, when there was a death in the community. The deceased was father of one of my pupils. So, the school was closed on the afternoon of the funeral. Upon arriving at the house of Mr. Kresl, I discovered that there was no undertaker to be in charge. Highly irregular! The body had been prepared at a funeral home in Fulton and then returned to the home. I had never known, before or since, of such an arrangement. There lay the dead man in an open casket.


I had never met the widow of the departed, and I was a bit taken back when she approached me and asked, "You can take charge, can't you?" It seemed to me that there was only one course open to me. It was time right then to leave for the little river town of Portland where the service was to be held. I might have stammered a little, but gave consent to this unusual request. I think that up to date, I had attended only two funerals.


Now, in addition to this being an unusual situation, there were other matters not yet mentioned. The road to the church and burial place was not a paved road. The time was mid January of a very hard winter. A few days earlier, the mud had been almost axle deep to an automobile, then after a few days of extreme cold had frozen the deep ruts almost rock hard. The means of transportation was a livestock truck which had been hauling cattle to the St. Louis stockyards. It was abundantly clear that many cattle had been there, for the truck had not been readied for any funeral purposes. But as I have said, it was the dead of winter.


There were other considerations. Although the distance to travel was not great, just a few yards over deeply cut frozen ruts would be enough to shake the man from his temporary bed. To provide some level of safety, we rolled up some bed sheets to place on the side of the head of the corpse, and headed off on our journey. Of course, there must be attendants to ride in the truck to make sure that the casket would not escape or be upset. Fortunately, I had volunteer help from a Mr. Charlie Masek, a neighbor of the deceased.


Upon arrival at Portland, a village on the very banks of the Missouri River, it was necessary to remove the padding before the remains were presented in the church. This we did in our truck bed mortuary in the most discreet manner possible.


This strange story has another strange twist to it. Bro. C.E. Cowen was preaching a revival in Fulton at that time. A son in law of the deceased who lived in Fulton engaged him to preach this funeral of a man he had never before heard of. To complicate the matter, in the reading of the obituary, Bro. Cowen read the name of a son in law named Masek. In those days, everyone pronounced this name "Mar-shack." Several times during the service, the minister spoke of Mr. Marshack, never once remembering the proper name Kresl.


Finally, the ordeal was over, or nearly over, and the casket was closed, by the young undertaker, and reloaded on the truck and headed up the steep river hill to the burial ground.


My helper, Mr. Charlie Masek (or Marshack), and I were guarding our charge. I said to him, "When you pass on, your wife won't have to have a funeral for you."


"What?" He exclaimed.


"No, the preacher just preached Mr. Marsek's funeral. You heard him."


Those people of Bohemian extraction, or at least the ones I knew, were not given to joking. I don't know whether he ever got that figured out.


At the cemetery, I was handed the certificate to sign as the officiating undertaker and to be returned to Dr. W.O. Payne. I hope it got back to the Bereau of Vital Statistics. In years later, I was upbraided by a real undertaker, who with great fervor said, " I guess you know you did something very unlawful!"


"No," I calmly replied, "I was not aware of that."


Anyway, that was my first and only time of being an undertaker.


Footnote: In the years immediately following this episode, Bro Cowen and I were in close association in a varied ministry. He was extremely busy in helping to found or establish new churches. He ministered in Columbia, Fulton, Hallsville, Boonville, and to a lesser extent, Moberly and Mexico. Often I filled in the gaps in some places. Those were pleasant and fruitful years. Bro Cowen was a great hand to tease. Even Mrs. Cowen was not exempt. But I always had a come-back up my sleeve, that is a quench-all when he pressed an advantage on me. I could just say, "Do you remember when we had Mr. Marshack's funeral?" That was the clincher!


There aren't any more Marshacks in our part of the country. Now they are all properly Masek.

All comments are welcome and appreciated. If you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know.

pastoricholland@gmail.com

I BELIEVE GOD (Acts 27:25)

Sermon or study outline



I    Background: Paul - A Prisoner Preacher


· with an unusual pulpit
· a captive audience
· a message of hope


Paul, Missionary and Defender of the Faith


For years, desired to go to Rome. Now as a prisoner is on the way and the Empire provides the transportation.


The letter to Rome: (Book of Romans)

· "I must see Rome ..." Acts 19:21
· "I purpose to come ..." Rom. 1:13
· "I will come to you" Rom. 15:21, 28-29, 32
· "I am ready to preach" Rom. 1:15
· "I shall come in the fullness of the blessing" Rom. 15:29


Now, on a storm tossed ship, Paul the prisoner, is the only person out of 276 who has any message from God. (As Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon).

 II    The Believer


Always has a the advantage - He has special connections


· Acts 27:23 "There stood by me the angel of God ..."
· Has faith and Hope when "All hope that we should be saved was taken away" Acts 27:20
· Believers when in the minority; one in 276.
· Believers before relief is in sight
· Believers when surrounded by unbelievers


The Believer has: The brightest Outlook, the clearest conscience, and the surest hope.



III    The Basis of Belief


1. The Reason - Conscience, Experience


2. The Record - History of Christianity and Church


3. Revelation - The Word of God


· Doctrine: I believe in God - Apostles Creed
· Personal Relationship: Paul; "I believe God" Acts 27:25, "I know (Him) whom I believed" II Tim. 1:12
· "The Spirit himself beareth witness ... Rom. 8:16



 IV    The Boundaries of Belief - The Word of God: No More; No Less.


No additions, no subtractions, no evasions, no substitutions.


· I believe what God said about Himself and His Son.
· I believe what God said about sin.
· I believe what God said about salvation: Initial, Full, Final (Glorification)
· I believe what God said about eternity: Heaven and Hell.




V    The Blessings of Belief


Faith is the Divine Ability


· Able to save to the uttermost - Heb. 7:25
· Able to keep us from falling - Jude 24
· Able to preserve us blameless - I Thess. 5:23
· Able to present us faultless - Jude 24


Faith to be saved


Faith to overcome


Strength to Persevere


Comfort in all life's situations


Power to overcome Satan's attacks


Certain hope of eternal life


As usual, all comments are welcome and appreciated. If you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know.



pastoricholland@gmail.com

WISCONSIN LAKE DRAMA

(or the D and D episode)


I am responding to a great deal of urgency to relate an account of two not too-distant mariners whose fishing expedition turned out to be a comedy of errors. It is not a made up story. All of the details were related to me by one of the participants, though some descriptive elements may be added. It is a story too good to keep.


Two of my colleagues, Dale Yocum and David Mauck, and their wives were on vacation in Wisconsin. David's wife had sisters there and one of these and her husband owned a camp on a large lake. Since these two ministerial brethren had plenty of time on their hands, it was determined to go fishing. Since their host had a boat at their disposal, they sallied forth upon the waters fully intent upon bringing home not the bacon, but a stringer of fish. As far as I know, no fish were involved in this enterprise. What they did bring back was frustrated hopes and dampened garments as well as spirits.


These modern mariners motored out to the middle of the lake and began their conquest among the finny tribe, but found no takers for their offering. Still confident Dale continued his efforts, but David determined that a swim in the placid waters of the lake would be a better investment of his time. Now I know from observation and experience that his favorite pastime was floating rather than swimming. I have been with him at the sea off Negril Point at the west end of the Island of Jamaica. For long periods he could float like a piece of driftwood with no effort involved.


So before leaving their small craft, he divested himself of his garments, or at least most of them, to be as the colored preacher brother said of Peter, "he was in a state of undressed disrobement." See John 21:7. (We do not want to be indelicate or offensive here.) Now the ever scientific and mathematical mind of Dr. Yocum went into high gear; for mind you, he got his Masters degree at MIT and was well versed in things physical and mathematical. His estimated weight being about 140 pounds was approximately one half of that of his companion. So, he calculated that in order to partly counter balance the greater weight going over the other side, he should lean way out over the opposite side of the boat. The brother bent on bathing did not go out from the bow or from the stern of the boat, but over the side. Consequently, the craft tipped and shipped a great lot of water, soaking both his discarded garments and the clothing and the person of his friend.


The scientific fisherman was greatly surprised at the failure of his calculations, but not to worry! The day was balmy and he began other figures. He managed with strong cord to fix the boat oars in an upright position and then from one to the other a clothes line. So, ridding himself of the appropriate amount of his wet clothes, he placed these and those of his companion on the clothes line. He then resumed his piscatorial conquest, casting here and there for the elusive quarry. Time went on - the fishing of one, the floating of the other, and the clothes drying process.


On a sudden, the fisherman was alarmed at the sound of a motor boat rapidly approaching! Certain other persons on the lake had seen what they perceived to be distress signals flying from another craft and were hastening to the rescue. These two brothers didn't want to be rescued, not even observed. The erstwhile swimmer had merely enough time to find shelter under the other side of the boat and his partner to become more decently clad. Haste was important, for the approaching boat was full of women!


The brother in the boat made vigorous signs that they needed no help. "We're OK! Everything is all right!" It was evident that the visitors were neither wanted or welcome. The brother in the water gave full assent in his heart to the gesticulations and protestations of his companion and silently said, "Go away and leave us alone."


By and by, peace was regained and both of the seamen were fully clothed and we trust, in their right minds. Again, Dale was in the bow of the boat and casting here and there when David , without bothering to announce his decision, cranked up the motor to head for shore. The man in the bow was having great difficulty maintaining his balance while hastily reeling in his line when the boat gave a lurch. The motorman had failed to bring up the anchor. The fisherman went into the lake.


Eventually, things were righted and two unsuccessful fishermen made a safe landfall back at camp. Formerly, these two preachers had "a story to tell to the nations." Now they had an account to give to their wives, and I have the story to pass on to you.


Both of my friends are long gone to their reward and cannot rebut my account of their great day at sea, though if they could be present, could add many details lost in my telling.

As usual, all comments are welcome and appreciated. If you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know.
pastoricholland@gmail.com