A Fresh Start
A young man was driving an old worn-out car on a desolate road in a downpour when the engine died. As he coasted to the side of the road, another car stopped and the driver got out and asked what was wrong. The stranger opened the hood, tinkered with something, and signaled the driver to turn the ignition key. When the car started, the amazed driver shouted, “Thanks, I was afraid the engine had failed for the last time.”
Hatred’s Bitter Fruit
One of the worst cases of hatred I have ever come across is found in a will written in 1935 by a Mr. Donohoe. It says, “Unto my two daughters, Frances Marie and Denise Victoria, by reason of their unfilial attitude toward a doting father, . . . I leave the sum of $1.00 to each and a father’s curse. May their lives be fraught with misery, unhappiness, and poignant sorrow. May their deaths be soon and of a lingering malignant and torturous nature.” The last line of the will is so vicious I shudder to quote it. It reads, “May their souls rest in hell and suffer the torments of the condemned for eternity.”
Is He Safe?
We will not get very far in our relationship with God unless we understand that He is to be feared. In The Chronicles of Narnia, an allegory by C. S. Lewis, the author has two girls, Susan and Lucy, getting ready to meet Aslan the lion, who represents Christ. Two talking animals, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, prepare the children for the encounter.
Forgive Me—Tomorrow
The subject of the TV program left me shaking my head in disbelief. This particular news-magazine feature showed how some people prepare for Ash Wednesday. On Tuesday they do as much sinful stuff as they can get away with—all the time knowing that the next day they would ask for God’s forgiveness and give up those sins.
Changed Lives Are Possible
Lord Kenneth Clark, internationally known for his television series Civilization, lived and died without faith in Jesus Christ. He admitted in his autobiography that while visiting a beautiful church he had what he believed to be an overwhelming religious experience.
The Cry for Love
A father sat at his desk poring over his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and announced, “Dad, because this is your birthday and you’re 55 years old, I’m going to give you 55 kisses, one for each year!” When the boy started making good on his word, the father exclaimed, “Oh, Andrew, don’t do it now; I’m too busy!”
Our Heart—His Home
In a conversation with a 9-year-old boy, a youth worker was telling the story of Adam and Eve and how sin entered the world. He told the boy that Jesus died to pay the penalty for his sins, and that if he would ask Him into his heart He would come in. That night the boy invited Jesus to save him.
For Sinners Only
An article in The Grand Rapids Press described a woman who overcame her drinking habit—but only after she admitted she had a problem. She said the “emotional moment” came when she brought herself to say, “I’m Betty and I’m an alcoholic.”
God’s Moral Integrity
Bertrand Russell became an atheist after he read the words of Jesus about hell. He apparently wanted a God who would never become angry or punish anyone. Dr. Russell certainly wouldn’t like today’s Scripture reading, which speaks of God as One who “avenges and is furious.”
