how CHRISTIAN is your HOME? I N his book, “Memories of a Happy Life,” W illiam Lawrence says of his parents: “F ather did not TELL us to go to church; he went, and we went w ith him. Our parents never asked us to do w hat they did not gladly do themselves. P rayer and religion a t home were as n atu ral as meals and sleep.” » No wonder he could write about “Memories of a Happy Life!” We can safely agree th a t the happiest homes in America are those th a t are Chris tian ; where parents and children are faithful in attendance at the Lord’s house, and where Jesus is an honored guest. “The hand th a t rocks the cradle rules the world” is a favorite way of saying th a t the influence of the home is far-reaching. T raining in the home has more to do w ith the destiny of the individual than does any other in fluence. Here the small child receives his first impressions, his first knowl edge concerning God and Christ, his first experiences in prayer, his first inculcation of Christian love and devotion. And in the home, also, lies the greatest danger. Statistics show th a t of the persons killed by falls, more than half fell in their own homes. A home should be the safest place in the world, bu t it would seem to be an especially dangerous place. This is because at home we are off our guard; we are not watching for stumblingblocks. Is not all this true of spiritual disasters? Our homes are the most frequent witnesses of bad temper, of selfishness, of cruelty, of neglect, of jealousy, of poor faith, of slander, of falsehood. How m any and how terrible are the hazards of our home—and how important it is th a t they be Christian homes! We are guilty of neglecting our homes. A real-estate salesman was try ing to sell a house to a new ly m arried couple. Said the bride: “W hy buy a house? I was bom in a hospital ward, reared in a boarding school, educated in a college, courted in an automobile and m arried in the office of a justice of the peace. I get my meals a t a cafeteria, live in an apartment, spend my mornings playing golf and m y afternoons playing bridge; in the evening we dance or go to the movies; when I am sick I go to a hospital, and when I die I shall be buried from an undertaker’s. All we need is a garage!” We need to lift the home back to its place of influence in Christian edu cation. As church members and workers, we can help by answering the fol lowing questions, “Yes” or “No” : NO Do I set an example in m y home by-attending all serv- —— ------ ices of the church regularly? ------ ------ Do I read the Bible daily in m y home? -------------- Do I take tim e in m y home to pray and meditate daily? —— ------ Is there a Bible in m y home, always ready for reading? Is there a Christian picture or other evidence in m y ---------------- home that a Christian lives there? ------ ------ Is grace returned regularly at the table? CHR ISTIAN HOME TEST YES
Now R e a d y . . . S T A N D A R D V B S fo r 1 9 6 1 L I V I N G F O R J E S U S Single theme graded for all age groups: Nursery, Beginner, Pri mary, Junior, Teen-Age and Adult. New features for 1961 include Craft Paks for Beginner, Pri mary, Junior . . . plus three packets of colorful Visual Teach ing Aids. 1961 STANDARD VBS course includes • Director's Manual • Teacher’s Manuals • Visual Teaching Aids • Pupils’ Books • Craft Paks • Worship Helps You can get a preview of most of these materials in the 1961 INTRODUC TORY KIT ($7.97 value) only $4.95. (One Kit per school, please.) Special planning film strip for 1961 VBS, "The House on Stonybrook Lane/’ Order 9438 (you will be billed $3.50 which will be cancelled when film is returned on the date you specify. F R E E VBS PLANBOOK Brand new, colorful 1961 VBS Plan- book is yours for the asking. Included in every VBS Introductory Kit, or sent free separately on request. KB-361
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Do we entertain Christian groups in m y home for cot tage prayer meetings, business gatherings, committees,
—■— ------ etc.
......fiWNBOw
Is every person in m y home a Christian, regular in at-
At your dealer, or STANDARD PUBLISHING Cincinnati 31, Ohio
------ ------ tendance at all church services?
17
MAY. 1961
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