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J U N E , 1 9 6 6 With May Radia Features
BROADCASTER
Biola Monthly Publication of the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP Vol. 6 No. 6 JUNE, 1966 STAFF President _______________ S. H. SUTHERLAND E d ito r...........................................................................AL SANDERS Production ............................................VIRGINIA LUBER Photography.................................................B IL L EHMANN Printing .............................................................CHURCH PRESS Published monthly by the Radio Department BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 5S8 So. Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90017
CONTENTS PEACE IN THE H O M E ............... 3 ADOPTION ............................. 5 INSUFFICIENT SLEEP ............... 7 SLEEP AN D YOU .................... 9 PERSPECTIVE ..........................11 CHRISTIAN HOMES ................. 13 ARE YOU UNCERTA IN ? .......... 16 ARE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE? ....18 BIOLA FELLOWSHIP PLAN ........ 19 ARE YOU UNPREPARED? ..........20 QUESTIONS A N D ANSWERS .....23 PARABLES A N D P E A R L S ............28 STUDIES IN DAN IEL ............... 31 COVER: Myers Hall, key structure of the Talbot Theological Seminary, houses offices, classrooms, and other administrative facilities for this im portant school of the Biola organiza tion.
Controlled circulation postage paid at Los Angeles, California. YOUR CHRISTIAN W ILL
Did you know that there is a way to invest in Biola for the training of students while saving costly estate taxes! Ultimately you may be able to leave more money for your loved ones. As a Fellowship member you are under no obligation when you write for information or counsel. B I O L A S T E W A R D S H I P D E P A R T M E N T T H E B I B L E I N S CALIFO RN IA Arroyo Grande-San Luis Obispo KOAG 1280 9:00 A.M. MTWTF Bakersfield-Wasco KAFY 550 KWSO 1050 Chico-Marysville KHSL 1290 Fresno-Dinuba KRDU 1130 Lodi-Stockton KCVR 1570 Los Angeles KBBI 107.5 (FM) KTYM 1460 Los Angeles-Long Beach KGER 1390 KGER 1390 Oxnard-Ventura-Santa KOXR 910 Redding-Red Bluff KQMS 1400 San Bernardino-Riverside RACE 1570 KFXM 590 Santa Cruz KSCO 1080 KSCO 99.1 (FM) San Diego KBBW 102.9 (FM) KDEO 910 4:00 P.M.Sun 9:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. Sun. 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 9:00 A.M. MTWTF 11:00 A.M. MTWTF 10:30 P.M. MTWTF Barbara 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 9:30 A.M. MTWTF 7:30 A.M. Sun. 8:30 A.M. Sun. 8:30 A.M. Sun. 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 9:30 P.M. MTWTF 4:00 P.M.Sun. T I T U T E H O U R San Francisco KFAX 1100 Santa Maria KCOY 1440 Turlock KCEY 1390 KHOM 93.1 (FM) OREGON Albany-Eugene KWIL 790 KWIL 790 Ashland-Medford KRVC 1350 Coquiile-Coos Bay KWRO 630 Portland KPDQ 800 KPDQ 93.7 (FM) W A SH ING TON Blaine-Vancouver, B.C. KARI 550 Seattle-Tacoma KGDN 630 Spokane KCFA 1330 Walla Walla KTEL 1490 Yakima KBBO 1390 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:00 A.M. MWF 9:30 A.M. MTWTF (Radio Log continued on page 26) 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 7:00 A.M. Sun. 10:30 A.M. MTWTF 9:00 A.M. Sun. 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 3:00 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MWF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
FEATURED M A Y RAD IO MESSAGES
peace in the home
by Dr. W . Robert Smith
H ow wonderful it is to realize that, despite our failures, the Lord is ready to forgive and to guide us with His Word day by day. The illumination of His Holy Spirit in our lives is a joy to contemplate. The Lord has told us that when there are prob lems and pressures surrounding our lives, in the home or where we work, He wants to give us His perfect wis dom. He tells us to “count it all joy” when we experience various types of trials. This is the way we prove our faith and see patience have its perfect work. The Saviour Himself left us this great legacy, “My peace I give unto you.” In the midst of great suf fering and adversity the Lord was joyful. Where do we need more wis dom from Christ than in the concerns, responsibilities, and the decisions in our homes? When writing to the Philippian Christians, Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.” Remember, he was chained in prison when moved by the Holy Spirit to write these words. How unfortunate it is that whenever we get into diffi culty we want to “sass” back or to “blow our top.” The Lord is at hand and may return any moment. We
would not want Him to find us in such irritable moods would we? It also means that the Saviour is closer than breathing; His power is readily avail able to each of us. The root of peace is in thankfulness. In many homes and relationships there are explosive problems because husbands and wives have not learned to be thankful. Try a good experiment. Take a piece of paper and write down all the things for which to be grateful to God. Re member that in Christ we have for giveness, the marvels of His grace, unlimited power, and the privilege of talking with Him whenever we desire. There is always the promise of His continued strength and victory. In the future we can be grateful for the ear nest expectation of a new heaven and a new earth. There are so many things to list if we would just stop to do it. In thankfulness then we can let our requests be known unto God. The problems we have in our homes are due to the fact that we do not have real peace in our hearts. One of our listeners writes, “After much prayer, I still have a problem in saying words I should not utter. There is a concern, not only because of my 3
own relationship with Christ, but also because of the example it sets for my children. How can brothers and sisters in a home get along together? The children are arguing and picking at each other. Maybe these are too com mon, but the problems seem to be in tensifying.” It is perfectly natural for children to be rivals. One reason why they fight and bicker is because they see that we ourselves are not peaceable. Children pick up what they see the parents doing. We must provide them a wholesome atmosphere. There must be love, tenderness, and joy in the home. Several suggestions would include making certain that you do not com pare one child with another. This will create rivalry. Too many parents over indulge one child to the exclusion of the other. For the first child in the family, he may receive all of the love and attention for several years. Then, all of a sudden, a new little one ar rives, and he is no longer the one on whom all of the attention is focal ized. This can cause real problems. The first child needs to be prepared by being told that a baby brother or sister is growing now in the mother’s womb. Some day the Lord Jesus Christ will bring this little one into the home. It is a wonderful time to prepare the young heart. Do not so monopolize a child’s time that he will not be prepared for the day when he cannot have all your affection. Give to each an equal amount of love. Let them have their own place and develop their own personality. We have to realize that some chil dren are more quiet and retiring. This will require more wisdom and patience to understand. There are no “pat” an swers. Ask the Lord for His guidance by the Holy Spirit that you may do His perfect will. Do not make one child the standard of behavior for the other. As an ex ample, here is a little boy in a public school system who was punching every had on the nose while on the play ground. No one knew what to do, until the school psychologist discovered that
the boy was wetting the bed. His mother had been shaming him when it was something the boy could not help. In some cases children do things to attract attention. Since this boy felt inferior at home, he wanted to prove himself on the playground. Re member how Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was the favorite of his father, Jacob? Too many parents themselves are not contented but are materialistic. If we are always coveting and pressur ing our children for more achieve ment, just to minister to our own sel fish pride, we will have real problems on our hands. Rejoice in the goodness of the Lord and enjoy one another without rivalry. We never permitted fussing and fighting in our home. One was not allowed to “badger” the other. There must always be a wholesome ness. The time will come for discipline to be meted out in concerned and con sistent love. If we have a joyful, quiet, peaceful home where there is love be tween adults, the children will reflect this in their own lives. We recognize in our world so much love and rivalry between races, classes and nations because men are not brothers redeemed in Christ. I f we, as believers, are churlish like those who have never received the Saviour, ¡ve cannot expect to have a happy home or to be any kind of a testimony to the lost. Ask the Lord, in gratitude, to give you His promised peace and joy, along with that perfect wisdom which comes only from above. Rev. Harry Bascom, president of the Biota Alumni Association, with Mr. William Eitzen, executive secretary of the organization. Chaplain Bascom, a graduate of 1949, Is director of the Christian Jail Workers, Inc.
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W h il e it is A joy to answer ques tions, we must remember that there are no “pat” solutions for many of the problems that vary with per sonal relationships. It depends on many different circumstances along with our own abilities to grapple with them. Here is a listener who writes, “Will you please deal with the adopted child ? I have a little nine-year old son who was bom to me before I was ever married. I had him out of wedlock. My husband does not accept him like he does our other children. What can I do?” Sometimes, if the opportune mo ment presents itself, parents of adopt ed children do tell them early, in a very careful and lovely way, that God provided them for the home. These things, however, should come natural ly. Normally, the child could know from the very beginning that he is adopted. These circumstances can be used to teach a great lesson of the love of the Lord to them. The parent may say, “You know, dear, you are an adopted son to me, just like I am to the Lord Jesus Christ.” This provides a very valuable tool to explain many wonderful things of eternity. The child will respond to this for he finds security in the fa ther and mother. I f he fails to find this, he will begin to think, “I wonder where my own father and mother are? Maybe I ’d be better off with them.” Resentment can easily build up and do much damage unless there is the ut most of loving care shown. In the case of the mother whose child was born out of wedlock, the boy will have real difficulty emotional ly if his father does not accept him. He should have learned long ago that this was not his real father. It is a little late now to enter into such de tails. Sometimes, in a moment of de votion, if the Lord opens the door, this
may be permissible. It all depends on circumstances. On the other hand, even though the father may not be a Christian he should have some counsel to recognize that the boy must be accepted. Hu manly, it is understandable for the man to have resentment. The other children are his own. The boy is a representation that his wife had had an illicit problem before he came into the picture. In every way possible the father should be encouraged to enjoy the son, having fellowship with him. The mother should encourage the boy to ingratiate himself into the life of the father by kindness and goodness. You are going to need real guidance from the Lord in these difficult cir cumstances. Maybe the boy could find some other young fellow with whom he could have close friendship. Perhaps a scout master, a Sunday school teacher, some minister might especially help him to ward manliness. The boy needs some real support underneath him. The fa ther must recognize this particular fact. For those of you who are not in volved in such problems, this is one of the difficulties we find when one doesn’t do the will of the Lord and gets involved in moral difficulties. Think of the enormous amount of un chastity and illegitimacy going on in our society today. It is a tragic thing to see the moral decay which is so evi dent on every hand. It is much easier to be chaste in the first place than to be sorrowful afterwards. People will ask me, “When an ille gitimate baby is about to be bom should it be given up for adoption?” There are those interested in the so cial well-being of children who say it should be abandoned by the mother. This depends, however, on many cir cumstances. My personal feeling is that when possible the little one should 5
others. This one actually lacks self- confidence. A sense of self-sufficiency is an other characteristic, in which a person never asks advice of others. He goes off by himself to solve his problems. These are just a few characteristics which militate for unhappiness. The same is true of an immature person. He refuses to accept responsibility for his own conduct. He wants to blame others for failures. If a child grows up never depending upon himself but always depending upon his parents, he will not be prop erly adjusted to the world in which he must live and get along. There are many irritations in a family because people are not resting and getting their proper sleep. Sometimes prob lems which arise in the home are not basically spiritual. We so often fail to recognize that we are not angels but are sinful creatures who desperately need the strength and power the Lord Himself wants to give us. Let us be thankful for the clear revelation God gives in the Scriptures for good, ordinary, common sense. How can you know how to live, how ever, without studying the Book of life? Don’t set it aside but make it practical through the application of the Holy Spirit. no longer have to commute from downtown Los Angeles. The air conditioned facilities will be used this summer for Biola's Bible conference minis tries (see back cover for more information).
be kept in the household. When the baby is taken away the mother begins to wonder what happened to it and whether it is growing up in a godly home. It is not always as easy as some people think. Each case and circum stance will be different. If the person is able to assume the responsibility for her act and seek the forgiving grace of God, it may be wise to keep the baby. Sometimes the loneliness and frus tration of adopted children are not because of background, even though we may think they are. There can be an unhappy temperment. A person who is pessimistic, rather than opti mistic, will need special patience and help to learn to enjoy life more. Other wise there is a danger for continual rebellion. Another problem is a neurotic ten dency such as being “touchy” and “grouchy.” One whose feelings are easily hurt is usually very introspec tive. He may have been overcorrected as a child and can’t seem to overcome it. He becomes easily sensitive. One who is domineering and determined to have his own way, disregarding the feelings of others, is one for potential problems. Then we know those who are critical and inconsiderate towards Housing more than 300 girls is Biola's Fall-com pleted Women's Residence Hall. The facility has made it possible for all of the girls to be housed on the Campus. The additional Men's Residence Hall, completed last month, means that students
H ave you ever realized how won derful it is to know that the answers to all of life’s problems are to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ? Our difficulties come when we fail to turn to Him in quiet faith. Contrary to what some modem, liberal theolo gians have said, God is not dead. The real victory of the Christian life is in learning to trust our heavenly Father. We readily see the need for our Lord’s help when we consider such questions as this, “I am a mother of three girls, 1, 3, and 5. The oldest one is now in school. While I love my chil dren and my husband, sometimes I have the feeling that I may harm one of the little ones. My older children irritate me. I also take care of a little girl three years old. I am afraid of doing something terrible to them. Peter was sure he would never deny Christ and yet he did. These things so overwhelm me that I do not know what to do. I ’ve sought help from friends but they’re in the same pre dicament. What can be done?” Let us analyze this for a moment. In the case of Peter he was bragging that he wouldn’t deny the Lord. Christ wanted him to depend upon Him. Since he didn’t, he failed. Any mother who is concerned about her problems and difficulties will learn to depend wholly upon the Lord. It is good news to know that Christ is adequate for all our needs. It is, however, a little naive to think that all your problems are going to be solved by quoting a Bible verse. It does assure us, however, that as you seek the grace of Christ in His perfect will, problems will begin to be resolved ’according to His divine plan for each life. I am concerned with the comment that your children irritate you. There must be a definite reason for this. This sounds like a problem of the soul. It is difficult to render specific
counsel not knowing more basic facts, however, do two things. Ask the Lord to reveal what the source of this situa tion may be. Then seek His love that you might have this imparted from your life to theirs. Sometimes irrita tions are caused because you person- A LITTLE BOY KNOCKED A little boy knocked at my door today. But I was too busy and sent him away. "Come back this evening," I thought lessly said; His lower lip quivered, but he nodded his head. Throughout this night my heart will yearn For the little boy who did not return. What was his need, and why did I fail To listen then to his childish tale? I ponder these questions, and ask in sorrow Supposing that Christ should come tomorrow. Would I be too busy to listen then? Would I turn Him away from my door again? M y work has been finished— did it matter so much Since it lacked the grace of a Chris tian touch? A little boy knocked at my door today— I weep tonight— I turned Him away! — Olive C. Wehr ally want things you cannot have. Sub consciously you may feel that these children have remotely kept you from enjoying them. You can’t get out to socialize or to pursue a career. Or, you may desire a nice home, but with the cost of rearing these children you can’t afford it. These things, and many others, may continue to fester in your 7
simple to say, “Get your proper rest,” and yet it does hold the key to so many of these problems. A lack of sleep can be the factor causing these difficulties in addition to neuralgic and rheumatic pains and other psycho somatic illnesses. A continual round of doctor’s examinations and pills is not the answer. How soon we forget the scriptural truth that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. When we destroy His duelling place no wonder prob lems occur. Much of the irritation and inability of people to get along with others has stemmed from the fact that we fail to take these important points into consideration. We are not angels. We have flesh and bone and all of the attending limitations there of. If we fail to recognize our normal bodily needs, spiritual and emotional problems will be greatly accentuated. Let us thank the Lord that He made us with these marvelous bodies, instruments to be used for His glory. We need to seek His help and guid ance, however, or disappointment and frustration will result. Through the power of the Holy Spirit let us keep ourselves strong physically, mentally, and spiritually as true children, of Jesus Christ our Lord. Two of the featured speakers for Biota's special College "Prep" Conference, July 8 fo 15, are Dr. George Speake (left), from the Moody Insti tute of Science, and Dr. Richard Chase, academic vice president of Biola. A descriptive brochure is available concerning this important conference for senior high and college young people held on the La Mirada Campus.
soul with the outward manifestation of irritation. There are certain things necessary for the ordinary person to enjoy a normal life of good health, both physi cally and mentally. The one is really grounded in the other. To be mentally alert we must have fresh air, sun shine, sleep, exercise, and proper food. Too many people regularly violate the principles of healthful living and won der why their mental outlook is dull. Take the example of proper sleep. Many studies have been made on this subject which show that eight hours are basic for most people. There are many variations and variables to be sure, however, when sleep patterns are distorted the mental balance will suf fer. Typical of such data is this word that insufficient sleep is responsible for the dull, irritable lives that mil lions of people live. Numerous family quarrels are really the result of such situations. You will need to know your requirements and see to it that you gain the sleep essential for your own personal efficiency. On occasion the urgency of an im portant task may cause us to forego our proper rest, but general patterns should be followed. Some people fool ishly sit up late looking at TV shows. This is not proper when you deprive yourself and your loved ones of a properly functioning personality. I believe God has ordained the church, however, even here, fathers and mothers must not be taken away from their homes night after night all week long. This is not right and should be carefully evaluated. Other essentials we must have for a properly balanced life are work, rec reation, and love. There must be a balance in true' perspective of all these. A man told me his problems for he had become deeply distressed. He had not been resting for he had two jobs. His family complained that he was irritable and too sensitive. Any little thing would throw him off. The re silience had gone out of his life and the joy out of his home. It seems so
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SLEEP AND YOU
by Dr. W. Robert Smith
I T is always interesting to hear from women who have to stay home keeping house and family when they have wanted a career. What greater occupation could there be, however, than to rear a child? Can you imagine the Virgin Mary com plaining because she couldn’t go down to the office in Nazareth and work? Some of our lack of contentment and peace in our homes is caused be cause we can’t see beyond the drudg ery of doing dishes. You are creating a little life for God; what a marvelous privilege this is. How many times the joy of our activities is clouded be cause we do not take care of ourselves physically. In the August, 1965 issue of the Reader's Digest there is an interest ing article on sleep by J. D. Radcliff. We don’t know too much about sleep but we do know that it is vitally needed. A great deal is known about what happens to the body during sleep. Our heart slow^ down to about 75 to 60 beats a minute. Body tem perature and metabolism drops down. Some activities, however, step up. For some unknown reason sweat glands become particularly active. How much sleep we need is an in dividual matter. The average amount required is no more applicable to a particular individual than an average size hat or shoes would be. It appears that where people can take short naps in the afternoon their productivity or efficiency increases substantially. Are you getting all the sleep you need? If not, this could create real tensions and problems in your home. A recent poll indicated that more than half of us have sleep difficulties, at least part of the time. When ani mals are deprived of sleep they be come vicious. Human beings denied sleep for several days develop striking psychological and pathological symp toms. As an experiment, four able
bodied young men and women were kept awake for 72 hours. They set up lights before their eyes and ring bells to keep them awake. They became QUESTIONS Can you put a spider's web back in place, That once has been swept away? Can you put the apple back again on the bough Which fell at our feet today? Can you put the lily cup back on the stem, And cause it to live and grow? Can you mend the butterfly's broken wing, That you crushed with a hasty blow? Can you put the bloom again on the grape, And the grape again on the vine? Can you put the dewdrop back on the flower, And make it sparkle and shine? Can you put the petals back on the rose— If you could, would it smell so sweet? Can you put the flower back on the husk, And show me the ripened wheat? Can you put the kernel back in the nut, Or the broken egg in the shell? Can you put the honey back in the comb, And cover with wax each cell? Can you put the perfume back in the vase, When once it has sped away? Can you put the corn silk on the corn, Or down on the catkins, say? You think these questions are trifling Let me ask you another: Can a hasty word ever be unsaid Or an unkind deed undone? quarrelsome, irritable, and had symp toms of paranoia. They were suspi cious of one another and even had hallucinations. Everyone is familiar with the un reasonableness of a sleepy child. Many of the problems in the home are com- 9
pounded because we don’t have con sistency and rules whereby we all get our proper rest. Continuous stress from any source may be the cause of many major killer diseases. Lack of sleep itself is a stress. At Montreal’s Memorial Insti tute, prolonged sleep therapy was used in mentally ill patients who had re sisted all the forms of treatment. Of the 66 patients who underwent the therapy, 38 showed either marked or moderate improvement. Stress increases as the day goes on until a high point in the late after noon. If this point is reached day after day and week after week, the result may be disastrous. Some doc tors believe that if the business execu tive breaks at noon with a short nap, the tension curve drops below the base line and he awakens to the work of the afternoon refreshed. For many of us, however, this is not possible or practical. If the husband arrives home like a bear with a sore paw there is bound to be real problems in the family. In stead of looking expectantly to a joy ful, wholesome gracious husband, she finds somebody who is irritable and certainly not Christ-like. He may be kind to the people at the office but then he blows up when he gets home. Any little thing will bother him. This can sometimes be a spiritual problem but more than likely it is because of a problem of sleep without him getting his proper rest. You can’t do away with the sleep you need and keep your emotions well ordered. As one’s work load increases so does his need for sleep. The busier the per son, the more he should sleep. Unfor tunately, the exactly opposite usually happens. The same applies for the rest of us, particularly young mothers who are rearing young children. It is difficult for many people to store up enough energy every day with a single stretch of night sleep. Good sleep habits must be learned. Go to sleep at the same hour every night as much as is possible. Don’t eat a heavy meal before retiring. Don’t listen to the radio, watch the
TV, or read exciting books. Don’t get your mind active in various things, even some work which you may like. Try to remember what position you are in when you wake up in the morn ing and assume that position when you go to bed. Relax your muscles and body. Sleep should be sufficient to allow us to wake up spontaneously refreshed and ready to do a day’s work. Too many mothers and fathers get up every day with their nerves frayed, irritable, and lacking any joy of an ticipation. A little child may do some thing out of the way and they “blow up.” This does not make for good home life nor does it engender love. Many of the basic problems of life are rooted in the simple things which we refuse to accept. The laws of God are not repented of. The Lord made us so that we might live in a whole some joyful way. We are ready to try so many other things when we fail to do that which the Lord Himself has provided for us in simple rest and sleep. Those of us who are fathers should exercise the discipline and the guidance of our prerogatives in guid ing by example our own families. These are very basic things to con sider, however, the danger is that we tend to spiritualize everything rather than to look rationally at that which the Lord has ordained. Ask the Lord to reveal your own needs to you, con fident that through the power of His Holy Spirit you can have victory and not defeat or even mediocrity. Biola student Linda Marty checks over a book with Mr. Gerald Gooden, Biola College reference libra rian. Those who have books they would like to see used for the Lord are invited to contact Biola.
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P E R S P EC T IV E
by Dr. W . Robert Smith
G o d ’ s W o rd is wonderfully practi cal for it deals with every circum stance of life. It is interesting to see how the Lord gives us such practical illu s t r a t io n s of His sufficiencies through His servants of old. Take the case of Elijah who was used by the Holy Spirit to turn the children of Israel from their worship of the wicked gods of Baal. Every once in a while I will have some people, perhaps educated beyond their own intelli gence, who say, “Elijah must have been a terrible person to kill those prophets of Baal.” They simply do not understand how evil this system was or they would never make such a foolish statement. You can still see a place today where they caught the blood of the little children who were eventually burned in the name of Baal worship. Their culture made it un necessary for old age pension or medi care. I f an individual got to the place where he could not be productive in labor, or were not able to take care of themselves, they would be slaughtered. This is why God stepped in. Elijah was the avenger of His justice. King Ahab, instead of being the one who administered justice, actually fos tered the program for his wife was the patron saint of the profligate cult. You remember, the thrilling contest he, Elijah, waged with the priests of Baal as they sought to bring water to the land. I do not know of any more fascinating account in Scripture than this one dealing with God’s over whelming vindication of His servant. After Elijah’s victory through the power of God we find him the next day down under the juniper tree. He knew wicked Jezebel was after him for she had vowed to have him killed. Scripture tells us that this brave man was afraid and ran, going about a day’s journey, into the wilderness. What an entirely different picture we have as he asked the Lord that he
might die. As he was in a prone pos ture under the tree an angel touched him and told him to get up and eat. When he did so he found a cake baked on the coals with a cruze of water for refreshment. So he ate and then laid down again. The second time the an gel of the Lord came and touched M O T H E R - L O V E Over the forest and treeless plains And over the heights above, 'Tis ever the same, the heart of the home Is the throb of the mother's love. It kneels by the bed of the drowsy head, And whispers a lullaby That softly streams through the baby's dreams: "Fear not, for Mother's nigh." It flows from her lips to her finger tips, Caressing the baby's curls; It shines in her eyes that sympathize With the tears of her little girls; The sorrows and joys of her little boys, It only can understand, And It hallows the touch we love so much— The pressure of Mother's hand. It mends the ball and the broken doll; It finds the missing knife, And all the day long it weaves a song 'Round the wearisome tasks of life. On every sea and on every land Beneath the sky's blue dome, The Mother's love Is the life and the light And the throbbing heart of the home. him, urging that he arise and eat be cause the journey was of a great dis tance. Following this he went to Mt. Horeb, the Mount of God. There he came upon a cave and took up lodging. This time the Lord came to ask what he was doing. In despondency he explained to the Lord how that all 11
the children of Israel had forsaken His covenants and killed all the faith ful prophets. In Elijah’s dejection, however, he learned that there were seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. We do not have time to go into every detail, however, the next thing that happened was that God put Elijah to sleep after a celes tial dinner served by the ravens. Here was an unemployed prophet who found life difficult. Many people up in years have found that life no longer has any meaning. Too many wives want their husbands to retire early and as a result they die be cause they are all of a sudden without activity. When you do retire maintain some positive interests in life. Make sure that you have planned a program which includes the Lord’s work. In the case of Elijah, God graciously sent him Elisha as a companion. These incidents in the life of the old proph et simply reveal to us that there are things we must have in our lives in order to maintain a proper perspec tive. We all need work, recreation, and worship. Remember, not only boys and girls need good food; we all do! When we are “under par” physically, we be come irritable and our capacity goes down. Let us not overlook the dimen sion of exercise. Yes, there needs to be the perfect balance between work, play, and love. A mother’s relation ship to work and guiding the destinies of young impressionable lives is a high and holy calling of God. The education of human souls, the caring for loved ones is the most meaningful purpose anyohe could have. Let us give thanks to the Lord that He knows our hearts and the heavi ness of our toils. We can be grateful that He made life so that we need to work. It is certainly not to be looked upon as a curse. With all our labors, however, do not forget we all need rest. Do not cast a covetous eye at the idle, however, for there is no joy in these things. Let us face our tasks with the power and strength the Lord waits to give us through His blessed Holy Spirit.
S P I R I T U A L G R O W T H No parent has ever had to force his child to grow physically. This is a nat u ral act fo r all o f us. What is true in this realm , however, doesn’t alw ays fo l low spiritually. As believers we are ex horted to grow in grace. Too many o f us are stunted and are really what m ight be called “spiritual pygm ies.” Our ma turity in Christ can’t be m easured by the fa c t that the calendar tells us we are getting older. Some people have known the L ord fo r years and yet they are still babes in Christ. As a child you may rem em ber having your grow th recorded on one o f the doorposts o f the home. This was a ready referen ce showing one’s physical progress. Wouldn’t it be won derfu l i f we could have such a standard fo r our spiritual growth? Can you look back five, ten or fifteen years and see the m arked stages o f your spiritual depth and maturity? No attainment o f older age guarantees maturity in the things o f God. This can only be found when one comes to Christ, daily m editating in the study o f H is Word. “But grow in grace and in the know ledge o f our Lord and Saviour, Jesu s Christ.” O U R I N T E R P R E T E R A little girl wanted to do something nice fo r h er fa th er who would soon be home from work. She had gathered some interesting w ild flow ers from a nearby vacant lot. With a rm s l o a d e d she brought them into the k i t c h e n and asked, “Mommie, w ill you arrange these fo r Daddy? H e’ll be here pretty soon. 1 want him to know I picked them my self.” The m other sm iled in agreem ent as the little lass ran back out to play. B efo re she arranged them in a vase, however, the m other readily realized that she would have to do some carefu l sorting. H er little girl had picked a number o f w eeds among the flow ers. In her youthful enthusiasm she couldn’t tell the difference. How this reminds us o f what the Holy Spirit does on our behalf. He takes our prayers, and, as it were, sorts them out presenting them to the Heavenly F ath er. The B ible tells us that “We know not what we should pray fo r as we ought, but the Spirit H im self mak- eth intercession fo r us w ith groanings which cannot be uttered.” With such a blessed privilege let us avail ourselves o f praying in the name o f the Lord Jesu s Christ, through the Holy Spirit, to God, our heavenly F ath er. 12
CHRISTIAN HOMES
by Dr. W. Robert Smith
I T IS important for all of us to real ize that there are certain ingredi ents which are essential to a well- balanced life. These are work, play, love and worship. Regardless of our age, social standing, political persua sion, or denominational affiliation, everyone must realize that as a crea tion of God these things are vital ne cessities. Too often, however, work becomes drudgery, play becomes fri volity, love turns to lust, and worship to ritual or self-styled piety. Then people wonder why their lives turn “sour.” The goal of all too many people is selfishly motivated in a desire for fame, riches, personal beauty, suc cess, or some other aspect of life. In themselves, apart from Christ, these things can never really satisfy. The interplay of these four, work, love and worship, with a life devoted to the Saviour, brings a contentment about which the world knows abso lutely nothing. With these ingredi ents in their proper perspective life can be joyful despite pain, sorrow, or even bitter failure. Without them, however, men lapse into that which is lower than animalism. We should maintain such a vital relationship with the Lord that even while we are working or playing we will be so close to worship that at any moment, despite our secular habits, we may be in touch with God. If we are to have a happy Christian home, we must be able to blend together all of these important essentials. Perhaps more than anything else we need to see the relationship be tween what has become the drudgery of every-day tasks in the perspective of the kingdom of our Lord. As mothers and fathers we are engaged in a great and glorious calling. We have the power to create, by the guid ance of the Holy Spirit, our children
in the image of God. Ask yourself, “Do I so show the radiance of Christ- likeness so that my children want to love Him? Too often parents are more concerned about the pride of their youngsters’ achievements (or their lack of them). The heighth of tragedy, I feel, is when these precious boys and girls become the pawn between a bickering father and mother. Instead of recog nizing their place in the great eter- B U T T H I S I K N O W I know not why life gives to some A lonely task to do; I only know Christ walked alone, And He was lonely, too. I know not why the day must fade, And darken Into night; I only know I can see Christ Sublime in morning light. I know not where the hard years lead Nor If the end be now; I only know the Lord Christ's hand Is tender on my brow. But this I know, beyond all doubt,— Of life, or death he send,— The tranquil heart still knows its Christ Is steadfast to the end. — George Hill Evans nal kingdom of God these two have now declared open war, and only the pliable, plastic life of the child can be the real loser. We need to recog nize humbly this sin before the Lord asking Him to forgive us. We need to seek understanding concerning the great values of life as we faithfully do our tasks as unto Christ. We need to learn to bear one another’s bur dens with a sincere and Godly com passion for the needs of others. It is well said that the family that plays together usually stays together. There is a need for wholesome recrea- 13
still be of good cheer because the Lord has overcome the world. We can find the peace which is His gift through faith in His redeeming love and sal vation. In your weakness ask the Lord, through His Holy Spirit to make you strong. In loneliness, frustration, or whatever may be your lot, bring all of these things to the Saviour. Share with Him your desperations as well as your delights. Does your home appear as if Jesus Christ were living there with you? The Saviour desires for us to have the joy of understanding the real values of life. Knowing true forgive ness, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we seek to be more like Him. Do you have the peace of forgiveness, the peace between one another, as well as God’s peace within ? How thankful we can be that the Lord has made life so rich and full. While there are obstacles and diffi culties, yet the Lord is always with us. Let us ask of Him for that prom ised abundant wisdom for all of the trials and tribulations of our daily existence, knowing that Christ is all- sufficient to meet every need. Draw on His available, adequate resources today, and each day, until He calls us to be with Himself in glory. Unique among Biola's five educational institutions is the Biola School of Missionary Medicine, Miss Leonie V. Soubirou, dean. Several of the recent students attending the one year post graduate course look over the globe, pointing out areas where they plan service for Christ.
tion or some type of activity. If we as fathers and mothers don’t take time to enjoy these young lives, not only in the common pursuits of life, but also in fun, we will have done them, as well as ourselves, a great dis service. Too many families are heading in too many different directions today. The home is supposed to be a fore taste of heaven. Don’t make the mis take of thinking that a home can be called a Christian home simply be cause one or more members go to church or are religious. Let me state it simply but straightforwardly: a home is only a Christian home, no matter if the father is a minister or a Christian worker, when the Lord Jesus Christ is given the preeminence, His rightful place, in every life and in all things. In thinking about these truths we can see the all-pervading issue of divine love having the paramount po sition. It is not difficult for people to maintain a file of statistics on their partner’s errors. To be kind, loving, patient and considerate, however, is something e n tir e ly different. We ought to read I Corinthians 13 as often as possible, each time asking the Holy Spirit to give us real wisdom so that a new truth will be unveiled be fore our eyes. In marriage counselling it has been amazing to me to find wives who can compile a list of all their husband’s faults but not have the slightest idea or comprehension of their own limita tions. Now, make no mistake, the same is true of the men as well. Then we can readily find children who don’t love their parents and parents (which is worse) who don’t love their chil dren. If we want to learn to love let us look to the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved us with an eternal love. His store or supply of grace is never ex hausted, nor can it ever be. We should cultivate a sense of thankfulness to the Lord for all of His grace and goodness. Obviously we don’t live in a perfect world. There are the believer’s promised trials and tribulations. Yet, we can
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NEGLECT It is so human to neglect The things that God would have you do; Just putting off from day to day Your duties old and duties new, Expecting later on in life You'll gather up the odds and ends, And bless your neighbors more than now And prove to them you are their friends. But somehow duties drift away Which you can never overtake, And things today that should be done So many, many just forsake; Or maybe say unto themselves, "This should be done, but it can wait," But when a little time slips by They sadly find it is too late. Neglect, neglect, O "thief of time," Just think of how it steals and robs, And when life's golden years are gone It brings so many sighs and throbs! Therefore, today make this resolve, That you will do your duty now, Accepting each thing when it comes As to the will of God you bow. — Rev. Walter E. Isenhour OTHERS Lord, help me to live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way, That even when I kneel to pray M y prayer will be for OTHERS. Help me in all the work I do To ever be sincere and true, And know that all I do for you Must needs be done for OTHERS. Let self be crucified and slain And buried deep, and all in vain May efforts be to rise again, Unless to live for OTHERS. And when my work on earth is done And my new work in heaven begun, May I forget the crown I've won While thinking stiJI of OTHERS.
THE VOICE OF ONE W HO WEPT Today I heard the voice of one
Who wept in far-off land Because of sin and misery,
And begged with outstretched hand For, one small lamp to light hi$ dark. Now feign I would have slept, So stopped my ears, but in my heart That sobbing voice still wept. And then I heard the voice of one Who counted not the cost, But left His ivory palaces To seek and save the lost. He said, "The sound of one who weeps Is coming up to me. Dost thou forget that last command Which I gave unto thee, To preach my Word to all the world?" Oh, bitter be our shame! Still hopeless millions walk the earth Who never heard His name, And still the world spends lavishly In every crowded mart, And still the voice of Him who wept Is sobbing in my heart! — Martha Snell Nicholson LIV IN G THE W A Y WE PRAY I knelt to pray when day was done, And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone! Lift from each saddened heart the pain, And let the sick be well again/' And then I woke another day, And carelessly went on my way. I did not try to share the load Of any brother on my road; I did not even go to see The sick man next door to me. Yet once again when day was done, I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone." But as I prayed, into my ear There came a voice that whispered clear, "Pause, hypocrite, before you pray; Whom have you tried to bless today? God's sweetest blessings always flow Through hands that serve Him here below." And then I hid my face and cried, "Forgive me, Lord, for I have lied; Let me see another day And I will live the way I pray."
Others, Lord, yes, others— Let this my motto be; Help me to live for OTHERS That I may live like Thee.
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M A JO R QU ESTION S OF LIFE
by Dr. John Hunter
H ow often have uncertainties robbed you of your joy and fel lowship with God? Recently, as I had the privilege of speaking in several American confer ences, I met many college young peo ple. One boy came to me and said, “Do you remember speaking to us at Mt. Hermon last year about the Word of God? I felt deeply moved and it started me thinking. I am a member and hold an office in my church. Although I am only twenty years of age, I consider myself a useful worker. I have served here on the conference grounds as a counsellor. Something you said to me, however, made me uneasy in my think ing. I have been uncertain ever since. I am not sure about my own personal faith. Hearing an evangelist give an appeal recently, I realized that I had never personally asked the Lord Jesus into my heart to be my Saviour. You may think it strange. I have known the terms of the Gospel. I have even been teaching younger children in Sunday School. But somehow I have never honestly gotten on my knees and made a personal decision to receive Jesus Christ into my heart and life. Just two days ago I went to the front, and I can’t tell you what joy there is that fills my heart. This sense of un certainty has all gone.” Praise God for such a decision in
this young man’s life. There is no magic in going down an aisle, or get ting on one’s knees, it is a heart in the proper attitude and perspective to ward God. The condition of this young man, however, is the situation with many people who have been brought up in good churches, where they have heard the Word of God, and where they have assumed that because they know the Bible that was enough. If you forget e v e ry th in g else, remember this: knowing is not believing. To further illustrate this point, I want to read part of an essay written by a young man who attended a Christian school. It is on the subject of the union of believers with Christ. In part he pens, “Before we consider the basis and existence of the union with Christ with His believers, we want to see whether this union is neces sary as the goal to which God ori ginally called man out of chaos. We need to see whether it is a condition of human nature or whether man can bring it about by himself. When we look at history, mankind’s great teach er, we find that some nations have achieved the highest level of culture and given birth to the greatest men. They have allowed their art to flour ish in full sunshine and have developed a science that solves the most diffi- 16
sion and endure undaunted the rage of the wicked. For who can crush him; who can rob him of his Re deemer?’’ Would anyone dare to say that this young man didn’t know the truth? Yet, knowing is not believing. The proof of that statement comes in the fact that the young man who wrote that essay was Karl Marx as a student in a Christian school in Germany. He knew the plan of salvation and all about sanctification. He knew what union with Christ means as well as service for the Master. But while he knew it, he didn’t believe it. History records that Karl Marx left his home and turned his back upon God. He e m b r a c e d dialectical materialism known better as Godless atheism. He wrote his diabolical theses and his suc cessor today is none other than the head of the Union of the Soviet So cialist Republic. The man who ulti mately put Joseph Stalin into office was Karl Marx, a person who knew the truth of the Word of God. Yet he is one who must bear the responsibili ty for the untold sufferings through communism, the hatred, the bitterness, the misery in the world today. Am I writing to someone like these two examples? The first young man, a very fine church member, said, “Sure, I knew it all. I taught it, but I never personally received Jesus Christ as my own Saviour.” Have you? Are you just a good Presbyter ian, or a good Baptist, or a good Epis copalian, or a good Lutheran, or a good anything else? It is true, you know, “knowing is not believing." There must come a day when, with childlike faith, you realize that you are a sinner and that only the Lord Jesus Christ can save you. Will you say, “Blessed Lord, in childlike faith, I want to trust you as my own per sonal Saviour.” God grant that every one of us may not only know but may also trhly believe for His name’s sake. * A man's character is like a fence: it cannot be strengthened merely by whitewash. * *
cult questions. Yet history clearly re veals that none of these nations was ever able to shake off the chains of superstition, pride, and the emptiness of vain religious concepts. “There has never been a nation whose ethics and morality were free from personal aggrandizement and ig noble limitations. The virtues of the nations are not the products of the striving after true achievement, but rather are the products of a crude and brutal bigness, a boundless ego ism, and ignoble limitations. Likewise, if we examine the history of man’s nature as an individual, we constantly observe the spark of divinity in his breast, the enthusiasm for what is good, the struggle for wisdom, and a longing for truth. These are being smothered by the flame of desire and greed. The zeal for virtue becomes deafened by the tempting voice of sin and turns into a mockery as soon as we feel the full impact of life. “Yet the gracious Creator was in capable of hating His handiwork. He wanted to raise it up to Himself so He sent His Son, and causes us to be holy through these words, ‘Now ye are clean through the words I have spoken unto you.’ Our hearts, reason, history, the Word of Christ, all call out to us loudly and convincingly to tell us that union with Him is abso lutely necessary, that without Him, we would be rejected of God. He alone is able to deliver us. In union with Christ we therefore turn our loving eyes toward God, offer Him our fer vent thanks and bow our knees before Him, joyfully. So the union with Christ consists of the most intimate and living communion with Him. We have Him before our eyes and in our hearts. We are filled throughout by the highest love towards Him. We turn our hearts at the same time to ward the brethren whom He has so intimately linked with us, and for whom also He sacrificed Himself. Once a man has attained this union with Christ, he will await quietly and composedly the blows of fate, he will bravely oppose the storms of pas
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