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“HOW FREE ARE YOU . . . ? ” When a belligerent highschooler shouted, “I want to be free!” her moth er’s answer was wonderfully wise: “ Then stop loving yourself exclusively.” Jesus Christ unquestionably prom ises freedom to anyone who really wants it, but we make use of His free dom only as we “ stop loving ourselves exclusively” and permit Him to be Lord and Master. There is no other way out of spiritual bondage! Real freedom is not (according to our immature concept) doing what we please when we please and how we please. Real freedom is simply giving God full access into every area of our lives. Nothing but a complete depen dence on Him will liberate us from our own down-drag. How free are you? Free enough to break every allegiance that tends to push Jesus Christ into second place? Free enough to let Him alter the cir cumstances of your life without fretful murmuring? Free enough to let His deep penetration locate every wrong motive? Free enough to stand loyal to Him in the midst of a clamoring, hiss ing crowd? How free are you? Free enough not to despair of any individual, regard less of color, race or personality, in the light of God’s limitless grace? How free are you? Free enough to surrender completely the heart-break ing struggle to be anyone but your self? Free enough not to sulk at inter ruptions, inconveniences, sudden emer gencies? Free enough to face facts with out day-dreaming of how things might have been? Free enough to avoid mor bid introspection and self-reproach? How free are you? Free enough to rejoice that God loves that cantanker ous neighbor or relative as much as He loves you? Free enough to agree or disagree on issues of deep conviction? Free enough to do NOW what you know you must do eventually if you are to remain loyal to Jesus Christ? Free enough to bring every thought into cap tivity to the obedience of Christ? How free are you? Free enough to clash head-on with failure, temptation, even tragedy, still utterly convinced that absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord? How free are you? Free enough to relate everything moment by moment to the adequacy o f Jesus Christ? Free enough to be utterly bound to Him? Then you are free indeed! By Ruth Calkin W ATCH W H A T YOU SAY A careless word may kindle strife, A cruel word may wreck a life; A bitter word may hate instill, A brutal word may smite and kill. A gracious word may smooth the way, A joyous word may light the day. A timely word may lessen stress, A loving word may heal and bless.
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by Joyce Landorf
Now after I delivered the speech, I did not hear either one of my chil dren tell anybody, “ Oh, how dear, how sweet, how darling of our mother. She isn’t going to let us go see Bonnie and Clyde —isn’t that just wonderful!” On the contrary, they barely spoke to me for days. I was quite definitely not their friend, but their mother. There comes a time (sometimes twice a week) when we cannot be our chil dren’s friend—and we must be their mother. For this we will not be ap plauded by them, but we must remain steadfast to the job our Lord has in structed us to do. In a national women’s magazine not too long ago, of the 500 mothers inter viewed, 95 per cent said they were afraid of what their children thought of them — especially if they imposed any rules and regulations. As a Christian mother, I have to re member that some day I’ll stand before our Saviour and no one, I repeat, no one will answer His question of “ What kind of a mother were you for Rick and Laurie?”—except me! I must be willing to love them, even in this lovely, yet awkward stage, and I must be willing to take the risk of being a mother to them. A mother that in great love (not resentful bitter ness) says—“No, my darlings—no!” HERB ROLLS % cup margarine or butter 1 Mi tsp. parsley flakes Vi tsp. dill seed % tsp. onion flakes 1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese 1 pkg. refrigerated buttermilk bis cuits Place margarine, parsley, dill, onion and cheese in a pie plate. If metal pan is used, melt margarine over low heat; if glass, melt in oven. Stir to blend ingredients. Cut bis cuits into quarters, swish each piece around in herbed butter and arrange pices so each touches. Bake at 425 degrees 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm. —Mrs. Robert A. McGill
What about movies? “ Mother, can we go see Bonnie and Clyde?" In the first place, it’s “ Mother, may we go see Bonnie and Clyde?" “ OK! Mother, may we go see Bonnie and Clyde?" “ No, as a matter of fact, you may not see the movie Bonnie and Clyde." Have you heard this exchange of questions at your house? Hundreds of women I’ve talked with in the past months have so I’ll share what others have said and what happened at our home. “ But, Mother, everyone is going to see it. All my friends have already!” “ That’s too bad, Honey, but it changes nothing here— you may not see it.” “ But, Mother, it’s up for 10 academy awards.” (It didn’t make even half.) “ I know.” “ And, Mother, did you know the fashion wor l d will be completely changed by the ‘fashions of the thirties’ from that picture?” “ Yes, I know — but here are some things you don’t know! “ One, the national PTA magazine (certainly not a religious publication) said ‘Positively No for children up to 18 years of age.’ ” For adults it said, ‘Sadistic Violence.” “ Two, the pictures make heroes out of Bonnie and Clyde, glamorizes death, and glorifies the violence in which they lived. I’ve seen several people die in my lifetime and it has never been glam orous, exciting or great to watch. Once on a telecast, the news showed a con vict caught between the police cross fire and there was no grimace, falling, rolling, sprawling or a last speech (for giving someone or cursing); he just dropped. Period. Then slowly his glassy eyes opened and the soul of the man was gone. Nothing glamorous. On the contrary, it was sickening, real and utterly horrible. “ Three, I’m not going to take one penny of Daddy’s hard-earned money to give the producer (even if he is the super-star, Warren Beatty) who makes robbing a bank a real lark when your father is a banker with Security-First National Bank!”
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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