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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
December, 1937
said that myself!) But the speaker pointed out that in comparison with the amount of teaching which is needed, the amount that is given in the home is like, a drop in the bucket. That hit me hard, for I fear it fitted me. That verse he quoted took on new meaning when he substituted the word “babe” for “child.” It was from Paul’s Epistle to Timothy, I think, that he was quoting: “From a babe thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” No wonder Tim othy turned out to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ if he had early training like that! I’ve neglected teaching these babes of mine; I know I have. Wilt Thou forgive me, my Father? I will take time for this most important of all duties. Am I too late already? How shall I begin? What is the “milk of the Word” we read about? How can I teach the children unless I learn more myself? The youngsters would be delighted to have us both go to Sunday-school with them. We usually go to church, of course. But I don’t go to Sunday-school because I’m just too worn out when Sunday comes. And Will says he is, too. But I can see that if we don’t lay aside our excuses and exert ourselves for our children’s sake, we will have no one but ourselves to blame, if, by and by, they are able to get along very nicely without our guidance! I’ll put the question up to Will tonight. Making the Program Fascinating And the daily teaching in the home— how the lecturer stressed th a t! “Make it the most looked-for period of the day,” he said, “a time of fellowship, devotion, in spiration, and education.” If ever I felt in adequate, it was when he said that. But when he said it, something stirred within me—a determination to begin anew. I promised my heavenly Father that as He enabled me, I would undertake to do that very thing. I want, above all else, to have our home truly Christian. There were other Christian mothers who heard that lecture this afternoon. Some of them were surely stirred as I was. We ought to compare notes and problems. Our pastor probably could recommend books and other literature that will show us how to feed these lambs of ours. But I must not lean upon the help of any individual, though I will avail myself of every pos sible aid. My confidence must be in Thee, my Father, and I must search Thy Word for wisdom to meet my particular need. My Father, here I am, a mother to whom Thou hast committed the greatest of all tasks. I know I have not been faithful in the past. I have failed Thee. But Thou bast shown me that it is not enough to tell my darlings the Bethlehem story when Christmas comes. But in our home, Will and I must teach them day by day the whole glorious truth about the Saviour’s coming, and dying, and living again for us. With the help that Thou alone canst give, I am determined to be as faithful each day in providing food for the souls of my chil dren as I am in providing food for their bodies. Amen.
W HEN customers enter the Biola Book Room, “the headquarters of fundamental literature” in the Bible Institute building, they receive much more than they are asked to pay for in cash. Many of these visitors take with them, as they leave the store, a large stock of encouragement and of practical sugges tions—all of which is of greater value to them than any object they might buy. Moreover, not infrequently men and women come to the Book Room in deep perplexity of soul. They Seem to feel less hesitancy in asking for a book from a smil ing clerk than they would feel in searching out a minister to whom they could speak their'trouble. But what they really want— whether they realize it or not—is Light in the Word, and the salespeople at the Biola Book Room are often able to lead the seeker to just the help that is needed. Late one afternoon, there came into the store a man past middle age, thin, greyed, and loquacious. He did not come to buy books; he came to ask a favor. As he be gan to tell his story, he unconsciously re vealed a sad misconception of the plan of salvation. The salesperson to whom he spoke listened attentively, and with prayer ful tact turned the conversation to a con sideration of the man’s personal need of the Saviour. The two men read together from the Word of God—chosen portions that em braced the gospel. It was not long until the inquirer, quieted and thoughtful, ex claimed: “I’m going home to do something that I never thought of doing when I came in here. I ’m going to kneel down with my wife and give my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe she’ll do that, too.” Conversations of this kind are not counted among the approximate 150 floor sales a day, yet they are probably the most highly valuable contacts that are made. The Biola Book Room is “in business to serve” because this is the objective of its owner and manager, C. H. Andrew. For over thirty-five years, Mr. Andrew has been in the book business, for thirty years being associated with one of the largest secular book stores in Los Angeles. Sharing this present ambition with him a re , Mr. An
drew’s three gifted children—two daughters and a son Charles E. (“Ted” )—who, with his brother E. E. Andrew, work with him in the store. “People expect you to know everything!” “Ted” Andrew, his father’s energetic assist ant, said smilingly, as a friend talked with him about the Book Room. “And it’s a good thing that much is required of us, for it keeps us observing and studying—and that’s good for us young folk. My sister Alice makes a careful study of all the lit erature received for use among young peo ple, and of all the fiction that we offer for sale. Not long ago, a representative of a County Probation Department came in to purchase six or eight good Christian novels to give to girls under her charge, and she returned a few weeks later to say that the books were exactly what she had wished, for they were exerting an excellent influence over the girls. My sister Margaret is oc cupied most of the time with secretarial duties, for a large portion of our orders are filled by mail. “We sell more Bibles and Scripture por tions than any other books—an average of 2,600 pieces a month. Frequently we have orders for copies in Spanish, French, Swed ish, and German. One customer in Hawaii orders Gospels in lots of one thousand, for distribution through missionaries there. • “Our stock of books includes over 27,- 000 volumes, and we are continually in creasing it. We try to limit ourselves strictly to literature which strengthens faith in the Word of God.” Sunday-school teachers and young peo ple’s workers continually appeal to the Biola Book Room for help. One of the most popular arrangements of Bible facts is the “Wonder Book of Bible Knowledge,” an attractively illustrated thirty-two-page book let that will be a help to pupil and teacher alike. To acquaint new friends with the Biola Book Room, Mr. Andrew will send a copy of this valuable little booklet free to any person who asks for it, provided the request is received before December 15, 1937, and three cents postage is enclosed. Address: Biola Book Room, 560 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif.
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