King's Business - 1922-02

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THE K I N G ’ S B US I NE S S which hadn’t been introduced to a pair of shears for many a long day gave him a rural look, and I don’t believe water and his face were friends. He was alive in more ways than one, and his long residence in box cars had taken the creases out of his trousers. His coat might have flttted William Jen­ nings Bryan in the days of his presi­ dential aspirations. The object desig­ nated a hat, was only prevented from resting on his shoulders by two very prominent, projecting ears. His shoes beggared description. So, when a clear-eyed, neatly-dressed lad stepped up and shook hands Monday night at the Fishermen club and told the writer how comfortable and happy he was, it was hard to identify him as our young friend, the “ Artful Dodger” of a few weeks before. All this change had come about through the contents of our big box, and we had every reason to believe the Word of God had effected a similar change within. A Tough Proposition. We encountered, another “ real tough guy” about the same time. He was picked up as he was boarding a freight, and was steered to Biola Hall, not car­ ing to be put on the rock pile of which the judge had warned him the day be­ fore. He had passed much of his life in jail. He was covered with coal-dust, and his poor broken nose fairly lay flat on his face as the result of many encounters. He was further embellish­ ed by a perfectly villianous squint, his front teeth were knocked out and his ears were standing out like sails. One of our boys had discovered him, shared his lunch with him, and had been pouring into a willing heart the story of Jesus. We brought him in and soon had the joy of seeing him brought to an intelli­ gent faith in our blessed Lord, Himself. A job was secured and we saw him go on his way rejoicing. When he drop­ ped in today, we were startled by the wonderful change in his personal ap­ pearance. His face was bright and glow­ ing and all the old lines were gone. We could only say, “What hath God wrought!” “ Dear Saviour, I have nought to plead In earth beneath or heaven above But just my own exceeding need And thy exceeding love. The need will soon be past and gone, Exceeding great but quickly o’er. The love unbought is all Thine own. And lasts forever more.”

such severe persecution. “ Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children or land, for my name’s sake! shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” BIOLA HALL WORK c “ nt> Superintend- ° ur City Mission fo r men, situated center o f the city. Meetings are until ^lnlnn 0 clock in the morning R-iitt1 t ° :°0 o clock at night, including a Noonday Business Men’s Prayer Meeting ^ „ d P ^ son ai w ork. Hundreds o f men a rf reached here every day. H N the remaking and rebuild­ ing of men we run up against many difficult problems. One which looms up before us just now is the vast army of job­ less, homeless, penniless men, drifting into Biola Hall. The harrowing tales poured into our ears would ring the last penny out of even a “ tightwad,” to say nothing of these many susceptible students assigned from the Bible Insti­ tute to testify and do personal work We are told in the good Book that if a man will not work neither shall he eat, and we are trying to concoct some scheme to meet this problem in a sane, practical manner with the co-operation of our friends, some of whom telephone in, wanting odd jobs done about their homes. We appreciate this, even if it is only part of a day’s work. Every­ thing from the cleaning of a machine to the washing of windows helps. Beaching a man’s heart by way of his stomach has often proved efficacious, for while our objective is the inner heart of the man, in order to get there we must be “ all things to all men,” and ^ & bod, a job, shoes, shirt or shave will prepare the way, we look to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discern­ ment to know when and how to give. Some of our friends are sending us in many articles of clothing. These go into our treasure box and thus, like the higher critics, we are constantly adding to and taking away, but unlike them, we are putting something in as well as on our men, which brings forth fruit unto life eternal. Very Much Alive. One little chap who had never known father or mother came shuffling Into Biola Hall. He would have made a splendid model for Dickens’ “ Artful Dodger.” His long, flowing locks

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