asked him, “How long has it been since you shipped anything on this road?” There was a pause and finally the far mer responded, “Well then,” pressed the lawyer, “How long since you've ridden on it?” Stroking his chin, he replied, “Oh, I guess ten or fifteen years.” Rather disgusted the attorney injected, “Well then, what difference does it make to you whether or not ifs abandoned?” The farmer was himself upset by this time and stormed back, “Well, sir, there’s not a night goes by but that 1 walk down to the track to watch that train. You just can’t take it off. I’d miss it.” There are a lot of people who evidently feel the same way when it comes to the church. Or take away the phrase, “In God We Trust” and they will become very upset. Yet they go on living as if the church didn’t exist, and as if we lived in some pagan land. How do you stand concerning these important matters? Churchgoers are like coals in a fire: when they cling together they keep the flame aglow; when they separate, the light and heat dies down! The Bible exhorts us, “Let us not forsake the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is!” A Suggestion for your Church Bulletin This is the way the Church sometimes looks to the pastor when he goes into the pulpit. The pastor would just as soon preach to a wood-pile as to empty benches. There is no inspiration in vacant pews. Be regular! Thisisthewayitoughttolook ateveryserv- iceifeach onedoeshispartby cominghim- selfand bringingafriend orrelative. We haveanumberofmembers inthis Church and ifeveryone cametothe sameservice the usherswouldhave aproblem seating thecongregation. Thebestwayonearthto inspireanypreacher istopray forhimand thenfill theemptybencheswith people. Trythisout! * * * Whenever the going seems easy, it's well to make sure that you're not heading down hill.
shall be” (verse 21). Before World War I, it would be difficult for us to understand such a verse. The advent of atomic warfare has removed all doubt. But God says it is going to be even worse than anything man has seen before. Instead of this period being a study in comparisons, it will be a study in contrasts. We do not have the ability to comprehend the full meaning of this text. It will be judgment from the hand of Almighty God. Because Israel has not taken heed to the words of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to the God of their fathers, she must now listen in judgment. Matthew 24:22 gives us the clue as to why it is necessary. “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be short ened.” If God did not intervene in mercy, the world would know total destruction. When God exhibits judgment, He always has as His part ner, His mercy dispensed in love. God will have His hand upon His own, protecting and caring for them. He will hide them in the rocks until His indignation is past. Many times God would entrust us with His blessings because of His great love for us. But because of our rebellion, we force Him to chasten and to discipline us. Instead of knowing His fellowship, we have to learn His wrath. We should take a lesson from this passage and apply it to our own lives today. MISSING THE TRUTH With the invention of the airplane, many of the railroads have found that for economy they must cut out certain non-productive lines and schedules. Of course, they can do this only as it meets with the approval of the govern ment. One such hearing had been called relative to the abandonment of a cer tain spur from northeastern Colorado into Nebraska. While it had been losing money, there was an angry farmer present who argued for the opposition. He pleaded that the line should re main. The attorney for the railroad
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