P a t a n d h is f r ie n d were building a scow. Perhaps one should say Pat was: measuring, sawing, hammer ing, and every few minutes consult ing “ Plans for Shipbuilders” which lay close at hand. Pat’s friend Ed was interested, and at times he did what he could to help. But it did seem oc casionally as though his interest were slightly tinged with doubt. For exam ple: one day he asked hesitatingly, “You’re positive she’ll work, Pat?” The reply came confidently, “ Sure!” And the measuring and sawing con tinued as he added, “ Following that plan exactly,” indicating the open book of plans. There were other boys — men also —during the weeks that construction was in progress, who would pause for a few minutes and survey the boat and the busy boatbuilder. One man stopped to examine the book of plans, and then he walked away smiling. It wasn’t long before the scow be gan to take‘.'.Shape; wider at one end than the other; about six feet in length; square across the ends; with a flat bottom. After studying the plan one morning, Pat’s mother took a good look at the scow, and then remarked softly to herself, “ It certainly looks like the plan.” Ed, who overheard her remark, nodded. At last came the day when the fin al bit of caulking was done; the last bit of pitch pressed into the seams; the last coat of paint applied. All that remained now was to finish the two sails of heavy unbleached muslin. Pat was watching his mother now as she stitched the binding in place. Ed, turning the pages of the book of plans, looked up suddenly and inquired, “Are sails used on a scow, Pat?” “ They’re going to be used on this one until we have sufficient money to buy an engine,” came the reply, as Pat leaned closer over his mother’s shoulder. Bright and shining in her fresh coat of paint, the scow was hoisted to the top of the old “Model T ” and tied down. Pat’s mother had been mvited to attend the launching, but she thought, “What if she doesn’t work after all?” Not caring to witness a possible disappointment, she remained at home, promising them a weiner
roast the next day at Malaga Cove, the scene of the launching, “if she works!” “Oh, she’ll work all right! Can’t miss when you follow a plan!” And with these words the two pals drove off. Late that afternoon they burst into the living room shouting in uni son, “ She works! She works!” And she did, as Pat’s mother dis covered the next afternoon. How they slithered through the beach sand in that old car, down what seemed more like a trail than a road. And then the triumph as the scow sailed out of Malaga Cover onto the blue Pacific! Pat’s mother was thinking of her son’s word of caution as she measured and cut, and finally stitched the bind ing along the edges of the sails: “ Fol low the plan, exactly, Mother.” Down through the years there have been many boatbuilders. And we can be very sure that every pne of them followed a plan. Remember the one whom God told to build a boat be cause He was going to send a great flood? That boatbuilder followed a plan. “ According to all that God com manded him, so did he” (Genesis 6:22). That plan worked, too. How do I know? From these words: “And the ark went upon the face of the wa ter” (Genesis 7:18). And because that boatbuilder followed the plan exact ly, Noah’s wife, Noah’s three sons and their wives were all saved when the flood came. Plans are very interesting. Let’s consider one <— a plan with three important steps — like stairs. The 1st step: BELIEVE! Accept Je sus, God’s Son, as your Saviour, and become what the Bible calls “A babe in Christ.” But dont’ stay that way. Take the next step up. GROW! The 2nd step: STUDY! That is the way you grow. “ Study to show thy self approved unto God” (2 Tim. 2:15). The 3rd step: WORK! Jesus worked while He was here on earth. “What is my work?” you ask. To tell others about the One who saved you. (Eph. 2:10), (Matt. 28:19-20). Any one — “Whosoever will” — _ you — may follow this plan. And if you do, you can’t miss. It works!
nn'oDAY when I brought my little boy -1L Tom, who is six, and my daugh ter June, eight, and placed them in your care for Sunday School, I thught how sweet and happy they both looked as they tripped off to their class room. June was in her dark blue dress with the white collar and Tom was all dressed up in a new suit his mother had recently made him. Yes, they looked sweet and hap py, and there was an air of innocence and trust, too. They have been taught at home those wonderful things that concern our Lord Jesus Christ and His great work of sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Their little hearts are just overflowing with love for our great Redeemer. Their greatest de sire is to please Him. Now won’t you help them to keep on this precious spiritual level and grow in the grace of our Lord? This afternoon we, that is Tom and June and I talked of many things . . . About the pretty girl that sits next to Tom in Sunday School; about the boy in June’s class who likes to make such funny faces; and then we talked of tremendously vital, important things — about living for God, and the great purpose God has for the lives of those who love Him. Then they spoke of you, how you were dressed, some of your mannerisms, and how they love you. It opened my eyes to the true worth of a godly Sun day School teacher and the extent of a teacher’s influence in the lives of those of mind. My boy and girl are both nice kids. They can run like rabbits and they love all kinds of sports but they also have a great capacity to grow in the things of the Lord. Mother and I can not give them all they need; they need you and your consecrated life for a testimony and example to lead them into the further work of the Lord. Please don’t fail them! Keep true to the Word of God in this day of apos tasy, and keep separated from world ly things that would lead your schol ars astray, for if you do those things, they will become entangled with them too. Please don’t hurt my chil dren! — Dr. E. C. Lasswell Reprinted, from “ The Blu-Print" Oakland , Calif.
JULY, 1962
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