Thoughtful Moments OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 88, 7 August 1942, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

(Supplied l>y ilic Whakat; THE BQCX OF THE HOUR So much thai is frlghtiul is taking place in Ihe world to-day that it is a matter of great d llicully to see life whole. The Bible is the Book 01!' the Hour. It is our one authoritative sourer for apprehending the meaning of current events. ll' we would arrive at a deeper appreciation of what is going on in the world to-day, and if Ave would know wiio best to respond to the movements of the time, a profeunder knowledge of the Scriptures will admit us into many oil" the secrets ol' the Lord. The Bible has been fiercely assailed, but it is still the rock cm which men either • build or by which they are destroyed.—The Christian Intel ligencer.

THE BIBLE : THE BOCK OF FORGE WITH THE FORCES •'Not till the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to (!y Shall Clod unroll the canvas. And reveal threason why. '"The dark threads are as needful In the Weaver's skilful hand As 111;" threads of gold and silver In the pattern lie has planned. These arresting and revealing verses were found scribbled in a diary of a young airman who had lost his life over enemy territory, and lo his sorrowhig pa i\'ills I hey brought some mea-ure of comfort and relief to know that iheir son had taken time to think on the things of God. More and more- has evidence been s'i;-w;i v'aeh day of 'lie great interest being munifesjed by these who defend cur shores at this time in Hod and His Hook. ■ and the Soi'u iy has found encouragement h> go forward with the task of providing the New Testanr.MiL—a Book of patterns of good works —from which they can find solace and help in their particular times of need. . GIVE THEM THE FACTS He was an Honorary Chaplain to the Forces, "serving the men within his parish, and on each occasion, before leaving his vicarage, he Avould slip a few Gospels and Testaments; into his pocket. At the conclusion

me Mirust ers' Association). of his conversations lie would give invitations to the men to come and discuss with him any problems that they had or ask him questions. "While moving about the room, one of the men came un to him and said, "'Well. Padre, you asked me to come to you, and I have come. There is very little that you can do for inc. however, for I: have very little time for this dope called religion." "Well," said the Padre, "that's a little bit strong, isn't it? You sound as though you were an atheist."' "1 certainly am," said the man, "and inot only that, 1 am a eoimmunisl 100, and I know how hollow this religious stuff is." When the Padre began to discuss Communism and Christianity with the man, he found that mere argument was not getting them very f ar . Moreover, it was obvious that the man was very well read on the subject of Communism and on most so-< cial problems. "I read as much as I can," said the soldier, '"and I think I can claim to have read everything that Karl Marx ever wrote."' "'Have you read Marx's Gospel?" ■asked the Padre. "I have told you thai I have read • ■.very thing that Karl Marx ever wrote."' replied tlie man. The Padre took . from his pocket a copy of St. Mark's Go-'pe!. "Since vou seem to enjoy reading, would you be willing to read this little book? \ t would not take very long,, ns you can see. ft will perhaps help you to know something about Jesus other than what the Communists say about him." "Thanks." said the soldier, '"f will read it through and let yevu know what 1 think about it." A ..week later {lie Pad re was there again, and the same 111:111 came, up to him and said: "Padre, I am not going to apologise for what 1 said last week, because T believed it was true. But I Avould like to say thank you for letting me read that little book. 1 nave read a good deal about Christ in Communist books, but I never knew the facts before. Why didn't 1 know them earlier? Have you any other books like 1 this one?" "Yes," said the Padre. "Here are a couple of others." He handed to the man the Gospels of St. Luke and St. John. Several conversations between the Padre and the man have since followed and the soldier has now read most of the New Testament, with the result that lie has been received into Church membership.