Is There a Purpose For Your Life?..

Radio Record, 12 June 1936, Page 5

Is There a Purpose For

Your Life?..

Asks

Miles

Phillimore

*©-FS there a purpose for your life?" Before I met the Oxford Group I might have replied to this question with an incautious "Yes." The issue of this question, however, is the whole difference bety.cen self- determinaoa ee

tion and tsod-determination. in his scientific advance man sometimes artificially manufactures some new machinery or deliberately harnesses forces and laws, and sometimes merely unveils some ready-made force or law. Electromagnetism has been discovered, the radio receiving set manufactured. Is the plan of my life a thing to be manufactured entirely by me, or is it a thing to be revealed step by step through growing contact with the all-seeing, wise and creative mind of God? Is it possible, even remotely, for data ever to be available to an ordinary person, or even to a super-intellect, on which he can intelligently base an artificial plan for his life from day to day, minute to minute?--data, for instance, about the thouchts, characters, intentions,

weaknesses and liability to "‘accidents" of the thousands who cross his path daily, many of them unseen and many perhaps unborn. ' No, to me it has become clear that a plan for my life is continuously forming (and ee ee ee ss.

reforming, as 1 miss it) in the mind of God (that plan is my maximum security, happiness, unfoldment and contribution to the world), ready to be unveiled step by step. Do I want to identify myself with that maximum plan for my life? How can_I do it? What will it cost? Nineteen hundred years ago it was shown how. Conditions were shownabsolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness and absolute love, and the whole of God’s will replacing the whole of my desires, sins, and ignorance. And it cost something then and it will cost something now. It is nothing passive but involves the full, active co-opera-tion of all my faculties. The Oxford Group is proving this to be true in experience. It works. This can be clearly seen in books such as "Life Began Yesterday," by Stephen Foot, and "The Fool Hath Said," by Beverley Nichols. I have spent a year pioneering this amazing movement in New Zealand, and

it is beginning to become clear that God has a plan for New Zealand. Lives have been changed and brought into touch with God and there is emerging a new spiritual leadership determined to find that plan and put it into action. Some New Zealanders now in Enga _ sg

jana are giving time tO stay Christian revolution, and take part in the work there, while a party is actually going all the way for that alone. An elderly lady from Nelson a railway shunter from Palmer--ston North and a station owner's daughter are among those who are making their way to Oxford, where once again thousands will gather in July to co-ordinate World Christian Revolution. This is the first time that a team has gone from New Zealand to Oxford, It is a sign that New. Zealand is beginning to make a. distinctive contribution to spiritual reformation. It is of great significance for this country. The way is being prepared for her to step forward as a nation self-conscious for God---a nation integrated by

God, conscious of her responsibility to husband her resources for God among the nations-a nation made up of personalities developed and integrated by right relationship with God-a nation conscious of her destiny under. God. ' Already New Zealanders ===>

are planning to go to Oxford next year, and Coronation visitors may catch a new vision of the possibilities of God's sovereignty. As Beverley Nicholshimself a changed man-~ says, the group has nothing new about it. It contains thousands of persons of many denominations — there is hardly any form of Christianity which is not represented in it. lt does not ask a man to change his religion. It does ask a man to allow his religion to change him. The group is not a new sect, it is as broad as the wide horizon of Christianity itself. It is a tremendous fellowship of people of all nations and whatever sphere of life. Does the group actually change lives? For the word "sroup" read Christ, and there you have it. "All very interesting, and a fine thing for those whose lives need changing,"" you may be thinking as you peruse this. article. And you may be right, for Christ is for sinners only.

Introducing . . .

The HONOURABLE MILES PHILLIMORE, 21-year-old son of Lord Phillimore, of Bngland. Mr, Phillimore, wiho sailed from Wellington recently for London, spent more than a year in New Zealand,. during which time he was actively

engaged im furthering the aims of the Oxford Group.

Next week’s signed article has been written

by Mr.

Stuart

Perry

It concerns a strange murder pact recently made In o an00¢ 4

Wellington and as yct only partially TUMIed- ne stOry is truc: