Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

weeds!"see,"production."up."now?"REMO I. ROBB, D.D.For CovenDecember, 1954TO ILLUSTRATE THE JANUARYJanuary 2C. Y. P. U. TOPICSStandards of PerfectionThe Person I Want to Be.Coleridge was once talking with a manwho told him that he did not believe ingiving little children anyreligious instruction whatever. His theory was thatthe child's mind should not be prejudicedin any direction, but when he came toyears of discretion he should be permitted to choose his religious opinions forhimself. Coleridge said nothing but aftera while he asked his visitor if he wouldlike to see his garden. The man said hewould, and Coleridge took him out intothe garden,which had not been wellcared for. The man looked at Coleridge insurprise, and said, "Why this is not agarden! There is nothing"Well, youhere butanswered Coleridge,"I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was justgiving it a chance to express itself and tochoose its ownYou will grow to be like the standardsset for you.January 9 Keep Spiritually Healthy.The Shadow of a ChristianIn Acts 5:15, some people became soconfident of Peter's ability to heal thatthey assumed even his shadow falling onthem had healing virtue. The shadow represents in some degree the substance; itmoves with the substance; and it imitatesthe substance. It is produced by a lightthat is stronger than that in which thesubstance stands or moves. It may belikened unto the Christian's unconsciousinfluence.If one's involuntary influence is to begood, we must be right at heart. We mustbe quickened before we can quickenothers. We must be recipients of the Divine before we can render spiritual service. A man mayhave but little of thisworld's goods and may occupy a lowlyplace, but if he has a Christ-like spirithis influence and message will be a blessingas was Peter's. On the other handman maypossess extensive knowledgeand immense wealth and he may move inthe highest circles of society, but unless408he has a Christ-like spirit his treasureand position mayfill him with pride. Hemay use these as instruments in theservice of the god of this world and hisinfluence may be as a deadly instrument.He may give much to charity to evadeincome tax, but if he lacks the true spiritof benevolence and the grace of Christ heproduces in the minds of others an atmosphere of shallowness and insecurity.Evangelical CommentaryJanuary 16 Should Christian YoungPeople Study on Sabbath?How is the Sabbath or the Lord'sDay to be sanctified?The Sabbath or Lord's day is to besanctified by an holy resting all the daynot onlyfrom such works as are at alltimes sinful, but even from such worldlyemployments and recreations as are onother days lawful; and making it ourdelight to spend the whole time (exceptso much of it as is to be taken up inworks of necessity and mercy) in thepublic and private exercises of God'sworship; and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight,diligence, and moderation, to dispose,and seasonably to dispatch our worldlybusiness, that we may be the more freeand fit for the duties of that day.117.Larger Catechism,January 23question and answer"Speak for Yourself, John."A Leader Who "Spoke Up."The Pine Grove Congregational Churchof Woodbridge, Ontario, founded in 1840,was once a thriving center of worship andinfluence. Reverses came, and the workdwindled down to only a handful of believers. It looked as though it might haveto close its doors. In 1940, Pastor J. W.Dudgeon took over the leadershipof thedepressed little flock and he brought withhim a faith in the miracle-workingChrist. He brought with him, also, theconviction that Christ works in relationto His on-going missionary program inthe world and he proceeded to plan hispastoral work accordingly. In 1943 thefirst missionary conference of the churchwas held. Attention was centered uponthe Lord Jesus and His work. The majority heartilyagreed to the suggestion thatthe church should support its own mis-sionary. Some dissented, murmuring under their breath, "We haven't done it ina hundred years ; how can we do itThe support of a missionary was undertaken. The offering of one Sabbatheach month went toward missions. Afterthree months undertookthey the supportof a second missionary. In four years thetotal budget increased from $600 to$3700. The pastor's salary was increased,the church was redecorated, and the congregation grew, and, needless to say,everyone was happier.Because one leader with a firm conviction of God's truth "spokeJanuary SOA Work of God.Needed; Earnest Christians.R. D. Hitchcock notes the ChristianChurch's triumph in four spheres. In thefirst six years of service she won ten ortwelve thousand from Judaism includingthe strongest Rabbi, Saul of Tarsus; asecond triumph was in the Greco-Romanworld where in a hundred years she wontwo or three million souls; the third tri-^umphwasamongthe Teutonic barbarians who within the space of a hundredyears were reading their Bibles! thefourth great conflict in which Christianity triumphs is found in her work with alower type of heathenism at home andabroad. Christianity's divine element isnot demonstrated so forcefullyin thenumber of people she touches as in whatshe does for those touched.C.Y.P.U. YEARBOOKS FOR 1955The 1955 Yearbooks are on the pressand before this is printed theywill beready for the Societies. Material is rearranged in a new order this year, withtopics, special suggestions, etc. for eachmonth being set on a separate page. Nothumbing through the booklet to findwhat you need. All the material for eachmonth is set by itself. The National Planof Work and other Grinnell reports areat the end of the booklet.Does every memoer of your societyhave a copy of the C.Y.P.U. pledge?They will have if they have a Yearbook.The pledge is on the inside of the frontcover.Send your order in now. 15c per copy.Mail remittance to Remo I. Robb, D.D.,1102 Ninth Ave., Beaver Falls, Pa.COVENANTER WITNESS