Reading The Bulletins
What Others Are Doing
Brother D. L. Freeman recently moved from Hughes Springs, Texas to Grand Saline, Texas, where he is now the evangelist for the church. He edits a weekly bulletin and judging from the reports therein the work in Grand Saline is encouraging.
Brother James P. Needham is doing a fine work with the good church in Haynesville, Louisiana. He is the editor of The Haynesville Pathfinder, an aggressive and worthwhile publication of that church. The elders of the Haynesville church are: S. B. Hartsell, J. V. Kendrick, J. A. Yates, and R. E. Crump.
The Glenwood Hills church in Decatur, Georgia, where Brother Connie W. Adams labors as the faithful evangelist, started the church in Covington, Georgia last January. In September Brother John Gasaway moved there to work regularly with this new congregation. The Decatur church helps in Brother Gasaway's support in the amount of $50 per month. Altogether $155 per month has been raised toward his support. The Glenwood Hills church is trying to interest other congregations in helping with Brother Gasaway's support and also raise funds for a radio program. This is a good work and deserving of support. What church is able and willing to assist? Contact Connie W. Adams, 3111 Glenwood Road, Decatur, Georgia. The support will go direct to the Covington church.
Brother Kenneth L. Fielder, evangelist of the Market Street church in Dyersburg, Tennessee, publishes one of the neatest and best mimeographed bulletins that we receive. It always contains good reading and is a powerful medium for good. The Market Street church is a tower of strength in West Tennessee. Brother Floyd Thompson, of Santa Ana, California recently helped them in an excellent meeting.
From The Apostolic Voice, edited by Jesse M. Kelly, and published by the good church in Lafayette, Louisiana, we carry the following that is worthy of passing on:
Be Willing To Change
"God grant that I may always be right, for I never change," said a Scotch theologian. One of his Calvinistic brethren declared: "I am open for conviction, but I'd like to see the color of the man's eyes who would convince me." Each used different words, but both came out at the same destination. Neither one entertained the idea of change. Both were stubborn and prejudiced. They had closed their eyes, ears, and heart to the truth, "lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn again, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:15.)
The person who is always right and never changes is usually wrong on many things and always wrong in spirit on everything. The Christian's life begins with a fundamental transformation, the new birth, and continues with constant changes. The Christian feeds on the word of God that he "may grow thereby unto salvation." (II Peter 2:1, 2.) The Christian is to press on unto perfection, that is, full growth maturity. (Hebrews 6:1, 2.) The person who thinks he has reached the top of Pisgah, beyond which no progress can be made, is "dead while he liveth."
It is necessary to have definite ideals and strong convictions. God hates a wishy-washy, namby-pamby, unsteadfast person. Truly, "a double minded man, unstable in all his ways" is not to be desired. (James 1:8.) But we must make sure that our ideals and convictions coincide with those of heaven.
Unitarians Attend Meeting
Last Lords day evening saw the second largest crowd ever in attendance at Haynes Street. Last Sunday evening's crowd was composed partly of Unitarians. They had been exhorted by their preacher to come to this service as we were going to review their doctrine and a mimeographed sheet printed by their church. Several of them came and we had a fine meeting. Afterwards several of them stayed around for further discussion and indicated that they would be back again. We will continue our review in this evening's lesson as we take up the alleged forgeries, absurdities, and supposed stupid and cruel passages in the Bible. YOU will want to be present and have someone with you.
Mr. L. Wendell Hughes, minister of the Unitarian Church, honored us with his presence last week and we gave him the opportunity to speak after our lesson. He stood and said a few words and assured us that he was still interested in debating and that we would be hearing from him in the very near future.
One thing that was impressive about the entire service was the order and good spirit that prevailed. Even after the service was over when different groups engaged in further discussion there was good order, and friendliness prevailed at all times. This shows that one can disagree with his neighbors and friends without being disagreeable. We believe that much good was done. We feel that several of the Unitarian people were impressed with God's Word and that they will be back to learn more about it. We hope and pray that they will. — From The Friendly Visitor, Dayton, Ohio, Arthur W. Atkinson, Jr., preacher.
For three nights (March 15-17, 1955) Bro. James P. Miller, well-known evangelist of the church of Christ, engaged Mr. Morris Butler Book, of the Christian Church in a public debate. The discussion was held in Orlando, Florida with an attendance of one thousand or more each night. Only one proposition was discussed throughout the three nights of the debate — "Resolved: The Scriptures Are Sufficiently Clear For Christians of Normal Intelligence To Determine That Devoted and Talented Use of Certain Mechanical Instruments For Praise In Worship Services Is Both Permitted and Required by the Word of God." Mr. Book affirmed and Bro. Miller denied the proposition. The debate was recorded and is now available in book form. It is very interesting and can be read with profit by all. The price is $2.50 and it may be ordered from the Gospel Guardian Company.
The Taylor Blvd. church in Louisville, Kentucky, where Bro. Harold Hazelip serves as evangelist, is building a new auditorium. It is a 62' x 112' building; is being erected at a cost of $90,000 and will have permanent seats for 913 people. This cost includes air conditioning for the auditorium, a full basement of class rooms, and the remodeling of the present auditorium. This is a splendid church and this material progress is but an indication of the spiritual growth and great work of this church.
The following quotation is taken from The Reminder, published by the College Avenue church in Lubbock, Texas and edited by Grover Stevens. "Embracing Sin: We don't go down with a quick hard fall, but we just glide along. Little by little we lighten our load until we can't tell right from wrong. Sin is a monster of such frightful countenance, that to be hated needs but to be seen. But, seen too often, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, and then embrace." — Alexander Pope.
The Bible
A little boy's first Bible Is the greatest thrill he's known;
There's a sweet, unique excitement In a Bible all his own!
And yet my heart is smitten As this touching sight I see —
Has his reverence for that Bible Depended much on me?
As I see him with his Bible, I bow my head and pray —
May he always love that Bible The way he does today.
Then I hear a voice within me Speak in solemn words and true;
How he cherishes that Bible Will depend a lot on you!
I love my Bible better Since I've seen the beaming joy
This wonderful possession Has afforded to my boy.
May I seek to give mine daily A devotion he can see,
For the love he bears his Bible Will depend a lot on me.
— Taken from Capital City Messenger, Madison, Wisconsin.