Messages of God's Love: 1990

The sun burned hot upon David and Sidney as they worked in the Texas cotton field, chopping out the weeds with their hoes. David’s brother Leslie came out to the edge of the field, and that is where he got the surprise of his life.

David and Sidney, glad to take a break from the heat, stopped work for a few minutes to talk with Leslie. As they walked to the fence where Leslie was standing, Sidney suddenly froze. He looked at Leslie and yelled, “JUMP!”

Leslie got a puzzled look on his face and didn’t do anything.

Without saying another word, Sidney pushed Leslie right off his feet so hard that he landed sitting down on the road. Suddenly, David saw it too. Leslie had been standing right on top of a coiled rattlesnake! Sidney was faster than David and took his hoe and killed the snake.

What do you think Leslie thought about that? Do you think that he asked Sidney, “Why did you push me down?” Do you suppose David was angry at Sidney for pushing his brother over? No, Leslie looked surprised at first, but after he saw the snake he thanked Sidney for knocking him off that snake! Wouldn’t you?

But have you ever considered thanking God for the warnings He has given you in the Bible? God has not given them to make you sad or uncomfortable. He has warned you about the end of a life of sin so that you may be saved from a far greater danger than a rattlesnake.

God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12. The Bible says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17. It is a loving God who gives you these warnings so that you will receive the salvation that He offers through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John 20:31.

You will not likely ever have such a strange experience as thanking someone for pushing you off a rattlesnake, but you do need to thank the Lord Jesus for His death upon the cross of Calvary. He suffered and died so that you might be forgiven. Have you ever thanked Him?

ML 01/07/1990

Winter Rescue

Tim was visiting his cousin Stan who lived on a cattle ranch in Montana. Both boys were on their holiday break at the end of the year. His first day there Tim was shown the new snowmobile that Stan had. “We use it to check cattle . . . and to have fun on,” Stan explained, smiling.

And fun they did have. The new snowmobile was a big, powerful machine that could carry the two of them over the rugged winter countryside. They were able to make accurate counts of the cattle, too. Even this was fun, because it meant another ride.

One cold morning the two boys went over to the north pasture to check the cattle there. They stopped and turned off the snowmobile. Then they walked down toward the trees that followed the creek. There they found the cattle in the shelter of the trees. All seemed to be doing fine.

Returning to the snowmobile, they were walking close to the road. Suddenly Tim asked, “What was that?”

“It sounded like a groan coming from over there — where the sharp curve in the road is,” Stan answered pointing.

As they ran to the road they could see that part of the fence had been knocked down. Tire tracks went down the bank, and at the bottom they saw a car lying upside down by the creek.

Sliding down the embankment, they found a lady lying on the ground beside the car.

“I wonder if she’s alive?” asked Tim.

“She must be,” answered Stan. “We both heard her groan.”

It was then that the injured lady weakly opened her eyes. “Oh, finally help has arrived,” she said, and then her eyes closed again.

“You stay with her, Tim. I’ll go get help,” said Stan as he climbed back up the bank. Less than two minutes later Tim heard the roar of the snowmobile starting and moving at full power off into the distance.

At some point in our life, each of us must come face to face with our sins and their result — they will keep us out of heaven. The Bible explains that each of us is a sinner (Romans 3:23), and God cannot accept us with our sins. But if we admit our need to be free of those sins and call to God to save us, He will hear. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1.

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way we can be saved. In the Bible He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

Being a sinner, you must have your sins washed away before you can have everlasting life. You may have your own ideas of how you’ll handle your sins, but there is nothing you can do yourself to get rid of them. God says all your honesty and good deeds “are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. The only way to be free from your sins is to believe what the Bible tells us—that the Lord Jesus Christ was punished for sin and that it was His blood shed on the cross that can wash them all away. Then, according to Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” This is what God’s love in providing a Saviour can do for you. You are just like the lady in our story. You are helpless and you need someone to rescue you. The Lord Jesus is that One.

The lady opened her eyes again. “Help is coming soon,” Tim assured her as he tried to keep her hands warm in his.

“The road was icy and it was so late,” she weakly said, and slowly she told Tim the story. She had been able to get out of the car but could not climb up the bank. “I think my leg is broken,” she said.

Just about then Tim heard the sound of the snowmobile returning. It came right to the top of the bank and stopped. Stan’s father was driving, and Stan was on the back clutching a bundle of blankets. “We’ve called an ambulance,” he said as they worked their way down the bank.

Using the blankets, they wrapped the lady carefully. Within 15 minutes an ambulance from town was there. They put her on a stretcher, and with all of them helping, they were able to get her up the bank and into the ambulance.

“If she had been in the cold any longer she would have died,” remarked one of the paramedics. “She will make it now, thanks to you boys.”

We who have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ can say, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. Won’t you accept this gift and be rescued from your sins and be included with those who have everlasting life?

ML 01/07/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Useful Water Buffalo Part 2

“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle . . . and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25.

Water buffalo seem to enjoy being up to their necks (or noses) in a gooey mud hole. This is because they cannot stand much exposure to the sun. In the heat of the day, their owners allow them to move to shady spots or, better yet, snuggle into a nice cool pond or bed of mud. Topping it off, they enjoy buckets of water splashed on them when the mud bath is over.

In addition to serving their owners with their work, they provide nutritious milk (much richer than that of a dairy cow) from which butter, cheese and yogurt are made. Buffalo meat (especially that of a calf) is very tasty, providing steaks and hamburgers sometimes better than what is found in most butcher shops in North America. Their hides make excellent leather, and even the big horns are used for a variety of articles.

Considering all this it is easy to see why water buffalo are so popular in Asia, India and Africa. As an example of the value natives in several Philippine cities place on them, every May 14th is a holiday mostly in their honor. Groomed very carefully with hoofs and horns highly polished, hair trimmed and flowers draped over their necks, groups of 100 or more are proudly paraded through the streets for people to admire.

Going back to the sixth day of God’s creation, mentioned in the above opening Bible verse, God placed these animals along with all others on the earth, and they were peaceful and harmless in contrast to the present state of those in the wild. That sad change began to take place after sin came into the world and has affected all God’s lovely creation ever since.

The fact that many of them have been tamed provides a little picture for us to think about. By nature we all are sinners and are far from God. But through His love we can be brought in peace to Him, by admitting we are sinners and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Through His death on the cross He has carried away the sins of all who will admit their sin and accept for themselves what He did on the cross. When this is done a wonderful change takes place—much more wonderful than that of a wild water buffalo becoming a tame one. We are sure of this because of the Bible verse that says: “Therefore if any man [person] be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

If you have not been changed, the Bile also says: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Do not delay one minute longer! Be changed now while the opportunity is still offered to you.

ML 01/07/1990

The New Backpack

“You’re going to be walking a long way,” my mother had said. “I’d like my son to have a good backpack.”

It was going to be my first trip to Mexico to visit the Mixtec Indians. Many of them live in far-off villages scattered through the hills of Oaxaca, Mexico. My mother was right. Just to get to the village where the Bible conference was to be held, we would have to walk for many hours over the hills.

Mother kindly bought me the best backpack she could find. It was so light that you could lift it with one finger, and it had foam padding on the straps to keep the straps from cutting into my shoulders. When it was packed with extra clothes, some medicines and a few other things that I might need, I tried the new backpack on. Sure, that was fine. I could carry that load easily enough!

A few weeks later we arrived in Mexico at the point where we would begin the hike.

“Could I carry your pack for you?” asked one of the Christian Indians.

“No thanks, I’m fine,” I told him.

So we started off on the long walk. The backpack worked nicely, but the longer we walked the heavier it got. Surely those things I had packed weren’t so heavy when I had tried it on at home! On we walked with the hot sun beating on our heads, up one hill and down another. Everyone had loads to carry now, so there was no one to offer to help with my backpack.

I began to be afraid that I would never make it, but after two hours someone came to meet us over the hills with a horse. This time when they offered I gladly gave up the pack, and it was tied to the horse. I was so tired that it did not matter to me that the padded straps of my new backpack were not being used the way they were meant to be, but were dangling from the horse’s saddle.

Many times since then I have warned boys and girls that the load of sin is like the load in my backpack. The longer you carry it, the heavier it gets. This world tries to make sin look attractive, but it is still a heavy load. No matter how “light” your load of sin may feel when you are young, it will get heavier as you grow older. After a while the “foam padding” of pleasure no longer eases the weight of sins.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to free you from this load of sin. He Himself carried the load of sin when He was on the cross so that you might be free of your burden forever. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28.

Oh, that you might today feel the weight of your sins and turn to Christ for salvation. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

My backpack was the best that money could buy, but it could not keep my load from being heavy when I carried it for a long time. May you accept Christ as your Saviour now while you are young, before the load of sin becomes too heavy for you to carry. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1.

ML 01/14/1990

The Stained Tablecloth

Uncle Mark was coming for dinner! How happy the children were since he was their favorite uncle. Mother was also glad to have her brother visit them while he was on business in their city. He lived so far away that they didn’t get to see each other very often any more.

Mother was preparing Uncle Mark’s favorite dinner. She was having roast leg of lamb, mashed potatoes and gravy, homegrown corn on the cob and fresh blueberry pie.

“Oh boy, is that lamb I smell?” asked Uncle Mark coming in the front door.

“We have lots of surprises for you,” answered Mother. “You just wait and see.”

“Ummmm, it sure smells good,” Uncle Mark said as he took another deep sniff.

Soon dinner was ready and they were all seated at the table. Daddy gave thanks to God for the food and for His care over them through the day. Then they had such a happy meal. (Having a thankful heart makes everything taste even better.)

When Mother served the blueberry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, Uncle Mark’s eyes lit up. “Wow, another favorite of mine!” he exclaimed. “You sure are good to me.”

As they were eating and talking Uncle Mark accidentally dropped some pie on the white tablecloth. It made a big purple splotch. But everyone was so busy eating their own piece of pie that no one even noticed what had happened. Uncle Mark easily could have moved his plate over to cover up the stain. Then Mother would have been the only one to notice it when she cleared the table. That would have saved Uncle Mark some embarrassment.

However, Uncle Mark didn’t do that. Instead, he moved his plate the other way so everyone at the table could see the bright purple stain. Then he said to Mother, “I spilled some pie on your nice white tablecloth. I’m really sorry about it. I’ll be glad to buy you a new one if it is ruined.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it will come out when I wash it,” Mother reassured him. Uncle Mark was not the least bit embarrassed. He looked at his four nieces and nephews sitting around the table and said to them, “Look at the mess I made, but notice how quickly your mother forgave me when I told her what I had done. Now I won’t have to worry about that blueberry stain. But if I had tried to hide it, I would have been uncomfortable as long as we sat at the table. If I had moved my plate over to cover it, I would have been afraid someone might lift my plate and then everyone would see it. But since your mother knows all about it and has forgiven me, I don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

Daddy suggested Uncle Mark explain how the same lesson applies to Christians when we sin.

So Uncle Mark went on to explain, “The sooner we tell God what we have done and get everything cleared up with Him, the sooner we are happy again. We should try not to do anything to displease or dishonor Him, but sometimes we do anyway. For those times God says, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:9. Trying to forget about or cover up our sins will not work. God knows exactly what we’ve done, and He has written it down. But because of the Lord Jesus Christ having died on the cross, those of us who are saved are forgiven. However, we are not happy or comfortable in His presence until we tell Him we are sorry and ask Him for help not to do it again.”

We never forgot Uncle Mark’s “blueberry pie on the tablecloth” story. Each of us who was there now have children of our own. They have also heard the story and the advice Uncle Mark gave us . . . usually when someone has spilled something on the tablecloth. It is still good advice. In fact, God gives us the same advice in Proverbs 28:13: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

ML 01/14/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Too kind to Storks Part 1

“Yea, the stork in the heaven [sky] knoweth her appointed times . . . but My people know not the judgment of the Lord.” Jeremiah 8:7.

In many countries one of the most commonly known birds is the stork. There are about 17 varieties and all of them are from 30 to 60 inches in length with long necks, broad wings and short tails. Their nests are usually huge; some are as wide as six feet. They add to the same nest year after year. Some nests weigh as much as 1000 pounds, breaking tree limbs and platforms or other supports that bird lovers have built for them on a roof, chimney or wall.

The Creator has given the African and Asian storks instincts to migrate north to Europe (as far as 6000 miles) to spend the summers and to return to their southern homes when cold weather comes. And this is where we learn about being “too kind to storks.”

Many people in Europe enjoy having the storks in summer. They pamper them with special food, saving the storks the trouble of finding their own. Over the years the storks have become so used to the constant food supply and rely so much on it that many don’t leave on their southward migrations, disregarding this God-given instinct. The result has been that when freezing weather comes it is too late to fly south, and more and more die of the cold each winter.

So while people think they are being kind by feeding these birds, they are really interfering with the storks’ normal way of life and are the cause of many dying. Isn’t that sad? It makes us think of the Bible verse that says: “My son, fear thou the Lord . . . and meddle not with them that are given to change: for their calamity [trouble] shall rise suddenly.” Proverbs 24:21,22. It does not pay to interfere with God’s purposes.

Storks are a spectacular sight with their long legs, wide wings and long, pointed beaks. They are strong fliers and make quite a picture in the air with their necks extended and legs outstretched, soaring like eagles on their broad wings. Let’s briefly describe a few of the species:

OPENBILL STORKS: Back feathers of these are deep black, their other feathers are a rather dull pink, and their beaks a rough brownish color. They live almost entirely on large round snails found under water and are named “openbill” because the Creator has given them special beaks to handle these snails.

MARABOU: These make their home in eastern Africa. They can hardly be called beautiful, for they are not only the largest but also the ugliest of all storks. An odd feature is their pouches hanging down from their throats to their legs. These pouches look like big red sausages when they fill them with air. Acting like vultures, they eat mostly dead animals or birds. In some areas they rob flamingo nests, eating both the eggs and the little ones, a habit most people object to.

We will take a look at some other varieties in the next issue.

ML 01/14/1990

A Fish Story

The little fish was so pretty as it dangled in the sunlight on the end of John’s fishing line. Its white underside was so very white and its back glistened with a silvery sparkle. But that sparkle did not shine as brightly as the sparkle in John’s eyes! This was the second fish he had ever caught and the first one that Dad had said was big enough to keep and eat. He took it around to show everyone at the campsite.

The only thing spoiling the beauty of the little fish was the silvery hook through its mouth and coming out of its gill. The little fish was caught in such a way that there was no getting away. It was captured . . . just as each of us have been captured by sin. The end of this little fish appeared to be the campfire come suppertime. The end of you and me would be eternal punishment, except that a Deliverer has come and offered to free us from our sins. The little fish had no power to free itself from the hook, and we don’t have the power to free ourselves from sin.

Shortly after the delight of showing off his newly caught fish, a more quiet little boy than he had been earlier crept by my side to say that the little fish was free. It was fun to have caught the fish and it may have been good to eat, but it was no fun for this tenderhearted boy to keep one of God’s creatures on a fishing line. John had let him go. The little fish was free to swim again. But maybe it was free only to be caught by another fisherman.

It was not so easy for the Lord Jesus Christ to set us free. “Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us.” Galatians 1:3,4. It was the hardest work that was ever done or will ever be done. His holy, spotless life was given, and His blood was spilt to free us from our sins. His work on Calvary’s cross will last forever. But what about John’s fish? John had no power to see to it that no other fisherman would catch his little prize. But when the Lord Jesus Christ took our place and broke the bonds that held us, the work was so wonderfully complete that we are forever His own prize. No one can take us from Him. He will never let us go. We are His forever. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36.

Maybe you have never come to the Lord Jesus as a sinner, admitting you need to be freed from your sins. If not, why are you waiting? He never will turn away a boy, or girl, or man, or woman who comes to Him. In the quietness of your heart just tell Him that you are a sinner and want Him to be your Saviour.

If you have already let Him save you, just thank Him for the wonderful freedom He has given you and the gift of everlasting life. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

ML 01/21/1990

Mr. Nelson's Mistake

Early one winter morning as I drove down our street, everything was covered with about six inches of new snow. It was beautiful.

I drove past Mr. Nelson’s home. He has a long driveway back to his garage. Instead of a wide cement driveway, he has two narrow cement strips just wide enough for his car’s tires . . . if he drives straight. This snowy morning I suddenly noticed something. “Oh, oh, Mr. Nelson missed his driveway strips.” There were his car tracks about three feet off the snow-covered cement strips for everyone to see.

A short time later I had an errand up the street. When I reached Mr. Nelson’s driveway, I chuckled. He had taken a shovel and filled in those telltale tracks with snow, thinking he could hide his mistake.

Now, no matter how carefully he tried to smooth over those tracks with the snow he added, he could never hide them. He only made his mistake more noticeable. The only way to erase his mistake was for the snow to melt.

Our sins are like that. We may think we have hidden them, and sometimes we can hide them from our parents and friends for a time. But there is One who knows the thoughts we have deep inside; we can’t hide one sin from God. He said, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23.

The Bible tells us, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Jesus has washed away all my sins. Have you let Him wash away yours?

ML 01/21/1990

The Other Side of the Wall

Eight-year-old Kevin squirmed with delight as he heard his good friend Carol promise that he could spend Friday night and Saturday at her apartment on the beautiful, modern college campus where she had just enrolled. Carol was eager to show the modern buildings and grounds of the school to Kevin’s family who always cared so much how she was getting along.

Finally Friday afternoon rolled around. The guests had arrived and enjoyed a tour of the campus and Carol’s warm hospitality. Goodbyes were said, and at last Kevin had Carol all to himself. He happily ran here and there over the lawns just like a young colt, jumping over anything in his path. A friendly voice called to Carol from a window above, and she stopped to chat. Hardly a moment or two had passed when a sense of urgency caused her to remember Kevin. Whirling around, she saw him . . . in the act of running up a slope to jump over a little wall at the top. But on the other side there was an 18-foot drop to the street below!

“KEVIN, STOP!” she shouted the order.

Do you always obey when you are given a command? Would Kevin be like some boys and girls we know who first do what they want and then ask “Why?” or “Who said so?” Had he been this kind of boy he could have been seriously injured. Kevin, however, had learned to obey.

Skidding to a stop just this side of the wall, he turned questioning eyes to Carol.

Running over to him with a face drained of color, she scooped him into her arms exclaiming, “Oh, Kevin! Thank you for obeying me!” When he saw what was on the other side of the wall, it was Kevin’s turn to say, “Thank you.”

Of course, we expected Carol to stop her young friend, even though she had to speak sharply. Suppose you had a friend who saw you in serious danger but refused to say anything for fear of upsetting you or “butting into your business.” “No friend of mine!” you’d say.

Now before you put this paper down, PLEASE STOP! You are about to be warned of certain disaster ahead — on the “other side.”

“The other side of what?” you ask.

The other side of time, of life on planet Earth. Do not continue to refuse the message God has sent to us concerning our future, our sins and life after death. Clearly in God’s Word, the Bible, we read, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. But, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

“Turn ye, turn ye . . . for why will ye die?” Ezekiel 33:11.

ML 01/21/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Too kind to Storks Part 2

“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done.” Psalm 33:8,9.

We are continuing with descriptions of some of the world’s storks:

THE PAINTED STORK OF INDIA: This one is different in appearance from any of the others. Its feathers are a combination of beautiful silky black with pink and white over its neck and throat. The back of its head looks like a white skullcap, and the top is brownish-red down to a long yellow beak. Its legs are usually pink.

THE AUSTRALIAN BLACK-NECKED: This one is very unique. Seen from the side, the most impressive thing is its all-black neck and long beak with the black continuing over its head. Most of its body is white as snow except for deep-black wings and tail feathers. Its legs are a crimson color and its eyes are bright yellow.

THE WHITE STORK: This one is actually black and white. Its back feathers are mainly black, compared with the rest of its body, including neck and head, which are pure white. It has a deep, salmon-red bill and legs. These storks are among the ones mentioned last week that migrate between Africa and Europe.

THE SADDLEBILLS OF KENYA, AFRICA: This one displays another combination of black and white with pink knees and feet separated by spindly, grayish legs. Its name comes from an unusual beak which is entirely red except for a broad black “saddle” around the middle, as well as a bright yellow patch from its forehead down to the saddle.

YELLOW-BILLED STORK OF AFRICA: These are among the prettiest of all. They are almost entirely snow white except for underlying back feathers, velvety red heads, pink legs and the bright-yellow beaks that give them their name.

As we explained last week, some of these marvelous birds are becoming fewer in number because well-meaning people feed them, which interferes with their migrating when the weather turns cold. This is not the case with all of them and, as part of the display of the Creator’s wonderful works, storks will probably be around as long as this world lasts.

It is sad to think of the ones that are dying and unable to do anything about it. This leads us to do some serious thinking about people who go carelessly along through life, closing their eyes, as it were, to the fact that life on earth is not to be forever. So many ignore God’s warning in the Bible which tells us to “prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12. What do we do to prepare to meet God? John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Have you prepared to meet God?

ML 01/21/1990

Do You Hear Me?

All was silent except for the steady purring of the single engine plane. Overhead, the high clouds looked like ripples of sand formed by the wind on a beach. A few thousand feet beneath the plane the blue surface of Lake Michigan was still and smooth. No small boats were on the lake this late in December, at least none which the pilot and his friend with him could see.

It gave the pilot, Rick Henderson, a strange feeling to realize that in all the miles of space around him, his plane was the only thing breaking the silence. It seemed odd that it could be so quiet only a short distance from one of the world’s largest and busiest cities, Chicago, where the noise never stops.

The pilot’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the constant purr of the plane’s engine changed. There was a strange noise as if the engine were gasping for breath . . . and then silence as it quit.

“What’s going on? What’s happened?” asked Mike Simonelli, sitting in the seat next to Rick.

“I don’t know . . . some kind of engine trouble,” Rick answered with a troubled look.

He ran his eyes across the instrument panel. The needle on the altimeter was steadily falling.

The plane was gliding. Rick set the necessary switches on the instrument panel to restart the plane’s engine. He pushed the starter button. Instead of the whir of a smoothly running engine he wanted so badly to hear, there was nothing.

“Tighten your shoulder and lap belt,” Rick told his friend. “We’re going to make a crash landing.”

“We can’t, Rick, the water is freezing! We can’t stay alive in water that cold.”

“What do you want me to do? The engine won’t start!” Rick explained sharply “Try to stay calm; it’s our only chance.”

He turned the dial on the radio to the emergency frequency. His hand was shaking and he fought to control his nerves. He heard a radio bleep on his headset as the Coast Guard Station picked up their signal. “Do you hear me? Do you hear me?” Rick asked urgently into the microphone.

“Glenview Naval Air Station here. Please identify yourself. Over.”

“This is 9910 Delta ... ..Rick Henderson ... in a single engine plane. We’ve lost our power and we’re going down! Over.”

The radio operator at the station hit the emergency alert signal. Men dressed in flight suits stopped what they were doing and rushed to the heliport.

“What is your location reading? Over.”

“Five or six miles directly east of the Sears Tower.”

“Rick!” Mike shouted intensely, breaking into the radio conversation, “the water . . . we’re going to crash into the water!”

Rick peered out the side window, trying to gauge the plane’s height. The mirror-like surface of the lake made it difficult, almost impossible to know just when they would hit.

“Brace yourself!” the pilot warned his friend.

The landing gear struck first. The wheels sliced through the water. With a crash the body of the plane slammed into the lake. Water hit the windshield in torrents. The two men inside lurched forward as the plane came to a halt. Their shoulder belts kept them from being thrown through the window. “You okay, Mike?”

“I think so ... shook up, that’s all.”

“Let’s get out of the plane before it sinks.”

The two men crawled out the doors onto the wings of the plane. Around them they could see nothing except empty sky and water. The plane was sinking bit by bit.

“Try not to move, Mike. It might help the plane float longer.”

They stood on the wings, waiting. “What’s that in the sky over there?” Rick suddenly asked.

“Looks like an orange and white helicopter. It’s the Coast Guard!”

The helicopter was soon hovering over them. A door in the side of the helicopter opened and Petty Officer Glenn Anthony lowered a basket by a cable to the two waiting men. They climbed in and a winch pulled them up into the helicopter.

Less than an hour after crashing they were in the Coast Guard Station drinking hot coffee with the three officers who rescued them.

If it had not been for the nearness of the Coast Guard Station to the site of the crash, events might have turned out far differently for the two men in the plane. For instance, what would have happened if, instead of the base being only 10 miles away, it had been 100 miles away? The plane would have disappeared beneath the water and the two men would have had to swim to stay afloat. They might have lasted 10 or 15 minutes in that cold water. Then they would have been lost. Thankfully for them that wasn’t the case.

Thankfully for us, too, the Lord Jesus is a Saviour who is always near. The moment we call on Him to be our Saviour is the moment He saves us. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

“Do you hear me?” is a question which might have to be asked of men but never of the Lord Jesus. He will hear “whosoever” calls to Him. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1. If your sins are of the worst kind it doesn’t matter. He will hear you when you call on His name and He will save you. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

If the power of sin has a tight grip on your soul and you find yourself doing all sorts of things you never thought you would, call upon the Saviour. He is near and will hear you. He will break the power of sin in your life. He loves you and will free you from your sins. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

Have you called on the Lord Jesus to save you? He is listening.

ML 01/28/1990

Walking Chocolate Bars

A big fire in a chocolate company made a sweet but sticky mess. Chocolate powder in 100-pound bags was stored in the area where the fire broke out. During the fire the chocolate melted and formed puddles big enough to wade in three feet deep and 30 feet wide. Firemen waded through the mess, getting chocolate on their coats, hands and faces. They joked about being “walking chocolate bars.”

For those of us who love chocolate, this picture is one that brings both smiles and sadness: smiles when we think of what those firemen must have looked like, but sadness when we think of all that delicious sweet chocolate going to waste.

There is another picture that brings only sadness to our hearts: all the sweetness of God’s love and grace that is being turned down by men and women and boys and girls. God showed His great love in sending His Son. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus].” John 3:16. But they have turned down Jesus, too; “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” John 1:11. Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? If not, why? God’s love is being offered free “without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1. Now is the time to accept Him as your Saviour.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.

ML 01/28/1990

Who Am I?

A child so small, he heard the call though yet so young and tender

His mother gave him there to live and helpful service render.

Three times now, wakened in the night. Who was it called his name

The One that searches heart and soul and Israel’s will could tame?

His presence known, the answer came in words not loud but clearest

“Speak Lord” (for I am but a boy)

“Speak for Thy servant heareth.”

Oh child so small, have you heard a call; a voice that speaks in love?

“Come unto Me and ready be, to dwell with Me above.”

ML 01/28/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

An Outstanding Water Lily

“O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things.” Isaiah 25:1.

The Queen Victoria water lily, like some other beautiful plants, grows in water (although its roots reach down to a rich soil base). This plant grows best where there is room for its huge, colorful lily pads to spread out on the water’s surface. This lily pad’s huge flat surface, sometimes three feet across, is decorated with an upturned edge forming an outside rim. It is actually composed of several overlapping leaves and held tightly together by strong veins underneath. These veins come from a tube that extends down three feet or more to the roots. Food from the soil, blended with water, rises through this tube to keep the entire plant healthy and strong.

The rib-like veins not only form the leaves into a flat circle, they also add strength to the plant. When natives of Bolivia (where this plant was first found) discovered the strength of these lily pads, mothers would at times lay their babies down on the flat surface for a napping spot. The little ones would be safe and content, providing the mother picked a shady spot.

In later experiments by nurserymen in England and North America, where seeds were taken and plants successfully grown, it was found that a full-sized Victoria could easily hold a person weighing as much as 150 pounds.

The flowers growing close to the side of the plant are beautiful. Each large flower lives only two days, gradually changing from a lovely white to pretty reddish purple. But more flowers continue opening throughout the whole year, and a healthy plant with its beautiful floating flowers always makes an outstanding picture.

An interesting fact about these flowers is that they do not open fully until late in the day and close again as dawn approaches. This means that insects attracted to them during the night often are caught unawares as the petals enclose them and are trapped inside until the next evening. But it is nice and warm in there, and they are not hurt. This is actually an interesting way the Creator has arranged for the flowers to be pollinated. The insect moving around inside the closed blossom becomes covered with pollen. When it later escapes it often flies to another Victoria plant, transferring the pollen, insuring healthy seeds will be formed.

These beautiful plants are another example of the wonderful ways of the Lord God when He created all things of this world. Our opening Bible verse speaks of praising God for His wonderful ways. May we always thank Him for not only His wonderful ways, but for the great love He provides for anyone who will come to Him.

ML 01/28/1990

I Won the Race

When a boy has an older brother he usually wants to do things as well as his brother does. My older brother, Dee, was just 16 months older, but he was much bigger and stronger. He could run faster, throw rocks farther, and build kites better than even some of the older boys in the neighborhood. I hoped that someday I could do all those things as well as he did.

We lived in a small, country community of 10 or 12 families. Nearly everyone kept animals. Most had chickens and some had milk cows too. To keep the animals out of the flower and vegetable gardens, most homes had fences. Even front yards often had fences. Dad was building a fence around our yard.

Country fences in the early 1930’s were not like the beautiful white wooden or chain link fences we see today. Where we lived most fences were made from chicken wire. Some fences were barbed wire, which is a twisted wire with sharp barbs that would prick animals if they tried to knock it down.

Dad was putting up a chicken wire fence, but at the top and bottom he was going to add one strand of barbed wire. The heavier barbed wire helped support the lighter chicken wire. But at the time of this story, Dad had only the top barbed wire strung and tightly attached to the fence posts. The chicken wire and the bottom barbed wire hadn’t been out up yet.

We boys were down in the pasture playing, and our game was not a very nice thing to be doing. We were rock fighting. Yes, we were actually throwing rocks and stones at each other, something we all knew wasn’t allowed. Our younger brother Jimmy was on Dee’s side, and I was on the other side with some neighborhood boys. Our side was not very good at throwing such a long way. But one of my throws went a long way ... and with good aim. I hit Jimmy with a rock. That’s when the race began.

I knew immediately that I was in big trouble with Dee. He did not run to the house to tell what I had done; he ran after me to give me what he thought I deserved for hitting Jimmy.

Now I knew the only way I could beat Dee in a foot race was to have a long head start. Knowing what he would do to me if I did not win this race, I started for home where I knew I would be safe. I had gotten what I deserved from him before. Knowing what would happen again was all I needed to make good use of my head start to reach the safety of home.

I did make it home before Dee caught up with me, but things did not happen like I thought they would. As I ducked to go under the barbed wire Dad had strung up for the fence, my forehead hit the wire. It knocked me down hard and I lay bleeding on the ground.

I had, in fact, beaten my brother home, but there was no relief or joy in winning that race. I was about to learn what Numbers 32:23 means: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Just when I thought I had reached the house and safety, there was the wire to bring out the truth. As my mother worked on my bleeding and torn forehead, the whole reason for my racing home came out. Mother found out about our harmful, forbidden game.

Sometimes God uses a jolt like the wire to remind us that each of us is a sinner. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6. Yes, we boys knew that what we were doing was wrong. We were not allowed to throw rocks at each other. Our breaking the rules was discovered in a painful way, ending with my lying bleeding on the ground. Our sin was found out, just like the verse says.

Have you ever done something wrong that you thought you got away with? Perhaps your parents or teacher never found out about it. But that doesn’t mean you got away with it. There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “Thou God seest me.” Genesis 16:13. That’s not the only verse: “His [God’s] eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.” Job 34:21. And here’s another one, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3. There is no doubt that God sees every one of our sins. And He requires that someone has to pay the penalty for every one of those sins. Are you going to have to pay for yours? You won’t if you will accept God’s loving offer of salvation.

He sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross to pay that penalty. If you will admit to Him that you are a sinner and accept His shed blood as payment for your sins, you are free — the penalty has been paid! “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

Who will pay the penalty for your sins? You, or the Lord Jesus?

ML 02/04/1990

Beautiful Colors

Paul and Sue came in from playing and said, “Mommy, we have decided blue and green are God’s favorite colors because He made so much of them.”

When we look around we can see that they were right. There is the blue sky overhead and the green grass and trees all around.

The blue sky reminds us of heaven where the Lord Jesus is waiting to take His own people (those who have accepted Him as their Saviour). He said, “I go to prepare a place for you. . . . I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2,3.

Green trees, plants and grass remind us of growing. The way children grow is by eating the good food their mothers prepare for them. The good food for growing and learning more about Jesus is the Word of God, the Bible, which we should read every day. Memorizing verses from it helps us think of them as we work and play. (Paul and Sue were thinking about the Lord Jesus as they played outside. Can you remember why?) “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. Yes, knowing what God has said in His Word can keep us from sinning.

There are other colors, too. Red reminds us of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for us. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

The yellow of the warm sunshine reminds us of God’s love that was shown when He gave up His only Son, Jesus, and that He continues to show in caring for us every day. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

Let’s not leave out white. Some of us see lots of beautiful white snow in winter. White snow covers over the plants and leaves that have died. This reminds us that the Lord Jesus wants to cover over our dark sins and make them white as snow. “Come now . . . saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18.

Can you remember what each of the five colors reminds us of?

ML 02/04/1990

Wonders of God's Creation

Sand Dunes of the World Part 1

“And everyone that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.” Matthew 7:26.

Sand dunes are found throughout the world, reaching from coastal areas into far away arid deserts. Perhaps the great Sahara desert of Africa, called the harshest desert on earth, is the one most well-known. For lack of space we will, however, just look at a few in North America. Many of these are beautiful, with their rippled surfaces, piles of sand several hundred feet high, having sloping sides that look like they were carved out with a huge scoop.

Sand dunes are restless, but the whole dune doesn’t move at one time. Its changes are the result of individual grains of sand, blown by the wind up to the top of an existing formation and then spilling down the other side. In heavy winds this blowing sand looks like a thin sheet of water coming off the top. In this way a dune “travels” and will sometimes cover a roadway, a farmer’s land and gardens, or bury a forest of tall trees. But more often the wind changes direction after a while and blows the sand back to its original point or somewhere nearby.

Many of the North American sand dunes are along the Atlantic Coast, from Florida to New England, including the one called “Florida Scrub.” This one is composed of age-old dunes formed by sand blown in from the ocean over many, many years. Those farther north include some in the Cape Hatteras area. Those on Assateague Island and on up to Long Island and Cape Cod are equally interesting. Others which are popular are on some shores of the Great Lakes and down along the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the largest areas of this kind is known as the Algodones Dunes —more than 50 miles long stretching between California, Arizona and Mexico, with some mounds of sand up to 300 feet high. Another spot for large dunes in the same state of California is at Death Valley where one group of dunes, named Eureka Dunes, rises some 700 feet above the hot desert. Actually California has 12 principal dune areas: the Nepomo Dunes near Pismo Beach on the Pacific Ocean is one of outstanding beauty and interest.

The Bible verse above speaks of a foolish man building his house on sand, and when the storms came it fell, because the sand was not solid. But two verses before that tell us of a wise man building his house safely upon a rock where storms could not harm it.

This is something to really think about. It reminds us that as we go through life we need a good foundation which can only be found if we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Trusting in Him gives us a sure foundation, not only for this life, but for that which is to come. Are you building your life on that precious Rock, or are you building your life on sand?

ML 02/04/1990

A Warning for Max

Max was a tough young man. He lived high in the Andes Mountains, and he could stand the harsh climate and the primitive living conditions. Cold winds whipped over the high plateau where he lived, and temperatures dropped below freezing. Max did not have the luxury of a furnace or even of a wood-burning stove.

Max did have warm capes called ponchos made of coarse, woven material. He had grown used to the harsh winters of the Andes Mountains and was young and healthy. He sometimes attended Bible meetings nearby. The Christians there encouraged everyone to think about their sinful ways and turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation.

Max did not enjoy such meetings and soon stopped going altogether. He had always been taught other ideas about religion anyway. Some of those ideas were superstitions that had been passed on from his ancestors, the Inca Indians.

Max did not know at that time how serious it was to turn his back upon God’s precious Word, the Bible, but God who is rich in mercy and great in love placed a warning in his life.

Although Max was young and most of the time he was healthy, he now got sick. He tried many remedies, never giving even one thought to the fact that it might be God’s way of speaking to him. Inspite of the medicines, he only grew worse. Finally he had to go to a hospital. Even there nothing seemed to help, and he continued to get worse.

Max’s older brother went to visit him in the hospital. Since he wasn’t getting better, Max asked his brother to do a very serious and dangerous thing. He asked his brother to go to the witch doctor to ask for help. Max and his brother did not realize that this was not only dangerous because it was playing right into the devil’s hands, but that it was also sinful in God’s sight. The witch doctor’s power was from the devil, and the Bible says that the devil’s work is to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10. So Max waited in the hospital while his brother went to talk to the witch doctor.

However, “The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.” Psalm 103:19. Jesus is stronger than Satan and He is able to rule over everything. He loves the sinner even when He hates the sin. For the Lord’s own reasons, He gave poor Max another opportunity to hear and obey His Word.

God was in control even when Max’s brother got to the witch doctor. The brother explained about Max’s illness. The only message the witch doctor gave was a most unexpected one: “Tell Max that he had something good and left it. If he doesn’t go back to it, he will die!”

This was a very strange message. It was not at all like the witch doctor’s usual messages, but God’s strong hand of love won a victory over the devil. When Max heard the message, he knew right away what it was that he had left. The Bible meetings! They were good even if he hadn’t enjoyed them. And he had left them. Now he must go back.

Max went back to the meetings and this time his heart was open to receive God’s Word. He heard that “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Then he was told that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. Max believed in the Lord Jesus and was saved. He also recovered completely from his illness. If you were to visit him today high in his mountain home, you would hear him telling others with joy that Jesus is stronger than Satan, and that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Boys and girls, God’s hand of love is also seeking to bring peace and salvation in your life. Call upon the Lord Jesus today and He will save you, too. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

ML 02/11/1990

Scamper and Scooter

Scamper and Scooter were two cats that belonged to six-year-old Ann. Ann loved her two cats, and they seemed to love her just as much. How they enjoyed playing together both in the house and in the backyard.

One day, however, Scamper seemed to be sick. She would not touch her bowl of food and didn’t want to play. Later on in the day Ann found her lying under a bush in the backyard mewing sadly.

Ann ran to the house as fast as she could. “Mommy!” she shrieked, bursting into the kitchen. “Come quick! Scamper’s very sick, and I’m afraid she’s going to die!”

Mother quickly went outside to see Scamper. Looking down at the little furry animal lying limp on the grass, Mother had to agree. “Oh my, Ann, she doesn’t look very good. But we’ll do everything we can to help her get better.”

Scamper was laid in a big box in the kitchen, and Mother coaxed her to drink a little warm milk. But when bedtime came she was no better. Poor Ann was so upset thinking that Scamper might die. Even Scooter seemed to mope around without his playful companion.

Ann’s bedtime story from the Bible was about the man sick with palsy who was brought sad and sick to Jesus to be healed and went away happy and well. As she listened Ann got an idea.

“Mommy,” she said, “if Jesus can make sick people get better, don’t you think He could make Scamper get better too?”

“I’m sure He could, honey,” was her reply, “if it is His will. Why don’t we ask Him?”

So at the end of Ann’s bedtime prayer she added, “Please, Lord Jesus, don’t let Scamper die, but please make her better again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Ann got out of bed early the next morning and ran down to the kitchen to see Scamper only to find the box was empty. What had happened? Was her kitty dead? A loud mew came from under the table, and Scamper walked out, stretching sleepily, and coming to Ann to be petted. She seemed to be all better.

Mother came in during Ann and Scamper’s happy reunion. “You won’t forget to thank the Lord Jesus for answering your prayer, will you?” she said, reminding Ann.

So right there in the kitchen Ann and Mother knelt down by the kitchen chairs while Ann thanked the Lord Jesus for making Scamper all better again.

Does the Lord Jesus hear a child’s prayer? He certainly does, and His answer will be whatever is best, as He is the only one who knows what is good for us.

Wouldn’t you like to have the Lord Jesus help you each day? Then come to Him right now, admitting that you are a sinner, and accept Him as your own Saviour.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.

ML 02/11/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Sand Dunes of the World Part 2

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1.

Sand dunes are popular places, not only for their distant beauty, but because they are fun to try to climb, slide down or take close-up pictures of their variety of shapes, contrasted in shadow and sunlight.

In the preceding issue some North American dunes were mentioned. The Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado is also an extremely attractive area with some of its dunes almost 800 feet high. And in the Hawaiian Islands there are several, the big Mo’omome dune on the island of Molokai being an outstanding example, having unusual vegetation and wildlife.

A person would be foolish to go out on the brilliant White Sand dunes of New Mexico without dark glasses and plenty of sunscreen on exposed skin. Eyes can be seriously damaged and skin badly burned by reflected sunlight from the pure white surface, which actually is not sand, but gypsum.

In fact, extreme caution should be taken when exploring any dunes. In addition to the hazards of exposure to the sun, people can be easily lost. It is wise to keep a landmark visible at all times so a person is sure to find his way back safely.

There are many more dunes in the western states, including some on the Washington, Oregon and California seacoasts, as well as a massive group in Nevada and other inland places. In some of these the dunes make a zooming, airplane-like noise when people scuff their feet through the sand or slide down the steep banks.

Where does all the sand come from? In deserts it is usually particles from rocks and shale broken down by storms and winds. Those along the ocean are partly the result of rocks and shells being ground by pounding waves. But rivers and streams also deposit great quantities of sand into the ocean. This sand has originated in their waterfalls, swift rapids and strong currents as the water and all it carries travel overland. Ocean waves sweep most of this on shore, and wind carries it to the dunes from there.

The Creator has placed sand dunes throughout the world as part of His wonderful creation and they often add special beauty to it. In the preceding article we talked of how sand moves and is not a good foundation to build anything on. This was a picture to us of how we need a good foundation as we go through life, which can only be found when we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour.

A Bible verse says: “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2. Psalm 18:31 explains who that rock is: “For who is God save the Lord? or who is a Rock save our God?” In these verses the Psalmist points us to a firm foundation which is safe for all time and eternity. Make sure God is your Rock!

ML 02/11/1990

The Little African Shepherd

The story is told of a little North African boy named Abd el Karuzeh. He lived in the limestone caves of Algeria, and, like all his friends, he was a sheepherder. But he felt different, because each of the other boys could point to one lamb in his flock that his father had given to him so he could start a flock of his own. But Abd el Karuzeh had no lamb of his own, for his father owned only six sheep.

Abd el Karuzeh got up every morning at daybreak and took his father’s sheep to the hills. He kept a sharp watch for eagles and hyenas that might harm the sheep. But though he was a good little shepherd his heart was sad, for he knew he would always be poor; he would never have a lamb to start his own flock.

One evening, when all the sheepherders and flocks were returning, two boys were missing — sons of the Headman. When the evening shadows began to fall they returned, telling how they had had to leave behind a little lamb that had fallen down a cliff. Its mother had jumped to avoid a snake, knocking the little lamb over the cliff. The boys had tried every way they knew to reach the lamb, but the stones gave way under them and the little twigs growing from the cliff face could not hold them.

Abd el Karuzeh listened closely. In his mind he pictured the helpless little lamb left there to be killed by eagles or hyenas. He stood back from the others, thinking.

Suddenly he decided. Quietly he turned and ran all the way back to the cliffs. He was scared as he thought about going over the cliff, but since he was small he hoped he could reach the lamb. He could hear bleating, and as he looked down the cliff face he could see the cold, frightened little lamb on a ledge of rock. Could he do it alone? He would be risking his life, but he must save the lamb.

He took off his jacket, and began to lower himself slowly until he found a toehold, and then another. Every moment he was in danger of crashing to his death. He clung to the tiny shrubs and inched his way downward until he could jump to the ledge where the lamb stood trembling. He picked it up, put it on his shoulders, and tied its feet together with his belt. Now he wondered how he could climb back up with the added weight of the lamb and the danger of its hoofs hitting the cliff face. He remembered how the toeholds had crumbled and given way under him on the way down, and now there was the added weight of the lamb to think of. He was frightened and wet with sweat.

He suddenly realized there was another danger. He saw his fingers were bleeding, and he knew the smell of blood quickly attracted the wild animals. No time must be lost! He must begin his upward climb right away!

He began to climb slowly and carefully, inch by inch, testing each shrub and toehold before moving farther. He knew an unexpected kick from the lamb might plunge them both to their death in the canyon below. He dared not look up or down — he could only think about his next move. When at last he wormed his body up over the edge onto the path, his heart was pounding so hard and loud that that was all he could hear.

Now there was a new fear — how to get home without being attacked by a wild animal. He saw something gleaming in the distance— something moving. Was it the eyes of hyenas or jackals? Then he heard a shout. It was his father’s voice. He was coming with the Headman, and they were carrying firesticks.

With great relief Abd el Karuzeh unwrapped the lamb from his shoulders and gave it to the Headman. “Here is your lamb,” he said.

The Headman looked at the boy for a moment and then answered, “My sons left this lamb to die. You risked your life. You are torn and bleeding. You are the rightful owner. This is your lamb.”

With his very own lamb in his arms, Abd el Karuzeh returned with the men to the warmth and safety of the caves.

While reading this story, did you see yourself exactly as that little lamb? You are lost in sin and far away from God until the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, rescues you and brings you safely into His fold. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity [sins] of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. Not only was He torn and bleeding, but He died that you might be returned to God. But you must accept His rescue and thank Him for it. Every person is precious enough to the Lord Jesus that He not only risked His life, but gave His life and died for them. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:11.

ML 02/18/1990

Ready or Not?

Cathie sat in her usual seat at the weekly Gospel meeting. Tonight the speaker was talking about two Bible verses: “Prepare to meet thy God,” Amos 4:12 and “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. He even said that you could accept Jesus as your own personal Saviour right there as you sat in your seat. Eight-year-old Cathie had heard God’s plan of salvation many times before, but tonight the words “prepare” and “now is the time” kept ringing in her ears.

After the meeting, Cathie and her family went home as usual to settle for a good night’s sleep after the bedtime Bible story and prayers.

The bright sunshine and the noisy crows woke Cathie early the next morning. She jumped out of bed and ran to Mommy and Daddy’s room like she usually did. But they were not there. Their bed was made up as if it had never been slept in. Where were they? Cathie’s first thought was, Oh no, maybe the Lord Jesus came last night and took them to heaven and left me behind!

Then she ran to her brothers’ room, but it was empty too. Has Jesus come already?

Was it too late for Cathie? No wonder those words “prepare” and “now is the time” had kept ringing in her ears! God’s Word should be listened to and obeyed. And Cathie had waited too long. She began to cry and cry and call for Mommy and Daddy.

But wait . . . wasn’t that Mommy’s voice she heard? Quickly she ran to another room and, yes, there were Mommy, Daddy, and her three brothers. What a relief! They had hidden from Cathie in a surprise game of hide-and-seek.

Cathie remembered hearing that nothing happens by chance. There was still time to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as her own Saviour before it would be too late forever. “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” Psalm 3:8. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3.

Cathie didn’t wait any longer. She accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour and knows that soon Jesus will come and take her home to heaven to be with Him there. She won’t be left behind. “Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

If Jesus came today to take all His own to heaven, would you be left behind?

ML 02/18/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

A Glass of Water, Please

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Proverbs 25:25.

Nature requires plenty of water and God supplies it in abundance. To our bodies it is truly the fountain of life and accounts for about three quarters of a person’s weight. If you weigh 100 pounds, water will make up about 75 pounds of it, mainly in your blood and bones. That’s why it is important to drink lots of it through the day, especially when active and perspiring.

Animals, birds and insects need water, too, in different amounts, as well as plants, trees and flowers, some of which can’t survive unless they are growing right in it. Others, growing on the bank of a river, stream or lake, may not get much rain, but the Creator has provided them with roots that go deep into the soil and draw up a good supply.

Oceans, lakes and rivers are the largest display of water, but again the wonderful design of the Creator is seen in the great amount of unseen water underground that is available to us through wells and pumps. In addition, the atmosphere contains huge quantities of water that are visible when clouds appear in the sky. Although we may not be aware of it when the sky is clear, tremendous amounts of water are always overhead — millions of tons of it — ready to moisten thirsty soil.

How does all that water get into the air? This is another example of a wonder in God’s creation. In Ecclesiastes 1:7 we read: “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” Lakes and oceans don’t normally get too full because evaporation from these bodies of water all over the world is just the same amount as the rain, snow and rivers have added to them.

Some of this evaporation is seen when the weather is foggy, but more often we are not aware of it, the moisture rising invisibly to eventually form new rain clouds, or perhaps snow storms on the mountains and valleys, where it will finally be on its way down the rivers again. That is what the opening Bible verse means when it states “thither they return again.”

Another way that water evaporates into the air is from plants. Plants take up water through their roots and release it through their leaves. Here is an interesting experiment to try outside. Select a branch of leaves in sunlight. Seal a plastic bag over the end of the branch, enclosing 5 or 6 leaves. Check the bag in an hour and you will see that it has fogged up with moisture. Check it after several more hours and you will find a teaspoon or more of water has collected in it.

The Lord Jesus declared “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” John 4:14. By this He meant that when a person turns to Him as his or her Saviour, that person will be filled with the gift of eternal life and the thirst of their heart is forever satisfied. He invites you to drink of that water right now if you haven’t yet. This is certainly the “good news from a far country” (heaven) that the opening verse speaks of.

ML 02/18/1990

Kidnapped!

Alejandro was only three years old. He was having a good time playing outside the house where his family lived. Most boys and girls in Cochabamba, Bolivia, lived in small houses made out of adobe. But Alejandro lived in a large, beautiful house with a big tree in the yard and a fence around the yard.

His father went outside to check on Alejandro. He hadn’t heard him playing or talking for a little while. But Alejandro was nowhere to be seen. He called Alejandro’s name. There was no answer. He called to his wife and told her. They both raced through every room in the house and then all around the yard, searching for him and calling him. But there was no sign of Alejandro.

Alejandro’s mother quickly told their neighbors so they would help look for him. His father called the police and each of the military checkpoints that were on the roads leading out of Cochabamba. A search was started, but there was no sign of Alejandro. He was gone. His parents were so upset. They hoped he was still alive. How they loved him!

This is what had happened to Alejandro. Two men had come into his yard and must have offered him a piece of candy or something else to make him stay quiet. Quickly they had taken Alejandro and hidden him elsewhere in Cochabamba. Then they sold him to a woman.

No one had reported having seen Alejandro as the police and his parents searched for him. And no one answered the advertisements they put in the newspaper.

The woman who bought him wanted someone to help her make chicha, a liquor made by cooking corn and letting it ferment. Instead of having a happy time as a little boy in his parents’ home, he was now a servant in the house of this mean lady. When he was a little older she made him keep the fires burning all day, then at night he had to wash her clothes. She called him Lucho, which means “fight.”

And Lucho did fight . . . against all he had to do . . . but it didn’t change things. His work never stopped during the day or evening. She was a hard mistress. Boys and girls who are not saved from their sins have Satan as their hard, cruel master. They need a new master who loves them, just as Lucho needed his parents who loved him and wanted him back so badly.

When Lucho was a little older he planned an escape. One night while the woman was sleeping he snuck out and jumped on the back of a truck headed for the town of Uyuni. He didn’t know his parents were back in Cochabamba. Somehow he thought they were from Uyuni, so that is where he was headed.

From the beautiful valley where Cochabamba is located, the truck climbed up into the cold Andes Mountains until he jumped off the truck in Uyuni. Lucho did not find his parents there, so he needed to find another place to live.

Finally, a family took him in as a servant. They made their living by selling alcohol and would often beat Lucho when they were drunk. Lucho was very unhappy during the years he lived there. He did have one friend though, a conductor on the train that went through Uyuni. Lucho told the conductor what he could remember of his past and how miserable his life was where he lived.

One day this friend helped him escape by sneaking him onto the night train. The conductor had made plans for Lucho to ride the train as far as the mining center of Atocha, which is farther south in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia. There he was met by a relative of the conductor who took him to nearby Telamayo, a mining town. Here they treated Lucho well.

Has a friend ever told you about the Lord Jesus and how much He loves you and how He died for you on Calvary’s cross? Your friend wants you to hear about the Lord Jesus because He is the only One who can bring you real lasting joy and peace.

At about 19 years of age, Lucho had to go to the town of Tupiza to serve his required time in the Bolivian army. He did not know his birthdate because of having been kidnapped when he was very young. As an army official began to ask him questions, Lucho started to tell his story. He couldn’t give his complete name nor his exact age. He didn’t know the names of his parents. He didn’t even know that his parents lived in Cochabamba. He just remembered that two men had taken him away from a nice big house with a large tree in the yard.

This army officer became a friend to Lucho and offered to put an advertisement in a newspaper called La Presencia, that was sold all over Bolivia. It simply said, “A YOUNG MAN LOOKS FOR HIS PARENTS AND HIS HOUSE. THE FACTS THAT HE REMEMBERS ARE THAT HE LIVED IN A LARGE AND BEAUTIFUL HOUSE WITH A LARGE TREE IN THE PATIO OF HIS HOUSE. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION, PLEASE WRITE TO THE ARMY BASE IN TUPIZA.”

Lucho’s father picked up that issue of La Presencia and read the advertisement. He and his wife had never given up hope of finding their boy. Immediately, they rushed to Tupiza and went to the army base. They were quickly reunited with their long-lost Alejandro.

Will you return to your Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who loves you and waits for you? He made you, but if you are not saved, you have been going away from Him ever since. Do you realize you are a sinner and that because of your sins you deserve to spend eternity in the lake of fire? Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you? He is the only One who can be your Saviour, because He died and His precious blood was shed on Calvary’s cross. Just as Alejandro’s parents dropped everything and went to be reunited with their son whom they loved so dearly, the Lord Jesus who loves you so very much will save you right now if you believe on Him. Don’t wait! You need “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 02/26/1990

Wonders of God's Creations

Some Amazing Fish Part 1

“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.” Exodus 20:11.

There are over 20,000 species of fish in the world, and new ones are being discovered all the time. All have been designed by the Creator for the particular part of the ocean, river, or lake in which they live, so that they may find food and resist their enemies.

Among these are some 60 to 80 kinds of South and Central American fresh-water fish that have built-in electricity. Some of these that live in deep and dark waters can turn headlights and taillights on and off as they swim. Others, contacting an enemy fish or one they want for food, turn on a powerful electric current and stun or kill it.

Still others in this group, swimming about in waters too dark to see through, send out electric signals (like radar) and find their way without any trouble. Some of them talk to each other through this means. One, a little three-incher, has the appropriate name of flashlight fish. When chased by an enemy it swims in a zigzag pattern, turning on a light located near its eye while “zigging” and turning it off when “zagging.” This completely baffles the enemy which doesn’t know where it will show up next, and it eventually gives up the chase.

One of the strangest of all fish is the orange sea dragon, related to the sea horse. The sea dragon is well named. Seen from the side it has a horny head with bulging eyes. Its narrow, wavy body twists into odd shapes as it swims. Then it has growths all along its long, snakelike tail with similar growths along the top and bottom of its body. This whole combination makes it look like a dragon or piece of seaweed drifting in the current. When the female lays eggs she drops them on a sticky part of the male. He carries them around for many days before they hatch and leave him. Neither mother nor father fish pays any attention to them after that.

The 9 to 12-inch batfish walks and sits like a toad and almost looks like one as it crawls along the ocean floor, covered with what looks like bony warts all over its skin. Resting, it uses its flippers like elbows, its head lifted up and supported by them.

Many of these fish would appear to be completely hidden in the dark deep homes they occupy. But a Bible verse asks these questions: “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:24. Another verse speaks more plainly about the people of the earth: “For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.” Job 34:21. When we think of this it should make us try to please Him in all that we do.

ML 02/26/1990

Matthew

I was sitting on the edge of the swimming pool with just my feet in the water when Matthew came over to the fence that enclosed the pool. He reached up with his left arm, curling his fingers through the wire of the fence and began telling me all he had been doing during his first three days of kindergarten. When he was finished he asked, “Are you going swimming?”

“I’m not sure; this water’s pretty cold,” I answered.

“I’m hot!” said Matthew.

“Well you have two shirts on,” I told him.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“I can see your blue shirt peeking out from under your green one.”

Matthew quickly put his arm down so I could no longer see the blue shirt and said, “Now you can’t see it.”

“No, I can’t see it, but I know it’s really there. There are lots of things you can’t see, but that doesn’t mean they are not real. Do you have a stomach?”

“Yes,” said Matthew.

“You can’t see it, but you know it’s real because you put food in it every day. Right?”

“Yep,” said Matthew, looking hungry at the very thought of food.

“The love of God is real and you can’t see that,” I said.

“The Lord Jesus is real too,” said Matthew, “and you can’t see Him.”

“Where is the Lord Jesus now?” I asked him.

“He’s in heaven,” my little friend answered.

“You’re right, and He’s just waiting until the last person trusts in Him and then He is coming to take all of us who have had our sins washed away up to His home in heaven. Will you be going?”

“No,” he answered.

“Why not, Matthew? Haven’t you let the Lord Jesus wash your sins away?”

“No,” he answered again.

“Have you ever been bad, Matthew?”

He shrugged his shoulders and looked like he wasn’t sure.

“I’ve heard your mother call you, and you just hid and didn’t answer her. Was that good?”

“No,” said Matthew.

“Did you ever hit Raymond?” “Yes,” admitted Matthew.

“Was that good?”

“No,” said Matthew, shaking his head.

“Every time we do something wrong that’s a sin. Don’t you know that not even one sin can ever be in heaven?”

Matthew nodded.

“Do you know that God had to punish the Lord Jesus so that our sins could be washed away? We should thank Him for that, shouldn’t we? Have you ever thanked Him?”

Matthew shook his head no.

“God will make you His little boy if you will let Him, then you’ll be part of God’s family. And when the time comes you’ll be able to live in God’s house. I couldn’t just come across the street now and live in your house, could I? I’m not one of your family. But when we trust the Lord Jesus to wash our sins away, then He gives us His life and makes us members of His family. Trusting the Lord Jesus is the most important thing for us to do in this life. It’s more important than going to school, or eating, or anything. Don’t you think you ought to thank the Lord Jesus for dying for you and let Him wash your sins away?”

“Yes,” said Matthew solemnly.

“You know, heaven is a wonderful place! There won’t be any night there because we’ll never be tired or need to sleep. There won’t be any sun there because the glory of the Lord will be so bright it will light all heaven.

“And there won’t be any ‘booboos’ there like you have,” said Matthew, pointing to my crutches.

“No, everyone will be well and strong and happy there,” I agreed.

“Does God have a big house?” asked Matthew.

“Big enough for everyone whose sins are washed away in His precious blood,” I answered and then added, “If I’m ever going to go swimming I’d better do it right now. And what should you do right now, Matthew?”

“I should ask the Lord Jesus to wash my sins away,” answered Matthew.

I hope Matthew did that right away, don’t you? And if any of you who are reading this story haven’t let the Lord Jesus wash your sins away, I hope you will do it right now, too, so you’ll be ready to go to heaven when the Lord Jesus comes. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12.

ML 03/04/1990

More About Matthew

“Hi, Matthew,” I greeted my dark-eyed, curly headed little friend. “Remember what we were talking about the other day?”

“Yeah,” answered Matthew. “I was gonna ask the Lord Jesus to wash away my sins.”

“Did you do that?” I asked. “Yeah.”

“And did the Lord Jesus wash away your sins?”

Matthew shrugged his shoulders showing he wasn’t sure.

“He sure did!” I said, “because He promises to hear and to answer our prayers.”

A few days later I was in the swimming pool again and Matthew came up to the fence looking rather sad. For a while he just stood there watching. Then he said, “If you’re bad after you ask the Lord Jesus to wash your sins away you’re still gonna go to heaven, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I assured him. “When the Lord Jesus washes your sins away in His precious blood, you become one of God’s children, and from then on you’re always His child. Matthew, remember the story of Noah escaping from the flood in the ark?”

“Yep, with lots of animals!” said Matthew with delight.

“It wasn’t because Noah never did anything wrong that he escaped being drowned. It was because he believed God when God said, ‘Noah, I want you to build an ark and go into it and you will be safe.’ Today God says to us, ‘Believe that the Lord Jesus died for your sins and let Him wash them away and you will be safe.’ But Noah and you and I all had to believe God first, didn’t we?”

“Yeah. Could the ark sink?” asked Matthew.

“No, God knows everything and He told Noah exactly how to build the ark so it would be completely safe. Then when all Noah’s family and the animals were inside, God shut the door so tightly that not one drop of water could leak in. No, that ark could never sink . . . and neither can we. Once we’re God’s children we’re on our way to heaven. But God wants us to act like His children, too. He has given us His life and His Holy Spirit to help us, and the Lord Jesus Himself is in heaven praying for us right now. Jude 24 tells us He ‘is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.’ Remember, the Lord Jesus gave His life for us, and He wants us to remember that we belong to Him.”

Are you one of God’s children? If so, are you trying to please Him? “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4.

ML 03/04/1990

Wonders of God's Creation

Some Amazing Fish Part 2

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see . . . His wonders in the deep.” Psalm 107:23,24.

Let’s consider a few more of the strange fish to be found in various parts of the world.

Off the Mexican coast a bright-red scorpionfish makes its home. It’s scary to have one of these approach you under water, as its big ugly mouth appears to grin at you and its black bulging eyes look you over. But it is quite harmless. Its red skin, formed by what appears to be loose patches ready to fall off, is actually on good and tight.

The principal enemy of the 10-inch puffer is a shark, but they must sneak up on the puffer or they are faced with a big problem. When a puffer thinks a shark is after it, it suddenly changes its body into a large ball. The shark doesn’t like the looks of this and leaves in a hurry. But all the puffer has done is swallow water (or, if near the surface, big gulps of air), which makes it look like a balloon. Then it will turn over on its back and float to the surface like a piece of driftwood.

The flying fish of the Sargasso Sea lay eggs looking exactly like the seaweed plants among which they live. After hatching, these look more than ever like a part of these odd plants. Even close up it is almost impossible to tell which is plant and which is fish.

The eight-inch anableps of tropical America, sometimes called the four-eyed fish, adapt to both fresh and salt water. These swim along the surface, the top part of their bulging eyes on top of their heads see what is floating or moving at the surface, while the lower part at the same time watches for things below. Isn’t it amazing how the anableps can decide what to do when there is something of interest both above and below the surface?

Another Amazon River fish uses the flat teeth it has been provided with to crack hard nuts, spitting out the shell pieces. It gets good nourishment from these nuts and also from seeds and fruits.

The European bitterling, when ready to lay eggs, hunts for a mussel shellfish. Finding one, she drops a tube from her body and inserts it into the flesh so gently that the mussel doesn’t seem to know anything is happening. The three or four dozen eggs deposited stay inside about a month, at which time they hatch and swim away — the mussel seems none the worse for the experience.

There are many creatures scarcely known to mankind, but all are known to the Creator, who had His purpose in placing them in the waters of the earth. But the important thing for us to know is the love of the Lord Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and who invites us to come to Him as helpless sinners, accepting His invitation to receive Him into our hearts as Lord and Saviour. Have you done this? It is the only way to heaven.

ML 03/04/1990

Sunbathing

There are some beautiful sandy beaches along the west coast of Ireland. One time when a group of us were touring, we came upon one of these beautiful beaches. Since the sun was shining brightly we stopped to enjoy it. As we walked along the sand, we decided it would be warmer and out of the wind up on some rocks we saw a little farther on. Sure enough, it was the perfect spot. Each of us chose a nice, warm, flat rock to stretch out on to do our sunbathing.

With our eyes closed we basked in the sun’s warmth as we listened to the surf. But suddenly we knew something was wrong when one of us felt water at our feet. We sat up immediately, and what we saw was frightening! We sat up immediately, and what we saw was frightening! We were now looking at a huge ocean that had silently and completely surrounded us as the tide came in. Our rocks were now islands! There was no way for us to escape. We could only climb up to the highest points we could find and hope we were high enough. None of us could swim. But had we been able to, the water was so cold we might not have made it.

We nervously watched the water continue to rise, but eventually we realized our ledge of rock was higher than the level of high tide. We could do nothing but sit gloomily to face several hours’ wait, until the tide went back out.

For me, the worst part of all was that, as we looked up the rock face, we could see people looking down at us and laughing. They were safe themselves, but they never shouted a warning to us that we would be cut off. We felt foolish and angry with ourselves for being so careless. But we were even more upset with the people who knew we were in danger but did not care.

With this story of our difficulty comes a warning shout to each one of you. We want you to know that one day soon the tide of judgment will roll in —quickly and finally. Those who are unprepared and careless (those who are not safe in Christ, the Rock of Ages) will be caught. Are you lying back with your eyes closed, listening to the hum of this world and basking in its fun? Take a good look, because time is running out for those in the wrong place. We warn you of terrible danger just ahead . . . where the tide will not go back out.

In our case, after waiting about five or six hours, we were able to get off our perches and go on our way. We were sadder but wiser and wishing that somebody had given us a warning shout. We hope you will listen as we give this shout of warning. You are in danger without Christ, but “Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25.

ML 03/11/1990

Smuggling on an Airplane

Have you ever tried to smuggle a candy bar into class at school or to your room at home? The reason for smuggling it in is because it is against the rules to have it there. Most teachers have the rule, “NO EATING DURING CLASS!” and most mothers make the rule, “NO EATING CANDY BEFORE SUPPER!” Candy bar smugglers usually get caught and are punished. Smuggling is a sin — even candy bar smuggling.

In Buffalo, New York, a 16-year-old boy was about to get on an airplane that was going to Chicago, Illinois. He told the ticket agent he had an 18-inch, nonpoisonous, northern water snake he wanted to take with him on the plane. The agent explained that since they did not have a suitable cage to carry it in, he could not take the snake on the flight.

A little later when the flight was announced, the boy got on after first assuring the ticket agent that he no longer had his pet. Before the boy sat down in his seat on the plane, he took off his jacket. After carefully folding it up he placed it in the compartment above his seat and latched the little door closed. The plane took off.

A little while later another passenger happened to notice a tail sticking out from under the edge of the overhead compartment door . . . and it was moving! The passenger pointed it out to a flight attendant who opened the compartment door. The smuggled snake flopped out and down onto the lap of the very startled lady sitting beside the boy. He quickly caught the snake, and it spent the rest of the flight in a box in the back of the plane.

Airplanes have rules about taking pets on board. They must be in a suitable cage. This boy broke the rules by stuffing it in his jacket pocket. Once the plane took off he figured he had gotten away with it . . . but he hadn’t. That tail sticking out gave it away!

And you and I cannot get away with breaking God’s rules. When we break any of God’s rules, He calls it sin. Smuggling is just one kind of sin. Telling lies is another. Disobeying parents or teachers is another. Sounds like we’re all sinners, doesn’t it? Well, that’s exactly right. A verse in the Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. So there is no question about it— every one of us is a sinner, including you and me.

When the plane landed in Chicago, the boy and the box with his snake were taken to the airline’s office. He was scolded for what he had done and warned never to do it again. Then he had to sign a paper turning his snake over to the airline. They in turn gave the snake to the Anti-Cruelty Society who would find a suitable home for it.

The Bible warns us about the consequences of sin — sin must be punished because God is holy and just. The Bible also says that God loves each one of us, and He wants to forgive all our sins. But still, there’s punishment necessary for those sins. Because He loves you and me so very much, this is what He did. He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to bear that punishment for sirs on the cross: “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28. If you are really sorry about your sins, confess to the Lord Jesus that you are a sinner. He promises He will forgive you, and then you will not be punished for your sins because He already was punished for them when He died on the cross and shed His blood.

Won’t you accept God’s love for you and thank the Lord Jesus for taking the punishment you deserved?

ML 03/11/1990

Wonders of God's Creation

Some Amazing Fish Part 3

“Thou hast made . . . the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all.” Nehemiah 9:6.

Many books have been written about amazing fish. We have already learned about a few of these fish in the last two articles. We will conclude with just a few more.

In Java a three-inch fish protects itself from enemies above by swimming upside down under a floating leaf drifting in the wind. In this position it is on the lookout for tiny minnows below, darting down and swallowing one or more before returning to its leaf cover.

A snail that crawls along the bottom, making its meals mainly from sponges, has a companion, a small shrimp, riding on its back. The shrimp snatches bits of food that are stirred up as the snail disturbs the sandy bottom.

Another free rider is the remora, which has a suction cup on top of its head by which it clings to the side or bottom of a shark or other large fish. Being lazy by nature, it is quite satisfied to live its entire life in this odd way, eating scraps of food which drop from the shark’s mouth.

The archerfish gets its name by the accuracy with which it shoots out a stream of water from its mouth (like the arrow of an archer) and captures an insect resting on a plant sometimes as much as 10 feet away! The sudden dousing from this water startles the insect from its perch and, its wings being too wet to fly, it drops to the water where the archerfish snaps it up.

The anabas of Africa can travel surprising distances over land seeking a new home when the water in which it normally lives dries up. The Creator has provided this unusual fish with “reservoirs” of water inside its body, enabling it to live during these travels.

When the female tipona lays eggs, her male companion immediately catches them in his mouth and carries them around for 11 days before they hatch and swim away.

Croakers have choruses which are not always pleasant to human ears. At La Jolla, California, from May to late September, they often begin “singing” about sunset. The volume of their “chorus” keeps increasing for two or three hours with a steady uproar and soft drumming sound in the background — sometimes quite annoying to people living nearby.

The Psalmist was one who walked close to the Lord and delighted in the things of His creation. He wrote, “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.” Psalm 77:11. As you think of the grand scope of His creation, can you say, “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else”? Deuteronomy 4:39.

ML 03/11/1990

Anita's Plans

Anita’s heart pounded with excitement: Hardly anyone from Bolivia got to go to the United States! But she had just heard that her friends, the missionaries, were going back there for a visit, and when she asked her mother, her mother had said that she could go with them.

Anita never thought to ask the missionaries if she could go along with them. After all, hadn’t they been kind to her when the snake bit her on the arm? Her arm had hurt a lot and had puffed up like a balloon that day. So the missionaries had taken her to the doctor and had even said that she could stay at their home until her arm was better. How kind they had been. They had made sure that she had her medicine every day, given her lots of food, and let her play with all their children’s toys.

Yes, there was no reason to doubt their kindness, and now she could only think of going to the United States with them on a big airplane. Anita packed her bag and left for the town where her missionary friends lived. She did not stop to think about money for a plane ticket, and she did not even know about important papers like passports.

When she arrived at the home of her missionary friends, she knocked on the gate with great excitement . . . . Strange that no one answered. She knocked again more loudly and called to them. Still no one answered.

Sadly, Anita carried her heavy bag over to a neighbor’s house.

“Are the Alberts here?” she asked.

“Oh no,” the neighbors replied. “They left two days ago to go to the United States. They won’t be back for months.”

Poor Anita. She had been left behind.

Those who read this story will easily understand that Anita was not wise when she prepared for her trip. She did not have the money for a plane ticket or passport papers she would need, and she did not even know when her friends planned to leave. But can you also understand that many boys and girls are just as unwise about their plans to go to heaven? I’ve never met a boy or girl yet who didn’t want to go to heaven. But many who want to go there never stop to think about what they need.

To go to heaven, you must have your sins washed away in the blood of the Lord Jesus. Not one sin can ever enter into God’s home in heaven, so you must have your heart cleaned from sin before you can go there. The Lord Jesus suffered and died on the cross so that you can be saved from your sins. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18. Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

Perhaps you plan to be saved, but like Anita, you have not thought about when you should be saved. God’s Word, the Bible, says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

Many people think only of going to heaven when they die, but the Bible also tells us that the Lord Jesus is coming soon to take all the saved ones to heaven. We do not know the day or the hour when He will come, but you can be ready to go by accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now. Those who have never been saved will be left behind when Jesus comes. Then the door of salvation will be shut and will never open again.

When Anita’s missionary friends returned to Bolivia, they were amazed to hear how their little friend had expected to go with them with no money for a ticket, no passport and not even knowing when they were going. But their hearts were touched to think that she had not for one minute doubted their kindness or that they would want to have her along.

I hope you will not be like Anita in expecting to go to heaven without being prepared, but I hope you will be like her in believing in the kindness and love of God. He loves you and wants to have you in His home and with His happy family forever. Won’t you trust in His loving kindness today?

ML 03/18/1990

A Lesson from the Bees

A black cloud was rising out of the west. The low rumble of thunder was heard in the distance. As I stood watching the signs of the coming storm, I noticed the air seemed full of bees. Each one was flying directly to the hive near the fence. I watched them for some time as they hurried in from the flowery meadows to their home, and this Bible verse came to my mind: “Flee from the wrath to come.” Matthew 3:7 and Luke 3:7.

I thought of how much wiser the bees are than people of this world! The bees could sense a storm was coming. God has given us warning after warning in the Bible of the punishment that is coming on this poor world. But people go on as if nothing were going to happen, paying no attention to God’s warning, “Flee from the wrath to come.” “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained.” Acts 17:31.

How safe the little bees are in their hives! The storm may rage about them, but it does not touch them. And oh how safe each person is who has run to Christ for a hiding place: “A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest.” Isaiah 32:2. That Man is “The man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all.” 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

Each of you — young and old — should be wise like bees are. Hurry to Christ! Don’t let any of the “sweet things” in the fields of this world tempt you to stay away from Him. He will be your “hiding place” when the great day of God’s wrath comes.

ML 03/18/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Springtime is a Welcome Time

“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.” Song of Solomon 2:10,11.

Before our calendars actually display the springtime months, God’s creation already shows its nearness. For instance, flocks of birds appear overhead, migrating northward. Their songs and calls remind us that the miracle of spring is already in progress.

In ocean waters, fish of various kinds are affected by the coming of spring too. Groups of thousands find their way to distant shores to enter rivers and streams, where we can actually watch them swimming upstream to lay their eggs.

Even insects awaken to this change from winter and begin their important jobs for which the Creator has designed them. Some, like angleworms, centipedes and beetles, will drill into the soil, opening little holes so that the soil can receive fresh air and spring rains. Others fly among early flowers and blossoms in search of nectar, unaware that they are helping these beautiful bits of nature by pollinating them as they travel from one blossom to another.

Even your pet dog or cat will make you realize the nearness of spring as its heavy coat of fur the Creator gave it for winter warmth begins to thin out for a lighter summer coat.

At these times farmers begin what they have been looking forward to —getting out with their tractors, turning over and cultivating the soil for the planting of summer crops. In many homes mothers, dads and kids have fun planning and planting early vegetable gardens and flower beds. How good that freshly turned soil smells! In it God has supplied the food and water for newly planted seeds which will soon send up tender shoots into the sunshine of spring.

Trees and brush in parks and forests, looking bare and sad through winter’s chill, now come alive with new buds and leaves on their bare branches. Forest floors and many open areas display a delicate green as new grass appears. The first wild flowers appear, some of which poke their pretty heads through snow patches not yet melted away.

What an amazing time of year it is for those of us who closely watch the progress of spring. This miracle confirms the truth that none of this just happens to take place, but all is ordered by the Creator, as a delightful means of ushering in the springtime, welcomed by all. The promise in His Word, the Bible, is “While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22.

Springtime presents a lovely picture of the change in the life of a boy or girl, man or woman, who has accepted the Lord Jesus as his or her Saviour and has thus “passed from death unto life,” as the Bible tells us in John 5:24. Have you experienced this most important “springtime” in your own heart?

ML 03/18/1990

Bubble Gum on His Nose

Most children like to chew bubble gum. It’s fun to blow bubbles with it and then make them pop. Mike was no exception. In fact, maybe Mike liked to chew bubble gum even more than most children. Sometimes he would chew it in school, even though it wasn’t allowed.

His teacher had made the rule “NO GUM CHEWING IN SCHOOL” back when school had started in the fall. But Mike and some of his friends often disobeyed that rule. They would just hold the gum in their mouths when the teacher was facing them, but when her back was turned they would make bubbles and quietly pop them before she turned around again. This usually made some of the children giggle. Mike knew he was disobeying and probably felt more guilty about it because he was a Christian. As a young boy he had come to realize that when he disobeyed it was a sin, so he was a sinner. From the Bible he had learned and believed that the Lord Jesus Christ loved him even though he was a sinner and had died on Calvary’s cross to wash away his sins. But Mike didn’t always want to please his Saviour. Sometimes disobeying rules was more fun.

The teacher knew what was going on behind her back. Since the usual punishment of having to stay after school didn’t seem to cut down on the gum chewing, a different punishment was needed.

One morning the teacher announced, “Anyone caught chewing gum in class will have to wear it on the end of his nose for the rest of the day!” Most of the children thought it was a funny punishment and laughed. This only encouraged Mike to see how long he could get away with it.

He had a big wad of bubble gum in his mouth, and each time the teacher turned her back he would chew real hard and then blow a bubble, quickly getting rid of it before he got caught. The class could hardly keep from laughing out loud.

Finally, the teacher caught him. And Mike had to put that big wad of pink bubble gum on the end of his nose.

At first he thought it was funny and he snickered, making the children laugh too. But after a while it wasn’t so funny. When he looked down to do his math and reading lessons all he could see was that big, pink blob of gum on his nose. He just couldn’t forget it was there. He couldn’t go out for morning recess because the teacher said the gum might drop off, and he had to wear it the whole day. Even when they ate their lunches it wasn’t any fun for Mike, because other children in the lunchroom laughed at him, saying how funny he looked. It was no longer fun to disobey the rules and to be bad. Mike no longer thought sinning was fun. It wasn’t worth the punishment. Now he was sorry that he had been bad on purpose.

Mike was having to learn a much-needed Bible lesson: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. Sin always has its punishment. But even though Mike was being punished for disobeying the rule, there was something else he needed to remember . . .

When school was finally out, Mike quickly tore off that ugly gum and threw it away. However, there was still a little dried piece stuck to his nose. Mike didn’t know it was there, but his mother and dad saw it when he sat down to the dinner table. They asked him about it and soon found out the whole story.

His parents were very sorry to hear what Mike had done at school. His dad talked to him for a long time, explaining that although they were so unhappy and disappointed with his conduct at school, what was even more important was that Mike certainly was not a good model of a Christian. After seeing how he acted, why would his friends or his teacher want to become a Christian? He was just another bad boy.

Mike realized then how much he had displeased the Lord Jesus as well as his parents. He was sorry so sorry that the next day he went to his teacher and told her that he was sorry that he had been so bad. He also told her that he was sorry because he had made the Lord Jesus displeased with him too.

Perhaps if Mike will begin trying to please the Lord Jesus at school, he might be the means of leading his teacher and his friends to want to know his Saviour who loves and died for sinners. The Bible tells Christians to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

ML 03/25/1990

Counterfeit Money

The newspaper story with the headline “Counterfeit Money” reported that a man admitted to printing fake (counterfeit) $20 bills. Until he was caught he was really doing well for himself. But anyone who happened to have received any of these fake $20 bills would lose what they had, without refund. Some might not even understand why a $20 bill that looked exactly like it should, could not be passed off as a real one and be allowed to continue being used. No doubt, most people would be very angry at being deceived, at being a loser and a victim.

But even a $20 bill is only a small thing, no matter how many a person might lose, when compared with being deceived about the way to heaven. We find many religious ideas being passed off today as the real thing. They are well organized and made to look true, but they are only counterfeits. Jesus Christ is the only one who stands the test and can truthfully say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. God was His witness and spoke from heaven for all to hear, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. And then, God raised Jesus from the dead, giving us the assurance that He was the Sent One — the only way.

Would you like to own some counterfeit money? Of course not it’s worthless! Would you like to think you might be following a counterfeit way to heaven? No, the danger is too great! God sent His Son, and called Him Jesus. He is the real Saviour. Check your money, by all means, but more importantly, check to see if your religion is counterfeit! If it is, you are not losing just money, you are losing eternal life!

“The Son of Man [Jesus Christ] is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:56.

ML 03/25/1990

Wonders of God's Creation

Gazing Skyward

“He telleth [knows] the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power.” Psalm 147:4,5.

The darker the night the better we can see the stars, all of them vast distances away — some, hundreds of trillions of miles away. King David enjoyed gazing at them and wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Psalm 19:1. Don’t you enjoy them, too?

How strange that some people try to figure out how the starry skies came into being when the answer is found in many places in the Bible, one of which says, “The worlds [stars] were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3. The stars came into being at God’s command!

Astronomers admit they have not been able to find any end to the starry skies and are increasingly amazed at what they discover with modern instruments. They report that the galaxy called the Milky Way (of which our world is a very tiny part) has an estimated 200 billion stars in it, and that there are another 800 million galaxies probably more — with a total number of stars so large that it is impossible for our minds to grasp the number. Yet, as our opening Bible verse tells us, God knows the exact number of stars. And even more amazing, He has a name for each one of them! Actually, there is no point in our trying to count them, for God Himself declared, “The host of heaven cannot be numbered [by man].” Jeremiah 33:22. We are also told that “one star differeth from another star in glory [beauty].” 1 Corinthians 15:41. No two are alike. What pleasure our blessed God must have had when He stretched “out the heavens like a curtain.” Psalm 104:2.

Here is an example of how the Creator made each star different from all others. Earth’s diameter is 7926 miles, compared with the star Betelgeuse’s diameter of 215,000,000 miles, and the star Aurigae’s diameter of 390,000,000 miles. Our sun, over 92,000,000 miles away from Earth, is 860,000 miles in diameter, or more than 100 times Earth’s size. If we were to compare others within reach of telescopes, we would be astounded to discover what great differences the Creator has made in all of them.

It has been calculated that, if it were possible, our fastest spaceship traveling from Earth would take 40,000 years to reach the star known as Alpha Centaura, which is 26,000,000,000,000 (26 trillion) miles away from us. This certainly makes our present space shuttle explorations seem terribly puny!

Yet, for all these great distances which boggle the minds of astronomers, the Creator has each heavenly body under His constant gaze and keeps each one in its proper orbit. Only He could make them, place them in their orbits in space, and keep them in order. As the hymn sung by Sunday school children states so well, “Isn’t He wonderful!”

ML 03/25/1990

Ivy Covered Trees

As we traveled through England last summer, we were interested to see that many trees were being slowly overgrown with ivy. It was a lovely sight to see big trees in full leaf with their trunks thickly covered with ivy leaves. However, in a group of ivy-covered trees there always seemed to be a few in different stages of dying. We noticed one tall trunk without a single branch. It had been a stately tree but was now just an ivy-covered post. Others had a few remaining branches without any leaves of their own, or had leaves only at the end of their ivy-covered branches. Finally, we understood what was happening. The ivy, beautiful as it was, was slowly but surely taking the lives of these trees, whether they were mighty oaks or stately ash.

It seemed to us that the simple answer to the problem was to cut the ivy roots at the base of the tree so the ivy would die, but a closer look showed us just what we were up against. We saw a maze of thick, tough vines with an iron grip on the tree, and roots spreading in every direction sucking moisture from the soil and robbing the tree of its life-giving water, until eventually the tree died. It would take much hard work to save a tree and free it from the grasp of its enemy.

Sin is just like that. Sin unchecked will grow and grow, until it eventually takes over and finally destroys. The mighty oak might laugh at the tender little ivy stem starting out at its base, but the ivy will always have the last laugh, for the tree will surely die. Sin pays death as its wages, and sin will destroy just as certainly as ivy destroys. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23.

There is good news, though. The last half of Romans 6:23 tells us that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God who is rich in mercy, and loved us even when we were in the cruel chains of sin, can break those chains that have an iron grip on us, and can bring us into freedom, freedom to live and grow as He intended. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. If the tree refused to allow a man to cut and tear away all the ivy, then it would be doomed to die. But if the tree could admit that it was going to die unless the man saved it, the tree would live. The Lord Jesus Christ is able to set the sinner free, and will release all who call upon Him. Have you been set free?

ML 04/01/1990

The Little Watchman

Most mornings on the farm were very busy as the children were getting ready for school. They hurried to be ready in time to catch the bus that came out into the country to pick them up.

Jimmy discovered that from the back bedroom window they could see the school bus coming over a hill for just a second or two before it was out of sight again. The time it took the bus to get from that hill to their farm allowed them just three minutes to get ready. Jackets were quickly zipped, lunches and books were gathered up, and with a good-bye kiss they dashed out to the road, usually just as the bus was pulling up. This worked pretty well, so Mother decided they should keep someone by the back bedroom window as a watchman. Since Sharon was the oldest of the children not old enough to go to school, she was chosen to be the watchman.

At first Sharon rather liked this idea, and she kept sharp eyes watching for that one glimpse of the big yellow bus, which started their three-minute countdown. She would run as fast as she could out into the kitchen and give the warning call to everyone, “HERE COMES THE BUS!” This was quite a game, and she was an important part of all the activity, so she liked it.

However, after a few weeks the fun of this “new game” wore off, and she found the waiting and watching rather boring. One morning as she was watching for the bus, the kitty wandered into the bedroom. Sharon began to play with her. Happy was her favorite pet, and Sharon liked to drag a string around in circles with Happy chasing it. They played with the tie on her housecoat and were having such fun. Suddenly Happy scooted under the bed, and Sharon, forgetting she was the watchman, dived after her. They crawled clear to the other side, as Sharon tried to catch the kitty.

Just then Sharon’s little sister Anna toddled into the bedroom, still in her sleepers. She saw Sharon’s feet sticking out from under the bed where she was still trying to catch Happy. Anna pulled herself up to the window, stood on her tiptoes and rested her chin on the windowsill. Just then she saw the yellow school bus appear for a moment at the top of the hill before it dipped out of sight again. How much she understood about all of this would be hard to say, but she turned around and toddled off to the kitchen, and there she said as loud as she could, “HEAR COME DA BU!” Then she lost her balance and fell down in the middle of the floor.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked at her.

“Does she know what she’s talking about?” someone asked.

“She’s probably trying to copy what she sees Sharon do. Isn’t that cute?”

But they weren’t doing anything about it — none of them believed what the little “watchman” had said! As she sat there with her finger in her mouth, she pointed a chubby little finger in the direction of the bedroom. Jimmy glanced at the clock and said, “Hey, look what time it is! We’d better be gettin’ out there!” So everyone hustled into their jackets, snatched up their books and lunches and made a fast exit . . . just as the bus rounded the corner.

I wonder what happened to Sharon? Mother thought when things grew quiet. She picked up Anna and went to the bedroom. There was Sharon still playing with the kitty, unaware that she had failed her job of being a watchman.

God has His watchmen too. In Isaiah 21:11 He asks, “Watchman, what of the night?” The watchman answered, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” For those people who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they are still in the darkness (night) of their sins. Those sins will take them into the darkness and punishment of hell forever. But for those who have accepted Christ as their own Saviour, the “morning” that the watchman saw tells that our Saviour is coming soon. Then all who have accepted Him as their Saviour will be immediately brought into His presence in heaven.

We should be faithful watchmen to warn others that the Saviour will be coming soon and the time to get ready is right now. “Now is the accepted time . . . now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. The warning call has been given: “Behold, the bridegroom [the Lord Jesus Christ] cometh.” Matthew 25:6. Are you ready? If you are not saved when He comes, you will not have another opportunity. Accept Him as your Saviour today.

“Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.” Isaiah 21:6.

“What I say unto you I say unto all. Watch.” Mark 13:37.

ML 04/01/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Man’s Good Friend — The Dog Part 1

“Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.” Isaiah 65:18.

There are more than 25 million dogs just in the United States, and no one knows how many more millions there are throughout the world. Where did they all come from, and how is it that there are so many kinds? Actually, the Bible doesn’t say much about them, but we can be sure they were included when, on the sixth day of creation, God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle . . . and beast of the earth after his kind; and it was so.” Genesis 1:24.

“Cattle” as used in this verse does not just refer to cows, but includes many other animals that we call “tame” or “domestic” animals. It would seem that some dogs may have been included in this group.

Others may also have been created separately as part of the group called “beasts of the earth,” referring to what are now wild animals, living apart from people. We cannot say positively it was this way, but we know that there are wild animals today in the dog family, such as wolves, coyotes, dingoes, jackals and hyenas of Africa, all of which had their original start on that day of creation. But through the thousands of years since then, tame dogs have been companions of men, women, boys and girls all over the world. Most tame dogs have a nature which wants to love and be loved and will be a loyal friend in any circumstance.

There are so many varieties because when puppies have been born they sometimes have the combined looks of a male dog of one kind and a female dog of another kind and so don’t look exactly like either of the parents.

People who raise dogs sometimes do this on purpose in order to produce a new variety. But it is important to remember, whether wild or tame, a dog is always a dog. Even though it may have changed its looks from the original, it still belongs to the dog family as created by God. We all know that a dog and a cat can never mix families (species), any more than a horse and cow can. God created them to continue “after their kind” and they can never change this pattern, although God does allow them to mix within species which somewhat changes their looks into what we call “a new breed.”

In the next issue we will explore the special and unusual ways of some tame (or domestic) dogs that are helpful to mankind.

ML 04/01/1990

A Fishing Trip

A family fishing trip! As far as Joel was concerned, this was even better than playing in the waves at the beach. His mother had suggested they go to the beach for an early morning walk to pick up shells, but Joel only wanted to get on with the fishing. He was the only one in the family who really enjoyed fishing. His father always went along to help and to enjoy watching Joel’s fun, but he did not fish himself—although he did like to eat the fish!

But today was going to be different. The whole family was going and his younger brother Daniel had a new fishing pole. It would be Daniel’s first time to fish. Mother, who did not like either catching or eating fish, had noticed the strong wind that day and remembered that someone had said, “Fish don’t bite when it’s windy.” Never mind, Daniel had to try out his new fishing pole, and Joel would fish in any kind of weather.

Soon both boys had bait on their hooks and their lines were in the water.

Only a few minutes had passed when Daniel suddenly called out, “I’ve got one!” He needed help bringing the fish in and was jittery after feeling the strong tug of the fish, but he held his pole again once it had more bait.

Soon he shouted again, “I’ve got another one!”

“Wow, Daniel!” his parents said, “you’re a good fisherman on your first day fishing!”

Joel enjoyed seeing Daniel’s two fish and had even helped his brother pull them in and had put more bait on his hook, but he wished that a fish would hurry up and bite his hook! After all, he was the one who really liked to fish.

It was not long before Daniel shouted for the third time, “I’ve got another one!” Clearly it was a good day for fishing, wind or not! By the time Daniel had shouted “I’ve got another one!” for the fourth, fifth, and sixth time, Joel was troubled. Daniel was standing only a few feet away from him, so why wasn’t he catching any fish?

Joel knew of one other thing he could do that he had not done yet. Several years before, he had accepted the Lord Jesus as His Saviour and he knew that he could take any matter to Him in prayer. So he said to his parents, “We could pray.”

“Okay,” they agreed, and so Joel, still holding on to his pole, bowed his head and closed his eyes. But before he said a single word he suddenly felt a tug on his line. “I’ve got one!” he shouted. He quickly reeled in his line and happily added his fish to Daniel’s in the bucket. Then with a surprised and almost puzzled look on his face, he said to his mother, “We were just starting to pray, but before I could say anything I caught the fish!” He could have understood it if he had caught the fish after he prayed. But why was it that he caught it before he prayed?

Mother was not puzzled. She smiled and told Joel of a wonderful verse in the Bible that says, “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24. “God loves us so much,” she explained to Joel, “that He often gives something to us even before we ask for it.”

Boys and girls, do you know God as your loving Father who enjoys giving good gifts to His children sometimes even before they ask? Our God is one who loves to give. First of all, He wants to give you something so wonderful that you never would have thought to ask for it. He wants to give you eternal life. The Lord Jesus said, “My sheep [children] hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:27,28. To receive this life, you must believe in the Lord Jesus and have your sins washed away. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

God’s love to you will not stop with just the first gift. Like a loving father, He has many wonderful things planned for you, no matter who you are. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. Do you know God as such a loving Father? Have you received the forgiveness of sins so that you may enjoy all the good gifts God wants to give you? Why wait any longer? Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour today!

If you have already received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and are already enjoying God’s wonderful gifts, then do not forget that God can now freely give you all things because the Lord Jesus first gave Himself to suffer for your sins on the cross. “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2.

And do not be surprised, like Joel was, when God sometimes answers a prayer even before you ask!

ML 04/08/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Man’s Good Friend — The Dog Part 2

“I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm.” Jeremiah 27:5.

With few exceptions, dogs are among the most outstanding of all animals and have amazing ways of showing their many skills and abilities.

What other creature can match the faithful loyalty of a dog to its master, no matter what kind of person he or she may be? Most people will avoid a drunk person asleep on a sidewalk or in a dirty alley — but not so with his dog. It will stay by him in daylight or darkness, rain or shine, and guard him from harm.

Or what better care could a blind person have than that of a seeing eye dog as it leads him or her safely across streets, on and off buses, in and out of buildings, always ready to help its blind master.

Think of how a dog can find its way, traveling by foot great distances where it has never been before, perhaps foot-sore and starving, back to its master who has abandoned it hundreds of miles from home.

For another example of their skills, let’s look at sheep dogs and the duties they carry out so well. There are many breeds that can do this work and prove very helpful to the shepherd. The Border Collie is the one used most in England and America. Sheep dogs are very necessary where sheep graze in open fields. Training for this work starts while the dogs are still puppies, and they soon become skilled at rounding up sheep that stray from the flock. In addition to what they do without having to be told, their master may signal them to drive the flock out to pasture, keep them in a special place, or bring them back to the corral. The master’s signals, which may be by voice, arm motions or different whistles, instruct the dogs to turn the flock left or right, ahead or back, wherever the master wants them to graze. Trained dogs can even separate one half of the flock to one place and the other half elsewhere. Their amazing abilities in this work are wonderful to see.

God told Adam to “have dominion over . . . every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28), but when sin came into the world that privilege was spoiled in many ways. However, God has graciously permitted man to have authority over dogs and some other animals. We should be grateful to Him for this kindness.

But above all else, we should thank Him that through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, each of us may have forgiveness of our sins and the promise of everlasting life with Him in heaven. Do you have this forgiveness for your sins?

ML 04/08/1990

Eva's Gold

What would you do if you found gold in your backyard? How would you spend your money from that gold? Eva’s father found gold in their backyard, but Eva also found that there is something that is worth more than gold — something that gold cannot buy.

Eva and her family lived in a small village in Bolivia. Like most families who lived there, they were poor. For most of Eva’s life, they lived and worked in a tiny stall in the marketplace where they sold a few vegetables, buttons, pens, and such things. It was noisy, dirty and hot, and they did not have many friends.

A visit from Mr. Albert was always a happy time. He would read the Bible to them or bring them a calendar with Bible verses. He often left a list of verses for Eva and her younger brother to memorize. Even though it was sometimes a whole year before Mr. Albert got back to their village again, he would bring them a prize if they had learned their Bible verses.

One day Eva’s parents had to go on a long trip to the mountains. Eva and Willy would have to stay behind in their tiny home in the market until their parents returned. They were left there alone to care for the stall.

After their parents had been gone for some time, Willy got sick from an infected tooth. The side of his face was swollen into a lump as big as an orange and he was in great pain. Eva was only 10, but she did her best to care for him and gave him a medicine for pain that they sold in their market stall. She worried when Willy did not get better and she had no one to help her. Both Eva and Willy felt lonely and forsaken. Willy was sick for a week and finished the whole box of medicine for pain. At last their parents returned and took Willy immediately to a doctor. Willy finally got better, but their tender young hearts had an ache inside that never went away even after Willy was well.

Eva’s family moved several times. Although they lived farther in the jungle, they at least had a small house now and did not have to live in the market. Soon it was time for Eva and Willy to go to high school but their father did not have enough money to send them to the town that had a school. One day, however, they heard some surprising news from their neighbors. Some had found gold in their yards! Well, Eva’s father thought, maybe there’s some gold in our yard too.

So he dug a hole in the back yard as big as a well and began panning the water that came up. Sure enough there was gold! Gold right in their own back yard! There was not a lot of it and it was only specks like sand that had to be melted down before it could be sold, but it would be enough to send Eva and Willy to high school.

Eva was glad her father had found the gold, but the ache and emptiness in her heart was still there. Even gold could not take it away. Because of the gold, Eva and Willy had enough money to rent a small room of their own in the town where the high school was. God had been tenderly watching Eva and knew about the ache in her young heart. He planned that Eva would find something in this town that would be even better than finding gold.

The town where Eva and Willy went to school was the same town where Mr. Albert lived. When he learned that they were also there, he invited Eva and Willy to Bible meetings in his home. They heard of the wonderful love of God in sending His only Son to die on the cross for sinners. They learned that God who is rich in mercy wanted to give them, not riches of gold, but “the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7.

Eva’s lonely heart responded to God’s loving offer of salvation. She believed that the Lord Jesus had died for her sins and that they were now washed away in His precious blood. Willy also received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. Happy smiles came over their faces as they learned that God’s love and God’s Word, the Bible, would be treasures to them worth more than gold. “The judgments [standards] of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:9,10.

Boys and girls, would you like to have something worth more than gold? It is a treasure that can never be lost or used up, and no one can steal it away. Come to the Lord Jesus for salvation today and begin to enjoy the riches of God’s love. You may have it because the Lord Jesus Christ, “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9.

The money from Eva’s gold was used up by the time she graduated from high school, but she still had something worth more than gold. She could never lose her salvation. Not long ago she sent a letter saying, “We need your prayers to follow on and to remember in our youth and in all our lives our beloved Saviour.”

Gold can never last. Even if you had lots of it, you would have to leave it behind when you leave this world. Eva’s riches in Jesus can never be lost and they will last forever! Wouldn’t you like to have them too? Trust in the Lord Jesus today and all the riches of God’s grace will be yours.

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7.

Oh, yes, oh, yes, there’s something more,

Something more than gold:

To know your sins are all forgiven

Is something more than gold.

ML 04/16/1990

Wonders of God's Creation

What’s with Seeds?

“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” Psalm 33:8.

Let’s look at a watermelon seed. After it is planted it soon sprouts little leaves on a stem that soon begins creeping along the ground. A huge melon eventually grows on it, thousands of times the size and weight of the seed it came from. Most of us are acquainted with this delicious fruit — green on the outside with a thick white rind and a crisp, sweet, red center with many black seeds.

Where did that little seed get the ability to produce such huge fruit? The most intelligent man on earth cannot explain this wonderful process that is repeated billions of times each summer in seeds of all kinds, producing their individual crops all over the world. This is part of the wonder of God’s creation, and an important arrangement of His care for all living creatures.

There is no end to the unsolved mysteries of His amazing power which should cause all to “stand in awe of Him,” as our opening verse states. Many wonders like this are going on day after day, often unknown or unnoticed by man, but always under the Creator’s care. This is true of every form of vegetation —grasses, flowers, bushes and trees, from the smallest to the greatest.

How do seeds get into the ground? Of course many are planted by people, some on huge farmlands and others in smaller vegetable or flower gardens. But what about those not planted by people? Nuts, for instance, are often deposited in the ground by small animals, especially squirrels and chipmunks. Even some birds will hide seeds in holes they have dug in the ground, planning to return to eat them later. However, they often forget some, and these hidden “seeds” take root and eventually grow into new nut trees or bushes.

But in the wild, seeds from grasses, flowers, fruit, etc., drop to the ground and are soon covered with leaves, dried grass, or other things. Moistened by spring rains or melted snow, they send roots down and a new plant begins.

Seeds never get confused and develop into some new kind of plant. No, ever since the Lord God created them they follow His plan and reproduce “after their kind.” Cucumbers never come from watermelon seeds; wheat does not come from a kernel of corn, nor does a tulip spring up from a daisy seed.

The Creator has not depended on “evolution” to bring the world’s wonderful vegetation for us to enjoy and use. He is the One of whom the Bible tells us: “All things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [survive].” Colossians 1:16,17. Another verse tells us, “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5. Have you thanked Him for these wonderful arrangements He planned for us?

ML 04/16/1990

Juanita's Bargain

Juanita hurried over to the big sale. The missionary had almost all his family’s things up for sale since they had to move away. Juanita was very poor and someone had told her that she could get some good buys at the sale.

When she arrived, Juanita found the large room at the back of the house already crowded with people, each quickly snatching up things to buy. Juanita knew she would have to move fast if she found something she could use.

“Oh no!” the missionary called out at one point. “Don’t sell those things! Those are the shirts from my suitcase!”

Well, it was hard to know what was for sale and what wasn’t. Finally Juanita found some paint that was a brown color, and decided it would do nicely to paint her house. The can had been opened but it was still full. When she asked the price, she found that it was indeed a bargain. Juanita carried her paint home, pleased at finding it at such a good price.

She did not wait long to begin work. Soon she dipped her brush into the brown paint and spread it over the boards of her house. Strange that the paint did not cover the boards. Did it need mixing? As Juanita looked more closely at the paint, she saw that something was wrong with it. Why, this wasn’t paint at all! It was nothing but mud! In her rush to buy it she hadn’t noticed.

Poor Juanita. You can well imagine her disappointment when she realized she was trying to fix up her house with a can of mud. And there are other people who try to fix up something far more important with things just as worthless as a can of mud. Sad to say, many people try to make their lives better by “trying to do the best they can” or by “not being as bad as their neighbor” or saying they’ve “never done any harm to anyone.”

There is nothing wrong with doing your best — just as there is nothing wrong with a little mud. But mud won’t do the job of painting walls, and “doing your best” will never be good enough to make your life acceptable to God. God’s Word, the Bible, says plainly, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. Every one of us has to admit that we have not always done the best we could, and that many times we have proved that the Bible is true when it says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Not even one small sin can come into the presence of a God who can have no darkness at all.

But God is also love, and He has in His great love provided a way, not just to make your sinful life a little better, but rather to give you a new life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24. You don’t need to try to fix up your life before you come to Jesus. Come just the way you are — in your sins. Just accept Him as your Saviour and He will give you everlasting life.

Juanita closed the can of mud and made a sad trip back to the missionary’s house. She explained that it was mud, not paint. Would he give her money back?

The missionary couldn’t help but chuckle, but he also explained with some embarrassment that he had tried to make some clay for a potter’s wheel. Too much water had been added to the clay, and somehow the can it was in had been set out beside a few cans of paint. It wasn’t until after Juanita got her money back that she could laugh too. Imagine painting her house with mud!

Are you willing to admit that all your “good works” are just as useless as Juanita’s can of mud? “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good deeds] are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Come to the Lord Jesus today for salvation and He will wash your sins away and give you a new life.

ML 04/22/1990

The Exam

There was strong competition in Janet’s 10th-grade class, and now during final exams it seemed to be even greater. Mr. McGee, their English teacher, announced as he was passing out the exam papers that he had purposely made it hard — so hard he didn’t really expect anyone to get an A. There were some groans as he was famous for his tough grading. Even Kelly, one of the top students, gave a loud groan as he glanced over the exam. This boy liked to boast that he didn’t believe in God, stating that there wasn’t a God. Whether he had gotten this teaching at home or not, Janet didn’t know. But as she tried in a quiet way to be a light for the Lord Jesus, it seemed only to irritate Kelly.

Mr. McGee was not kidding, Janet soon realized. Every detail of the semester project was on the exam with the key points left for them to fill in or apply. Janet sent up a silent prayer, asking the Lord Jesus to help her remember what she had studied. She worked hard at the difficult grammar and literature questions.

The bell startled her as she finished the last answer. There wasn’t even time to check anything over before the papers were quickly collected. They got their books together and headed for the next class.

It was about three days later, after they had settled into their seats, that Mr. McGee was ready to pass out the corrected exam papers. It was very quiet as everyone wondered how they had done. He smiled as he announced, “Well, there was one A out of the whole class.”

“Who got the A?” asked one of the students.

“Janet,” he answered.

“That’s not fair!” exploded Kelly. “And what’s unfair about it?” asked Mr. McGee.

Kelly’s expression was very serious as he pointed one finger heavenward and argued, “She had help!”

Yes, Kelly was admitting that God had answered Janet’s prayer and helped her to pass the test. Is this surprising? To a Christian it shouldn’t be since we read in Colossians 2:3, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Kelly had been very bold about saying that there is no God. But like many others who say this, when they get into a time of trouble they admit that God does exist. The conscience of every person acknowledges that there is a God. The Lord Jesus Christ “was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9.

Although the Light (Christ) has shone on all, not everyone will accept Him as Saviour. This is your responsibility if you haven’t done so. Turn to Him now. Remember, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 53:1. Don’t be a fool. Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour today.

ML 04/22/1990

Wonders of God's Creation

Horseradish is not for Horses

“We remember the . . . cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.” Numbers 11:5.

Horseradish should not be confused with the red and white radishes you sometimes eat in a salad. It is usually sold in stores as a creamy sauce in a small bottle. Beware! The first time you eat some, be sure that you take only a tiny amount with a bite of meat, for it is more hot and spicy than you might think.

The horseradish plant itself is rather pretty. Its clean white blossoms give no clue as to the taste that is in its roots, which go down as much as 14 feet, and from which horseradish sauce is made. People who grow this in their home gardens usually make their own sauce by grating the roots to a fine hash and adding vinegar and salt. But the job of grating is unpleasant, for horseradish is much worse than onions in bringing tears to the eyes. It also has an unpleasant smell.

A strange thing about horseradish sauce is that a person who tastes it the first time is not likely to try it again, because it is so hot. But those who continue to eat it learn to like it and will eat it when it is available.

This is the reason, no doubt, that it has also been given the name devil root. An author of an article about it has said, “Certainly horseradish has some characteristics in common with sin: it’s delicious, but there are side effects. And like sin it’s easy to start.” (And we might add, hard to stop.)

What he said is worth thinking about, for any sin once allowed in our lives is hard to turn away from. The Israelites on the way to Canaan, complaining to Moses in the opening Bible verse, were an example of this. The Lord had delivered them from Egypt and the hard life there, promising something much better ahead, but they complained, for they could only think of the food they had left behind in that evil land.

The Bible warns of this, saying in Proverbs 4:14,15, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass [go] away.” Earlier, in Proverbs 1:10, the warning is given: “My son, if sinners entice [tempt] thee, consent thou not.”

And so the “devil root” to be concerned about is not really the horseradish that we eat, but that which it reminds us of — Satan himself. The Word of God, the Bible, prepares us for Satan’s temptations when it says: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. The “armor of God” means being full of trust and faith in the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, and walking according to God’s Word, allowing Him to be our help and guide in everything. Are you doing this?

ML 04/22/1990

The Lost Little Girl

In the town where we live something frightening happened recently. Mrs. Thomas and her little girl, Elizabeth, were shopping in one of our large department stores. While Mrs. Thomas was looking at little girls’ dresses, three-year-old Elizabeth wandered away. It was only a few minutes before Mrs. Thomas missed her. She searched all through the children’s department, calling Elizabeth’s name, but she was nowhere to be found!

The only thing Mrs. Thomas could think to do was to ask the store employees for help. Hurrying to the customer service area of the store, she told the lady behind the counter about her lost child. The lady knew exactly what to do since it is not unusual for children to get separated from their parents. The store had a way to help find them.

Most of us can remember having been lost in a store when we were little. Perhaps it was only a few minutes that we were separated from our mother or father, but it seemed like forever. The Bible tells us that we are also lost in another way, and it could be forever. We have been separated from God by our sins. Romans 3:22 and 23 tells us “there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” That shows us that every man, woman, boy and girl is a sinner, and it is our sins that come between us and God. This is the cause of our being lost. We need someone to help us. . .and Elizabeth did too.

The store had a code, a special signal that told the people who work there to immediately lock all of the outside doors. Once the doors were locked the search for the little girl began.

There is Someone searching for lost sinners too. “The Son of man [Christ Jesus] is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. Just as the people in the store searched for Elizabeth, the Lord Jesus who loves us so much is seeking lost boys and girls. If you have not yet received Him as your Saviour, you are still lost, and He is still seeking you.

Little Elizabeth was found. That is the happy part of the story. It is where she was found and what had happened that makes the story so scary. A strange man and woman were found with her in one of the changing rooms. They had cut her hair and had started dressing her in boy’s clothes. They were about to steal Elizabeth from her mother.

These evil people are like Satan! The Bible describes Satan “as a roaring lion, [walking] about, seeking whom he may devour [destroy].” 1 Peter 5:8. He is the enemy of your soul and tries to steal you away from anyone who would tell you of a searching Saviour who loves you so much He died for you. The reason Satan tries so hard to steal you is to make you miss being in heaven. He wants you to be separated from God forever. But all you need to be saved from the enemy’s hold is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

Do you think Mrs. Thomas was happy to have Elizabeth found?

I’m sure she was so happy and relieved to have her little girl safely back that she carried her home in her arms, holding her tight. And that’s just what the Lord Jesus does when any lost boy or girl turns to Him to be saved from their sins and Satan’s hold on them.

If you have not yet truly believed on the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you are like Elizabeth when she was lost in the store and in the hands of those evil people. All you have to do to be found is simply tell the Lord Jesus that you are lost in your sins and believe that He died for you on the cross. Not one boy or girl who has come to the Lord Jesus, that loving, caring Seeker, is still lost. And He will never let you go! “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

Had Elizabeth not been found quickly, in a few more minutes those evil people would have gotten out of the store with her. Then she might never have been found and returned to her mother. Do not wait another moment to believe on the Lord Jesus and be safe. The longer you wait, the greater the danger of being lost forever. Why not run to His loving open arms right now and be safe and secure forever.

ML 04/29/1990

The Stormy Flight

Mr. Ward was returning home from a business trip to the West Coast. The plane on which he was flying passed through a line of thunderstorms. The pilot announced to the passengers that the storms were so severe they would have to change their direction and fly several hundred miles south to avoid them. Even so, the plane was tossed around, and it dropped suddenly several times. This along with lightning flashes all around them caused the trip to be a very frightening one. Mr. Ward, who was a Christian, bowed his head and asked his Saviour to keep them safe through the storm. After that he was quite relaxed.

He happened to look at the man just across the aisle from him who was very frightened. He and Mr. Ward began to talk. It didn’t take long for Mr. Ward to realize just how terrified the man was. When the man asked Mr. Ward if he were frightened, Mr. Ward simply told him how he had prayed to the Lord Jesus and he knew that he was safe in His hands.

This opened the way for Mr. Ward to tell the man about the love of God for sinners and that the Lord Jesus Christ died for sinners on the cross. Mr. Ward soon found out that the man was a religious person, but he had never heard of needing to be saved from his sins. Mr. Ward carried a small Bible with him which he pulled out of his pocket. He read verses to the man that explain that we are all sinners and need to have our sins washed away to get to heaven. Then he turned to that wonderful verse, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

After an hour of reading different verses, the man bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to be his Saviour. What a peace and calm came over him, even though they were still flying at 37,000 feet through the blackness of the storm.

A little while later a stewardess came by and asked if she could speak with Mr. Ward. He went to the back of the plane with her and talked for some time. She told him she had heard him talking to the man, and when the cabin crew were instructed to sit down because of the storm, she had prayed for Mr. Ward and the man. For over an hour she had prayed to the Lord Jesus for the man’s salvation. Both she and her husband were Christians, and she rejoiced with Mr. Ward for the opportunity the Lord had given him in the middle of the storm.

That stewardess had just as much a part in leading that man to the Saviour as Mr. Ward had. The Lord uses people who can talk to the unsaved, and He uses people who will pray for the unsaved.

“I will therefore that men pray everywhere.” 1 Timothy 2:8.

ML 04/29/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Hide-and-Seek in Nature Part 1

“I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God . . . . Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.” Psalm 17:6,8.

For boys and girls “hide-and-seek” is a fun game, but for many things in nature it is a very important way of staying alive. For many little creatures the threat of being eaten by hungry, prowling enemies is greatly reduced by the God-given skill to look like something else. This is called camouflage. Let’s look at some examples.

Katydids (grasshopper-like insects) of Central and South America are among the most amazing. Some have shapes and coloring exactly like the leaves on which they feed. The wings of others look like big bites have been taken out of them, exactly like some of the leaves around them. So even though fully exposed, they are actually hidden. Some are colored green, others brown, tan or mixed colors, each matching the plant or tree leaves on which it feeds. And so they are protected from birds, monkeys and larger insects that would eat them.

Leafhoppers, found in many countries, have backs shaped exactly like the thorns on plants around them. They are completely safe from their enemies until they move.

In India the Indian leaf bug, the same shade of green as the leaves on which it feeds, rocks back and forth like a leaf when the wind blows, helping to fool its enemies.

Then there is the caterpillar of the sphinx moth, which frightens an attacker by suddenly blowing up the end of its short body to look like the dark-blue head of a pit-viper snake and swaying it back and forth. The snake-like look is so realistic, with two, imitation, big black gleaming “eyes” above a pointed snout and mouth, that the attacker changes its mind and “escapes” as quickly as possible.

Another odd-looking creature is known as the walkingstick which eats tiny bugs on smooth branches of a tree or brush. When it holds perfectly still, it looks just like a twig. A bird might perch right next to it and never dream it is passing up a meal. These insects don’t move until it is dark, when they start feeding.

How did these unusual insects (and many more) learn these protective camouflages? Did they get together and decide what would work? Of course not. Insects can’t do that. Only their Creator could give them the ability of camouflage that has been passed down through all their generations. This shows us another example of His care over all His creatures.

Next week we will look at more examples of camouflaging.

ML 04/29/1990

School Missionaries

When the Earley family moved from their farm in West Virginia to a large city, Mr. and Mrs. Earley realized it might take a while for their five children to adjust to much larger schools. You can imagine how anxiously Mrs. Earley waited for that first school day to be over, so she could hear how each child had gotten through the day.

Michelle (15 years old) was jubilant. “Guess what, Mom?” she said, “I met a couple of really nice kids in every class!” Stephen (age 17) said honestly, “I didn’t make any friends, and I didn’t make any enemies!” while Cheri, the youngest (10) said excitedly, “Mom, I love this school!”

But with Christopher (14) and Cindy (12) it was a different story. “I felt lonely,” Chris said. “Nobody talked to me.” And Cindy just wished she were back at Greenbriar — the school in West Virginia she had not liked before!

We are not all Michelles and Cheris, and, of course, God did not intend us to be alike. However, we can learn from each other, and perhaps we can also see a picture of ourselves in each one of these responses.

Michelle was older than Chris, and she had learned that you have to be friendly in order to make friends. She realized that every student in school, just like every grownup, is basically lonely. Each one is looking for someone to take a personal interest in him or her. But above all, Michelle knew from experience that only the Lord Jesus can fill a lonely heart. She had accepted Him as her Saviour, seeing that He loved her so much He gave up His life for her.

Let me tell you what Michelle’s secret power was. She had made up her mind to go to school, not just as a student, but as a missionary! This new larger school was going to be a new opportunity for her to tell others of her loving Saviour who could fill any empty heart. One way she could do this was by wearing a button on her collar that said, “Jesus is coming again,” or she could leave a tract at the side of her desk, praying that a friend or classmate would ask to read it. Or, she would look for opportunities to link an assignment to something in the Bible. (This had been an opportunity her mother had used when she was in high school, though she would never have worn a button or given a tract or even carried her Bible with her, as her older brother had bravely done. Yet her mother had been brave enough to stand in front of her whole classroom and give a book report on the Bible.)

Do you think God liked one way better than another? Not at all. If you are a Christian and know for sure that Christ has put all your sins away by His death on the cross, God wants you to tell that good news to others. You may ask Him, “Lord Jesus, open the way for me to tell this good news to the girl (or boy) next to me or someone else today.” He may arrange events to make this happen in a very natural and easy way.

Often just a quiet life of “not making a friend or an enemy” is more powerful than we might think. Eventually what we live of Christ will cause others to wonder and ask questions. However, let your joy show. Just a smile to someone you pass in the hallway can put sunshine into a lonely heart and pave the way for sharing with them the One who promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.

Are you a missionary at your school? Often the most popular and attractive students at school are the most empty inside and are looking for something real. If you have never tried telling someone about your Saviour, try asking God for help. He says, “Ye have not, because ye ask not” James 4:2, and, “If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:14. Why not ask Him right now? He longs to answer and show His power to you as well as to the person you talk to. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16.

ML 05/06/1990

A Trapped Snake

Scott and Dave were walking in town one fall day. Scott, who loved biology and was always noticing the plant and animal life around him, suddenly stopped. Something was moving under a bush they were passing.

Both boys were soon bent over, looking with interest. What they found was a garter snake which had gotten caught in the pull-ring from a pop can. The snake must have been poking through the leaves and litter that had collected in that spot. Somehow it had gotten its head through the pull-ring and crawled forward, passing through the ring until it had tightened around the thicker part of its body . . . and there the ring stayed. Since snakes have backward-pointing scales on their body, there was no way it could have backed up to slide back out of the ring. As they watched, the snake twisted and turned, trying to get rid of the ring around its middle. But nothing worked.

You and I have a serious problem that we can’t get rid of either. It’s the problem of our sins. We have ways of trying to improve ourselves, but they don’t last, and they don’t work. Our sins are still there. We have something in common with the poor snake in our story.

There aren’t too many of us who would do what Scott decided to do. Most of us shudder at the thought of snakes, let alone picking one up! But Scott loved all the creatures of nature and felt so sorry for the garter snake that he quickly and gently picked up the twisting creature and sat down on the ground to figure out how he could get the ring off.

Scott gently smoothed the snake’s body. Then an amazing thing happened. The snake completely relaxed in his hands so that he could smooth out its scales enough for Dave to slide the ring gently forward . . . until it slid right over the snake’s head and was off! The snake lay in Scott’s lap for about five minutes moving just a little, perhaps testing to be sure the ring was gone. Then it slithered across his lap, lowered itself to the ground and soon disappeared through the leaves.

Most of us would shrink back from picking up a snake to help it. But Scott had learned a lot about snakes and how much good they do for us by eating mice and rats and other things. He cared enough for that poor snake to do what he could to save it from that ring. The ring probably would have strangled the snake eventually.

The Lord Jesus Christ knew all about the problem of our sins. He also knew that it would be impossible for us to get rid of them by ourselves. Even though He hates sin, He loves and cares for you and me so much that He willingly suffered and died on Calvary’s cross to bear the punishment we deserve. “Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3.

If you will stop struggling with your “ring of sin” and accept His loving offer of salvation, He will gladly remove your sins for you and set you free forever. I let Him remove my sins and now I am free! How about you?

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

ML 05/06/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Hide-and-Seek in Nature Part 2

“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee.” Joshua 1:9.

In the last issue, examples of some insects’ abilities to hide from enemies by camouflage were described. We could never include all of them, but we will take a look at a few more.

Many large moths have “painted” eyes on their back wings that frighten birds away, while others look just like the bark of the trees on which they rest. A butterfly, known as the glass-winged butterfly, is so transparent that a predator sees only the flower or leaf that this butterfly is resting on.

Drone flies buzz and look so much like bees they even fool the members of a beehive, while the robber fly, also looking like a bumblebee, is avoided by the birds.

In South America a four-foot snake with a thick body, the oxybellis, is colored like the vines around which it climbs. If frightened it “freezes,” even if part of it hangs away from the vine. If a breeze stirs the vine the snake sways its entire body to match the vine’s movements.

The crab-spider, instead of spinning a web to catch insects, catches them on the petals of flowers where it is overlooked, because its color matches the blossom’s — white, black, red or pink. The Oriental praying mantis does something similar. With colorful legs held upright while sitting in a bush, it fools and traps insects that think it is a flower petal.

A fly in Arizona has transparent wings, except for three heavy black stripes across each side. At rest with wings partly open, the stripes, seen from the back, look like the legs of a huge spider. Also on the back of its orange body are spots that look like huge black eyes. Predators that would go after a fly, seeing what looks like a fierce spider, leave it alone.

Most of us have noticed that caterpillars and small worms on flowers or plants turn the same color as what they are eating, making it extremely difficult to spot them even when up close.

Many poisonous or distasteful insects are colored bright red and black. These don’t need camouflage because birds learn to leave them alone. But because many harmless insects have similar coloring they are avoided by the birds as well.

All this is a reminder of the wonders of God’s creation. None of these creatures is aware that it has these markings, but God-given instincts enable them to use them as they do. Mankind does not need such devices, as God has given us intelligence to avoid our enemies. The knowledge of His love and care should cause us to give Him our thanks, as expressed in the Bible verse: “Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for His mercy endureth forever.” Jeremiah 33:11.

In the next issue we will review some creatures besides insects that benefit by God-given disguises.

ML 05/06/1990

The Orange Peeling Story

Pam’s little daughter, Julie, was growing up fast. She not only had learned to walk, but now she could say a few words! Now and then she even put a couple of them together to make a short sentence. Right now, though, as Julie was lifting her bright-colored orange high for her mother to peel, Pam realized there were some words Julie did not yet know.

“Do you want me to peel your orange?” Pam asked, bending down to take it from her little girl.

Quickly Julie repeated, “Peel Julie’s orange!”

After Julie had eaten her orange, she ran off to play. Part of her play was trying to put her shoes on by herself. “Me do,” she would often say, but putting on her own shoes was never easy, and even when she managed, they never felt as comfortable as when her mother put them on her. But this time something was really wrong! She could not even begin to put her foot in. Then she realized the reason! There was a knot in her shoelace as there had been other times. Running to her Mother, she lifted her shoe up high saying, “Peel Julie’s orange!” Of course, even though Julie did not have the right words to explain what she needed, her mother understood what she meant.

“Oh, you want me to take the knot out of your shoe?” Pam responded helpfully.

Isn’t that just like us when we go to God with our needs? Sometimes we don’t know what to say, but God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that His Spirit talks to God for us: “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession [explains] for us.” Romans 8:26. God sees and understands our every need, even though, like Julie, we sometimes do not know how to tell Him. David the Psalmist said, “I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications [requests].” Psalm 116:1. Not only does He hear the words we say, but He hears the fear or unhappiness in our heart’s cry and also the praise of our heart’s thankfulness. He not only HEARS but He BENDS DOWN to listen. When parents take time to listen to their children’s little problems and joys, those children continue to go to their parents for advice as long as they live. The Psalmist says in the next verse, “Because He hath inclined [bent] His ear unto me, therefore, will I call upon Him as long as I live.” v.2.

Are you one of God’s children? To become one you only need to believe that His Son, Jesus, died on Calvary’s cross for your sins. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12. It’s just that simple. Then as one of His children you may go to Him with any question or problem, even if you can’t find the right words to say. He understands — “Thou understandest my thought afar off.” Psalm 139:2. And He promises to help — “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify [praise] Me.” Psalm 50:15.

ML 05/13/1990

A Foolish Man

Would you like to be called a fool? I don’t think any of us would. I expect, though, that each of us can remember when we did or said something foolish. Even though we all have to admit that we have done foolish things, none of us would like to be called a fool. And we probably aren’t, either . . . unless we go on acting foolishly.

In the Bible there are at least three places where God calls someone a fool. Two of these are in the Old Testament — “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” Psalm 14:1; “Fools make a mock at sin” Proverbs 14:9. A third is in the story we read in the New Testament in Luke 12.

As we think about the two verses in the Old Testament, we can easily see why these people are called fools. To act as if there were no God is really foolish. And if people laugh at the thought of sin, they also are fools. Unfortunately, young people as well as older folks are often guilty of both of these things. How sad it would be if God had to call you a fool.

The farmer that we read about in Luke 12 was called a fool. Let’s look for the reason why God called him that.

This farmer was a hard worker. He must have been a good farmer, taking care of his land so that his ground produced good crops. Now, this doesn’t seem like a reason to be called a fool, does it? If you have ever lived on a farm or worked on one, you know how hard farmers have to work to get good crops.

So this farmer in the Bible became rich, and he had earned his money honestly. He also had made sensible plans for the future. (Nothing wrong with that, was there?) This particular year his harvest was so good it broke all records, and he found he did not have enough space to store his grain. So the sensible thing to do (we might think) was to build a bigger barn and storehouse. Very likely, in his neighbor’s eyes he was a good, honest, hard-working, successful farmer. I doubt if God condemned him for that.

Then why did God call him a fool? He had made one big, tragic mistake. He sat back and said, “I can take it easy. I have everything I’ll need for many years to come, so I can just relax, spend my money and have a good time.” He told himself that now he had everything he needed.

God called him a fool because he had prepared for this life only! He had left God completely out of his plans. He had made himself rich with the things of this world, but he had not prepared for the next. He was planning to live for many more years, but God told him he would die that night. He had forgotten that he could not take his riches with him when he died. What is important after we die is not what a person has, but if he knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour!

Remember that not one of us can be sure if we will be here tomorrow. But there is one thing that we can be sure of if we have accepted Christ as our Saviour — if He were to come today, or if we were to die suddenly, we would be taken to heaven to be with Him for all eternity.

Because you are young you may be tempted to tell yourself, “I’ll worry about those things when I’m older.” STOP AND THINK! God called that farmer a fool for doing that very thing. Be wise and accept Him now.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1.

ML 05/13/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Hide-and-Seek in Nature Part 3

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31.

Not only insects benefit by disguises. For instance, the horned lizard has been given a rough gray skin that blends with the desert ground, concealing it from its enemies. Certain toads, sitting still when danger threatens, also look like the lumps of dirt around them. The gray tree frog can change the color of its skin to match almost anything on which it rests.

The top fin of the deep-ocean pink decoyfish looks like a helpless little fish, while the rest of it looks like part of the ocean floor. When a fish comes to grab the “little fish,” it becomes a meal instead. Flounders, too, change color to match the various ocean floors on which they lie.

The white polar bear blends perfectly with the snow and ice where it lives, and the same is true of Arctic hares and foxes. The Creator provides them with white warm coats in wintertime.

Spots on a leopard, stripes on a zebra, and patterns on the skin of a sidewinder rattlesnake, as well as the fur of a mouse and shell of a tortoise are a few examples of the Creator’s special provision for concealing them from enemies or enabling them to capture needed food.

An outstanding underwater disguise is that of the sea dragon, a spectacular resident of Australian waters. Its orange-colored, strung-out body is covered from mouth to tail’s end with big stringers that look like seaweed of that area, sprouting what appear to be yellow and green leaves from every part of its body. When it is threatened by a large fish, a quick dash through the seaweed provides a good hiding place.

Another underwater example is the angler fish which hides in the rocks with only its head showing. Opening its mouth, it wiggles its pink tongue to look like a minnow. When an unsuspecting fish comes to get this tempting meal, the angler snaps its mouth and enjoys another treat.

These three articles only skim the surface of all the provisions the Creator has given some of the world’s creatures, but they cannot help but impress us with the wonder of things He not only brought into the world but has always cared for.

But, more importantly, He counts every person of more value than any other living thing. For us there is a promise of a home in heaven after life here on earth is over, although we cannot go there in our sins. But He graciously tells us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

When we do this and turn to the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, God forgives our sins and accepts us as His own children, promising us a home in heaven. Have you admitted to Him that you are a sinner?

ML 05/13/1990

The Truck Driver

When I worked as a truck driver, something happened which made me think about the fact that we can’t really count on tomorrow.

Bill was a truck driver who worked for the same company that I did. In the trucking business we drivers sometimes have to load our trailers and then unload them again at the delivery end of our trip, which we call a “run.” And sometimes what we have to load or unload is mighty heavy and bulky, and sometimes there is no one to help us.

As Bill was either loading or unloading his trailer, he fell and injured himself quite seriously. He must not have realized at the time just how badly he was hurt. He called his dispatcher (the man back in the office in charge of the drivers) and told him that he was a little dizzy and that he was going to sleep for a while before going on. Many trailer trucks have a place to sleep right in the cab. It is L called a bunk and is about the size of a single bed. When a driver gets too sleepy to go on, he can pull over into a rest area and stretch out in the bunk for a couple of hours.

Several days passed and there was no further word from Bill. His dispatcher decided they had better find out where he was.

They found his truck at the place from which he had last called in, but it was all locked up. They had to break in—and there they found Bill, stretched out in his sleeper bunk . . . DEAD.

The men who found Bill said that he had laid his clothes and papers out very neatly, like he wasn’t in any pain and planned to go on. But an examination of the body showed that he had a broken ankle, a broken arm and collar bone as well as a fractured skull!

I thought about how often men and women, boys and girls, go on with their plans each day not knowing how serious sin is with its awful results. And yet each one of us has been born with a sinful nature that can only produce sin. “By one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12.

We don’t know what Bill was thinking about his injuries. Perhaps he was in shock and didn’t realize he needed to get to a doctor. Perhaps he thought he was tough (truck drivers need to be tough because their work is hard) and could take the pain until he had some time off or was back at home. Whatever he was thinking, his decision that a little sleep was all he needed was fatal. It was his very last decision.

I thought of how we are often tempted to put off serious matters until later, when we have more time, maybe when we are older, or are in better control of our lives, or have had our fun, or have “made our million,” or whatever reason. And yet how often what we intended to do is forgotten, covered up by Satan’s ways of rocking us to sleep. And tomorrow when we awake, or more sadly, don’t awake, we will find ourselves having to face the judgment for our sins from which there is no escape.

Today there is escape. There is a God who loves and cares about YOU. He gave up His own Son to die for you. If you will accept the Lord Jesus as your substitute, believing that He died for your sins, the matter is settled forever!

Don’t count on tomorrow! Settle the serious matter of your sins right now!

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1.

ML 05/20/1990

Are You Thirsty?

In parts of Egypt and other eastern countries, water does not come out of faucets like it does in this country. It has to be carried to the home from wells or other sources. In larger towns there are water carriers who carry a large tank of water on a cart. They go down the streets selling the water to anyone who will buy it.

To attract people’s attention the carrier will call out, “Thirsty ones, come and drink!” This is much the same as what the Bible says in Isaiah 55:1: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.”

But the water carrier sells the water he carries. This is different from what Isaiah says in the last part of the verse—”and he that hath no money; come ye, buy . . . without money and without price.”

Often the water carrier meets groups of children playing in the streets. They are thirsty, but they don’t have any money to buy his water. Some of us live in cities where the ice cream truck comes down the street on hot summer days with ice cream to sell. But unless we have some money, we can’t buy any ice cream.

Sometimes, but not often, someone will buy the thirsty children of desert countries water to drink. And sometimes a friend here will buy ice cream for a child who doesn’t have any money. These kind people offer the water or ice cream to the children free! It has already been paid for.

This is the true message of the gospel—Christ has paid the price—the water of life that He offers you is free!

“And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

ML 05/20/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Lovely Chamois

“The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats.” Psalm 104:18.

The Latin word chamois (sha-mee) means “rock goat” which describes the appearance of these two-foot high, 100-pound animals. Both males and females have curved black horns about a foot high and bodies covered with reddish-brown fur, with whitish fur on the head and hind-quarters. The kind Creator has given them strong legs and hooves and also large lungs which are necessary to sustain the enormous energy needed for life in the mountains. Their heads are short with sharp eyes and alert, upright ears; they have just a stub of a tail.

Grassy meadows on high mountain peaks make ideal summertime homes, providing nutritious grass, but in winter they go to lower levels to escape the cold fierce winds of the heights. They have an outstanding ability to climb and romp about the mountainsides. To them it is no problem to cross a 20-foot ravine—they just jump over it! At times, rather than working their way down a long smooth area, a chamois may simply slide down and make a landing on the narrow ledge that has been its target.

They are very alert for enemies, such as eagles, lynxes and wolves,

or even people trying to get near them. When any of these are still a long way off, sharp whistles and stamping hooves of guards cause the whole herd to disappear immediately among the rocks.

Each herd will strongly resist another herd’s trying to take over, or even wanting to share their territory. To keep others away, the bucks rub a waxy substance from their heads on bushes, trees, rocks, etc., the odor of which warns others not to intrude. Where do you suppose they learned to do that? We know they didn’t need to learn, for this is quite common with many wild animals and a provision the Creator has given for their protection. How good He is to all His creation!

Usually mothers have just one little kid each year, but sometimes there are twins. They can walk almost immediately and have no fear of high rocky places. Like other young ones (including boys and girls) they are very playful, running, jumping and sliding down snow-covered slopes, but never getting very far from their mother who keeps a watchful eye on them.

We should not be surprised to see how well big and little chamois survive in the surroundings that would be very dangerous for us. The Lord God designed them for that exciting life and they are included in the Bible verse at the beginning. When David wrote that wonderful Psalm he exclaimed, “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” v. 33. We should be happy doing this.

ML 05/20/1990

Tommy's Choice

Six-year-old Tommy had done very poor work in reading class. Mrs. Hall, the first-grade teacher’s aide, knew Tommy could do better. She had a little talk with him, telling him that she knew he could do much better work if he really wanted to.

When it came time for Tommy to do his math, Mrs. Hall said to his teacher, “I know Tommy’s going to do much better in math than he did in reading.”

“I hope so,” his teacher answered, looking very doubtful.

But Tommy had made up his mind that he would do better. When it was time to work on math, he didn’t waste a minute. He settled right down and did four pages without making a single mistake.

When math was over Mrs. Hall said, “Tommy, may I shake your hand? It gives me great pleasure to shake hands with a young man who has chosen to work hard and do well.”

Tommy was very happy to shake hands with Mrs. Hall. Then he said, “May I have a sticker?”

“You certainly may,” she answered, and she went to the sticker drawer. Most children like to have their stickers stuck on themselves rather than on their papers. Tommy held out his right hand so Mrs. Hall would put the sticker on the back of it. But instead, Mrs. Hall said to Tommy, “Today I’m going to put this right on your forehead so everyone can see that you chose to do such a good job.

Tommy’s face wore a “super” grin as he walked back down the hall to his regular classroom with his bright “super” sticker on his forehead. And he didn’t have to tell anybody what that sticker meant. It announced that he had made the choice to do a good job. However, I’m sure that he gladly explained what that sticker meant to anyone who asked, including his mother and dad.

There are other ways of knowing when someone has made a right choice. Have you ever been around someone who doesn’t say bad words like many of the students do? You may also notice that he doesn’t use God’s name in the wrong way. And when his friends want to do something wrong on purpose, he won’t do it. He is different . . . and this announces that he has made a right choice. If you were to ask him why he is different, he would probably gladly explain that he is a Christian. That means that he made the choice to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. And he has chosen to do those things that he knows would be right and would please Jesus. What wise choices!

Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” If you have not chosen Christ as your Saviour, you are a servant of Satan. It’s one or the other—there is no in-between. You need to make the right choice—to come to the Lord Jesus who dearly loves you and let Him forgive all your sins and wash you clean in His own precious blood. And you need to make that choice right now. Once Tommy made up his mind to do a good job, he didn’t waste a minute getting started. And if you are still in your sins and serving Satan, you can’t afford to waste a minute either. God says, “Now is the accepted time . . . now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

Will you make that wise choice right now? “Choose life . . . that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave [hold] unto Him: for He is Thy Life.” Deuteronomy 30:19,20.

ML 05/27/1990

The Birthday Cake

Mother was going to make a birthday cake for Connie. This really was not her regular birthday —it was her half birthday—because she was only six months old.

“It will be a very little cake,” said Mother, “actually only half a cake, because she is only half-a-year old!”

“May we help make it?” both Mark and Julie asked.

“I could certainly use some help,” said Mother, and she pulled two chairs over to the counter and put some butter and sugar into a bowl. “And you know,” she went on, “there’s something God can teach us while we make this cake.”

Mark and Julie climbed up on the chairs and took turns stirring the butter and sugar.

“The things we’ve put in so far,” explained Mother, “we like very much, don’t we?”

Mark and Julie nodded, because they sure did like butter and sugar.

“But now we have to put in some things that don’t taste very good—baking powder and flour.”

The two children tasted a little of both the baking powder and the flour and quickly agreed that they didn’t like the taste of either one, but especially the baking powder.

Then Mother went on with her explanation. “But when we mix together the things we like and the things we don’t like, what do we get? We get a cake that tastes good!” Mother added little spoonfuls of other things, and Mark and Julie kept stirring.

“Have you ever thought that God works the same way?” she said. “He lets some things come to us that we like very much—butter-and-sugar kinds of things. But He also lets some things come to us that we don’t like baking powder-and-flour kinds of things. These may be unhappy things like being sick or being hurt by someone.”

“But God knows that all these things are needed to make us turn out the way He wants. We couldn’t use our cake very well if it had only sugar and butter in it. And God couldn’t use us very well either if only things we like happened to us.”

Connie’s little half-a-birthday cake (with only half a candle on it), was dessert for supper that night. After supper Daddy taught them a Bible verse that said just what Mother had been telling them while they made the cake: “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28.

ML 05/27/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Cock-of-the-Rock

“Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?” Job 35:11.

The pigeon-sized cock-of-the-rock makes its home in the Amazon region in the north of Brazil. The outstanding color of the male is orange-red, its head topped with a helmetlike orange crest (looking like a lady’s fan, with a yellow border around it). Wing feathers are contrasting dark brown and blue—all making this bird outstandingly beautiful.

In contrast, young chicks are anything but beautiful, with their fuzzy black hair, bare legs and wings looking like a coarse comb. But in a year’s time they have the same plumage as the adults.

Because of the male’s fighting attitude toward all that approach its nesting area, it is well named cock-of-the-rock. (Some people have been given the same title because of their behavior!) This fighting attitude makes them quick to challenge one another, especially when one trespasses into another’s territory or when they are both trying to win the same female at an event called a lek.

At the time of the lek several male and female birds gather together in a clearing. The females are off to one side while the males, one by one, approach with their pretty feathers fluffed out, dancing with steps and hops and fluffing out their pretty light-blue wings below the orange body feathers.

The females then make their choice of a mate and they go their way to find a place to build a nest of mud and sticks among the trees or perhaps atop a rocky ledge. But the female, whose feathers are plain brown, often builds the nest by herself and incubates the eggs and raises her young without any help. Meanwhile the father bird is enjoying a care-free life, showing off his feathers as he flies through the forest. What a selfish fellow!

Males in combat lock powerful talons together, jab at each other with their wings and may lock beaks. These matches may last two or three hours, and if neither can claim himself a winner they seem to agree to rest a while before fighting again, until one is defeated. When not fighting they still threaten each other with harsh calls and noisy wing-flapping.

We may be sure that when these beautiful birds were created they were not proud and vicious as they are now. When God created them, along with the other birds on the fifth day of His creation, the Bible states, “And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21. What happened to change them? It was sin coming into the world through Satan, and he has never changed from his evil ways. The Bible warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary [enemy] the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour [destroy].” 1 Peter 5:8.

We can only resist Satan and his evil ways by putting our trust in the Lord Jesus and asking Him to lead us in His ways. Have you done this?

ML 05/27/1990

Timmy's Confession

Timmy couldn’t wait! He was going to play his favorite Bible game with his two older brothers. This was not like running a race with them or playing ball! They always beat him in those games, because they had longer arms and legs. This game was different . . . you didn’t need long arms or legs to win. All you had to do was flick a spinner with your finger and the number the arrow pointed to when it stopped (1 to 12) told you how many moves on the board you could take toward “The Promised Land.”

Steve and David took their turns first and both of them got a high number. This troubled Timmy some. But now it was his turn and he was going to going flick that spinner as hard as he could. He felt sure that that would give him a good number.

Round and round the spinner went, gradually slowing down past the 3, 4, 5 . . . until it limped slowly toward the 11. Timmy’s eves were wide with anticipation . . . he might even get 12! Instead, very weakly it passed the 12 . . . and stopped at number 1.

What a letdown. It was hard for Timmy to look up at his brothers for fear that they might laugh at him. But when he did, he discovered that something happening in the family just then had taken their attention entirely away from the game. They had not even seen him take his turn! It was then that an evil thought came into Timmy’s mind.

Now we all know what temptations like that are, don’t we? But we are still responsible to resist them. However, Timmy had to make a quick decision, and this time it was the wrong one! He would quickly take his turn again and they would never know the difference! When we act in a hurry though, we often forget that God is ALWAYS watching. Besides, what Timmy did not realize was that his mother was watching as well.

Sure enough, Timmy’s dishonest turn gave him 11 moves. Excitedly he drew a card from the pile on the table that would give him further directions and read it over to himself. Suddenly his face changed from an expression of glee to one of deep concern. Would you like to know why? Here is what the card said: “Israel hath sinned; go back to Rephidim!”

Do you suppose that just “happened”? No, indeed not! A very kind and loving God up in heaven had that very card EXACTLY placed to defeat Satan in his attempt to begin a serious practice of sin in young Timmy’s life. You know, if we sin once and do not confess it, it becomes much easier to sin the second and third and fourth time, until soon our hearts get used to it and we don’t even think it’s that bad. For this reason God makes sure we get “caught” early. His Word, the Bible, says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23.

But there is a bright side to this story. God says, “Whoso confesseth AND forsaketh them [his sins] shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. And that is what Timmy did. He was so impressed with the fact that God had not only seen what he did, but had seen right into his heart, that he told his whole family what had happened. Timmy lost the game that day, but he gained a clear conscience and was kept from falling into the devil’s trap.

Is there something in your heart and life that you have not confessed? God has already forgiven all the sins of those who believe that Christ bore them away on the cross. But in order to have happy fellowship with Him (and with our parents) we must confess daily whatever sin we have allowed to come between us and God. Some things we only have to confess to God, but when they are against others, we must confess to them also—and even sometimes repay them. It’s very hard to do, but SO worth it. Would you trade a happy, victorious life for being miserable with one sin that will only lead to many more? God wants us to be able to look everyone in the eye with a good conscience so that He can bless us and make us a blessing to many others.

There are many other people also reading this story who know how hard it is to confess wrong-doing. They are praying for you to follow through. The moment you do, you can join them in prayer for others who are still struggling. Remember, God is able to deliver you from Satan’s trap just as He did Timmy. Confession is the key to freedom. Why not act now? God will be happy and so will you!

ML 06/03/1990

The Kernel of Corn

Have you ever thought of how even a little kernel of corn can remind us of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His work for us on the cross?

A kernel of corn, you know, is a seed. And on the inside of the little seed there is something so wonderful that no one in the whole world, no matter how wise he may be, can make it. That wonderful thing is life.

If we place the kernel down into the moist, warm soil and cover it, something very interesting will happen. In the darkness the outside body of the little seed will die and a new plant will begin to grow. Then, before very long, the growing plant will burst through the top of the ground to enjoy the sunshine and rain from heaven. It will grow and produce ears of corn. These contain many new little kernels just like the one that was planted and died. One seed died so that a great many more might live!

So that’s why the little kernel of corn reminds us of the Lord Jesus and of His work on the cross for us. He died for sinners, He was buried, and He rose again according to the Scriptures (see 1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Because of His death, we who have trusted in Him as our own Lord and Saviour have received everlasting life. And just as it was necessary for the seed to die before there could be many new ones, it was necessary for the Lord Jesus to die so that you and I might be saved and receive everlasting life.

Look up John 12:24 in your Bible and read it. In that verse the Lord Jesus uses another kind of seed as an example to teach us the story of His great salvation.

But remember, you must accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Saviour before you can have everlasting life. If you have not yet accepted Him, you are still “dead in trespasses and sins.” Won’t you accept Him right now?

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12.

ML 06/03/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Treasures in Acorns

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8.

A full-grown oak tree will have thousands of acorns on it and we may wonder what happens to all of them. Besides the few that sprout into new trees a great number are eaten by birds and some by animals, all the way from mice and squirrels to deer and bears. Altogether more than 80 different creatures like this tasty food.

Besides squirrels and chipmunks, woodpeckers are perhaps the greatest stockpilers. Where these birds nest it is not uncommon to find the bark of a tree drilled with hundreds of half-inch or larger holes, with one or two acorns stuck in each one. They also do this to wooden power-line poles, from the ground up to the wires, stuffing acorns in them.

But insects eat more acorns than those that animals and birds eat. Some insects bore through the shell to get at the nut and others wait until the nut decays for their portion. The most active of these is the half-inch long acorn weevil, which attacks acorns while on the tree. It has tiny sharp teeth at the end of a long snout which it uses to cut through the tough shell. The tasty bits of food are enjoyed and it doesn’t stop until its snout is completely inside. Then it moves to another spot or two and repeats the drilling, eventually laying one egg in each hole before moving on to another nut.

Soon a larva hatches out in each hole and for several weeks feeds on the nut that surrounds it, until the acorn drops off the tree. Hitting the ground signals the larva to come out, and it immediately burrows several inches into the ground where it may remain for as much as five years. During that time it changes from larva to a mature weevil and soon flies to an overhead acorn to repeat what those before it have done for centuries of time.

But weevils are not the only insects that depend on acorns. Crack open one that’s lying on the ground and you may find a red-winged filbert worm moth inside it, or beetles, small ants, sow bugs, wireworms, tiny snails, caterpillars or other creatures that have made the empty shell, left behind by the weevil, into a comfortable temporary home.

We may not understand why so many insects are in the world, but each is a part of God’s creation and has a purpose in being here. As the opening Bible verse expresses, our ways and thoughts are not the same as the Creator’s, but we should thank Him that His ways and thoughts have been toward us in loving-kindness. He showed this so wonderfully when He died on Calvary’s cross to take away the sins of all who will call on Him and accept Him as a loving Saviour. Are you among those who have happily done this?

ML 06/03/1990

The Apple Harvest

“You’ll make good money working in the apple harvest, Bruce,” said a friend. “They’ll pay you by the basket and you can make as much as 50 dollars a day.”

That sounded good to Bruce! He was driving to British Columbia on the west coast of Canada during his holidays but needed to work along the way to pay his expenses for the trip. He had worked for a while on a wheat farm, but now wheat harvest was over and he was ready to take his little Volkswagen on towards British Columbia.

The apple harvest had just begun when Bruce reached the British Columbia valley. Sure enough, he had no trouble getting a job picking apples.

“We’re not allowed to sell the apples that have fallen off the trees,” the foreman told Bruce. “You’ll have to climb a ladder and pick the apples from the tops of the trees.”

Bruce worked for three days picking apples and, thinking that he could make 50 dollars a day, he figured the three days would earn him 150 dollars. That would be plenty to continue his vacation in British Columbia.

Before Bruce left to go to the owner for his pay, the foreman told him, “You may take some of the apples that fell from the trees to give to your friends. We are not allowed to sell them anyway.” Bruce gladly loaded up the back seat of his Volkswagen with apples from the ground. His friends would be glad to get them.

Bruce drove up to the owner’s house ready for his pay. The owner looked inside the car and asked Bruce, “Are we even?”

“Even?” asked Bruce. He was shocked. Was the owner seriously suggesting that those fallen, bruised apples in the back seat were his pay for three days’ work? He had certainly not expected this!

“How much is my pay?” Bruce asked.

“You’ve earned 5 dollars a day and you’ve got 15 dollars worth of apples in your car.”

Bruce could hardly believe his ears. He had expected to get so much, and now the owner wanted to give him so little.

Have you ever been disappointed like Bruce was? Have you ever expected a lot from something and ended up with only a little? I want to tell you that God will never disappoint you. His love is so great that He never gives “a little.” Everything that God wants to give you is so great and so wonderful that you will be surprised at how much it is. First, He wants to give you the forgiveness of your sins so that you can be welcomed into His happy family. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7.

When the Lord Jesus was here on this earth, a great crowd of people came to listen to Him and afterwards they were hungry. One of the followers of the Lord Jesus said, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” He was explaining to the Lord Jesus that the amount of bread that could be bought with 200 pennies wouldn’t be enough even to give each person a little bit. But the Lord Jesus didn’t give them lust “a little,” He gave them enough bread so that everyone had all they could eat, and there was even some left over!

Would you like to know this loving God who blesses until you have some left over? No one will ever be disappointed with His great gifts. But you cannot keep your sins and have God’s gifts at the same time. You must first have your sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

When Bruce recovered from his surprise, he said to the owner, “The foreman told me these apples were worthless because they couldn’t be sold.”

“You can have this,” the owner said. He handed Bruce 5 dollars.

Bruce drove off with 5 dollars, the bruised apples and a big disappointment in his heart.

Boys and girls, you will never be disappointed in God’s gifts to you. He loves you and wants to give good things to you now and have you in His happy home in heaven. If you trust in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you won’t receive “a little,” you’ll receive all the riches of God’s love and grace.

“Prove me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10.

ML 06/10/1990

Three Precious Promises

1.Take an A and a K.

Put an S in between

And a marvelous blessing at once will be seen;

For ‘tis “Ask, and it shall be given unto you;”

‘Tis thus, Jesus speaks, and His

Word’s always true.

2.Between an S and a K.

Put two E’s straight away,

And a wonderful promise you’ll have for today;

For the Lord is so kind,

He says “Seek, and you’ll find;”

And the blessing He’ll give is what just suits His mind.

3.Between two lovely K’s,

Place an N, O, and C,

And a rich mine of wealth at once you will see;

For the Saviour says “Knock,” and the Door opens wide;

Faith’s key does unlock, and Christ’s word must abide.

Then “Ask,” “Seek,” and “Knock,” For this is God’s way;

And sure are His blessings, which ne’er pass away.

ML 06/10/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Swamp Loving Bitterns

“I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalm 50:11.

Unless you spend some time in swampy areas, chances are you will never see one of the lovely bitterns that make their home in such places. There are many varieties of them throughout the world, and two of them are residents of the northern United States and southern Canada.

Let’s look at one named the least bittern. It is not called “least” because there are few of them, but because of its size compared to other bitterns. It is only about a foot long when measured from its toes to the tip of its long beak when it is stretched straight up in the air. Its body is only about the size of a quail or robin, but its legs, neck and beak are much longer.

The Creator has provided this pretty bird with colors suited to hide it in its marshy home of cattails, tall reeds, long grass and low bushes. Its feathers, except for head-top and tail, are orangy-red. Similar coloring on its throat and breast is lightly striped in black tones. This combination makes the bittern almost impossible to spot when it stands perfectly still, head held straight up, in the midst of the swamp foliage when something has startled it. If wind moves the reeds, the bittern sways the same way. Adding to its excellent camouflage, the striped coloring of its long neck and chest look like the reedy plants in which it stands.

The reason bitterns like such watery surroundings is the plentiful food found there—fish, eels and frogs. They also eat mice and other small animals, various insects and seeds. Unlike most birds, they do not like to flock together. Usually only one is seen by itself or occasionally a pair.

They are among the world’s most cautious birds, preferring to stay in the surroundings that hide them so well. Only occasionally will they venture out on open water or into a close-by meadow for a meal of grasshoppers, other insects or seeds. They can run fast on open ground but fly slowly, keeping close to the tops of the reeds and brush.

Nests are built above water level and from three to six young are raised each year. The mother bird does all the incubating and feeding of her brood until they can care for themselves. How much nicer it would seem if the father bird helped a bit, wouldn’t it?

As we look at even a few of the multitudes of bird varieties in the world it gives us happiness to realize the Creator, the One who is Lord of heaven and earth, has found delight in them all. But you are more important to Him than any bird, fish or animal—so important that He died on the cross for you. Is He important to you?

ML 06/10/1990

The Shopping Trip

Today was Mommy’s usual grocery shopping day. Four-year-old Chad looked forward to this trip to town every week. The employees at the store where they shopped liked young children and even had little shopping carts for them to push. Chad had only one thing he wanted to buy—a can of pop. Oh, how he loved pop!

Mommy seemed so slow today. He wondered why he couldn’t go by himself and get his pop. He knew right where to find it. So off he went pushing his little shopping cart to the pop section.

My, but there were so many different kinds. Though he couldn’t read, he could tell from the colors of the cans what flavors cart to the pop section. There were cream soda, orange, root beer, cola, and ginger ale. It was a hard choice for a little boy to make. Chad finally decided to take the orange.

He put the can in his cart and started off to find Mommy. Down the aisle he went with a pleased look on his face. Mommy should be in the next aisle, he thought. But when he got there, there was no Mommy. Chad began to get worried. Quickly he ran with his cart to the next aisle, but Mommy wasn’t there either. Now Chad began to cry out in a very loud, frightened voice, “MOMMY, MOMMY, WHERE ARE YOU?” His big blue eyes filled with tears and a few slipped down his freckled cheeks.

Are you lost in your sins? Will you cry out for help just as Chad did? “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.” Psalm 107:6. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew 7:7. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

Mommy heard Chad’s frightened call and quickly followed his cries until she found him.

Suddenly, Chad’s orange pop wasn’t important any more. All that mattered to him was seeing his mommy’s face and being held in her loving arms.

There is a loving Father in heaven whose arms are open wide, just waiting for anyone who realizes he is lost in his sins to run to Him for safety. He longs to forgive you and claim you as one of His children. Once Chad realized he was lost he knew exactly what to do—He called good and loud for his mommy. And his mommy came on the run. Moments later he felt safe and secure in her arms. The Lord Jesus will wrap you in His loving arms the moment you call for Him. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. Wouldn’t you like to have that safe and secure feeling of being held in His loving arms with your sins gone forever? You only need to call.

ML 06/17/1990

What Sort of Plant Are You?

I am sure that every boy and girl, and their parents too, will have a good idea of what is shown in this picture.

Did you guess carrots? Most people have eaten carrots. They are one of our most common vegetables. In fact, maybe you have even grown them in your vegetable garden.

But I have a surprise for you! These are not carrots at all. The leaves belong to a wild flower called Queen Anne’s Lace, and the two fingers in the picture make them look like carrots. Their leaves look so much like carrot leaves that they are often called “wild carrots,” but their root cannot be eaten. If a gardener should find Queen Anne’s Lace in his carrot patch, he would quickly pull them out and throw them on his rubbish heap. They are only a weed and are good for nothing.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has told us, “Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matthew 15:13. This means that as God looks down He knows who His real children are, and He also knows who looks like and maybe even lives with His own children, but is not truly born into His family at all. The Lord Jesus came to tell us how we can become a real child of God, so that we will never have to be rooted up and thrown away like the useless weed. God is “not willing that any should perish. but that ALL should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and He is able to save ALL who come to Him by the way He has provided. The Lord Jesus died on the cross so that we might become children of God by putting our faith in Him.

Take another look at these imitation carrots. They look so much like the real thing, but they are only fit for throwing away. Now think carefully about yourself ... are you a true child of God? Will God accept you ... or are you only fit to be thrown away?

ML 06/17/1990

Who Am I?

A child so small, he heard the call though yet so young and tender

His mother gave him there to live and helpful service render.

Three times now, wakened in the night. Who was it called his name

The One that searches heart and soul and Israel’s will could tame?

His presence known, the answer came in words not loud but clearest

“Speak Lord” (for I am but a boy)

“Speak for Thy servant heareth.”

Oh child so small, have you heard a call; a voice that speaks in love?

“Come unto Me and ready be, to dwell with Me above.”

ML 06/17/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Your Amazing Body Part 1

“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully (amazingly) and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works.” Psalm 139:14.

Nothing in all the world can compare with the human body. Birds, animals and other kinds of life are made in a remarkable way, but nothing can be compared to what the Creator has given mankind. That, no doubt, was His purpose in bringing all other living things into the world before creating Adam, for He was to give Adam and his offspring the chief place in creation and arranged for the others to be already in existence beforehand.

We also read that “God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Genesis 2:7. This is an example of the Creator’s wisdom, for He designed our bodies to need nourishing food. And since man was formed from the earth itself, then the things growing in its soil would have the elements his body would require. Also, when He “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (verse 7), He gave man a soul that would live forever, even after life on earth ended. He did not do this with any other creature.

The human body, from the sole of the feet to the hair on the head, is so extremely complex that it could never have come about by “evolution,” but only through a supreme and divine Creator. Medical experts continually learn new things about its wonders, but, for the most part, cannot explain how these came about. For instance, many of these experts admit they are baffled by the performance of our eyes, and no wonder, when you consider all the eyes do for us.

It’s easy to say “the eyes see things,” but not so easy to say, “I know how they do it.” Actually, the eye is constantly taking pictures, so to speak, distinguishing objects by color, shape and size. In doing this it automatically focuses immediately, whether the object is close or far away. And what happens to these pictures? They don’t remain in the eye, but travel to the brain, which immediately tells the various parts of the body what to do about them. If the eye has seen something dangerous, the brain may tell our hands to shove it out of the way or instruct our legs to get us far away from it.

In addition, these pictures are stored by the brain in the memory. When needed the memory will bring the pictures back to us, even many years after they were first seen. They’ve been “on file” all the time, although we have not been aware of it.

In the following issue we will consider more of these marvels provided by the One who has not only created us, but loves us dearly and wants us to accept His love and know Him as our Lord and Saviour.

ML 06/17/1990

A Gift for the Beggars

“Give us some money!” the beggar called.

I looked out the window to see who had called and saw three rough, unshaven men standing at our gate. We lived in South America and beggars often came to our gate. They were usually either children or old men, and most of them told us sad stories about their lives and asked if we could give them something to help. But these beggars were different. They shook the gate and one called out again, “Give us some money!”

My husband was not home but I felt sure the gate was locked, so I closed and locked the front door and made sure our three children were inside. A little later I peeped out the front window hoping the beggars had gone away. They had not.

“If you don’t give us money, we’re going to come up to your house,” they shouted.

It still seemed best to ignore these men, so I went on with my work. A little later I looked out the window again and the front gate was empty. Good, I thought, they’re gone. But almost immediately I saw them right at the window! The front gate had been unlocked after all!

“Give us money!” they demanded.

I decided it was time to get help. I ran out the back door and out the back gate and called for my neighbor to come. He went around the house, gave the men some money, and told them to go away and not bother us anymore. To my relief the beggars left with their “gift,” and I never saw them again.

The beggars had not worked for the money so it was not pay, and they had done nothing to deserve it so it was not a reward. It was a gift, but it was not a gift of love. It was a gift so that they would go away. God’s gifts are not like that. His gifts are gifts of love, and they are not given so that we would go away, but rather that we would come to Him! The greatest gift that God has ever given was His own beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. God gave His Son to come into this world and die so that you and I could be welcomed into His happy home in heaven. “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14.

Have you accepted God’s wonderful gift of salvation? You do not deserve it because of your sins, but God loves you and is offering you a free salvation because the Lord Jesus paid for it when he died on the cross. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Another kind of gift arrived at our door recently. This time it was not a gift for beggars but a gift for us. It was a small box of cereal and was marked with large letters—FREE SAMPLE. Was this a gift of love? No, of course not. It was sent in hopes that we would like the cereal and buy a much larger box.

God’s gifts are not like the free sample either. He is not looking for something in return. God wants to give His gifts to you simply because He loves you and wants you to be happy. The Bible says that God “made us accepted in the beloved [the Lord Jesus]: in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ... according to His good pleasure.” Ephesians 1:6,7,9.

We gave the beggars a gift so that they would go away, and the cereal company gave us a gift so that we would buy more cereal. But God gave His gift, His only Son, because He loves you. Have you accepted His gift? “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8.

ML 06/24/1990

A Blind Girl's Trust

A newspaper reported the story of a fire in an apartment building where a little blind girl spent her days while her father was at work. As the fire spread, the firemen called to the girl to jump from the window of the sixth floor where she was standing, and assured her they would catch her in the net spread out beneath. However, she would not jump and stood helplessly at the window.

One fast-thinking fireman rushed to the place where the girl’s father worked and brought him quickly to the scene. He immediately called his daughter by name, saying, “It’s Daddy, honey. Jump and we will catch you in the net.”

The little girl changed her mind immediately. She climbed out the window and jumped, where she could not see, landing safely in the net below.

What made the difference? It was trust in her father. She knew he would not ask her to do something that would harm her ... she trusted him completely.

By dying on the cross in our place, the Lord Jesus made it possible for every person to become a child of God, learning every day to trust Him as our loving Father. The more we learn to know Him, the more we understand that He loves us and only asks us to obey Him because He knows what is best for us. The Lord Jesus tells us, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” Matthew 7:11. How wonderful to trust our heavenly Father the way the little girl trusted her earthly father.

ML 06/24/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Your Amazing Body Part 2

“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” Psalm 33:8

In the previous article we reviewed briefly the story of man’s creation and the wonders of our amazing bodies, including some detail about our eyes. We could present many articles on other details of the body’s wonders, but space limits us to only a few.

The Brain

The brain, one of the most important parts of the body, fits snugly into a strong protective skull which in a newborn baby remains rather soft so it can grow with the baby’s development. At a certain age the skull hardens and becomes a strong shield for the brain.

There are three main parts to the brain: the cerebrum, made up of two halves, the cerebellum in back of it, and the medulla oblongata (sometimes referred to as the brain stem) located at the back of the head just above the spinal column.

The cerebrum is the most important part—taking messages from all over the body and sending instructions back to all these places, telling them what they are to do at any given moment.

The cerebellum’s principal job is to keep in touch with all the muscles, telling them when they are to be in action or when to relax and be still. For instance, if a boy is standing at home plate on a baseball diamond, he doesn’t think about what is going on inside his brain. But whether he knows it or not, he can’t lift the bat over his shoulder until the cerebellum tells his arm and hand muscles exactly what to do; nor can he swing at a pitched ball unless muscles all over his body—legs, arms, back, etc.—have received instructions from his brain. Finally, running off to first base, his entire body is obeying those brain-given instructions without his having to consciously think about it.

The brain stem is important, too. One of its chief duties is to see that what are termed “instincts” are not neglected, but put into action when necessary. This would include the functions of the nose and lungs, the beating of the heart, the blinking of the eyes, the swallowing of a bite of food, etc.

All in all the duties of every part of the brain are far beyond anyone’s ability to understand and are much more wonderful than the achievements of all the world’s latest specialized computers put together. And this represents just one area of the Creator’s wonderful provisions for us.

When we think of the wonderful works of the Lord, how it must please Him to hear us say, just as Isaiah did: “Oh Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things.” Isaiah 25:1.

ML 06/24/1990

The Hungry Field Mouse

His little nose quivered with excitement. An interesting smell had reached the little field mouse, and he followed it until it led him right inside a garage and over to a big garbage can. He was hungry, and that food smelled so good. But he soon discovered that the plastic sides of the garbage can were too slippery to climb. He tried again and again, but he couldn’t climb up. So he tried another way. He ran up the wall beside it, and still smelling that food, he Jumped right in.

He had a wonderful time climbing through the garbage finding food scraps. He ate until his little tummy was full and then decided it was time to go home.

But he quickly discovered he had the same problem he had before, only this time he couldn’t get out! He scrambled part way up the side of the can only to fall back down again. He jumped up the side time and again, getting a little way up, but always sliding down again. There was no way out. So there he stayed, trapped. He was down at the bottom with all the food scraps and good smells, but his freedom was gone.

At this point we must explain that our little mouse’s problem of being caught in the garbage can is just like the problem that every sinner has with sin. We are caught ... and try as we might, we can’t get free. It looks pretty hopeless, and that’s exactly what Satan wants us to think. I doubt the little mouse knew that his situation was hopeless. He couldn’t get out of that garbage can without help, and you and I can’t get free of our sins without help ... God’s help.

We do not know how long the little mouse was trapped in the garbage can, but when he was discovered, he was a pitiful, trembling little bit of fur. The owner of the garbage can looked in and saw him. Feeling sorry for the little mouse, he carried the can far away from the house. Then he tilted it forward and allowed the mouse to escape to freedom.

The owner’s kindness saved him from death. This is exactly what the Lord Jesus will do for you, because He “came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. He is ready to save all who call upon Him, and is able to deliver each one from the power of sin and Satan. He shows loving compassion and grace when a sinner realizes his lost and helpless condition and cries for mercy. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

Will you let the Lord Jesus set you free? “If the Son [the Lord Jesus Christ] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

ML 07/01/1990

The Library Fine

In the past two years our library has put all their records on computer, and now we can get information at the touch of a few buttons. Recently I went there to take out some books. While checking them out, I was totally surprised when the lady, after carefully watching the computer screen, looked at me and said, “There is a fine outstanding since last December. A book you returned was overdue, and this fine will remain on our records until you pay it. Do you want to pay it now?”

I was shocked to think that, quite unknown to me, there was a fine against my name. No mistake about it, the fine was mine. But it brought to my mind something far more serious. It is possible that some boys and girls aren’t aware of the fact that God is also keeping a record of everything we think and say and do. And no mistakes will be made. God tells us that all have sinned, and those with sins still on their record cannot enter heaven. (Every one of us can quickly remember some sins that are recorded, and without mistake, against our names.)

How can we ever get these awful records wiped out? I took out some money, paid the fine, and immediately the library lady cleared my computer record. Just a simple transaction between the library lady and me, and the record was gone in a few moments. But we cannot pay God money, for He clearly says, “Ye [are] not redeemed ... with silver and gold.” 1 Peter 1:18. So what can we do about clearing the record of our sins since we can’t pay a fine for them?

There is good news. God has made a way for a guilty sinner to be cleared of all his debt of sin and made ready for heaven. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, punished Him instead of me, and all I have to do is accept Him as my own Saviour. I must have a personal transaction with Him—come to Him with my debt of sin, and He will clear my record because He has already paid the “fine” for me. The Bible says, “Christ ... once suffered for sins, the just [Christ] for the unjust [you and me], that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.

Will you take your debt of sin to the Lord Jesus and let Him clear your record? “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions [debt of sin] from us.” Psalm 103:12. “And Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19.

Gone, gone, gone, gone, yes my sins are gone.

Now my soul is free, and in my heart’s a song,

Buried in the deepest sea; yes, that’s good enough for me,

I shall live eternally. Praise God! My sins are gone.

ML 07/01/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Your Amazing Body Part 3

“Only fear the Lord, and serve Him . . . with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24

Our Heart and Blood

Considering all the work it does, the 12-ounce heart doesn’t take up much room in the center of our chests. It is the hardest-working part of our body, and life would not be possible without it. For instance, it pumps throughout our bodies an estimated 650,000 gallons of blood every year, and the energy required for just one hour’s worth of pumping would be enough to lift a 65-ton weight a foot above the ground!

The heart beats approximately 70 times each minute, or over 100,000 times a day. It is truly a perpetual-motion wonder, working moment by moment and day by day without any instructions from its owner.

The blood flowing through many miles of arteries, veins and capillaries is made up of 60 trillion cells in an adult, a mixture of one white cell to every 650 red ones. The duty of the red cells is to carry oxygen to every part of the body and at the same time pick up carbon dioxide, a waste product that would prove deadly if left there too long. The white cells take care of sickness and infections, heal cuts, etc.

Where do the red cells pick up the fresh oxygen they distribute throughout the body, and what do they do with the waste carbon dioxide they pick up? This is where the lungs enter the picture. After the blood has made its rounds it is sidetracked to the lungs before returning to the heart to start another trip. When the breath of air you inhale reaches the lungs, its oxygen is turned over to the blood that needs it badly but has become loaded with carbon dioxide. The lungs also remove this carbon dioxide which is discharged into the air each time you exhale—eventually reaching trees and vegetation which require carbon dioxide to live.

The blood, thus treated, passes on to the heart to be pumped along for another round trip. Isn’t this a wonderful arrangement? It is again something that only the Creator could plan and use in the maintenance of life, among humans as well as animals and birds.

Perhaps at some later time we will review the digestive process to see how the food and liquids we take in are used in the body, passing from mouth to stomach for first treatment, then on to other body parts in the digestive system—blood playing a very important part in this too.

Meanwhile, perhaps what we have considered in these three articles will help us appreciate more deeply the wonders of God’s creation of the human body and His continuing care and love for each of us, as the Bible verse states: “Many, 0 Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward.” Psalm 40:5.

ML 07/01/1990

Unwelcome Guests

Unwelcome visitors can give you a real surprise and Lyn wasn’t at all ready to meet her unwelcome visitors.

“I’m going swimming in Grandpa’s new pool,” Lyn had said. The heat of a summer day in Texas made the pool a popular place for all the family. Lyn splashed into the pool then climbed on the rubber mattress. How relaxing to float quietly around the edge of the pool. What a good idea Grandpa had when he put the new pool in!

“Why?” asked Lyn. Her pleasant swim had just begun and she was not pleased to have it cut short.

Steve’s next words convinced her to get out right away: “There’s a skunk in the pool!”

Steve later said he had never seen Lyn moved so fast! She got off the mattress and out of the pool as fast as she could. Two baby skunks had fallen in and were caught in the filter. Steve got them out, but since Lyn had floated right past them, he just had to tease her about a “new perfume.”

I think you and I would have jumped out of the pool every bit as fast as Lyn did. Skunks have such a strong, unpleasant smell that no one has to be told to leave them alone. But I wonder if you and I ever think of sin being as terrible as that awful smell of a skunk. You run away from a skunk, but do you run away from sin? When you see or hear things that are bad do you go away, or do you look or listen more closely?

The next time you smell a skunk and try to pass by quickly, remember that that is the way God feels about sin. “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. God’s Word, the Bible, says, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Proverbs 4:14,15.

But don’t think only about the matter of staying away from sin. I hope you will also think about God’s love for you and how it is so great that He punished His own Son, the Lord Jesus, for sins so that He could offer us a free pardon. “Christ also suffered for us ... who did no sin, neither was guile [deceit] found in His mouth ... who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:21,22,24. Have you come to Jesus for that free pardon of your sins? No one else can give it to you.

Lyn’s “visitors” that day at the swimming pool were unwelcome, and she got away from them as quickly as she could. But I’d like to tell you of some unwelcome visitors that were not avoided. In fact, some people got so used to them that they hardly noticed they were there!

It is always at night when these South American “visitors” come. They are large beetles called venchukas. They carry a deadly disease, and the people they bite can get very sick and even die. Venchukas hide in thatched roofs of huts. At night they come down the walls to bite people while they are sleeping.

Once when we were visiting some friends who were very poor, we slept outside in order to avoid these nighttime visitors. We preferred the stars to the beetles. At another place beds had already been made up for us inside, and, sure enough, before we turned off our flashlights that night we found venchuka beetles already starting to crawl down the walls. We killed all that we could find and asked the Lord Jesus to keep them away from us. We spent a restless night thinking about those awful beetles. To our amazement, the beetles did not bother our friends at all! They were used to them and slept soundly with these beetles in their huts night after night. One night when one friend had already gone to sleep, we found one of those beetles right on his nose!

Perhaps you are thinking that you could never get used to sleeping with venchuka beetles. But sometimes boys and girls get used to something far worse than these nasty beetles. Have you become used to sin? Have you been so much in the habit of telling little lies that you no longer feel that it is wrong? Some people are so used to seeing and hearing bad things on TV that they can watch these things without ever thinking that what they are seeing and hearing is sin in God’s sight.

God has never changed His mind about sin. God is holy and cannot have even just one sin in His home in heaven. But He loves you and has made a way that your heart can be washed from its sin. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.

The longer our friends lived with the beetles, the less the beetles bothered them. If you continue to live in sins of lying, bad words, and unkind thoughts you also will begin to think that they are not so bad. God’s Word, the Bible, warns us that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4. Every sin is serious in God’s sight. Turn to the Lord Jesus now while you are young and He will save you from your sins and make you ready for heaven. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly [freely] pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.

I hope you will not forget about these unwelcome visitors and will turn away from sin just as quickly as Lyn got away from the skunks. Sin will ruin your life, but the Lord Jesus can give you everlasting life. Come to Him today!

ML 07/08/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Bufo Relatives

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1

No clown ever looked funnier than this little toad, sitting upright with its legs and arms outstretched, eyes bright and a big grin across its face as if saying: “Hi there. My name is Bufo Boreas. Want to be friends?”

The Bufoes hatch from eggs in ponds beside the Los Angeles River in Southern California. But after changing from a tadpole into a toad, they leave their birthplace, climb the bank, and go in search of a new home. A golf course or park area will do very well for a year or two, but sooner or later they will return to their original home to join others in producing new batches of tadpoles.

In these trips many hazards await them. Although large numbers are killed each year crossing busy paved roads or die on sun-baked parking lots, their numbers never seem to decrease.

Nearly 500 miles farther north in high meadows near Yosemite Park, an equally restless cousin to Bufo Boreas also leaves its home to seek adventure in life. This one is Bufo Canorus, but because of a rugged life style it is not as cheerful as its relative.

To escape the killing cold of the high mountains, these little creatures hibernate from October until May or June when they come out into the warm sunshine to loaf and happily enjoy themselves, at the same time gaining strength and energy for what is before them.

Soon, like those in the south, they start out to find a suitable pond for a summer home and to raise new batches of tadpoles. But there is quite a trip ahead with many snowdrifts to be crossed, and that is not easy for toads that cannot let their bodies get too chilled or they will freeze to death.

But their Creator has given them remarkable instincts. Coming to a patch of snow too large to go around, they stand up on their hind feet to look it over, and then, with only occasional rests, tiptoe on their four feet across the patch, keeping their stomachs high and dry. They are surprisingly sure-footed on those slippery surfaces. After crossing several such areas, the sought-after pond will be found and provide a summer home. What amazing toads these are!

The opening verse tells us to “remember” the Lord Jesus, and that means not only as Creator, but also as the Saviour of sinners. He invites us to live in His home in heaven when life here is ended. He has paid the full debt of every sinner who comes to Him, confessing that they are sinners and asking Him to be their Saviour. When this is truly done, heaven will be their eternal home.

Make sure you are prepared for it.

ML 07/08/1990

Waiting Till the Last Minute

It was Saturday morning. It was also the last day of the month, which meant that it was the last day for many people to have their cars inspected. As we drove down Wheaton Avenue we saw a long line of cars, waiting, bumper-to-bumper along the side of the road. There were new cars and old cars, big cars and small cars, cars with one person in them and cars with whole families inside. All of them were there for one purpose: to get through the inspection station before it closed at 1:00 that afternoon.

As we passed M Street we looked down that long block and saw the same thing—more cars waiting in line. There were red cars and black cars, blue cars and white cars. The owners had all waited until the last minute to take their cars in for the yearly inspection. Most of us have done the very same thing—waited until the last minute to do something when we’ve had plenty of notice.

I’m too busy to do that school project right now . . . anyway, there’s another whole week before it’s due.

Dad asked me to cut the grass early this week since we’ll be gone for the weekend. What’s the rush? Think I’ll wait till Friday afternoon.

Mom told me to clean up my room. . . but she didn’t say when.

God has warned us that our sins will keep us out of heaven. It’s a matter that each of us should settle with Him, now. But we always have excuses. I’m too busy. What’s the rush? He didn’t say when. But God does have a deadline. And there is a terribly serious penalty for anyone who misses it. “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30.

As we passed that long line of cars at 10:30 in the morning, Earle just shook his head, “Those cars have at least a 4-hour wait ahead of them, and the deadline is 1:00.” Some of those people were not going to make it through the inspection station before it closed. They had waited too long to come. They had let many days go by with one excuse or another. Now they would have to pay a penalty.

The matter of your sins is far too important to put off for any reason.

God has not told us exactly when His deadline is. He has told us that His Son Jesus will be returning soon (no date given) to take back to heaven with Him all who have been cleansed from their sins. He warns us, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man [Jesus] cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40.

Are you ready? Have you been cleansed from your sins? If not, why are you waiting? The Lord Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, paying the penalty for the sins of every person who will accept Him as his or her Saviour. If you will come to Him now, you won’t have to pay the penalty for your sins. But if you wait any longer, you may be too late. God’s deadline could be today!

Those drivers waited too long!

Don’t you wait too long!

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.

ML 07/15/1990

The Moose Sanctuary

Doug had not been in Canada very long before his uncle took him on a trip to Jasper National Park. This was a real treat for him, and he was excited. He had heard about this wonderful park and how the Canadian government had set aside a huge tract of country called a sanctuary where animals could roam about in complete safety.

Uncle Jim knew one of the game wardens who was happy to take the little group on a tour. Nothing pleased him more than to show off the wonders of the reserve. Then began an exciting time for Doug as the game warden pointed out many things of interest as they went along: black and brown bears, buffalo, beavers, sheep with beautiful curved horns, and goats which roamed high up among the rocky peaks. Then Uncle Jim turned to his game-warden friend and said, “I’m sure Doug would like to see a moose.”

The warden cupped his hands around his mouth and gave a peculiar call. After repeating it several times, there was a sound of crackling among the brush, and out into the open dashed a great majestic animal with huge antlers.

“It’s all right,” the warden assured them as he tossed some treats to the animal. What do you think of our moose?”

Doug turned to his uncle in surprise and exclaimed, “I never saw an animal like that before,” which made both men chuckle.

Later on their way home, Uncle Jim talked about all that they had seen. “The moose is the largest of the deer family, and hunters attract them within gunshot range in much the same way as what you saw the game warden do. They imitate the call of a moose so well that one of them is sure to think it’s one of his mates, and he rushes to investigate. However, in the sanctuary the moose are safe.

“You know,” Uncle Jim went on, “the same thing is true for anyone who comes to the Lord Jesus and finds safety in Him. Satan will try to attract them to harm them, but in the Lord Jesus they are safe, because He is much stronger than Satan and He protects them. He is their sanctuary. Remember, Doug, that ‘whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.’” Proverbs 29:25. “Greater is He [the Lord] that is in you, than he [Satan] that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

ML 07/15/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Owl’s World Part 1

“And God created . . . every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21

Although there are many varieties of owls throughout the world, we are not very aware of them because most of their activities are carried on after dark. Many people just think of owls as “wise old birds,” a term given to them perhaps because they see a great deal and say very little.

Most owls spend much time perched on the branch of a tree at dusk or through the night, but some hunt in the day as well, yet manage to keep well hidden. In many ways they are useful to man, helping to control rats, mice, insects, etc., that damage crops.

Their flights are as silent as a shadow, yet amazingly accurate. In the darkness their sensitive ears pick up the faint sounds of a mouse or other rodent down below. They fly directly to it, capture it and then devour it.

Their eyes see remarkably well in almost total darkness, but they are not able to move them sideways.

Instead, they swivel their heads to follow a moving object. Their heads turn so quickly that a person watching would not know it was happening. This has resulted in the mistaken idea that the owl can turn its head completely around.

There are a great number of varieties, all the way from the smallest 6-inch elf owl to the largest 24-inch great horned owl. We will look at a few different ones in this and the two following issues.

The Barn Owl

This fairly large owl is sometimes called the monkey-faced owl and makes its home in any convenient place, from a hollow tree to the top of a church steeple. However, they usually nest in barns or other farm buildings and live peacefully with nearby pigeons. They have long slender legs and wings that spread three feet in flight.

They are pretty birds, with heart-shaped faces and dark eyes. Bodies are snow-white below with spotted back and wing feathers in tones of golden or chocolate brown. Like all owls they have strong, sharp beaks and pointed, vicious talons (or claws) on their four-toed feet, with which they catch their prey.

In the evening and night they hunt for mice, rats, frogs, lizards, fish, insects, etc., never seeming to satisfy their huge appetites.

As we consider these unusual birds it is good to remember the Bible verse that says, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9. This includes you. Have you ever thanked Him for His goodness to you?

ML 07/15/1990

Karina's House

Have you ever sung the Sunday school song about the foolish man who built his house upon the sand? You’ll remember, it says when the storm came his house fell flat because it was not built on the rock. Karina once learned Just how that foolish man felt.

Karina’s house was not built on the sand; it was built right on the ground without a foundation. This was not because Karina’s family was foolish or lazy, but because they were very poor. They could not afford to buy bricks and cement. They lived in the tropics of Bolivia and made their house out of adobe (mud) bricks that had been dried in the sun.

It rained often in the town where Karina and her family lived, so it was not long before the mud bricks became much softer than they had once been. Karina’s father had died, and now her mother had no one to help her decide how best to spend her money. Instead of repairing the house, she used the money she had to buy some new furniture, a T.V. and a new fan imported from Japan.

During the rainy season the ground all around Karina’s house became soft and wet. One morning Karina’s mother realized her mistake. She should have repaired her house, but it was too late. That morning they had to call the power company to disconnect the power, and Karina helped her mother move the new furniture out of the house. In the afternoon the house fell into the street. There they stood with the furniture, outside, for everyone to see their mistake. This must have been how the foolish man felt in the song we sing!

It’s not hard to see the mistake Karina’s family made, but the Bible says plainly that those who do not obey God’s Word are just like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. “Whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27. If you spend all your time just to have fun, go places and buy things without thinking about God, then your life is like Karina’s house. It has no foundation and the fun times you planned will not be a help to you when you must leave this world. No one stays here forever.

You can build your life upon the Word of God by first coming to the Lord Jesus for salvation. The Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

The Word of God is the only solid foundation for your life. Do not try to live without it—do not build your life on the sand. The Lord Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35. Anything else you try to build your life on will fall—just like the foolish man’s house, and just like Karina’s house.

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,

It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;

I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,

For the Bible stands.

ML 07/22/1990

The Pony Express

The Pony Express was an important part of early American history. It ran from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California—a distance of 1900 miles. Forty men, each riding 50 miles at a stretch, dashed along the trail using 500 of the fastest horses available. The trip was made in 10 days.

To keep the weight down their clothing was very light, their saddles were small, and no weapons were carried. The horses wore small horseshoes or none at all. The mail pouches were flat and could not be larger than a certain size. Letters had to be written on very thin paper, because the postage was $5.00 an ounce! However, even with all these limits on weight, there was something that every rider carried with him—a full-sized Bible.

The Bible was presented to each rider when he joined the Pony Express, and he always carried it with him. Why? Because the Scriptures were regarded as “standard equipment.” God was important to the people in those frontier days. They realized the need of reading God’s Holy Word every day.

We, too, like the Pony Express rider, are on our way to a destination—eternity. God has arranged that He will not leave us without a compass or a guide. He has provided us with these in His precious Word, the Bible.

Is the Bible important to you? Is it standard equipment for you every day? Do you read and study it? I hope so.

“From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

ML 07/22/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Owl’s World Part 2

“I [the Lord] know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalm 50:11.

In the last issue we looked at owls in general and then specifically at the one known as the barn owl. Let’s look at another one that is unusually interesting.

Great Horned Owl

Weighing about 3 pounds and measuring 24 inches long from beak to the tip of its tail, this is one of the largest, with the nickname winged tiger because of its boldness and power. It is found in both the eastern and western United States and in Canada all the way into the Yukon.

The name “great horned” comes from the two tufts of feathers on its head that look like ears or horns. Its actual ears are not visible, but are hidden under light feathers on the sides of its head. Its hearing is thought to be the most sensitive hearing in the bird and animal world. With this hearing it can pinpoint the squeak of a mouse or the faint rustle of a beetle moving through dry leaves 300 feet away.

But it does not have to rely entirely on its ears, for its eyes are as large as a man’s and 35 times more sensitive. (Unlike the eyes of most birds, owls’ eyes point forward—they can watch an object with both eyes at the same time, like we do.) Its vision is so keen that it can watch prey a long way off that would be impossible for our eyes to see.

A large, swiveling head enables it to locate prey in almost any direction without moving its body, whether by actual sight or by what its sensitive ears pickup. Taking off from its perch, the owl focuses on an unsuspecting target. The shape of its wings and its fluffy feathers muffle the swishing sound that most birds make when they fly. It silently swoops down, landing on the prey. With its legs braced forward, in one quick move it tosses the victim’s head back, killing it instantly.

The great horned is the boldest of all owls in defending its nest. It is not uncommon for someone trying to get close to be suddenly dive-bombed, receiving painful cuts and torn clothes.

For 9 or 10 weeks the young ones rely on the parents for food, but eventually it is up to them to catch their own. Learning to fly is difficult. On first flight attempts they sometimes end up on the ground. Unable to fly back, they grip the bark of the tree with claws and beak, climbing to a branch, resting awhile, then continuing to climb to a high perch.

In our next issue we will look at two more of these remarkable birds and the ways the Creator, knowing all about each one of them, has designed them for their particular way of life. The opening Bible verse tells us this.

ML 07/22/1990

Neither Rain, nor Fever nor the Measles

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Albert invited boys and girls to come to Bible classes. They lived for several years in South America and were often surprised at how much the poor children wanted to come to the meetings.

“Who could that be at our gate?” asked Mrs. Albert one morning. “It’s not even daylight yet.” She looked at the clock and saw that it was only 5:45 in the morning. She dressed quickly and went to the gate and found Gladys sitting there.

“Buenas dias,” Gladys said.

“Good morning—is there something wrong?” asked Mrs. Albert.

“No,” replied Gladys, “I just came for the Bible meeting this morning.”

“But the Bible meeting isn’t until 9:00!” Mrs. Albert explained.

The Alberts were surprised that their early morning visitor wanted so much to be at the Bible meetings that she came over three hours early!

Another day, Liliana and her friend walked a mile to come to the meeting. When she arrived Mr. Albert noticed that she did not look well.

“Is something wrong with Liliana?” he asked.

“She has a fever,” her friend replied.

Mr. Albert knew that there was an epidemic of dengue fever in the town. When he saw how sick Liliana was he asked his wife to read the Bible with the children that morning, and he took Liliana immediately to the doctor. Her temperature was 103, but she had walked a mile to come to the Bible meeting! An hour later she was in a doctor’s office receiving medicine.

Again, the Alberts were surprised at how badly these poor children wanted to come to the Bible meetings.

Some of the children would walk in pouring rain and cold wind with only a piece of plastic or a sugar bag over their shoulders. Others couldn’t wait until the gate was unlocked. They climbed over the sharp spikes in the gate to get into the yard early.

On still another day Mr. Albert noticed that Myra had funny red spots on her face. When he looked more closely he said, “Why, Myra, I think you have the measles!”

“Oh yes,” she said, unconcerned. “You should be home in bed,” Mr. Albert said.

“Oh no!” Myra begged. “Please don’t send me away! Please let me stay!”

Are you surprised, like the Alberts were, that these poor children would want so much to be at the Bible meetings? Have you ever made an effort to go where the Word of God is read? Is it important to you? You need to listen to God’s Word because it tells about God’s wonderful love in sending His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. It tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. But the Lord Jesus loves you and gave His life that you might be saved. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Just wanting to be at the Bible meetings did not save these boys and girls from their sins. And just reading the Bible or going to listen to God’s Word will not save you either. You need to believe on the Lord Jesus and accept Him as your Saviour. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9. It is not necessary to get up while it’s still dark, or walk in the rain, or go to Bible meetings even when you are sick to be saved. You only need to ask Jesus to save you. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. Ask Him now.

Several years have passed, and the Alberts have moved. They do not know where Gladys, Liliana and many of the other children are now, but they know they will meet in heaven each one of them who accepted Christ as his Saviour. And we hope to meet you there too!

ML 07/29/1990

An Auctioned Bike

At an auction in Washington, D.C., the police auctioned off about 100 unclaimed bicycles.

“$10,” said an 11-year-old boy as the bidding opened on the first bike. The bidding, however, went much higher.

“$10,” the boy repeated hopefully each time another bike came up.

The auctioneer, Mr. Weschler, noticed that the boy’s hopes seemed to soar highest whenever a 10-speed bike was being auctioned. There was just one more 10-speed bike left. The bidding went up to $28.

“Sold to that boy over there for $30!” said Mr. Weschler. He took $20 from his own pocket and asked the boy for his $10.

The boy gave it to him—in single dollars and change—took his bike and started to leave. But suddenly he stopped. Walking his bike back to where Mr. Weschler was, he thanked him over and over again.

In Luke 17 we read the story of how the Lord Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one of them returned to fall at His feet and thank Him. The Lord said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”

God gave His only Son in love to be the Saviour of sinners, and the Lord Jesus gave Himself upon the cross to die to put away sin and to give everlasting life to all who will believe. Are you like one of those nine lepers who went on their way, forgetful of the One who had healed them? Or are you like the boy in our story who returned with a thankful heart. Surely the blessed Saviour and the Father who sent Him are worthy of our thanks and praise.

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15.

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

ML 07/29/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Owl’s World Part 3

“[God] doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number:” Job 5:9.

In the past two issues we have looked at some interesting owls. Let’s look at two more.

The Burrowing Owl

These small owls have heads as round as a ball and long legs. They are dressed in light-colored fluffy feathers from throat to feet, but elsewhere are a soft brown.

They live out on barren deserts, making their homes in underground burrows, which they may dig out themselves, but prefer finding one abandoned by ground squirrels or badgers. They come out of their burrows in the cool of the morning and evening, hunting for lizards, mice, gophers and insects, but retreat to the burrows during the hot hours. They can see well in daylight and are strictly daytime hunters.

Half a dozen little ones are usually raised each springtime, with the parents caring for them a long time. Eventually, of course, the little ones learn to make it on their own.

The Great Gray Owl

This 30-inch bird is a giant in the owl family, with a wide wingspread. Part of the year it makes its home in the far north. In times of snow, it plunges through the snow to catch mice and other rodents active on the ground underneath. But when the snow becomes frozen hard, it finds this difficult and usually migrates to southern Canada and some of the western States.

Its pale yellow eyes are enclosed in an extremely round face covered with short, light-brown feathers, fringed around the circumference. The rest of its body is darker brown mottled with white.

It builds a nest made of sticks and moss high in an evergreen tree, but uses old nests of other large birds when possible.

If space allowed it would be interesting to look at the boreal owl, the long-eared, northern spotted, screech owl, barred owl, saw-whet and arctic owl and many other varieties. But those we have looked at are examples of the ways of most owls.

They are all a reminder to us of the wonderful ways in which the Creator provides for all His creatures. Let us not forget His wonderful care and love for us.

The Psalmist expresses this so well in the Bible verses, “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.” Psalm 77:11,12. Another verse says: “O Lord of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.” Psalm 84:12. Do you trust the Lord?

ML 07/29/1990

A New Baby

Why do you think Mark and Hannah are so happy You guessed it! The little baby they have been talking about and waiting so long for has finally arrived! And here they are, holding him, for the first time! The doctor had written down on his chart when their baby was to be born. So, of course, the family was watching the calendar date with more and more interest as the weeks went by.

But I must tell you about another little baby who was promised to a family long ago. They were not told what month or even what year this baby would be born. At first, many of the people in that family were looking forward eagerly for that special child to be born. But the time seemed too long for waiting, and so, most of them got busy thinking about and doing other things. In fact, they stopped looking at the calendar and forgot about the promise of His birth. When He finally was born, very few people even noticed or cared that He was there.

I am sure by now you have guessed who that baby was. It was Jesus, whom God had sent to be the Saviour of the world. His family was the people of Israel—the nation God had chosen to follow His Son and to be an example to the unbelieving nations around them.

When a new baby is expected things have to be gotten ready. Mark and Hannah’s parents and all of their relatives and friends helped to prepare for the coming of little Andrew. They brought gifts and made sure his crib would be warm and cozy. This was not true of Jesus’ family. Though Joseph and Mary would gladly have done the same, the relatives—the children of Israel—would not even provide a place for Him to be born. So Jesus was born in a stable where the animals were kept. This is especially sad, because remember Jesus is God’s own Son whom He sent from heaven. But God wanted each of us to see how unkind our hearts really are, and how little we care about Him or His Son. However, I do believe the animals in Bethlehem that night were more aware of their Maker than God’s own chosen people were, for the Bible says, ‘The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib, but Israel doth not know [the Lord], My people cloth not consider [the Lord].” Isaiah 1:3.

All new babies have to be given a name. So Mark and Hannah’s parents had a special name all picked out for their new baby. I am sure they had a special reason for choosing the name Andrew. And God had a special name picked out for His Son before He was born. He told both Joseph and Mary to call Him “Jesus.” God had a special reason for choosing that name—it means “Saviour.” God had planned that His Son Jesus would “save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21.

Have you thought about who Jesus really is? Peter said in Matthew 16:16, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul tells us why He came: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” And Isaiah 53:6 tells us who the sinners are: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.”

It is too late to open our homes for a place for the Lord Jesus to be born, because the time of His birth is over, isn’t it? He is no longer a baby. But it is not too late to open our hearts to Him, because right now He is a Man sitting on the right hand of God. On the cross He finished the work of salvation that God gave Him to do while He was down here. And now He is offering that gift of salvation to you. Will you open your heart to Him? Right now?

ML 08/05/1990

A Saving Word

A Mount on which a king was slain? (1 Samuel 31)

A Bride brought home with camel train? (Genesis 24)

A Shepherd by his brother slain? (Genesis 4)

A Brook dried up through want of rain? (1 Kings 17)

A Queen who for her people prayed,

And by her means had judgment stayed? (Esther 7)

Initials form a precious word,

Which those know best who trust the Lord.

ML 08/05/1990

Can God See Us?

“God can’t see us in our house,” said three-year-old David as he looked at the star-filled sky above him. His grandmother had just reminded him of his Sunday school memory verse— “Thou God seest me.”

“Yes, He can,” said Grandmother. “And He can even see us at night.”

“But we close the curtains on our windows at night,” was David’s reply.

David’s grandmother patiently explained how God can see everything we do, hear everything we say, and knows everything we think. So there is no hiding from Him. Children are not the only ones who think it is possible to hide from God. Teens and grown-ups both sometimes think this way about their sins. But God has said, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23. God does not want us to try to hide from Him, but to admit our sins to Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

ML 08/05/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Importance of Water

“God. . . covereth the heaven (sky) with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth.” Psalm 147:7,8

The human body is about 70 percent water which, next to oxygen, is the most important thing enabling us to live. Almost all things in nature demand water. The Creator has satisfied this need through clouds, dew, rain and snow, as well as the unseen humidity of the air.

Of course not all places on earth have the same amount. Desert areas, for instance, do not receive the same amount of water as rain forests, or swampy areas where trees and other vegetation grow right in water. Yet the Creator has placed in each part of the world the forms of life best suited to its climate. Consider the cacti and trees of deserts where rain may only fall two or three times a year. The Creator has so formed the vegetation that when rain does come they can store it in their roots and trunks for later use. Camels crossing desert sands drink huge amounts before traveling and can then survive comfortably for a week or more without drinking.

Adult men and women use up to three Quarts of water a day. Not all of it comes from liquid we drink—almost everything we eat has water in it. Meat, for instance, is often 70 percent water, potatoes 80 percent and watermelon more like 97 percent.

Farmer’s crops need lots of water either from rainfall or irrigation, as do grass and flowers. This is true of trees as well, whether fruit-bearers, leafy oaks and maples, needle-bearing evergreens or giant redwoods. Where does all the water come from. and is there danger that we may run out of it? Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 1:7 wrote, “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” This brings our attention to one of the most remarkable things in God’s creation: the amount of water in the world, in overhead clouds, as snow on mountains, and the contents of lakes, rivers and oceans (above ground or underground), is always the same. None of it is ever lost! What a wonderful provision this is! The oceans hold just so much, and in spite of rivers, rain and snow draining into them, there is a perfect balance. Evaporation raises just the right amount back into the sky to return later as rain or snow, keeping the perfect balance by the only One who could design such a cycle—the Creator Himself.

Because water is so vital for maintaining life, the Lord used it as a symbol of accepting Him as Saviour, to give us everlasting life, when He said, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

Have you taken a drink of that water?

ML 08/05/1990

Rescued From a Hard Master

Andres and his family lived in a little shack by the river in Lima, Peru. They were very poor like many people in Lima, but it was not because Andres did not have a job that his family was poor. No, he had a good job with the Navy as a mechanic. He was known to be a very good mechanic and could even fix difficult parts of an engine without proper tools. Sad to say, Andres and his family were poor because, like many other lost sinners, Andres was a slave to alcohol. When he got his pay on Fridays, he could not resist the calls of his friends to drink with them in the local bar.

Andres had four small children and his sinful habit was causing a good deal of misery to the family. He did love his family, but he could not stop drinking by his own will. He needed to be set free from the power of Satan by the only One who can break that power—God.

The devil who came “to steal, to kill, and to destroy” was the one who led Andres into this sin. Andres had continued in this sinful way until he could not escape by himself. Only the power of God could set him free now.

One Friday when there was nothing at all in the little shack to eat, his wife was anxiously waiting for Andres to come home. It was payday and she needed money to buy food. She guessed why Andres was late. No doubt he was drinking with his friends again, just like he did every payday. When he did arrive home, she was still waiting.

“Your pay, Andres?” she asked, trying to hide her concern.

“Right here,” he said, reaching into his shirt pocket. But his shirt pocket was empty. So were all his other pockets. Someone had stolen the rest of his money in the bar.

Andres really did love his little family in spite of his slavery to alcohol, and now they were in real trouble. They had nothing to eat in the house, and there would not be another cent until the next payday.

Poor Andres was finding out that Satan is a hard master. His poor children were hungry, and it was all his fault. Andres went to bed that night hungry and miserable. But that was not all.

All night long he dreamed. In his dreams he searched for his money and found it by the road. He closed his hand on it and woke up immediately—with empty hands. Then he went to sleep again and dreamed he found his money on a table in the bar. Just as he picked it up, he woke up clutching nothing in his trembling hand. Over and over again he dreamed that he found his money, but he woke up each time empty-handed.

Andres could not forget that terrible night. He could see that God was using it to show him that he was serving Satan. He longed now to be free from his drinking habit, and was sorry for the sadness and hunger he was causing in his family.

But God in His tender love was watching the little family. He first showed them His goodness in sending some food. His wife’s mother arrived the next day from the country with a bag of potatoes. Those potatoes and a little food borrowed from the neighbors kept them from starving until the next payday.

But God’s goodness did not stop there. When those who serve the devil are in trouble, they find that this awful master does not help or comfort them. But God’s love is just the opposite! His love is so great that He helps those in trouble even while they are still His enemies! “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7,8.

God in His kindness allowed Andres to hear the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. Andres knew that he was one of the sinners that Jesus came to save. He simply believed in the Lord Jesus and received the forgiveness of his sins. “By Him all that believe are justified from all things.” Acts 13:39.

God not only forgave Andres’s sins, He also delivered him from the power of alcohol. He could now provide food and clothing for his dear wife and children instead of spending his money in the bar. How happy his wife and children were to see their father at home, singing hymns of thanksgiving to the Lord. In fact, Andres never, even to this day, seems to tire of thanking his Saviour. “Giving thanks unto the Father ... who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [changed] us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Colossians 1:12,13.

Boys and girls, you too are a slave to sin if you have never come to the loving Saviour to be forgiven. Be like Andres and change masters today!

ML 08/12/1990

What Does Your License Plate Say?

License plates are a very important part of every car. In fact, in most places a car must have a license plate to be on the road. It is interesting to notice the colors and designs on license plates from different parts of the country. They often try to pass on a message about that area.

Have you ever watched for license plate messages? I often see a small red car with the license plate RED DOT. Recently, I saw a convertible with the message BREEZ-E! Others I have spotted have been THE GEM, MY HUNY and D-LITE. These people must really want others to know they like their cars.

What would your license plate say if you could wear one—HAPPY? MEAN? GLAD? SAD? Many times the way we are acting passes on a message just like a license plate would. Our actions often are easy to read and sometimes, sad to say, the message is not a good one. For Christians a good license plate to wear would be one that says I’M SAVED. But wouldn’t it be even better if our actions showed that we were saved from our sins and belonged to the Lord Jesus? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

ML 08/12/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Importance of Oxygen

“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” Psalm 150:6.

What’s colorless, tasteless and invisible? Oxygen, and it’s essential for almost all living things—including us. Even fish need oxygen, and the Creator has provided them with gills to absorb the right amount from water.

Oxygen is important for many things. Hospitals use it every day to help save lives of seriously ill people or victims of accidents. Also, without it there would be no fire in your fireplace or furnace, no pure water to drink, and almost every living thing on earth would die.

With all this demand for oxygen, is there danger that it may run out? No, the Creator well knew how much oxygen would be needed to sustain life, and He provided an abundant supply when the world was created. He also arranged for oxygen renewal.

Incidentally, if oxygen and hydrogen (which are the two elements of water) are separated from each other and exposed to fire, they would instantly make the fire burn more fiercely. But here’s something amazing—when they are combined in the form of water and applied to a fire in a large enough quantity, they put the fire out! This is another wonderful provision of the Creator for the safety of humanity.

God, our Creator, has arranged a remarkable partnership between people and plants. People must have oxygen; plants must have carbon dioxide. The Creator designed each to supply what the other needs.

Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, which they need to live, and release oxygen into the air, which we need to live. For us to inhale this oxygen-enriched air into our lungs, we must first exhale carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide, harmful to our bodies, is exactly what trees and foliage need in order to be healthy.

Remember, the oxygen we breathe comes from trees and plants of the world. We must be careful to avoid unnecessary destruction of this vital resource.

The Bible verse at the beginning of this article speaks of using our breath to praise the Lord. Have you ever thanked Him for His marvelous plan of salvation as well as His amazing provisions for us in creation? Another Psalm expresses it, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103:2.

ML 08/12/1990

Attacked by Whales!

William Butler and his wife were going on a round-the-world adventure. In their 40-foot sloop the two of them set out from Miami, Florida, on a trip that would take four years. For two months all went well.

By June 15, 1989, they were 1,200 miles west of the Central American coastline. At 4 a.m. a pod of about 200 whales was swimming past the Butlers when suddenly the largest whale attacked their boat. More whales began battering the sloop, and they punctured a hole in the fiberglass hull before they finally swam away.

The Butlers heard water gushing into their boat. They immediately launched their six-foot inflatable raft, loaded it with some provisions, and sent out a Mayday signal—a call for help. Fifteen minutes later their boat sank. They were left alone in the Pacific Ocean in their small rubber raft.

To add to their problems, they accidentally poked a hole in their raft as they were getting in. They quickly found a patch in their emergency kit. Mr. Butler said afterwards, “By the grace of God, the patch we had was exactly the right size for the hole in the raft.”

For the next 66 days the Butlers floated with the ocean currents. They caught fish, first with a hook and line, and then by hand when they lost the hook. They had to eat the fish raw.

Nearly 40 ships went by, but no one saw them. The Butlers knew the value of prayer, and as they drifted alone out on the ocean they asked God to send someone to rescue them. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15.

The day after they fired their last signal flare, a Costa Rican coast guard boat was searching for a missing shrimp boat. They spotted the Butlers in their little raft, 30 miles from Costa Rica. The Butlers had drifted 1,170 miles in 66 days.

Mr. Butler said of their ordeal, “We discovered once again the power of God and prayer. That’s the only thing that really saved us.”

Let’s change places now, boys and girls. Put yourself in the Butlers’place. You are alone on the ocean. All the ships pass right by without anyone seeing you. You are facing death. Now, can you pray? Do you believe that God sees you and hears your prayers?

Each of us is in our own little boat on the ocean of life. Some of us are looking forward to entering the safe harbor of heaven. Some are drifting with the currents and heading toward shipwreck on the shore of destruction, called hell. Where are you headed? To heaven or to hell?

The Butlers looked to God for help, and He sent a boat that wasn’t even looking for them. But did you know that God sent Someone to seek for you to save you? “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. Without the Saviour you are lost on the ocean of life and heading toward certain shipwreck. Right now trust in Jesus Christ to save you. Let God forgive you and let Jesus pilot you safe home to heaven’s harbor.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7.

ML 08/19/1990

Amy's Kitten

Amy was playing in the yard one summer evening. She was catching fireflies and putting them into a jar. She enjoyed watching them light up in the jar.

As she chased one firefly that was near the back fence, she saw something crawl between the pickets. Looking closely, since it was now nearly dark, she found a little gray kitten. It was dirty and skinny, but as it rubbed against Amy’s leg she could hear it purring. She felt sorry for the stray kitten. Picking it up, she carried it into the kitchen. “Look what I found,” she announced. “A kitty!”

As soon as Amy’s daddy saw the kitten he told her to take it back outside and let it go. She could feed it something on the porch first, but he didn’t think they needed a cat living with them.

Amy cried and pleaded with her daddy to please let her keep it. Her daddy loved Amy very much and didn’t like to make her unhappy.

But he did not like cats. He told her to put it out on the porch for now.

How can I keep Amy happy without keeping the kitten, he wondered. He decided that the next day he would take the kitten out to Grandpa’s farm and then buy Amy a new doll. That should make her happy, he told himself.

After Amy went to bed, Daddy went out on the porch to see if the kitten was still around. When he couldn’t find it he figured it had run away. “I won’t have to take it out to the farm, but I think I’ll get her the doll anyway since she will still be upset about the kitten,” he explained to his wife.

She smiled and then said, “Maybe you’d better look over there in the corner of the porch in Amy’s doll bed.”

There Daddy found the doll on the floor beside a saucer of milk and the kitten curled up asleep in the doll bed.

“Amy put the kitten there,” her mother said. “That’s how much she loves that kitty. She gave it her favorite doll’s bed. Don’t you think you could let her keep it?”

Daddy did think about it. The next morning he went into Amy’s room and gently wakened her. “You can keep the little kitty,” he told her.

Oh, how happy she was! Nothing could have pleased her more. She threw her arms around her daddy’s neck and gave him a big hug and a kiss.

We may not feel like that kitty, but in God’s eyes we are all like a little stray kitten—dirty, hungry and friendless. Even worse, we are sinners. But God still loves us, and He sent His beloved Son to die for us. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. Those who come to the Lord Jesus with their problem of sin will find a very warm welcome. He never turns anyone away, and says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. He washes our sins away and He comforts and feeds us. He also shows us not only how much He loves us, but that He will never let us go. One day very soon He has promised to come to take us to the Father’s house in heaven to be with Him forever. Oh what a wonderful Saviour He is. Is He your Saviour?

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML 08/19/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Roots Are Important

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him; rooted and built up in Him.” Colossians 2:6,7.

“Yum, yum! This peach is so good—sweet and juicy. I want another one.” Did you ever say something like this? How do you suppose all that flavor and juiciness gets into a peach? Someone might answer: “through the sunshine.” That’s partly right, because all plants need light. But there is something else that is important, and that is the roots. Hidden in soil, they give nourishment to the parts of the plant that we see. Roots are an important wonder of God’s creation in providing for our needs.

In turning to Genesis 2:7, we read: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust [soil] of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” When God chose rich soil to form the first man, we may be sure He was planning ahead to care for his needs as well as for all of us. Adam’s body, created with all the important minerals, nutrients and moisture of that very soil, could continue to live. His hunger would be satisfied from plants. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, and plants themselves would supply these important things from the soil—by way of the roots.

This is why our title reads, “Roots Are Important.” It is through the hidden roots that these important minerals and nutrients are taken from the soil and passed on to the parts of plants that we eat.

Not all food grows above ground. Instead of sending all minerals and nutrients into the parts of the plant above ground, some roots store them. Many of these roots are good to eat—carrots, radishes, beets, potatoes and others.

God’s creation, of course, has many growing things not meant for eating. Even a little blade of grass depends on a root, as do huge redwood and sequoia trees that grow as high as 300 feet above ground. If you could dig all the dirt away from the base of most large trees, you would find the roots spread out from the trunk at least as far as the overhead branches extend. You have probably noticed how strong roots of shade trees often crack and raise pieces of cement sidewalks several inches. Even small roots will sometimes break stones apart.

In Psalm 1 a man who delights in the word of the Lord is “like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” Just as tree roots get needed water from the river, so we get our spiritual food from God’s Word, the Bible. In Ephesians 3:17 we learn that when Christ lives in our hearts by faith, we are “rooted and grounded in love.” Is your life rooted in the love of the Lord Jesus? Are you getting your daily food from His Word?

ML 08/19/1990

Special Hands

“Mr. Albert! Chilina’s cut her hand!” our neighbor called.

I hurried out to the gate to see what had happened. Chilina had often come to our Bible classes, and she was a special little friend.

“What happened?” I asked.

“She fell in the mud and there was a broken bottle there.”

“That’s a bad cut. I think we had better take her to the doctor.”

I quickly backed out the jeep, and Chilina and her mother climbed in. Thankfully, our doctor was at the hospital right then. He quickly took Chilina into the emergency room to clean her hand and sew it up.

“I’m not going to completely sew up the cut,” Doctor Franco said. “The palm of the hand is a bad place for a cut.”

“Why?” I asked.

“There’s a cushion of fatty tissue and not many blood vessels in the palm of the hand. It can easily get infected,” Doctor Franco explained.

Doctor Franco finished his work and told us how to care for Chilina’s hand so that it wouldn’t get infected. A few weeks later her hand had healed nicely.

Now let’s think about that hand and why God made it the way He did. The doctor had said, “Lots of fatty tissue and not many blood vessels there.” How kind of God to plan it that way! The fatty tissue makes a cushion to protect the tendons that are in your hand. The lack of blood keeps your hand from bruising easily when you use it to work. You couldn’t pound very well with a hammer if it were the other way around—not much fatty tissue and lots of blood. God knew how much we would use our hands when He designed them.

Try it. Slap the palm of your hand down hard on a desk. Now try doing it, gently, with the other side of your hand. It hurts a lot more when you hit the back of your hand, doesn’t it? Those layers of fat protect the palm of your hand so that you can work with it. Wasn’t God wise to make your hand like that?

Now try this. Have a friend hold a pencil or a crayon behind your back so that you cannot see it. Feel it with your fingers and see if you can tell if it is the crayon or the pencil. Easy, wasn’t it? Now, close your eyes. Have the friend touch your arm lightly with either the pencil or crayon. Could you tell without looking which it was? Maybe you could, maybe not. It certainly wasn’t as easy as with your fingers. That’s because God has placed many more nerves in your hand than in the skin of your arm. God knew you would need them in your fingers to find things in the Egyptians were afraid they might become stronger than themselves and refuse to be their slaves. So Pharaoh, the cruel Egyptian king, gave orders that every baby boy born to the Israelites should be thrown into the Nile River.

But there’s even more. Both your hands and my hands are the same, with layers of fat and not much blood in the palm and lots of nerves in the fingers. Yet my fingers are also very different from yours. We each have different fingerprints—so different that fingerprints are used by the government and the police for identification. Even the twins in our family have different fingerprints. God gave us all wonderfully made hands, but He also made each one different. You are special.

And so God doesn’t just want a thousand children in heaven. He wants you. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever [put your own name here] believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. God was thinking about you before He ever made the world, and He wants you to be part of His happy family in heaven.

You can tell by looking at hands that God loves everyone, but when you look at your own specially designed fingerprints, remember that He loves you. Others have said, “The Son of God ... loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. Can you say it too?

ML 08/26/1990

Moses and the Ark of Bulrushes

Long ago the children of Israel were slaves in the land of Egypt. Their numbers grew so large that the dark, to feel quickly if something is too hot or cold, and many other such things. God planned this for you—have you thanked Him for it? How often I have used my fingers day after day without ever stopping to think of God’s love in giving such special fingers to me!

All the parents of baby boys were terribly sad when their babies were taken from them and drowned in the river!

One mother who loved and obeyed God believed that He would help her. Her name was Jochebed. When her baby boy was born she just couldn’t let him be taken away from her. She hid him in her house for three months. But as he grew older he cried louder. She knew she couldn’t hide him much longer.

What could she do? She and her husband, Amram, probably prayed much to God about it. Finally, Jochebed decided to make an ark (a small floating bed) out of bulrushes. She smeared the outside of the little ark with slime and pitch to make it waterproof. Then she gently laid her baby in it and carried it to the river. She set it in among the reeds that grew in the shallow water. Leaving the baby’s older sister Miriam hidden to watch the baby, she sadly went home.

A little later Pharaoh’s daughter came down to wash herself in the river. She saw the little ark and told one of her maids to get it and bring it to her. How surprised she must have been to find a baby inside. The baby was crying, and this was used by God to make her feel sorry for the baby and want to save it. Just then Miriam came out of hiding and volunteered to get a nurse to take care of the baby. When Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, Miriam brought her own mother to Pharaoh’s daughter as a nurse for the baby. Now Jochebed could continue caring for her baby boy without being afraid. She could love him as much as she wanted and even be paid by Pharaoh’s daughter for taking care of him. How she and Amram must have thanked God for the way He arranged things! But is there anything that is too hard for God?

Pharaoh’s daughter named the little boy Moses, which means “drawn out,” because she drew him out of the river. He became her adopted son. The Bible tells us that when Moses grew up he was the man chosen by God to bring His people out of Egypt and to lead them toward the land that had been promised to them. So that is how God honored a mother who trusted Him for the care of her son. Are you trusting in Him?

“Them that honor Me I will honor.” 1 Samuel 2:30.

ML 08/26/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The World’s Oldest Living Things

“I the Lord have . . . made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.” Ezekiel 17:24

Bristlecone pine trees, gnarled and weather-worn, are considered the oldest living things in the world. Many started growing as long as 4000 to 5000 years ago—some before the great pyramids of Egypt were built, others while the Israelites were crossing the desert. While some bristlecones are 100 feet or more tall, many are short and stubby, and each has a beauty of its own.

How do they survive in the mountains of California and Mexico at heights of 10,000 feet or more, where summers are extremely hot and winter storms bring sub-zero temperatures and fierce windstorms? A strong root system, clinging to patches of soil in the hard and rocky areas, is part of the answer.

Their tough, waxy needles help them survive as well. Where bristle-cones grow there is not much rainfall, but the Creator supplies some of their moisture requirements another way. At that high altitude summer fog and clouds blow over them. Enough tiny droplets of water collect on the needles to form drops that fall to the ground, providing moisture for the roots. The needles also prevent snow from piling up and breaking the branches. When the load gets too heavy they bend down and the snow slides off. As this snow melts it gives further moisture to the roots. The needles also contain protective poison so that birds and animals stay away from them.

Older trees, and some younger ones, have survived lightning and severe storms that have killed sections of the trees, leaving some dead trunks and limbs alongside the living green ones—the dead sections actually sheltering the living. Over the years these dead sections have become polished, gnarled and twisted by severe weather, resulting in natural beauty. A visitor observing one of these ancient trees cannot help but wonder at their long survival under such conditions.

Bristlecones begin life as a seed dropped from a cone, perhaps blown from the parent tree and taking root in a sheltered bit of soil some distance away. Their rate of growth is so slow that the tiniest tree growing now is likely many, many times older than the person looking at it. While young they are usually straight and upright, but wind, rain and snow have made many of them bent and weathered while still small.

When we consider the beauty and majesty of these trees that God has created, we can understand the meaning of the Bible verse that says: “Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded and they were created ... mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars [related to the bristlecones].” Psalm 148:5,9.

ML 08/26/1990

Chrissy's Bad Dream

Chrissy awoke from her bad dream crying out in fear. Her mother jumped out of bed and ran to Chrissy’s room in a panic. She could not imagine what terrible thing had happened to Chrissy. In all of her six years, Chrissy had never had such an outburst!

But even comforting her in her room there were still long moments before her mother could find out the reason. Then frantically, between sobs, the story came out, “Daddy and the man across the street were bitten by a mosquito and they are going to die.” To Chrissy, the dream was still so real it seemed completely true.

Chrissy’s, mother tried for more than a half an hour to explain to Chrissy that most mosquito bites just leave a little read mark and an itch that soon goes away. But this did not calm Chrissy. Her daddy and the man across the street were bitten by a mosquito, and they were going to die!

It was heft that her mother remembered that Chrissy had overheard the two men talking. The neighbor had heard a news report that said a mosquito carrying a fatal disease was making its way to other countries from South America. Finally, when Chrissy’s sobbing did not stop, her daddy (alive and well) suggested that they go in the kitchen and have some hot chocolate, which Chrissy loved. He hoped this would get her mind off her dream. But even this idea failed. Daddy finally went back to bed since only one pair of comforting arms could hold Chrissy at a time.

Then suddenly a man’s voice spoke out from the darkness. It was not Daddy’s voice—he had gone back to bed—and no other man lived in their house! Yet the reassuring voice very clearly was saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Somehow neither Chrissy nor her mother was frightened. They knew it was God speaking, to settle a matter that was too big for them. The Lord Jesus wanted them to know that only faith in His power can save us from our fears, as well as from our sins. Chrissy already knew that her sins were all forgiven. She had accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour when she was only three—the day her mother explained to her why the Lord Jesus had had to die on the cross. Chrissy understood that Christ Jesus “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree [cross].” 1 Peter 2:24. She simply believed it and knew she was saved—her sins were gone.

Satan’s sin-bite is a great deal worse than any mosquito bite. If we are not cured of it before we die, we will also go to that place called hell. By just believing God’s Word, we may say, “Christ died for [MY] sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3), and, “Now I am going to heaven.”

Perhaps you are wondering about the man’s voice in the darkness. It was coming from a radio. God had used that man to bring His message to Chrissy.

God has another lesson He wants us to learn from Chrissy’s experience. Do you suppose the man had any idea that his words would be used by God that night to calm the fearful heart of a little Christian? Let’s remember that every word spoken for Christ may be used in far greater ways than we can imagine. That man never dreamed that thousands of people like you and me would be reading a story, almost 15 years later, about just one result of those 11 words of life which he spoke that night. And he still knows nothing about it! Doesn’t this encourage us to tell others what God’s Word says? Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “My Word . . . shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God’s Word is seed that grows and drops many more seeds. The wind of God’s Spirit blows some of these seeds into far distant places and even far distant years. Like that man, in heaven we will enjoy many surprises of how the Lord multiplied His Word, spoken through us. These will add to our praises: “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Revelation 1:5. Have you been washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus? He will wash away your sins by simple faith in His work on Calvary’s cross, and soon He will “wipe away all tears from [your] eyes.” Revelation 21:4. Can you find another friend like this?

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” Psalm 56:3.

ML 09/02/1990

The Cookie Man

Danny and his family moved from Cleveland to Chicago. Since Danny’s father was transferred by the company he works for, they were given no choice—the whole family had to move. Even though Danny was only four years old he had been very unhappy about leaving his grandma behind in Cleveland. The family had always lived near her, and Danny did not like to think that he would not be seeing her almost every day.

Every week since they had moved four years ago, Grandma had sent some of her homemade cookies to Danny and his family. She knew what their favorite kinds were: chocolate chip, peanut butter and sugar cookies. Every week the big delivery truck pulled up to Danny’s house in Chicago to deliver the box of cookies from Grandma. Danny always called the delivery man, “The Cookie Man.”

Once again, Danny’s father was being transferred. This time it was to far-off Puerto Rico. Danny thought about having to leave all the friends he had made in Chicago, and he felt sad. That week when “The Cookie Man” arrived with the box of cookies, Danny suddenly had a terrible thought: Does “The Cookie Man” go all the way to Puerto Rico? He quickly asked, “Mr. Cookie Man, do you deliver in Puerto Rico?”

“No, Danny, we don’t deliver there.”

Poor Danny would not be able to receive his grandma’s “box of love” from “The Cookie Man” after he moved to Puerto Rico.

Isn’t it good to know that God’s gift of love is available anywhere in the world. It does not depend on a delivery man. God’s gift of love is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. No matter where we live we can receive God’s gift simply by accepting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour.

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

All are precious in His sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

ML 09/02/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Lovely Avocet

“And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air.” Genesis 2:19

There are four species of the pretty bird called the avocet, and all are quite similar except for coloring. One of these is the American avocet, called this because its home is in the United States and Canada. It migrates north in spring to the Arctic and returns south to Canada and the United States in fall. This long-legged, web-footed, 18-inch resident of marshes and ponds is called a “wader.” This is because much of its time is spent wading as it hunts for food.

Beautiful color combinations mark the American species. The tan, smooth feathers of its neck, head and breast are set off with a small white circle around each dark eye. It has a larger circle at the base of its long, up-curved, slender, black bill. Below the breast the body is pure white, partly covered with black wings. Long, slender, strong legs and extra-large, partially webbed feet complete the picture. In flight it spreads long wings far out and trails its legs behind like a rudder.

When choosing a mate, the male, while wading in water, entertains a female sitting on the ground. She may encourage him with motions of her head and wings. He struts gracefully through the shallow water, stopping now and then to bow to her. Then he spreads his wide wings and shows her how gracefully he can dance. If she responds to all this, they soon begin to build a nest in a hidden spot among brush and grass.

The female lays three or four olive-colored eggs which will hatch in three or four weeks. The male incubates them for a week or more and then turns the rest of the job over to the female. If an enemy threatens her, he is close by and immediately comes to her aid.

The baby chicks can run around right after hatching. If the parents warn them to be still, they “freeze” immediately and stay that way, even permitting a person to pick them up.

The Creator has provided these birds with long, up-curved bills to enable them to get food from the marshy areas. With them they probe in the mud for small shellfish and worms. At other times they swing their opened bills back and forth just above the surface of the water to catch insects hovering there.

The opening Bible verse tells of the Creator’s bringing all birds and beasts into the world. And we know He took great pleasure in all He created. More importantly, we are also told of His special love for each one of us. He wants each of us to accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour—the One who died on the cross, providing a way for us to be in heaven.

If you have not yet come to Him, why not come right now? He will receive you. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 09/02/1990

Leona, the Dancer

It was New Year’s day when the drums and flutes began to play. Now, three days later, the drums continued to boom out their rhythms and the flutes kept on playing their short, shrill tunes over and over again. Men and women from a town high in the Andes Mountains had been dancing up and down the streets for all three days. They were so tired that they could hardly keep on dancing, but still they did not stop. Fear kept them dancing until the end of the third day. Sad to say, they thought that the drums, the flutes and the dances would drive away the evil spirits of the New Year. Most of the dancers had never heard of the, wonderful love of God who forgives sinners when they receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. They did not know that God protects His own children, and that Jesus is stronger than evil spirits.

As they passed by the house many times with the same short, shrill tune and the continual beating of the drums, I wondered if perhaps the evil spirits had come closer to the poor dancers instead of going away.

“I used to dance in the streets like that,” said Leona.

Leona? Dancing in the streets? It hardly seemed possible. Why, I had seen Leona giving out gospel papers in the streets, not dancing. She often came to ask if I had more of the papers. “I don’t know how to read,” she said, “but I know they tell about my Saviour.” Another time when Leona visited us, she said, “It hurts to see the gospel papers thrown on the ground. Some do not want them.”

Yes, Leona, was different now from the dancers in the street. She had lived most of her life chewing coca leaves, dancing with the others, and living without any thought of God. If you had seen her only about two years before, you probably would have thought that the old Indian lady, wrinkled and stooped, had lived without God for too many years. How could she be saved now? But a loving, patient God knew that it was not too late. He sent a Christian to tell Leona about the Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who died on the cross and shed His blood to save sinners. She received the “Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” Galatians 1:3,4.

Now, Leona the dancer was saved by the grace of God. Although she was the oldest Indian at our Bible meetings, she was usually the first to arrive. How God had changed her life after so many years without Him!

“How old are you, sister Leona?” I asked.

Leona chuckled. “How old would I be?” she replied. “My parents told me when I was 16, but that was too many years ago. I can’t remember now.”

Another day I went to visit Leona in her home. It was a small hut made out of mud bricks. There was no window, just a door. She lived with her son and his seven children, and they were so poor that the children sometimes ate cornstalks.

“How are you getting along, sister Leona?” I asked.

“We’re okay, but the venchukas won’t let us sleep,” she said. Venchukas are beetles that hide in the thatched roofs and come out at night to bite those who are sleeping. Leona’s hut was so dark that they would come out even during the day if it were cloudy.

Finally we had to leave Leona’s town in the mountains. We were sorry to leave our friends there. But one of the last things Leona said to us was: “My heart bothers me, but I have only One Doctor—He’s in heaven! I have only One Saviour—in heaven!”

Now we have learned that Leona also left that town in the mountains. She left her mud hut to go to live in a palace! She left this world to go to live forever with her Saviour. She was poor in this world, but now she is rich in heaven.

How will it be with you? Will you be rich in this world but poor in hell? God would like to welcome you to His happy home in heaven, but His doors are closed to one thing—the doors of heaven are closed to sin. Leona had many years of sins to be washed away, but the blood of Christ was able to remove them all. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Won’t you come to the Lord Jesus for salvation like Leona did? If you do, God will welcome you someday into His home, not just as a visitor, but as one of His own children. “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2,3.

Leona will never again sleep in a mud hut where the venchukas bite, yet it is not just the wonderful home in heaven that makes her happy. No, even there on the street of gold with all the songs and beauty of heaven, Leona’s joy is not in what is there, but rather in Who is there. The Lord Jesus, Himself, our Saviour, will be the great joy of heaven. Come with us there!

ML 09/09/1990

One Word Answer

“Who can tell me in one word the way to get to heaven?” the Sunday school teacher asked her four and five-year-olds. Several hands went up.

“Okay, Peggy?”

“Sunday school,” replied Peggy promptly.

“What do you say, Megan?”

Megan suggested, “Praying,” and Lisa added, “Being good.” But not one of those answers was the correct answer the teacher was waiting for.

Then small, brown-eyed Alison shyly put up her hand and whispered, “Jesus.”

“Not by works of righteousness [good things] which we have done, but according to His [Jesus’] mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5.

ML 09/09/1990

The Wonders of Goes Creation

The Agouti of Central America

“Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward.” Psalm 40:5

Central America is home for many kinds of wildlife, including large and small animals. One of these is the agouti, also known as the guatuga. Most of these live in Costa Rica, but some live in South America as well.

The agouti is a harmless little rodent about the size of a rabbit. If it hears strange noises or spots an enemy such as a jaguar, coati, or vicious monkey, it gives a special alarm call to others nearby. At the same time it “freezes” as still as a statue, or will dash for cover, zigzagging through the trees. The Creator has provided it with strong legs which it uses to move quickly when threatened.

This rather pretty little animal with no tail has large, bulging eyes, a pointed head and blunt nose. Its long pink ears are always standing upright when the agouti is awake, which accounts for its keen sense of hearing. Generally it has light brown fur. Its chin and mouth are light in color, with darker legs, stomach and head.

The agouti usually makes its home in a sheltered spot under tree roots, between rocks, or in a hollow log. This peaceful creature hunts in daylight for its food, consisting mostly of wild avocados or other fruit, nuts, leaves, roots, or stems of tasty shrubs. Unlike most animals, its babies are already covered with hair when born; their eyes are fully open, and almost immediately they begin eating plants.

Natives consider the agouti a helpful friend because it aids in starting new trees to grow after a forest fire or damaging wind has raged through their part of the country. Since this animal likes acorns and other nuts, it buries large numbers of them in the ground, planning to return later to dig them out. But, like squirrels and chipmunks which do the same thing, it often forgets where some are buried. In a short time these take root, and soon new trees are started.

These rather cute little animals are another example of the wonderful works of the Lord God, the Creator, mentioned in our opening verse. We are told elsewhere that He is always looking over all His creation, caring for it.

But He has a special place in His caring heart for every boy and girl, man and woman, as this verse states: “And Thy thoughts which are to us-ward.” Yes, He has loving thoughts of you. Do you have loving thoughts of Him? He wants you to know His love and invites you to accept Him as your Saviour. Have you done this?

ML 09/09/1990

The Light Switch That Fooled People

One of our Sunday school rooms had the light switch on the “wrong” side of the room. The teacher, or whoever got there first, had to walk in the dark across the room to turn on the light. Tom, the handyman, decided to add another switch right inside the door so that either switch would turn on the light.

Tom figured out exactly where the new switch should go and cut a hole in the wall for the new switch box. Then he crawled underneath the building and drilled holes up through the floor for the electrical wires. After the holes were drilled he pushed the wire up through the floor hole into the wall to the new switch. Then he crawled out from underneath the building and went back to the room so he could attach the wire to the new switch. Once that was done, he screwed the cover plate on. It looked like a finished job.

The last step was to attach the new wire to the old switch. This would give electricity to the new switch. Tom was going to need help with that part. But there was no more time that day, so he left everything just the way it was and went home.

The next day was Sunday. After Sunday school was over the teacher said, “Tom, I noticed you got the new switch in but it doesn’t work!” The new light switch looked just like any other light switch, but it had fooled the teacher and others who had tried to turn the light on. They couldn’t tell that it didn’t have electricity.

Sometimes boys and girls, and grown-ups too, are like the light switch. They may fool their friends and parents by saying they are Christians when they really don’t know the Lord Jesus as their own Saviour. They might even think they can fool God, but the Bible says, “The Lord KNOWETH them that are His.” 2 Timothy 2:19.

If you were to look at the new switch, it would look like any other switch. Even if you removed the switch plate, you would find all the wires connected where they were supposed to be. Perhaps you go to Sunday school every week and learn the memory verse. You might act and talk like a Christian. You might even pretend to pray. But if you have not accepted the Lord Jesus in your heart by faith you are still lost in your sins. The new life is not there.

Why didn’t the switch work? Well, underneath the building the wire was just lying on the ground. It had no electricity . . . it was not connected to the other switch. The hole to the other switch had been drilled for the wire, but the wire had not been connected. For you, Jesus made a way to heaven by dying and shedding His precious blood to cleanse away sin. But are you “connected” to Him? Have you admitted you are a lost, guilty sinner and received that new life—everlasting life? All you have to do is believe. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” John 3:36. This is the only way to receive new life.

We may be able to fool our friends and relatives, but we can never fool God. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. If you are trying to fool people into thinking you are a Christian, don’t waste valuable time. The Lord Jesus is coming soon to take all who are real believers home to be with Him in heaven. If you wait too long to accept Him as your Saviour, you may find yourself left behind when the Lord Jesus comes. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

Do you have that necessary life—everlasting life?

ML 09/16/1990

Eddie's Heart

“Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.”

All was quiet in the big country house. Even the grown-ups had all gone to bed. Outside, not the slightest breeze rustled through the leaves of the tall maples and oaks around the house. No sound of any kind could be heard anywhere, except the steady “tick, tock, tick, tock” of the old grandfather clock downstairs.

Eddie sat up in bed and looked around him. I don’t like this quiet, he thought. It feels like there is no one else in the whole world but me. From his bed he could see their backyard in the bright moonlight.

Suddenly Eddie heard a little different noise downstairs.

What’s that? he wondered.

“Tick, tock,” then more slowly, “tick—tock,” then “tick-tick ... tick.” This was followed by a “whirrrrr,” a “thud,” and then .. . silence!

For a few moments Eddie did not move a muscle. He could not believe his ears. What had happened? He could feel the silence. That friendly “tick, tock” of the grandfather clock which he had heard his whole life had stopped!

Through the stillness there seemed to come to Eddie another sound—regularly it beat, “tick, tick, tick, tick.” This held his attention and he strained his ears to listen. Then he felt a curious little thump going on inside himself, and he put his hand over his chest.

“It’s in my chest!” he said out loud. “It’s my own heart beating, and it sounds just like a clock!” Eddie lay down again and he began to think.

Has that grandfather clock got a heart, too? I wonder. It ticks just like I do, only louder, because it is bigger I suppose. It has ticked for seven years . . . Daddy told me . . . and now it has stopped. I must have ticked for seven years, too. Will I stop? Will my heart stop ticking? What will happen if it does? I guess I’ll die. What will happen then?

Quite suddenly, Eddie began to think about sin. He knew that he had never let the Lord Jesus wash his heart clean from sin and make it white as snow. He knew that sometimes he disobeyed and did things that were wrong. And he also knew that the Lord Jesus had said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. He seemed to hear a still, small voice saying, “Eddie, if you want to know that some day when your heart stops beating you will come to live with Me in heaven, you must come to Me now and confess your sin. I will forgive you and wash your sins away.”

Without waiting another moment, Eddie got out of bed, and in the quiet stillness of the night, kneeling beside his bed, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

From that happy moment he never doubted that when his heart stopped beating he would enter heaven, which the Lord Jesus has prepared for all who trust in Him.

“What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:30,31.

What will happen to you when your heart stops beating?

ML 09/16/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Water-loving Ibis

“And God created . . . every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21

Ibis are among the world’s largest birds, some measuring as much as four feet from the tip of their beaks to the end of their tail feathers. All have long necks and legs with partly webbed feet. They eat mostly fish, frogs and snails captured by probing in shallow, muddy water with their long beaks. They will also eat large insects, mice, moles and small snakes. Farmers welcome them because of their huge appetites for these pests.

Some species live together by the thousands, grouping in trees or bushes in large bowl-shaped nests built of twigs and interwoven sticks with a thin inner layer of grass. But some prefer to nest in single families in swamps and marshes or open forest areas. There are many varieties of ibis scattered from the southern United States through Mexico and South America, and Africa and Australia. With changes in seasons, some make flights of thousands of miles, while others remain in one place through summer and winter.

Two varieties in America prefer to make their homes in cleared areas of a forest or out in open, dry country. The American white is a large and pretty bird, almost solid white with black wing tips, red face and legs, and a yellow bill. The wood ibis is darker in color. Both kinds usually nest close to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Australian white looks much like the American white. It is noted for its practice of breaking a shellfish open by holding it firmly against a flat stone or hard surface with a foot, then using its tough beak as a hammer to break it open.

The bald ibis, found only in the mountains of Africa and the Middle East, has quite a color contrast to those named above. It is mostly greenish black except for a dash of deep pink or brown where its wings are attached to its body, as well as a deep-red headtop on the male. The head itself is pinkish, but the long down-curved beak, long legs and feet are light orange.

One that is worshipped by natives around the Indian Ocean from South Africa to Australia is the sacred ibis. The worship habit probably came about centuries ago when natives first noticed how these birds got rid of troublesome pests.

It pleased the Lord God, the Creator of all things, to place these and thousands of other bird varieties throughout the world, both for their usefulness and also as objects of great interest. Each has its particular place in the creation in which He delighted.

For those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, there is a wonderful time coming in heaven when He will show us His wisdom and love in all He has done. Will you be there to hear that wonderful account?

ML 09/16/1990

Chocolate Pudding Paint

Jake and Andy were so excited. Today was the last Sunday school before summer vacation. This day was always special because their teacher had special prizes and treats to pass out! “I wonder what we are going to get this time?” they said to each other.

Finally it was time to go to their class, and the boys bounded downstairs.

They thought their teacher looked awfully serious for such a bright, sunny day. They couldn’t help but wonder why. Mrs. Evans soon explained. It was because she realized this could be the very last Sunday school lesson the boys would ever hear. God’s Word says, “Surely I come quickly.” Revelation 22:20. And Mrs. Evans wanted every boy in her class to know the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and be ready if He should come before she saw them again.

The Bible text for that Sunday was, “It is time to seek the Lord.” Hosea 10:12. Mrs. Evans stressed how important it was to listen to God’s Word and obey what He told them to do. She told them what Jeremiah did. He felt what God said was so important that he said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them.” Jeremiah 15:6.

Mrs. Evans held up her Bible and asked Andy, “What is this?”

“The Word of God,” he answered.

“That’s right,” said Mrs. Evans. Then she asked the boys to take a great big bite of the Bible.

The boys were shocked. “You can’t eat a Bible!”

Well then, what does that verse mean, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them”?

The boys did not know what to say.

Mrs. Evans was going to help them understand. She asked the boys to take off their jackets and roll up their shirt sleeves.

Boy, this sure is a strange Sunday school class! they thought. But they did as they were told. Then they all went over to a table where sheets of waxed paper were spread out. Mrs. Evans spooned out a big glob of chocolate pudding onto every boy’s sheet of waxed paper. Since most children enjoy finger painting, she had them spread out the chocolate pudding “paint” with their hands. Then, using a finger, each boy spelled out in the pudding in big letters, “IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD.” They read the message out loud all together. Then Mrs. Evans gave them permission to eat their paintings! Boy, did that chocolate pudding paint taste good!

Well, what was the point of this Sunday school lesson? Jake answered that question very nicely when he showed the teacher a verse he had underlined in his Bible. It read, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. He understood that the time to seek the Lord was NOW. And if each boy would obey and seek the Lord NOW, he would be “eating” those words from God.

This may be your last chance to accept Jesus Christ as your own Saviour. Don’t wait; act NOW, “for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:10.

Can you guess what each boy received for a prize that day? Mrs. Evans gave each boy a watch. She hopes that every time they look at their wristwatches they’ll be reminded that, “It is time to seek the Lord.” And she hopes that each boy will “eat” those words before it is too late.

Have you?

ML 09/23/1990

The Dangerous Secret

Many years ago Queen Mary made a law that no one was allowed to read or own a Bible. However, a blacksmith lived in the village of Harrant who loved the Lord Jesus and His Word. This blacksmith kept his Bible hidden in a wall of his home. He and his little daughter, Elsie, would spend many happy hours reading it in secret.

After hearing the Queen’s new law, Elsie’s father told her, “These are dangerous days for us. The Queen has ordered all Bibles to be gathered up and burned, and anyone found with one in his possession will be put to death. However, I cannot part with our Bible. It is the only copy left in this village. Let me warn you, Elsie, don’t tell anyone that we have it!”

The days that followed were very upsetting for everyone who loved God’s precious Word. Soldiers sent by the Queen were sure there was a Bible hidden somewhere in Harrant, and the village was searched again and again.

When the soldiers learned that the blacksmith was the only person in town who could read, they took him to prison. Elsie was cared for by their kind neighbors, but thinking about her father in prison made her very sad.

One day the soldiers came again to Harrant and searched every house. When they came to the blacksmith’s house they said, “We’ll burn the house and shop to the ground! If a Bible is hidden in there it will be burned!” As the soldiers came near the house, Elsie hid in the bushes to watch. She was heartbroken as she watched them set fire to the house and shop. When the house was burning furiously, the soldiers left.

As Elsie watched her house burning she thought of the Bible still hidden inside. She also thought of her father in prison because he had protected the only Bible in the village. Suddenly she dashed to the burning house and ran inside. The intense heat burned her skin and singed her clothes, but she stumbled to the wall where the Bible lay hidden. She quickly slid it out of its hiding place and hid it in the folds of her skirt. She was barely able to get back through the smoke and flames before collapsing outside the blazing house.

There, an hour later, the villagers found her still unconscious. Underneath her they found the Bible she had saved. They treated her burns, but she had scars from the burns for the rest of her life.

Most of us have a Bible in our homes, but do we value it as Elsie and her father did? Are you remembering to read it every day? Job said that he esteemed the words of God’s mouth more than his necessary food. (See Job 23:12.)

How good of God to give us His precious Word. It tells of His beloved Son, that precious Saviour God has provided for sinners. Time that we spend reading our Bibles is never wasted. If we are faithful in reading it, the Lord Jesus will turn that Word to joy in our souls. “Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15:16.

Have you read something from the Bible today?

ML 09/23/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Outstanding Beauties Part 1

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11.

Have you ever heard about the tremendous migrations of monarch butterflies, sometimes covering thousands of miles? They fly south to warm areas like California, Mexico, and even South America to spend the winter. Then, in early summer, millions form large clouds and fly north to the United States, including Alaska, and also to the Maritime Provinces and other parts of Canada.

While in those northern areas great numbers of eggs are laid. They quickly hatch—not into baby butterflies—but into caterpillars which find their food in the plentiful wild milkweed. Soon, however, they lose interest in food and enclose themselves with a cocoon made from silken threads which they spin.

Then an amazing thing takes place. When summer is nearly over they break out of their prison-like cocoons—no longer as caterpillars—but changed into beautiful butterflies! After a short rest, stretching their wings and other body parts, they take to the air, fully grown. Now they eat only sweet nectar from wild flowers.

Meanwhile, the parent butterflies have died, so the new generation is entirely on its own. But no, it is better to say that they are under the guidance of their Creator who delights to care for them. As they mature and build up strength, they sense that cold days of fall and winter are near at hand. Before long, great groups gather at night, leave their summer home and fly south together. Each group flies to the same areas and the very same trees their parents left behind many months before when they migrated north.

Their migrations are much like those of many birds. But monarch migrations are even more remarkable, as they have never before made the long trip nor seen the areas which will be their winter homes. They, of course, could never do these marvelous things if it were not so planned by their Creator. He guides them in ways too wonderful for us to understand.

We could never find time to give a detailed account of each kind of butterfly, for there are so many—250,000 varieties—throughout the world.

As our beginning Bible verse tells us, the Lord God, the Creator, found pleasure in giving to each group and the individuals in it, its own lovely design, just as He has done with the vast number of birds, the flowers of the world, and other things of His creation.

In the following article we will look at a few other types of butterflies.

ML 09/23/1990

The Wedding

“Are you going to the wedding, Mr. Albert?” asked a Christian friend.

“Yes, I would like to,” Mr. Albert replied. “I have a Bible and craft class this afternoon, but if we leave as soon as it’s over we should be able to get there in time.”

Later that afternoon Mr. Albert said to his two Christian friends, “Have the jeep backed out and ready to go. As soon as class is over we’ll jump into the jeep and head across town.” Mr. Albert did not worry about what he would wear to the wedding. He had often been to other weddings in South America, and the people were so poor that hardly anyone except the bride and groom dressed up. Everyone else had to wear whatever they had. That was fine with Mr. Albert, because when he went to visit the Christians in poor countries he did not take a suit or a tie.

Soon the class was over. Mr. Albert called out, “Let’s go,” and the three friends drove quickly across town, planning to be right on time for the wedding. They found the right building, but to their surprise no one was there. The place was locked.

Mr. Albert chuckled to himself—how could he have forgotten? He should have remembered that his friends in South America never paid attention to the time. No one really expected you to be there at the time given.

“Well,” he said to his friends, “Let’s find some place where we can have a little supper.” So they went to a restaurant and had some hot milk, buns and yogurt.

When they were finished, they went back to the building where the wedding was to be held. Now there were two Christian teenagers there. They were both dressed in nice suits, with ties and shiny shoes. It was a cold evening with a misty rain falling, and since no one else was arriving Mr. Albert said to the two boys, “There’s a nice place down the road here that serves hot milk and buns. Would you like some?”

“Sure,” they replied. So they all went back to the restaurant for more hot milk, buns and yogurt, and they stayed there having a happy time for about half an hour.

Finally someone said, “We’d better get back and see if the wedding has started.”

Sure enough, three more guests had arrived. Each one was wearing a suit. Still, Mr. Albert didn’t think much about his own clothes. More and more guests began to arrive. The ladies had on lovely dresses and the men were wearing snow-white shirts, suits and ties, and their shoes were polished to a shine. Mr. Albert looked down at his own clothes. They hadn’t seemed so bad when he left the craft class in a hurry, but now his work pants looked wrinkled and dusty. He had no tie. His shoes—why hadn’t he thought to polish them? Finally all 200 guests had arrived. And all were dressed in good clothes . . . all but two that is. Mr. Albert and one friend who had left the craft class with him in such a hurry were both in plain work clothes that were ready for a wash.

Suddenly Mr. Albert was sure that he couldn’t stay there. He felt too uncomfortable. “Let’s get out of here!” he said to his friend. His friend must have felt strange too, because they both quickly left and went around to a window and watched the wedding from the window!

Mr. Albert had felt embarrassed to stand among the others at the wedding when he and his friend were the only ones not dressed up. But if your sins have never been washed away, someday you will feel far worse than Mr. Albert felt. You will someday have to stand in the presence of a God who is light “and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. The Bible says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12.

“My shoes never looked so dirty as when they were there with all the polished shoes,” Mr. Albert later said. And your sins will seem much worse, too, when you stand before a holy God.

God knows everything you have ever said, everything you have ever done, and everything you have ever thought. Will you feel comfortable to stand before Him? “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13.

If you know you would feel uncomfortable, something like Mr. Albert felt, then let me tell you that there is good news for you. The very God who knows all about you also loves you. He has made a way for you to have all your sins washed away so that you may be clean and happy standing before Him. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and you will not only be clean from sin and ready to meet God, but you will also be welcomed into His family as one of His own children. Mr. Albert had to watch the wedding from a window, but if your sins are forgiven you will be inside God’s happy home in heaven to enjoy all the riches of God’s love.

I told you about the guests at this wedding. But I haven’t yet told you about the bride. She arrived in a beautiful white dress about 1-1/2 hours late—late for her own wedding! But it did not matter because most everyone else was late too, and there was still plenty of time in the evening for the wedding.

It did not matter if the bride was late, but it will matter if you are late in accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Someday the door of salvation will be closed forever to those who have not come to Jesus. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

When the wedding ceremony was over a Christian friend came outside and said, “Mr. Albert, come inside and have something to eat!”

“No,” Mr. Albert replied, “I can’t come inside. Look at my shoes.”

“Oh, that doesn’t matter,” his friend urged him, “Come on in.” Since they insisted, Mr. Albert went in even though he still felt uncomfortable.

But if those had been stains of sin instead of just dirty shoes, and if he had been outside the door of heaven instead of the door of the wedding, he would not have been invited in again. Boys and girls, may you come to the Lord Jesus for salvation now so that you will never find yourself outside the door of heaven with sins that can no longer be removed. Come to Him today!

ML 09/30/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Outstanding Beauties Part 2

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1

In the last issue we looked at monarch butterflies and their remarkable migrations. Today we will look briefly at a few other butterfly varieties.

The sharp colors and designs of a butterfly are formed by thousands of tiny scales covering its wings like shingles on a roof. These scales not only add beauty but strengthen the wings and absorb warmth for the butterfly, which cannot fly until its body is warmed to about 80 degrees.

The male monarch has bright orange on its wings, spreading out from its coal-black body. Each wing has a matching black border, speckled with white at the outer edges. The female is much lighter in color.

Another pretty one is the great spangled fritillary. It has a soft-orange body with the same soft orange on its wings, which also have dark brown markings in various shapes. At the outer edges of the wings a narrow strip looks like a hand-sewn hem.

The American copper has copper and silvery-gray wings, with large and small black patches. Then there is the Florida blue, an outstanding beauty of deep purplish blue, without the extra trimmings so many others have. The American painted lady, on the other hand, is such a contrast with a heavily patterned wingspread of brown overlaid with large circles of bluish-brown. Each circle is enclosed by a light inside ring and a dark outer one. The edges of its wings are bordered with ribbons of blue, white, pink and dark brown. The upper section of each wing looks like an artist with a fine paint brush has traced narrow and broad lines in scattered directions.

A more unusual one is named the 88 butterfly, because of two pairs of large marks on its light-brown wings which look like big number 8’s. Around these are deep brown circles, and across the center of the back is a brilliant display of bright red.

As we admire the “beauties of nature” around us, let us remember we are actually seeing the Creator’s handiwork. Another Bible verse says: “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:17.

It is God our Creator’s voice of love and authority that we want to believe, not man’s ideas of evolution. Let each of us remember Him both in our youth and into old age as well, not only as the Creator of all, but more importantly, as the One who sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of all who will believe on Him.

ML 09/30/1990

Katie's Bad Temper

Katie, Tonia and Breeann were playing with their new beach balls in Katie’s yard. Katie’s ball was yellow, Tonia’s was blue, and Breeann’s was red. They tossed them and chased them and chased each other. It was such fun.

Suddenly Katie noticed her ball had disappeared. The girls searched in bushes and behind trees, but no yellow ball could be found. Soon it was time for Katie’s friends to go. Tonia took her ball and went home. Breeann went home too but forgot to take her ball with her.

Katie went in and asked Mother if she could get a new ball since hers was lost. Mother said. “No, you play with the red one for now.”

Katie was angry. She wanted a yellow ball to play with, not a red one. Besides, the red one was Breeann’s, and Katie did not feel very friendly toward Breeann right now.

Then Katie did something naughty. She went outside, picked up the red ball and bit a hole in it, on purpose. It went flat. As soon as she did it, she knew it was wrong—it was her temper again. Now she really felt unhappy. As she thought about what she had done, a Bible verse she had memorized for Sunday school came to her mind. “Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 19:19. Katie had not done either of these things. Her anger at not getting another yellow ball certainly would not please or honor her parents. And what she had done to Breeann’s ball certainly was not loving her friend. Katie was a Christian, and she also knew that how she was acting and what she had done was sin and did not please the Lord Jesus either.

We all have times when we feel angry because we don’t get our own way. Here is a verse to think about at such times: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” Psalm 37:8.

The next time Mother went to the store she let Katie buy a new ball. Katie chose a blue one this time. The yellow and red ones made her conscience bother her.

A few days later something yellow at the end of the driveway caught her eye—her yellow ball! But then Katie felt bad again when she remembered what she had done to Breeann’s ball. Her conscience was still bothering her because she had not confessed what she had done to anyone.

The next time Katie saw Breeann she knew what she should do. She told Breeann how she had ruined her ball, then asked her if she would like to have the new blue ball. Breeann said, “Yes.”

But that only took care of part of her problem. Katie still did not feel very good about her temper. Finally she told her mother what she had done, and then she confessed it to the Lord Jesus too. Now Katie’s conscience was clear, and she felt happy again.

Have you ever confessed to the Lord Jesus that you are a sinner? Would you like to have all your sins forgiven and have a clear conscience? The Bible assures us this is possible: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. The Lord Jesus loves you enough that He died for you. Won’t you let Him forgive you?

ML 10/07/1990

The Call of the Wild

Deep in the still of the night a coyote raised a shrill howl followed by the high-pitched yappings of others in the pack. It was cold and dark, broken only by an occasional gleam from the moon which was partially hidden by clouds. Then I heard a closer howl. My dog Andy shook himself and answered, not with his usual bark, but with a raised nose pointed toward the moon he gave a long, quavering howl. I had never heard him do this. Then he trotted off toward the road.

Once again the howling of the coyotes and shrill yappings woke me out of sleep, and I heard that same long howl ... and then silence. Was Andy answering the call of the wild?

Andy was a show dog, a beautiful blue merle collie that had been well trained and groomed. We had hesitated to accept him as a gift, but his master said he was too confined in the big city. He had to be locked up all day while his family was at work and at school. His master wanted him to have more freedom out in the country. Still we weren’t sure because it would be such a drastic change for a show dog.

However, we decided to try him out. Though he definitely missed his master he was very obedient and stayed near the buildings without being chained. It wasn’t long before the beautiful white ruff around his neck was tangled with cockleburs and his tail wagged with foxtail and thistle caught in it. He seemed to enjoy the outdoor life and explored the bounds around the house and barns. He became an alert watchdog for us.

He still liked to come into the house, especially when he smelled a roast cooking, and would be very polite as I got a bone ready for him. Sometimes he would find my bedroom slipper and tease me by circling round me with it in his mouth, hoping I’d play with him. He was definitely a people dog and liked us to return his affection. We grew to love Andy and appreciate his good qualities.

He also liked to follow the tractor when the men were working the fields. But unless it was near the house he was told to “stay home,” because there were coyote dens in the hills near the canyon. Coyotes were not to be trusted since they usually hunted in packs.

The next morning we went about our usual tasks and the sounds of the night before were forgotten ... until I went out the back door. On the ground I saw the sorriest looking dog I had ever seen. He tried to get up on his feet, but dropped back down. What animal was this? Had someone dropped off some strange, sick dog? He raised his head when I whistled. He had the long nose of a collie. I went closer... could it be?

Yes, it was ... poor Andy, so totally covered with blood he looked all brown. He was so far gone he could barely move.

I put some warm milk into his bowl, but he didn’t even try to drink it. I examined him for wounds, but found only a small one on his side. The blood on his fur was not his. “Someone else got the worst of the fight,” I informed my husband.

Did you know that each of us who is saved from our sins has two natures? The nature we are born with answers to the call of sin. In fact, it does nothing but sin. But when we come to God as a sinner and accept His Son as our Saviour, we are given a new nature from God. This new nature delights to please Him and seeks to follow His Son, the Lord Jesus, who came into this world to seek the lost and to save man from his sins.

Sometimes Satan tempts us, as he did the Lord Jesus, with some glory or fame in this world, but the Lord answered, “As it is written,” and did not respond to his suggestions. Sometimes the gang says, “Oh, just this once, it won’t matter.” But don’t be lured into the paths of the world of sin.

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, this story about Andy should remind you to follow in the Lord Jesus’ footsteps, not in the path that your friends want you to follow. How can you know what is the right path for you? By reading the Bible and obeying what it says you will find the path that is pleasing to your Saviour. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Andy is fine now, and we never have heard the coyotes come close to the house or road again. I think he defended his territory and taught them that they were to stay away.

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Proverbs 1:10.

ML 10/07/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Your Wonderful Body

“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

Your body, and every other human being’s, is more wonderful than the world’s most amazing piece of machinery! It is composed of some 60 trillion cells, making up more than 5000 parts. Furthermore, the Creator has provided it with an intellect far superior to the rest of His earthly creation.

The single cell with which your life started determined what kind of person you would be—tall or short, the color of your eyes, the color of your hair, etc. By the time you were born there were some two trillion cells to your body, and as you grew older the number increased to 60 trillion. Various groups of the cells are responsible for a particular part of your body, and all groups work together in perfect harmony.

Let’s consider also your eyes, which are like two cameras working together perfectly, but far superior to the most expensive camera money can buy. Healthy eyes can immediately adapt to about 10,000 different focuses, without your even thinking about it. Their pictures come in upside down, but your amazing brain lets you see them right side up.

Your ears can pick out one voice in a crowd or the melody of a whole orchestra. Vibrations they receive send electrical signals to your brain, which immediately identifies the sound and tells you what to do about it.

Your tongue has 3000 taste buds, enriching your life by the enjoyment of food and drink. A sense of smell is important too, warning you against what is harmful.

Your brain has tremendous ability to store information. It is more wonderful than the most advanced computer in the world and is never fully at rest, even during sleep. Your memory is like a huge library, divided into two kinds—short-term and long-term. Our Creator designed this to help us along life’s way—not retaining things of little importance for a long time, but storing away things of value to be brought to mind when necessary.

Your heart, lungs, digestive system, as well as arms and legs, etc., are also very important parts of your body, but we have looked at these in previous articles.

None of us gives much thought to our body parts until they are injured or sickness occurs. However, we should think of what the Psalmist wrote in our opening Bible verse. Like him, let us praise and give our thanks to the Lord God who has not only made us, but who invites us to be in heaven with Him when Jesus comes for His own or when our life down here is ended. We may be sure of this if we turn to Him, admitting that we are sinners, and accepting Him as our Saviour. He promises, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. Have you done this?

ML 10/07/1990

The Partridge

Lynn was awakened from a sound sleep by a loud noise on the porch. It sounded like big snowballs hitting the plastic that covered the screened-in porch during the winter. Soon the noise stopped and Lynn went back to sleep.

In the morning, Lynn went out onto the porch to investigate. She found a large hole ripped in the plastic and the screen. Feathers were all over the floor! Looking around, she found a large, frightened partridge huddled in the corner, trapped on the porch.

Looking over the bird, Lynn could see that it was nearly featherless in spots. It was in sad shape. And as the Lord Jesus looks down on this world He sees the sad results of sin. He sees the mess and unhappiness sin causes in the lives of each one of us.

The family’s pet bird had recently died, so Lynn carefully picked up the partridge and put it into the empty cage. The poor bird just sat there, filling almost every inch of the cage and looking sadder by the minute.

At first the bird would not eat or drink, but after a few hours it seemed to become used to the cage and ate a little food and looked a bit more cheerful. The family thought they might be able to keep it for a pet.

We are like the bird. We get used to our sins and they don’t bother us much anymore. We even come to like our “cage” and being Satan’s “pet.” The Bible tells us there is pleasure in sin, but only for a season—a very short time.

The partridge didn’t like the cage for long. After a couple of days the poor bird became frantic, trying to get out. He began to look so pitiful that the family decided they would have to let him go.

Even though the partridge had plenty of food and water in the cage, it was an unhappy bird because it was not free. Satan keeps sinners supplied with all kinds of pleasures, but that doesn’t make them happy. They need to be set free.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loves sinners and came down to earth for one purpose—to die on Calvary’s cross to free the sinner from his sin. He has taken the punishment for sin.

Are you unhappy in your cage of sin, and do you really want to be free? All you need to do is accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, and He will set you free. John 8:36 assures us, “If the Son ... shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

The family took the cage outside, and Lynn opened it. For a few moments the partridge just sat there, not seeming to realize that it was free. Then it understood and flew straight up out of that confining cage into the clear blue sky, a free and happy bird.

In Psalm 124:7,8 David tells those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus for salvation, “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers [trappers]: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Have you escaped from your cage of sin?—have you accepted the salvation the Lord Jesus Christ lovingly offers you?

“How shall we escape, if we neglect [put off] so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3.

ML 10/14/1990

The Dangerous Ride

It was a cold March afternoon, and Carol Ann and her friends Clarissa, Mark, Natalie and Ryan were walking along the banks of the river. The river had frozen solidly during the cold winter months. Now the ice was breaking up and floating downstream in huge chunks. As they watched the huge pieces of ice, one of the friends had an idea ... a rather dangerous idea.

“Just for fun, let’s climb onto the biggest chunk we can find and use this long pole to push ourselves along. Then we can float across the river to the other side!”

It sounded like fun! So taking their pole with them, they all climbed onto one large chunk of ice and began to pole themselves out into the river. Almost at once they found themselves in trouble. Their pole which had touched bottom near shore just wasn’t long enough in the deeper water, and they were being swept down the river. To make matters worse, the chunk of ice on which they were floating began to melt, and pieces started breaking off.

The five friends were in real danger! Carol Ann and Natalie could not swim, and the other three realized that they could freeze to death if they tried to swim to shore in the icy water. Wisely, they did the only thing left—they screamed for help!

Have you boys and girls realized that you need help just as much as these five friends did? I know you are not floating down a river on a piece of ice right now, but you still have a need that is even more serious. You are a sinner and cannot do one thing to get rid of those sins by yourself. The only way to have your sins removed is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. He loves you and died on the cross so that you could have your sins forgiven. He promises that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

Jason, another friend, heard the screams. When he saw what was happening he knew he couldn’t help his friends. He ran his fastest to Mr. MacDonald’s house to get his help. Mr. MacDonald was a fisherman who owned a small rowboat called a dory. He dug his dory out of the snowbank beside his house as quickly as he could and headed for the river.

The five friends were so scared that when they saw the dory coming they wanted to try to swim to meet the boat. But Mr. MacDonald called to them to stay where they were until he reached them.

The five friends thought they could help themselves a little by trying to get to the boat on their own. There are boys and girls who feel that they can help themselves get to heaven by some good things that they can do. They know that the Lord Jesus loves them and died for them. But instead of just accepting the salvation He offers and thanking Him, they think they can help by going to Sunday school, or reading their Bibles, or being kind to others. The Bible tells us that these things are good, but they won’t help us get to heaven. We need to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31) and to believe that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. That is all we need. Our “good deeds” will never wash our sins away.

Because of the strong wind that was blowing, it took Mr. MacDonald almost half an hour to reach the children. His little dory was built to hold only two people, so he had decided to take some of the children back to shore and then go back for the rest. But when he reached them, he saw how dangerous their situation was. Their chunk of ice was melting and already full of holes. It was so thin that the water was up to the children’s ankles.

Mr. MacDonald decided to take all of the children at once. He told them to crouch down and crawl carefully into the boat. Then, warning them to remain very still to avoid capsizing the overloaded dory, he began the long trip back to shore.

The trip back took an hour, but all six of them landed safely on the riverbank.

The five friends thanked Mr. MacDonald for risking his own life to save them. The parents also thanked him for rescuing their children.

Have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus for dying for you so that you might be saved? He loved you so much that He left His home in heaven and came down to earth to die on the cross so that you might have your sins forgiven. Won’t you accept His loving offer today, and then thank Him?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

God is love. 1 John 4:16

ML 10/14/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Christmas Island’s Red Crabs Part 1

“Let the heaven [sky] and earth praise Him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein.” Psalm 69:34

Christmas Island, located just below the equator in the Indian Ocean near Australia, is most interesting to nature lovers. One reason is the unusual birds that live there. Three of these, the booby, the frigatebird and the golden bosun are not found anywhere else in the world.

In addition, there are more than a dozen varieties of crabs. A huge one is called the coconut crab and a very small one is called the red crab, because of its bright red color. It’s a harmless little creature with a body only about the size of a man’s hand.

The antics of red crabs are unusual and among the most amazing of all inhabitants of that island, or the entire world, for that matter. It is estimated there are about 120 million of them on the island, with a total weight of some 10,000 tons!

Most crabs live in oceans or on nearby shorelines, but the red crabs prefer living among the trees of a rain forest high on the island, a long way from the salt water. They make their homes by burrowing into the soil among the tree roots. During the cool part of the morning and evening, they come out to feast on the constant accumulation of flowers, fruit and tree leaves that fall to the ground. Extra treats include snails, dead birds or insects that they occasionally come across. During some feeding hours the forest floor looks like a huge red carpet spread among the trees.

If by chance you are reading this at a time when the moon is in its last crescent-shaped quarter of either October or November, the red crabs will be following an irresistible urge to get down to the ocean, their most interesting event of the year. During the moon’s last quarter in either of those two months (depending on how suitable the rainy weather is) the entire 120 million crabs start out in a long stretched-out mass on a migration of one to two weeks or more. They travel very slowly and only in the cool morning and evening hours. Their goal is the ocean several miles away. Heavy rainfall on the soil and rocks is a real help to them.

Do you think God is aware of these little red crabs as they undertake this long trip? Indeed He is, for they are part of His creation. This Bible verse assures us He is looking after them: “Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made ... the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all.” Nehemiah 9:6.

In the following issue we will discover some of the things that take place on this migration.

ML 10/14/1990

The Party

As far as David was concerned, there was no reason for anyone to be having a party. He had arrived home with his soldiers to find that enemies had burned down his home and stolen his family. His soldiers had lost their homes and families too. And to make matters worse, everyone blamed him and even talked about stoning him to death.

David had every reason to be discouraged. True, he had killed the giant Goliath who wanted to harm God’s people. And the king’s own son, Jonathan, was his friend. And God had even told the prophet Samuel to anoint David’s head with oil to show that he would someday be king. But King Saul was so jealous of David that he wanted to kill him. So David had been forced to run away from the palace and live in the land of his enemies. Now his family was gone, his home was burnt and his soldiers were angry.

David knew that he still had one thing left that he could do—he could pray. He knew God was with him, and only God could help him now. He did pray, and God helped him in a wonderful way.

David and his soldiers set out to find their wives and children. God was with them, and soon they found a young man who had been left behind in a field because he had gotten sick. This young man had been with the enemies who had stolen David’s family! He had not eaten for three days, so David and his soldiers gave him water and food. When he felt better he said, “Promise that you won’t give me back to my master and I’ll show you where they are.” David promised, and the young man led them to the enemies.

David looked down from the hills where he and his soldiers were hiding and saw that his enemies were eating, drinking and dancing. They were having a party! But David’s soldiers who had lost their families saw no reason for a party.

Down in that camp there was lots to eat and lots of fun ... but would you have liked to join that party? If they had known David and his soldiers were ready to attack from the hills at any moment, they wouldn’t have been celebrating. But they weren’t thinking about David.

Boys and girls, the world we live in is like that party. Many people have turned away from the One whom God has chosen to be King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. They have made themselves enemies of God by their sins. They have parties and dances and don’t even think about the Lord Jesus. They don’t even know or care that the Lord Jesus is someday coming back to punish His enemies and to be King. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “Surely I come quickly.”

Are you on God’s side or are you against Him? Have you come to Him to have your sins washed away in His precious blood? There is no other Saviour and no other way to be on God’s side. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

David and his men did attack. They charged right into the middle of that party with their weapons, and most of their enemies were killed. But all the wives and children of David and his soldiers were safely rescued.

If you have not chosen to follow the Lord Jesus, you may soon find that one of your parties or “good times” will be cut short when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them ... and they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3.

Don’t wait until it is too late. Call upon the Lord Jesus today. He loves you dearly and wants to save you from the judgment that is coming soon upon this world. There’s not much time left. Will you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now?

ML 10/21/1990

The Earthquake

It was a terrible earthquake! The building seemed to jump and then roll back and forth. Pictures, dishes and plaster came crashing down! The terrified children alone in the fifth-floor apartment huddled under the table. Ten of them, ranging in age from four to twelve, had been left alone for just a few minutes. Then the earthquake occurred.

When the building stopped shaking the children ran to the door to go down the steps. They opened the door and stopped. The stairs had fallen! There was nothing but a big open space. Frantically they ran to the balcony and called for help.

Rescuers arrived at that time and quickly saw the problem. They radioed for ladder trucks but were told that roads to that area were blocked. They found ropes and ladders in the basement of a hardware store, but the ladders were too short to reach the balcony.

An aftershock from the quake caused the building to rock again. It appeared as if it were about to collapse. Leaking gas in the basement burst into flames, causing the younger children to panic. The men shouted to the older children to find some string and lower it while holding tightly onto the other end.

The children found a ball of twine in the rubble, and while quickly unwinding it, lowered it to the men below. The men tied a strong rope to the string which the children then pulled up and tied tightly to the railing of the balcony.

One of the men immediately began to climb up the rope. It was dangerous, but up he went to save those children at the risk of his life. Reaching the balcony he shouted down. ‘There’s a ton of kids up here! I can’t save them alone.”

Without any hesitation another man climbed up the rope. Together the two men made a slipknot at the end of the rope and lowered one child down to safety.

How this reminds us of the Lord Jesus who came to save sinners. But He did not say, “I can’t save them alone.” There was no one but the Lord Jesus who could save us from our sins, and He went into death all alone. He said, “Of the people there was none with Me.” Isaiah 63:3. “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 43:11. The children had faith in the rope, faith in those strong men, and it is just that kind of faith or trust that we must have in the Lord Jesus, the Saviour who is strong and mighty, if we are to be saved.

One, two, three, four children were lowered. How many more? Five, six, seven, eight reached the ground in safety. Breathlessly, friends watched below as the ninth and then the tenth were safely lowered. At last, all the children were saved—saved from the fire that was quickly spreading. What a salvation!

But their salvation was not as great as that which saves us from sin and death and everlasting judgment. What a Saviour Jesus is!

When all the children were safely down, the men quickly slid down the rope themselves as the onlookers cheered and thanked the men who were only too glad to have saved so many young lives. How thankful those children were! But our Saviour deserves far more from us, for He gave His life to save us. He died so we could have everlasting life. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

ML 10/21/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Christmas Island’s Red Crabs Part 2

“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion.. .. The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:8,9.

In the last issue we left 120 million red crabs with a long trip ahead of them. They were ready to start on their annual migration from their forest homes. Now let’s see what takes place.

In the dim light of early morning the large male crabs start out ahead of the rest. The females and smaller ones—making up the biggest part of the huge number—will follow close behind. Everything is soaking wet from a heavy rainfall provided by a watchful Creator, and this suits the crabs just fine.

Leaving the high forest area, they soon come upon homes in their way. Soon a girl’s screams might be heard as she awakens to discover a crab entangled in her hair. Meanwhile her mother might be awakened, hearing strange noises in the kitchen. Hurrying in the dim morning light, she finds half a dozen crabs crawling over her pots and pans. How did they get in? Someone had left the back door partly open to cool the house, and when the crabs came to the open door they just walked right in. They will not turn to the right or left if there is an opportunity to go straight ahead. (Incidentally, experiences of this kind are quite common.) In places the edge of the forest ends at the top of high rocky cliffs.

But this doesn’t stop the crabs’ migration. Down they go, inch by inch, holding to any supports they find as they creep downward. Soon the entire cliffside is solid red from the hundreds of thousands of crabs on it. Here and there some lose their grip, or the stone they hold onto gives way. Down they plunge to their deaths. The others eventually reach bottom, followed by an endless mass of more crawling red.

But at the bottom there are other hazards. Close by, a railroad track must be crossed. If a train comes by, those on the rails at that moment quickly meet a sad end to their journey. Also, regardless of how hot the steel rails have become in the sunlight, they keep on going. Many are burned on tender parts of their bodies as they crawl over the hot rails, and they also soon die.

Next week’s issue will bring them to the end of their journey.

You might ask: “If the Lord God is watching over them, why does He let them die?” The answer is not that the Lord God does not care, for the verse above tells of His compassion and mercies over life’s trials. Adam’s sin in disobeying God in the Garden of Eden brought death into the world—to humans and all else. But Romans 6:23 has a wonderful message: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Have you accepted this loving gift of life?

ML 10/21/1990

Lost in the Snow

Twelve-year-old Greg Holzworth from Raynham, Massachusetts, was out in the woods building a tree fort. His dog Shadow was with him. It was snowing.

As Greg worked on his fort, Shadow wandered away and began barking. Greg, a blond, freckle-faced youngster, went to find him. He found Shadow in a briar patch. Greg explains what happened next.

“When I got there he took off and I followed him. After I caught up with him I turned around and tried to follow my tracks to go back. But they were completely covered with snow, and I got lost. Everything looked the same because it was swampy.”

Greg was beginning to get scared.

Have you ever been lost and scared? You may not have been lost in the woods, but maybe you’ve been lost in a shopping mall or at a zoo. Even worse than any of these, we all need to admit that we’ve been lost as sinners. And the sad news is that some of us still are.

The Bible calls us “lost sheep.” Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.” We are lost in our sins.

Greg could not find his way home. He was too cold and tired to continue walking, so he sat against a tree. Fortunately, by building a wall of snow he was able to protect himself from the biting winds. But he knew he couldn’t stay warm through the long night hours. He still needed a covering. Because his hands were so cold, he was unable to break branches off the trees to cover himself. Greg tells how he found a solution.

“I was scared and I was awfully cold, but I wasn’t thinking about panicking. I was thinking about staying warm and getting home. As I lay there I called Shadow (weighing 80 pounds) over to me, and then he got up and laid on top of me.” (Greg weighs about 100 pounds.) “He kept me warm,” Greg said.

How wonderful! A covering! Jesus wants to be a covering for lost boys and girls (and grown-ups too) who are wandering in this dreary, bitter-cold world of sin. He wants us to trust Him for protection. The Lord Jesus could say of Himself, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:11. The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for each of us by dying on the cross of Calvary. He died so that we might live. I hope that you will be able to say like David the Psalmist, “I will trust in the covert [covering] of thy wings.” Psalm 61:4.

When Greg did not return home by dusk, his father went into the woods to look for him. Then later when her husband did not return home, his mother called the police.

Police from Raynham broadcasted a call for volunteers and neighboring police departments to help in the search. Even with the temperature near zero and a wind chill factor of 20 degrees below zero, more than 100 volunteers showed up.

Eight inches of newly fallen snow slowed the search, and it wasn’t until 1:00 a.m. that a team of volunteers found Greg and Shadow. Francis Leary of Raynham was a member of that search party that wouldn’t give up.

Mr. Leary’s devotedness to finding this lost boy reminds me of how the Lord Jesus seeks lost sinners. The Bible states plainly that “the Son of man [the Lord Jesus] is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. And He never gave up!

When Greg first heard the men calling his name he couldn’t answer. His throat was too raw from the cold. But Shadow barked.

“I thought I heard someone calling me, but then I didn’t hear it again and I figured it was just my imagination. I laid back down, but Shadow started barking again. Then I got up and started yelling as loud as I could, and they found me!” Greg recalled.

Like Greg, we as lost sinners must answer a call. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus that calls us. Have you heard His call? Have you answered Him? “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7. Failure to answer Him will eventually result in your being lost forever. Don’t miss out on God’s salvation. Answer His call TODAY.

ML 10/28/1990

Thundering Hooves

Mildred Hansen and her mother know there is a God. They know that He stands ready to honor His promise, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15. Not only do they know that God is there on duty, but they have learned how much He cares for small children. It all happened on a western ranch when Mildred was only three years old.

The setting was a sturdy ranch house surrounded by grassy lawns and trees and enclosed by a white picket fence. A lane ran alongside the fence on one side leading to the barns and corrals behind. The yard was a perfect place to play.

One beautiful day Mother let Mildred go outdoors in the afternoon. She was able to watch her playing through the open kitchen window. She thought Mildred would be safe there. What she did not know was that someone had left a small gate ajar in the fence along the lane. She also did not know that her husband, who had been gone for two days with his cowboys, was approaching the lane from the range with a herd of horses, wild and mean and running like a wolf pack.

Mother heard the rumbling, a muffled thunder that actually shook the house. Running to the window she saw them filling the roadway, charging in a cloud of dust down upon . .. Mildred! Yes, Mildred had found the open gate and was now sitting in the dusty lane. Father was behind the herd, unable to see her or know the almost certain death he was herding upon his small daughter.

“Oh, God, have mercy! Lord, save her!” the anguished mother cried. There was only time for the cry. She ran out screaming and waving her arms at the men.

In only a few moments the herd of horses had passed over. The stricken parents found Mildred still sitting, covered with dirt from head to toe, but very much alive and crying loudly. Mildred was not hurt at all! Only God could have done it, and the parents realized that fact immediately. A strong angel? Or did God change the excitable, wild nature of those horses long enough to cause each one to leap neatly over Mildred? He was the One who made them, and He could control them. Yes, God cares for children, and He cares for you too.

Do you want to know how much He loves you? He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world especially to save you from Satan. Satan has lured you to sin many times, for you were born with a nature that loves to sin. “All have sinned, and come short.” Romans 3:23. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die,” we read in Ezekiel 18:4. But “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. He had to die—He had to take your punishment in order to save you. Have you taken His salvation offered to those who receive Him?

ML 10/28/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Christmas Island’s Red Crabs Part 3

“Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” Deuteronomy 4:39

In last week’s account of the bright-red crabs of Christmas Island, we considered the distance and difficulties of their annual migration and how some die along the way. Regardless of the tragedies there are so many that the loss of even a large number is hardly noticeable. It is estimated that about a million of them die each year, but the successful millions upon millions carry on.

Other hazards are waiting for them too, even when they are close to the ocean. A paved road circles that part of the island. There are so many crabs on the road that motorists cannot avoid running over great numbers. This often turns out to be tough on the motorists too, for the sharp, tough claws puncture and flatten many tires. As they are being changed the red crabs click right along as if nothing were going to stop them.

Here and there they come to stairs, but they just drop from one step to the next. Tennis courts, golf greens, swimming pools, chain fences—nothing stops the ocean-bound travelers.

Finally they reach the ocean’s sandy beaches. There the males, who arrived first, have dug burrows in the sand and females join them for several days of rest. Soon at high tide the females, each loaded with thousands of tiny eggs, head for the waves, into which the eggs are dropped. Then they turn their backs to the ocean and start the long trip overland and back up the cliffs to their forest homes again.

The eggs, meanwhile, hatch out into tiny creatures called megalops. They don’t look at all like crabs until they spend a month in the water. Then they come ashore by the millions, a terrible nuisance to the people living nearby, as they climb fences and walls and work their way under doors and window sills, getting into carpets, furniture, beds and every other place they can find.

But eventually the ones not killed by angry people, hungry birds, dogs, other crabs, etc., leave for the homes of their parents, by God-given instinct, climbing the immense cliffs and all the other obstacles en route. After this long and grueling trip they finally reach the homes of the adults where they occupy empty burrows or dig new ones of their own. A year later they join the others in the annual migration to the ocean and back.

We may not understand why God created such odd creatures, but we do know that “by Him were all things created ... and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16,17. The Bible tells the true story of creation. We can put full trust in it and enjoy seeing and learning something of His wonderful works.

ML 10/28/1990

The Footprints

What big footprints! Diego knew that no one from his town wore shoes that big. He was on his way home from work when he noticed the footprints in the dusty road going toward his village. He was a believer in the Lord Jesus, and his young family lived in a small village in Mexico.

Diego wondered who was visiting in his village. Had a soldier come in? Why would he be coming to their village? Diego walked a little faster, all the while noticing the large footprints. Soon he realized that those footprints were going right up the hill toward his own house! Diego hurried even faster. His wife and small children were at home! Who had gone toward his house?

“Brother Alberto!” he cried. “I’m so glad to see you. I couldn’t imagine what tall man could have come to my house! I didn’t even know you were in Mexico! I’m so glad it’s you!”

Poor Diego almost collapsed with relief. It wasn’t a soldier or a stranger who had left those footprints; it was his own Christian friend. And other believers from the village had come too. His family was safe and, instead of the trouble Diego feared, they would have a happy Bible study.

Diego’s friend had left footprints—footprints that others could see and tell something about the type of person who had walked there. Are you aware that you are also leaving footprints in this world? The Bible says that “even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:11. People look at what you do and what you say to know what kind of a person you are. What you do and what you say are your “footprints.”

What kind of “footprints” are you leaving as you walk through this world? Are they footprints of love, joy and peace? Or have you left footprints of sin? If you are honest, you must admit that God’s Word, the Bible, is true when it says, “There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22,23. Bad words, lies, and unkind actions are footprints of sin. God hates sin and will never allow even one sin into His home in heaven. But the good news is that God loves you. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross to save you from your sins, if you will believe in Him. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Would you like to leave footprints of love, joy and peace? Turn to the Lord Jesus and obey what He says, and He will give you these “footprints”— “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Galatians 5:22,23.

Diego knew that someone tall had left those big footprints, and people know something of what you are like by your footprints. What kind of footprints have you left at home, at school or at work today?

ML 11/04/1990

Grandpa, Grandma and the Baby Cardinal

The three little baby cardinals felt safe, warm and cozy as they snuggled close together in the little nest. Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal had built it in the pine tree that stood beside Grandpa and Grandma’s house. When Mr. or Mrs. Cardinal returned to the nest with a nice juicy worm, the peace and quiet of this happy little nest was disturbed. What a lot of squawking, chirping and peeping was heard as each little cardinal tried to explain to his parents how very hungry he was and how very good that worm would taste. And with all three baby birds trying to talk at once, you can imagine how difficult it was for anyone to understand them!

This happy little home continued until one night a cold, stormy wind blew on the pine tree. The next morning Grandma looked out her window to see what had become of the little cardinal family. She sadly saw that the nest was no longer safely nestled among the branches of the pine tree.

Hurrying outside she found the remains of the nest on the ground. Nearby she found one of the little baby birds, more dead than alive. Although Grandma searched carefully, she could not find the other two baby birds.

Grandma loved to care for sick or injured little animals, and she gently carried the little baby bird into the warm house and began to care for it. All her care and attention seemed to work wonders for the little baby bird, because in just a short time he was quite healthy again.

Grandpa fixed an old cage as a temporary home, making it as comfortable as he could. He hung the cage in front of the window that looked out at the pine tree. They did everything they could to make the little bird happy in his new home. Grandpa and Grandma always made sure that the baby cardinal had plenty to eat, and it wasn’t long before the little bird was talking to them just the way he had talked to Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal. When they would come near the cage, the little bird would open his beak wide and start his noisy chirping and squawking. A moment later his little tummy was full of good, fresh fruit or tasty seeds.

All this time Mr. Cardinal was flying around outside the window trying to get to his baby. But the window which allowed him to see the baby bird wouldn’t allow him to fly to his baby’s new home.

Grandpa decided to try an experiment. He took the cage outside, placed it by the pine tree, and opened its door. It wasn’t very long until Mr. Cardinal came swooping down from his perch in the tree with a worm for his little baby. Right into the cage he went, fed his hungry baby, and was off again to get more!

With all of this loving care, it was only a short time until a happy, healthy little cardinal was enjoying the freedom of the beautiful blue sky and singing his cheerful song of thanksgiving.

This happy little story is a reminder of a very solemn verse found in the Bible in the book of Proverbs: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. No doubt the pine tree seemed like a safe and happy place to care for the little birds. But Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal were sadly mistaken, and two of their little babies died in the storm.

God is about to send a storm of judgment on this world because of sin. The Bible has plainly told us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Not even one small sin will ever be allowed in His presence!

Many people seem to be satisfied with “their way” of being safe from this coming “storm,” but we know that there is really only “one way” that God has for man to come into the safety of His presence. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

The love and care that Grandpa and Grandma showed toward the little cardinal is very small compared to the love that God has shown to you by sending His beloved Son, Jesus, into the world to die for sin. And when you accept the Lord Jesus as your very own Saviour, He will care for you all the way home to heaven, because He said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.

ML 11/04/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Be Thankful for Chickens

“O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard.” Psalm 66:8.

Most everyone has seen live chickens and knows that’s where the eggs come from that mothers cook in so many different ways. In former days even city folks kept a few chickens in their yards and enjoyed fresh eggs as well as an occasional roast chicken dinner. But today they are usually raised by the thousands on what are known as poultry farms. Eggs are shipped out daily from these farms to markets and grocery stores. About five billion eggs a year are marketed in the United States alone.

American Indians never saw chickens until the Pilgrims brought some Rhode Island reds with them from England. Now there are over 50 varieties, including cornish, New Hampshire, white rock, Rhode Island reds, Plymouth Rock and the most common one, the white leg-horn which produces most of the eggs sold in the United States. Some 450 million hens supply these. A champion white leghorn can lay 361 eggs in one year, but most lay between 100 and 300.

Like all birds, chickens really lay eggs to produce baby chicks. If they could steal away from the poultry farm and make hidden nests in which to lay eight to ten eggs, they would keep them warm under their fluffy feathers for about three weeks until they hatched and then take good care of the chicks. But on today’s poultry farms that is impossible, for the eggs are removed continually. Incidentally, young hens less than a year old are known as pullets and young roosters as cockerels.

Part of the interesting work of poultry people is raising chicks in warm areas called incubators. Special fertile eggs (which are not for eating) are placed in these incubators, hatching in 20 days. When it’s time, the little chick inside the shell pecks its way out with its strong little beak. At first it is not very cute because its feathers are wet. But after an hour or so it dries off and is so fluffy and cute you’d want to pick it up and press its fluffy little body to your cheek. But you’d probably get a gentle peck from its tiny beak in return.

Although the poultry people must be given credit for their careful work in raising these millions of chickens and marketing their eggs, it is really the Lord God, the Creator, who designed this amazing way of their lives beginning in eggs. And He further designed chickens in such a way that poultry people can raise them for us as a wonderful food supply.

The Bible tells us, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19. As the supplier of everything we need, we should be continually thanking Him, especially for His loving care over us.

ML 11/04/1990

Surprised

“Who wants to go to the aquarium today?” Mother called. Mary and her sister and brother whooped with delight. They loved to go to the waterfront, and a visit to the aquarium would be a special treat on this summer day. Mother said they would be meeting some of their friends there. It promised to be a day of fun.

When they arrived at the aquarium, their friends were waiting for them. They all paid the admission charge and went into the cool building.

The children were fascinated by the brightly colored fish swimming in the windowed tanks. There was even an eel! And they had never seen so many different kinds of starfish

“Oh, look at these giant crabs,” someone shouted. In another tank an octopus was attached to the tank walls by the strong suction cups on its eight long arms. I wouldn’t want those powerful arms to get a hold on me, thought Mary.

The last room in the aquarium had a large open tank. When Mary and her friends leaned over the edge they saw seals of all sizes swimming and diving in the water. The seals poked their furry brown heads out of the water as they dove and played, hoping someone would throw them a bite of fish.

Nearby was a sales window where visitors could buy a bag of small fish to feed to the seals. Mary wished she could buy some, but Mother said no.

As Mary leaned over the edge of the pool watching the seals, she had an idea—she would pet one of those furry soft-looking heads! Quickly she reached out and touched the nearest seal as it came up for food. Before she could pull her hand away the seal bit her, raking its sharp teeth down her finger.

“Ouch, he bit me!” Mary squealed, more surprised than hurt. As she backed away from the tank, she saw that she had been leaning over a sign. It said: “DON’T TOUCH THE SEALS—THEY BITE!”

That sign was meant for Mary as well as everybody else. Just because she had not bothered to read it did not change the fact that those seals would bite. And lots of people have not bothered to read the Bible. They have not read God’s warnings about the serious results of sin. However, that does not change the fact that unforgiven sinners will be punished. “The wages [results] of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life [every unforgiven sinner] was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15.

The aquarium director took Mary and her mother into his office and kindly bandaged up her bloody finger. He was sorry about what had happened, but Mary knew that it was her own fault. She had not read nor obeyed the warning sign that was right in front of her and, as a result, had gotten herself into trouble.

How kind of the director to give Mary first aid for her hurt finger. And how kind of God to offer to spare you from the results of your sins. Though the first part of Romans 6:23 warns that “the wages of sin is death,” the second part presents God’s remedy— “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Will you accept God’s remedy for your sins just as Mary accepted the director’s first aid for her hurt finger?

Mary’s finger healed quickly with only some tiny scars to remind her of how unwise she had been. But punishment that never ends is waiting for any who turn away from God’s remedy for their sins. Have you accepted God’s remedy? Are you forgiven?

“Blessed are they whose iniquities [sins] are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7.

ML 11/11/1990

Rescued

Six-year-old Tony Bernadino and his eight-year-old brother were flying kites near their home in California. They were in a field where a bridge was being built, and the construction workers had just dug a hole two feet wide and 28 feet deep. The workmen had gone home, leaving the hole uncovered.

Tony, unaware of any danger, stepped backward into the hole. His brother’s screams alerted their father who rushed to the spot. Frantically he raced to a telephone, and soon firemen and paramedics arrived.

For Tony it had all happened so quickly—one moment he was flying a kite .. . and then suddenly he was trapped in a deep, dark hole and not able to get out. There are many people in the world today who, like this, are trapped in sin. They are not able to help themselves; they must wait for help from another. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6.

Rescue operations started at once. One of the men was lowered into the hole head first. He found Tony alive, but so wedged in that he could not be moved. The rescuer also found that the walls of the hole were not very strong. Fearing that more dirt would fall in on Tony, he signaled to be pulled back out of the hole.

Special equipment from the telephone company was lowered into the hole. The paramedics and Tony’s father were able to talk to him. They did their best to encourage and assure him that he would soon be rescued.

Then a large drilling rig with a three-foot auger arrived and began to drill down into the ground eight feet away from Tony. They drilled down 30 feet and then began to dig a tunnel across to where he was trapped.

Finally at midnight, seven hours from the time Tony disappeared down the hole, he was brought out. The crowd which had gathered at the edge of the hole broke into applause as a rescuer appeared with Tony in his arms. Tony was then laid on a stretcher and carefully carried into a helicopter and flown to a hospital.

No amount of work nor expense were spared in saving Tony. And no sacrifice was too great for God in His love to save poor fallen sinners, deep down in the pit of sin and despair. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

God sent His dear Son down to this world to rescue us, trapped by Satan and not able to help ourselves. The Lord Jesus did not hesitate to go down into those deep dark waters of death to save us and to lift us up. “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.” Psalm 18:16. “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:2,3.

But only those who have trusted in Christ have this wonderful rescue. Those who do not know Him as their Saviour are still in the pit of sin, though they may not be aware of their hopeless state. If this is your case, you can be saved today. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

ML 11/11/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Sea Turtles—Part 1

“Happy is he that hath the God . . . which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is.” Psalm 146:5,6.

Those of you who live near warm ocean waters no doubt enjoy swimming in them. But how would you like to swim as some of the sea turtles do? They take off from shore and swim a thousand miles away, remaining in the water for two or three years before returning. They have been doing this since they were created. Their ability to return to the exact spot from which they started two or three years earlier is truly amazing!

Although they breathe air, some sea turtles make long dives beneath the surface hunting for food—fish, shellfish, sea snails, seaweed, etc. Their bodies have been designed so that the salt contained in their food and in ocean water does them no harm.

What do they do when they need to rest and sleep away out there in the ocean? They just shut their eyes while floating on the surface and sleep as long as they like, bobbing up and down in the waves.

Turtles are not born in water; they hatch from eggs. The reason a mother turtle comes back to the starting point of her long trip is to lay a huge quantity of eggs. She usually returns in springtime to the exact spot her own mother and grandmothers came to years before. Some of these sandy shores are on tiny islands, just a speck in the great ocean. She doesn’t use a compass or map to show her how to get there either.

Crawling out of the water, usually at night, the mother turtle makes a slow and tiring trip over the dry sand. Reaching a spot far from waves even at high tide, she scoops out a large, rather deep hole, piling the sand behind it. Turning around, she lays 100 to 150 eggs a little larger than ping-pong balls. Then she promptly scoops the sand back over them until the spot is level, carefully scraping it so birds and animals won’t discover it.

Her eggs safely hidden, the mother turtle crawls back to the ocean on her flippers. Tears are dropping from her eyes—not because she is sad—but because the Creator has kindly arranged the tears to wash away grains of sand that cannot help but get into them when she is making the nest. The whole process has taken about an hour’s time.

The tropical sun warms the sand covering the nest. Within a few weeks the babies break out of their shells, crawl to the top of the sand, and head for the sea—not to return for two or three years. Actually only a few baby turtles reach the water. Many are eaten by birds and animals while they are out in the open.

In the following two articles we will look into some of the varieties of sea turtles and their individual ways of life.

ML 11/11/1990

Jesse the Golden Labrador

David, Charlotte and Stephen were enjoying their new dog very much. Jesse was a beautiful golden Labrador retriever with a lot of “puppy ways.”

One Saturday afternoon, David and Stephen decided to go to the ball field for a game of ball. It was a beautiful sunny day—a nice change from Friday’s rain.

As the boys gathered up their bat, ball and gloves, Jesse smiled her doggy smile and wagged her tail, hoping they would take her along. Yes, they planned to take her, too.

Off they went to the field with Jesse on her new leash. When they arrived, David decided to let Jesse run free while the ball game was under way.

It was a good game and the score was close ... so close that the boys forgot the time. It wasn’t until the sun was setting in the evening sky that David suddenly remembered! “Oops, where’s the dog?”

“Jesse, Jesse,” called David. But there was no answering bark. David called again, louder.

He noticed a black dog standing away down at the other end of the field. But he knew that couldn’t be Jesse—she was golden.

David was getting worried. Once again he called, “Jesse, here, Jesse.” Strangely, the black dog started to bound toward him. He found this very puzzling. The black dog came closer and closer and yelped in delight. Finally, it came right up to David. Suddenly he was shocked to discover that the black dog was really Jesse!

Jesse had spent the afternoon acting like a pig instead of a dog. She had rolled in all the squishy, black mud at the far end of the playing field. Nobody would know that under all that black mud was a beautiful golden coat.

And sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is a Christian, because some Christians are all covered with “black mud.” We would never know to look at them that their hearts have been washed clean of their sins. It’s all hidden under the “black mud” of acting and talking like their friends who don’t love Jesus. The fact that they made the decision to let the Lord Jesus wash them clean of their sins will never, never change. “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12. True, their sins are gone, but their new life in Jesus can’t be seen.

Even though Jesse was covered with black mud, she was still a golden Lab. And David still loved his dog, but he sure was disgusted with her. Can you imagine how much work it took for him to get Jesse clean again? The scrubbing she got wasn’t very pleasant for her either, and neither was the scolding.

Dear Christian boy or girl, are you shining clear and true for your Lord Jesus Christ? He loves you and has bought you at a great price. His precious blood was shed on Calvary’s cross to wash you clean of sin. Though His love for you never changes, how sad He must be when that new life, which He has given to you at such a cost to Himself, is hidden under the black mud of worldly friends, worldly language, worldly fun or secret sin. It’s never too late to get rid of the dark worldly color and let your beautiful heavenly color shine clearly again.

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Revelation 1:5.

ML 11/18/1990

The Phantom Plane

“Cessna 218, this is Air Force 163—do you read me?” “Cessna 218, this is Air Force 163—do you read me?” Over and over again this question was asked of Cessna 218, but there was no answer. Captain Daniel Zoreb of the North American Air Defense Command reported, “I could see the running lights, but the cockpit was dark.” He and several other Air Force jet pilots had been ordered to follow Cessna 218. But why? What was all the concern for Cessna 218?

“We lost radio contact with Cessna 218 about 30 minutes after takeoff,” reported the airport flight controller from Shreveport, Louisiana. “The pilot had requested a new route to Baton Rouge to avoid a thunderstorm. He was given a new heading and told to climb to 23,000 feet.”

Cessna 218 climbed right through 23,000 feet and kept climbing, never veering from its east-northeasterly course. It passed over Memphis, Tennessee at 28,000 feet—alarmingly high for a plane that size! Cessna 218 was off-course and out of contact!

There are those today who are “off-course.” They are not proceeding in the course that God has planned for them. The Lord Jesus Christ could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. Yet man goes on, on his own course “out of contact” with God’s pleading. “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14.

“It was kind of eerie,” said Captain Zoreb. “We found the plane at 40,000 feet over Raleigh, North Carolina traveling at 250 miles per hour. It appeared to be on automatic pilot.”

How like Satan this is, who, as “the god of this world,” has millions on “automatic pilot” and “hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ . . . should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4. They are going through life ignoring the urgent pleading of the Spirit of God to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Cessna 218 ran out of fuel four hours after takeoff. It was 120 miles off the coast of Virginia over the Atlantic Ocean when Captain Zoreb saw it dive, spinning and tumbling into the ocean! “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.

“We have no idea what did happen to Cessna 218,” said a spokesman for the Air Force. “It appears that oxygen may have been leaking from the plane and they didn’t know it. It caused them to black out, and the automatic pilot took over.” Lack of oxygen puts a person into a dream-like state, or euphoria, in which he thinks conditions seem to be improving. The person soon loses all sense of direction and then becomes unconscious. Is this what happened to the pilot and passenger of Cessna 218?

Officials can do nothing more than wonder. They know that it was 1,000 miles off-course and out of radio contact at the time it crashed into the ocean. They had tried everything in their power to help the pilot and his passenger, but without success. God, too, has done all that He can for you. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. He sent His only begotten Son to this world. The Lord Jesus Christ went to Calvary’s cross to suffer God’s punishment for man’s sin. Yet there are many who ignore God’s warning of judgment and go on in a path that leads to a lost eternity. They go on in the euphoria that “conditions are getting better” and that everything will be okay. They are unconscious of God’s love, rejecting His offer of mercy until it is too late. Accept Him now into your heart. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 11/18/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Sea Turtles—Part 2

“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place . . . . And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:9,10

Last week we had an introduction to sea turtles in general. Now let’s see what differences there are among them. Actually there are several varieties, but we will select only a few of the better-known ones.

The leatherbacks are the largest of all turtles. Mature ones weigh as much as 1500 pounds and are nearly six feet long. Because of their size they are safe from attack except from men with special equipment or a shark or killer whale. They can dive 4000 feet below the surface in search of food, a greater depth than any other air-breathing creature.

They do not have a hard shell like most turtles have, but are covered with a tough, leathery skin called a carapace. This carapace is composed of small bones embedded in the thick skin on their backs. But on their underside they have a more tender skin, no tougher than a human’s, which the Creator has provided to help them swim swiftly through water.

They are black, speckled with white, and have two, huge, long-spread front flippers, two shorter back ones, and a bony, short, V-shaped tail, all of which equips them to travel thousands of miles through ocean waters. Some tagged ones have been known to travel more than 3000 miles from their birthplace.

The leatherback is the only sea turtle that is capable of surviving in cold northern Atlantic waters, and many live there through summer months, enjoying the plentiful food supply in those waters. But most of them live in warmer waters off the coasts of Mexico and southern California, as well as in the Caribbean and warmer parts of the Atlantic.

The hawksbill makes its home in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast. This is one of the smaller varieties, only about 30 inches long. It has a beautiful shell from which jewelers used to make items called “tortoise shell”, but that is no longer done.

An outstanding characteristic of the hawksbill is that its principal food is poisonous sponges which grow on coral reefs and are covered with a glass-like coating. Although this coating breaks up into sharp, needlelike crystals and contains a poison deadly to humans and other creatures, the hawksbill thrives on it. However, workers who used to cut the shell from this turtle exposed themselves to real trouble, because the tiny glass crystals were very painful when penetrating the skin. This is one reason why its shell no longer finds its way to jewelers’ shoes.

ML 11/18/1990

Fred's Adventure

The people who worked in the large grocery store named him Fred. He had been living in the store for nearly two weeks. He seemed to be happy and content as he glided across the 25 aisles. Customers pushing their carts up and down the aisles didn’t seem to bother him.

Before living in the store, Fred had lived his entire life outdoors with his many friends and relatives. You see, Fred is a little sparrow, and sparrows belong outside. But one day when the doors were propped open he swooped inside, maybe just to see what it was like in there.

He liked what he found. There was lots of room to fly. He found fresh green plants in the produce section to peck and nibble on. After the first couple of days a lady who worked in the store began putting out some bread crumbs and other food for Fred. He ate it and liked it.

Everything seemed pretty nice for Fred in his new living quarters.

Fred isn’t the only one looking for something different. Sometimes a boy or girl gets tired of the same old friends, the same old backyard, and the same old games. He wants something different ... something new for a change. Then one day a school friend asks him to come to his house after school. The friend explains that his mom isn’t home and he has some secret things he wants to show him. Sounds like fun! Sounds enticing!

If Fred could talk he might warn that boy or girl how his adventure turned out. But since he can’t, we’ll tell you what happened and include this warning God gives us from the Bible, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Proverbs 1:10.

After Fred had been flying around the store a few days, the manager decided it was time to get him out of there. They tried catching him with fishing nets.

Now Fred was scared, and I’m sure he wanted to get out of there. He was discovering that a store was not a good place for a bird to live.

Then the manager called the Anti-Cruelty Society for help, but they just laughed. They suggested the store turn off all its lights and leave the doors open, thinking Fred would fly toward the daylight and out the door. But the manager couldn’t do that because the store is open 24 hours a day.

So for now, Fred has to go on living in the store even though he isn’t welcome. He probably wishes he were back outside enjoying the sunlight and trees and seeds that he used to eat, but he doesn’t know how to get out.

And this is just the way Satan traps boys and girls. When boys and girls are looking for something different, Satan often sends someone to tempt them to try smoking, or to look at bad magazines, or to take drugs with the promise that they will make them feel good. Satan knows just how to present his temptations . . . he makes them look like something fun or daring the first time. But then when boys and girls discover that what they are doing is not good and is not fun anymore, it’s often a habit that cannot be broken. Satan does not care, because he has them trapped.

We hope there is a way out for Fred, but for boys and girls we know there is a way out. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you and He cares very much about you. He wants to save you from your sins and their habits, and He is the only one who can. He says: “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 43:11. When the Lord Jesus died on Calvary’s cross and rose again alive, He broke Satan’s power of sin. And now He is able to free every boy and girl who will come to Him, believing that He died for their sins. God tells us, “If the Son [the Lord Jesus] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36. And that’s a promise!

Will you let the Lord Jesus free you from your sins and Satan’s power?

ML 11/25/1990

The Johnstown Flood

In May of 1889, a terrible flood, known as the “Johnstown Flood”, swept across part of Pennsylvania. Although many people lost their lives, there were many acts of heroism by brave men and women in rescuing victims of the flood.

Alice, a girl ten years old, had been trapped with her baby brother when the flood waters reached their house. It was lifted off the foundation and swept downstream. Alice knew that the Lord Jesus would take care of her, and kneeling down she prayed, asking Him to save her and little Robert from the flood.

A group of people had gathered on high pound above the flooded river. They were horrified at the destruction caused by the swirling waters. As the house with Alice and her baby brother floated by, they heard her calls for help. Charles Hepenthal, 17 years old, decided to try to save Alice. Those with him tried to discourage him, saying it would be impossible to survive in the swirling waters.

However, Charles jumped into the river anyway and swam toward the house. Reaching it he was able to tie the baby onto his back and swam back toward higher ground. With shouts of encouragement from those on shore, he reached the higher ground. As they pulled him up he cried, “Wait! There is still another child in the house! I must save her too!”

Grasping a wooden plank to use as a support, he plunged again into the waters, but his struggle this time was harder because the water was even higher and the current faster.

As he fought his way toward the house, Alice saw him coming and prayed for help for him. When he finally reached the house he snatched her, and using the plank as support, they slowly made it back to higher ground. Both children had been saved from certain death!

This story reminds us of a greater deliverance—the death of the Lord Jesus who saves all those who trust Him by faith in His precious blood. We were helpless, lost in sin and without hope until He came to seek and save us, and to “give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.

Have you called to the Lord Jesus Christ to save you, or are you still drifting with the current of this world and going on to eternal punishment because of your sins? The Saviour has said, “Come unto Me.” Do not put Him off another moment. If you do, He may turn away and never call again; then your last hope of being saved will be gone forever. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.

Jesus said, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML 11/25/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Sea Turtles—Part 3

“Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward.” Psalm 40:5

In Part 2 of this series we had a brief outline of two sea turtles—the leatherback and the hawksbill. You would find it interesting to read about these creatures and their relatives in a book from the library. We will look at two more.

The loggerheads are not nearly as large as the leatherbacks, but their way of life is similar. They are only about three feet long and are in the 150 to 500-pound range. Their shells and the tops of their stubby heads are brownish-black, but their bodies are dark orange speckled with brown.

Loggerheads are found in warm parts of the Atlantic Ocean along North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and some areas of the Pacific Ocean all the way down to Australia. Their name comes from their immense head and beak extending from under the shell.

Their choices of food include jellyfish and sometimes the huge man-of-war whose deadly, long tentacles can kill a man, but which the loggerhead considers a delicacy, munching away on them and killing them.

For some unknown reason this one species of turtle does not always return to the same nesting places as other sea turtles do. However, their way of laying eggs in the sand is identical.

The green sea turtle is the most appealing of the sea turtles. It is relatively small, a little over three feet long and weighs from 200 to 400 pounds. It lives in tropical seas all over the world and is well known in many lands, Hawaii and Panama being among its favorite spots.

Its entire body is quite pretty, beginning with a dark green head, marked with checker-board diamond shapes with golden-yellow borders. Its large sloping shell is the same green color and has similar markings, only that the diamond shapes are much larger and look as though they had been placed separately on the shell. Flippers and tail are also slightly green with a black tint. It is easy to see where the name “green sea turtle” came from.

A Bible verse states, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11. Let us remember Him, the Creator, when we enjoy the interesting things He has placed on earth and give Him praise and honor, not only from our lips, but from our hearts as well. He is worthy of our praise, for His great love to us and His desire to have us accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.

ML 11/25/1990

93 Million Miles Away

In our neighborhood Rolando was always up to a prank. Once some neighbors put out some rat poison and then were afraid to go in to clean out the dead rats. When no one else would touch them, it was Rolando who picked them up, tied their tails together, and threw them all over the neighborhood. He was always up to a prank of some kind, so it was no surprise to find out that Rolando was the one behind the bright light that flashed into my eyes one morning.

He had found a mirror in the garbage. After breaking it into many pieces, he gave the jagged pieces to the children in the neighborhood. Then he took one of the larger pieces and held it carefully to pick up the sunlight and shined it right into my eyes. The flash of sunlight was so bright that it took a few moments before I could see anything again.

Rolando was half a block down the street, but he knew that his newest prank was working. So he amused himself for the rest of the hour by flashing the sunlight into my eyes again and again. In order to go on working, I had to shade my eyes with one hand. But when I forgot for even one moment, there would be another sudden blinding flash.

Now think for a moment about the strength of the sun. One single flash of sunlight from Rolando’s piece of mirror could blind me with brightness even though the sun is approximately 93,000,000 miles away from my house! Rolando’s prank had reminded me of how bright the sun is, and of a man whose face will be “as the sun shineth in his strength.” Revelation 1:16. This man is the Lord Jesus when He returns to this earth as a Judge. The Bible also says, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him ... and all kindreds [peoples] of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Revelation 1:7.

Are you ready to meet the King of kings? Can you stand before the One who will destroy His enemies with the brightness of His coming? “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

God has not placed these warnings in the Bible to make you sad. He loves you and wants to warn you of the terrible danger of turning away from the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17. God is never in a hurry to judge. He always gives a warning first and waits for sinners to come to Him for salvation. How long has He waited for you?

The next time you feel the strength of the sun, remember that someday a Judge will come from heaven whose face will shine as the sun in its strength. Won’t you come to Jesus today for salvation so that you will meet Him as your Saviour and not as your Judge? He’s waiting for you.

ML 12/02/1990

The Hooked Fish

Walking beside the River Liffey in Dublin, I stopped to watch some boys who were fishing. They were all excited because one of them had hooked a fish. I looked over the wall, expecting to see them reel in a small trout. But this was no little fish—it was a big fish, and it simply would not believe it was caught.

The boys began playing with it, like a cat with a mouse. They pulled it to the surface to show it that it could no longer do as it pleased. And then they played out lots of line so that it plunged and vanished from sight, thinking it was free. Then they reeled it in once more where it could only thrash around near the surface. Again and again, when they gave it more line it took off with freedom in its mind ... but always the line was there to bring it back. It was hooked.

As I watched it plunge and thrash and put up a good fight, I wanted to cut the line and set it free. But I saw it grow tired and finally give up fighting. I left as the boys held it out of the water by the gills.

I thought of the “fish” I knew, the human ones, who had swallowed Satan’s bait. They had not realized that there was a hook attached that would take away their freedom. They had not realized that after Satan had tired them he would then destroy them ... unless one stronger than Satan cut that line and set them free. Those boys were bigger and stronger than I, so I did not try to cut the line and give that fish its freedom. But we know that the Lord Jesus is bigger and stronger than Satan, and He is able and ready to cut Satan’s line of control over us when we call on Him. There was no good news for that helpless fish, but there is good news for every sinner who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. “Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15.

Are you still hooked on Satan’s line?

ML 12/02/1990

Something More Than Gold

Young Cathie was enjoying the swinging chair and the beautiful sunny day with a very special friend. He was an older man who loved little children. His name was Mr. Bailer, and he had traveled all the way from England across the ocean to Nova Scotia.

Cathie loved to listen to her friend talk. He told so many interesting stories and he talked with an English accent! Best of all though, Mr. Bailer loved the Lord Jesus Christ and wanted to make sure his little friend Cathie was saved from hell and on her way to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. “Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts [commands]: so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works.” Psalm 119:27.

As the two were swinging in the sunshine they noticed the big granite rock wall beside the swing. Back and forth they went, and the rocks in the granite wall sparkled brightly in the sunshine. Cathie looked at Mr. Bailer and said, “Look at all the gold in those rocks over there. I bet that gold would be worth lots and lots of money!”

Mr. Bailer chuckled, for he sometimes found his young friend’s comments very amusing. He knew that the rock only looked like gold. He then asked Cathie to sing a little Sunday school song with him. The chorus goes something like this:

Oh yes, oh yes there’s something more,

Something more than gold.

To know your sins are all forgiven,

And that you’re on your way to heaven,

Is something more than gold.

Mr. Bailer was showing Cathie that there was something far more important than gold—even real gold! Cathie will never forget the lesson she learned that day as she swung back and forth on the swinging chair in the beautiful, bright sunshine.

Someday soon she will be in a brighter land—HEAVEN where Jesus is! Mr. Bailer is already there with Jesus. And although this world thought he was poor, Cathie knows he was rich!—he had something worth far more than gold! “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21.

ML 12/02/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Crazy as a Loon?

“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9.

Walking along a mountain trail in the Cascade Mountains near Seattle, Washington, we were startled by a loud, strange laugh nearby. Puzzled, we went on walking and soon heard it again. To find out what was going on we left the trail and soon came to a small lake. There on the surface we saw two large birds with black heads, white breasts and beautiful speckled black-and-white wings. Our wondering about the weird calls we had heard was soon answered when one of the birds opened its long, sharp beak, raised its head and gave out a loud laugh-like cry. And so we were introduced to the common loon.

The birds spotted us and took off, kicking the water vigorously with their webbed feet, soon rising above it with spray spattering all around. Necks outstretched and wings flapping rapidly, they were soon out of sight. This beautiful display made us decide to learn more about them as soon as possible.

We learned that great numbers make their homes on small, lonely lakes across the northern United States and into Canada and some seacoast areas. When on land they seem awkward, for the Creator designed them for the water where they are excellent swimmers, both on the surface and underwater. They swim faster than most fish, which form their principal food supply. They have wonderful vision and before diving submerge their heads, turning them from side to side to locate prey. Then with a quick dive and underwater swim they make their catch.

Loons are from two to three feet long with a wing span of about five feet and weigh from 10 to 14 pounds. Their life span is about 30 years. In April they incubate just two eggs for about a month. The newborn hatchlings are as cute as can be, with coal-black soft down. Soon they are swimming with the parents, sometimes riding piggyback on mom and dad who care for them for about three months.

Groups of adult loons often join in choruses of hoots, screams and yodeling. The weird-sounding result is where the expressions “crazy as a loon” and “loony” came from. Actually, they are among the world’s outstanding birds and seem to act very intelligently. Coming across them at the mountain lake was an experience we have never forgotten.

Loons are another example of the wonders of God’s creation and are included in His words: “I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalm 50:11. Another Psalm tells us, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9. This is specifically true of every boy and girl, man and woman on earth. Have you thanked Him for His love and care for you?

ML 12/02/1990

"I Knew You'd Come"

In the wilderness of northern Canada where the great fir trees grow thick and the winds howl on winter nights, there were two clearings in the woods about a mile apart. In the two clearings stood two log cabins. In the two cabins lived two nine-year-old boys, one named Jean and the other named Pierre. Jean’s mother and father were Christians, and Jean, too, had accepted the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour when he was younger. They read the Bible together each morning after breakfast and prayed around their big oak table. Pierre had only his father, as his mother had left some years before. Pierre’s father had never asked the Lord Jesus to be his Saviour, and he would often come home drunk. As you can see, Pierre’s little home was not as happy as Jean’s. However, the two boys were good friends since there was no other family for miles around.

One afternoon in early spring, Jean walked the mile-long path through the woods to Pierre’s cabin. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. “Pierre?” he called, giving the door a little push. It opened, but no one was inside. So Jean thought he would just wait in the cabin for his friend to come home . . . it probably wouldn’t be long.

The afternoon hours went by quickly as Jean played in the cabin. Finally, he looked up at the window and was surprised to see the sun already low behind the fir trees. The March wind blew hard through the cracks between the logs, and the boy shivered. When he pulled at the door he could feel the force of the wind push it wide open.

Jean stepped outside, wondering if should walk home alone in the dusk. His father had often warned him not to go out after dark alone. Cougars and lynx roamed that part of the woods looking for food. As he stood there deciding what to do, he heard a rustling in the bushes at the edge of the clearing. He looked and saw two cougars pacing there ... watching him! Tears of panic filled his eyes as he ran quickly back into the cabin and pushed the door shut behind him. However, to add to his terror, he found the door latch had loosened and the door would not close tightly. All he could do was lean up against it and pray to his Saviour, the Lord Jesus, that He would save him from these wild animals.

Do you know Jean’s Saviour? He says in the Bible, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.” Psalm 50:15.

As bad as poor Jean’s situation was, there is a worse danger in store for anyone who still has not accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. That danger is an awful place called hell, where all who do not have their sins forgiven will spend eternity. Turn to the Saviour to have your sins forgiven right now—before it is too late!

Just down the path from where this was happening, Jean’s father was returning home from checking a trap line. Coming to the clearing of the first cabin, he thought he heard a boy crying. “That’s strange,” he thought. “Why would Pierre’s father have left him alone?” He passed the clearing to go on his way home when something made him go back—something was not right.

Coming to the clearing once more, Jean’s father gasped when he saw two hungry cougars, one circling the cabin and one with his paw on the door, ready to push it open with his powerful foreleg. The startled man grabbed his shotgun and aimed at the one on the door. With one shot the cougar fell backwards, dead. The other, confused and furious, ran circles around its mate and then charged Jean’s father. Again, a shot rang out through the woods, and the second cougar fell heavily against the man, knocking him down. But Jean’s father was not hurt, and he thanked the Lord Jesus for helping him to kill both animals with only two shots. Now he rushed to the cabin. His heart froze— there was his own son bursting through the doorway!

The next moment the man was hugging his own little boy as Jean’s arms wrapped around his father’s neck. Who can tell the thoughts in the father’s heart when he discovered that it was not Pierre, but his own Jean whom he had saved.

“Thank God I came!” he said.

“Daddy, I knew you’d come,” his son replied, still trembling.

How wonderful is the faith and trust of a little child. May we have that kind of faith too—the faith that calls upon God and waits for Him! Any who have put their trust in Him will never be disappointed.

Being just a boy, Jean could not understand how much his father loved him. We, too, cannot understand how much God loves us. But we do know this much: He loves us so much He sent His only Son into this world to die to save us and bring us home to Himself. He is going to fill heaven with sons and daughters who have accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Saviour. He wants us there so He might shower His love upon us for all eternity.

These are the last days in which the gospel will go forth. Night is coming quickly, and punishment is near for those who refuse God’s salvation. Satan, as a roaring lion, is going about seeking those he may devour. The Lord Jesus is still willing and able to save any who call to Him.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

ML 12/09/1990

The Uninteresting Letter

I want to tell you about a letter I once received and never read. A friend was moving far away to go to school, so we decided to keep in touch by writing letters. As time passed, his letters became less interesting because he wrote about people and places I didn’t know. Soon I was just scanning his letters quickly and putting them away.

One day I received a letter from my friend that was several pages long with small handwriting. I read the opening paragraph, looked at all those pages, and then threw it aside. I do not know why I picked it up again a few days later, but I happened to look at the back page and noticed a small postscript. It startled me into instant action. It said that my friend had found a chance to come home for a few days and was going to pay me a visit! The visit would be that very evening, and I had no time to go back to read all the letters he had been sending over the months.

As you can imagine, the visit was not a very good one for me. I was unhappy because I was not ready for his visit. I was afraid he would find out I had not been reading his letters, and was ashamed that I had been so careless of the things that were important to him. You might think I was not a very good friend, but maybe you are doing the very same thing. God, who wants to be more than a friend to us, has written us many letters. They are all collected in one book, the Bible. Do you look at all those pages and the small print and set it aside? It has the most important message in the whole world for every person. It tells every man, woman, boy or girl how to get to heaven and where we will go if we do not obey what God tells us. In this book we learn that Jesus is the way to heaven, and that “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. And in the Bible Jesus also tells us that He is going to come to take all who believe in Him to be in heaven with Him, which will be a big surprise to the world. He also plainly tells those who have not bothered to read or listen to His Word that they will be left behind for judgment. He warns— “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44.

In my case, I could easily have lost a friend. But that is only a small thing compared to what will happen if we do not read and obey God’s Word. Jesus said, “He that heareth MY WORD, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

Read God’s letter. Believe it, too; and be ready when He comes suddenly.

ML 12/09/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Scorpions of the Sea

“If a son shall ask . . . [for] an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” Luke 11:11,12

The scorpion of desert areas should definitely be avoided, and when the Lord Jesus mentioned it in the above verse, He was telling people that loving parents do not give harmful things to their children.

Several types of vicious fish are found in the Red Sea off the coast of Africa and nearby Jordan called scorpionfish. These, too, are avoided by those who know about them.

One is named turkeyfish, probably because of the way it spreads its fins when swimming. It is one of the more active in the scorpionfish family and a fearful enemy of small fish as well as shrimp. It will gobble them up quickly. Hunting in small groups, a few of them circle a school of small fish, driving them toward other turkeyfish which quickly eat quantities of them and then change places with their companions. They do not attack people unless stepped on. Then, like a scorpion, they sting the swimmer’s bare leg with a poisonous fin. This is usually not fatal, but extremely painful.

Another variety, equipped with small fins that help it crawl along the sea bottom, is the devil scorpionfish. This one usually lies on the bottom, so well camouflaged it looks like a piece of coral. It’s just too bad for a shellfish crawling near it or a small fish swimming too close. They are quickly eaten. When swimming it is quite colorful and other fish stay far away from it.

A close relation to this one is the shortfin lionfish which, motionless on the sea bottom, also looks like a piece of coral until it leaps into action.

The most fearful of all is the stonefish, which doesn’t really look like a fish but more like a piece of colored rock. With no visible fins or mouth, its brightly colored eyes look like pieces of gravel resting on top. Swimmers are also fearful of this one as its sting is extremely painful and sometimes fatal. Even its skin is poisonous. Like a cannibal, it doesn’t even hesitate to make a meal out of a smaller stonefish.

These poisonous and crafty creatures remind us of Satan’s ways, the one of whom the Bible warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Satan, of course, does not want to eat our bodies, but to “devour” our lives by leading us into sin and closing our ears to the story of God’s love and care toward us.

There is excellent counsel in the Bible, telling us how to avoid Satan and his evil ways, saying, “The Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked [one], and save them, because they trust in Him.” Psalm 37:40. Have you taken that counsel?

ML 12/09/1990

Kenny's Pocketknife

“Wait a minute, Andy! Kenny ordered his friend, digging on hand into his jeans pocket and then hiding something behind his back. “Wanna, see what I got? Come on behind the barn. I don’t want the girls to see.”

The two boys quietly disappeared behind the barn while their sisters continued to play.

“Whatca got Kenny?” whispered Andy elated that Kenny would share a secret with him. “Why don’t you want the girls to see?”

“Oh, you know how girls are ... you’ve got four sisters,” Kenny said. “Am I ever glad I’ve only got one!”

Andy laughed and waited to see Kenny’s treasure. “Wow, where’d you get it from?” he exclaimed as he turned over in his hand a shiny new pocketknife, complete with all the various blades and gadgets.

“You know Tiger, Mr. Ritchie’s little dog, don’t you?”

Andy nodded. All the children in the area knew who Tiger was and they all liked the little beagle.

“Well, Mr. Ritchie told me that Tiger was lost. He said he suspected that Tiger had chased a rabbit down a hole somewhere in the fields and had gotten stuck, and no one had been able to find him anywhere. I told Mr. Ritchie I’d try to find him. He didn’t think I’d be able to, but said I could certainly try. ‘If you do find him, Kenny,’ he said, ‘I’ll give you a nice reward.’”

“And did you find Tiger?” questioned Andy.

“Yeah, I did. That’s how I got the knife,” explained Kenny. “I started around the first field calling, ‘Tiger, Tiger,’ and then I’d stop to listen every once in a while. But he wasn’t there, so I went around the next field and the next, doin’ the same thing. Then one time when I stopped to listen I heard a funny little yelp and when I called his name again, I heard the yelp again. I followed the sound as best I could and finally found a hole partway hidden by some bushes, and there was poor ol’ Tiger’s tail sticking out. He sure was stuck down that rabbit hole. I tried digging him loose with my bare hands, but the ground was too hard. So I found a stick in the bushes and used that to dig out some of the dirt until I could get a hand in to dig some more. Pretty soon he came wiggling out backwards. I was still sittin’ on the ground and he licked me all over and was so excited to see me. I, scooped him up and carried him back to Mr. Ritchie. He could hardly say anything, he was so surprised and pleased to have Tiger back. He told me to come by the next day, and when I did he gave me this knife. Neat, huh?”

“Yeah,” agreed Andy, “and I’m sure glad you found Tiger before he suffocated down that hole, Kenny!”

A little disappointed that all of Andy’s interest seemed to have been transferred from the knife to Tiger, Kenny jumped up, put his knife in his pocket, and called Andy to follow him up the ladder.

“Let’s pounce on the girls and scare them,” he suggested.

Appearing suddenly among the girls, who had built a house in the bales of hay, Kenny and Andy played “King of the Haystack” before finally leaving the girls and running across the field to play in the creek.

That night when Kenny’s dad came into his room to read the Bible and pray with him, Kenny looked for his knife to show his dad, but he couldn’t find it anywhere. It wasn’t in his jeans’ pocket or anywhere in his room. He must have lost it! He was so upset that he did not listen when his dad read and prayed. Even when he prayed that they might find the missing knife Kenny did not feel better. When his dad left the room Kenny buried his face in his pillow and cried.

Kenny only prayed and read his Bible because his parents made him do it, not because he wanted to. And so for days he continued to look for his knife, but he did not think to pray about it himself.

Several days later Andy saw him and hearing about his lost knife said, “Hey, you know my mom lost her wedding ring once and she asked Jesus to help her find it, and then she didn’t worry about it any more. A couple days later she found it! Why don’t you do the same thing about your knife?”

In bed that night Kenny thought about what Andy had said. A little voice seemed to say to him, “But you are not one of God’s children.” He knew the way to become one of God’s children was to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour, but until now he had refused to do that. He remembered what his dad sometimes told him the Bible said. It was something like, “If I keep sin in my heart the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). This bothered Kenny. For a long time he couldn’t get to sleep.

Finally he got out of bed and knelt down and admitted to the Lord Jesus that he was ‘a sinner and needed’ to be saved and asked Him to wash away all his sins. Feeling a big load gone, Kenny went to sleep. The next morning he told the Lord Jesus about his knife and asked Him to help him find it.

Kenny looked so happy that day that his parents wondered what had happened.

Often as each day passed Kenny would pray about his knife.

Then on the fifth day just as he was getting dressed, he heard his father calling him. Opening his bedroom door, he answered, and what he heard sent him racing down the stairs three at a time.

“Your pocketknife, Kenny! Here’s your pocketknife!”

“Where was it, Dad?” he asked, taking it from him. “I knew I’d get it back,” he added shyly.

“I started to load some hay bales from the barn and had cut about halfway down one of the piles when I found it. I thought it might be the one you lost.”

Kenny, with his face still full of excitement at having his knife back, explained, “I prayed about it, Dad, and asked Jesus to help me find it.”

“Kenny, does this mean you’ve asked the Lord Jesus to be your Saviour?”

“Yes, Dad, I took care of that first,” Kenny explained, and his father understood.

“Thank you, Lord, for answering two prayers!” he exclaimed to the Lord Jesus as he gave Kenny a big hug.

“All things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.

ML 12/16/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Lovers of the Snow

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18

Most everyone likes the beauty of snow and the way it covers unpleasant spots. Children like to play in it, and older ones on toboggans or skis also enjoy it. Snowcapped hills and mountains are beautiful subjects for photographs. Then, too, deep snow deposits on mountain peaks and slopes are a wonderful provision of the Creator to replenish fresh water in rivers, lakes and reservoirs during hot summer months.

Most people prefer not to stay outdoors during snowstorms, but there are, creatures for whom the Lord God has given snow a special importance. Polar bears in their white coats are well camouflaged on snow and ice and can sneak up on unsuspecting prey without being seen. The same is true of white foxes in the Arctic areas.

In some places where snow becomes very deep, activities go on beneath the surface that are never seen from above. Field mice, ground squirrels, porcupines and even some birds make tunnels along the ground leading to their feeding areas, without the threat of being caught by their enemies. Working in groups several feet below the surface, they sometimes push and press down on the bottom layer of snow, making a cozy place for being together in warmth and safety.

Then there are animals and birds of various sizes for which the Creator has provided white coats in winter. If they become aware of an enemy nearby, they lie down or curl up in the snow and are never seen. Weasels and Arctic hares are examples of this. Even big snowy owls have been given white feathers for winter. The wide-winged pure-white snowy petrel, a sea bird of Antarctica, also benefits from its coloring.

Other birds and animals are temporarily provided with special feathers or fur on their feet for winter. These feathers or fur act like snowshoes so they can easily travel over the surface. Fur and feathers of other creatures do not change in color, but they are given extra-warm winter coats. Ruffed grouse, threatened by an enemy, will plunge into a snowbank and, completely hidden, remain there until danger is past.

Other animals benefitting from snow are deer, elk and moose. Deep crusty snow enables them to reach higher for tasty tree branches that they could not reach in summer.

In the sight of God, our sins stand out as bright as scarlet, but He invites us to become white as snow in His sight, by admitting ourselves as sinners and accepting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. If we do this we become His children and are assured of a home in heaven. The Bible tells us to do this now— “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 12/16/1990

A Trapped Skunk

ONE Saturday in early spring Donny and Matthew were exploring in the woods near their home. They were looking for skunk cabbage plants ... not for skunks.

Following the creek, they came across a skunk caught in a steel trap by its front foot. The two boys figured the trap had probably been set for muskrats, but it had caught a skunk instead. The skunk must have been searching for Something to eat in the winter’s litter that had washed up along the water’s edge when it stumbled upon the trap.

Donny decided he’d try to free the skunk, but Matthew wasn’t too sure he wanted to get involved. As Donny slowly inched his way toward the skunk, Matthew stayed up on the bank, well out of the way ... and held his breath.

“Watch out,” Matthew warned, barely talking out loud. “You’re going to be sorry, Donny.”

But Donny kept right on, talking gently to the skunk. He finally got close enough to reach forward and close his hand around the trap. Meanwhile, the skunk had pulled as far away from Donny as the chain would allow, never taking its little black eyes off him. The trap had caught the skunk’s front paw just above the wrist, but the bones didn’t seem to be broken.

Moving very slowly, Donny grasped both sides of the trap. The skunk stayed perfectly still, but its black eyes watched every move. Now Donny was holding his breath, too. Slowly he pressed down with both hands until the spring catch released.

Suddenly the skunk’s leg came free and it tumbled backward because it had been pulling away the whole time. It quickly got back on its feet, but just stood there holding up its injured leg. It looked at Donny for a long time and then finally turned and hobbled away. In talking it over later, Donny and Matthew both felt this was the skunk’s way of saying “thank you.”

A skunk might be one of the last animals anyone would want to release from a trap. In fact, most people would leave it alone. But Donny was determined to free that trapped skunk. Some people might think that they are too bad for the Lord Jesus to save—that He’d rather not bother with them. But that is not the case at all. Everyone is a sinner, and it doesn’t make any difference if you are a big sinner or a little sinner. The Bible tells us, “For there is no man that sinneth not.” 1 Kings 8:46. The good news is that Jesus loves each one of us so much that He died on the cross, bearing the punishment for sin. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. No matter how bad a person you might be, Jesus loves you and will save you from sin’s deadly trap. Just let Him.

The skunk seemed to show its thanks to Donny. After you are saved, it will be such a relief to be rid of your sins and you will have such peace that you will want to thank the Lord Jesus for the rest of your life.

ML 12/23/1990

Saved at Sea

OUR story took place during the first years of World War I. England’s factories were heavily damaged, so the United States shipped equipment over to England. The ships carrying the equipment were always in danger, and much depended on the equipment safely reaching England’s shores.

Jamie McClare’s whole life revolved around the sea. When men were urgently needed for the Merchant Marine, he left his fishing boat in Maine and volunteered—not only himself—but his Newfoundland dog Blackie as well. The Newfoundland is a remarkable breed of dog known for its faithfulness, good nature and life-saving instincts.

The captain of Jamie’s ship was glad to have Blackie on board. He had heard of the amazing things Newfoundlands can do, including rescuing drowning sailors. Newfoundlands have been known to dive 20 feet under water to save someone who is drowning. Since they have been bred as working dogs for fishing ships, it is almost as if they have developed a sixth sense for the sea. They are very large and. their love for people is just as large. They cannot see a person in danger without coming to their rescue.

The ship’s first Atlantic crossing was almost over, and Blackie had become friends with everyone on board—from the ship’s captain down to the ship’s cook who fed him. They all felt more comfortable with this giant of a dog strolling the decks in the tense atmosphere of war.

One dark, dreary morning when the ship was 100 miles from England’s shore, the roar of a plane engine was heard. The plane was hidden by the heavy gray clouds until it was right over them. Before the crew knew what was happening they were under attack.

In the confusion all the sailors ran for cover ... . except Tom. A ricocheting bullet struck him in the arm and knocked him off the ship. He fell over the railing into the cold, dark waters of the Atlantic.

Blackie saw Tom go overboard. Without waiting for even a moment, Blackie leaped into the water and powerfully swam to Tom just as he was going under. Tom put his good arm around the dog’s neck and held onto him until a lifeboat came about 20 minutes later. Both Tom and Blackie made it back to the ship safely. Tom knew he owed his life to the lifesaving instincts of Jamie’s dog, and he would never forget it.

Every one of us who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour realizes that He came to rescue us, too. Not thinking of the pain or the agony to Himself, He went to Calvary’s cross. Why did He do this? Because he loved us and saw that we would die in our sins unless He came and took our punishment instead.

When Tom was wounded and fell into the Atlantic Ocean, he knew he could not save himself. Do you realize that without the Lord Jesus there is no hope for you? Has the fact that you have sinned ever bothered you? Have you felt how helpless you are before God?

If you haven’t, won’t you think about what God’s Word, the Bible, tells us in Romans 3:23, that “all have sinned,” and that “all” includes you. Having sinned, you have “come short of the glory of God,” that is, you will never make it to heaven as you are.

“Oh,” you might say to defend yourself, “I have sinned, but I will save myself.”

No, God will not accept our “saving ourselves.” We must be saved His way—by admitting that we are sinners and by accepting His Son as our Saviour. Tom was wounded and saw that he could not save himself. If it hadn’t been for Blackie, Tom would have been lost at sea.

God’s good news is now going out to everyone. Each person who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour will be free from the punishment of his sins in hell and will be in heaven with the Lord Jesus for eternity. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour today?

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22.

ML 12/23/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Beauty in a Snowflake

“Great things doeth He [God], which we cannot comprehend. For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth.” Job 37:5,6.

People in warm climates are often thankful they do not have to experience winter. But one thing many of them miss is the beauty of a snow-covered landscape when ugly scars on the earth are covered over with a soft white blanket of snow and everything outdoors takes on a new beauty.

Millions of tons of snow fall over large areas each year. We are filled with wonder when we stop to realize that all that snow is entirely composed of delicate, beautifully designed snowflakes, one of which would scarcely cover your little fingernail. And such beautiful designs! People who study and photograph them continually find to their amazement that no two are alike.

With few exceptions, snowflakes are always six-sided. Sometimes the six sides are flat and straight, but more frequently they have six beautifully designed arms coming out from a circle forming a common center having its own design. Each spear-like arm matches the others on the same flake, but, as mentioned above, no two flakes have been found that are exactly alike. A scientist who made photographs of more than 400,000 snowflakes showed in his pictures that this was truly so. Isn’t that amazing! No one but the Lord God, their Creator, could design so many.

Snowflakes form in the clouds, starting as tiny specks of dust surrounded by little drops of water and changing into flakes as freezing air blows on them. As they fall many collide, changing the shapes from which they started, and arriving on earth with sometimes less than six sides, or becoming long and narrow. But, together with the unchanged ones, each has its part in forming the snowy landscapes that attract skiers, tobogganers and photographers.

Even more important, the snow on mountains, getting deeper with each snowfall, is held in the cold temperatures of these high places until hot summer months. Then a gradual melting releases snow in the form of water into streams and rivers to supply necessary moisture to forests, meadows, gardens, etc., in the lower areas—wise planning of the Creator of all things.

In the Bible there is a lovely verse which says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18. By “reasoning together” we learn that the Lord Jesus died on the cross to wash away our sins, and that by confessing ourselves to be sinners and accepting His offer to be our Saviour, we are saved.

If He is not your Saviour yet, He invites you to come to Him right now and He will accept you as one of His own, making your sins “as white as snow” in His sight.

ML 12/23/1990

Charlie the Squirrel

Dinner was served, and all the family was seated at the long table enjoying the meal. Mother had set the dessert out on the counter in the kitchen. There were two pumpkin pies, one mince pie, and an apple pie too!

Outside on the back porch was Charlie the squirrel. He sat very impatiently on the porch railing, jerking his big bushy tail.

His dark little eyes darted here and there. You see, the kitchen window was open and he could smell food.

Charlie was waiting for the children to come out to feed him. They all liked him and thought he was so cute. They had fed him for a long time, and he had become used to “people” food. He did not gather nuts and acorns as he had done before. No, Charlie preferred “people” food.

But “people” food is not the right kind of food for squirrels.

God has given them lots of seeds, nuts and acorns to keep them fed and happy. But Charlie still preferred “people” food. And aren’t we just like Charlie? God has provided “good food” (good things) for us, but we often prefer the bad. We all have a nature in us that likes the “bad food”—that likes to sin. “For there is no man that sinneth not.” 1 Kings 8:46. And that sinful nature leads us into trouble that we can’t get out of. Now let’s see what happened to Charlie.

The children were too busy eating to notice Charlie on the back porch. And he was tired of waiting. He jumped up onto the windowsill and looked into the kitchen. He saw those pies sitting on the counter, and he could smell them too! The only thing keeping him from those pies was the screen in the window. It didn’t take long for his sharp, little claws to make two long slits in that screen.

First his little nose peeked in through the opening, and then his head went in, and then all of Charlie went in. He jumped across to the counter and walked right through those pumpkin pies!

Just then the swinging doors opened and Mother came into the kitchen. Seeing Charlie on the counter, she called, “Come quickly! Charlie’s in the kitchen!” What confusion there was as everyone rushed into the kitchen to help chase Charlie out.

Poor Charlie, not only was he in big trouble, but he was so scared he didn’t know which way to turn. There were flapping towels and swinging brooms coming at him from every direction. Finally he found the opened door and scampered out to the safety of a tree.

God loves you and me and has provided a way out of the trouble our sin nature has gotten us into. He offers to forgive our sins and to give us a new nature that prefers the “good food” that will make us happy. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. That new nature can be yours simply by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. He will be that open door to safety for you. The Lord Jesus says, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture [good food].” John 10:9.

Are you willing to give up that “bad food” that your sin nature prefers for the “good food” that Christ offers you?

ML 12/30/1990

Traffic Lights

While driving a car, have you ever gone through a red light and been pulled over by the police? If so, you know how frightening it is to have the policeman talk to you. He will give you a ticket no matter what excuse you give.

However, it is possible to drive through a red light without worrying about the police. It only happens when you are in an ambulance. It happened to me once.

My friend and I had taken the private commuter bus to a shopping plaza where we planned to do some shopping. While getting on an escalator I missed the first step and fell. That caused my friend behind me to fall also, but she didn’t get hurt. I got a nasty cut on my left leg between the ankle and knee. It bled and really made a mess.

The store manager brought chairs for us to sit on. After he called for an ambulance he wrapped towels around my leg. Our bus driver found us sitting there, and he told me, “You will have to go to the hospital to see if there might be a broken bone.” No one likes to go to a hospital, but like it or not, that is where they took me.

First the paramedics came. After putting on a temporary bandage, they slipped on a strange-looking plastic boot. Then I was put on a stretcher and carried to the ambulance.

What a loud wailing noise the siren made. All the cars on the street quickly pulled over to the side to let us pass. We had the right-of-way and only slowed down for traffic lights—even the red ones—as we sped along.

Before long we arrived at the hospital. From the ambulance I was put in a wheelchair and then wheeled right into the emergency room.

The doctor’s words were comforting— “No bones broken, but I’ll have to put in some stitches. It won’t hurt because I’ll make it numb first.” My friend waited in another room. Our bus driver had said he would stop at the hospital a little later to pick us up. So it wasn’t long until we were back home.

The ambulance has every right to go through red lights and the driver won’t be punished. But the rest of us can’t! God has also put red lights in our lives to slow us down and to make us stop and think. He wants us to think about our sins and their punishment. You know, some people drive through red lights and don’t get stopped by the police—they “get away” with it. But we can never “get away” with our sins. Every one of them will be punished. God gives you a choice about the punishment for your sins. You can accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour by believing that He suffered the punishment for your sins on the cross, and you will go free. “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18. Or you can refuse His loving offer of freedom and bear the punishment for your sins in hell forever. “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15.

The choice isn’t very hard to make, is it? Why not settle the matter right now while you’re stopped at this red light by accepting the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour and be free!

ML 12/30/1990

The Wonders of God's Creation

Orca (or Killer) Whales Part 1

“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth.” Genesis 1:21.

Until recently orca whales (which are actually part of the porpoise family) have been referred to as killer whales, but research has shown that they rarely attack whales and have not been known to attack swimmers or boats. As a result the true name of orca is now used more often. Some of these whales are trained to perform in marine land exhibits.

An adult male will generally be 30 feet long and weigh as much as 3 to 10 tons. They are the largest and fastest (30 miles an hour top speed) of the porpoise family. Huge dorsal fins on the backs of males are as much as six feet high and look like coal-black sails when showing above water. The fins of females are about half that size. Life span for the males is about 50 years and up to 80 years for the females.

They are all a pretty combination of deep black on top with a clear white underside and occasional patches of white inside the black areas. Like many other things of God’s creation, no two ever look exactly alike. Some live in every ocean, usually where there are cool waters with ample supplies of food, which include fish (especially salmon), seals and even small porpoises. When food is scarce they may attack other whales 20 times their size, biting into their soft stomachs. That is how they got the name “killer,” but actually this rarely happens.

In an earlier article we reviewed the life and ways of gray whales, with their 12,000-mile migrations from Alaska to Mexico and back. But the orca whales do not migrate at all, and trips are limited to searches for food. For instance, groups of them have been known to travel as much as 100 miles a day chasing migrating salmon, each adult eating 200 to 300 pounds of fish in the chase.

The groups that have been studied most are those around Vancouver Island in Canada and, more particularly, those in the Puget Sound waters of Washington state. Puget Sound is a busy place, and boat operators and residents along the shores enjoy frequent contacts with them.

While the groups may have from 50 to 80 or more orca whales, these include what are known as family pods. Each pod contains half a dozen or so females only—grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters. These travel with other pods, but do not mix with them. Females are about 10 years old before their first calf is born and then average one more every five years. The older females all help take care of the babies as long as necessary.

In the following issue we will look at some of their ways of life, which are extremely interesting and bring to mind the Bible verse, “Remember His [God’s] marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” 1 Chronicles 16:12.

ML 12/30/1990

Messages of God's Love: 1990

Table of Contents

The Rattlesnake

Winter Rescue

The Wonders of God's Creation

The New Backpack

The Stained Tablecloth

The Wonders of God's Creation

A Fish Story

Mr. Nelson's Mistake

The Other Side of the Wall

The Wonders of God's Creation

Do You Hear Me?

Walking Chocolate Bars

Who Am I?

The Wonders of God's Creation

I Won the Race

Beautiful Colors

Wonders of God's Creation

A Warning for Max

Scamper and Scooter

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Little African Shepherd

Ready or Not?

The Wonders of God's Creation

Kidnapped!

Wonders of God's Creations

Matthew

More About Matthew

Wonders of God's Creation

Sunbathing

Smuggling on an Airplane

Wonders of God's Creation

Anita's Plans

A Lesson from the Bees

The Wonders of God's Creation

Bubble Gum on His Nose

Counterfeit Money

Wonders of God's Creation

Ivy Covered Trees

The Little Watchman

The Wonders of God's Creation

A Fishing Trip

The Wonders of God's Creation

Eva's Gold

Wonders of God's Creation

Juanita's Bargain

The Exam

Wonders of God's Creation

The Lost Little Girl

The Stormy Flight

The Wonders of God's Creation

School Missionaries

A Trapped Snake

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Orange Peeling Story

A Foolish Man

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Truck Driver

Are You Thirsty?

The Wonders of God's Creation

Tommy's Choice

The Birthday Cake

The Wonders of God's Creation

Timmy's Confession

The Kernel of Corn

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Apple Harvest

Three Precious Promises

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Shopping Trip

What Sort of Plant Are You?

Who Am I?

The Wonders of God's Creation

A Gift for the Beggars

A Blind Girl's Trust

The Wonders of God's Creation

The Hungry Field Mouse

The Library Fine

The Wonders of God's Creation