The Iron Pen #55

 God & Country

It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible!
George Washington

The Greatest Mischief

Pastor David L. Brown, Th.M.

There is a growing movement in our culture to water down the Bible’s contents, making it "politically correct" to the winds of doctrine of the day. In fact, we see a constant series of governmental directives and court decisions removing the Bible from the public realm. My stand is that of the Reformation era author sometimes known as Junker Jorg who wrote, "No greater mischief can happen to a Christian people than to have God’s Word taken from them or falsified, so that they no longer have it pure and clear. God grant that we and our descendants be not witnesses of such a calamity. Let us not lose the Bible, but with diligence, in fear and invocation of God, read and preach it."

James Bartley Recounts His "Jonah" Experience

The Bible tells of a man named Jonah who was swallowed by "a great fish" prepared by the Lord (Jonah 1:15-16). According to Matthew’s Gospel, Jonah was "...three days and three nights in the whale's belly..." (Matthew 12:40). For years skeptics doubted anyone could survive such a harrowing experience. But, James Bartley did and they called him a "Modern Jonah." I related the larger part of this account in the last issue of Fellowship -- volume 2, number 54. In this issue I want to complete the account that appeared in the February 19, 1944 issue of The Gospel Herald.

 In telling his story to a reporter, Bartley said, he remembered being upset in the boat. He remembered being tossed unceremoniously into the air. The next thing he recalled was a rumbling roar such as might be made by a train traveling through a tunnel at a high speed. He imagined the sound was caused by the pounding of the whale’s tail on the water. He found himself in impenetrable darkness and as he felt about with his hands he touched a slimy substance which yielded to pressure. He felt himself being drawn forward into a compartment where he could breathe more freely. He tried to escape from his prison yet every time he attempted to approach the narrow entrance some irresistible force drew him back.

 Suddenly, like a bolt from the azure blue, his awful plight dawned on him. He was a prisoner inside the great sea monster. The heat was almost unbearable. Perspiration poured throught his skin. It was too much for him. He grew weak and finally sank in exhaustion. Death seemed the only avenue of escape. In a whirlwind of anxiety and anguish he collapsed and remembered nothing more until he regained consciousness in the cabin of the ship.

 Two verses come to my mind as I ponder the above account –

 Psalms 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

 Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

The Confused Usher

It was the usher’s first experience at a church wedding. When he saw the church filling with people he became very nervous and excited. His main responsibility was to keep the Reserved section empty. As the organist started out with the bridal march, the usher saw a large woman sit down in the reserved section. Excitedly he went down the aisle and said to the woman – "Mardon me, padam, but you are occupewing the wrong pie; won’t you let me sew you another sheet?" (copied from February 1963 Christian Victory)

A Penny For Your Thoughts

 Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

Does it make any difference what you think about? Do your thoughts really influence your life? In answer to these two questions I submit the following true story.

The setting was the Hofberg library in Vienna, Austria. A young man began reading books on the history of the occult and Eastern religions. He spent hours in meditation while staring at the spear on display that was alleged to have pierced the side of Christ. He believed the spear possessed secret occult powers. He wanted those powers so he invited those powers to invade his soul. In 1924 this man wrote a book, the English title would have been translated My Struggle. It presented a philosophy of life that was brazenly contrary to the Scriptures. When the book came out some people ignored it. Many people laughed at the ideals expressed in the book. But, it turned out to be no laughing matter. For every word in the book, 125 people died in WWII. The actual title of the book was Mein Kampf. The author was Adolph Hitler.

Friend, it does matter what you think about! Your thoughts really do influence your life! Proverbs 4:23 says, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and told them they needed to "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein… A penny for your thoughts…

 On Giving

It’s not what you’d do with a million,
If riches should e’re be your lot;
But what are you doing at present,
With the dollar and quarter you’ve got?

(From: Nuts & Nuggets -- 1942)