Hello everyone from the Editor

The Bible tells us to ‘do good to all men’ Galatians 6:10, that means to show them love and kindness on every occasion. The reason why we are to do good is because the Lord has put love in our hearts and we desire to show that love in our lives so that others may come to know the Lord.

On one occasion, one of the Emperor Constantine’s (285-337AD) armies was sent to a strange land. There a number of the soldiers became completely lost and had no food. They wandered from place to place and were starving; no one would help them in any way. At last they came to a town where Christians lived. These people were very kind, they gladly supplied food and water for the army, and then refused to accept any money for what they had done.

The soldiers inquired who these people were? They replied that they were Christians and they believed in hurting no man, but doing good to everyone whenever they had an opportunity.

One of the leaders of the soldiers was convinced that these people served the true God and had the true religion. He threw away his weapons, and became a Christian. This man became a very godly man and served the lord for many years.

The Lord Jesus said, “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. We are not to show kindness so that others will thank and praise us, but so that they might praise and glorify God, and come to know Christ.

Mary Jones and her Bible

Mary Jones was a very poor girl who lived in North Wales. She was born in 1784. Her parents were weavers of cloth and Mary cared for the garden and fowls.

Mary and her parents loved to attend the local Methodist Church and to hear the Bible read, but they did not have a Bible of their own – very few people owned a Bible at that time. When Mary was only 8 years old, she would listen to the Bible being read in Church and could repeat it almost word for word. Mary could not read and there were no schools in her village.

Mary had a deep desire to have a Bible of her own and to learn to read it. One neighbour promised her that when she learned to read, she could read their large family Bible. It was not until she was 10 years old that Mary heard that a school would be opened in her village. Mary studied very hard and soon learned to read and write. Later, the Teacher commenced a Sunday School and Mary was now able to go to her neighbour’s place each Saturday to read the Bible. She determined to have a Bible of her own, but Bibles were very expensive and there were few available.

Mary began to look for ways to earn money. One lady paid her to collect sticks, she looked after children, she was given two hens and a swarm of bees, so she sold eggs and honey. but after a year she only had saved one shilling.

The next two years she did many other jobs and saved a little more. Then a new teacher came to the School. He had just bought a new Bible. Mary was delighted to see it and told the teacher how she was saving up to buy one.

Over the next three years Mary did a lot of sewing and patching clothes and gradually saved more and more money. At last Mary had saved just enough to buy the Bible. She was overjoyed! But where could a Bible be obtained? The local minister told Mary that she would have to travel to a place called Bala, 45 kilometres away, and see a minister named Rev. Thomas Charles, but even then there might not be any Bibles available. Mary had no means of transport, so she would have to walk over the rough hills. She had only one pair of shoes that were almost worn-out, so she had to walk bare-footed.

Mary arose at daybreak, packed some lunch, then with her parents knelt in prayer and asked for God’s help. Then she set out on her long journey alone, she was only sixteen years old. She thought on God’s word and prayed as she climbed the rough hills and deep valleys. She met a few people on the way who gave her something to eat and drink, but she hurried on in order to reach Bala by night-fall. It was just dusk when she arrived and found the house of another Methodist preacher, Mr. Edwards. There she stayed for the night, but next morning Mr. Edwards woke her early to say the Rev. Thomas Charles was at home and they should visit him early in case he went away.

Rev. Charles was surprised when Mary and Mr. Edwards came to his house so early. Rev Charles asked Mary what she wanted. She told him her story, how she longed for a Bible and had saved for six years to buy one, and how she had walked from her village to obtain a copy. Rev. Charles asked her about her knowledge of the Bible and was surprised to find how much she knew. He then said, “This is very sad, I do not have a Bible to spare. I only have three Bibles and these have been promised to other people.” Mary was overcome with grief and wept bitterly. At last Rev. Charles stood up and walked to his bookcase and took out a Bible. He said to Mary, “My child, you shall have your Bible whoever goes short. I cannot send you home without one.” Mary’s eyes were now filled with tears of joy, and held her Bible tightly in her arms.

After a hasty breakfast, Mary set out to return home. It was a cool day and better for walking, and Mary’s heart was filled with thanks to the Lord. She did not stop to talk to anyone but just waved and kept walking.

Gradually Mary came to the country she knew, but it was getting very late and dark. Her parents were becoming very worried and looked out again and again to see if she was coming. At last they heard her foot steps and she opened the door. The family was so filled with joy that they could hardly speak for a while. Before they retired Mary read Psalm 150. Mary’s story deeply moved Rev. Thomas Charles, he could not forget it and determined to do something to supply Bibles to needy people.

In 1802 he went to London and told Mary’s story to the Religious Tract Society. The people were deeply moved and as a result the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed in December 1802. People gave freely to the publishing of Bibles.

Rev. Charles visited Mary’s village with the good news that a Society had been formed that supplied faithful translations of the Bible throughout the world for many years.

In 1806 the first consignment of Bibles was printed in the Welsh language and made available to the many Sunday Schools and people who longed to have a Bible of their own. This caused great joy and blessing to the people, to have and read God’s word for themselves.

A wonderful deliverance

During the persecuting times in Scotland, people were forbidden to meet to worship God outside the approved church and to hear certain preachers. One of the preachers was Alexander Peden, who was under arrest for preaching in the fields. Peden escaped capture many times.

On one occasion Peden and some people met together to hear God’s word; when suddenly they saw in the distance a group of soldiers on horseback coming to capture them. These soldiers were led by a most vicious and cruel leader named Claverhouse.

Peden and the people fled for their lives, but it was soon evident that they were helpless and could not escape. Peden gathered the people around him and prayed to God. “O Lord, cast the lap of Thy cloak over me and these poor ones and we will tell of Thy goodness, pity and compassion”. Just then a thick mist rolled over the land and hid them from their pursuers. They searched in vain to find them, but returned home empty-handed. God had mercifully delivered those who trusted Him.

A crippled girl

Stairs are very dangerous for young children! One young girl named Eugene, lived in a tall house in Paris which had a very long stairway.

One day, Eugene’s mother left her alone in the house. She warned Eugene not to go near the stairs, but later she decided to have a look at the stairs - then she fell and tumbled all the way to the bottom and fell heavily on the stone pavement. Neighbours rushed and picked up the unconscious girl and took her to a doctor. He reported that there were no broken bones, but said that he feared that her spine was injured. As Eugene grew her spine was twisted which gave her much pain, this made her very grumpy and hard to live with.

One Sunday her mother shouted angrily, “Don’t let me see your face again today!” Poor Eugene carefully climbed down the stairs and stood in the doorway on to the street. Suddenly a girl walked past who knew her, “What’s the matter Eugene? You look miserable today.” She invited Eugene to come with her to a Sunday School. There, for the first time she heard the message of the gospel and was made very welcome by the teacher. Eugene was so happy. Each week she went to the Sunday School and learned more about Christ and she came to trust Him as her Saviour.

Eugene’s back gradually grew worse and worse. Then her parents moved to another part of Paris where there were no Sunday Schools, but Eugene had learned to pray every day to the Lord. After two years a Sunday School was opened in her area. She was now sixteen years old.

Soon her condition grew worse and Eugene was unable to walk to the meetings. Then her father became ill and was dying. Eugene cared for him, and before he died he came to know the Lord as his Saviour. Eugene had gently told him about the Lord and the way of salvation.

As Eugene’s case grew worse, she was confined to her bed. She was troubled because she felt that she could not do anything for the Lord. One day the Sunday School teacher asked twelve girls to visit her in turn. Eugene was able to talk to all these girls about their souls, and ten of them became true Christians.

She wrote to her older sister and explained the way of salvation, and she also was saved by the Lord. So the Lord used Eugene to help a number of people.

Eugene had a very short life. She died on her twenty first birthday. But she died full of trust and confidence in Christ. Her body was buried in the Paris cemetery, but her spirit went to be with Christ her Saviour.

Smile a while

· Healthy food: Why do French people like to eat snails? Because they don’t like fast food.

· Correct title. “Name please”, demanded a stern Officer. “Sneeze” replied a Chinese man. “I don’t want any Australian nicknames,” snapped the Officer. “Okay, my name is “Ah Chew” replied the man.

· Good cook. Wife: “I’ve made the chicken soup.” Husband: “What a relief, I thought it was for us.”

· Sick cause. How did the man catch a cold? He just opened the window and ‘In-flu-enza’.

· Nice dog. “Go in” said one man, “don’t be afraid of the dog, you can see his tail is wagging.” “Yes” replied the other man, “but he shows his teeth at the same time, and I don’t know which end to believe.”

· Ding Dong. What is it that never asks any questions and yet you answer it every time? A doorbell.

· Good news. A wife phoned her husband, “Dear, I have some good news and some bad news.” He replied, “Sorry, I am in the middle of a meeting. Just give me the good news.” “Well”, replied the wife, “the air bags in the car work perfectly.”

· Lost Cat. A husband disliked his wife’s cat, so he decided to get rid of it. He drove about a kilometre and dropped the cat. When he arrived home, it was waiting at the door. Next time he went further, but the cat returned. Then he went further and further and each time the cat soon returned. At last he drove the cat along every winding road he could find before letting the cat go. Hours later he phoned and asked his wife, “Is the cat there?” “Yes”, replied the wife. “Well put him on the phone” said the husband, “because I am completely lost and can’t find my way home.”

False peace

Volcanoes are dangerous and terrifying things, but they are far worse if people are sure that they are safe and so take no notice of them.

This actually happened on the French West Indian Island of Martinique. The capital city, St Pierre, was built at the foot of Mont Pelee, a 4,500 ft mountain.

This volcanic mountain had been rumbling for some time, a large crater formed in the top of the mountain. Some people became very afraid of the volcano, but no one left the town. As the mountain grew worse, the wild animals and reptiles left the mountain and moved to other places, even the birds ceased to sing and flew away.

People realised that something should be done, so, on the 7th of May 1902, the Governor of the island called a number of scientific men together to discuss whether the mountain was safe or not. After a long conference the people were advised that the mountain was completely safe, and if it did erupt, the lava would flow down a valley into the sea.

The next morning before 7o’clock the mountain erupted, cutting a deep crater from the top to the bottom. People fled to the ocean but the lava flowed down, and destroyed the city and 30,000 of the people. The Governor, the scientists and those who believed their words of safety, all sadly perished. They perished because of the false peace they were given.

God’s word has many solemn warnings to those who disobey His commandments. Often people have some fears about those warnings, however other men mock and laugh at God's judgments and claim that they will never take place and that there is no hell to come. These people teach a false peace. God’s word is true and judgments will come. All who have not fled to Christ for salvation will be lost forever. Do you have a false peace?

Strong Chains

An ancient blacksmith used to boast that he made the links of his chains so strong that no one could break them.

At one time he committed some crime and was thrown into prison. In those times, people were not just put in prison, but were chained. As the blacksmith was very strong, he planned that he would break his chains and escape.

He sat down and carefully examined the chain that he was bound with to see if it had any weak spots that he could break, but to his horror he found that it was a chain that he had made and it was as strong as he had always boasted. Consequently, he had to remain in prison bound with his own chain until his sentence was served.

Scripture tells us that our sins are like chains that bind us. We may think that we can break our sinful habits whenever we like, but we will find that sin is stronger than we are. Proverbs 5:22 tells us that, sinners are “held with the cords of his sins.” And “bound in affliction and iron.” Psalm 107:10. Jesus said, “he that commits sin, is the servant of sin.” John 8:34.

It is only the Lord Jesus who can “set at liberty those who are bound.” Isaiah 61:1. Have we trusted in Christ and been delivered from our sins?

A ‘cut up’ New Testament

A French man decided that he would try to sell some Bibles and New Testaments. He boarded a train and travelled to a very lovely village. Then he approached everyone he met, asking if they would buy a Bible. The people were very cold towards him and refused to buy a Bible.

At last he succeeded in selling just one New Testament to a lady who was not sure whether she should buy it or not because she was a Roman Catholic. When she returned home she decided to take the New Testament to the local priest. He told her that she must not read it, and that it should be destroyed.

The lady was sure that this was the right thing to do, so when she returned home she gave the book to her little daughter with a pair of scissors, to cut up. The little child cut out seven or eight pages and then grew tired of what ushe was doing.

The next day the lady and the daughter went to see a neighbour who was sick. The child took the mutilated New Testament, intending to cut out some more pages while she was there.

The sick lady picked up the New Testament to see what the book was that she was destroying. Immediately she saw some words that seemed interesting. She read them, then continued to read. She was astonished at what she read. She had never seen a Bible before. She read more and more and increasingly her interest and desire were created. Then she wanted to have the tattered book for herself. The mother and daughter were happy when the lady offered the child a more suitable book to be cut up.

The lady eagerly read the rest of New Testament. The truths she read were blessed to her heart and she was saved by the Lord’s grace. She then obtained a complete Bible, and later became a missionary in her area. She purchased copies of the Bible and sold them wherever she could. Through her efforts a number of people were led to put their trust in Christ and a church of God was established in her town.