Hello everyone from the Editor

Human beings are very clever at making excuses – especially if they think that it will clear them of being blamed for something or relieve them of their duties. But God knows everything and can never be fooled, He can see through any attempt we make to deceive Him, or anyone else.

Excuses usually make things worse in our lives. There is a story told of an Italian Duke who went to Barcelona, Spain. While he was there he visited some prisoners who were forced to row great galley boats as a punishment for their crimes. The Duke asked each man what he had done? Each one said that he had been falsely accused and was innocent, and should not be punished. At last he asked a black man what he had done, “My lord”, he replied, “I am being justly punished for my crimes. I needed some money because I was hungry, so I robbed a person, but I cannot complain about my punishment.”

“You rogue!” said the Duke, tapping the man on the shoulder with his rod, “What are you doing among all these innocent men? Get out of their company straight away.” The poor man was immediately released, while those who excused themselves were left to tug the oars until they had finished their sentence.

A little boy who was on his death-bed, urged his father to trust in the Lord. He said, “Father, I am going to heaven: what shall I tell Jesus is the reason (the excuse) why you do not love Him?”

An old saying is, “he that excuses himself, accuses himself.”. This is especially true in the sight of God. God’s word says, “He that covers his sin shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.

~Enjoy a laugh~

Sad lesson: Teacher to class. “This is a portrait of the founder of this school. He gave large sums to this school.”

Backward scholar: “Why didn’t he work out the sums himself.”

Trade skill: A beggar asked a wealthy looking man for $20 for a cup of coffee. “That’s ridiculous.” replied the man, “coffee does not cost that much.” “Just ‘yes’ or ‘no’, mate” replied the beggar, “I don’t need a lecture on how to run my business.”

Good advertising: Butcher. “All the meat in this window is from local farmers killed on their premises.” Delicatessen. “Our wurst is best.” Closing shop. “Closing down, thanks to all our customers.” Beauty parlour. “Combing attraction.” Highway billboard. “All those who hate speeding tickets, raise your right foot.”

No shame: Judge to Bill. “What! You here again? Aren’t you ashamed to be seen here? “Oh no!” replied Bill, “what’s good enough for you is good enough for me.”

Careful driver: Friend. “How long did it take you to learn to drive a car?” Driver. “Oh, three or four.” “Weeks?’ “No, cars.”

Marriage counsel: Enquirer: “Should I marry a beautiful girl or a sensible girl? Counsellor. “You should marry neither, because a beautiful girl would do better, and a sensible girl would know better.”

Crime scene: “ What are you in gaol for?” an inmate asked. “For stealing a piece of rope.” “A piece of rope?” “Sure, but there was a cow tied to the end of it.”

Judge. “You are charged for stealing chickens. Have you any witnesses?” Prisoner. “Certainly not. I never steal before witnesses.”

Old lawyers never die – they only lose their appeal!

Being polite: Everyone was puzzled why a retired gentleman addressed every woman as ‘Fair Lady’. Later they found out that he had been a bus conductor for years and always asked –‘fare lady’.

Bible adventure

Some years ago a Bible seller visited the very poor town of Santa Cruz, in South America. After holding some gospel meetings in the town, he decided to ride his horse to the surrounding farms and offer copies of the New Testament to the people.

He came to one house and had difficulty in getting the woman to open the door. “Madam” he began, “I have a very excellent book; the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ---” “Don’t want it,” snapped the woman.

“But you don’t know what it is. It is worth more than all your farm.” “Don’t want it”, she insisted. He continued to try to interest her in the book.

“You are wasting your time, Sir, my husband is out, and I have no money to buy your book.”

“Not at all, Madam; money is no problem. Give me two litres of corn for my horse, and the book shall be yours.” “Haven’t any corn,” was her sharp reply.

“Never mind that, Madam; a couple of litres of black beans (which everyone had) will do.” “Haven’t any beans” was the curt reply. “Is that so? – then, perhaps cheese.? What no cheese? Well, then, give me a block of sugar and the book is yours.” “Haven’t any” came the stern reply. The case seemed hopeless.

Some may ask why the man did not just give her the Bible? But he had learned that ‘a book given is a book despised’, except in great poverty. If the New Testament had been given, it would have been handed to the priest, who made bonfires of books and Bibles.

He was about to leave when he saw a large piece of smoked pig fat hanging in the kitchen. “Stop!” he said, “Give me half a kilo of that fat and I’ll leave you this wonderful book.” The woman picked up a knife, cut off a piece, wrapped it up in a banana leaf, and received the book in exchange. It was not till later that he learned what then happened.

The woman flung the book into a corner. Shortly after her husband returned and she told him how the man had compelled her to buy a Protestant book for half a kilo of pig’s fat. “There’s the book!” she growled; “have a look at it and then throw it in the fire – the best place for it”. She then left the room.

The man gingerly picked up the book. The first verse he saw that interested him was in the Epistle to the Ephesians, and he continued to read. When his wife returned, nearly an hour later, she was surprised and alarmed to find her husband reading the book, and she tried to take it from him.

“No, wife,” he cried; “you don’t burn this book. Why, it is just the kind of book I have desired to have for a long time. Listen to this.” And he read to her a passage. There was something in the passage that appealed to her too; so she sat down, and they turned to the first page and began to read through the book.

During the next few weeks they read through the New Testament several times. The man then wrote to the Bible seller asking him to visit them.

When the Bible seller arrived; the man and his wife met him with a warm welcome. He was surprised to notice that all the crosses and idols had been removed from the house, as well as the barrels of rum. They told the man how that they had read the Bible, had seen the error of idolatry and had come to trust in Christ alone. The Bible seller was amazed at their knowledge of the way of salvation.

After talking and praising the Lord for a time, the Bible seller suggested that they pray to the Lord; they all knelt, and each one poured out their hearts in thanksgiving to the Lord.

The Bible seller rode home with a happy heart, knowing that his labours were not in vain in the Lord.

Captain converted

James Haldane’s father and mother died when he was only six years old. His family was wealthy so he was well cared for, but he grew up without any interest in God or the Bible.

When James was a teenager, he joined the British navy and gradually rose to be captain of a naval war ship. On one occasion the ship was engaged in a hotly contested battle. The enemy fired on his ship and killed all the men that were on deck. Captain Haldane ordered more men to come on deck and man the guns. When these men saw all their comrades dead and blown to pieces, they were filled with fear and panic.

Captain Haldane cursed his unwilling men and said that he wished God would cast them all into hell. Suddenly an old seaman, who feared God, stepped up to him and said respectfully, “Captain, I believe God hears prayer; and if God had answered your prayer just now, what would become of us?” He bowed to the Captain and walked back to his post.

After the battle had ended, Captain Haldane thought about what the man had said. After much thought, he realised his need of God’s mercy, and prayed to the Lord for salvation and was converted to Christ.

He soon left the navy and went to tell his brother Robert how he had been saved, but Robert was very angry and asked him never to enter his house again until he had changed his views.

“Very well, Robert”, relied James, “but I am happy that there is one thing you cannot stop and that is my praying for you.” He shook his brother’s hand and said goodbye.

Later, Robert Haldane felt very guilty for his actions and could not forget that his brother was constantly praying for him. He began to read the Bible and saw that he was a lost sinner, and the Lord saved him also.

Both these brothers now became very famous preachers and established churches in many places in Scotland. Many people were saved and blessed by their preaching.

Later Robert Haldane visited Geneva, Switzerland, and found many students who did not clearly understand the truths of the Bible, so he met with these students twice a week to study the Epistle to the Romans. As they studied this book, about twelve of these students were wonderfully saved. These men became leading preachers and Bible teachers in a number of countries. Many people were blessed through these men and their books are still read today.

The French shoemaker

Many years ago a beggar entered a Bible shop in Nantes, France, asking for money. The owner, taking pity on him, gave him a few coins and also a Bible. This beggar was very pleased with his Bible, and, as he could read well, he thought that he could earn some money by reading the Bible to people,

At that time very few people owned a Bible and many had never even heard of it. The beggar set off to outlying places and offered to read a portion of the Bible to anyone for a small charge.

One day he entered a shoemaker’s shop. The shoemaker told him that he was too poor to give him a gift. The beggar replied, “If you are willing to give me a small coin, I will read a chapter of the Bible to you.” “A chapter of what?” replied the shoemaker, “I have never heard of the Bible.” “It is a book that speaks about God.” the beggar replied.

The shoemaker was curious to know what the Bible said, so he gave the beggar a coin. The beggar sat down and began to read the third chapter of John’s gospel. The shoemaker listened with great interest; he had never heard such things. Each time the beggar paused, the shoemaker cried, “Go on! Go on.”

The beggar would only read one chapter, then he wanted another coin. The shoemaker quickly gave him another and the beggar read the fourth chapter and demanded more for the next, but the shoemaker could not afford it. He asked the beggar where he had got his Bible; he told him that a man in a Bible shop in Nantes gave it to him.

The shoemaker could not forget the wonderful words he had heard, and a couple of weeks later he set out on foot to walk the 120 miles to Nantes. At last he found the Bible shop and said that he had come to obtain a book about God. “You mean a Bible?” asked the man. “Oh, yes sir..” “At what price?” inquired the bookseller. “Price Sir! The beggar told me that you gave him a Bible. I can’t afford to buy one.”

The bookseller asked where he came from. When he heard how far he had travelled, the bookseller agreed to give him a Bible. “Can you read? He asked. “No Sir, but my daughter can and there are three other people in our village who can read.”

The man returned home with great joy carrying his Bible. On reaching home, he called his neighbours to hear the Bible read. The shoemaker paid great attention to the words he heard and committed much of it to memory, and soon knew the grace of God in his own heart.

After six months, the shoemaker returned to Nantes and told the bookseller, who was a pastor, that he wished to join his church. The pastor told him that he would have to be examined by the church elders. They were astounded at the depth of knowledge the man had in the doctrines of God’s word and realised that he had been taught of God, and welcomed him as a brother in Christ. The shoemaker proved to be a faithful and humble Christian all his life.

Psalm 119:130. “The entrance of Thy word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

The voice of conscience

Have you ever noticed how loud a town clock sounds when it chimes when there is no traffic around, and yet if there is the noise of traffic, you hardly hear it? Our consciences are like that clock; if we are very busy and filled with thoughts about other things, we never really hear the voice of our conscience telling us that we have sins to repent of. But if we are quiet and alone or are sick and facing death, then the voice of our conscience becomes loud and clear to us. We should seek to be quiet and let our consciences speak to us at all times

Going slow!

One poor Christian man was very sad and depressed: He seemed to be going so slow in his Christian life. He was slow in learning the truths of Scripture and spiritual lessons in his own life.

One day he met a preacher, Sammy Hick, a negro preacher. “How are you going on your way to heaven?” inquired the preacher. The despairing man replied, “Very slowly, I fear.” “Well, bless the Lord,” said Sammy, “there were snails in Noah’s ark and well as animals that could run fast.” This unexpected reply was just what this man needed. He was greatly encouraged and increased in his faith.

Not all God’s people are the same, some are slow learners, while others are quick; but all who have faith in Jesus Christ will be with the Lord forever in heaven

The English hunter

An English migrant had only recently arrived in Australia when he decided to go hunting in a lonely area. He walked and walked seeking for game, but then he became lost. At last he saw a house in the distance, so he walked to it and as it was late in the day, he asked whether he could stay the night. The farmer told him that he could stay in the barn if he wished, but there was someone already in it. He thanked the man and went to the barn.

There he found another Englishman who was very ill, lying on a mattress. They began to talk and found that they had both attended the same university. The man said that he had been wild and uncontrollable,

so his family had sent him to Australia. He had lived a careless and drunken life, and now he felt that he was near death, and was anxious to find out what would become of him.

The hunter was an ungodly man himself, but he said that he thought he needed the Bible. “Oh, the Bible!” replied the man, “why, my mother put one in my box when I left home. I have never opened it.”

The hunter found the Bible for him. “Now, where shall we turn to?” he asked. Neither of them knew where to look. “Well, clap the book together and see where it opens to.” he said. The Bible fell open at Isaiah Chapter 53.

The hunter began to read, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” “Who is He?” asked the man. The hunter guessed, “Jesus Christ.” “Ah, go on.”

He read until verse 6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.” “Stop,” he said, “that’s me; that’s me! That’s just what I’ve done in my life.” Then asked him to read on. “And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” “That’s Jesus Christ,” said the sick man, “read it again.”

The hunter read to him the rest of the chapter, then found some passages about Christ in the New Testament. But by this time the hunter was very tired and lay down and slept soundly. The next morning; there was a great change in the sick man; he seemed full of peace and joy. The hunter wondered what had happened to him? The sick man said, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Jesus Christ is my Saviour.” He said how that he had cried to the Lord and He had saved him.

The man died shortly afterwards, but before he died, he asked the hunter to write on the fly-leaf of his Bible telling how they had met, and how he died trusting in Christ, then send it to his aged father in London.

Later the hunter too was saved by God’s grace, and eventually returned to London. He wondered if the Bible ever reached the father and determined to visit him. The old man was glad to meet him, and told the hunter how he had read the same verses that his son had done, and he too had come to know Christ and had not ceased to praise Him for His grace and mercy.

Praying soldier

A soldier, who was a Christian, was placed in an army barracks where there was no place for him to quietly pray to God. One dark night he decided to go out into a nearby field and there pour out his heart to the Lord in prayer.

He thought that there, no one would see him and no one would hear him, only the Lord. But the Lord, whose “thoughts are not our thoughts” had purposed differently.

In the same regiment there were two soldiers whose hearts were filled with hatred one to the other. This hatred had been there for a long time, and they had often argued and disputed with each other. That night they had decided to settle the matter by fighting each other in the field. They could not fight in the barracks for fear of discipline from their leaders.

Now the field was very large, and they might have easily gone to another place; but God had ordered that they should go to the same spot where the young soldier was praying. They walked very quietly into the field, but were surprised to hear a voice. As they crept closer they heard a man praying to God. They stopped and listened to the prayer, and it had such a deep effect upon them that their hatred gradually subsided, and they felt love and forgiveness in their hearts. They both shook hands and confessed they were both in the wrong and now felt no hatred against each other.

The soldier’s prayer was not only a blessing to himself, but to others whom he least expected.

Thankfulness blessed

Francis Frescobald was a wealthy merchant in Florence, Italy. He was known for being a very kind and generous man. One day a young stranger, in tattered clothes, asked him for some help. “Who are you and from what country do you come?” asked Francis . “I am from England” replied the man, “my name is Thomas Cromwell. I left my country to seek my fortune. I joined the French army that was defeated, then became a servant.”

Francis took the young man in, and clothed and fed him, till he became strong and healthy again. Then he gave him a good horse and sufficient money to return home. Thomas thanked the man for his kindness and returned to England.

Soon Thomas obtained a position serving Cardinal Thomas Wolsley. When the Cardinal died, his diligence brought him into favour with the King, Henry V111. The King made him Baron, Earl of Essex, and later made him Lord Chancellor of England.

In the mean time Francis Frescobald lost most of his wealth and at last he decided to go to England to recover a large sum of money owed to him by several English merchants. One day he met the Lord Chancellor as he was riding in his carriage to court. He saw Francis, who had shown him kindness in Italy. He immediately embraced him, and asked if he were the merchant from Florence? “Yes Sir, he relied, “your most humble servant.” “My servant!” said Cromwell, “No, you are my special friend, who relieved my wants and laid the foundation for my future advancement. I beg you to come to my house to have dinner today.”

Francis was astonished to receive such a welcome and to meet Cromwell again. After their meal, Cromwell asked him the reason for his visit. The merchant told him his sad story. Cromwell replied, “I am sorry to hear of your misfortunes. I think that it is fit that I should repay you what I owe”. He paid him for the clothes he gave him in Florence, for the horse he provided and the money he gave him. Francis objected to Cromwell’s kindness, but he would not listen.

Cromwell then asked him the names of the merchants who owed him money, and then sent his own servants with a message for them to pay within fifteen days. In a short time the entire amount was paid. The merchant returned to Florence, with sufficient money to live and trade successfully.

Cromwell was a true Christian, he supported the publication of the English Bible and to it being placed in every parish for people to read. Sadly, he later offended King Henry V111 and was arrested and executed.

~ The Shorter Catechism ~

Question 13 Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

This question takes us back to the Garden of Eden. But boys and girls face a huge problem in modern times in that so many people refuse to believe that this garden ever existed. If it never did exist it means more not less problems and mysteries for people to deal with in life. Without the Garden of Eden we have no explanation for the presence of evil and sin in the world. It is very strange that the people refusing to believe in Eden will believe all sorts of other nonsense without any evidence whatsoever [think in terms of big bang and a blob of some sort becoming a human being!]

Yet the Bible and our Catechism gives a perfectly reasonable explanation: Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

That, of course, leads to the next question: What is sin? Most boys and girls know what it is to be bad and cheeky! But being bad or cheeky is one thing; sin is quite different! When you do something wrong at home or in school your parents or teacher will usually be content if you apologize in some way or other. But sin is far more serious than that, as our Catechism reminds us: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. God expects far more from boys and girls than a mere apology - He looks for what the Bible calls repentance. If you want to understand more about this read about the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 or Psalm 51, which David wrote when he sinned against God. Question 15 helps us to understand more of what sin is: What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? In the beautiful scenery of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed full freedom except for going near or touching the fruit of one tree marked by God as different. Their sin was in eating the fruit of this tree: The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit. Or to be more exact their sin was in doing what God told them not to do! That still remains the meaning of sin where God is concerned. The 10 Commandments help us to know what God forbids us to do. But Jesus will give us grace to love and obey God’s law.

Won by Kindness

Soldiers who are Christians, have often been very cruelly treated by their fellow-soldiers. Often they have been laughed at and mocked, and at other times, treated in a very cruel manner.

One British soldier, who was on duty on the Island of Malta, became a Christian. The Lord worked in his heart, and he turned from his sins unto Christ. Immediately he was treated harshly by the other troops.

One sergeant became particularly hostile towards him. He did everything he could to make his life miserable, but the Christian quietly suffered all the abuse and ill-treatment.

After a time the regiment moved to Egypt, but there the sergeant continued to abuse him. One wet night the Christian and the sergeant were on guard duty. They were both very cold and tired when they arrived back at their barracks, however before the Christian climbed into bed, he knelt down and prayed to God. The sergeant felt very angry, and picked up his two wet boots, one in each hand, and struck the Christian on each side of his head with them, and then went to bed. The Christian did not say anything, but continued to pray.

The next morning, the sergeant found his boots neatly cleaned and polished. The Christian had quietly done this while he was asleep. The sergeant now felt greatly convicted of his sin, and that day he repented and turned to God for forgiveness.

Instead of being angry and rebuking the sergeant, the Christian acted with love and kindness. He had returned good for evil, and by doing this, he won the sergeant to Christ.

The sergeant became a bright and faithful Christian, was glad to tell others how he had been saved through the kindness of the humble private. He now loved the soldier who was a Christian and together they served the Lord.