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Show 1 Sermon for TO Witth - Bj REV. A. LEONARD WOOD Retired View, St. Fetor' Episcopal Mission "For what la your life?" (St. Jamea 4:14.) Someone haa suggested that "life may be likened to a cafeteria" there are no waiter to eerre ua, we mint help ourselves to thoae food thing which will be beneficial to bodily health, apiritual growth and atrength, and avoid thoae thing which will hurt the body and deatroy the soul. To neglect the aoul that ia, the apiritual aide of one'a life la aa atupld aa to plant a fine garden and then deliberately neglect to cultivate and irrigate It, and expect a rich harveet in return. ' To feed the body and neglect to feed the aoul i to mi- understand the meaning and purpose of life. The bodv i 1 temporal, it will eventually dif and return to the dust from whence it came but the soul, that precioua gift to man of an all wise and loving creator, ia immortal and will live forever. It muat therefore be carefully cultivated and nourished. In preparation for that great day when It will be transplanted into the beautiful garden of everlasting life where it will. If properly nurtured her on earth, blossom forth in all its glory. Placed Here for Specific Purpose r We were placed la thi world for a peeific purpose, the most important part of which ia to work out our own salvation. it !; v .,7 ' J Our Heavenly Father has -"been good tff"Ui. He liai pro-" vided the necessary equipment and material to work frith, and He haa given ua, in Hi Holy Word, simple yet full instruction in-struction aa to how we muat proceed In order to produce the "fruit of good living." Even a little child can understand under-stand moat of these instructions, instruc-tions, but we cannot hope to gather a rich harvest if w are eareleaa and indifferent and fail to read the direction or discard the implement which God has provided for our use. It ia an Individual task which we alone can perform, nor can we hire someone to do the Job for ua. Make no mistake about this, however: When we leave religion out of our life, we are leaving out the moat important thing and the beat thing there ia in human hu-man aa well aa In apiritual life, and we are headed for disappointment, failure and eternal death. Pore Religion to Give Aid in Need St Jamea, In the ft rat chapter of hla epistle eaye, "Pur religion and undefiled before God the Father ia thla, to visit the fatherless and widow in their affliction and to keep himself him-self unapotted from tha world." The moat important thing in life la religion, and the moat Important thing in religion ia prayer. Prayer is making definite def-inite and regular contact with the divine "power house" from whence cometh all the good thing that our Father in Heaven haa in (tore for thoae who love and serve Him. He who came to earth to teach ua how to live and how to pray and who gave ua the moat complete and beautiful of all prayers, known as 'The Lord' Prayer,' had thi to aay, "All things whatsoever ye shall aak in prayer, believing, ye ahall receive." ' Right Motives Needed for Effective Prayer Someone may aay, ."I know that ia not true for I have prayed often and eameatly and have received no answer." When such a statement ia made, one would do well to examine the record and see when, where and under what circumatances uch a person prayed. To begin with, if we are to pray right, then we must first of all be right in our motives and in our Ufa. It ia not thoae : who talk about prayer, nor thoae who tell ua that they believe in prayer but who aeldom if ever pray, but thoae who take time out every day to pray that la, to make contact with the giver of all good gifta these are they who really accomplish things for themselves, for o there, for God and their country, winning aoula to Christ, aolving problems and helping to establish the kingdom of God among men. But unfortunately, many never pray; religion is not a real part of their life. It seems to be something that they "take up ana put asiae at wiu, uae a ciosva, worn omy wixen re Bxonns and diacarded at all other timea. They pray frantically when In trouble or aickneas asaails them or their loved ones. Even when their prayers are answered, they often forget to give thanka and fail to pray again until they are desperately in need of help from on high. AU Have Time to Do What The y Want This sort of religion ta utterly useless and carries, aa a rule, right over into stewardship. When it ia a question of tima their excuse frequently ia "I'm too busy," and of course it never occurs to them that they are not the only people who are busy. Aa a matter of actual fact we all have enough time to do what we really want to do and if we really want to pray or want to attend divine worship, regularly, there ia usually time to do so. But this is one of the most effective weapons used by the "evil one with which he rocks us to sleep and frequently prevents pre-vents those who know better from praying or from attending church and to offer stupid excuaea for their indifference and neglect In conclusion, here is a poem which I came sxroas soma time ago, I do not know the author, but it seems to express in very simple language an answer to the question, "What if religion ?" Religion la telling the truth in trade Without even counting the cost, And having the courage to stand by the right Tho' fortune and friends may be loaL Religion is 36 inches per yard And 16 full ounces per pound. And 60 whole minutes of other men's time, ' Not watching the clock go Yound. Religion is meeting the world with a amile . Then bringing a bright amile back hosos, A joy to the loved ones who wait for your step No matter how far you may roam. Religion is turning your back on the wrong ' With a prayer in your heart to do right. Then stepping forth boldly to conquer yourself With your face ever feeing the light. Religion is giving a bright word or more To Uiose whose dark clouds hide the sun. , If you've got the kind of religion I mean Then you will hear the Master s "well done"! |