Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-08-26
THE REALITY OF GOD.

u.
The theological entity We often cefer
to as God lacks reality. The old use
less arguments for his existence bring
that home. He is as impractical as he
in intellectually unsatisfactory. The
complaint that he does nothing" is
well founded. But when we forsake
theological speculation and come down
to the concrete world we live in we are
face to face with definite facts. Moth
ing is SO real as the infinite energy
the myriad forms OF which constitute
the actual world Of our experience. 1t
is obvious that on our relation to it in
our environment and latent in our
selves everything that gives value to
life depends. That reality is the real
ity Of God.
Moreover, we are coming to know i
good deal about it. It Is inexorable or
der. There is no room for changing
purpose or caprice there. Play your
game as you will, but the universe
yields you neither pity nor blame
when YOU face the exact results of
your play. There Is no need Of a far
off heaven Or hell to enforce it's law.
The hell or the heaven Of what you
have chosen to make of life is enough.
And there is no chance about it. The
absolute inevitable accuracy according
to which seed bears fruit after its kind
is characteristic of the real God of ex-
perience.
We find. too, that the process of the
whole, whether it expresses itself In
crystal or flower or in human life, is
one which makes for stronger and
more fully developed forms. The life
which allies itself with it survives, the
stars in their courses fight for it. The
life which does not fails. The real
God about and within us INCREASINGLY
in every lesson of human experience is
making for more perfect life.
Now we ourselves are the offsprings
Of this eternal energy. The great life
Is not only everywhere about us, but
within us too. Turn our faces from
the little half-savage life Of the fears
and desires which enslave us 30 the
larger strength and mastery which are
latent in us, and there at once works
with us and behind us the swing of
the centuries and of the stars. God Is
no unreality, but the life energy we
find everywhere around and within US
To claim it as our own is religion.
PATIENCE WILL BRING VICTORY
BY DR.. PoIemus II. Smith.
Life at best is struggle. The sea
over which We sail to the morning
land'' is swept by many a fierce storm
1t is certain that each heart knoweth
it's own bitterness. There are stub
born enemies with whom We have tC
contend; tempests of temptation that
sweep our path with all but irresisti
BILE fury; nights of darkness, when
every star is hidden from our longing
eyes; times Of shipwreck that leave us
with empty hands on the sad shore
We must climb with weary feet many
a rugged path But In spite Of all this
life is not a losing fight to the soul
that will have the victory.
The text brings before us great
hope that shines like the north star In
the darkest night We may reach the
perfect. II we will we may be "com.
plete and entire" wanting nothing
Life is forever a struggling to reach
the perfect.
Patience will have her perfect work
when we are able to work on without
worry and fret. It is friction that
takes the power out Of life. The
mightiest forces are noiseless. There
is soul friction as well as friction in
any other realm. Wherever it is found
it makes impossible the best. Patience
can have her perfect work only when
there is persistent endurance to the
end. Patience, born of faith, ripened
by endurance, working in calmness
looking forward with hope, mellowed
by sacrifices, steadied by the touch OF
a divine hand will lead to the goal and
sanctify life at the last.
MANY TALENTS WASTED.
By Rev. ". N. Nugenf.
There are a great many people who
are always longing for the talents of
eminent people that they may serve
God on a large scale. They want to
be Luther or a Paul and have the
same chance for service. But all the
time thay are neglecting to use the tai
ent Or talents that they do possess
What a lot of wasted talents!
All great work is done by serving
God with what we have in hand
What is that in thine hand, Moses? A
rod With this thou shalt save Israel
And Moses did So What Is that in
thine hand, disciple? Only some loaves
and fishes. Give them to God and the
multitude is fed. What is that In
thine hand, Dorcas? A needle Use ii
for God, and those clothes are covering
the naked still.
What is that in thine hand, Samson
Only the jaw bone Of an ass. Use il
for God and LOCO Philistines are slain
Illustrations are without number
This is Gods way Of working. God
never asks us to serve him with what
we have not, but with what we have
Are you a millionaire, a gentleman OF
leisure, Il manufacturer, a poor work.
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