Gilpin observer., 1912-01-04

nave CCHle ID Jne last cay OF the last
month without giving year heart to
the Lord. One CT the deceptions OF
the evil one that l fear cheats more
peop.e out of heaven than almost any
other, Is the suggestion that there
Is time enough yet. And when tLcy
are almost persuaded a multitude Of
people put off to scme unknown fu-
ture date the decision that they
ought to make at once. With God
there Is no tomorrow. With his today
Is the day Of salvation ana now is
the accepted time. If there are those
here who have Pat OFF from time to
tho the decision for Christ that you
thoueht in tho beginning CT the year
you would make before the year
should clo2c, anl today finds You
unsayed, ] urge upon you the duty OF
deciding now before ycu cross over
into the new yelr. God has been
good to you in sparing your life
through another year an1 giving to
yon yet another opportunity to cast
your let with his people ard find
forgiveness for your sins.
The year has been crowned with
goodness for. Us. First as TO ouG
nation:
No war has devastated oar lana
ara d2solstod orr home Today the
mighty Chinese empire is in the
midst of civil war, the outcome OF
which no man car tell. All tie hor-
rors Of 4 dreadful war eee being en-
acted there. I;a'y and Turkey ara
also 1t war, but oyr beloved land has
be.n spared through another year
No famine has coms to rs. Or
graaarics ran over with corn. While
perhaps IL so-c respects orr prop
Darity has not been quite equal TO
some former years, yet tie fact re
mains that tho American people are
the best fed and the best CLOTHED CT
any people in the world. Our eiuca-
tional institutions go steadily for
ward ever increasing in their ef5i-
cicncy aud their Influence. Cur in
flnence as q nation. IN the affairs
Of the worid were Gover quite 50
great as it is tcday.
Foreign statat.cians tell Us that
this is lie richest nayion thai tie
SIN eyer shown upol. Col has/h7a-
good to Us and We may surely say.
because the nation has gathered
6ounufGl harve5ts. No war has in
vaded the land. No pasd,enoe has
swept away It's multitudes. W. have
prcspe-ed above any nation on the
earth. The year has been crown i
with goodness for us as a nation.
Second. The year has been crown
ed with goodness rs to cur homes.
OF all the wonders wrought BY the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Christian
homo stands among the first. Cod
has protected our homes through an
other year Abiding undcr the shaG-
ow of the Almighty. We have known
the protection and love about the
family circle. l trust that some here
have seen their children give their
hearts 10 Col and come into his
church. byt however this may be. he
has b,en good to you in keeping your
life through another year.
l do not forget that the messenger
of death hay cone into some hon IS
and left broken hearts desolate
homes. But nothing more has bsfallen
rs than is common to man. These
lessons have led men 20 decide for
God and heayel. The hol.est inatitu-
tion in all the world is tha Christ
ian home. And in no place In all the
world are conditions more favor
able for the gathering Of the child
ren around the hearth-stone and
teaching tham of Jesus. than in our
beloved land. under the protection
of Freedoms flag. The year has
been crowned with goodness to US
as to our homes.
Ihlrd.l come now 20 a very solemn
question. 1t Is as to our religious
experience. You have probably made
money. / trust You have succeeded
in Your business enterprises. | trust
you have gained friends. during this
year. | trust you have gained knowl-
edge. Men in the twentieth century
in the land CT freedom ought to be
the wisest men on the earth. But
am not so much concerned about
your success in business. or the ac-
quirlng OF knowledge. as l am In
whether or not you have made any
progress spiritually. We ought to be
more efficient soldiers of Jesus to.
day than ever before. Is 1t not true
that some OF us have been so occu-
pipu with oiir othar. husinpss that wa